Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: A novel

I learned about this book because a friend of mine was reading it as part of her book club. I thought maybe it would have been a fun topic for discussion. I ended up getting it and reading it in 3 nights while trying to go to sleep. She was not happy with me when I told her I'd read it and she was only a third of the way through. Nor did she connect with the characters at all, thinking them alien and strange. That assessment extended to me when I told her I saw elements of myself in the characters, especially Sam and his experience with Sadie. Superficially, the book is about 3 people who form a company to develop video games. In reality, and the reason it is powerful, is it grapples with creation and the development process, how love evolves over life-long friendships, and how the feelings associated with mutual intellectual pursuit and romantic attraction can become entangled. The book has nice lessons on how love persists even after a romance ends, how love persists but transforms over time, and how love can involve emotional and intellectual intimacy without romance. I really enjoyed the book because it tied into personal experience from 30 years ago. I was able to remember them and relive them. In my case it was aerospace-related development isolated with my equivalent of Sadie, but the emotional experience was much the same. It was wild and crazy and exhilarating and terrifying, but I would not have skipped it for the world. The video games described in the story aren't real but sound like games I would like to play. I don't know how realistic the development process is; my software development experience did not involve games. My only game development experience has been creating objects that go in a game, and that's more artwork than software development. One thing that did not sit true was the MIT professor Dov and the dysfunctional relationship he had with his student. I've studied there. I never saw anything like this. In reality, someone like Dov would have run afoul of the disciplinary committee quickly. Leaving this subplot out of the book would not have lost anything. In summary, I enjoyed the book because I resonated with the characters and it made me relive some of my life experiences. It's probably not for everyone, but I found it a an impactful and fun read.

I love a book that takes a topic that doesn't particularly interest me (i.e. gaming) but still manages to make it such an interesting and incredible read. I am far from a "gamer", and while this book mostly revolves around the gaming industry and uses a lot of terminology and talk that I wasn't always able to follow, I was still able to feel engrossed in the story and was just as invested in it. Alongside with gaming, this book also does an amazing job at exploring various friendships, relationships, etc. and seeing how they change over time. I really do enjoy a story that takes place over a period of time and seeing how the characters and their relationships change with them, and this book is an excellent example of that. That being said, I feel like there was a portion of the book where my interest level dropped a little (about after the first 1/3 of the book). I feel like the characters became a little stagnant at that point, seemed like there was a bunch of unnecessary drama, and fell a little flat for me. And I was starting to feel very disconnected from the characters. BUT... then the about 3/4 of the way in.... Gabrielle just hits you with the biggest punch to the gut I've gotten from a book in a while. And I was left with my jaw hanging open, and realized just how close to the characters I was in that moment. All feelings of being disconnected were gone, and I was left with my heart on the floor. But seriously, that chapter (Part VII: The NPC: You are flying. - you know the one), was one of the most tragic, beautifully written chapters I've ever read. Whether you enjoyed the book a lot, or none at all, no one can deny how emotionally impactful that chapter was. I'm still reeling from it. This was one I listened to on audio, and was definitely a good choice. The narrator was amazing, and did an incredible job at bringing the characters to life. While this book wasn't a knock out 5 stars for me, it was still an amazing read and definitely recommend it to everyone.

It has been a long time since a book has left me as mesmerized and energized as this one, and a long time since I’ve felt compelled to write a book review. Which is to say , Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is that kind of a book , a fantastic book. A book that leaves you wanting to do something , to be someone , just beyond the horizon of your own predictability. It is the sort of book that lingers on your lap for some time after you’ve turned the last page, makes you want to clear your morning schedule after you’ve been up all night reading, just to spend a little more time luxuriating in Zevin’s infinite world of possibility. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is the kind of book that makes zealots of complacent readers and idolaters of aspiring and established writers alike. I will admit, I was in no way drawn to the premise of this book. I have no interest in gaming. Or programming. In fact , this 400 page novel, ostensibly about three Harvard and MIT educated video game programmers, sat on my nightstand looking pretty for about a month. And it would have ended there except I’m an aesthete by nature, and it really was pretty. So it could not go ignored for too long. The cover is a work of art in and of itself. Psychedelic Tomorrows appear like scratchboard art etchings, suspended against a “storm tossed sea”- the iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa originally fashioned in 1831 by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. And while they say you shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover , in this case , you would be wise to do just that. TTT is not just a book about gaming. Yes it’s the story of three programmers coming together to build something that will come to define a generation. But it’s more than that. It’s a book about coming together to build something that is more than the sum of its parts. A book about friendship, ambition, disability, and triumph and all the different kinds of love you will inevitability experience along the way. Zevin’s world is a physical world but also a digital one, a world of infinite possibilities. A where players can be reborn and cheat death a thousand times. A place where disability won’t impede your ability to soar to new horizons. Or to craft those horizons. Her characters are unforgettable. All MIT and Harvard prodigies in their own rights, we have Sam, a disabled Jewish-Korean orphan, Sadie, an Ashkenazi California native and Sam’s childhood best friend, business partner and fellow gamer. And there’s Marx, a Korean Zac Morris of sorts whose effortless beauty, generosity, and charisma often obscure the fact that he is as brilliant and creative as his quirkier tech-centric peers. In the 400 beautifully written pages of Zevin’s latest novel , These characters come together to form one of the strangest and most beautiful love stories you’ll come across in modern day literature. Friendship, as it turns out —-may be the greatest love of all. I won’t say more . At a certain point . You have to let the work speak for itself . Five stars

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow isn’t just a book—it’s an experience. From the very first page, I was completely immersed in the intricate, beautifully crafted world of friendship, love, and creativity. The characters feel astonishingly real; their joys, heartbreaks, and triumphs resonate deeply, as if you’re walking alongside them rather than reading about them. What makes this novel unforgettable is its exploration of art and collaboration. It’s not just about the stories we tell but the connections that shape us while we’re telling them. The pacing is perfect, balancing moments of quiet reflection with bursts of pure emotional intensity. And the writing—oh, the writing!—is lyrical, sharp, and emotionally devastating in the best possible way. I’ve read a lot of books in 2024, and this one stands out as my absolute favorite. It’s the rare kind of novel that makes you think about life, friendship, and creativity long after the final page. If you care about stories that hit your heart and stay with your mind, this is one you cannot miss.

It moved a little slow for my ADHD Brain. The murder did add some surprise and an Adrenalin Boost. The dialog brought up a number of philosophical considerations. It was interesting to travel in a world I knew nothing about. I guess gaming is another escape from our usually confusing and mundane lives.

I’m not a gamer. I know as much about expansion packs or role-playing games as I do about skateboarding or quilting (which is to say, not much). But that’s OK, because in "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow," you don’t have to understand gaming culture. You simply have to care about the people, and these are complex, frustrating, and human characters, so caring about them becomes inevitable. What Zevin does especially well is character development. Sam, Sadie, and Marx are not idealized, and thank God for that. They are brilliant, damaged, ambitious, withholding, petty, creative, selfish, and loyal. They feel real. These are not characters meant to be just adored; they are written to be known. Over the course of years, Zevin lets them grow, harden, unravel, reconnect, and misunderstand each other in ways that feel emotionally honest. And that emotional complexity is what made this book work so well for me. In sharp contrast to Buckeye (which I finished just before this book, and which somehow makes time feel emotionally inert), this one delivers the depth I want from a sweeping literary novel. If you’re going to ask me to invest in people over the years, I want drama, longing, and multi-dimensional characters. I appreciated that Zevin uses game design as a framework for larger questions. More than once, the novel asks: What is the difference between art and entertainment, and who gets to decide which is which? When something is commercially successful, do we dismiss it too quickly as “mere entertainment”? Or is that just another way of underestimating forms of art we’ve been taught not to take seriously? I loved that this novel never pounds the table on that question but simply makes the case by existing. For me, this lands at four stars because I admired it almost as much as I enjoyed it. This is a novel about people making things together and breaking each other in the process. And if that isn’t one of the oldest stories in the world, I don’t know what is.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin is an exhilarating novel that delves into the complex and multifaceted world of video game design while exploring themes of friendship, love, ambition, and identity. The story revolves around two friends, Sam Masur and Sadie Green, who share a deep connection and creative partnership in the realm of video games. The narrative takes us back to a bitter-cold day during Sam's junior year at Harvard when he encounters Sadie on a subway platform. This chance meeting sets the stage for a legendary collaboration that catapults them to stardom in the gaming industry. Despite their youth and lack of resources, Sam and Sadie's unwavering dedication to their craft results in the creation of their first blockbuster game, Ichigo. Overnight, they become brilliant, successful, and wealthy, but their journey is fraught with challenges. As the novel spans three decades, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and various locations in between, readers are taken on a mesmerizing journey through the ups and downs of Sam and Sadie's lives. Zevin intricately explores themes of identity, disability, the pursuit of creative ambitions, and the complexities of human relationships. At its core, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" is a love story, but it defies conventional narratives. It examines the profound need for connection, both in terms of being loved and loving others. The novel paints a vivid and thought-provoking portrait of two individuals whose lives are intertwined by their shared passion for video game design. Gabrielle Zevin's storytelling is both captivating and emotionally resonant. She skillfully weaves together a narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish, while also delving into profound questions about the human experience. "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" is a unique and unforgettable literary journey that explores the transformative power of creativity and the enduring bonds of friendship and love.

I have said before “this is one of the best books I’ve read” but this is certainly the best book I’ve read in a very long time. I really wasn’t looking forward to it but it was the book for the March book club so I bought it and started reading it. I couldn’t put it down. I was so surprised by the depth of the book. The characters were so well written each with completely different personalities. The storyline moved along from person to person and kept your attention with a few twists and turns so that you didn’t want to put it down. Never would I think I would like a story about people making video games but I really enjoyed this book. It started out about two young people. Sam Masur and Sadie Green, in a hospital who meet and become life-long friends. Both of them were fans of video games and spent a lot of time at the hospital, him with an issue with his foot after an accident and Sadie since her sister had cancer, they spent a lot of time playing video games. They get in a tiff and don’t speak for years but then meet again and decide that since they both love video games they would create one together. From there the story goes on about their video game, their friendship, each other's lives, their lovers, family and other friends. During the years, they build a video gaming company that has success but they also go through losses that can never be replaced and tragedy that is hard to recover from. Sam and Sadie go through so much but their special love for each other is always there. This is a must read even if you think you aren’t a video gaming person.

Very nice book, really recommend it!

As a female gamer who grew up in the same era as the main characters this book was fabulously nostalgic in its coverage of the games and gaming culture of that time. The characters are excellent and they tell a beautiful story of the trials of trauma, friendship, following your passion and identity and how these things shift and change. I especially liked the treatment of a platonic but very deep friendship as this is so rarely covered in novels or media. For me the main characters definitely come across as neurodiverse and their quirks are treated with an openness and without judgement (even if the characters themselves sometimes do judge their own quirks which is to be expected as they navigate the world). Loved this book and ended up reading it slowly to extend my time with these characters.

1980年代生まれの日本人読者として、この本は心の奥深くに響きました。ゼヴィンは日本のゲーム文化とアメリカの起業家精神を見事に織り合わせています。 基盤は純粋な日本のゲームDNA - マリオ、ドンキーコング、クロノ・トリガーは単なる名前の羅列ではなく、物語の骨格として機能。幼少期に父親のPCを通じてゲームの喜びを発見した私は、登場人物たちの原体験に深い共感を覚えました。 この作品を特別にしているのは、ゼヴィンがこれをUSカルチャーの重要点である、起業家精神。ハーバード/MITスタートアップのエネルギーとバランスよく描いている点です 「レベルアップ」の構造が素晴らしい - 仕事、友情、愛が競い合うのではなく、共に進化していきます。この並行した発展は、個人的成長と職業的達成が絡み合うゲーム世代の体験を完璧に捉えています。 最も重要なのは、この本が私たちの文化的輸出品を終着点ではなく、新しい創造性の出発点として描いていることです - そしてそれは日本人としての私自身の創造活動にも影響を与えています。真のイノベーションは情熱からくる融合から生まれるのだと。 異文化間を行き来する人、ゲームで育った人には必読。 As a Japanese reader born in the 1980s, this book hit me right in the heart. Zevin masterfully weaves together Japanese gaming culture with American entrepreneurial spirit in a way that feels both authentic and inspiring. The foundation is pure Japanese gaming DNA - Mario, Donkey Kong, Chrono Trigger aren't just name-dropped but serve as the story's backbone. As someone who discovered gaming joy through my father's PC in childhood, I felt deep empathy with the characters' formative experiences. What makes this special is how Zevin balances this with real Harvard/MIT startup energy - the urgency and ambition feels authentic, not romanticized. The "leveling up" structure is brilliant - work, friendship, and love evolve together rather than competing. This parallel development perfectly captures the gaming generation's experience where personal growth and professional achievement intertwine. Most importantly, this book shows our cultural exports not as endpoints but as launching points for new creativity - and it influences my own creation as a Japanese. True innovation comes from thoughtful synthesis, not dominance. A must-read for anyone navigating between cultures or anyone who grew up gaming. Zevin has created something genuinely transformative here.

Friendship, love, ambition, heartbreak and redemption are hardly novel premises for a book. Yet Gabrielle Zevin manages to make them fresh and interesting by setting her story against the backdrop of the video gaming industry. Zevin describes herself as a “lifelong gamer”, and her familiarity with the subject is evident in the way she brings the world of game development alive, from the creative process to the business and technical aspects. However, she never allows this detailing to get in the way of the story or make it inaccessible to readers who know little about gaming. At its heart, this is a deeply human story about relationships, and the gaming world provides a wonderfully unusual setting for it. The story revolves around three characters – Sam, Sadie and Marx. Sam is intelligent, introspective and often difficult to understand, carrying the physical and emotional scars of an accident that has shaped much of his life. Sadie is fiercely creative, ambitious and independent, but also complicated. Their relationship is the central thread of the book, moving between friendship, professional collaboration and something that neither quite knows how to define. Marx is the more easy-going and emotionally balanced of the three, often providing the glue that holds them together. Their individual journeys and the changing dynamics between them make for a fascinating portrayal of friendship over several decades. Zevin is an engaging storyteller, with an easy writing style that makes the book extremely readable. She moves effortlessly across the different phases of the protagonists’ lives, while bringing the fictional games to life with considerable imagination. The narrative is also refreshingly inventive, particularly towards the end, when a sort of redemption arc unfolds through the lens of an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). The title is drawn from Macbeth's famous soliloquy, which describes life as a brief and ultimately meaningless passage towards death. I found the choice somewhat puzzling, given that the novel, despite its spectrum of emotions, is ultimately much more hopeful – the idea of starting again and having another opportunity to make things right, as in video games, runs through the book. Nevertheless, an unusual subject, complex characters and some wonderful storytelling make this a thoroughly satisfying read. Pros: Original setting, memorable characters, inventive storytelling Cons: The Sam-Sadie dynamics can be weary at times

I love the spray painted edges. Have not finished the book yet but it’s is very easy to read and I resonate with the characters so far.