An ode to Friendship, Nostalgia, and the Games We Play

Kamalika_Reads 38

Book: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Author: Gabrielle Zevin

Publishers: Vintage Digital

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Rating: 4.5/5

How I came to know about this book:

This book was the read for May by the bookclub 'Read like a writer' by IQC. I had already heard good words about the book before this also, and so picked it up this time.

What the book is about :

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is a tender, immersive tale of love, friendship, creativity, and heartbreak—told through the lives of Sam and Sadie, two childhood friends bound by their shared love of video games. As they grow up and start creating games together, their personal and professional lives evolve in unexpected, often moving ways.

What I loved about the book :

This book was a complete comfort read for me. I found myself deeply engrossed in the characters; not just Sam and Sadie, but the entire cast, each one so beautifully etched that they felt like people I had known for years. Zevin’s writing is elegant and emotionally rich, and the world she builds around game development hit that sweet nostalgic spot, taking me back to the wonder of childhood gaming days.

What makes this novel exceptional is the emotional weight it carries. There are very few books where you feel a genuine, almost personal sense of loss or joy for the characters, but this is one of them. The love between Sam and Sadie isn’t loud or conventional; it’s quiet, complex, and very real. It reminds us that sometimes love doesn’t need to be spelled out to be deeply felt.

What I felt could have been better :

That said, I was jarred by the way a very significant character was written off. It didn’t feel entirely organic or justified to me, and I kept wishing for a stronger, more believable reason. But honestly, that’s a small dent in an otherwise beautiful narrative.

Yes, there are clichés, especially around love; but I don’t mind them. I want them. Sometimes a well-told story can embrace the familiar and still feel fresh and heartfelt.

Why one should read or not read this book:

If you're not into video games at all, some parts may feel a bit much; but if you’re even slightly nostalgic about that world, this book will hit home. And even beyond the gaming, it’s about something much deeper: the quiet, enduring bonds that shape us.

It’s one of those rare stories that stays with you long after the final page. I loved reading it and I think you will too.

Grab a copy of the book at : https://amzn.in/d/8LBk4g9

Mario was my favourite video game of all times. Although I loved the game, I hated to see 'The princess is in another castle' tag. What was your favourite video game?