The novel that will turn even the most zealous video game haters around, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Michelle Zevin should be read by all. The novel follows Sam Mazer and Sadie Green over several decades. The pair meet in the hospital, one sick and the other with a sick sister, and bond over their shared love of video games. Years later, they reunite in Harvard Square. Although they have not spoken since middle school and are now in college, Sadie and Sam still share a special, creative bond. The pair creates the video game Ichigo, and it becomes an immediate hit. With newfound money and fame, they must grapple with the complexities of the industry and just growing up.
I am not a big fan of video games; I can count the number of video games I’ve played on one hand. That did not matter with Zevin’s masterful storytelling. I felt the magic and community that video games like the ones these characters created can provide. It made me understand and care for the characters more.
One of my favorite parts of the novel, though, is Sadie and Sam’s relationship. They never become a couple or explore the strong love between them that both acknowledge. Over and over, it is emphasized that the bond they share is so magical because one rarely finds someone else who fits their creative self so perfectly as Sam and Sadie fit each other. The whole time I was reading this novel, I expected Sadie and Sam to eventually date. I was pleasantly surprised to see Zevin take a different approach, giving a platonic relationship as much care as one would give a romance.
The topic of grief is equally important in the novel. I don’t want to spoil it, but I found that the context of the grief was especially relevant today. Overall, the novel is a five-star read with well-developed characters, a plot, and humorous and heartfelt writing.
