Review: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hooter: The Story behind building a story (for video games)

Most books about technology or creative people end up romanticizing either the genius or the fallout. What Zevin does differently is put the making of a game front and center, not just as a plot device, but as the actual fabric holding Sam and Sadie together.

The game development process is where this book hits its stride. You see everything—the ideas that seem crazy until they work, the hours spent debugging and designing, the periods where nothing seems to connect and then, out of nowhere, sudden breakthroughs. Much of the emotional impact isn’t in dramatic fights or romance; it’s two people trying (and often failing) to build something bigger than themselves.

The way the games reflect Sadie and Sam’s changing relationship is very well done. Each project seems to parallel a phase in their own lives: optimism, burnout, ambition, forgiveness. There’s a sense of realism in how collaboration works—the tension between creative vision and compromise, competition and partnership. Game-building becomes more than just work; it’s the main story.

Zevin’s focus on storyplay—not just the stories told within their games, but the act of making those stories possible—adds a fresh dimension to the book. The tech jargon never gets in the way, and you don’t need to be a gamer to connect with the challenge and satisfaction the characters find in creation.

You’ll enjoy Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow if you’ve ever worked hard on a creative project, gotten stuck, fought with teammates, and celebrated small wins. It’s a good read for anyone who cares about how things get made—not just how they end.

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