Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowReview posted May 10, 2024.
Random House Audio, 2022. 13 hours and 52 minutes.
Review written May 3, 2024, from a library eaudiobook.
Starred Review
I'm behind everybody else on reading novels for adults, but not being on an award committee right now, I'm trying to catch up on some of the titles that are popular at Fairfax County Public Library. (I can see how long the Holds lists are.)
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is the story of Sadie and Sam, both video game designers who treat their work as art. The book covers decades of their lives, as their friendship - and their art - evolves and changes over time.
They first met when they were kids. Sadie's sister was in the hospital with cancer, and Sam was in the hospital having his foot put back together after a devastating car accident. They used to play video games together for hours. Sam's parents were excited because Sadie was the first person Sam had talked to after the accident, and he'd been in the hospital for weeks.
But the book doesn't start there. It begins when Sam and Sadie spot each other at a subway station in Boston, where Sadie is attending M.I.T. and Sam is at Harvard. Sam hadn't spoken to Sadie in years - and we find out their history as back story.
Eventually, Sam and Sadie make a video game together and go into business together. And this book is far more interesting than that summary sounds.
There were times when I didn't like the characters and thought about quitting reading the book, but was just a little too invested. Then later, I was mad at the author because I thought she'd completely cheated to resolve a love triangle.
But it turned out that wasn't what was happening, and the event I thought was a cheat led to some innovative storytelling as the book went on and the characters were dealing with some tough things.
In a lot of ways, this author was like the characters: Trying to tell a story in innovative and creative ways, going beyond entertainment into art. I think she succeeds.