Past Present Future (Today Tonight Tomorrow, #2)

Past Present Future does a superb job channeling the roller coaster feelings of life changes. Rowan Roth and Neil McNair are back for a more mature look at how relationships evolve after the initial enemies-to-lovers/forced proximity trope is over. The author’s voice was powerful, and it felt like Rowan mirrored many of my fears and anxieties.
This book resonates with anyone going through a big transition such as graduating, dorm life, first year of college, long-distance relationships, or moving. These characters were realistic and spot-on; their anxiety sometimes made keeping a quick reading pace difficult. It helped to see these characters make it successfully to a more stable side of life where I could take a deep breath with them. I enjoyed that there was a time-lapse epilogue to help us see how it all goes in the future.
This book was unique in that it dealt with how to maintain a relationship when there are barriers that would make it easy to give up. It takes a realistic look at family baggage and the steps to heal and break the cycle of bad mental health. In many ways, the first book was more fun, but this sequel was so realistic and felt deeply personal making it a satisfying read.

Solomon’s books are always a hit for me, and this one was no different. Her characters are vibrant and realistic, both main characters and side characters, and they interact in natural ways that made them practically leap off the page. Just like in Today Tonight Tomorrow, the story reads as kind of a love story to the cities the characters live in for school: Boston and Manhattan. I really enjoyed watching Rowan and Neil both adapt to living away from home for the first time, navigating college and the beginnings of adult life, while balancing the rigors of college academics. On top of that, the characters are dealing with mental health representation

The pace wasn’t consistent throughout the book. The first half was slow-paced, while it picked up significantly in the second half of the story. There is some profanity, but there are a few somewhat graphic intimate scenes sprinkled throughout the book. Although the book is listed as intended for readers ages 14 and above, this may be more suitable for more mature readers.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after the happily ever after, this is a book you’ll want to pick up. It’s full of engaging and fully fleshed-out characters, an exploration of college and the expectations that people go into it with, and a sensitive journey through mental health challenges that the characters deal with. Be cautious with younger or less mature readers, since there is some profanity, and there are a few intimate scenes in the story. Other than that, this is a fantastic read and the perfect sequel for TTT.

PAST PRESENT FUTURE is an intriguing sequel to a YA romance that follows the relationship through the turmoil of long distance. The story is told in alternating points-of-view with Rowan and Neil during their freshman year of college, in different cities. While they had a whirlwind romance, they are now figuring out who they want to be in college and how their relationship fits in.

What I loved: The book does a great job at capturing the start of college experience. They have left behind the people in their hometown who know everything about them, being able to invent themselves anew in college - but who will they be? Neil is no longer surrounded by people who know about his father and family, and he finds freedom in the new friendships he is able to make. He is dealing with a new personal problem that is becoming more apparent to himself when alone in a new city.

Rowan has long dreamed of being a writer, and she is struggling to find her voice in the creative writing class she was so excited to take. In addition to that, she is finding a lot of conflict in the messages others send about her relationship. Struggles with classes, mental illness, friendships, and long-distance (friendships or relationships) are themes that many college-aged readers will recognize and speak to the experience well.

This book does get a bit spicier in places, and it may work best for an older YA audience (for whom the college experience would generally be more relevant as well).

What left me wanting more: The book felt a bit meandering in places as some passages felt like filler. It does broaden the world of the two main characters, but it did not have the focus and fast-pace that would really pull the reader in as a result. That being said, it does continue the relationship well with a frequent enough connection that it still feels central.

Final verdict: Overall, PAST PRESENT FUTURE is an intriguing sequel that will work well for readers who like themes of long-distance relationships and college or just want to hear more from Rowan and Neil.