3.75 ⭐️

I recently finished Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven, and I have a lot of thoughts. First off, it’s a stunning love story—one that transcends time and even gender. It kind of reminded me of Every Day by David Levithan and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, in terms of the emotional depth and the way it plays with time and identity.

The writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. Laura Steven has such a way with words, though I’ll admit it was a bit heavier than I typically go for. I like my books to be emotional, but in a way that pulls me in right away, and I didn’t always feel that instant connection here. For a book to get 5 stars from me, I need to feel that deep emotional bond—and bonus points if it makes me cry. I really enjoyed Evelyn and Arden’s story, but I’ve been wavering between a 3 and a 4 star rating, and I ended up settling on 3.75 stars.

One of the things that held me back was that certain plot points felt a little too easily resolved. There were moments where things seemed to get “fixed” a bit too neatly for my taste, and I wanted more complexity in how some of those resolutions played out.

That said, I do think this book is absolutely worth reading. It’s got an engaging premise, beautiful prose, and a love story that’s unlike anything I’ve encountered before. So if you’re a fan of stories that blur boundaries and challenge the notion of love and time, I’d definitely recommend giving Our Infinite Fates a shot!

I might give this another chance solely for the reason that so many readers are saying it is really good and I feel like I'm missing something not finishing the read. I don't know when that will be, but it will be sometime in the future. And I promise I'll give it my best shot. For now, I'm afraid it's a DNF for me.

More showing, less telling. More showing, less telling. MORE SHOWING, LESS TELLING. This was my constant mantra while reading Our Infinite Fates. I liked the prose, but it needed more than just gorgeous prose to keep me hooked in the story.

Anyone who knows me knows I have a love/ hate relationship with the before/after chapters format. I love it or I hate it. There is no in between. Unfortunately, Our Infinite Fates fell in the latter.

As I've said I might give this another try. Now that I kinda know what to expect, I have a feeling I might enjoy it more then.

Finished in one day. This highly anticipated release is going to be VERY worth the hype. It is devastatingly beautiful and I will never recover. This is definitely for lovers of Addie Larue, but still so unique.
Thank you, NetGalley for an early copy of this!

“ that’s the thing about humans- we leave traces of our souls everywhere, as unique and identifying as fingerprints”

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6685899857

It is hard to put into words how much I loved this story. Yes, I am a sucker for a reincarnation plot, but this story feels even bigger than that. It is a story about love, grief, suffering, hope, and Steven delivered it all with a poetic, dark, funny, and achingly beautiful touch. The story is a wonderful representation of how love transcends time, suffering, and even gender.

The pacing and intrigue of this book are top notch. The flashbacks never feel jolting and Steven does an amazing job of fleshing out every single reincarnation of the souls no matter how short their time on the page is. I don't always love when poetry is placed in a fiction narratives as it can feel forced, but I loved every piece in this story.

I will be recommending this to everyone and reading her other work as well now.

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

Our Infinite Fates is a beautifully written exploration of timeless love, and although I’m torn between 3 and 4 stars, it ultimately leans slightly more towards a 4-star read for me. This is such a cool premise, and the storyline kept me hooked, especially through the flashbacks. The glimpses into Arden and Evelyn’s lives across centuries added the needed depth to their bond while also providing subtle foreshadowing. The flashbacks were just the right length too, not drawn-out or repetitive like they sometimes can be.

Now, there were two parts that really bugged me (no spoilers, don’t worry!). Both of these moments are related and were supposed to be grounded in reality, but they just didn’t feel believable. One of them could’ve easily been fixed by making the characters 18 instead of 17 (and no, it wasn't a spicy issue, think more parental consent), and the other involved breaking HIPAA laws in a way that just didn’t feel plausible. I get that the book’s overall concept is fantastical, but these particular moments were meant to feel real, and they didn’t quite land.

Easily, the strongest element of this book is Laura Steven’s lyrical, evocative prose, with lines that make you want to pause and reflect. I’m not usually one to highlight passages, but I found myself doing so for the sheer beauty of the writing. It’s the little things, you know? The story captures how love can feel both grand and ordinary, monumental and everyday, sometimes within the same breath.

One passage, in particular, resonated with me, as it captured the simplicity of expressing love before the convenience of technology and how love has adapted in the modern world.
"How easy modernity had made it to declare love—a funny video shared with a friend, real money sent to virtual coffee funds, a snap of the flowers your grandmother picked from her garden. The everyday tenderness of 'I saw this and thought of you.'"

As much as I appreciated the journey, I am not sure how I feel about the ending. After a significant build-up, it seemed to resolve a bit too conveniently, and I wish the conclusion had a bit more depth.

Overall, Our Infinite Fates is a gorgeously written novel that captures the essence of love across lifetimes. While a few plot points took me out of the story, I would definitely recommend this to fans of timeless love stories with a lyrical touch. The beauty of Steven's prose alone makes this a memorable read.

This was beautifully written. Every aspect of the story had me drawn in. The love Evelyn and Arden had for each other was warmed my heart and broke it at the same time. For him to keep a secret like that to protect her feelings was brave and selfless. Finding out their back story towards the end was a twist I did not expect, it honestly brought tears to my eyes. I really felt like I could feel their love, pain and heartache. If I could give this book more than 5 star I would. I definitely recommend!

“My love for you could fill an ocean, Evelyn…but it can’t stop the tide of time.”**

Laura Steven creates lyrical love story that spans centuries.

Arden and Evelyn’s unique relationship caught my eye immediately, and I could sense their connection and sense of self through their interactions, past and present, with the crutch of being under 18 for centuries. Seeing them in current day grounded the characters while the flashbacks to previous lives gave more characterization. The alternation in storytelling flowed seamlessly. I could get an idea of who these characters were and are. Their story felt the most developed and a strength on Stern’s part.

I also enjoyed Stern’s prose. It is more romantic and lyrical in this novel compared to a previous work of her’s I’ve read. I think this is something a lot of romance readers are going to enjoy. My one note was “pyramid scheme” got very repetitive in a later chapter.

Midway through the book, I developed a sense of wanting more. After some reflection, I think some of it came from wanting to discover more about Arden and Evelyn outside of their discovering of each other and their inescapable demise in every life. I could tell some of the flashbacks were specific for development, while others felt repetitive after a while. Differentiation or sitting in different life longer could have evolved these characters individually and shown the evolution of their relationship.

I’m still trying to decipher how I felt about the ending. The concept was intriguing but also one aspect changed abruptly that changed some of the initial perceived themes. Not sure how the last chapter happened given the ending yet. The ending felt on the younger side of YA.

Thank you St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and Net Galley for this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

**A quote I liked, that could be edited in the final edition.

I felt that the mechanics of this book, the two lovers killing each other, ruined the character and relation development for me. Too choppy and the end was strange.

I have always liked lovers through time. This one was beautiful, but also dark. I found that it was hard to stop reading as I learned more and connected with the characters.
An ending that I wasn't expecting..

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow wow wow. This book was beautiful. It is so hard to pull off a shorter stand alone fantasy and the author really exceeded. I frequently forgot it was even a YA novel. The history of the characters was descriptive yet still mysterious. The angst and the love and the yearning was evident through each set of lives the characters lived. So so good.

I really enjoyed the relationship(s) between the MC and Arden across the time. The different eras were probably my favorite parts. The present-day story was generic for my taste, until the end, which I actually thought wasn't explained well. The climax just felt odd and not well developed, and I'm a fan of mythology. I wish this had been adult instead of YA. I think that would have given it room to have more depth. While the MC has literally lived multiple lives, which should give them some maturity, having the MC die as a teen with a "never fully formed frontal lube" felt like an excuse to make them behave and make decisions like "regular" teen to keep some of the usual YA tropes. I also thought not allowing them to live into their 20s for example, robbed them of a lot of the human experience. The ending was okay. Would recommend as a beautiful love story.

Evelyn and Arden meet in every lifetime, but it always has a tragic ending. This book was pure MAGIC. Two souls reincarnated over and over, “Our Infinite Fates” is a beautiful and mysterious genre-defying love story. I know I’ll read it again at publication! This would also make a great book club discussion!

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

A brilliant tapestry of love through the ages.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An achingly beautiful journey around the world to fight for a love that transcends time.

Read Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven if you like…

🌹 Suspense
🌹 Suffering
🌹 Love with Layers
🌹 Thought-Provoking Narratives
🌹 Poetry & Romance
🌹 History & Travel
🌹 Impossible Bargains


🩷HER🩷
An eternally optimistic girl with a heart so pure and full of love it’s bursting at the seams.

💙HIM💙
A quiet poet who simply can’t live without her. And is really good at murder.

📖 THEIR STORY 📖
Kill or be killed. That is the only existence Evelyn has ever known. She has loved and lost a thousand times, in a thousand lives, but in this life she is taking a stand. Evelyn refuses to lose the person she loves most in this life, her little sister. But to save her sister, Evelyn needs to stay alive long enough to break the vicious killing cycle she’s been stuck in for as long as she can remember. Will Evelyn free herself, save her sister, and live happily ever after, or will she die trying?

If you like epic love stories with all the poetry and pain that makes you feel vibrantly alive, you should add Our Infinite Fates to your #tbrlist.

I finished Our Infinite Fates last night and am just getting around to writing this review because I am still stunned. This book is incredible, magical, and overall just the perfect little pocket of literature.

Throughout Arden and Evelyn's journey across the lives they've lived, both together and apart, you get little glimpses of who they are as individuals and who they are together. Somehow, in every life, they find one another, tethered by fate. No part of them knows what their next life will look like, who they will be, or what they will do with those lives, only that, ultimately, they will find each other, and kill one another.

The concept of this book was what drew me in, but the writing was mesmerizing, delving into the idea of who we are at our cores. The writing was lyrical and I found myself highlighting several passages as I read on my Kindle. This was a story so beautifully told, I can't wait to share with all of my fellow book lovers!! Thank you NetGalley and Laura Stevens for sharing this book with me as an ARC!!

I finished reading "Our Infinite Fates" by Laura Steven over an hour ago, and I'm still sitting here stunned and emotional, trying to formulate all my thoughts into words for this review. Simply put, this book is MAGICAL, MESMERISING, and INCREDIBLE! I wish I could give Steven's more than five stars.

This book takes you on a breathtaking journey of Evelyn and Arden as they live, love, sometimes hate, die, and return to the world in a new life thousands of times. They always seem to find each other in each new life/body. They never know who they may be reincarnated into, what they will look like, and what sex they will be, and they remember very little of their previous lives until they get older and memories start to resurface. The soul tie they have begins to pull and gets stronger and stronger until they discover each other once again.

But Evelyn doesn't know (or doesn't remember) why Arden always has to kill her (thus killing himself as well) before they turn 18. He tells her he has to do this, and if he doesn't, the outcome is so much worse. He won't tell her what that outcome is because of how much he loves her, and the truth of it is far too painful.

The writing is absolutely fantastic and delves deep into the complexities of identity, love, and the choices that shape our destinies. Steven's world-building is rich and so incredibly captivating. I loved stepping into each former life from centuries past with Evelyn and Arden - it was a beautiful and emotional way to develop the characters. To be with them in the literal trenches in a battle or to sacrifice yourself for someone you love so deeply, to be with them during their struggles and triumphs, resonated with me on so many levels. It created a truly powered love story - the likes I've never read before.

I wanted to touch a little more on Steven's writing—it is so evocative and lyrical. The author painted the most vivid imagery, not just of each life but of love and loss of love. It allowed me to feel every emotion the characters were experiencing deeply.

"Our Infinite Fates" has so many twists and turns, and even when you feel you have all the answers, you realize at the end—you weren't even close! It's a phenomenal plot and story. I can't wait to have a hard copy for my collection.

My favorite quote from the ARC (may not be the final quote):
"I have loved you so much. I want you to know that wherever we are next, my heart will be with you. It might not know it's with you, but hearts have their ways. Every atrium, every ventricle, every vein and artery will beat for you. Even if my mind has lost you. Because you are the very fabric of me, all right? You are me, and I am you. And our love is stronger than anything."

Thank you SO MUCH to #NetGalley, #LauraSteven, and #StMartinsPress for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #OurInfiniteFates. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was so beautiful and I think fans of Addie Larue would love this book. We follow Evelyn and Arden who have met in every lifetime but they kill each other. Evelyn doesn’t know why Arden is out to get her and that is where this story begins.

I enjoyed this beautiful story. The ending seemed a little wild to me and it was hard for me to picture but I enjoyed it overall.

This book truly moved me and it has become one of my favorites. The storytelling is beautifully crafted, weaving together emotions and experiences that resonate deeply. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making their journeys feel incredibly real.

What I found most striking was the author’s ability to capture the essence of love, loss, and hope in such a poignant way. Each page drew me in, and I often found myself reflecting on the themes long after I finished reading.

This book is not just a story; it’s an experience that lingers in your heart. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful and touching read!!

Wow!!! Laura's 'Our Infinite Fates' leaves you stunned and speechless, in the best way!! I have been dabbling in the groundhog day YA trope with 'the do over', 'yesterday, today, tomorrow' and this book beats them hollow!!
The premise is wonderful as is the exploration of the theme of love, for what is love, if not perfect understanding and acceptance. Evelyn keeps living multiple lives where Arden always reincarnated to kill her on her eighteenth birthday. She struggles with the why and the loss of family in each life, but more for the fact that Arden is her soulmate..
I raced through the book in a day - the writing was excellent and the storyline impeccable. The best kind of reading on a rainy Saturday afternoon! Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC. I am looking forward to more from Laura Steven. This author is going on my auto buy list for sure!

5/5
Wow. This book is magic. It’s the kind of book that takes root in your soul after you read it, and a little part of it will be retained in my being always. One of my favorite themes in literature is the invisible string theory/fated relationship. The prose is lyrical and beautiful. I found myself highlighting a multitude of passages simply because they were so stunning. Arden’s poetry is beautiful- I would love to see Steven publish “Ten Hundred Years of You” in accompaniment of this book. The flashbacks to their previous lives added depth and emotion to the story. Steven took great care to research the people of the time periods. As a reader, you feel immersed in every single setting of the different flashbacks. This book is heart-wrenching in the most beautiful way.

Evelyn and Arden’s love is powerful and transcends infinite lifetimes. The plot twists truly left me speechless; I did not see them coming. The ending left me wanting more of them!! I feel like I didn’t get enough of their relationship when the universe wasn’t against them, and I crave seeing them wholly together. Steven is truly a genius in her craft!

A few of my favorite quotes (note that quotes may be altered or changed during final publication):

- I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you.
- Muse is too simple a word for what you are to me.
- No language I've ever encountered can express what we have to go through over and over again.
- 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.
- His heart a haunted house, surrounded by a moat of his own digging.
- Nobody has ever known me, or will ever know me, like you do.
- Littered all over the world— scattered through history like confetti-were notebooks full of Arden's love for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-ARC! I cannot wait to get a physical copy to read and annotate when the book is released.

I would rate this infinite stars if I could.

Evelyn and Arden are destined to meet again in every life but one must kill the other before they turn 18. We meet Evelyn and Arden (always under different names and sometimes different sexes) in present day Wales. Evelyn is determined to save her younger sister Gracie and that means staying alive until she can give a bone marrow donation. Alternating chapters made the story feel exciting and we were given glimpses of all the past lives Evelyn and Arden have led. But the big question is why does this keep happening? Why must one kill the other?

Time travel (kinda), fated mates, historical fiction, forced proximity. This was right up my alley. The author said she based it off "Exile" by Taylor Swift and I couldn't help seeing similarities to that song but also Timeless, This Love, and countless others.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc.