IF I SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW

Stuck reliving a single day, a teen seeks a way to break the cycle.

Clark has been living a time loop that resets every night to Sept. 19. At first, it was fun doing whatever he wanted with no rules or consequences; now, by day 309, Clark feels stuck in a monotonous grind, reliving events and conversations in his dingy apartment with his younger sister and mother while best friend Sadie is living it up in Texas after leaving Illinois. Without hope of change, Clark feels increasingly disconnected from his relationships. But when a new boy, Beau, shows up in class on Day 310 and drags him off on a madcap adventure, Clark has a new goal in life: escape Sept. 19 and find Beau for real. Clark’s time loop echoes the pandemic lockdown, with themes of social isolation, loneliness, and leaving one’s comfort zone to connect and rebuild relationships. Clark’s interactions with his therapist are a big part of the book, helping to ground the fantastical, romanticized premise. The romance itself is strange and satisfying, consisting of both classic meet-cute instant attraction between Clark and Beau and slow-burn character development as Clark hunts for Beau and seeks to learn more about him. While Clark’s narration at times feels naïve for a 17-year-old, his development is heartfelt and rings true. Clark reads White; biracial Beau’s late father was Black, and his mother is White.

An engaging, sweet, and emotional journey.