Rating: 4 out of 5.

I really enjoyed author @edwardunderhill ‘s first book, Always the Almost and despite being decades away from high school and all the angst it entails, I still felt seen. I couldn’t put the book down and just sighed with a big smile on my face after I read it. So, when I saw that he had another book coming out, you know I was knocking down @wednesdaybooks door for an ARC copy of it – and boy, I was not disappointed!!

This Day Changes Everything is another wonderful book with teenage characters dealing with some very adult decisions about their future and how they will navigate it. Both MC are in marching band and set to play in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Abby is from the Midwest and has finally decided to confide in her best friend Kat that not only is she gay, but she’s in love with her. She’s counting on the Universe to give her an Epic Scene worthy of her own rom-com to do it. Leo is about to be outed to his extended traditional Southern family on national TV that he’s a trans boy. Plans are made. Plans are blown up. Hijinx ensue. 

Abby and Leo take the wrong train to their next school tour of NYC. Despite being in separate bands some of the band’s itinerary match up. Things get off to a rocky start when Abby loses a book she planned to give Kat during her Epic Scene. They decide to blow off the school trips and go to places mentioned in the book to get something to symbolize her feelings for Kat instead. What starts off as an angry, distrustful, contemptuous relationship as they venture from one tourist attraction to the next, eventually melts into awareness, curiosity, friendship, flirting, warm fuzzies and love. 

The teasing banter and quips between the two MCs is a delight to read and takes me back to the days when I could let the snarky comments fly without having to censor myself and be polite and diplomatic. I also enjoyed seeing Leo unthaw a bit and let his personality shine. His walls were big and strong and not easily broken, but Abby was able to make a tiny crack, that eventually got bigger and broke through. Leo was a typical closed off sullen teenager and Abby was a typical narcissistic teenager acting like the world revolves around her. Leo gives her a wake-up call that startles and angers Abby, but she finally gets it.  

One of my favorite scenes in the book is when they accidentally stumble into an LGBTQIA young persons group holding a meeting at the famous Strand bookstore. They are immediately accepted into the group. Abby and Leo are shocked to find other teenagers like them that are so open, free, and comfortable with their sexuality. It’s not a big deal to those in the group, or anyone they encounter, and it opens Abby and Leo’s eyes to the fact that there is a great big world out there and it is possible to escape that tight box they’ve been squeezed into by their hometowns. It’s closer than they think, and there are places they can go and be themselves, be accepted, and have friends who care about them. There’s a whole community out there for them. They just have to reach out and take it. 

The insta-love at the end was step too far for me, but considering we’re talking about teenagers here, I forgive it. I have to remember – what teenager hasn’t had one encounter with a special boy or girl and felt so wonderful they told all their friends that the person is the “love of their life”. It happens.

You need to read this book, and the previous book Always the Almost. Seriously. Now, go do it!

I was provided a complimentary e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Wednesday Books. All opinions are my own.