Rachel Lynn Solomon crafts another sweet, quirky, funny, romantic young adult story that plays with time and is centered around irresistibly imperfect characters.
In See You Yesterday, Rachel Lynn Solomon explores the first day of college for Barrett Bloom, who desperately needs a fresh start.
Barrett's tenacity and passion for the truth led to a journalistic coup in high school, one that exposed cheating throughout her school's crown jewel of sports, the revered, state-champion tennis team--and ensured that she was reviled by many of her peers and some in her school's administration.
She was harassed and publicly shamed as a result, so her time at her state university is bound to be an improvement.
But on day one, Barrett's ruthlessly straightforward manner, defensive way of keeping others at a distance, and habit of speaking harsh truths before she stops to think seem destined to lead her to misstep and thwart her own chances of success and happiness. After being involved in multiple disasters in only her first day of classes, she fears college may become a ruination on par with the end of her high school career.
But she wakes up the next day...and finds that she's reliving her first day of college. She has the incredible chance to make the same decisions or to consider her choices and do things differently. The following morning, she gets yet another chance at reliving her first day. And there's an interesting boy she keeps running into, regardless of which paths and options she alters. He keeps challenging her and seems to know her somehow. Barrett can't decide if this time loop is a dream come true--or a living nightmare.
Solomon is excellent at building wonderfully imperfect characters and irresistible premises that play with time, as in her Groundhog Day -type setup for this romantic young adult story.
I loved Barrett and Miles's problem-solving and their discoveries about their own natures and capabilities, as well as the unorthodox team they make.
Solomon's matter-of-fact mentions of various body types, relationships, and emotional challenges (including anxiety, addiction, and self-esteem issues) allows for an overall warm and fuzzy inclusivity here--and throughout her books.
I love Rachel Lynn Solomon's stories, and I loved this story of Barrett and Miles and youthful adventure and finding themselves and discovering how to be vulnerable and ALL of it. Hook, line, and sinker.
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Solomon is also the author of The Ex Talk, Weather Girl, and the wonderful young adult Today Tonight Tomorrow.
I received a prepublication digital edition of this book (published last week) courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley.