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

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This was an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end. Avery has suffered from lifelong depression and is also trying to come to terms with being gay. Her family is a religious Catholic family and she’s grown up hearing that people like her will be going to hell unless they change their ways. I’m also just someone who has always been acutely aware of mortality. Maybe because I lost some people young, maybe because I was raised Catholic, maybe just because it’s who I am. I think about death constantly! Sounds morbid, I know, but I’ve always felt like it’s the only way to live an intentional life.

If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is frequently a gut punch of a book, one that will leave you feeling raw and hollowed out. Yet, for all the heaviness of it at times, everything is treated with such kindness and grace that, despite it being the end of the world, you know that things will turn out okay. That it might feel bad for Avery at the time but she can and will pull through it. Throughout the book, there’s that kindness inherent in the narrative when it comes to all of the characters, not only Avery. By putting everyone in a situation where tomorrow might not come gives everyone such beautiful character growth, and it is all done so well here. Every person feels feel, their every motive and trial feels so genuine. I could go on about how Avery's experiences with depression made me feel but honestly you would have to experience it for yourself. As part of my work with UN Women, I have started reading as many books and essays about equality as I can get my hands on. There is so much amazing stuff out there! Funny, inspiring, sad, thought-provoking, empowering! I’ve been discovering so much that, at times, I’ve felt like my head was about to explode… I decided to start a Feminist book club, as I want to share what I’m learning and hear your thoughts too.

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Can't remember the title of a book you read? Come search our bookshelves. If you don’t find it there, post a description on our UNSOLVED message board Can't remember the title of a book you read? Come search our bookshelves. If you don’t find it there, post a description on our UNSOLVED message board. 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 live: an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.

Young adult” is such a strange signifier. When I was in that age group, I read books without considering if they were “adult” or not. I think this genre can speak to a cross-demographic of readers (and I could make a good case that Catcher in the Rye is the quintessential YA book). What do you feel you can do in this genre that you can’t elsewhere? Just as college freshman Avery Byrne is going to end her life, sirens blare, warning of an unimaginable crisis: An 8-mile-wide asteroid is set to hit Earth in nine days. I loved everything about this of course: the premise, the characters, the relationships—the family dynamics, the friendships, the romance. Even though I couldn't necessarily relate to everything the main character was going through, every line hit so deep and so personal, I felt it in my bones. It definitely touches on a lot of heavy themes, but I think St. Jude did an amazing job with all of it. The way they wrote the main character's depression and her religious trauma... it's hard to say that it was "wonderful" because that's such a positive word for an otherwise terribly devastating life experience, but their writing skills really are stellar. It is so satisfying that two years later, we’re talking about this book as a real thing in the world. How did this novel originate? How did it change from your initial idea to what it is now, in my hands? As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery fights her way home to save the girl she has been in love with her whole life. But can Avery also learn to save herself and find hope again in the tomorrows she has left?for all the heaviness that lies within, all the hurting & healing, there is an inherent compassion. a warm hand hold as it asks: why live, why try?

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. If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude – eBook Details Only the "OP" (original poster) can "bump" their topic/ thread (by posting a new comment) every 30+ days, or sooner if they remember more info. Don't create duplicates of the same request. The talk of depression in this book is hard, and real: the feeling that you’re inadequate, that your family deserves better, that your friends won’t miss you—those are all thoughts that depression can tell you when you’re feeling its effects. There’s a part where Avery doesn’t want her three-year-old nephew to rely on her because she doesn’t want him to feel her absence once she’s gone. You know that the author, Jen St. Jude, has experience with depression as she’s so good at capturing it. 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!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

A worthy addition to a very narrow convergence of mental health crises that already exist at the verge of the end of the known world." — BCCB 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. An electric, urgent miracle of a book that asks what--and who--we dare to live for. Avery's story will shatter your heart and fill it with light again. Keep an eye on this writer: St. Jude is here to stay." - Kelly Quindlen 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.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. In the opening scene, Avery is on the brink of killing herself. There are rumors of shootings, riots, and other violence once news spreads of the asteroid heading toward earth. Two men with guns tie up a couple and steal their stuff. A man with a gun and another man threaten and chase two girls.