my heart!! today tonight tomorrow was such a bright spot in the pandemic and ended up being one of my favorite books of 2020, and i'm happy to report it completely held up on reread this year. that being said, i was really curious how a rowan & neil sequel would shake out. past present future was so honest and real, and i can't imagine a more fitting continuation of rowan and neil's story. i loved that this book gave us dual POV narration, and i had a blast simply getting to spend more time with these characters. since the first book takes place within the span of 24 hours, it was nice to get a deeper understanding of who rowan and neil are, especially as they're experiencing such a pivotal time of change in their lives.

past present future gave such a refreshingly realistic take on what it's like to navigate a changing relationship while both parties are experiencing times of great change on a personal level. the portrayals of long distance relationships, sex, college classes, navigating new social situations, discovering that maybe you didn't know yourself as well as you thought you did... it hit close to home and it felt very honest. i also really appreciated how rowan and neil's college experiences were so different, but both felt very true to life. this is a pretty angsty story that deals with heavier themes at times, but it still managed to stay just as swoonworthy and sweeping and romantic as its predecessor.

overall, i can't recommend both books in this duology highly enough. i loved getting to explore what happens after the HFN of the first book in this continuation. oh, and that epilogue made my face hurt from smiling.

Great followup to a high school romance that carries on to college. Touches on subjects such as depression, anxiety and other emotions that can happen during this time well. I enjoyed the continuation of their story and how they make it work.

The sweetest sequel!! I loved these characters and I’m so glad to see them again! Neil and Rowan go through the typical freshman in college chaos and it was nice to see these characters grow into their own selves!!

Short and Sweet Review
Rowan and Neil confessed their feelings for each other and now they’re headed off to college. In this sequel we get to see Rowan and Neil navigate their first year at college and a long distance relationship.
When I read Today Tonight Tomorrow, I ended up falling in love with Rowan and Neil especially how we see them start off as rivals and eventually admit their feelings for each other. It feels like they’re all grown up now. Rowan is it Emerson doing creative writing while Neil is at NYU studying linguistics. Back home Rowan didn’t have a big group so she’s fearful about making new friends but she didn’t do too bad, because she ended up hanging out with some people from class. We also see Rowan struggle with her writing and I did like how supportive her teacher was and how she went out of her way to help Rowan. Neil on the other hand has a pretty cool roommate who is always inviting him out and already has a few friends at the same college so Neil integrates into that friend group. What we do see with Neil is that his dad continues to write him letters and it starts to bother Neil more than it has before. I think this is when Neil takes an interest in the psychology course he’s taking and he also learns that it’s okay not to be okay all the time. I loved that Rowan and Neil both had support systems while at college but they also had each other. We see Rowan and Neil text, FaceTime, and call each other, but they also take the time to travel the four hours it takes to see each other. They’re still a cute couple and long distance relationships aren’t easy so we do see some bumps in the road for them and that’s normal, I liked seeing how they worked through the distance and also trying to keep the communication up. The chemistry between these two is amazing and they’re honestly one of my favorite couples.
Overall, this book is heartfelt, and we get to experiences things with these characters that are so relatable like love, loss, and just navigating life as a young adult. If you haven’t read Today Tonight Tomorrow, get your hands on it so you can read this sequel! Rowan and Neil are characters you’ll fall in love with and will be rooting for them through the highs and lows.

Let me just start by saying that Today Tonight Tomorrow was one of my favorite reads so far this year. I absolutely loved Rowan and Neil. I loved their individual personalities, their tension, and their competition.

This continuation of their story wasn't the joyful, adorable, newly minted couple from the first book... However, it definitely struck home. I really liked the more serious themes of this book. It seemed more mature and there were more adult situations that they had to navigate.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as the first one. But I did really like it.

If you’d asked me around the 20% mark of the book, I would have bet I would give this a 4-star rating. It was cute. I really enjoyed the first book, Today Tonight Tomorrow, but I thought it was just another YA romcom for the first little bit.

By the time I finished the book, I was leaning toward 5 stars, so we are going with an average 4.5 stars! Rounding up for Goodreads and NetGalley to 5!

This was an excellent follow-up to a true YA story. In Today Tonight Tomorrow, our couple were high school academic rivals who confessed their feelings on the last day of school. It was adorable! Past Present Future picks up at the end of that summer as they set off to different universities, navigating a long-distance relationship and being away from home for the first time. Rachel Lynn Soloman did a fantastic job portraying that first year away and all the struggles, anxieties, and identity crises that are so common. The mental health rep was so tenderly done. She did not send them to school together or give them this picture-perfect college experience. She gave them real life, and I loved it so much! I am beginning to realize I am a sucker for a happy ending that feels realistic.

While the first was YA, I would only call this second part YA because Rowan and Neil are young adults. The struggles and content here don’t feel YA to me otherwise. I also think this book is more than a romcom. It's about navigating friendships, allowing yourself to be fully seen and known, and sharing your burdens with those closest to you.

Book 2 definitely provides some background, but I personally would recommend reading TTT before reading Past, Present, and Future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Rowan Roth and Neil McNair have entered their freshman years of college at different colleges on the East Coast: Rowan at Emerson and Neil at NYU. They want to make their relationship work even though it's long distance but also want to grow into their own at their respective universities.

Rowan has always dreamed of becoming a novelist and finally has the opportunity to fulfill her dreams at Emerson, but can't seem to overcome a sense of writer's block and find her true voice. Neil has been able to make friends at NYU, but lingering issues from his past have started to affect his mental health. He wants to talk to Rowan about what he is dealing with but is struggling to offload this onto her so that he doesn't create more stress for her during one of the most stressful periods in her life. How do they manage their relationship and themselves? Will they have a future together or is this relationship a blip in their young lives?

This book screams growth and development. Post-high school graduation is a transitional time in any teenager's life, no matter whether they decide to pursue a college degree. This book illustrates that adjustment period perfectly. I loved hearing Rowan and Neil's perspectives instead of just Rowan's perspective. I also really appreciated the mental illness representation and how Neil goes about dealing with this.

This is a great ending to the Rowan and Neil saga. If you read "Today, Tonight, Tomorrow", I highly suggest that you read this one.

I'm so glad we got to see Rowan and Neil grow up a little. Bittersweet but perfect, and reminiscent for me of being this age and trying to figure out how to be a person separately and together with someone else. Made my heart hurt in the best possible ways. Certainly a little less "fun" than TTT, but such a wonderful second helping. Solomon's writing is eternally full of heart. Devoured and wept through in a day. This is how you do character and story growth without it being unnecessary or a disservice to the original material.

This is how you write a sequel for a book that was originally only supposed to be a standalone. It was so nice to be back with Neil and Rowan and to watch their relationship grow past the whirlwind twenty-four hours that got them together. I've never been in a long-distance relationship, but I have friends who are, and the trials and tribulations Neil and Rowan went through did justice to an LDR and navigating the first year of college.

I've never made it through an RLS book without crying, and this book is no different. I cannot recommend it enough.

I loved Today Tonight Tomorrow so much and I may have gone into this book with too high of expectations. For me, this felt like more a coming of age story for the both of them separately, and less like a romance.

Rowan and Neil attending separate colleges was expected and they worked to keep their relationship strong, but not really their romance. This felt like two friends who keep in touch during college. Rowan’s writer’s block was a bit too drawn out to keep me interested in her struggles and Neil’s mental health issues kept him at arms length from Rowan.

While this was a realistic portrayal of a couple’s first year of college with some ups and downs, it had none of the excitement and intensity of their first book. But it was interesting to see what the two of them were doing since we saw them last and I did love how they were able to manage their relationship long distance.

I wasn't sure what to expect out of a sequel from Today, Tonight, Tomorrow (which makes sense since the author did not intend to write a sequel) but I was delightfully surprised. I'm not sure I can be objective about this book because this love story is so close to my own. My husband and I met and became friends in high school and then started dating in college long distance. Since that's also Rowan and Neil's story I fell in love with this story immediately and all of their feelings resonated with me so deeply. Solomon also said that Rowan and Neil hold a special place in her heart and I feel the same way. I appreciated seeing Neil and Rowan's journeys unfold, both together and individually and how the alternating chapters helped with this and create even more of a sense of space between the two of them. I think if you liked Today, Tonight, Tomorrow then I think you'd absolutely love this one. I'm so grateful for the sequel and especially the epilogue! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Rachel Lynn Solomon never fails, and her unexpected but delightful sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow is supremely real in all its “what-comes-next”-ness. Rowan and Neil had a lovely happy ending at the end of their last book, and now in Past Present Future, we get to see how it all actually plays out. The gritty truth is that the next chapter after emotional confessions of love is not always smooth. Of course this is still a romance, so we know there will be an uplifting ending, but Solomon doesn’t shy away from all the trials and tribulations of the first year of college, long-distance relationships, or coming to terms with family. The last book focused more on Rowan’s story and family, and this one centers more on Neil, which did leave me feeling a bit lacking for Rowan’s family. One storyline felt not quite resolved.
Truly, I could read their story forever, so at times this book felt a bit short for everything I would have wanted, but it left me wanting even more, which is always the mark of the best books.

Ah, this book! I loved it so much! I didn't realize, until I started reading it, that it was a sequel to a book I'd read years ago (9/3/2021), and also loved. "Today Tonight Tomorrow" was the start of Rowan and Neil and this book is their college experience in a long-distance relationship.

The author is so good at putting feelings into words in the page. I truly "felt" Neil's pain throughout the book. I also felt Rowan's love. So strong it seeped off the page.

I would definitely recommend this book!!! Now I need to go back and read them both again!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Oh my goodness! So real. So relatable. And everything I wanted from another Rowan and Neil book!

A few years ago, my friend recommended Today Tonight Tomorrow to me and I fell in love with the YA book of rivals to lovers set in Seattle. I'm from Seattle, so I could totally envision all the places they visited and such, but it was the connection of the two characters that was fun and sweet. So what happened to my sweet babies after they got together, graduated high school and had their summer?!

Past Present Future is Rowan and Neil's story of what happens to your high school relationship after high school. What happens when you both take off to college and you try to navigate a long distance relationship. And I couldn't have loved it more!

Both Rowan and Neil were the top of their class in high school and basically had a relationship that developed from trying to one up each other. Now they are taking their brains and hearts across the US to Boston (for Rowan) and NYC (Neil). They both deal with fitting in, making friends and trying to keep up with the successes they had in high school while trying to navigate a long distance relationship. Solomon took real life situations and had these two academically smart people really struggle to keep up with a life that had come easily to them. With Rowan struggling to find her people and getting words onto paper, it first seemed like she was the one that was going to succumb to the pressure of being thrust into adulthood. But it was balanced nicely with the conversations she had with Neil, her mother, and even a surprise professor that was there for her when she really needed it most. I was most surprised with Neil and the past coming up on him that really made him spiral in a very unexpected way. It broke my heart to see him struggle and the fact that he didn't want to burden those around him. This was real life in a very raw form and what it feels like when you are a young adult trying to figure out life, but without the support around you that you are used to.

I loved that Rachel Lynn Solomon took a seemingly sweet and easy couple and gave them a very real and relatable storyline. Growing up and moving away from all your comforts is already hard enough, but throw new love and the pressures of college success into the mix and the struggles are real. All the little nuances that were included throughout Rowan and Neil's first year away at college was perfectly timed and felt realistic. I commend Solomon for giving Neil something to go through that wasn't easy and let him grieve a lost that he thought he let go of awhile ago. That ultimately gave him some closure and in turn brought him closer to his family and making other decisions in his life that were difficult. Although it was difficult to witness, it was real. These characters and everything they went through were just on par for who they were. I love my sweet babies and the support and love they had for one another all through their first year and I loved that these characters knew when to let go too. Communication was key and that was felt throughout.

"You couldn't be further from a burden. I love you, and I want to help however I can. Whatever you decide, you don't have to do it alone. I'm here."

While this story wasn't as easy and fun as its predecessor, I loved the way the author explored college life with these new adults and they still came out on the other side. We got a bit more steam along with the complexities of moving into adulthood and I absolutely loved it. Super cute, heartfelt and oh so real. My babies even got me a bit emotional and brought tears to my eyes on a darn plane!! I devoured their story and could read about them forever. Rowan and Neil Forever!!

*I would like to thank Simon and Schuster, Netgalley and Rachel Lynn Solomon for my early copy

"Because I have a feeling everyone's been keeping a secret, a this-would-forever-change-the-romance-novel-world-if-it-got-out kind of secret -- that the very best parts happen after the book is over."

I truly will read Rachel Lynn Solomon's grocery list - especially if that grocery list features Rowan and Neil, two very, very special characters.

This is a charming sequel that somehow manages to be even better than the first book. Following Rowan and Neil through the lens of a long-distance relationship was a very charming way to revisit these characters. This felt like catching up with old friends, and brought back all the nostalgia of those butterflies of a first love. Rowan's adventures in Boston were great to read - it was cool to watch her go through many relatable struggles, like wondering what your career path is meant to be or if you'll ever really make friends in college. Her arc felt very, very real to me. And I am SO glad that this one was dual POV, because Neil's story is beautiful. New adulthood is HARD. Mental health struggles, dealing with trauma from an absent or abusive parent, changing your mind about things you thought were set in stone... all of that is real and so important to include in YA and New Adult stories.

I love the way that this book discusses sex, and I wish I had had a book like this to read when I was a teenager or when I first became sexually active. No matter how many romance novels you read, nothing replaces good communication with your partner, and that's so so so important for stories geared towards teenagers to illustrate.

Another thing I love about this story is the way in which it illustrates that there's more to a love story than just the meet-cute. Real love, and real relationships, are about what happen AFTER those characters are together. Rowan and Neil experience a tremendous amount of growth not just together, but individually. They are deeply comfortable with each other, and that comfort level allows them to fall even further in love. The flames of a deeper, committed relationship are simply more enduring - and here, they are just so rewarding to read about.

"It's not always about those huge moments. It's the tiny details, the ones that remind you the other person is caring about you, even when you're not the best at caring for yourself."

I love the way that this sequel illustrates how being in a loving and secure relationship can inspire both partners to take risks and embrace changes with confidence, knowing that they have unwavering support. This beautiful story reassures us that when you are in the right relationship, love grows and changes as we do. I'm so grateful we were able to get to spend more time with these characters, and move beyond their Happy For Now into real, adult Happily Ever After territory.

"The one constant is the two of us, simply doing our best, the way that we always have. Together."

Thank you to Rachel Lynn Solomon, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is out 6/4!

On its own, Past Present Future is a great book. I’ve been itching for more stories about couples who are already together at the beginning and need to figure out how to stay together through hard times! Neil and Rowan’s personal struggles were a natural point of continuation from their character arcs in the first book. But I have to admit, it was a very different story to its predecessor. What I loved about Today Tonight Tomorrow was how rich the setting was, how witty and tropey the writing was, and how fast the pace went. This book got a few details wrong about Boston (I can’t speak for NYC), lacked TTT’s quick humor, and took place over an entire academic year. Not to mention, it is never actually described what Neil learns in his linguistics class and why he’s not that into it compared to psych. All in all, this book really just didn’t hit the same for me! Nevertheless, it was still really great on its own, hence the four star rating, and I’m excited for it to come out.

A cute “new adult” or young adult coming of age story about a long distance couple trying to survive their freshmen year of college. I could see fans of Lynn Painter’s YA romances really enjoying this book/series as well!

Certainly a cute follow up to “Today Tonight Tomorrow,” and a fun (sometimes sad and nostalgic, but definitely perfect) continuation of Rowan and Neil’s story. Solomon did a great job writing a novel that felt very authentic to the journey and feelings many of us have when going away for school/uni. The dual POV was a nice touch and I think regardless of your college experience, you’ll find elements to both character’s experiences to be very relatable. As an adult I enjoyed this book, but I actually think I would’ve loved it even more if I had read this at 18.

It’s always a pleasure to read a book by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers at Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a lot heavier than I was expecting and felt very different from Today Tonight Tomorrow. I loved getting more of Rowan and Neil’s story. This was definitely a tear jerker for me. It delved into depression and struggling to find your way as a freshman in college while also maintaining a long distance relationship. I found it to be raw and realistic and thought it was very well written.

After falling for each other in just 24 hours, Neil and Rowan are now embarking on a long distance relationship for their first year of college. Rowan finds herself in Boston, ready to write the next great romance novel. Despite finally actually being in love, she can’t seem to find her writing voice.

Neil is in New York, finding himself in a new friend group and settling into college life. But his past keeps haunting him, bringing to light new things about his mental health. Will Neil and Rowan be able to make it work? Or will the first year of college find them growing apart?

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Past Present Future to review! Today Tonight Tomorrow was a fun rivals to lovers story, and it’s cool to see how their relationship changes into the future.

This book covers Neil and Rowan’s entire first year at college, and all of their fears and anxieties felt so realistic. A lot of teenagers have so many insecurities going into college, especially when it comes to choosing a major. There’s so much pressure to get it right, and Neil and Rowan definitely feel that throughout the book.

Their relationship also felt pretty realistic to a first year of college relationship. They really hadn’t been dating all that long before going off to college, but they had spent years being rivals. Throughout the story, they have to learn how to communicate; not just because of the distance, but because their relationship also moves into new territory, both physically and emotionally. A lot of the situations they find themselves in will be relatable to teens also moving into college while in a relationship.

In addition to the romance, Neil makes some important discoveries about mental health, and the representation of that felt pretty well done to me. He learns how to cope with it, and Rowan gives him the space to do so.

The side cast of characters is also fantastic; the new people they both meet in college are so fun. If you’re looking for a good romance to start off your summer, definitely check this one out!

I felt the same about this book as. I do about many years-later follow up stories: I liked it, but I didn't need it. I reread T3 just before reading this book, and I remembered how much I liked it. I discovered I liked the aspect of Howl and how much it drove the plot of T3. While this book is realistic, I still don't know how much I really needed to read it.

However, will always read everything RLS writes, no shame.

Thanks, NetGalley!