I tried with this one, I really did. But after 16 days and I'm only at 21%?? I can't keep going. A total snoozefest. I fell zero connection between the characters. I'd really love to understand their "great love," but there's no context. And every chapter is like word salad; big flowery words are used to describe a whole lot of nothing.

If you've read this, please just tell me what happens bc I'm never going to finish this.

“Maybe that’s all love is, in the end. An endless tempting of fate.” Oh, I loved this. About halfway through I felt like there was no possible way that Laura Steven would be able to wrap it up in a satisfying way, and I’ve never been happier to be wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC of this beautiful book!

3.5 Stars – A Thought-Provoking Premise, but Not for Me

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven has a fascinating premise, and I genuinely enjoyed the author's writing style. It’s lyrical, immersive, and full of potential. The idea of fate and alternate possibilities drew me in.

That said, I quickly realized I wasn’t the target audience for this book. The amount of strong language felt excessive for a YA novel, and I was surprised by how much the story centered around LGBTQ themes. While I don’t mind reading about these elements when they appear as part of a broader narrative, I personally prefer when they’re a subplot rather than the main focus. Given how prominently LGBTQ representation is marketed in many books today, I felt this one should have been more transparent in its description so readers could better gauge if it was the right fit for them.



Beyond that, the pacing became repetitive, and I struggled to connect with the central romance. The idea of star-crossed lovers across timelines is intriguing, but I never fully understood why their love was supposed to be so grand and transcendent. Without that foundation, the emotional weight of their story didn’t hit as hard as I’d hoped. The constant flashbacks also started to feel unnecessary rather than enriching.

I think readers who enjoy highly poetic prose and don’t mind a more abstract, magical realism feel might still love this book. But for those with similar reading preferences to mine, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books publishers for providing me with an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review, All opinions are my own.

This... this book. I'm almost at a loss for words. Almost. :)

I've always loved reincarnation stories. Upon discovering this book, I knew I was going to love it, and I'm absolutely thrilled that my instincts were spot on! There just aren’t enough books that explore this fascinating concept, and Steven does it flawlessly. From the moment I opened the book, I was hooked by the intriguing plot and richly developed characters. The mix of suspense, emotion, and wit is perfect, making it impossible to put down.

And the writing, oh, the writing, I have so many quotes highlighted In my kindle. This is beautiful, heart-wrenching work, and I need everyone to start reading this so I can have others to talk to about this!

"Perhaps he was my true homeland; our existence a language only we could speak."

Arden and Evelyn's fates have been entwined for as many lives as Evelyn can remember, but in each life, they die before their 18th birthday. While some lives end in love and yearning for a future, others end in bitter and angry violence. But they always manage to find each other, time and time again, across centuries.

Each time we travel back to see another one of their past lives, it's in a new country with new culture, language, and customs. While some worked more effectively in terms of the narrative, I was in awe at how much research likely went into writing this book. I almost wish there was more time spent in a select few places as I wanted to see how their relationship evolved in nearly the same way on each timeline and explore the conflicted feelings of their connection. I craved this novel to be written in third person, so we could even just see glimpses of Arden's internal struggle. This would have also resolved my need for more foreshadowing about the curse and its origins--I didn't see the reason for the curse coming in this particular way, and while I love a good unexpected twist, this felt a little more like withholding of information rather than misleading me into a few possibilities and arriving at the most surprising likelihood, which felt unsatisfying for me. But overall, reading this story was enjoyable with some romance, some suspense, and a little bit of mystery.

My biggest issue with the story was the conflict in the timeline we spend the most amount of time in. Evelyn is desperate to live long enough to donate her bone marrow to her ailing sister, but the timing coincides with her 18th birthday and another death and resurrection into a new life. I found one of the minor characters that added suspense to this conflict to be unnecessary to the story as a whole, adding a little bit of drama and necessary tension to plot which could have been developed elsewhere. But the main issue with the conflict here was the desperation to stay alive long enough for the doctors to harvest her bone marrow. It was difficult for me to suspend disbelief with her solution to the appointment being two weeks after her death. And I couldn't understand why she didn't just ask Arden to end her life near/in the hospital since it is possible to extract bone marrow after death. Maybe I'm overthinking this or there are rules/laws that don't apply in the US.

Despite all of this, I still found myself crying at the end. The last couple of chapters were devastating, hopeful, and romantic somehow at the same time, and I couldn't help but shedding a few tears for these two protagonists. The tension between the two characters was enough to keep me reading and their ending was perfect.

4.5 ⭐️ Arden and Evelyn’s love story is all at once tragic and beautiful and heartbreaking. Traveling through centuries they find each other in each one and I can’t think of anything more beautiful. Their love transcended time and societal changes and bodies, it was truly about soulmates and I loved it!!

The ending honestly surprised me, I had no idea what was coming at the end but I think I loved it? I was so sad to leave Branwen behind at the end but then the mention of Gracie in the last chapter genuinely made me sob and then Arden and Evelyn found each other again and my heart was bursting with emotion.

I loved the romance and the poetry. I loved the fantasy elements while still being set in the real world with historical elements. This is such a special book!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and can understand why some people love it. Ultimately, I do not think it hit home for me.

Rating:
3.25/5

things I liked that affected my rating:
-Different settings
I loved the different parts of history and time that were shown throughout the book. You could tell that it was well-researched.
-Concept
I liked the concept of two people in love destined to kill each other in every life, and I liked that the book set up a mystery as to why that was.

things I disliked that affected my rating:
-The second half of the book
Once the answer to the question of “Why is this happening to them?” was revealed, the rest of the book fell flat for me.
I think there was a shift in tone that just didn’t quite work for me and I found myself just wanting to get to the end.
-Showing, not telling
I felt like the story didn’t show any scenes of the main characters being in love but instead continuously told me that they were in love. I wasn’t as invested in their story because I felt like I didn’t actually know much about their love story beyond the events of them murdering each other.

This book came out on March 4th, so if it interests you, you can purchase it or see if it’s available to check out at your local library!

Steven has revolutionised YA. Not in many years has a book in this genre lingered in my mind like “OIF”. Her prose is spellbinding, encasing the reader in each life of Arden and Evelyn completely, till one is lost in the emotion of the book. It was clear from the first chapter Steven devoted herself fully to the writing, research, and craft that sets “OIF” apart from other books. Every chapter draws the reader in the proffered world, defies any prediction one might have envisioned, and ends with our characters one breath away from disaster or death. Arden and Evelyn defy any preconceived ideas of how main characters are meant to behave, and exist in total disregard for who and how they ought to be. “OIF” is not a light, uncomplicated romance; each twist and turn will leave you reeling till somehow you’ve finished, and are forever altered.

This book was perfect! The unexpected twist on a romance that I didn’t know I needed - it was unlike anything I’ve read before and completely heartwrenching. These characters and their many stories will stay with me for a long time!

What a unique, beautifully written tale of love, betrayal and reincarnation. This one could make you reevaluate your stance on life and death. It did feel longgg winded at times but OVERALL Recommend!

“All I know is that I’d do anything to lie in that bed with you just once without thinking about how I’m going to have to k!ll you soon.”

“If a hero is someone who will give up love to save the world, then a villain is the reverse. Someone who will give up the world to save love.”

“The cruelest fate the gods and stars had ever written: the person I loved most in the world was the person that would ultimately destroy me.”

Imagine living countless lives, only to never reach the age of eighteen because the love of your life keeps killing you in each one. That’s exactly how Our Infinite Fates begins—with a wedding and a murder.

Evelyn has tolerated this brutal cycle for centuries, but this time, things are different. She’s finally living a life she loves—one she wants to keep—especially because her little sister is sick and depends on her for a life-saving medical procedure. Now, Evelyn is desperate to find Arden in this lifetime, to break the cycle, to convince him to hold off on their death, at least until she can save her sister.

I usually avoid reincarnation stories because I hate when the characters don’t remember their past lives. But Evelyn and Arden? They remember everything—every lifetime with every betrayal. And that’s exactly why Evelyn is so determined to rewrite their fate this time. Thankfully, finding Arden isn’t the hard part. No matter the lifetime, there’s always an unshakable pull between them that inevitably draws them back together.

I started this book for the vibes, and somewhere along the way, I thought I’d try to predict the twist. But I got so completely lost in the story that I forgot to figure it out. And when it hit? I literally sat up straight in bed, staring at the page in shock. It was the kind of twist that’s both thrilling and soul-crushing at the same time. Honestly, I require a novella because I need to know more about these two precious, tragic souls who will live in my heart forever.

"You're my family. My homeland. My soulmate."

The writing truly is stunning. Poetic, lyrical, and so beautifully immersive that I kept catching my breath. What I loved most was how the author wove poetry into the story—not just in the prose itself but through one of Arden’s past lives, where he was literally a poet. That extra layer made everything feel so intentional and deeply felt.

"as I gazed upon the first bramble, I thought of how the world reinvents itself year after year, century after century, summer deepening always into autumn, winter brightening always into spring, growing new flowers from old roots, and I thought of how it feels to hold you, each season of you, our love blossoming afresh, year after year, century after century, new flowers from old roots, an eternal seed from which life will always bloom"

While this book is marketed as YA, it reads more like an adult novel. Not because of explicit content, but because of the depth of the writing. If I hadn’t known the publisher, I would have sworn this was adult fantasy. Its rich and elegant prose made it feel more mature in the best way possible.

"In the last thousand years: empires have risen and fallen and I have loved you, plagues have leaped from rat to daughter and I have loved you, humanity has conquered sea and sky and I have loved you, kings have been slain and forests razed and witches burned and gold struck and maps redrawn and fortunes traded and volcanoes erupted and moons landed and cathedrals sculpted and rivers dirtied and masterpieces painted and battlefields bloodied and I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you."

This book is pure angst, complete with a love story filled with tragedy, loss, and longing, woven across centuries. One of my favorite things was how the romance focused on who these characters are at their core—their souls—rather than any physical form. Across lifetimes, Evelyn and Arden don’t always return in the same genders. Sometimes they’re both men; sometimes, both women; at others, one of each. But their connection never wavers. And despite the ethereal, star-crossed nature of their relationship, it still felt real, tangible, like something just within reach.

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

Despite their constant cycle of finding and losing each other, the romance is a slow burn, making it even more agonizingly beautiful. The we-shouldn’t-but-we-can’t-stop energy had me in a chokehold! If you love books that make your heart ache, keep you flipping pages into the late hours of the night, and that leave you staring at the ceiling when you’re done? Add this one to your TBR immediately. Our Infinite Fates is an enthralling, captivating, heart-clutching fantasy!

Song: exile by Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)

- enemies-to-lovers
- fated mates
- found family
- lgbtq rep
- reincarnation
- soulmates
- starcrossed lovers

Good and overall enjoyed it . Got a little lost with time jumps and character names - 3 stars , I liked the overall plot and there was a goal of helping her sister

This book was a beautifully written representation of life and love and what it means to live and be true to yourself. The story follows two souls as they reincarnate together in each life. One of the things I loved most about this was that their gender is never set in stone. It showed how the soul transcends above all and how who you are inside is all that matters. And the twist at the end….mind blowing!

The story focused more on character development and plot so there wasn’t as much detail for settings. This worked well because it kept the focus on the characters and the story so you don’t get lost in the details of everything else. Also, even the minor characters were so well written. I really felt like they all had their own personality traits and were very distinguishable from each other.

2.5⭐️ rounded to 3. Our Infinite Fates tells the story of two souls who reincarnate through centuries where they fall in love just be killed in each lifetime by each other. The concept immediately hooked me into the story and I feel like this could be adapted into a movie. However as I read on a lot of parts felt repetitive. Love is a strong factor in the story but there was more telling than showing of it. Unfortunately this read was not for me but the concept is so endearing that it may reach other readers more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was recommended to me by my mother and neither of us typically read romance, so I was heavily intrigued. This ended up being a book that I wrote down SO many quotes from because they were so incredibly impactful. I even noted a couple that I'd like to incorporate into my wedding vows one day because they hit me THAT hard. I LOVED going through time with them and I never wanted it to end, though the ending was incredible. Absolutely phenomenal book that will sit with me for a good long while.

This was a great story of two soul mates who are forced to die by each other's hands 9ver and over again for centuries. I was quickly swept into the story and I enjoy the relationship. It had sad and happy moments, with historical chapters woven throughout. This is a solid 4.5 stars for me! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

"I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you."

Our Infinite Fates is an immersive romantic fantasy about two souls fated to love—and ultimately destroy—each other in every lifetime before their 18th birthday.

It’s a quick read, and what keeps you flipping the pages is the unraveling mystery of Arden and Evelyn’s deeply intertwined lives and destined fate. The narrative weaves through multiple time periods and locations, reflecting each of their lives, which I found both daring and fascinating. Major props to Lauren Stevens for pulling this off—I can only imagine the amount of research and thought that went into choosing these settings. I’d love to know what inspired her choices.

While the plot kept me hooked, the middle did lose a bit of momentum, and a major plot twist felt like it wrapped up too quickly for my liking. By the end, I was left wanting more: more insight into Arden and Evelyn (a chapter from Arden’s POV would have been a dream!), more clarity on the celebrity (was she the mother?), and more closure on Gracie’s storyline—especially since it was such a pivotal plot point. Perhaps the ambiguity was intentional, but it left me slightly unsatisfied.

That said, it was still an engaging story that will resonate with fans of Divine Rivals.

Things this book has going for it: an intense tagline, an endorsement from V.E. Schwab, and a comparison to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and This is How You Lose the Time War.

Things this book does not have going for it: the plot. Kind of.

The gist of this book is that two (essentially) immortal teens have been cursed for over a millennia(?) to fall in love and then kill each other in each lifetime.

Except they don't have to fall in love. They've just been in love for as long as the other can remember. Oh, and it also kind of borders on hate because they always end up killing one another before they turn 18. BUTTTT the main character, Evelyn, can only remember the past few lifetimes and really wants to keep living in her current body.

In other words, the details are murky because the world-building is murky-- and I'm being generous. There are a lot of over-arching statements/terms used (immortality, the "loving each other in every lifetime", having to kill each other, etc.), without an explanation as to why/ when/ how we got to this point.

But I'll give credit where credit is due. The characterization of Evelyn and Aren was beautiful and I felt enchanted by the premise of their story. I love how Laura Steven chose to focus on non-Westernized or over-saturated points of history; it was diverse and didn't gloss over tragedy. I was getting tired of the time-traveling books that always went to Shakespeare's London or French Revolution Paris; in that regard, OUR INFINITE FATES was very refreshing.

That being said, the more I reflect on this story, the more disappointed I feel. Essentially, every selling point of this novel was shortened by its ending, and it had an abundance of plot holes. I was most looking forward to reading how Evelyn and Aren always fall in love, but it was instead an established plot point that the reader is supposed to accept. These characters somehow lacked chemistry despite being together... well, forever. The ending was very rushed and, from my point of view, cheapened the entire book.

All in all, I felt that this was one of those books that you enjoy reading in the moment, but can't let yourself think about it too hard or too long.

Regardless, my deepest thanks to Netgalley, Laura Steven, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It’s been quite a while since I’ve read something so heartfelt, lyrical and somehow nostalgic. This book could have been 300 pages longer and I would have enjoyed every single one. Getting to see the past lives of Evelyn and Arden (or Daphne and Calliope if you want to get real technical) was so interesting. I could have in no way predicted the reason behind their reincarnations but I was throughly entertained by the twist. The author also really encapsulated what it means to be human and to feel love and grief in all forms.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Laura Steven for allowing me to review this masterpiece in exchange for my honest review. This is a new favorite of all time! I absolutely loved every word in this book. It made me cry in the best of ways which is really hard for an author to manage. This book is also so romantic and tragic. I loved reading this and can’t recommend it enough!!! This book will stay with me for a very long time. Thank you again for allowing me to review this beautifully written book.