Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Source: Harlequin Teen Aus
Goodreads
Lena Wise is always looking forward to tomorrow, especially at the start of her senior year. She's ready to pack in as much friend time as possible, to finish college applications and to maybe let her childhood best friend, Sebastian, know how she really feels about him. For Lena, the upcoming year is going to be one of opportunities and chances.Review by Nara
Until one choice, one moment, destroys everything.
Now Lena isn't looking forward to tomorrow. Not when friend time may never be the same. Not when college applications feel all but impossible. Not when Sebastian could never forgive her for what happened.
For what she let happen.
With the guilt growing each day, Lena knows that her only hope is to move on. But how can she move on when tomorrow isn't even guaranteed?
If There's No Tomorrow was a well written coming of age novel focused on a character who lets one mistake excessively weigh her down. I haven't read many of Jennifer L Armentrout's contemporary novels, but reading this one makes it seem like I should probably be giving her others a go.
There were many times throughout the novel where protagonist Lena was incredibly frustrating in her being unable to rely on the support of her friends and family- not allowing them to help unless they basically forced her to. But this was quite consistent with what may happen when someone feels so guilty about something that has happened.
The characters are relatively well developed, with Lena and Sebastian being the ones who are obviously in the foreground. I also loved how supportive Lena's family were, and felt the subplot regarding her father was well handled as well. I did feel that some of her friends were characterised somewhat stereotypically, which is why you'll see that the character rating below is slightly lower than the other ratings.
The novel takes on a serious issue which I won't specifically go into in this review because some people may consider it a spoiler (especially as it's not mentioned in the review I feel like it's meant to somewhat be a mystery). The issue is actually quite well handled and relevant to today's younger generation, and it felt like there was a "message" being told without being too preachy. Some aspects of the issue felt a bit unresolved at the end, but that was likely because those aspects weren't the focus of the novel.
Overall, quite a good book that certainly makes me want to go try some of Armentrout's other contemporary novels.
Really liked it
RatingsOverall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Characters: 3.5/5
Cover: 3/5
