If Tomorrow Doesn't Come: The heartbreaking sapphic YA romance

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St. Jude examines the viciousness of depression and the inexplicable way it has of being exacerbated by everything and nothing... This story is raw, but unflinching, too, until the bitter end." — Booklist Joy’s music so perfectly captures the pain of growing up queer in a religious or conservative culture. In “let it be me,” she writes about her father’s slow acceptance of her, and her appreciation of his long, growing love. Yes, I think Avery values her friends and family so much and so deeply. She sees their humanity easily. She would do anything for them to live. It’s a much harder thing for her to see it in herself, but over the course of these 9 days she finally arrives. I’m not someone who thinks, either, that we must always be living for ourselves only. Sometimes if the only reason you have to keep living is someone else, that’s OK. Our lives are often longer than 9 days. There is time for many reasons, we just need at least one at all times. This book is about the end of the world, yes; but it’s also about the relationship between Avery and Cass. There’s a lot of unresolved issues that they must face when they meet up again after the asteroid news breaks. The book is structured in a way that we see their friendship/relationship years before they go to separate colleges, and in the days leading up to the asteroid’s impact. Can we say slow burn? This is also a very immersive book — when I finally looked up from reading it, it took me a moment to remember that we weren’t 9 days from the end of the world — and I think that’s part of why the emotions of it work so well. This is a book that tugs on your heartstrings, makes you empathise so deeply with its main character, and part of that is how easily absorbed you get by it.

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Therein lies the major theme of the book: why live, why try, why endure it all when Tomorrow might never come? If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come centres on Avery, a queer teen who is in love with her best friend, Cass. On the morning that Avery plans to jump into the river by her college campus, she receives a call from Cass, notifying her of an asteroid heading towards Earth. With nine days left before impact, Avery decides to head home to spend her last days with her family. Avery Byrne decides to take her own life on the day it is announced that an asteroid is going to hit the Earth in 9 days, wiping out everything. The story follows Avery through those 9 days, as well as her past. Any student who has struggled with intense depression or feelings of isolation while friends and family drift away will identify with Avery." — School Library Connection Avery's complicated yet fierce relationship with Cass and the fraught energy between Avery and her parents are rendered in clear and emotive detail, yet most notable is St. Jude's heart-achingly precise interpretation of one teenager's experience with depression and suicidal ideation. Hope for a bright future is always evident in this sometimes dark, thought-provoking debut." ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

It examines the ways Cass feels like she’s failing. How getting used to college and feeling so alone and out of place is terrifying and difficult. Our worlds can get bigger and feel smaller. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is a story I want to thrust into the hands of incoming college freshman. Of teens who are struggling to find moments of acceptance. It’s an emotional tour de force celebrating hope and love in the face of uncertainty. Jen, I also appreciate the conditional nature of the title. I think that “If” is especially important: to the story, and as shading of Avery’s experience of her life at the beginning and at the end; and maybe even a hint to your own perspective about the world, as it is, and as it can be. In honor of Avery’s nine new days–a gift and a curse all at once–I’ve broken my playlist into nine pieces to explore the themes, lyrics, and melodies that made this story what it is. I must admit that after eleven years of working on it, I’m more than a little emotional this playlist has reached its final form. I know this is terribly self-indulgent, but thank you for letting me share it with you. And who we choose to spend it with. All the friendship we find that finds us in turn. Or the people who become compasses during the storm. It’s a deeply rich character driven story. With a fantastic asexual side character and featuring a queer romance story line as well, If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come explores acceptance. People who can accept us and our questions, our messy nights of feelings, and our mistakes. Avery’s parents, too, can never completely shake their upbringing, but they ultimately do choose to try.I didn’t read young adult books until I was an adult largely because it didn’t exist in the form it does now. There’s a lot of talk about what’s appropriate for young adults in YA—especially when it comes to censorship and banning books—and I’m utterly baffled. The things I read in high school were incredibly dark, challenging, and violent. We read The Color Purple (important literature!) and The Heart of Darkness (not so much!). Furthermore, kids all have the internet these days. Hide the girls-kissing-girls books if you must but I promise they will seek it out if they want to. You know you had an experience when you finish a book and you immediately search for more words, more stories. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come had my head spinning and my heart wanting. If the world had to end, everything would be right. We would all be with the people we loved most. In a warm place. Wrapped in delicate quiet.” My issues were minor and I think purely subjective. I found myself questioning if what the characters were doing in certain situations was reasonable considering the end of the world and the state of humanity at that point but I can’t go into details without spoiling and ultimately, it was well portrayed for young adults and just my mind running away. I also felt like some of the side characters could’ve been a bit more fleshed out, but nothing too much. Jen St. Jude's end of the world story makes for one hell of a debut novel. It's lush, searching, and ultimately full of hope. I loved it."

Jen St. Jude's end of the world story makes for one hell of a debut novel. It's lush, searching, and ultimately full of hope. I loved it." ―Emily M. Danforth, national bestselling and award-winning author of The Miseducation of Cameron Post I have been excited for If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come ever since I heard the premise. St. Jude explores not only the end of the world, but also depression and family. It’s a tender and moving multi-faceted debut. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come balances all the little moments that can begin the end of the world with the literal asteroid in the room large moments. It’s about who we become at the end of the world. What we choose to do with our last moments. One of the things I love is the juxtaposition of a person’s personal end of the world versus the collective, and how those two experiences connect, conflict, and alter one’s perspectives and actions. Does the imminent end of the world—imminent as in a set number of days and hours—embolden us to say and do what we want, but fear? If Tomorrow Doesn't Come is a novel that carves a space in your heart and remains there forever. Breathtakingly written, Jen St. Jude masterfully explores queerness, depression, and shame, while beautifully capturing family, friendship, and love, and the intersections that often exist between these things. Hopeful above all else.”If Tomorrow Doesn't Come is a brilliant story of hope, healing, and resilience from a thoughtful and fearless new voice in YA." - Brandy Colbert Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review! I cannot stress enough how emotional this was. There are a lot of lows because not only is Avery trying to deal with her mental health and thinking everyone would be better off if she were gone; she’s also now trying to be there for her family in preparing for the end. Avery and her family decide to prepare a bunker in case they can survive somehow after the asteroid hits. On the other hand, there are some really lovely highs as well. After reconnecting with Cass, Avery spends her possibly last days finding some joy again. Her growth and finding out she has things to live for was a touching journey.

GENRE and PLOT DETAILS are mandatory in the header/ topic title. Do NOT create vague topic headers like "Romance" or "YA Fantasy" or "Looking for this book." Threads with vague headers will be CLOSED. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is a tender emotional story about the end of the world. About the ways in which our world can end. All the little and large ways. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts. Summary

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i’ve been thinking about needs vs wants. some books you want & crave. others you need, as though you cannot fathom the idea of the world turning without its existence. If Tomorrow Doesn't Come is definitely a heartfelt YA that aptly covers thematic grounds of mental health awareness, queerness, religion and most of all, the strength you gain from the love around you. My favourite part would be all the interactions Avery has with her parents, her brother and his family and the friends she makes in the few days. Amidst the chaos of the world ending, it was touching to see them all care for each other and form that close knit group of people she could rely on. Do look at the content warnings before diving into the book!