Abby and Leo are both headed with their schools to New York City to play in the Macy's Day Parade. Abby is excited to tell her best friend that she's in love with her. She has it all planned out and she believes the universe will help her. Leo is less than excited about being on the trip. He knows that his extended family will see him on the TV and know that he is a trans boy. . He knows that his family will see him on the TV and know that he is trans. Abby and Leo end up on the wrong train together, but recognize each other from the hotel lobby. They spend the whole day together, and trying to complete Abby's quest for love. However, along the way they find themselves not wanting the day to be over, so they can spend more time together. I absolutely love this one. I thought it was funny and charming. I flew through it because I just had to know what happened next . The Macy's parade background was fun. The characters were great loved it.

Good grief I loved this book! There is something so wholesome and healing and delightfully youthful and also profound on how Underhill has approached the backstory and development of these characters. It was an adventure from start to finish and I loved every minute!!

This book is endearing and sweet and light-hearted all the other synonyms out there!

The one thing I really want to touch on in this review is that this book does an amazing job of building our main characters: Abby and Leo. In the span of one day, of getting to know each other, and hanging out; they change in their respective ways. There’s so many discussions packed into this book all related to queerness, identity, existing as a transgender person in a heteronormative society, deciding to label yourself or not…just so much that young readers especially those in high school will find relatability and comfort with.

I will say this book felt like a Lifetime movie especially with the backdrop of this novel being winter in New York City. Abby being the sunshine in this sunshine x grumpy pairing believes in the magic of the city/universe while Leo does not—at least not at first. I think one of the things about this book I find a bit unrealistic even though the book weaves in some of that New York traffic realness into the story, is the fact that their legs didn’t completely give out at the end of their twelve hour adventure. For those that don’t know: New York City sidewalks are LONG, like as someone that used to live in the city, I was like how are they not tired? But also I have to say I loved the hints of New York in this book even if I do think that there definitely should’ve been more people giving them a dirty look for standing in the middle of a sidewalk (just saying).

I do wish there was an epilogue of some sort because the end while sweet, it lacked a bit in the sense that I had some unanswered questions. What did Leo’s relatives say and how did his parents handle that? How are Abby and Leo making this long distance relationship work? Does Abby come out in some form to her parents even if she decides not to label herself? I love a good epilogue where it’s a couple months into the future and we see a snapshot of the characters’ lives after the main events in the book.

If you love books about young queer love, this story right here is 100% for you.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This Day Changes Everything follows Abby as she tries desperately to find a way to tell her best friend both that she’s queer and that she thinks she’s in love with her on a school band trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A series of events leads her to cross paths with Leo and they set out on an adventure together to gather the perfect trinkets to tell Kat how Abby feels.

I adored this adorable story about first loves and finding your identity. It was so much fun seeing them hitting all of the NYC landmarks and Abby’s favorite book obsession was incredibly relatable for me.

I loved watching Abby discover more about herself and learn that there were people just like her everywhere. I really enjoyed Leo’s journey, especially his realistic reaction to his family’s struggles with his true self.
Most of all, I loved how things weren’t wrapped up in a neat, little bow, but you were truly left with the feeling that the universe is what you make it.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book, but it was not anything to do with the actual quality of the book. It simply was not what I wanted it to be/thought it would be. I think it would be very good for a different demographic, but unfortunately that was not me.

This Day Changes Everything is a lighthearted and sweet romance. Abby is a firm believer in fate, signs, and there being an absolute right moment for everything. When her high school marching band is picked to perform in the Macy’s Day parade, she is certain now is the time to confess her feelings to her best friend. Yet when she gets to New York, instead of having a romantic trip with her best friend- she meets Leo. Leo is about to be outed to his extended family by appearing in the Macy’s Day parade with his own marching band. As Abby and Leo adventure throughout the city, they start to develop a connection.

I loved This Day Changes Everything! Leo and Abby are the perfect grump/sunshine pairing. Abby is relentlessly looking for the best in every experience and wants to have romantic love like in the scenes from her favorite book. Meanwhile, Leo is struggling with his unaccepting family and being a Logistical Headache. They both have a lot to learn from each other. I enjoyed watching their begrudging friendship turn into something more. I also loved how they explored their identities together and discussed labels (how they can be helpful but certainly aren’t required).

This Day Changes Everything has lots of strong friendships, lovable characters, and adventures around NYC. Leo and Abby had such good dialogue! It was so fun to see the city through their eyes as they went to classic NYC locations like Central Park, Grand Central Station, Chinatown etc. I also appreciated the ensemble cast of supportive friends. Readers who enjoyed Dash & Lily but wished it had more queer romance will love this book! If you enjoy fast-paced, lighthearted queer romance, and adventures in NYC then you will love This Day Changes Everything. I can’t wait to read what Edward Underhill writes next!

Thank you to Edward Underhill, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

THIS DAY CHANGES EVERYTHING is basically "eeee so cute!" in book form. I loved everything about it, from the queerness to the band nerdery to the running around NYC landmarks hoping for magic. It's beautiful queer joy wrapped in a book.
I love that Abby and Leo are allowed to be grumpy and touchy, that they can feel both joy and frustration.
It's also great to see a YA novel where the queer characters are still figuring themselves out: trying to find the right label, or decide that labels might not even be necessary at all.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eArc of <i>This Day Changes Everything<i/>. All opinions are my own.

I really liked Edward Underhill's debut queer YA novel <i>Always the Almost<i/>, so I was excited when he came out with a new one. And this one, I have to say, is even better. His writing style, storytelling, and craft all seem more polished in his sophomore effort. This fun book, about an accidental day out and about in New York City, was fun, clearly well-researched (as a former New Yorker, I loved reading all the descriptions of the places the characters visit!), and more importantly, more than just an "Oops, we got stuck together!" rom-com trope.

Our two main characters, Abby and Leo, two teenagers traveling to NYC from afar to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with their respective marching bands, find themselves accidentally flung together when each of them get on the same subway car going to wrong direction from their tour group. After a series of very grumpy interactions, where the two seem like they're going to resign themselves to being lost and alone in New York for the rest of the day, they reluctantly agree to work together to find Abby's crush some special gifts and make their way back to their school groups. If this is how band kids rebel, I'm all for it. Of course, getting lost in a city of 8 million people is no joke, and the way they had such awareness of how the adults would react should they find out is very much real.

Of course, knowing this is set up as a queer YA rom-com, we can guess what happens. But it's still sweet, beautiful, innocent, because the book is not just about getting lost in New York, but about finding new ways to be yourself around others, exploring and accepting your queer identity and finding your people who accept you, too.

Edward Underhill writes the loveliest teen trans joy and I was so excited to read this little adventure of a book! It was so sweet - all the best warm fuzzies of a classic NYC rom com with a queer lens. I loved following along on the adventure that Leo and Abby went on set against all of the careening hope of first love and figuring it all out. The book covers a lot of terrain in short order and I would have loved to linger a little more in some of the sweet moments, but that didn't dull the delight of the story!

This was another entertaining and insightful story from this author! I didn’t find it as deep as his first book (not a knock, just an observation), but it left me feeling super warm and fuzzy. I was in marching band in high school, so I LOVED all those references, and it helped me feel exceedingly connected to the book. The book takes place in NYC during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and as I went to NYU, the setting was another thing that helped draw me in and make me feel connected to the story.

Edward Underhill’s books always offer amazing commentary on life for trans youth, and this book was no exception. Leo was such a tangible and real character, and you can tell he was written from the author’s lives experiences. I loved how the story kept coming back to this book the MC and her friend had read, and I found it really interesting how the author was able to make all these connections (both direct and indirect) throughout the book!

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Wednesday Books. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

This Day Changes Everything follows teens Abby and Leo, whose journey through Manhattan helps them find even more than they bargained for.

Edward Underhill really understands his way around a theme, and really really understands his way around a character, two talents which for me truly elevated the experience of reading this novel. It was emotional, it was heartwarming, it was beautifully written. I loved Always the Almost, Underhill's debut book, and I loved This Day Changes Everything arguably even more. I almost don't know what to say about it, other than that it was absolutely lovely, and everything I wish every YA romance would be.

This Day Changes Everything by Sarah Underhill is a charming and heartwarming coming-of-age story about two teens who find themselves lost in New York City on Thanksgiving Day.

Abby is a hopeless romantic who believes that today is the day her life will change forever. Leo is a trans teen who is just trying to survive the day without having a meltdown. When they accidentally meet up on the wrong train, they are forced to rely on each other to find their way back home.

Along the way, Abby and Leo learn a lot about themselves and each other. They face their fears, challenge their assumptions, and discover the true meaning of friendship and love.

I really enjoyed the characters in This Day Changes Everything. Abby and Leo are both complex and relatable teenagers. Abby is full of life and optimism, while Leo is more cautious and guarded. But they both have big hearts and a lot to learn about the world.

I also appreciated the diversity of the cast. Abby and Leo are both queer, and there are other LGBTQ+ characters in the story. I also liked that Leo's trans identity is handled in a respectful and authentic way.

The romance between Abby and Leo is sweet and believable. They have great chemistry, and I was rooting for them from the start. I also liked the way the story explored the idea of first love and the challenges of young relationships.

Overall, This Day Changes Everything is a charming and heartwarming coming-of-age story. It's a perfect read for anyone who loves stories about friendship, love, and self-discovery.

I have thoughts on this book I would like to share, however, I will be withholding my review for this title in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press Boycott.

The book community is demanding three (3) things of St. Martin's:

1. Address and denounce the Islamophobia and racism from their employee.
2. Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.
3. Address how moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

This boycott is a media boycott asking influencers not to promote books from St. Martin's Press. If you are interested in supporting the authors, please still buy/borrow and read their books, just please do not promote those books on socials.

Check out the following influencer to learn more about the boycott: @vivafalstinleen

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley*
There were aspects of this book that I really enjoyed! I loved the adventure of it all + the silliness of the circumstances. I also loved the diversity of characters and the great queer representation. It also handled a teenager grappling with identity really well. However, there were other aspects that I just could not get behind. Primarily, the concept of falling in love in a day. I truly could not take it seriously, especially as no other characters seemed to be questioning it. I was really hoping for the story to culminate in “no one falls in love in a day, but a great love can start with a day.” This would have been such a great contrast to the novel that Abby is obsessed with and the similar concept explored in that. Alas, that was wishful thinking. It took the concept and ran with it, offering no criticism of the idea and no realism. I was also really irritated with the unrealistic phone batteries. They were using their phones all day, facetiming multiple people, and mapping directions, and they somehow didn’t die? Even after claiming to have phones with crappy batteries? It was a small detail, but irritating nonetheless. I also was really interested in hearing about the reaction of Leo’s family, which we never got to see.

Overall, I can appreciate this book as a fun YA story about a trip through NYC, but have to be critical enough to recognize some parts that are lacking.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for the eARC.
This was absolutely adorable. Abby and Leo were such fun teens to spend a day lost in NYC with. Both are there for their marching band's participation in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and end up together when they accidentally get on the wrong train. This YA is full of self exploration, making friends, city navigating, and lots of mixed feelings. I have read both of Underhill's books now, and I just think they are such good reads for teens that are wanting to see themselves in fiction. Young Adulthood can be a really hard time and its books like this that are so important to get into the hands of teens that need to see themselves in stories. I also liked the book subplot and how this played into the characters learning and growing. It was a book I'm glad I took the time to read.

This was such a cute story! I enjoyed this author’s previous book and this book did not disappoint. I liked both characters and the little adventure they have in the city. It felt believable and I wasn’t sure where they would head next but following along was fun. The story kept me wanting more so I was a little thrown off the way it all ended. Still, it was a sweet story that I would definitely recommend others read as a sweet little romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

God I love queer young adult novels. I think that this one is a prime example of just good writing in a queer space with lovely characters and brilliant plot lines

I had some problems with Underhill's last book, but there were enough aspects that really appealed to me that I thought I'd give this one a try. And I'm glad I did!

Once again, yay for trans representation and queer kids trying to figure out who they are and how they fit in the world, and how they can matter. Again, with music as the keelson of the story as a school marching band goes to New York City for an exciting twenty-four hours to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The music really gave the book both passion and focus; these kids are serious about their music, and the authors knows the subject. It just shines through. Lovely, lovely story.

The magic of New York City is ALIVE in This Day Changes Everything.

I was sold on this book ever since I saw it was a rom-com with Dash & Lily energy. The book is fast paced, an exciting adventure, and a sweet love story that will make you want to get lost on the subway and meet someone cute.

Not only is this book about young love, but the internal struggles of being a queer teen from a small town. Abby can't figure out how to come out to her best friend that she's fallen in love with and Leo's family is supportive, but nervous about this big change in their lives. The two of them end up getting lost on the subway together and grow in ways that they can't even begin to imagine.

In “This Day Changes Everything “ by Edward Underhill, Abby and Leo are teens in 2 different marching bands that travel to New York City to perform in the Thanksgiving parade. Abby googles “how to tell if you’re gay” because she’s developed a crush on her best friend and wants to express her love at the exact right moment during the trip. Leo is a trans boy who is worried that he’s going to be “outed to their entire extended family during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on national live TV.” They end up separated from their friends by getting on the wrong subway train. They got lost but found each other was my only note to myself about this book. I liked the LGBTQIA representation as well as the love without labels message. Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.