Lane Clarke weaves a beautifully tender narrative that follows the lives of two characters whose paths intertwine in the most unexpected ways. The pacing is perfect, with a blend of poignant moments and lighthearted banter that keeps you engaged from start to finish.

This wasn’t for me. :( I wanted to like it but couldn’t get into it. It has power though and would be a great read for someone else.

I love YA books, but just know going in that this isn't a fluffy YA the entire time, there are some really hard topics discussed so make sure you look up TW. On that note, I really did enjoy this book a lot! The hard topics were handled perfectly and I could relate to some stuff.
I loved the relationship between her and Derek and he was such a softy I could cryyyy.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Lane Clarke's writing style and pace and how much I even came to care for the characters. I loved so many of the moments between Michie and Derek. But mostly, I really appreciate the way that this book both included and handled such important and difficult topics. There are many heavy topics handled and discussed, so trigger warnings are so important, but this book was so worth it.

Don't be like me, be better than me. This ARC has been sitting on my Kindle for months, I can't tell you the number of times I have thought about including this in a project only to talk myself out of it and say that I'll get to it later. Well here we finally are and this was truly a banger of a book.

Also, be better than me in go in knowing that this isn't a nice and fluffy walk down the YA contemporary streets. Clarke really tackles some hard hitting subject matter; like the support group our main character is part of for children that were conceived as a product of sexual assault, and on page panic attack, references to a past almost suicide attempt, general dysfunctional families from some of the side characters. A breezey stroll through the lives of children this was not, but Clarke navigated the journey this narrative took me on beautifully.

I think that what I really loved was how the narrative really seemed to center what all of Michie's relationships meant to her, not just the romantic one. I liked that we still spent time with her and Jojo being best friends and exploring things there, or her relationship to her grandmother and whether she should reach out to her mom despite how complicated things were between them. Even that her support group and the Clueless shenanigans that were happening there never seemed to be yanked from the narrative just because Derek was there for the romantic angle. Even the third act when the book could have really centered a romance the book took the time to let that be the b narrative while we explored more of the familial aspect of the story.

This is definitely the kind of a read that lingers long after you've put the book down, and I know that I'll be thinking about this for the rest of the year. I was heartbroken on one page and laughing on another and it just all worked for me in a way that I both didn't see coming and also loved to have the chance to experience.

But now I need y'all to see it, because there's not reason for this book to have the low number of reviews that it has when it's this good a piece of fiction.

actual rating: 4/5 stars

this was way more emotional than i anticipated going in. this is a ya coming of age story but our main character was convinced via rape and has an estranged relationship with her mother because of this. she is trying to apply for colleges and feels like she cannot get a grasp on what to write because of this relationship.

this relationship with her mother is a huge portion of the book and her grappling with the fact of how she was brought into this world. she is also in a support group with other teens going through this and we see how this affects them in different ways which i really enjoyed.

derek and michie are absolutely adorable and i loved their relationship so much. i do wish we got more about derek and his struggles. we focused a little bit on his family but michie goes through so much and i wish that derek had at least one thing. it seemed a bit unrealistic that his life was so peachy keen. derek was such a sweet, wholesome, supportive bean tho

i loved seeing michie's relationship with her grandma as well. a lot of the black community is raised by grandparents and other relatives so i loved seeing the representation even tho personally i have never had relationships with any of my grandparents.

i think this discussed something i have never even thought about personally in such an amazing way and we really saw how it impacted michie. while it may have been too much for a ya audience i think it could have done more to talk about rape culture and how rape impacts more people than just the children conceived from it. it talked about the mothers slightly but i think if it dove into that more it could have been an absolute favorite.

overall i would highly recommend this for the audience that it is aimed at.

thank you to lane clarke, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, Love Times Infinity didn't work for me. I liked the *idea* of the book more than the book itself and found my reading experience to be sluggish. However, I don't think this is the book's fault! I enjoyed Lane Clarke's writing, the wholesome and cute moments in Michie and Derek's relationship, and the way that this book tackles important and difficult topics with the nuance and care they deserve. Thanks to other readers' reviews, I went into this book fully aware of the trigger warnings and I suggest you look them up yourself so you can decide if that content feels safe to explore for you.

If you are a reader who is looking for an emotional and empathetic coming-of-age romance that is also an at times difficult to read exploration of identity, then this book might be exactly right for you!

I enjoyed this book very much. I intended to write a complete review on my website when the book was released, but the past year has been unprecedented for me in terms of how many things I had to deal with at once. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review this book early, and have recommended it to other readers on social media!

Really enjoyed this book, as I've recieved a copy from the author, Lane Clarke herself. I love the detail and background of each character, and they're both written perfectly. Not many authors know how to write college students, but Lane is one of those who do.

Thoughts and Themes: I do not know why I waited so long to begin reading this book but I am glad that I waited to listen to it on audiobook. This book is packed with so much and I highly recommend reading about the trigger warnings prior to going into this book because there are quite a few. All of this being said I do think the book manages to handle some heavy topics with grace.

The first thing that sold me on the book was the Grey's Anatomy reference very early on since I rarely see that show referenced in a book. This wasn't the only good thing about the book though, as I mentioned before this book covers some difficult topics and I believe it does a good job at this. I love how real the characters are and how the author lets each of them have feelings that aren't neat. I think it was nice to see each of them unpack trauma and deal with it in different ways.

Characters: Throughout this book you are introduced to a few characters through their interactions with out main character, Michie. You get to meet her best friend, JoJo, grandma, love interest, Derek, and several people in her therapy group. I loved each of the characters that you get to meet throughout the story and the relationships that Michie establishes with everyone.

I really liked the relationship that Michie has with Derek and the way in which this develops. I like that we get to see how her past affects this relationship and how she works through that past. I thought it was great to see that things weren't always perfect and easy for both of them and how their trauma impacts the way they respond to each other.

Writing Style: This story is told in first person through the perspective of our main character, Michie. I thought that it was great that the story was told through her perspective because it allowed us to see how Michie felt about everything. I like that we didn't really get to see how others felt about certain events that took place because they didn't get to impact how Michie navigated the world she lives in.

LOVE TIMES INFINITY
By Lane Clark

A perfect YA read full of emotions and one that will capture your heart.
Lane Clark wrote a beautiful story that tugged at all my heart strings and so emotional that I could not help but feel all the feels deep within my soul. I loved the themes of this YA novel that explored hard topics but in such a sensitive way through the characters in the story. I loved the character development and the way the story was told in a realistic and relatable manner. Well done!

Today's YA genre continues to dominate and Love Times Infinity should be everyone's new obsession. I devoured this book in just a few days, which nowadays, is huge for me. Love Times Infinity is an adorable coming-of-age story that also tackles life's tougher moments.

These are a few of the highlights for me:

-Michie's friendships. I wish I had a JoJo when I was in high school.
-The evolution of Michelle and Derek's relationship. I loathe insta-love and I'm glad that wasn't the case here.
-The way tough subjects, such as depression, mourning of a loved one and suicide ideation, are treated.
-The Afro-Latino representation
-The ending wasn't 100% a happy ending, which made it realistic.

Since I want to read more about Michelle and her birth mother, Renee, I'm hoping Lane Clarke will address that in a prequel or sequel 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

I don’t give five stars to books very often, but this book was absolutely fantastic.

The story follows a high school girl named Michie who struggles with some deep self esteem issues. Being the product of her mother's rape, she has never believed herself worthy of life and happiness. When her mother suddenly wants to rekindle their relationship after years of being absent, Michie has to choose whether or not she should open up that avenue of potential hurt. Other struggles she deals with are figuring out what she wants to do after high school, and learning what it means to love and be loved.

As you can imagine, there are some heavy themes in it that you might want to be aware of before you dive in, but I loved this book and these characters with all of my heart. The relationships portrayed were both incredibly real and incredibly uplifting. The book also portrays therapy (particularly group therapy) in a positive light, which I deeply appreciated. Teenagers and adults alike are sure to recognize pieces of themselves in Michie's story and I'm sure several tears will be shed along the way.

100% recommend.

I LOVED this book so much!! The character development was so real and authentic. I thought it had a strong plot and was well written. Amazing!!

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬

Love Times Infinity is about high school junior Michie. She has a big dream to get itno Brown University and be the first-generation of her family to attend college. But she’s struggling to define who she is for her scholarship essays, especially because she’s been estranged from her mother since she was seven.
Michie also has undeniable chemistry with the new kid at school Derek de la Rosa, but she keeps him at distance in order to protect her heart.
When her mother unexpectedly reaches out to make amends, and with her scholarship deadlines coming, Michie must choose whether she wants to reopen old wounds or to leave her past behind. And as she spends more time with Derek she must decide how much of her she’s willing to share.

𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

Love Times Infinity is an emotional YA contemporary about healing and accepting yourself. I really like that this book talks about many important topics in a very real and honest manner. I love the representation of mental health, dysfunctional families and amazing friendships. The writing is beautifully done, I looked forward to each chapter. I absolutely loved that the romance isn’t the main plot of this book, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy reading about Michie and Derek’s relationship. They have so many swoon worthy moments. 🥰
The characters are so well written and I liked Michie’s character development a lot.
This definitely isn’t an easy read because of the topics discussed. So if you’re interested in it please read the content warnings.

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, discussions of alcoholism, depictions of anxiety and depression, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page)

𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before diving into this book, I must warn you that there will be trigger warnings that many might not be able to handle. Please do research before diving into this book.

Love Times Infinity… where do I begin? This book has since been published but I’m thankful I was given the chance to read it beforehand. It covered a lot of important topics that many young people need to read about so they know they are not going through things alone. I tried really hard to love this book. It was an okay read for me. I had a hard time connecting any of the characters and the romance was a little too fast for my taste. But that doesn’t mean someone else might LOVE this book.

Overall, It was a good book. Would I read it again? Probably not. It just wasn’t a good fit for me and that’s okay!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy to review!

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Love Times Infinity

Author: Lane Clarke

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Black MC who lives with grandmother, Black characters, Lesbian character, Hispanic character, Foster care character, Jewish character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, Black romance

Publication Date: July 26, 2022

Genre: YA Contemporary

Age Relevance: 16+ (roaches/bugs, sexual assault/rape, depression, psychiatric hold, anxiety, cursing, alcoholism, underage alcohol consumption, abortion, panic attack, romance)

Explanation of Above: Roaches/bugs are mentioned in the beginning of the book and not at all after that. It’s a quick mention. The book revolves around a character who is the product of rape, so rape and sexual assault are mentioned in varied vagueness to bluntness throughout the novel. Depression and anxiety are shown in the book and there is a psychiatric hold mentioned as well. There is one panic attack scene. There is a lot of cursing throughout the book. Alcoholism is mentioned and underage alcohol consumption is mentioned as well. Abortion is mentioned to a character who is pregnant. There is some romance in the book.

Publisher: Poppy

Pages: 368

Synopsis: High school junior Michie is struggling to define who she is for her scholarship essays, her big shot at making it into Brown as a first-generation college student. The prompts would be hard for anyone, but Michie's been estranged from her mother since she was seven and her concept of family has long felt murky.
Enter new kid and basketball superstar Derek de la Rosa. He is very cute, very talented, and very much has his eye on Michie, no matter how invisible she believes herself to be.
When Michie's mother unexpectedly reaches out to make amends, and with her scholarship deadlines looming, Michie must choose whether to reopen old wounds or close the door on her past. And as she spends more time with Derek, she'll have to decide how much of her heart she is willing to share. Because while Michie may not know who she is, she's starting to realize who she wants to become, if only she can take a chance on Derek, on herself, and on her future.

Review: I think this is a superb read, with really thought provoking questions throughout it. I loved how the book was written and it really made me think throughout it. Usually I stay away from books where it discusses a pregnancy after a rape. I do this because when I was younger, most of the books like that were in the Christian fiction genre. In fact, when I was in high school I had a friend who loved to read Christian novels and some of the novels that she really liked and would tell me about was in the theme of about a pregnancy after a rape. And the thing that really bugged me about those books were that they all showcased that it was all sunshine and rainbows afterwards. And I thought to myself, and I still do think to myself, that It is a very stupid way of framing that unfortunate situation and obviously it was to push a certain political agenda. But the thing I love about this book is that it was very raw and honest about the aftermath of such an event. It didn’t paint the issue as “sunshine and rainbows” but rather it focused on the MC, who is a product of rape, and how they deal with that event and how their family also deals with it. It was raw and emotional and honest, and even when another character in the book got pregnant the MC not only advocated for abortion but also for the character to make a choice that best suited them. The character development was amazing and the world building was well done. The pacing was also great and overall I think this is one of those books that are well worth being read. I also loved all of the Percy Jackson mentions. This is something I think other authors could incorporate as well *hinthint*

The only issue I had with the book is that the ending was a bit sudden and I wanted to see more of the romance between the MC and the love interest, but other than that I absolutely adored this read!

Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!

This is such an adorable YA Romance, with some growing pains!! The mother daughter dynamics are real and Derek coming into town while Michie is going through some things seems like perfect timing. I love that we get to have a first generation immigrant as a main character, and that love is in the air. I have been such a sucker for romance lately! I don’t know what has gotten into me, lol. On another note (serious one), this book has a content warning for depictions of anxiety, discussions about sexual assault, abortion, alcohol use, alcoholism, parental abandonment, and grandparent death.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to review! This book has since been published, but I'm happy I got the chance to read it. Overall, this book was okay for me. I think it covered many important topics from nuanced and empathetic perspectives, inspired by the author's own life experiences, but I didn't quite feel an emotional connection to this book. Other reviews I've seen have mentioned that they cried while reading this book, but I didn't get to that point. I think that Derek and Michie were a little too insta-lovey for my usual taste, but I did think they had a good connection. I would have liked to see that aspect of their relationship explored and developed more that it was. I think that this is a great story, just not a good fit for me.

DNFed this book, unfortunately. Lane is a delight, and I appreciate everything she does for the writing community, but this just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get through all the pop culture references. It’s my bookish pet peeve, unfortunately. That being said, I’m excited for what Lane has in store.