When I tell you this is the most beautifully written book and that I will be thinking about it for a long time, I truly mean it.

Our main characters, Evelyn and Arden, have lived many lives in many different bodies throughout the past few centuries, but they are cursed to die at the hands of one another before their 18th birthday in each life. Evelyn’s memory only extends a few lifetimes, and the reason for their impending demise is not a memory she has, whereas Arden remembers every lifetime and the reason for their curse.

Laura Steven skillfully switches between the present day and the main characters’ past lives, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. I was just as determined as Evelyn to find out the truth about why they are cursed to kill one another before they turn 18 in every lifetime and every reincarnation that I happily lost sleep to continue reading. The book takes the theme of “I will find you in every lifetime” and gives it a really unique twist that I cannot stop thinking about.

If you don’t have this book on your TBR for its release in February 2025, you absolutely need to add it right now. You will never be the same, and you’ll go through every emotion while reading it. Our Infinite Fates will suck you in from the first page, and it’s a wild ride that you want to be on to the very last page. It has already taken the top place of my favorite book of 2025!!

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I HATE giving a low rating to arcs but this book just didn’t work for me, I can only think of one thing I actually liked (Gracie & her mom) and even that didn’t get the conclusion it deserved. Everything felt off and incredibly flat to me. The plot twist was also so anticlimactic, I couldn’t believe he took so long to tell her only for it to be… that??? like…. really? 🫠

In the first chapter I thought those flashbacks would be interesting to follow but as the story went on they just got more and more repetitive. The present-day chapters had so much more potential but at what cost? Everything felt so unfinished in the end that it wasn’t even worth getting attached to those characters (and maybe that was exactly the point but I can’t control who I get attached to!!!!!)

Anyway, I’ve only seen good reviews so far so maybe this is just a me thing. Maybe you should read it to satisfy your curiosity bc who knows, it might end up being your new favorite book (I wish it had been mine)

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for sending me the arc in exchange of an honest review 🤍

“I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you”

I truly don’t even know where to begin with this review. A friend of mine has gotten me absolutely obsessed with the prospect of soulmates and their destiny to be together through every life time. When this book was announced I knew I had to read this and I fear I was not ready for this one.
The concept of this book reminds me of one of those topics you’d read in fan fiction of your favorite ship but never get the opportunity to read in its own book. It’s such an incredibly complex theme that tends to rely on the preexisting knowledge of the characters and their pasts and coming together. Somehow, Laura Steven was able to make it work on its own and I was speechless with how beautifully done this was.
Arden and Evelyn have such a love for each other that spans a multitude of lifetimes and while Arden knows the reason he must kill Evelyn in every lifetime, she does not. It mixes such a great mystery into this beautiful story of two souls destined to be together. We are in the POV of Evelyn so we get to see the entirety of their fates through her eyes and what she remembers. This goes back and forth between their current life and of their past lives together and it was done so incredibly beautifully. We not only get to see their current lives, but the love they have experienced through decades of other lives as well. We get to see not only their love, but their betrayal throughout their lifetimes.
The heartache Arden feels for what he is forced to do and the heartache Evelyn feels for not understanding why was heartbreaking. It shows how much they love and adore each other while being forced to live out this twisted fate of being each other’s ruination.
When I tell you my jaw dropped when we finally learn the truth of why they’re forced to live out this twisted fate. I sat in silence in absolute astonishment because in no way did I expect that to be their origin. Laura Steven kept me guessing until the very end on what was going to happen next in the book and I adored every second of it. Truly, this was one of my favorite reads of the year and I cannot stop thinking about this book since finishing.
Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Addie LaRue is a great comp title, but I found this one more fast-paced. The writing was beautiful and lush, and I devoured the book in one night.

“𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊”

Our Infinite Fates was mesmerizing, enchanting and so devastatingly beautiful. The prologue made me cry. THE PROLOGUE MADE ME CRY. I knew from the first sentence it was going to be a book that changed my life. The exceptional world-building is a testament to the endless research Steven must have done for this book. Reading felt like taking a walk-through history/time and was incredibly immersive. Two tethered souls, doomed to hunt each other in every life. Evelyn and Arden’s tragic love story will forever hold a piece of my soul. I’ll never be the same. Infinity Stars.

Thank you so much to Laura Steven, St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

♾️⭐️

I will never be the same after reading this book. I was instantly hooked from the blurb alone and as soon as I started I knew this would be an instant 5⭐️ read from me. But turns out it’s even higher.

Evelyn and Arden have loved each other for over a thousand years, but to have to kill each other in every lifetime. This is a true life story that consistently defied all odds. To know that you will fall in love in every lifetime, through every reincarnation with the same exact outcome every single time. But Evelyn has no idea or remembrance of why Arden has to kill her time and time again. And through every lifetime she wants to know. But he never tells her.

I loved going back in time throughout the book to really see how their love has just consistently been so true throughout the years. To see them in previous lives and how their love has never wavered over the years. It’s such a beautiful story. I truly felt like I was living inside this book with how well every setting was written.

The ending had me in tears. And this book just truly left me feeling so whole. I loved every single second of it!

Thank you so much for the arc!

Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me because it is a three star and lower. I will not be posting about it on my social media.

This book was compared to the invisible life of Addie LaRue The love spanning across generations and timelines is pretty much the only similarities it holds. Our Infinite Fates I believe is more of a surface level young adult love story rather than an Addie LaRue case which is a social commentary on toxic relationships.

I felt like the story moved way too fast. They didn’t develop as characters nor did I feel moved by their love. Ceri as a character was a complete afterthought and a waste of time.

The past chapters were boring and repetitive, as well as the present chapters didn’t give us enough to go on about. The fact that she was fighting so hard to stay in the present timeline with her sister and mom, and then just easily gives it up at the end of the book so quickly. Absolute disservice, did it even matter?

The ending was rushed. The characters needed more time to develop a relationship because being told that they have loved each other through all these timelines doesn’t really matter if you don’t show it in the present tense. It was rushed plus saying that this book is like the invisible life of Addie LaRue is going to do more harm than good to the story Because people are going to compare it and it does not compare.

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Goodreads, and Netgalley for sending me a physical ARC and eARC of Our Infinite Fates.

Evelyn. Arden. Adella. Rafael. Nadezhda. Mikha. Thiyya. Lalla.

So many different people - two souls tethered together.

“...I had never felt as small or as infinite.”

Our Infinite Fates follows Evelyn and Arden through various different lifetimes where they are forced into killing each other. Evelyn struggles with remembering why they are forced to repeat the same fate over and over, while Arden understands why, but he holds on to that reason.

This book is beautifully written from the story line to the sentence structure. I was struggling with a reading slump, but this book has cured me! The different time periods really helped to build upon why Evelyn and Arden are the way they are and why they feel the way they do. I thoroughly enjoyed the way this book approached what a soul is.

Before I even finished reading this book I immediately preordered the US and UK version of the book. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!

“We had been farmers and bakers and soldiers, jewelers and thieves, royals and rogues, sons and daughters, the shape of us changing with every life but not the heart of us.”

“To love was to life, and to live was to die.”

P.S. - Siberia. :( IYKYK

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven is a magical romance story than spans centuries. Evelyn remembers her past lives. She also remembers Arden, who kills her every life as she turns eighteen. What she doesn’t remember is why. Arden remembers and knows but won’t share with her why he has to kill her repeatedly, despite their love for each other and desire to stay together.

This is a beautifully written story. I felt immersed in each life of Evelyn and Arden. Pacing was good and the story was interesting, in a tragically beautiful way. I appreciated the diverse representation across the multiple lives that the two live. This is a magical story that I think many will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me a complimentary advanced reader copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and based off of this draft; the final publication may be different. Expected publication date is March 4, 2025.

rey’s review

4 Stars
"The cruelest fate the gods and stars had ever written: the person I loved most in the world was the person who would ultimately destroy me."


Thank you to Wednesday Books and Edelweiss for the review copy in exchange for an honest review. Please note this review has been simplified to avoid spoilers ahead of the book’s official release.

Overall Thoughts
I approached Our Infinite Fates with some hesitation, given my mixed feelings toward The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. However, this novel surpassed my expectations in both emotional depth and narrative intricacy. It quickly became a story that lingered long after I finished it, striking a delicate balance between heartbreak and hope.

Characters

Evelyn
Evelyn is the emotional core of this story, and their journey through countless lifetimes is both heart-wrenching and relatable. Despite the constant cycle of reincarnation and the doomed fate they share with Arden, Evelyn remains deeply compassionate and empathetic, caring for others even as they face the inevitable. What stood out most to me was their ability to retain their humanity in the face of such an impossible fate. Evelyn continually seeks connection and, above all, love—both from Arden and from the people around them. I couldn’t help but admire their unwavering devotion for their mother and sister.

Arden
In contrast to Evelyn’s open-heartedness, Arden is more reserved, introspective, and guarded. Their character felt particularly intriguing to me because of their role as a writer, which allowed the author to delve into Arden’s inner world in a way that felt rich and reflective. Arden’s memories of their past lives are vivid and haunting, especially as they remember moments Evelyn has forgotten—creating a sense of painful longing and missed opportunities. Arden’s emotional distance and their resistance to accepting the inevitable bond with Evelyn creates a beautiful tension throughout the story. They act as a counterbalance to Evelyn’s openness, making their connection all the more complex. Arden’s emotional arc is quietly powerful, and their internal struggle feels incredibly authentic, given the tragic circumstances they continually face.

Plot & Writing
The dual timeline structure of Our Infinite Fates is one of its greatest strengths. It kept me engaged from beginning to end, as the story jumped between different lifetimes, each one building on the last with increasing layers of mystery and heartbreak. I didn’t see many of the plot twists towards the end coming, and I was consistently impressed with how the author navigated the intricacies of time, fate, and reincarnation. The historical research behind the book also adds an immersive quality to the story—each era is meticulously crafted, making the shifts between lifetimes feel distinct yet interconnected.
My main critique, however, lies in the repetition of Evelyn's love for Arden, which at times felt a bit unearned. The novel often emphasizes that Evelyn’s love for Arden is their greatest and most profound, yet this sentiment isn't always demonstrated with enough emotional depth. Since the story unfolds in reverse chronological order, I believe it might have been more effective to include glimpses of their older lives and then the more modern lives to showcase the progression of their bond across time in a more natural and compelling way.

Positives
What truly stood out to me was the philosophical richness of Our Infinite Fates. The book delves into complex themes of love, fate, memory, and identity in a way that is both profound and moving. It’s the kind of story you can revisit multiple times, each time uncovering new layers of meaning. I for one cannot wait to reread it in March when it is officially released.

Final Thoughts
Our Infinite Fates is a beautifully written, thought-provoking exploration of love and destiny. While it could have delved deeper into the evolving nature of Evelyn and Arden’s relationship across their lives, it still manages to leave a lasting emotional impact. This is a novel I can see myself revisiting time and again, discovering new insights with every read. For fans of emotional, multi-layered narratives, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll update this review closer to the publication date, but this was unexpectedly very good. The characters were well written, the peeks into their past lives was executed beautifully and provided a great way to learn who these characters were, and the story overall was interesting and kept me engaged. My only complaint really was the final confrontation feeling a little underwhelming considering how important the moment it is in the story.

The insufferable, plodding, overwrought love child of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and Divine Rivals. I wish I got what the blurb promised because truly my time was wasted. This is not an enemies to lovers cat and mouse dynamic, it’s boring unsatisfying instalove.

The blurb and the comps had me under the impression that we would see the two MCs chase each other through time and reincarnations - maybe there would be some tension and mystery over Arden’s identity and the origin of the curse! - but this is not the case. We jump back and forth between the present timeline in Wales and flashbacks to Evelyn and Arden’s past lives, but the past life flashbacks are terminally dull. They give us no new information or insight into the mystery of why Arden murders Evelyn in every life, and we never ever see them fall in love once. This is a failure on a structural level as a romance. There is nothing I hate more than being repeatedly told two people are desperately in love instead of seeing anything on page that would show me why I should believe this.

Every flashback is essentially:
Arden: Do you believe in fate? What is a soul? Is grief the price of love?
Evelyn: Please don’t kill me this time.
Arden: Sorry but I gotta.
Evelyn: Can you at least tell me why you have to kill me? You remember everything and I remember nothing so just give the reader a hint that something interesting might happen. We aren’t learning anything about the mysterious curse in the present timeline so it would be cool to learn something to move the plot forward in these flashback scenes.
Arden: I can’t tell you.
Evelyn: But why—
Arden: Because.
Evelyn: Because why?
Arden: Because we still have like 200 pages to fill. RIP babe.

Repeat ad infinitum. There are simply way too many of these flashbacks and we don’t spend more than a chapter with each set of reincarnations. The different historical settings are interesting (and clearly an attempt from the author to address critiques aimed at Addie La Rue) but the pacing suffers (not that the present timeline chapters are that much more compelling). I would have much rather seen the author pick a few past lives and flesh them out. Instead we get like twenty different past versions of Evelyn and Arden with zero depth or chemistry. Also I know this is YA but oh my god it is so goofy that they’re both like a thousand years old. (I swear, every time these immortal 17 year olds started talking about their PTSD from The Great War I could not take it seriously.) Immortal characters in YA are a tough needle to thread but choosing to make them that old means they feel very underdeveloped; Evelyn’s personality is “likes clothes” and Arden’s is “writes poetry.” They simultaneously don’t behave as timeless as I would expect while also behaving like OTT lovesick teens.

I think it’s bad book and nothing happens in it, but it’s not the worst YA fantasy I’ve ever read. I’m being extremely generous with my two stars because I believe it needs editing to the point that it would barely be the same book anymore, but there is something redeemable there. Because here’s the thing. This premise is fantastic, but it’s incredible to me that you would take this idea and turn it into such an unforgivably boring book. The author doesn’t leave the reader guessing Arden’s identity in the present timeline for longer than three chapters and it is never in question in the flashback chapters. There is no tension around the mystery behind Arden hunting Evelyn, no urgency to solving or understanding the curse. The reader is kept entirely in the dark until almost the 80% mark with zero foreshadowing, and the book is such a slog to that point that the curse reveal feels particularly cheap and anticlimactic. I think it’s a failure on every possible level that you would take this idea and not let us see them fall in love. I can see why people would like this, and I should have liked this because I too am insufferable and enjoy flowery musings on reincarnation, fate, and existence, but I need a semblance of a plot, snappy dialogue, and interesting characters to be invested in a book - especially a magical realism book - and this didn’t have any of that.

Would I re-read this? No

Who should read this: magical realism fans, instalove enjoyers, people who will read anything in the soulmate au tags on ao3

Similar books: The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, Divine Rivals, This is How You Lose the Time War, A Thousand Pieces of You

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books/SMP for a copy of the eARC.

My favorite parts of _Our Infinite Fates_ were the chapters devoted to Evelyn's and Arden's past lives. I was impressed by the care with which Steven wrote about various world cultures from different time periods. These chapters were a delight to read and, in my opinion, what sets the book apart from other YA romances. I also appreciated Steven's thoughtful exploration of gender identity. Arden's poetry was another highlight of the novel. My main critique would be the pacing. Many questions centered around the conflict were left unanswered until very late in the novel. Then, the conflict was resolved rather quickly. Letting the characters (and readers!) sit with the twist/reveal could have led to more thoughtful character development in the final act. Ultimately, I enjoyed _Our Infinite Fates_.

I look forward to reading more from Laura Steven, /especially/ if it's historical fiction.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for the digital ARC.

my new roman empire

After finishing Our Infinite Fates, my heart is not okay, but in the best way possible. This is an incredible story compared to Addie Larue and This is How You Lose the Time War and because of that, I knew I would immediately fall in love with this story and the characters. It is exquisitely written, the characters had so much depth, and the plot is unlike anything I have read before. I also love the glimpses of our MCs previous lives.

Our Infinite Fates is deeply profound, heart wrenching, melancholic and at times so optimistic, and beautiful beyond words.

Seriously, read this. Weep and laugh and swoon.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my e-arc in exchange for my honest review :))

This book was beautifully written but so hard to get into the story. I unfortunately did not end up finishing the book. I will not be leaving any public reviews or feedback as I didn’t finish the book. I appreciate the opportunity for the ARC.

lol why am i internally sobbing and throwing up HELLO this book was phenomenal. OIF made me question so many elements of life and offers such a stunning perspective on love. evelyn and arden’s story will quite literally destroy your heart, but it will also make you realize the true value of the people in your life and the love you have for them. this wasn’t just a love story or a life story, it was a ~what is the universe and how do i exist within it~ story. i am simply blown away by laura stevens’ writing. every iteration of the main characters was so special and tender and painful and watching them love and grieve in every lifetime was a punishment and a privilege. the last 15% felt like someone took my heart out of my body and stomped on it to be honest but it’s also such a testament to love and all that it encompasses. i am probably a little bit forever changed from reading this.

This was so beautifully written, what a gorgeous story! Evelyn and Arden left a lasting impression, my heart ached for them. Laura Steven has a magical way of weaving words together, hooking you in for every sentence. Very excited to get the physical copy when it releases.

Trust that if i talk to you in the next month i will be YAPPING about this book it was GORGEOUS. I was crying, just
The most beautiful story and the prose! The underlying messaging!! “I love you, i have loved you, i will love you” i have to stop before i start crying again.

Thank you for the arc.

I didn't end up finishing the book. I lost interest and wasn't able to pull myself back into. I won't be leaving a public review or rating.

<i>“I love you. I have loved you. I will love you.”</i>

My life has definitely been changed after devouring this novel. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a book provoke so much emotion from me, but damn I was tearing up constantly. Thought provoking and powerful, showing the true test of love over time, and how love can withstand all, even when everything seems so hopeless and lost. This book will truly sit with me for a long, long time. I hope everyone I know reads it and is as touched as I am. Thanks to NetGalley for ARC access!