Katha & Coffee

This story is steeped in ’90s-coded nostalgia and tells a quietly powerful story about friendship, love, and deep human connection. At its core are Sam Masur and Sadie Green, who meet as teenagers in a hospital, bonding over video games. Years later, they reconnect in college and go on to collaborate as video game creators. The narrative traces their relationship from that first meeting through their creative and personal journey together.

Despite what one might expect, this is not a romance. As the synopsis rightly says, it’s about love, platonic, complicated, enduring love, rather than a conventional love story.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is Sam’s characterisation. His trauma and physical disability profoundly shape how he relates to others – his difficulty expressing himself, his fragile sense of self-worth, and his instinct to hide pain to avoid pity. Layered onto this is his deep fear of loss, rooted in the traumatic death of his mother in a car accident. Sam is written with great sensitivity, and his emotional landscape is both moving and believable. You genuinely empathise with him and understand the choices he makes, even when they are flawed.

I did wish Sadie’s character had been explored in greater depth. Her motivations and inner life often feel underdeveloped. For instance, her affair with her professor raises several unanswered questions. Is it driven by insecurity and a need for validation from someone in a position of authority who recognises her talent? Why does she stay even when the relationship turns into a sexual dynamic she’s clearly uncomfortable with? Sadie’s self-doubt is evident, but its roots are never fully examined, leaving gaps that the reader is left to fill in.

What also didn’t quite work for me was the heavy gaming backdrop. As someone who isn’t a gamer, it was hard to fully connect with that aspect. That said, gaming isn’t the point of the book, it simply serves as the shared passion that binds Sam and Sadie and provides the context for their collaboration.

Overall, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a thoughtful and engaging read. The writing is accessible, the emotional beats land well, and it’s easy to imagine it as a film adaptation. I’d recommend picking it up for a weekend read, especially if you enjoy character-driven stories about complicated friendships.

Rating – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5