“See You Yesterday” by Rachel Lynn Solomon is a fun, original take on the classic “Groundhog Day” narrative. The story follows Barrett Bloom, a college freshman who’s looking for a fresh start after an intense high school experience. However, things take a wild turn when she finds herself trapped in a time loop on the first day of school. Together with Miles, a fellow time-loop victim, she sets out to find a way out of the loop while navigating the ups and downs of their newfound friendship.
I loved the protagonist, Barrett. She’s a relatable, complex character who’s easy to root for. She’s a bit emotionally messy and insecure, but she has a great rapport with her mother and a strong sense of determination. The author does a great job of making the reader care about her and want her to succeed.
The human connections in this book are also a highlight. I loved seeing the contrast between Barrett’s relationship with her mother and Miles’ relationship with his. Additionally, the evolution of Barrett’s frenemyship with her roommate/nemesis was handled well and added an extra layer of depth to the novel. One thing to note is that the characters do make some inexperienced decisions, which can be frustrating at times. However, this is understandable given that they are “baby adults” still learning important communication skills.
The time loop concept in this book is also handled in an interesting way. The characters have a decent understanding of pop culture references and are aware of the concept of a time loop, but they don’t know what to do about it. Should they strive for a perfect day? Appease some powerful entity that’s trying to teach them a lesson? Research library their way into a solution?
Overall, “See You Yesterday” is a creative spin on a classic trope. The characters are likable and sympathetic, and the time loop concept is handled in a compelling way. It’s a book that would have cross-appeal to older adults, but it depends on how tolerant a reader is of characters making immature decisions. I think it would make a great movie adaptation and I recommend it to fans of bildungsroman novels and romances. Also, this is some great Jewish rep if you’re seeking that out for yourself or the teens in your life.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book. I rate audio on a 4 point scale (1 – bad, 2 – ok, 3 – good, 4 – great) and this was a 2 star narration.
