On June 4, 2024, “Past Present Future” by Rachel Lynn Solomon was published. As the sequel to “Today Tonight Tomorrow”, the book follows Neil Mcnair and Rowan Roth, the protagonists from the previous novel, into their college years. After their long-lasting academic rivalry ended in a surprising romance, the reality of a long-distance relationship shocks them both when their colleges end up being hours apart. Without each other’s direct support, the two learn the importance of taking care of their mental health independently and develop a sense of who they are without the other.
The book was met with generally positive reviews. One reader on Goodreads wrote, “I loved getting more of Rowan and Neil’s story! This story was definitely heavier than the first book and tackled a lot of topics that I am sure many readers will relate to.” She felt that the maturity of the themes reflected Rowan and Neil’s experience in a more grown-up environment. Another reviewer went into further detail, explaining “I thought everything felt so real, especially the themes explored, such as the worries and pleasures of going away to college, figuring out what you want to do in life, and finding happiness in yourself.”
“Past Present Future” was a surprising change from the rest of Solomon’s catalog. She has previously published books such as “See You Yesterday” and “Today Tonight Tomorrow”. Both were a great success, but they focused on the fluffy, idealistic side of romance. “Past Present Future” contrasts this with a focus on mental health, academic/social balance and the struggles that are common among college kids. The presence of these themes created a more serious tone, leaving readers with something to think about.
Personally, I loved this sequel. As someone who read its pilot as well, I felt that the addition of “Past Present Future” was a wonderful idea. When reading “Today Tonight Tomorrow”, I fell in love with the characters, and getting a more in-depth development of them was a pleasant surprise. I would not recommend this book to someone who has not read the first novel, as most of my enjoyment stemmed from my previous affection for the characters. Solomon does a great job of making Rowan and Neil lovable, which allows the reader to grow an emotional attachment to their story.
Although “Past Present Future” will be the last book published in this series, the epilogue follows up on Rowan and Neil’s life outside of college. We get an insight into their first lousy jobs and apartment. Many readers, including Solomon herself, were thrilled with the continuation. In the acknowledgments, Solomon wrote, “These characters have been with me since 2017, and it’s been the greatest gift to spend this extra time with them.” Solomon plans to continue writing and says she has a new book in the works.
