Title: If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come
Author: Jen St. Jude
Genre: Young Adult, Queer, LGBT, Romance, Science Fiction
Length: 416 Pages
Published: May 9th, 2023
About the Book
We Are Okay meets They Both Die at the End in this YA debut about queer first love and mental health at the end of the world-and the importance of saving yourself, no matter what tomorrow may hold.
Avery Byrne has secrets. She’s queer; she’s in love with her best friend, Cass; and she’s suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But on the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.
Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left.
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is a celebration of queer love, a gripping speculative narrative, and an urgent, conversation-starting book about depression, mental health, and shame.
Book Links
About the Author
Lambda Literary Fellow Jen St. Jude (she/they) grew up in New Hampshire apple orchards and now lives in Chicago with her wife and dog. She has served as an editor for Chicago Review of Books, Just Femme & Dandy, and Arcturus Magazine. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her cheering on the Chicago Sky and Red Stars. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is her first novel.
Author Links
My Thoughts
Avery is suicidal. She has no reason for her depression, it’s just there, like her aunt’s. But now the world is ending. Should she put off her plans and let the asteroid do it for her? She has 9 days to reconnect with her family and figure it out.
I’m not a fan of trigger warnings. But Avery’s need to end things is all-consuming and palpable. The kind that makes the reader struggle to find breath. I found myself screaming at her to go to the health center, to talk to someone, anyone, because there are meds out there that can help with this. I just wanted her to feel even mildly better, to have one good moment because people shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. But Avery has made her entire life a secret from people at school, her friends, and her family.
Amidst Avery’s depression, there is the aspect of the world ending. But I wouldn’t get too hung up on that because it’s a background to the storyline. And while this is a sapphic romance, it’s not perfect; it’s as flawed as the people in the story, which makes it perfect in its own way. Did I cry while reading? Yes, yes, I did. But I also felt sad, happy, hopeful, depressed, angry, and so many other things that are difficult to name. This book has so much going for it; it really is a lovely read.
Rae's Reading Lounge 
This would be so hard to read. Helping people who are feeling suicidal requires separating yourself from your emotions and focusing on how you can help and what the next step needs to be. I can’t imagine having to sit on the inside of all those emotions. It would just wreck me emotionally. Excellent review!
LikeLike