Romance
![Robbie Couch - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B08CQGHW39.jpg)
If I See You Again Tomorrow
From the author of The Sky Blues and Blaine for the Win comes a speculative young adult romance about a teen stuck in a time loop that's endlessly monotonous until he meets the boy of his dreams.
For some reason, Clark has woken up and relived the same monotonous Monday 309 times. Until Day 310 turns out to be…different. Suddenly, his usual torturous math class is interrupted by an anomaly-a boy he's never seen before in all his previous Mondays.
When shy, reserved Clark decides to throw caution to the wind and join effusive and effervescent Beau on a series of "errands" across the Windy City, he never imagines that anything will really change, because nothing has in such a long time. And he definitely doesn't expect to fall this hard or this fast for someone in just one day.
There's just one problem: how do you build a future with someone if you can never get to tomorrow?
For some reason, Clark has woken up and relived the same monotonous Monday 309 times. Until Day 310 turns out to be…different. Suddenly, his usual torturous math class is interrupted by an anomaly-a boy he's never seen before in all his previous Mondays.
When shy, reserved Clark decides to throw caution to the wind and join effusive and effervescent Beau on a series of "errands" across the Windy City, he never imagines that anything will really change, because nothing has in such a long time. And he definitely doesn't expect to fall this hard or this fast for someone in just one day.
There's just one problem: how do you build a future with someone if you can never get to tomorrow?
Editorial Reviews
* "The story is structured around a series of deviations and mysteries; as each mystery is solved, a new one springs up, spurring the plot onward and making the novel compulsively readable. In addition to excellent structure and pacing, Couch also provides a compelling, endearing narrator in Clark." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ― March 2023
Clark has been stuck in September 19th for 309 days before he finally tells his therapist the truth: he's lonely. Partly it's due to his parents' divorce, partly due to his best friend moving to another state, but mostly it's due to the September 19th time loop itself, of which only Clark is aware. Clark's confession, however, prompts the first deviation in 309 consecutive days when his therapist gives him four tips to beating loneliness, the first of which is to make a new friend. Making a new friend in a time loop seems impossible until day 310, when a boy whom Clark has never seen before in all the previous September 19ths shows up in his trig class, and the two end up spending a whirlwind afternoon together. Beau doesn't appear again on day 311, though, and Clark wonders if Beau could be stuck in the time loop as well, and if so, perhaps together they can finally learn how to escape. The time loop mechanic has the potential to be repetitive, but Couch makes the excellent decision to begin the narrative right at the moment that things in Clark's Groundhog Day begin to change. The story is structured around a series of deviations and mysteries; as each mystery is solved, a new one springs up, spurring the plot onward and making the novel compulsively readable. In addition to excellent structure and pacing, Couch also provides a compelling, endearing narrator in Clark as a teen struggling to see beyond the end of his nose in his increasingly narrowing world for which the time loop is only partly to blame. In order to escape, Clark has to grow up and seize upon the rare opportunity the universe has granted him: a chance to do better. AT -- BCCB, starred review
― 3/16/23
* "Couch has done an excellent job of breathing new life into an old trope, crafting a clever plot with complex, likable characters. Along the way, he keeps readers on their toes.... If Couch occasionally throws his readers for a loop, they'll be glad he does." -- Booklist, starred review ― March 2023
* "Couples a vivacious queer romance with an emotionally intelligent time loop tale, meshing Groundhog Day with Ferris Bueller's Day Off....Their day-after-day cat-and-mouse game,...
Clark has been stuck in September 19th for 309 days before he finally tells his therapist the truth: he's lonely. Partly it's due to his parents' divorce, partly due to his best friend moving to another state, but mostly it's due to the September 19th time loop itself, of which only Clark is aware. Clark's confession, however, prompts the first deviation in 309 consecutive days when his therapist gives him four tips to beating loneliness, the first of which is to make a new friend. Making a new friend in a time loop seems impossible until day 310, when a boy whom Clark has never seen before in all the previous September 19ths shows up in his trig class, and the two end up spending a whirlwind afternoon together. Beau doesn't appear again on day 311, though, and Clark wonders if Beau could be stuck in the time loop as well, and if so, perhaps together they can finally learn how to escape. The time loop mechanic has the potential to be repetitive, but Couch makes the excellent decision to begin the narrative right at the moment that things in Clark's Groundhog Day begin to change. The story is structured around a series of deviations and mysteries; as each mystery is solved, a new one springs up, spurring the plot onward and making the novel compulsively readable. In addition to excellent structure and pacing, Couch also provides a compelling, endearing narrator in Clark as a teen struggling to see beyond the end of his nose in his increasingly narrowing world for which the time loop is only partly to blame. In order to escape, Clark has to grow up and seize upon the rare opportunity the universe has granted him: a chance to do better. AT -- BCCB, starred review
― 3/16/23
* "Couch has done an excellent job of breathing new life into an old trope, crafting a clever plot with complex, likable characters. Along the way, he keeps readers on their toes.... If Couch occasionally throws his readers for a loop, they'll be glad he does." -- Booklist, starred review ― March 2023
* "Couples a vivacious queer romance with an emotionally intelligent time loop tale, meshing Groundhog Day with Ferris Bueller's Day Off....Their day-after-day cat-and-mouse game,...
Readers Top Reviews
Amanda Shepard
4.5 stars Clark is stuck in a time loop. He has been for 309 days now, and he can’t figure out how to get out of it. But on day 310, something different happens. His math class is interrupted by a boy he’s never seen before. A boy that Clark finds himself wanting to follow. As Clark follows this new boy, Beau, in errands around Chicago, he learns new things about himself. He also realizes that he might be falling for him. But how can you form a relationship with someone when you’re stuck in the same day? Will Clark ever be able escape his time loop and get back to his regular life? And what will happen if he can't? It’s Robbie Couch, so you know I had to pick this one up! So far, none of his books have been a disappointment. As per usual, Couch’s characters are what really drive his story. You may think because Clark is stuck in a time loop that the side characters aren’t as developed, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Clark makes friendships throughout the story, forming relationships even when they completely forget about him until the next time they see him. It’s really some masterful character writing! Clark’s emotional journey in this book is also so well done. Yes, he is stuck in a time loop, which isn’t something anyone can necessarily relate to. But ultimately, the book is about Clark learning how to make new connections and become less lonely. To deal with his parents’ divorce and his best friend moving away. That loneliness is something a lot of teens, queer teens especially, can relate to. I still love The Sky Blues, but I think this book might be Couch’s best writing yet. Plus, I guarantee you’ll want to try to figure out how to make blue velvet brownies once you finish it. Definitely pick this one up when it comes out in April!
Karin
One thing about me is that I will always jump at the chance to read a new Robbie Couch book. So it should come at no surprise that I fell head over heels into his upcoming novel If I See You Again Tomorrow. Clark feels trapped…and he is - in a time loop. After his admission to his therapist on Day 309 that he is lonely, Clark goes through the motions on Day 310, expecting everything to go as it normally does. But then, Beau barges into his last period class. The problem is…this has never happened before. As Clark joins Beau on a chaotic journey around Chicago to run errands, he starts to wonder if Beau is exactly what he needs to cure his loneliness and get him to tomorrow. Let’s get it out of the way at the top. Anyone who has read this book is absolutely dying to try the blue velvet brownies and I am absolutely no different. In fact, while I was reading, I was so enamored by Ben’s Everything Blue Bakery that I had to order some sweets for myself. They may not have been blue, but they were an excellent addition to my reading. I would highly recommend getting yourself some brownies and cinnamon rolls to snack on while you read this book (it’ll make you feel better when you get to the end and there isn’t a recipe for the blue velvet brownies!) On to the actual review… Time loop stories have been done and done again, but Robbie is able to present a fresh new take on it. Though Clark is reliving the same day, his journey from when we meet him to when the book ends is surprisingly unpredictable at times. Even when Clark goes through the same motions, the reader never feels like things become repetitive or boring, a feat that not all time loop stories can achieve and that Robbie has done expertly. While there is romance as a side plot, the story at its heart is about being lonely and finding a way to pull yourself out of the depths of that loneliness. This is the story that we all need right as now as we battle increasing isolation due to the rise of social media and technology. Even when you are surrounded by people, it’s easy to feel alone in the world. Clark’s journey to find his way to tomorrow feels universal because, while we may not be stuck in an actual time loop, the day to day monotony of running through the same routine can lead to the same feelings of loneliness that we see in Clark. We could all use a Beau and Ms. Hazel to shake things up and remind us we have the ability to feel better, regardless of how hopeless it feels at times. Through Clark’s journey, he engages with a few different characters. Each of them is complex is their own way and I wouldn’t mind if they each got their own book (hint hint nudge nudge Robbie). Even as they forget Clark on every new reset of the day, they become a kind of found family for him that makes your heart feel happy. It’s an excellent reminder that every person ...
David Rodriguez
Just when you think you've seen or read every time loop story made, Robbie Couch surprises you with a lovely emotional rollercoaster this is If I See You Again Tomorrow. Loved it!
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1
I'M ABOUT TO TELL MY therapist something that I've never told anyone before. I shouldn't be nervous because it's Ms. Hazel (she's heard it all by now), and nothing matters anymore anyway. But still, it's going to be strange admitting this out loud for the first time.
"Can I tell you something?" I ask.
Ms. Hazel pauses from unwrapping her caramel hard candy to offer her full attention.
I clear my throat. "I think… I'm lonely."
She pops the candy into her mouth, smiling. "It's terrific to hear you say that."
My forehead crinkles with confusion. "I don't know if I'd consider it terrific."
"It's not terrific that you're lonely," she clarifies, shattering the caramel between her teeth. "It's terrific that you told me."
I like Ms. Hazel. I knew I would on day one. Oddly enough, it started with her office. You know how they say people look like their dogs? I think therapists look like their offices, and a therapist's office can tell you a lot.
Take Dr. Oregon. He had deep wrinkles carved into his face, like the cracked hardwood floor he insisted I sit on cross-legged and shoeless. I quit after our first session, not because I don't want my therapist to have wrinkles, but because I appreciate chairs. Mr. Ramplewood had chronically bloodshot eyes and only wore gray, which matched the vibes of his dreary, water-damaged basement clinic. If he ever quits being a therapist-and he really should-I'd suggest Mr. Ramplewood follow his true calling and become a haunted house tour guide.
But Ms. Hazel's has a real Museum Collector Meets Amateur Hoarder energy, and for whatever reason, I dig it. We're sitting in identical brown-leather chairs separated by a coffee table covered in ancient psychology magazines, candy dishes to feed her self-diagnosed sugar addiction, and discolored rings from decades of coaster-less drinks. Faded floral wallpaper is hardly visible between rows and rows of shelves housing worn books and broken trinkets, and there are enough crookedly hung photos to sufficiently fill the interior of an office ten times larger than the one we're in. It may be a minimalist's nightmare, but I could tell, even during our first session, that the room's noisiness strangely helps in quieting my mind.
And Ms. Hazel, dwarfed in a waffle-knit sweater and yellow scarf despite the late-summer heat, is an extension of the elaborate room she's spent decades curating. An immovable gray crown of hair rests atop her head, and sparkly earrings shaped like ice cream cones dangle on the outside of her gargantuan glasses, which look like they were custom made for a beach ball with eyes-not a shrinking sixtysomething-year-old (though, somehow, they suit her.)
Sure enough, unlike Dr. Oregon and Mr. Ramplewood, I've enjoyed my visits with Ms. Hazel. Not necessarily because she's a better therapist than they are-although I think she is-or because her office is more comforting than theirs-although I know it is. I like Ms. Hazel because she gives it to me straight. Like I'm sure she will right now. So I ask, "Why did you suspect that I'm lonely? What gave it away?"
Without a moment of hesitation, Ms. Hazel breathes, "Everything."
My eyes pop at her bluntness, but Ms. Hazel doesn't seem to care as she springs up and starts busying herself around the room yet again.
During our first few sessions, I got a bit irritated having a therapist who apparently couldn't focus on me longer than thirty seconds at a time before bouncing off to a different task. But I grew to appreciate this eccentricity as I realized Ms. Hazel could be tinkering with a lampshade or pulling apart nesting dolls and still absorb my every word. She's not interested in performing the part of Good Therapist just to make me happy. And come to think of it, I sort of despised how intently the other two would stare into my eyes while pretending to care about the words coming out of my mouth. In their offices, I felt like I was on display, but in Ms. Hazel's, I feel like I'm just a part of it. And I like that.
She stops at her desk and starts rifling through paperwork before finding my session notes. "Here they are," she sighs. "Clark, I first suspected that you're lonely because you've mentioned that you've been feeling down since Sadie moved across the country, and that developing new friendships has been tough for an introvert like yourself-understandably so. It doesn't help that Sadie appears to be, as you once put it, living her best life without you in Texas." She emphasizes living her best life like it's an important clinical specifi...
I'M ABOUT TO TELL MY therapist something that I've never told anyone before. I shouldn't be nervous because it's Ms. Hazel (she's heard it all by now), and nothing matters anymore anyway. But still, it's going to be strange admitting this out loud for the first time.
"Can I tell you something?" I ask.
Ms. Hazel pauses from unwrapping her caramel hard candy to offer her full attention.
I clear my throat. "I think… I'm lonely."
She pops the candy into her mouth, smiling. "It's terrific to hear you say that."
My forehead crinkles with confusion. "I don't know if I'd consider it terrific."
"It's not terrific that you're lonely," she clarifies, shattering the caramel between her teeth. "It's terrific that you told me."
I like Ms. Hazel. I knew I would on day one. Oddly enough, it started with her office. You know how they say people look like their dogs? I think therapists look like their offices, and a therapist's office can tell you a lot.
Take Dr. Oregon. He had deep wrinkles carved into his face, like the cracked hardwood floor he insisted I sit on cross-legged and shoeless. I quit after our first session, not because I don't want my therapist to have wrinkles, but because I appreciate chairs. Mr. Ramplewood had chronically bloodshot eyes and only wore gray, which matched the vibes of his dreary, water-damaged basement clinic. If he ever quits being a therapist-and he really should-I'd suggest Mr. Ramplewood follow his true calling and become a haunted house tour guide.
But Ms. Hazel's has a real Museum Collector Meets Amateur Hoarder energy, and for whatever reason, I dig it. We're sitting in identical brown-leather chairs separated by a coffee table covered in ancient psychology magazines, candy dishes to feed her self-diagnosed sugar addiction, and discolored rings from decades of coaster-less drinks. Faded floral wallpaper is hardly visible between rows and rows of shelves housing worn books and broken trinkets, and there are enough crookedly hung photos to sufficiently fill the interior of an office ten times larger than the one we're in. It may be a minimalist's nightmare, but I could tell, even during our first session, that the room's noisiness strangely helps in quieting my mind.
And Ms. Hazel, dwarfed in a waffle-knit sweater and yellow scarf despite the late-summer heat, is an extension of the elaborate room she's spent decades curating. An immovable gray crown of hair rests atop her head, and sparkly earrings shaped like ice cream cones dangle on the outside of her gargantuan glasses, which look like they were custom made for a beach ball with eyes-not a shrinking sixtysomething-year-old (though, somehow, they suit her.)
Sure enough, unlike Dr. Oregon and Mr. Ramplewood, I've enjoyed my visits with Ms. Hazel. Not necessarily because she's a better therapist than they are-although I think she is-or because her office is more comforting than theirs-although I know it is. I like Ms. Hazel because she gives it to me straight. Like I'm sure she will right now. So I ask, "Why did you suspect that I'm lonely? What gave it away?"
Without a moment of hesitation, Ms. Hazel breathes, "Everything."
My eyes pop at her bluntness, but Ms. Hazel doesn't seem to care as she springs up and starts busying herself around the room yet again.
During our first few sessions, I got a bit irritated having a therapist who apparently couldn't focus on me longer than thirty seconds at a time before bouncing off to a different task. But I grew to appreciate this eccentricity as I realized Ms. Hazel could be tinkering with a lampshade or pulling apart nesting dolls and still absorb my every word. She's not interested in performing the part of Good Therapist just to make me happy. And come to think of it, I sort of despised how intently the other two would stare into my eyes while pretending to care about the words coming out of my mouth. In their offices, I felt like I was on display, but in Ms. Hazel's, I feel like I'm just a part of it. And I like that.
She stops at her desk and starts rifling through paperwork before finding my session notes. "Here they are," she sighs. "Clark, I first suspected that you're lonely because you've mentioned that you've been feeling down since Sadie moved across the country, and that developing new friendships has been tough for an introvert like yourself-understandably so. It doesn't help that Sadie appears to be, as you once put it, living her best life without you in Texas." She emphasizes living her best life like it's an important clinical specifi...
