User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
This was such a cute and unexpected read. I haven't had luck with my past couple reads so I looked to see what I had on my TBR that had the highest average rating and ended up picking this book up on a whim. I was sent this by the publisher and don't think I would've picked it up otherwise to be honest so I'm very grateful for that! I loved all the discussions that were brought up here. Romance as a real, respectable genre. The worries Rowan has as an aspiring writer were really relatable for me. I liked the focus on the difficult transitional period between high school and college and how she worries she hasn't done high school correctly. The romance between Neil and Rowan was great. I'm not the biggest fan of enemies to lovers but this was one of my favourites. It made sense to me why they had the enemies relationship and watching it blossom was so sweet. The characters' Jewish heritage is prevalent in the story as well and I loved seeing that! The scavenger hunt around Seattle was unexpected but a fun touch and backdrop for the story. Will definitely be looking out for more from this author!
Rating: really liked it
Today Tonight Tomorrow is a delightfully precious love letter to the city of Seattle, as well as a celebration of first love.
Sticky sweet in every way, I absolutely adored this High School Romantic Comedy.
It's the last day of Senior year, and Rowan Roth wants nothing more than to beat her archenemy and academic rival, Neil McNair, one last time.
The two have been in a brutal competition with one another since the start of high school, coming in first and second at almost EVERYTHING.
From the very start of the day, Rowan has one thing on her mind, the final class rankings.
The honor of Valedictorian is a goal they both have been working towards. Rowan doesn't have to stay in suspense long, however, because at the very beginning of the school day it is announced that Neil has won the honor.
Rowan is understandably crushed. She now literally has one opportunity left to beat him. Senior Howl, a scavenger hunt arranged by the Junior class, and played by the Seniors on their last day.
Rowan is confident she has what it takes to go the distance with Howl. No one knows and loves the city of Seattle like she does. These clues don't stand a chance of tripping her up.
When word gets out that a group of Seniors want to take Neil and Rowan out of Howl, the odd couple must team up and work together if they want to survive the night.
Please note, by
survive the night, I just mean that people playing against them have the ability to tag them out of play, not literally that people are trying to kill them. I feel like I need to clarify that because Horror is my favorite genre.
As the day and night go on, Rowan and Neil begin to open up to one another and something truly magical happens.
I have not felt this invested with two teens since Love & Gelato. They are both incredibly smart, well-balanced characters and their banter back and forth is everything.
While the relationship between Rowan and Neil makes up the bulk of the story, this book also delves into some fairly serious topics as well.
I think as an examination of the feelings and concerns someone on the cusp of adulthood may have, Solomon did a great job. It's a scary time, graduating high school and potentially leaving everything you have ever known behind.
It can be sad and scary, while also being exciting as you forge out on your own.
The dichotomy of those feelings can be incredibly confusing and I think the author did a phenomenal job of laying that out there.
Overall, I was really impressed with this. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves YA Contemporary stories.
I literally have no critiques. The more I think on it, the more I love it. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Rachel Lynn Solomon.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Simon Pulse, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. It was a blast!
Rating: really liked it
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! 💃🏻💞💞
I want to wrap it in softest blankets, treating it chilled Chardonnay and strawberry cheesecake ice cream. ( that’s how I show my kindness to my loved ones. But of course my Chardonnay treat is limited with one glass😆)🥂🍨
This was the sweetest, smartest, most entertaining and also most thought provoking, brilliant novel and I can honestly say this is so far my favorite young adult reading.
It reminds you of Mindy Kalling’s Netflix series Never Have I Ever’s frenemies rivalry between Devi and Ben.
At this book both Rowan and Neil are ambitious competitors, pushing each other’s limits for years and both of them are struggling when the graduation day comes because for years both of them’s most important plan is defeating the other so they both seem lost now! And you know what? they suddenly realize they will miss to push each other’s buttons.
Especially Rowan, child of successful writer parents who are famous with their children series, secretly wrote a romance novel, dreaming to become a writer even though both her parents and her best friends mock the romance novels, defining them as garbage. And of course her best friends’ decision to spend their family holiday excluding her increased her depression after hearing she lost valedictorian place to Neil.
She wrote a list when she was 14 for her future self and now she sees she couldn’t succeed anything from the list. She needs a backup plan and thankfully the traditional school game Howl: a vicious, action packed scavenger hunt gives her excellent opportunity to become a winner. She can kick ass of her long time nemesis and wipe the pretentious smile from his face forever with her victory dance.
But as soon as the competition starts, they reluctantly became partners because the other competitors are sick of their years long winnings.
This reluctance partnership slowly turns into something intimate as soon as they start to get rid of their emotional barriers and learn more each other’s lives. They realize maybe they never hated each other for years and they have so much things in common.
As you may imagine this is perfectly written enemies to friends and friends to lovers story. It’s about children’s struggles to get approval of their parents, dysfunctional family problems, friendship, people’s prejudice approaches to Jewish culture, future fear after moving on to your college life, sweet rivalry, obsession, realistic approach to VCard.
Overall: I smiled so much and my cheeks still hurt but it’s truly worth it! I’m giving my five, absolutely well-deserved,feel good, swoon, soft , sweet, intelligent, emotional stars!
Rating: really liked it
Y'all, I have been anticipating this book since it was originally pitched as a "YA mix of the Hating Game + Dazed and Confused" and I am SO HAPPY TO SAY that this was exactly what I was hoping it would be and honestly just an all-around perfect YA contemporary for me. I laughed, I teared up, I SWOONED. It has my favorite trope (enemies to lovers) set in one of my favorite cities (Seattle) and it was just so perfect in every way. If you're looking for something fun to escape into this summer, look no further. I absolutely ADORED this and I think that you will, too!
TW: antisemitism
Rating: really liked it
New week, New BookTube Video - all about the best (and worst) literary couples
The Written Review 
Unless you've been under a rock for the last four years, everyone knows
Rowan and Neil hate each other.It all started with
a clash in class, then spiraled into student council elections and next thing you know, anything thing that could be construed as a competition because a life-or-death battle for Rowan and Neil.
When Neil is named valedictorian,
Rowan finds herself filled with...emptiness.Four years of fighting tooth-and-nail and it's all over?
Just like that?Luckily there's one last time she'd be able to beat him - the Howl. A city-wide scavenger-hunt-ninja-assassination game that all the seniors get to play upon graduation.
And this time?
She's not going to lose. But when
an unexpected alliance is formed, Rowan begins to wonder what (or who) she's truly afraid to lose.
Could there be more to their push-and-pull?
Overall, I thought this one was
surprisingly cute. I don't usually go for contemporaries but this one ended up working for me.
I thought I was going to have issues with Rowan and Neil with the way they were constantly at each other's throats but it ended up working pretty well in the book - a bit leaning towards banter opposed to straight-up arguing.
I thought the plot was
fun and fast-paced. And while I kind of kept thinking of all the reasons this would definitely NOT be allowed in modern era, it was enjoyable to watch them run across town and strategize against their "enemies".
I do wish the book had covered a bit more time (opposed to just the one day) but ah well.
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Rating: really liked it
i wish this high school experience had been one of my high school experiences.
sigh.this is a really fun story, filled with academic rivalry, a city wide scavenger hunt, enemies becoming friends to only realise they are actually something more, and growing bonds between family and friends. its a cute story with some really good things to offer.
however, im personally not a fan of stories that take place during a set time frame, as its often too limiting. with this particular book, it takes place over the course of 24 hours, so we dont see anything that happened before that day or anything that happens after. because of that, its a lot of telling and no showing and it made me struggle to believe the any of the different stages of connection between rowan and neil.
overall, this is a lighthearted and entertaining story, i just personally would have loved to see it take place over throughout senior year, rather than just the last day of school.
↠ 3.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
The thing about this book is that I only wanted one thing from it.
Nothing makes me feel summerier than a romantic YA contemporary, and nothing feels better than feeling summery.
And this was a fun romance that worked for me.
So even though the social issues felt very forcefully inserted, even though the other relationships in this book besides the central one fell by the wayside, even though overall this felt very tryhard...
I don't care about any of it.
Because romance.
Bottom line: For once I'm not picky ENOUGH!
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pre-reviewokay. this was really cute.
like actually maybe too cute.
like i'm in pain.
review to come / 3.5 or dare i say even 4 stars
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tbr reviewit's warm outside, so you know what that means: i'm about to spend the next 4 months only able to read contemporaries
Rating: really liked it
Release day update:
Today Tonight Tomorrow is officially out in the world, and I'm so thrilled to share that it's Barnes & Noble's YA Book Club pick for August!!
Update:
Today Tonight Tomorrow's publication date has been moved to July 28, 2020 as a result of the pandemic. I'm sorry it'll take a bit longer, but I'm still so excited for you to meet Rowan and Neil this summer! Stay safe and be well 💙
Earlier updates:
Hi! This book was so incredibly fun to write, and I can't wait to share it in summer 2020. While it's contemporary YA like my first two books, it's a romantic comedy (complete with a happy ending) and thus significantly more upbeat. Some facts about it:
• It's an enemies-to-lovers (or more accurately, rivals-to-lovers) romance.
• It takes place in 24 hours on the last day of senior year.
• The protagonist, Rowan, wants to write romance novels, and there's a lot of discussion about them as valid pieces of literature and the way society is quick to tear down the interests of women and teens.
• The love interest, Neil, loves words and wants to study linguistics. He's both infuriating and awkward, and he has red hair and many, many freckles.
• Rowan is anxious about leaving Seattle and high school behind, while Neil can't wait to get out.
• Both Rowan and Neil are Jewish.
• Some of my inspirations:
The Hating Game and the movies
Dazed & Confused and
Before Sunrise.
Rating: really liked it
“There’s this word in Japanese: tsundoku,” Neil says suddenly.
“It’s my favorite word in any language.”
“What does it mean?”
He grins. “It means acquiring more books than you could ever
realistically read.” 🠑 This books speaks to my soul 🠑
This book is my new comfort read and I am completely OBSESSED
Also, whenever someone mentions anything with the word freckles in it, I think of Neil. I have a book hangover lmao 💀
I have so many updates for this book it isn't even funny: I would literally have 364 of them if I wrote one for all the cute moments but I was able to refrain from doing so. You're welcome.
I read this book in one sitting, and I stayed up late into the night to do so, and it was well worth it! I haven't read books in one sitting a lot, which means that this book is special!
I love reading books with competitions in them, and this one was so much fun! It was like this book was made for me: academic rivals to lovers, the main characters loves to read and write romance novels, and oh my gosh, so many things in this book were so relatable and just freaking ADORABLE.
The romance in this book was so freaking cute, it made me laugh out loud and giggle SO MUCH. Neil is precious and I will protect him at all costs.
Rivals to reluctant allies to slow friends to lovers? PERFECTION WITH SPRINKLES ON TOP.
So, let's talk about Rowan. She is an incredibly relatable main character. As I said, she loves to read and write, and though I'm not smart enough to get in the top two of my class (In my dreams), apparently she cried over a book (so have I), she said she would use $5,000 to buy books (literally me if I weren't so broke).
Here's a quote:
"As much as you love books, please don't forget about the outside world."HAHA. No.
The side characters are all great and diverse and I LOVE them.
And now. Neil. Freaking. McNair. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH IT'S HARD TO BREATHE. He's the sweetest human being ever and I want someone like him. He literally made me CRY out of how sweet he was. THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. I've only ever cried over sad moments, and the only time I almost cried out of happiness was while reading the last chapter of The Queen of Nothing. He literally gave her a first edition of a book she loves, I CAN'T. He even gave her cream cheese. He CRIED in front of her. He has red hair and freckles. But I must admit, I was skeptical at first: his name is Neil and he wears fancy clothes to school. But I was wrong. Also, he kind of reminds me of a guy I once liked: They're both really smart, wear glasses, and also text with capital letters and periods. Heh, and their names both start with the letter N.
Rowan and Neil's relationship deserves more praise. They were so freaking cute, having to work together "reluctantly" but I could feel the chemistry from the beginning. They have now become one of my favorite couples. Also, she let him read her book, though she didn't trust anyone else 😭 Also again, that moment in the museum? 🤭 And then in Rowan's bedroom at the end? 😉
Overall, this was so cute, so sweet, I'm in love with Neil McNair, their chemistry was off the charts and I found literally no problems with this book.
“How do you tell the person you’ve spent four years trying to destroy that you have a crush on them?” 5 stars
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OH. MY. GOSH. THIS WAS LITERAL PERFECTION IN 364 PAGES. I READ THIS IN ONE SITTING, AND I LITERALLY JUST BOUGHT THIS BOOK TODAY. JUST A LITTLE NOTE THOUGH: NEIL MADE ME CRY. I'VE NEVER SHED HAPPY TEARS WHILE READING A BOOK BEFORE SO THIS IS NEW.
FANGIRLING RTC
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Pre-read: ACADEMIC RIVALS TO LOVERS I NEED TO READ THIS RIGHT NOW
Rating: really liked it
7/28/2020: HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO THIS GEM! So excited to foist this on all my friends so we can Zoom-gush together 💙💙💙
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This book has my WHOLE. DAMN. HEART. It's like the love child of Booksmart and The Hating Game, but also just so uniquely Rachel Lynn Solomon??
Today Tonight Tomorrow reminds me of all the reasons I absolutely love contemporary YA fic. It’s witty and uplifting and
progressive. It shows characters inhabiting a reality very much like my own. People who share my insecurities and my passions. People who could be my friends, who I relate to today—but also who I
could be, someday.
There are seriously too many things I adored about this book. It features such a diverse rep of characters. It toasts a beautifully eclectic tribute to Seattle (Nirvana, Gum Wall, quirky cafés named after Where'd You Go, Bernadette and all). It's got gorgeous book design—text bubbles and Messenger group chats, bucket lists and pizza receipts, even one tearjerking yearbook message.
What I loved best of all, though, was how this book touched on SO many important topics.Today Tonight Tomorrow confronts anti-Semitism, bullying, and microaggressions. It affirms the unique comfort of
connecting with someone who shares your religion, identity, and experience. And reading about the solidarity that Rowan and Neil found together as Jews in Seattle—it made my heart hurt. It made me stupid happy.
There is so much I love about Judaism, the history and the food and the sound of the prayers, but it isolates me, too. Yet here’s someone I labeled as an enemy who was maybe feeling isolated in the same way.
Sometimes I felt it was a little too on-the-nose with social justice issues, a little too direct. Even so:
This book crafts characters who are self-aware, self-deprecating, and capable of complexity. Rowan’s a passionate feminist who’s unafraid to admit she wants someone to love, a straight-A student who has sex in cars. Neil geeks out over etymology, turns into a snarky tomato around Rowan, and loves his little sister; he’s also ashamed of several aspects of his home life.
With banter and compassion, Rowan and Neil challenge each other to be vulnerable, take risks, and grow ever closer to the best versions of themselves. There are humbling moments when Rowan owns up to being a shitty friend to her best friends, and Neil apologizes for hurting her feelings. This sort of honesty was SO refreshing to read.
AND—this book speaks openly and frankly about sex!! To which I say: YES TO SEX POSITIVITY. MASTURBATING. ASKING IF THIS IS OKAY. REHASHING THE NIGHT. BEING AWKWARD. BEING AFFECTIONATE. ALL OF IT—YES.
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UPDATE 8/12/2020: The reason I've changed my review from 5 to 4 stars is bc I still can't get over the (view spoiler)
[quickness with which Neil and Rowan fall for each other (hide spoiler)] at the end??? Like I get that maybe (view spoiler)
[Neil was crushing on Rowan the whole time they were competing with each other, but I don't understand how Rowan went from "I could really see myself loving him someday!" (which I LOVED and really resonated with) to "I love you, too!!!!!"
Just when I thought we were in the clear for instalove, it strikes again (hide spoiler)]. Gah. Doesn't diminish my love for this book or its characters, though—I still loved this one, and I really think you will too.
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NOW IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME… I will be recapping Rowan/Neil highlights via Booksmart gifs **all spoilers are tagged**
When they co-led the student council meeting that lasted until midnight—
When Rowan breaks the physical-touch barrier for the first time and comforts Neil about his dad—
Anytime Rowan talks about the epicness of romance novels (and how empowering they can be for women)—
When they (view spoiler)
[split (hide spoiler)] and it was so ANGSTY—
When they finally acknowledge the (view spoiler)
[feelings (hide spoiler)] everyone else has known since forever—
When Rowan tackles Brady Becker and (view spoiler)
[Neil wins Howl (hide spoiler)]—
When Rowan calls Savannah out for making that comment about her nose—
When Chekhov's condom comes into play like I KNEW it would—
And last but not least: when they accept all of the uncertainty that comes with happily-ever-after…
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these are the songs i'm bopping to while reading Today Tonight Tomorrow
...aka Booksmart but make it ENEMIES-TO-LOVERS
💫
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this e-ARC!
Rating: really liked it
2 StarsThis should have been a slam dunk for me ~ enemies-to-love, Seattle setting, and a YA rom-com. As it stands, I'm having a hard time finding things that I really liked. Mostly, it was was mediocre to frustrating for me.
I was immediately bothered by the personality and attitude of the heroine. From experience with one of my favorite tropes, I know that first impressions and character personalities can shift, but I never really warmed up to Rowan or her personality. I had liked Neil more, but since the book was written with a single, 1st person narrative, I was limited to what Rowan observed or told me.
Beyond Rowan's characterization, there were too many agendas for one book and rather than inspiring, it felt forced and conspicuous. Below are examples of the many social agenda's presented one or multiple times throughout the book:
Jewish stereotyping/antisemitism
Feminism
Romance novel stereotyping
Veganism
Marijuana legality
Gender equality
Sex positivity
Alone or subtly explored, I can enjoy social issues being addressed in romantic fiction, but in this book, I was overwhelmed with constantly being told about them, rather than shown. It also didn’t help that I wasn’t a big fan of the protagonist and had to endure her numerous expositions on various topics.
I know this next criticism will sound picky, but hear me out. I was taken aback by the chronic use of the F-word. I’m not necessarily a prude when it comes to language in a book, but the fact that it started to annoy me tells me that it was overused, especially in a YA book. Occasional use creates emphasis, while overuse simply becomes crass and unimaginative.
Overall, I had liked the idea of the story, as well as a deeper look into their families, but I think having Neil's POV would have helped shape the story a bit more.
Rating: really liked it
4.25 ⭐️ this was so fun & cute!! academic rivals? sign me tf up 💅🏻 I loved the game & the characters, and I specially loved the discussion of romance novels and how important they are to women. this was the type of book that u could keep reading until the end of time. I wish it didn’t just abruptly end tho?? like epilogue where?? graduation? speeches? nothing? I would’ve liked to see where the couple was at a couple years later. regardless a very fun read.
“artoo & mcnightmare” <3
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars, rounded up.
So much to love about Rachel Lynn Solomon's new book,
Today Tonight Tomorrow .
Neil and Rowan have been bitter rivals all four years of high school. From an essay contest freshman year, they’ve battled over everything—grades, SAT scores, pull-ups in gym class, college acceptances—they even had to be student council co-presidents. They constantly taunt and torture one another, and Rowan is hoping that today, the last day of high school, she’ll be named valedictorian over him.
When that doesn’t happen, she has one more chance to beat her rival, playing Howl, a senior-class game that is part scavenger hunt, part “assassin.” But when Rowan overhears a group of classmates talking about beating her and Neil together, she decides to pair up with him for one opportunity for them to finish one-two.
As they race all over Seattle for the game and take care of some other obligations along the way, they start to let their guard down with the other for the first time, and discover there’s more to like about their rivals than they ever knew. Both have been hiding secrets which few other people know, but for some reason they feel comfortable sharing them with each other. But what does that mean ultimately?
So rom-com fans know where this book is headed, but it has such charm and heart, it doesn’t matter that the plot is predictable. There were lots of things Solomon threw in the book to give the characters more depth and I loved them—some things aren’t typically discussed in YA rom-coms.
"But I do want something big and wild, something that fills my heart completely. I want a fraction of what Emma and Charlie or Lindley and Josef or Trisha and Rose have, even though they're fictional. I'm convinced that when you're with the right person, every date, every
day feels that way."
This could be such a fun movie, with gorgeous Seattle as a backdrop and great music as a soundtrack. Hope someone is paying attention to that idea!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Rating: really liked it
this book made me realize
even more what a shitty high school experience i had and how much i missed. sometimes i either got too caught up in the moment, or i didn't get caught in the moment at all. but yknow, i'm a college sophomore now, and i can't go back. i can only look back at my memories, at the people i met and the people i lost. i can look back at the laughs, tears, and smiles i let. at the exams i cheated on, tests i didn't study for, homework i ignored, activities i wasn't a part of.
i don't miss high school, per se. i don't miss the building or the screams of little kids making their way through their lockers so they can just open it, gossip, and then close. but here and there i miss the people, the amount of joy i felt when i saw someone specific.
we only regret the chances we never took, they say.
Rating: really liked it
Rachel Lynn Solomon's first two books were hard hitting, bitter sweet books so when I learned that her newest one would be light & fun, I was ready.
It did not disappoint either! This book takes place in a day and is fun and romantic and gives you all the Seattle vibes! It made my 10 things I hate about you heart so happy.
Also I Love how Solomon weaves the Jewish faith into each one of her books. I don't know nearly enough about the Jewish faith and I always appreciate learning more.
A fun book that's def. a new favorite!
