I’m a hopeless romantic at heart. I like to read books that make me cry, laugh, smile, and pace around my room to process the OMG! moments within. Over the years, I’ve invested a lot of my precious pennies in my current beloved collection of romance books. So, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day this week, I’d like to share my favorite romance read with all of you romantics out there!
Today, Tonight, Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Trope: Academic Rivals To Lovers
Summary:
Seniors Rowan Roth and Neil McNair have had the same desire in mind since the start of their freshman year: Win at whatever cost. What started out as an innocent mindset turned into a non-stop urge to out-perform the other. With their victories and losses set in stone, they waited for the mother of accomplishments to crown the victor of their years-long rivalry: Valedictorian.
When Rowan comes up short, she takes one last (semi-desperate) stand at Howl — their senior class game around Seattle, WA. When she wins, she can put Neil and their rivalry behind her. But when she learns that in order to win she needs to work with him, she puts off her destruction until the end of the night. But as the hours pass, she discovers a side of him beyond his pain-in-the-ass tendencies, a side that she actually really likes.
Maybe it’s the nostalgia for an era that is soon to be over, but by the time the night is over, she wonders whether she’d been wrong about him all these years. And that maybe, just maybe, he’s the person she’s been searching for all along….
Rating:
10/10! I LOVE this book. Rowan Roth is literally my spirit animal. She is such a strong and relatable character. I think anyone who reads this can find a small piece of her personality that they can resonate with. Her confidence is infectious, and her humor is top-tier. Reading from her point of view is like having a storytime with my best friend on one of our late-night drives. My favorite part about her character is that she is such a dreamer, and that despite what everyone tells her, she continues to pursue what she wants. Like, yes, you go girl! And Neil, OMG, he is such a sweetheart. Of course, when we first meet him he’s a know-it-all and kind of annoying, but he eventually wins you over. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE his banter with Rowan, it is my favorite thing about their relationship, but when he lets down his sarcastic guard, he is so much more. He’s funny, sensitive, and OMG is he kind. Like, what a triple threat?
In terms of their development, I was hooked. It wasn’t rushed at all at the start, it had a really good pace. The pair started with the rivalry and worked their way to tolerability and then really worked their way to “Omg wait, I kinda like you a lot.” It was so heartwarming to see them learn more about each other and slowly let their guards down. Because, at least for me, I love reading the exact moment their perspectives shift. Like, I live for the little oh… moment they have. But what I loved most about them was that it wasn’t an easy path to admitting the way they felt, especially for Rowan. I think it shows how even when they were past their rivalry, they were still just teenagers afraid of being hurt by someone they cared about. And it was fitting for their characters because of course their stubbornness is the highlight of their personalities (but that’s so real, because me too).
All in all, this book will forever hold a special place in my heart for being such a heartwarming, but rollercoaster ride of a read! After all my yapping, I hope I’ve somewhat convinced you to give Rowan and Neil (my absolute favorite academic rivals) a shot at winning your hearts over with their love story!