By Book Club Team 
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is a captivating novel about friendship, creativity, and the power of storytelling. Following the lives of Sam and Sadie, two childhood friends turned creative collaborators, the story spans decades as they navigate the highs and lows of designing video games, personal loss, and the complexities of their relationship. With themes of love, ambition, and the resilience needed to start over, this book is a heartfelt exploration of what it means to create and connect.
| Author | Gabrielle Zevin |
| Publication date | July 5, 2022 |
| Goodreads Rating | 4,14 |
| Page count | 401 pages |
| Genres | Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Literary Fiction, Adult, Historical Fiction, Coming Of Age, Adult Fiction |
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Summary
Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a rich and emotionally resonant novel that explores friendship, creativity, love, and the art of storytelling. The story spans decades, following the lives of Sam Masur and Sadie Green, childhood friends who reconnect as young adults and build a creative empire in the video game industry.
Sam and Sadie’s friendship begins in a hospital when they are both children—Sam recovering from a devastating car accident and Sadie visiting her terminally ill sister. They bond over their shared love of video games, but a misunderstanding causes a rift that lasts for years. When they meet again as college students—Sam at Harvard and Sadie at MIT—they rekindle their connection and collaborate to design a revolutionary video game called Ichigo. The game’s success propels them to fame and provides the foundation for their company, Unfair Games, alongside their friend and business partner, Marx Watanabe.
As the trio builds Unfair Games into a powerhouse of creativity and innovation, the novel delves into the complexities of their relationships. Sam’s struggles with chronic pain and the lingering trauma from his childhood accident affect his self-esteem and interactions. Sadie faces systemic sexism in the male-dominated gaming industry and grapples with the tension between her artistic integrity and the demands of commercial success. Marx, the charming and optimistic mediator, becomes the stabilizing force in their lives but ultimately faces his own tragic fate.
The novel doesn’t shy away from exploring the darker aspects of life and creativity. Sam and Sadie’s friendship is tested by jealousy, miscommunication, and grief, yet their bond endures through the years, highlighting the resilience required to maintain deep connections. The book also examines failure as an inevitable part of life and creativity, emphasizing the beauty of starting over and finding redemption in second chances.
Through its vivid portrayal of the video game industry, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow uses gaming as a metaphor for life. Just as players can restart a game and try again, the characters confront their mistakes and begin anew, finding meaning in their struggles. The novel’s exploration of storytelling—both in games and in life—underscores the ways we create and share experiences to connect with others and understand ourselves.
At its core, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a celebration of human connection and the transformative power of creativity. It’s a poignant, beautifully written story that resonates deeply with themes of ambition, love, loss, and the enduring need to create and rebuild.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Characters
Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a character-driven novel that brings its cast to life with depth and nuance. The story revolves around Sam Masur and Sadie Green, childhood friends who reconnect as adults to create video games and build a creative empire. Alongside their friend and business partner, Marx Watanabe, they navigate the challenges of love, ambition, and loss over decades. Each character brings a unique perspective and emotional complexity to the narrative, contributing to the novel’s exploration of friendship, identity, and the power of storytelling.
Sam Masur
Sam is one of the novel’s central protagonists. A deeply creative and introspective individual, Sam’s life is shaped by a traumatic car accident during his childhood that leaves him with a permanent disability and chronic pain. His love for video games serves as both a form of escapism and a way to connect with others. Despite his brilliance as a game designer, Sam often struggles with feelings of inadequacy and a tendency to withdraw emotionally. His complex friendship with Sadie is at the heart of the story, marked by love, rivalry, and miscommunication.
Sadie Green
Sadie is the other central protagonist, a fiercely intelligent and ambitious woman with a passion for video games and storytelling. She meets Sam as a child in the hospital while visiting her terminally ill sister, Alice, and their shared love of games forms the foundation of their lifelong connection. Sadie faces systemic sexism in the gaming industry and struggles with her identity as a creator, torn between pursuing her artistic vision and achieving commercial success. Her relationship with Sam is fraught with tension but ultimately grounded in deep mutual respect and love.
Marx Watanabe
Marx is Sam and Sadie’s best friend and the third partner in their company, Unfair Games. Charismatic, optimistic, and deeply caring, Marx serves as the glue that holds the group together. His background as a theater major gives him a unique perspective on storytelling and collaboration, making him an integral part of the team’s success. Marx’s unwavering support for Sam and Sadie extends beyond their professional lives, and his tragic death becomes a pivotal moment that forces the other two to confront their unresolved issues.
Dov Mizrahi
Dov is Sadie’s college professor and mentor, who later becomes her lover. While he plays a crucial role in shaping Sadie’s early career, their relationship is fraught with power imbalances and emotional manipulation. Dov’s presence in Sadie’s life highlights the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated field, as well as the sacrifices she must make to assert her independence.
Alice Green
Alice is Sadie’s older sister, whose terminal illness deeply affects Sadie during her childhood. Though Alice’s presence is limited in the story, her illness serves as a catalyst for Sadie’s early bond with Sam and influences Sadie’s sense of responsibility and compassion.
Dong Hyun
Dong Hyun is a minor but significant character who is Sam’s roommate in college and a lifelong friend. He provides Sam with emotional support and practical advice, helping him navigate the challenges of building Unfair Games and maintaining his relationships.
Zoe
Zoe is a key member of the Unfair Games team and plays an important role in the company’s creative and technical successes. She is supportive of both Sam and Sadie, providing stability and insight as they navigate their complex partnership.
Each character in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow contributes to the novel’s exploration of creativity, connection, and the human condition. Their relationships are as nuanced and flawed as they are enduring, creating a rich tapestry of emotional and intellectual depth.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Review
Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a deeply resonant and beautifully crafted novel, but like any book, it has its strengths and weaknesses. Here’s a balanced look at its pros and cons:
Pros
1. Complex Characters: The characters, especially Sam, Sadie, and Marx, are richly developed with distinct personalities and backstories. Their relationships feel authentic, with all the messiness, love, and misunderstandings that define real human connections.
2. Exploration of Creativity: The novel’s deep dive into the creative process is one of its standout features. It captures the joys and challenges of collaboration, the tension between artistic vision and commercial success, and the vulnerability required to create meaningful art.
3. Unique Setting and Themes: By placing much of the story in the video game industry, the book explores a fresh and modern setting that hasn’t been overused in literary fiction. It celebrates gaming as an art form and uses it as a metaphor for life’s challenges and the power of reinvention.
4. Emotional Depth: The story’s exploration of friendship, grief, ambition, and identity is emotionally rich. Zevin’s writing evokes empathy and invites readers to reflect on their own relationships and personal growth.
5. Nonlinear Narrative: The shifting timelines and perspectives add layers to the story, allowing readers to see events from multiple angles and appreciate the depth of the characters’ journeys over decades.
Cons
1. Pacing Issues: The novel’s pacing can feel uneven, with some sections dragging or becoming overly detailed, particularly in the descriptions of video game mechanics or technical processes.
2. Overemphasis on Gaming Details: While the focus on video games is a unique aspect, non-gamers might find the technical jargon or in-depth game descriptions hard to follow or less engaging.
3. Lack of Romance Payoff: Some readers might feel frustrated that Sam and Sadie’s relationship never fully transitions into romance, even though there’s tension throughout the story. For those expecting a romantic arc, this could feel like a missed opportunity.
4. Predictable Plot Points: Although the characters are well-written, some plot developments—like Marx’s tragic death—might feel predictable or overly reliant on emotional manipulation.
5. Limited Supporting Character Depth: While Sam, Sadie, and Marx are deeply fleshed out, some supporting characters, like Dov or Zoe, feel less developed, leaving their motivations and contributions less impactful.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a moving and thought-provoking novel that excels in its exploration of creativity, relationships, and resilience. While its unique focus on gaming and artistic collaboration sets it apart, the heavy detail and pacing may not appeal to everyone. For those who connect with the characters and themes, however, it offers a memorable and emotionally rewarding reading experience.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: Genre
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a genre-blending novel that primarily falls under literary fiction, with its focus on deep emotional themes and complex relationships. It also incorporates elements of contemporary fiction, exploring modern technology and gaming culture, and coming-of-age, following the personal and professional growth of its protagonists. The novel’s unique focus on creativity and collaboration within the video game industry adds a fresh layer to its narrative.