This book has such amazing writing and a great premise but unfortunately it ended up triggering me mentally so I had to put it down

Trigger warnings: Mental illness, depression, suicidal ideation, suicide (not on the page), homophobia, sexual harassment, gun violence, religious bigotry

This was fine but it didn't really work for me. Maybe it spoke of things a bit too close to me but I didn't really feel the feelings. I didn't feel for the character the way I should have. They kind of annoyed me honestly, I felt bad about it but I really did find them infuriating. I mostly wanted for the book to end.
I did like the concept though and some parts were really interested and I enjoyed the family dynamics and how it was all paced with flashbacks and such.
Overall, a book with interesting topics that just did not work for me.

I really enjoyed this book, but the trigger warnings were not up to scratch. I was really glad I'm not triggered by suicide anymore because the opening which shows her about to commit suicide was definitely more than the "discussions of suicide" that the trigger warning implied. I would really recommended that anyone who is currently suicidal or is still in a fragile state skips the entire first chapter.

The story was beautiful though. I was worried it would be too much of showing her how to live again, but it was a lot more subtle than that. The romance between Cass and Avery was so sweet and tragic and I wanted to read it forever.

I loved the flashbacks as well. It was nice seeing the story of Cass and Avery build up and grow.

This was a very sad book and had a lot of comments on society and religion, but I really enjoyed reading it. It was the kind of sad that makes an impact on you and you remember for a very long time.

This book was beautiful. It was like If They Both Die at the End meets the movie Don't Look Up. I rooted for Cass and Avery, but also for Avery to find herself. The writing was gorgeous and made me well up a few times. I wish I had this book available when I was in high school. I can't wait for the author's next book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Although the plot revolves around the discovery that the world will end in nine days, it touches upon deeper themes such as love, depression, making choices, finding one's true calling, and being true to oneself. Irrespective of age, it can be challenging to discover one's true identity and purpose in life. Some individuals may undergo this process multiple times as circumstances and situations change. It can be challenging to find oneself if one's true identity is not widely accepted or approved of, particularly if it contradicts one's upbringing.

Selfish though it may sound, figuring out what you want and who you are is so important (and sometimes really hard), more so than what other people want from you.
Your life is yours, however long or short it may be, whether you have 90 years or 9 days.
The meteor strike/impending apocalypse is an integral part of the book; it is the starting point for everything else, but it's not the central story.
The central story is Avery, her life, her relationship with Cass, herself, and her family.
Avery is 19 at the time of the approaching meteor, so while we see how this affects her and the people around her, we also learn about her past as the story progresses while giving us flashbacks to the pivotal and crucial previous parts of her life.
Everything that happens to us shapes who we are and who we become in time, and this is what the flashbacks in this book show; they show us how Avery got to be 19, depressed and suicidal.
The way Avery's depression, suicidal feelings, and debate about whether she is gay or not are brilliantly handled.
None of these are easy topics to write about, and they have been done without making light of them or mocking them.
Anyone can get depressed at any time for any reason, and sometimes no reason at all, and it's so important to have books that discuss this and show that while it seems like things will never improve, they can and do.
And as someone who's been there and got through it, it's not easy or quick, but it is possible.
This is a brilliant book that deals really well with complex and controversial topics.
This story may not appeal to everyone or align with everyone's beliefs. However, for those who find it relatable or are interested in its topics, it's likely to evoke a mix of emotions- sadness, hopefulness, and optimism. Despite the impending apocalypse, the story is filled with love and hope. Even in the darkest moments, there is always a ray of light.

My review is on StoryGraph @megpadams and Instagram @meg_bookreviews.
I was a big fan of this and have been recommending it to anyone interested in queer books.

I really enjoyed this book. While it’s about people finding out the world is ending in 9 days, it’s ultimately about love, depression, choice, finding your path, realising who you are and being true to yourself. Working out who you are and what you want from life is hard to do, whatever age you do it at. Some people end up doing it more than once in their lifetimes when things change as they so often do. Working out who you are is even harder if it’s something that people don’t always accept or approve of, when it’s something that you may never have considered before because it’s not the way you were raised (true at any age!). Selfish though it may sound, figuring out what you want and who you are is so important (and sometimes really hard), more so than what other people want from you. Your life is yours, however long or short it may be, whether you have 90 years or 9 days.

The meteor strike/impending apocalypse is obviously an important part of the book, it is the starting point for everything else that happens, but it’s not the central story. The central story is Avery, her life, her relationship with Cass, with herself, with her family. Avery is 19 at the time of the approaching meteor so while we see how this affects her and the people around her; we also learn about her past as the story progresses while giving us flashbacks to the pivotal and crucial previous parts of her life. Everything that happens to us shapes who we are and who we become in time and this is what the flashbacks in this book show, they show us how Avery got to be 19 depressed and suicidal.

The way Avery’s depression, suicidal feelings and debate about whether she is gay or not are brilliantly handled. None of these are easy topics to write about, and they have been done without making light of them or mocking them. Anyone can get depressed at any time for any reason, and sometimes no reason at all, and it’s so important to have books that discuss this and show that while it seems like things will never improve they can and do. And I say that as someone whose been there and got through it, it’s not easy or quick but it is possible.

This is a brilliant book that deals really well with hard and controversial topics. It won’t be to everyone’s taste or fit everyone’s beliefs but for those who it does fit, or who are curious about one or more of the topics in it it will likely leave them feeling sad, but also hopeful and optimistic. Even with the end of the world approaching there is so much love and hope in this story, even in the darkness there is always light.

Oh God this kicked me right in the gut. This is probably one of the best debut novels I have ever read. It feels like a lot of love went into this story.

This is a YA sapphic romance with a dystopian twist. Avery has been in love with her best friend Cass since they were kids, is extremely depressed and is about to commit suicide when an alert comes in that an asteroid is going to hit earth and end the world in 9 days. Cass and Avery are determined to reach each other and make the most of their final days while Avery grapples with letting the people she loves actually know her and being able to feel their love.

I sobbed at some parts in this book. I have suffered with depression since I can remember and had my first counselling when I was nine years old so I felt what Avery was feeling in my BONES. The fact that she feels so guilty for being depressed and that she doesn’t deserve good things because there is “no reason” for her to be depressed is also incredibly relatable. These characters felt so real and I was so attached to each and every one of them. I felt like I could hear their voices as I was reading and could see everything playing out in my mind.

Avery’s parent’s are very religious and the author explored the dynamics of being queer while being religious really beautifully. I really liked how the novel was actually structured as well with the past being integrated between the present chapters and counting down to the moment of impact. There were elements of survival, queerness, coming of age, mental health (and the importance of getting support), a beautiful romance and a raw look at how it feels to be empty woven through this story and it all came together to form a picture of Avery’s life, her friendship/relationship with Cass, her relationships with her family and the cruelness of discovering you want to live when that decision has been taken out of your hands.

This whole book was beautiful and I will think about it for a long time. I think you need to be in a certain place mentally to read it, the descriptions of depression are extremely visceral and accurate so be aware of that. Jen St. Jude is an unbelievably talented author and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this eARC. As I’ve mentioned I have been very ill for a couple of months and so I have fallen behind on my ARCS so I apologise for getting to this so late. This was released on 11th May so you can read it now!

3.5 stars

I love an end-of-the-world type of story, and I loved how this book focused on the present day leading up to the impact of an asteroid, and the past, flashing back to important moments in the main character's life. There were a lot of complicated family dynamics going on here, and heavy discussion of topics such as mental health, particularly suicidal ideation and depression, both of which I thought were portrayed really well. I really loved how the relationships Avery had with her parents, with her brother and his family, with the friends she made and with the girl she loves, all strengthened and developed despite the chaos and horror of knowing what's to come.

I do think that there were definitely aspects of the story that needed further development - a lot of the time, it felt as though plot twists and characters were being thrown in there without any real buildup to them, and completely unnecessarily. It felt quite chaotic, which I guess fits the vibes, but doesn't work for any emotional impact. I also felt like the love interest was pretty unlikeable to me - she was very self-centred, even in scenes when Avery was trying to comfort others or save others, it seemed to be all about how the love interest was feeling.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. I've quite enjoyed it : I got attached to the characters quickly and followed their adventure with a lot of apprehension. The end left me a bit unsatisfied but I do understand that the whole "end of the world" scenario is all just a pretxt. What this book is really about is mental health, the dealing with one's sexuality and a religious background, but also family and friendship. A nice read with a lot of diversity.

An amazing pre-apocolypse queer novel!
St. Judes novel is a heartbreaking yet somehow hopeful novel.
When an asteroid is going to destroy the earth is revealed to have been covered up at the same time that Avery is planning on commiting suicide she's forced to try and live for the last nine days the earth will be around.
The novel jumps back and forth between the present, with chapter titles counting down to the moment, and the past of Avery discovering her sexuality and the start of her suicidal ideation, and how her religion played a huge part in both.
Making it home from college with her roommate who discovered one of her goodbye letters, and a professor and his dog who she believes hates her, she is confronted with her best friend who she hasn't talked to in months.

This book had me crying at 4am, particularly as the suicidal ideation felt familiar, and the young nephew is the same age as mine.

This book will have you questioning: If you only have 9 days to live who will you spend it with, what will you do, and most importantly- will you finally say things which had been left unsaid.

There were times I had to pause and take it slow with this book because the feelings were too big, but wow. St Jude explores depression, queerness, and refinding beauty even at the end of things, plus growing up religious amidst all that; ultimately the logistics of an impending apocalypse don't matter as much as the reflections it provokes, in a gorgeous, tender, contemplative, painfully real but incredibly hopeful story. Younger me would have needed this.

This book was brilliant! Avery is struggling with depression and just as she's about to end her life, she gets a call from her best friend (who she's also in love with) who says the world is ending and that they both need to get back home to each other. Avery always thinks of others before herself and so begins a journey to find Cass and to live the next 9 days with her and her family. I loved everything about this book and wish I could read it for the first time again.

Please see my post for review.

Blog tour - http://ramblingmads.uk/2023/05/13/blog-tour-if-tomorrow-doesnt-come-jen-st-jude/

If Tomorrow Never Comes by Jen St. Jude is a masterfully written YA debut that tackles heavy topics such as mental health, suicide, and the end of the world, with a celebration of queer love at its core. The protagonist, Avery Byrne, is struggling with undiagnosed clinical depression and the realization that she is queer and in love with her best friend, Cass. But when an asteroid is discovered to be headed towards Earth and the world has only nine days left to live, Avery must navigate her feelings while trying to spare her loved ones additional pain.

St. Jude’s novel is heart-wrenching as Avery grapples with her inner demons and the world’s impending end. The book also features an excellent representation of queer love and relationships and explores the relationship of queerness to religion, including Christianity, Catholicism, and even Muslim representation with Aisha and her family.

The novel is a gripping speculative narrative that will keep readers engaged until the very end. This end-of-the-world book can feel both bittersweet and hopeful by the final page. If Tomorrow Never Comes is also an urgent, conversation-starting book about depression, mental health, and shame.

Overall, If Tomorrow Never Comes is a powerful and poignant debut that explores themes of love, loss, and the importance of saving oneself, even in the face of impending doom. It’s a must-read for fans of YA, speculative fiction, and anyone looking for a thought-provoking, emotionally charged story.

If Tomorrow Doesn't Come asks the question 'what would a suicidal person do if they found out the world was ending in 9 days?'

Avery is queer but not really out, in love with her best friend, and really struggling with depression, school and her love life. After finding out that an asteroid is headed towards her area in 9 days time, aborting her suicide attempt, we explore what really matters to her through a mixture of present day accounts and flashbacks.

Although her relationship with her best friend was a huge part of this book, I liked how important family was to the story as well and how she had opportunities to reconnect with them and strengthen those bonds during a tough time. The romance itself was quite sweet even if there was a bit of miscommunication and difference in wants. The flashbacks were well done to slowly reveal how Avery ended up in such a bad place, but this was balanced with her healing somewhat in the present day.

The only thing that really annoyed me was the lack of ending, but I'm guessing this was done to provide a bit of optimism in a bleak setting. Other than that minor issue, it was a wonderful debut and I'll definitely read the next offering by Jen St Jude.

If Tomorrow Never Comes is one of the most hopeful but harrowing novels to read. Avery is ready to end her life when a call from Cass Joshi-Aguilar, the girl Avery is in love with, breaks her from her plan and the realisation that an asteroid is heading to Earth and she finds herself rushing to get home to her family and meet Cass.

What comes next is a journey into Avery finding hope in the world and finding a reason to live after. There is such a heavy emphasis on the things that lead Avery to be depressed and is shown in each chapter which focuses on a time before the impact of the asteroid, titled ‘two years to impact’.

It looks into how family and religion has heavily stigmatised and villainised mental health and suicide that it leaves her without that support she needs as she grows up. We see more of how Avery went from a star pupil to the shocking realisation that college isn’t the same as high school, that many teenagers have these moments of truth that they cannot live up to the expectations of their parents and communities and how this can be damaging to their mental health. These parts are so brutal to read by Jen St. Jude handles it in such a delicate matter whilst also allowing Avery to make more sense of her world.

On the other side of this story, is a beautiful tale of love as Avery and having her love for her life long best friend Cass be put into play as the story goes on. Avery struggles throughout the novel with her sexuality, the religious side of her family and community who frown upon it and her being around Cass who’s family is more open and she is much more bolder, helps her become more confident with her sexuality over time and realise that she wants to experience this love with Cass before the world ends!

I really loved these two characters and the strong bond that they have that develops more because of this life threatening thing about to happen and they make the most of the time they have left. With each other, with Avery’s family and more.

If you want a book that will leave you crying throughout the entirety of it, that is painful and romantic and all of the emotions wrapped up in one then this is for you!

Where do I start? If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is one of my favourite books this year. It’s unputdownable from start to finish and by the end I was sobbing. It has one of those stressy endings you know is coming, but hope won’t. I think this will be living rent free in my head for a long time. The book is set over the course of nine days leading up to an asteroid hitting the earth, with some flashback chapters throughout. Avery’s depression is at the forefront of the story, I thought this was handled sensitively, the author does an excellent job of portraying it. Organisation details for various countries are included in the back of the book for those who need them, something else I loved about this.

I loved the relationship between Avery and Cass, Avery realising she’s in love with Cass, opening up and choosing to spend their last days together. Avery, a people pleaser, choosing to do what is best for her. There isn’t a single thing I didn’t love about If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come, despite the whole end of the world thing, it’s such a beautiful book that brought me so much joy. I’ll definitely be rereading this and buying anything Jen St. Jude writes, her writing is incredible! I can’t recommend it enough, definitely grab a copy to read, you won’t regret it!

"I don't think you can force living," I said. I knew that as well as anyone. "But we'll try."

If you are looking for a tear-jerker of a book, that will play with your emotions and have you grasping at the tendrils of hope left then this is the one for you.

I never thought about what to do if I found out the world was ending and I only had a few days to live.

But for Avery, she wasn't planning to live to hear the news. On the morning she planned to kill herself, a call from her best friend and ex-girlfriend, Cass, changed everything. For once, Avery had a tendril of hope, and she was determined to see Cass for one last time.

If Tomorrow Doesn't Come is a story about finding hope and holding on to love, especially when your days are cut short and time is slipping away.

It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story that deals with themes of depression and suicide in a respectful way that I think a lot of people will relate to or at least understand. With secrets threatening to break through the surface, how will Avery spend her last few days on Earth now that she has decided to live, one last time?

Thank you so much to the publishers for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review, I apologies it took me so long to post my review in the end.

This book starts with a bang (almost literally). A memo from NASA has been leaked that reveals that an asteroid bigger than the one that killed the dinosaurs is headed for America and will kill the entire planet in just nine days. Our main character, Avery, finds this out on the day that she plans to jump off a bridge into a rive near her college campus. This was quite a way to start a book, and one that had me gripped from the very beginning. The entire plot of this story asks us as readers one big question: what would you do if you knew you only had nine days left? Kind of an impossible question if you haven’t had to experience it, but this book really deals with this question in an interesting way. For Avery, the very thought of another nine days is agonising, but her determination to make it for those she loves in so inspiring.

The rep in this book, as well (in all forms) is fantastic, but what really stood out for me was the mental health rep. As someone who has experienced and lives with agoraphobia and depression I very rarely read a book that accurately represents the emotions of living with conditions such as these. This book really, for me, got to the crux of it: loneliness. At almost all times Avery is surrounded by people. People she is at college with, her dorm mate, her friends, her family and Cass over the phone, and yet at every step it is undeniable that she feels like teh loneliest person on the planet. Jen St. Jude so brilliantly captures the isolation that mental health conditions can create for people in an incredibly beautiful way.

I liked the way that this book was laid out as well. This is not a chronological story: we jump from the present (with nine days until impact) to the past where Avery fleshes out her own story, her motivations and her reasonings for everything that has happened to her that has lead her up to this moment… nine days before an asteroid hits earth. My only issue was just that, the asteroid. For a lot of the book the asteroid felt a bit too much like a plot point that was only there to force Avery to move, to act and to take the steps she needed to reconnect with those she cared about. While this meant that the whole apocalyptic side of the story felt a bit ‘meh’ at times, Avery’s story more than makes up for it. This is, without a doubt, a deep emotional character driven story that really delves into the complexities of life.