I knew pretty much from the first chapter this book wasn't for me. I knew from the second that it was going to be a bit of a struggle, But I wanted to believe in some capacity that I was being too harsh. Unfortunately, I was the wrong audience, but more than that I wasn't sure who the actual audience was for this book. Before broader tone issues I had with it, there were some specific annoyances I had with the historic sections of the book that took me out repetitively because it did seem to keep framing cultural norms as our own while also placing higher social expectations on teenagers than was necessarily true of multiple eras. But that goes back into I was not the audience for this book pretty explicitly. Which is too bad because I do love a reincarnation story. Then again, I love a reincarnation story in which I actually believe the characters care for each other based on more than their repetitive words that that is the case.

Bigger though was the tone of the novel continuously puzzled me. Parts were also preachy towards queer acceptance. Not educational, not welcoming into the community, Almost shaming for not knowing better. As one of the narrators professes to not knowing anyone in the queer community and is (for all intents and purposes) an actual child, no real grace is offered. And yet grace is extended and demanded of the adults who reject that child. While again oddly sanctimonious at times, the book is unkind to queer characters repetitively on a structural level that ended up feeling weirder the longer it continued. But from the start the only non-binary character is misgendered by their friend in a moment of disorientation that does nothing more than inform the audience what flavor a queer this person is. This dynamic in tone does not shift through the book as characters grow. This tone is why I say I don't know who the book is for. It does not feel welcoming to someone who may be trying to expand their reading into more queer stories. But at the same time it does not feel, to me, kind to queer youth who presumably are the target for this book.

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

I wanted to fall in love with this book so badly: the tragic romance, the finding each other in every timeline, the poetic and romantic quotes between Jackson and Riley, but for me, I ended up liking the book but not loving it.

Dont Let Me Go had many strengths, from the diverse and well developed cast, to realistic teenagers who aren’t always perfect in their words or actions ; however, it fell short in a few areas.

At times the story felt a bit repetitive, specifically through their past lives. It felt like the only thing that would really change in each scenario was their historical event and their names. There were also a bit too many sex scenes in my opinion, which though not descriptive at all, kinda diminished the romance a bit for me, as it seemed like that was all they would do together. Im all for physical intimacy however it would be nice to have a bit more non intimate scenes in their past lives. Finally, I didn’t personally love the ending as it didn’t feel like it provided much closure for the two of them and their story. However, I do think this can be viewed as claiming their story to be endless.

Overall, I felt this story was cute at times and had some pretty memorable things to take home even if I didn’t fall in love with it.

Love is forever, but it comes at a cost. Riley is closed off after a bad experience with his ex-boyfriend; he keeps to himself, except for his closest friends. That is, until Jackson, a boy with a questionable past, escapes from Tallahassee to Orlando. Riley doesn't just swoon over Jackson; he dreams about him in Ancient Rome, London during the Blitz, and beyond. What awaits them is more than just unexpected love; it's fate. Fans of "Heartstopper" and "They Both Die At the End" will surely delight in the genre-blending romance. With themes of found family, self-discovery, and second chances, Snipes delivers an addictive read that encourages readers to embrace something new while finding comfort in the pleasantly familiar.

I really, really loved this book almost all the way through. I loved the flashbacks throughout the book, and I loved how you get to see Riley and Jackson's relationship develop through the book alongside the flashbacks. Riley and Jackson's friends each felt like individuals, and I felt that they added to and supported the plot and storyline.
The one part I didn't love was the ending. It felt extremely abrupt compared to the rest of the book, and the ending just really wasn't for me. However, I enjoyed the majority of the book right up to the ending, and I think it has a lot of strong elements and parts that readers are going to love.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy!

I'm having really complicated feelings about this book. Some of this could be a solid 5-star read, and then other parts of it were so off-putting to me that I'd be tempted to give them a 1-star - so we'll split the difference and give it a "3? I guess?" score.

Riley is an out gay teen in Orlando, with all of the joys and struggles that entails. When a new boy moves in next door to his friend, Riley is ready to dismiss Jackson as another stereotypical jock, like all of the other homophobic bullies he's used to dealing with around school. But Jackson is nothing like that; he's kind and patient and understanding, even when Riley is standoffish and downright rude. As their friendship grows, Riley has to try not to develop deeper feelings for his supposed straight new friend. But Jackson might not be as straight as he once thought. And, at the same time, both of them are experiencing eerily realistic dreams of the both of them in different times and settings - dreams where they always die tragically at the end.

I had so much hope this was going to be another reincarnation/doomed lovers story along the lines of "Our Infinite Fates" released earlier this year. And, to be fair, it had a lot of potential to be exactly that. Two boys finding each other over and over again throughout time, falling in love, and then dying. The detail put into these dreams were amazing, and easily my favorite parts of the book. The Pompeii storyline was particularly well done, in my opinion! Riley and Jackson's relationship was sweet and well-developed from friends to lovers, and their friends were fun (if a little cookie cutter). I also loved the relationships both boys had with their family - Riley with his father, and Jackson with his aunt.

On the other hand, this is a book that was desperately in need of an epilogue. Desperately. It ends abruptly and jarringly. What had previously been a solid four/four and a half-star read fumbled it with that for me. It felt like the overall plot was just dropped. I also, personally, would have liked to see more of the flashbacks/dreams to really drive home the connection between the boys over time.

This isn't a bad book, by any means, but I just don't think it was for me in the end. I imagine I have some students who might enjoy it for exactly the reasons I did not, though, so I'm happy I gave it a read.

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book gripped me from the first page. I was so invested in this soulmate story, in these boys and their past lives.

I love how real their connection felt. Despite everything happening so fast and being predestined, it still felt authentic and grounded and I absolutely loved it.

I often find with these kinds of stories that I want more from their past lives and this one is no exception. Especially Pompeii. I was LOVING the Pompeii story and would have loved more from earlier in their relationship. The flashbacks to their past lives were beautifully written - I felt transported with them.

I loved where this one ended. It was very final, no epilogue, which shocked me but I’ve grown to appreciate it since I finished the book.

This book kind of broke me but in a wonderful way. From the very first page I was utterly entranced with the story. We start right off the bat with action and drama that made me wanting for more. Then as we go along with the story I fell in love with the characters. I love Riley and Jackson and their relationship, not only in this timeline but every single one. I loved Riley's friends and how they had a safe group for themselves within a place that was not safe for them. All that to say, this book was tragic. It did leave me hopeful until the very end though. I thought this book was absolutely wonderful and I am so happy and grateful that I was able to read it early.

A YA romance of a devoted mlm teen couple across time

This was book was a solid romance progression from standoffish strangers to friends to lovers to soulmates. The pacing moved smoothly past any possible overdone trope pitfalls. Note, though, that most of the time is spent in their current lifetime, with brief intermissions to their past lives. I was blown away by the breathtakingly romantic writing in the first chapter (a past life) and was disappointed to realize that lovely prose wasn’t going to happen as often as I hoped. The Riley in that chapter stole my heart immediately, whereas the Riley in modern day Orlando annoyed me at first. He made constant, hostile, and mostly unfounded homophobia accusations toward our other main character Jackson. I agreed with some of his commentary on systemic oppression of queer people, but it was mostly (aggressively) “tell not show” in the narrative.

However, I gave modern day Riley a chance because he must have the same soul as past Riley (it was a very smart narrative choice to show the core of him in a past life first) and he quickly grew on me. He’s prickly toward strangers—it makes sense why he would come off as prickly towards readers at first too—but he wouldn’t hesitate for a second to die for those he loves. Jackson is a care bear who makes mistakes but will ultimately choose to do what’s right. The side characters all have enough depth to be their own people rather than just plot tools, and the queer friend group had plenty enough personality to be a real representation of cultural and queer diversity rather than token representation.

Riley and Jackson have to make a difficult life-or-death choice that looms over them (mentioned in the synopsis), but the book didn’t explore the emotional and philosophical depth of the choice as much as it could’ve. I like that the past life chapters gradually became more intense as the book progressed, which pushed the momentum of the plot. However, I never felt a true second-hand fear of death and mortality, which could’ve added to the impact of the book. Although, I guess if there was that level of existential dread, the entire tone of the book would be different.

Where the book really shines is through the past lives chapters. The writing style of each time period was distinct and delightful. The historical atmospheres were clearly researched, and I found them immersive. Those chapters are what stick with me after the end of the book. I would recommend this book to people as a steadily built YA romance with a moderate amount of depth and a few sections of beautiful prose.

Romantic? Yes. Swoon-worthy? Also yes. Heartbreaking and hopeful? Yes and yes.

The premise is solid. Riley and Jackson are teenage boys living in Florida who meet and find they have a connection that transcends time. In fact, they may be reincarnated soulmates who keep finding each other throughout the centuries.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this story, but it delivered. It had funny dialogue, awesome friends, and hormonal teens in love and who can barely keep their hands off of each other. It also had its share of harrowing, frightening moments.

This was the first book I've read from Kevin Christopher Snipes, and I doubt it will be my last. this kind of tightrope act will feel familiar to fans of Adam Silvera.

The highest compliment I can pay a book like this is I wish I’d had it when I was a closeted gay teen.

It’s possible this is more of a four-star book, but I have to give full respect for the surprising love shown for Olivia Newton-John and the glorious mess that is “Xanadu.”

I'm not crying, you're crying! Is KCS my new favorite YA LGBTQ+ author right now? Heck yes. I loved the switch up of the characters throughout time and their fated love. I was hooked from the first chapter and was hardly able to put it down until I finished. Did I perhaps gasp very loudly at the end? Did I wonder why the heck KCS would do that to me, his faithful newest fan? Okay, yes I did. Having just read Milo and Marcos at the End of the World I can definitely see some similarities with magical thinking, fate, identity (in all forms), and love. So grateful to be able to read this arc & at the same time like, wtf where's the next KCS? You know it's good if you leave a book wanting more.

very well written rpomance with interesting vibes and a very cool theme of endless time. also, second queer romance i've read in the last few weeks with at least a significant chunk in Pompeii, is this getting to be a trend? idk. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Genre 📚: YA Contemporary, Fantasy, Queer Lit, Romance
Tropes 💁‍♀️: Fated love, Forbidden love, Past lives
Rep ✔️: Queer main characters, POC side characters
CW ⚠️: Homophobia, bullying, off-page hazing
Rating ⭐️: 4.5/5

Wow, okay. I, um, didn’t ask to be hurt like this… Don’t Let Me Go explores a M/M romance that dates back centuries, all the way to freaking 79 AD. The main characters Riley and Jackson have eerily vivid dreams of these past lives, where they are always in love — and they always die young. So yeah. Be ready for this book to hurt you.

The dreams start with Riley, when he first meets Jackson and promptly faints (as his friends say, he literally swooned into Jackson’s arms, heh). Riley, of course, assumes that they’re just dreams, but he can’t shake how familiar this new guy is. He’s hesitant in getting to know him, but they gradually open up to each other and become fast friends. Then, as romantic feelings arise, Jackson starts getting the dreams. The boys realize that these are real memories, and they seem to be some kind of warning.

The book is mostly about present-day Riley and Jackson, but we also get to see their past stories in the dream scenes, which I thought was so cool. The characters are incredibly sweet in each of these stories, and they truly feel like the same couple all the way through. And though the book is like 400 pages, I was never bored — I was flipping pages like crazy. That said, the abrupt ending did take me aback and made me wish we got even more pages. My emotions still don’t know what to do with themselves. 😢

This was an interesting take on the reincarnation with soulmates trope. Overall, I was engaged with almost the whole book (except the last bit). This book started off really strong—the first life in Italy, and then the bits about Riley and Jackson meeting. I also really liked the arc of Jackson finding a new home with Riley and his friends, despite his past. I also thought the author did a great job of the other characters educating Jackson and him learning to look outside his previous straight football bubble. I loved seeing how he came to terms with being queer, getting together with Riley, and really becoming part of the great little friend group.

However, I was just not too happy with how it turned out. I think this is mostly because I’ve read other books with the same trope, so I unintentionally compared it with those from the beginning. However, those comparisons, as well as my other complaints from the book still stick with me. My main issue with this book is that would have been a great book without the added plotline of reincarnation and soulmates—I was so engaged with the story of the present that at times I forgot about the whole trope I was reading the book for. For most of the book, it just didn’t have the underlying feeling of this story being more than just the story in the present. I think if there had been more flashbacks to emphasize this point, the story as it is would’ve felt more natural. I get that the author wanted to also have all the bits about Jackson realizing being queer is ok—and those were my favorite parts of the story—but balancing these two factors is hard, and just didn’t ultimately turn out well. I also really disliked the ending—I won’t spoil anything, but it made the whole story feel pointless to me.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books for ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t normally read YA Romance (or any Romance), but the past lives plot caught my attention because it reminded me of Marcus Sedgwick’s Midwinterblood with an LGBTQ+ twist.

In each of their previous lives, Riley and Jackson have been a couple and have died together.

When they first meet, Riley recognizes Jackson as the boy he was in love with and did with in Pompeii. Eventually Jackson starts having memories about a past life with Riley, and they are both warned about an early death if the two of them stay together, leaving them to split up. But staying away from one another proves difficult, especially when their common friends are plotting to bring the two of them back together.



CW: bullying, homophobia

Wow. Ahhh. I don't know why I didn't expect that ending. I was really rooting for Jackson and Riley throughout this book, and I really bought in to wanting them to succeed, which I think is why it was so devastating. But the chemistry between them and the way their relationship unfolded was so good, and I love the way they, and honestly, all, of the characters in this book are written.

I feel shell shocked. I'm writing this right after finishing because it's when the story is most fresh in my brain and I feel so empty. After reading Snipes' last book I was like ANOTHER?? SIGN ME UP!!

:(

unsign me up I'm sad now.

WHAT THE HELL

This is worse than when I read they both die at the end. Like.. obviously you figure out that they're destined to always die but DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THAT???

God what an emotional rollercoaster.

I actually liked that the build up to the plot was slow, because the plot was about their relationship developing AND figuring out they're soulmates reincarnated, so when one part of the plot wasn't developing it was easy to see it was because there was a lead up to it, and at some point it just went flying by so fast I didn't even realize I was at the end til I hit the historical note and went "wait, what?". It all settled in and just.. shell shocked me.

I loved the inclusion of a MMC with an eating disorder, and I loved the way this toyed with the idea of being so paranoid about how you might die, knowing you will die and it'll be soon, and letting that fear take over, just for you to die in a different way.

It's been a while since I've been truly shocked by a book, and Snipes didn't disappoint.

Docked half a star for the discussion about being queer between the two girls, one of whom stated she wouldn't be surprised if her mom "went bi" like it's a choice to be bisexual rather than just that being a part of who someone is.

Thanks netgalley for the free book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Despite my three stars, I would still recommend it to people if they are interested in reading it! There were just some things I would have changed.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel with reincarnation and I thought it was a good twist on that trope. I really enjoy the thought of being reunited with your soulmate over and over again.

It definitely reads as YA at parts, but not in a bad way where it was cringey or bad, just a little young. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I was in high school. But it makes sense it is that way because the characters are in high school.

The romance got a little too sweet and romantic for me, but they were still super cute together so I wasn’t totally mad at it.

I did have some issues with the book, which is why I couldn’t give it four or five stars.

It started off very strong. It sent us right into the action and I fell in love with the two of them together very quickly. The humor started off very strong as well. It was as the book went on that I started to not enjoy it as much.

The biggest thing that bothered me was there was way too much miscommunication. I know that was part of the conflict, but if they just had ONE conversation with each other and said how they felt, they could have worked things out within the first half of the book. Instead they kept hiding how they felt and avoiding each other, and that frustrated me. I cannot stand that trope and I didn’t expect it to be that heavy in this book.

It was painful to wait for Jackson to figure out that he liked Riley more than just being friends. Especially because we saw them so in love with to start the book while they were in Italy, so it was hard to go back to reading about how Jackson thought he was straight.

Despite how long it took him to figure out his feelings, Jackson went really fast from thinking he was completely straight to accepting his feelings for Riley and being with him right away. The change was a little too fast for me. It makes sense because of the reincarnation he felt a super strong connection to Riley, but I would think it would take some more time to realize he wasn’t straight. I didn’t mind them kissing, but it went from one kiss to madly in love in two seconds flat.

I personally think this book would’ve been a little bit better if they removed the plotline that Jackson was straight and focused more on the reincarnation part of it. We could’ve spent more time in each timeline, instead of just seeing them together for a little bit and then dying shortly after. It would make more sense why they were so quickly infatuated with each other. There could have been other drama between them other than “no I can’t be with him because he is straight.”

Another issue I had with it, was it felt like two or three different stories put into one. First it was Jackson finding out he wasn’t straight, then the reincarnation, to them trying to figure out how they can stay together. It wasn’t like it didn’t fit at all, but it still felt like different stories. I wish it was a smoother transition between the plots.

There were a lot of fade to black scenes, so nothing explicit, which was good because they are teenagers.

I personally liked how it ended. I was worried it would go a different way and I’m glad it didn’t!

Out of context spoiler warning for the rest of this review:

I almost wish we had one more chapter set in the future, where we saw them meeting again. Even if it was just a page or two, I think that would’ve been a fun little way to see that the cycle was not broken. Even though I did like the last line and thought that it was a fitting end.

A Timeless, Queer Romance That Transcends Lifetimes

Kevin Christopher Snipes’ Don’t Let Me Go is a wildly creative and emotionally charged journey through time, love, and self-discovery. Blending comedy, heartbreak, and a dash of the metaphysical, this novel delivers a queer romance that transcends centuries and challenges the very idea of fate.

At its heart are Riley Iverson and Jackson Haines—two teens thrown together in the present day, each grappling with their own personal trauma. Riley, still reeling from a painful breakup with his closeted ex-boyfriend, is dealing with intense body image issues and lingering resentment over his mother’s abandonment. He finds solace in his tight-knit LGBTQIA+ friend group and a supportive dad who encourages him to live openly and authentically.

Jackson, on the other hand, is forced to relocate and live with his free-spirited aunt after a tragic incident at his previous school. Haunted by guilt and a sense of helplessness for not being able to prevent someone else’s pain, Jackson is trying to rebuild his life—only to find himself questioning his own identity when he and Riley collide in unexpected ways.

Their relationship is a slow burn—almost too slow at times. The early chapters can feel sluggish as the story carefully lays the groundwork, but once the time-bending element kicks in, the narrative truly comes alive. Through a clever, loosely historical twist, Riley and Jackson’s bond is echoed in past lifetimes, with the two boys reappearing as Lucius and Marcus, Charlie and Jack, Rorik and Ragnar, Thierry and Gaspard. These past lives add both humor and emotional depth, giving readers a glimpse into the many ways love can evolve and endure across different eras and identities.

Character development is a major strength—particularly for Jackson. His internal struggle, growth, and journey toward self-acceptance feel authentic and well-earned. His arc is full and satisfying, showing real transformation as he comes to terms with both his past and his present. Riley, however, feels somewhat unfinished. While his pain and struggles are deeply felt, his arc doesn’t fully resolve, leaving some threads—especially around his self-image and the impact of his mother’s abandonment—still hanging by the end. It’s not necessarily a flaw, but it does feel like there was more room for his growth that wasn’t fully explored.

Snipes masterfully explores themes of destiny, choice, and sacrifice, with the looming question: what would you give up for a love that’s written in the stars? The story could have gone in so many different directions—and that unpredictability kept me hooked. Without spoiling the ending, I’ll just say I really liked how it concluded. It struck the right balance between the fantastical and the deeply human, offering a resolution that felt earned and meaningful.

Don’t Let Me Go is a heartfelt, genre-bending romance that dares to ask if love can truly conquer all—even time itself. It’s an ambitious debut that stands out for its originality, emotional resonance, and a love story built to last lifetimes.

Thank you HarperCollins, NetGalley, and Kevin Christopher Snipes for this eARC!!

Truly enjoyed this story and the author's writing style. I was hooked from the very first chapter and sped through the entire book because I desperately wanted to know what happened to the MCs. Would they get their HEA? Would they figure out that they were soulmates/fated lovers? I really enjoyed the time jump from current day to past. It was fun to see how the main characters lived previously and just how they ended up finding one another time and time again. I thought the author did an incredible job of writing side characters who brought purpose and life to the story. Loved the queer rep this story entailed as well. My only complaint was how the book ended. It wasn't at all what I'd hoped for or expected. It wasn't bad and I understand why the author wrote it that way, but I felt a little let down. Will definitely read more by Snipes in the future!

Riley's a gay teenager with great friends and a supportive father. Even so he feels like something is missing from his life. Enter Jackson, who just moved to his town. Jackson is hot, funny, thoughtful and incredibly straight. Yet the two boys feel a strong pull to one another. The second they meet the dreams start, very realistic dreams about past lives where they are soul mates.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book, a cute romance maybe? Be prepared to have your heart ripped out multiple times. As each new past life unfolds the boys notice one theme, they don't make it past their 18th birthdays.

I really enjoyed seeing the bond between Riley and Jackson grow. Both boys had been hurt in the past and it was nice to see them both realize there are people in their lives who love and trust them. There's a great group of diverse background characters.

Even though the story was a VERY slow burn it was still a fast and enjoyable read. I found myself really rooting for them to solve the mystery of their past lives and find each other.

Without giving spoilers, I will admit the ending was not my favorite, although I do think it was good and overall made sense.

This was a fun and interesting take on soul mates and past lives. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend for anyone looking for a YA romance with a little darkness to it.

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.