this book was so good. I loved seeing the parallels and stark differences between the 2 possibilities of what could happen with one small change. It was a very well written book, it had some good learning moments, and it flowed well

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Reyes' debut novel (after short story collection There Is a Rio Grande in Heaven) explores the Salvadoran Civil War on those who lived it and those who came after. Two families affected by the war in alternate timelines show what might have been had the revolution succeeded in overthrowing the Salvadorian government, or if the revolution been stomped out decisively, backlit by a tech device called a defractor that lets the characters take peeks at alternate timelines of their own lives. A device and two realities that did not happen in our current timeline. History, family silences, and immigration play a major role, but the destabilizing power of love and love letters written by star-crossed lovers Neto and Raphael tie both families and alternate timelines together to create a mix of historical fiction and sci-fi that leaves the reader reassured that the choices we make in this life are the ones that matter, and that love can cross generations and timelines.

VERDICT Recommended for those interested in political revolutions, alternate history, and family dramas. For readers of Gina María Balibrera and Colson Whitehead who are ready to view the meaning of a romance from many angles.

This is a beautiful, introspective book that explores what could have been. The Archive of Unknown Universes reimagines characters’ lives among the backdrop of the Salvadoran Civil War and the decades that follow. While the technology that allows characters to access alternate timelines was interesting, much of reimagining occurs within the characters’ minds. It is a grounded story, and the “sci fi” element is minimal.

The strongest part of this novel is the relationship between Neto and Rafael. I loved how their relationship builds, and appreciated how their love ultimately affects a web of people in its wake. I wanted to learn more about Ana and Luis’s mothers - much was alluded to about their war experiences, but the reader doesn’t get their story directly.

Looking forward to reading more from Ruben Reyes Jr. in future!