Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow – Plot, Themes & Review

Published in 2022, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow became one of the most discussed literary novels of the decade. Centered on two game designers whose friendship unfolds over thirty years, the book explores creativity, ambition, and the messy space between love and collaboration. It treats video games not as a gimmick but as a serious artistic medium, and it refuses to fit neatly into any single genre.

The story follows Sam Masur and Sadie Green from their first meeting as children in a hospital game room through their college reunion and the founding of a successful game company. Along with their friend and business partner Marx Watanabe, they create fictional games like Ichigo and Master of the Revels. Their personal and professional lives become deeply entangled, and the novel tracks the costs of that entanglement over decades.

The book earned a place on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction in 2022. A movie adaptation is in development, though few details have been confirmed as of early 2025.

What Is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow About?

At its core, the novel is a character study of two brilliant, flawed people who make games together. It spans from the late 1980s to the 2020s, moving between Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles. The plot is less about a single conflict and more about the evolving dynamics of friendship, success, and the passage of time.

• The novel’s title is taken from Macbeth’s soliloquy, reflecting themes of mortality and fleeting time.
• Sam and Sadie’s friendship spans decades, often blurring the line between love and collaboration.
• The book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction in 2022 and was a New York Times bestseller.
• A movie adaptation was announced in 2023 with Temple Hill Entertainment producing (no cast confirmed yet).
• The story explores the creative process behind video games as a metaphor for relationships.

Who Are the Main Characters in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow?

Sam Masur

Sam is a gifted game designer who experiences a major physical trauma as a child. That injury shapes his identity, his self-image, and his approach to relationships. He is often described as emotionally guarded but surprisingly vulnerable, especially when it comes to Sadie. His feelings for her are complicated — sometimes romantic, but never simple.

Sadie Green

Sadie is the technical genius of the pair: a programmer and designer who faces persistent sexism in the gaming and tech industries. Readers sometimes find her emotionally opaque, but many critics see her as one of the novel’s strongest creative voices. Her drive and talent are central to the success of the games she and Sam create.

Marx Watanabe

Marx is Sam’s college roommate and later the business partner who helps turn their games into a real company. Charismatic, socially skilled, and emotionally stable, he becomes the anchoring force in the trio. He is often called the heart of Unfair Games.

The Nature of Sam and Sadie’s Relationship

Much of the novel’s tension comes from the question of whether Sam and Sadie are in love. Zevin has said she wanted to write a love story that was not a romance — the real love, she explained, is the collaboration itself. Their bond is intense, creative, and sometimes destructive, but it remains fundamentally platonic.

What Is the Meaning of the Title ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’?

The Shakespeare Quote

The title comes directly from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5. In the play, Macbeth delivers a soliloquy after learning of his wife’s death, repeating “tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” to express the futility and monotony of life.

Thematic Relevance

Zevin takes that bleak line and twists it toward something more hopeful. In the novel, the repetition of “tomorrow” reflects the characters’ persistent efforts to create, to repair friendships, and to move forward after loss. The title points to both the weight of accumulated grief and the possibility of renewal.

Is There a Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Movie Adaptation?

Announcement and Production Status

In 2023, it was announced that Temple Hill Entertainment had acquired the film rights to the novel. Temple Hill is known for producing The Fault in Our Stars and the Twilight series. As of early 2025, no director, cast, or release date has been officially confirmed.

What About Cast Rumors?

Online speculation has circulated about possible actors for Sam and Sadie, but no credible reports from casting announcements exist. The project appears to be in early development stages.

What Do Readers Think of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow?

Reader reception has been strong overall. On Goodreads the book holds an average rating of 4.3 out of 5, based on more than 1.3 million ratings. It won the Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction in 2022, reflecting wide popular approval.

The New York Times review praised the novel for treating video games as art without arguing about it — Zevin “burns precisely zero calories arguing that video games are art. She assumes it — and then shows it,” the review said.

On Amazon and Reddit, readers often debate the characters’ emotional opacity. Some find Sadie frustrating; others see her as realistically drawn. The episodic structure and slow pace are cited as drawbacks by a minority of readers.

A Timeline of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: Key Events and Milestones

1. 1980s – Sam and Sadie meet as children in a hospital game room.
2. 1990s – They reconnect in college and create the game Ichigo.
3. 2000s – Their company Unfair Games rises; personal tensions grow.
4. 2022 – The novel is published to critical acclaim.
5. 2023 – Movie adaptation rights acquired; no further updates as of 2025.
6. 2025 – Ongoing discussions on Reddit and Goodreads; audiobook popularity remains high.

What Is Confirmed and What Is Uncertain About the Novel?

How Does the Novel Fit into Literary and Cultural Context?

The novel uses video games as a lens to explore creativity, collaboration, and the ephemeral nature of success. The Shakespearean title underscores the characters’ battles against time and mortality. Published post-pandemic, the book resonated with readers seeking stories about meaningful work and human connection. It also tapped into the growing mainstream interest in video game culture. Zevin employs multiple perspectives, shifting between Sam and Sadie, and uses game design terminology to enrich the narrative.

What Do the Author and Critics Say About the Book?

“I wanted to write a love story that wasn’t a romance. The real love is the collaboration.”

— Gabrielle Zevin, interview

“Zevin burns precisely zero calories arguing that video games are art. She assumes it — and then shows it.”

— The New York Times

“The novel follows the relationship between two friends who begin a successful video game company.”

— Wikipedia

What Is the Final Takeaway from Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow?

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a literary novel about two gifted game designers whose lifelong friendship is forged and tested through creativity, trauma, ambition, and the making of video games. It stands out for treating gaming with serious literary attention and for placing a complicated, non-romantic relationship at its center. For further context, readers can explore our Research summary on Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.

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