I listened to the audiobook for Our Infinite Fates and I loved the reader. She has a slight accent which wasn’t over powering and her voice was easy to listen to.
As for the book itself, I’m not sure how I feel. The story was definitely unique and I did like the main characters but I feel the story was a bit drawn out. We could have found out the answer to the big question in this book in half the time. Once we did come to the conclusion I don’t know if it vibed with the rest of the book. I was just expecting something … bigger
I still would recommend this book because again it was very unique plus the love/hate and romance going on is worth the read.

*I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review

Unfortunately, I don’t think I was the correct audience for this one. I found the storyline difficult to follow. I’m proud I stuck with it, though!

I’ve not had much time to read recently so despite highly anticipating this one for months, I only finished up Our Infinite Fates this morning.

I can absolutely see why it was being compared to Addie. It has that same slowburn, glimpses of a life through time, character focused feel, but in a YA package.

I really loved the two main characters, Evelyn and Arden, and the way their lives were twisted together. The insights into their current and past relationships - and their different attitudes to this due to their multitude of short lives - made them deep, realistic characters.

The flashbacks to previous lives were intriguing, as was the mystery of their reincarnations which we are left wondering about along with Evelyn.
I didn’t see the twist coming, and while I initially felt it was a bit out of place compared to the story up to that point, I enjoyed the way it was developed.

The ending was left somewhat open for readers to interpret, but I choose to believe that what I suspected from the moment their deal was struck is true.

I do wish we had gotten to see some of Arden’s point of view at some point, as I feel that would have drawn me even further into their story.

I would definitely recommend OIF for those who loved Addie, but bear in mind that as a YA book it is by design less deep and detailed than her story.

The writing was beautiful and poetic. About 55% in, the story became pretty repetitive and I was eager to get to the end. The end surprised me, but wasn't anything that wowed me. I did like the narrator!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the audiobook and its narrator. I feel like they did such a wonderful job of bringing our main character to life but also voicing our love interest and other side characters and keeping me engaged as I listened to it at work. This is an audiobook I will be purchasing for myself.

As for the book itself, I will be sharing the review I left on that specific review:

This was everything. I went into this expecting not to enjoy it for some reason, and I came out of it obsessed.

This is a book middle school me would have eaten up so quickly, and I’m so grateful to have a book that gives me those same feels as back then since I’ve missed that and have been wanting it.

The writing was so entrancing and the characters and their various lives were so heartbreaking and hopeful and tragic and the twist was not what I would have expected it to be.

I do not have all the words to express how much I loved this, but if you are a fan of Fallen by Lauren Kate, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-MohTar and Max Goldstone, or Every Day by David Levithan, I feel like this would be just what you’d need next.

It incorporates aspects of a deal and centuries crossed like Addie LaRue, being semi enemies falling in love and crossing timelines like Time War, multiple lives lived and finding each other in every one with only one person remembering like Fallen, and inhabiting different bodies but loving each other all the same like in Every Day. And I loved it in those books and love them all coming together in this one.

I DNFed this book at 22%.

I struggled to decide if I would DNF this book. But ultimately, I was struggling to keep up with the all of the timeline jumps and lives the characters have lived. This was especially difficult to follow on the audio. When I realized just how cyclical the plot was, I decided to stop. The reason this was difficult was because the authors writing is gorgeous and enticing.

The narrator was easy to listen to, didn’t sound cringy with all the voices they needed to do, and really is what kept me in as long as it did.

Captivating story of cursed lovers that spans centuries. Arden must kill Evelyn before the age of 18, in every lifetime. The perspective bounces from past to present as it gradually leads us to discover what started this tragic chain of events, repeated throughout time.

“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.”

This was such a unique and well written story that I found difficult to put down. It was devastating and beautiful—I loved it!

The audiobook was narrated very well

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #OurInfiniteFates #LauraSteven

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my review copy. My opinions are my own.

This is a book that you have no idea what is going on for the bulk of the book, for a reason. While I now understand what was happening, this is very much a "trust the vibes and just go with it" scenario book. I listened over the course of a couple of days and I just kinda guessed that there was something that Evelyn was missing about what was happening over the course of the centuries. I did appreciate the queer touches, it gave Orlando vibes with the gender changes the characters of Arden and Evelyn go through. The twists at the end leave openings for more, but I think that it was a total tale and doesn't need anything further.

This is not for everyone, but if you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and Orlando then give this a try.

I was intrigued by the beautiful cover and the premise of soulmates who are reincarnated over hundreds of years, destined to love each other but also kill each other in every life. Honestly..I wanted to love it. I really did. It felt reminiscent of Addie LaRue (which I loved) and another book called "My Name is Memory" but something about it just fell short.

Read if you love:
🤍 soulmates across multiple lifetimes
🤍 stories told in different time periods
🤍 theme of fate vs free will

I Loved This

I was SO excited when I was approved for not only an e-ARC, but also an ALC!! This is one of the best things I've immersive read, and the narrator (Sofia Oxenham) had an absolutely gorgeous voice. She is honestly one of the biggest reasons I'm giving this 5 stars. Don't get me wrong - the writing is beautiful as well, and I absolutely love Steven's prose. But Laura's writing with Sofia's narration???? Holy cow was it amazing. I haven't felt this compelled to read in a hot minute and it was refreshing to be this obsessed again.

I loved that we were introduced to Evelyn and Arden in this "modern day" iteration of themselves, and we would have a couple chapters in the present day, then get a chapter flashback of one of their previous lives. Steven did a really good job weaving in just enough information with each flashback to make us fall in love with these characters even more, and really want to root for their romance. I really wanted Evelyn to figure out why they were stuck in these loops, and why they couldn't survive passed 18. I think she also did a really good job setting up their lives in present day (at least Evelyn's) so the reader felt attached to their current selves and it wasn't just another cycle.

My one gripe is I didn't feel as if the twist, or the reason they're stuck in this endless cycle, made sense. It felt very out of left field. While it wrapped up nicely in the end, when it was first introduced it felt very WTF. I wish there were more easter eggs sprinkled throughout the story, so it didn't feel as if it was randomly chosen to be the reason why they were stuck. Besides that, I loved the rest of the story and no other criticisms.

This was beautifully written, and I don't often reread books but I can see myself rereading this one - especially the audiobook.

Thank you to Laura Steven, Wednesday Books for my eARC, Macmillan Audio for my ALC, and to NetGalley for the review copies. All opinions are my own.

Our Infinites Fates is being described as The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and How to Win the Time War and I will say that is very accurate but also this captivating story also stands all on it's own. The yearning, grief, loss were all so beautifully written. This book also explored some deep topics that I wasn't expecting as the story spanned many timelines and the struggles of the characters in each time. This book is classified as YA, but it honestly didn't read that way to me. I loved the journey through time with Evelyn and Arden as they were finding, loving, and losing each other in each life. One of my tops reads of the year!

I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Sofia Oxenham. The narration was fine, but at times it was a good thing the author told you that certain characters were boys, because you would not know otherwise.

I saw this labeled somewhere as a YA book. It definitely is not something I'd give to a teenager. It was a pretty harsh story of two people falling in love and then killing each other right before their eighteenth birthday over and over...and over. Yes, the times and locations were different, but the storyline was the exact same. I'll admit that if I was listening to this and fell asleep, I did not go back and listen to what I had missed. You find out at the end why this is happening, but really you could listen to a couple chapters and then go to the last quarter of the book and you would have it all.

I really don't even know what this should be labeled as (except not my thing).

Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio copies. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and the author for an advanced listener copy of this book.

Oh man, what to say. Did I like this? Yes. But did it also fall flat in many ways? Yes. I loved the premise of this book, I enjoyed the story of many different lives, but I felt like I needed more of the origin story. I needed it to be more than just a small chapter, just a blip in their infinite timelines. For that reason, I found it so hard to believe the all consuming, all conquering, sweeping love they had. That being said, it was paced very well, the voice was curated perfectly for a YA romance like this, I just felt like it lack depth,

I was captivated by Our Infinite Fates, both for its deeply emotional storytelling and the absolutely stunning narration by Sofia Oxenham. Her performance was phenomenal—she effortlessly captured the emotion, tension, and urgency of the story. There was never a moment where I struggled to follow the dialogue and the pacing was perfect, striking a balance between immersive storytelling and keeping the momentum of the plot.

As for the story itself, I did not pick this up for the romance—I was drawn in by its themes of loss, grief, and fate. Laura Steven’s writing was breathtaking, especially in how she explored these weighty topics. The idea of not grieving the living resonated deeply, and the book’s exploration of therapy, religion, and soulmates was perfectly handled. I was fully invested in the characters’ journeys and desperate to know how they would break free from their cycle. The worldbuilding was compelling, and I loved traveling through time and space alongside Evelyn and Arden. Even the side characters felt fully realized and added so much to the story.

I typically struggle with fantasy, which is ironic given how much I enjoy magical realism. It has been difficult for me to find a fantasy niche that works, and my last attempt at the genre was a two-star read. However, Our Infinite Fates completely won me over. The characters, the premise, the writing—it all worked for me in a way that fantasy rarely does. Laura Steven has made me realize that, when written this way, fantasy can be something I love. I will absolutely seek out more of her work!

Although the protagonists are under 18, I believe this book can resonate with readers of all ages. At 45, I found it incredibly moving because it taps into universal fears—the pain of losing someone, the terror of losing yourself, and the hope of finding meaning in the chaos. Anyone who has loved, lost, or feared either of those things will find something to connect with here. If you are considering this book, I highly recommend experiencing it through audio—the narration elevates an already exceptional story into something unforgettable.

Goodreads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @macmillan.audio for providing this book for review consideration via @NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This file wouldn’t download for me to be able to listen to it. Will try to read this elsewhere and come back to review later

This lovely book gave me a existential crisis and I am now sitting here feeling glad I can't remember my past lives. I love the narration. This was good.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of the audiobook. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased a physical copy as well.

This will be a delight for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven tells the story of two souls, Evelyn and Arden, who are eternally bound through reincarnation. In every life, they find each other—but Evelyn is always murdered before her 18th birthday, with Arden as the one responsible. Evelyn remembers all her past lives and is desperate to break this cycle.

This blend of love story and tragedy spans multiple lifetimes, exploring the deepest and most agonizing connection between two people—one that transcends gender, race, and social constructs. It was a refreshing take on reincarnation, with a surprising twist. I especially appreciated the multiple time jumps and flashbacks, which deepened the emotional impact of their connection over and over again.

This story was so fun to listen to but with the timeline jumps and character's changing, it was difficult for me to follow. The narrator did an amazing job and the story was unique, it just wasn’t for me.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

I was captivated by the opening of this novel. From the very first page, the allure was palpable, drawing me into the world of two star-crossed lovers destined to be reborn every eighteen years. Their love story is steeped in a haunting sense of yearning as they navigate through lives filled with longing until death inevitably parts them once again. It's the kind of fated, epic romance that leaves you desperate to uncover more of their tale.

As a history enthusiast, I was particularly fascinated by their past lives. Each snippet transported me through different eras. Yet, despite the intricate layers, I struggled to grasp the story behind their love. It sounds odd, but despite the declarations of their star-crossed destiny and the grim necessity of killing each other before their eighteenth birthday, I could not feel the emotional connection behind their bond. This void lingered, resulting in a longing for more clarity in their story.

Arden remembers each of his past lives, and in each one, he struggles to come to terms with the fact that he has murdered his one true love, Evelyn. Evelyn, on the other hand, recalls fragments of her past self. As she matures, she begins to realize that she is searching for a boy (or girl) that Arden inhabits, someone she will love with an intensity that will make her eventual death even more painful.

The story unfolds in present-day Wales, interspersed with tales from their past lives to enhance character development. We witness their evolution over time and the internal conflict Arden faces as he continues to navigate this cycle.

Evelyn has a compelling reason to survive in her current life, and she pleads with Arden for a chance to save her sister’s life. As the story unfolds, we start to doubt the likelihood of Evelyn being able to save her sister, which led even me to develop some resentment towards Arden.

Finally, toward the end of the novel, we are let in on the poignant backstory behind their fated deaths. I must admit that it left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. After all the tantalizing build-up surrounding their imminent demise, I found myself expecting something epic like a curse or a formidable challenge they could triumph over. Instead, the reality felt rather rushed or, at best, poorly executed.

Nevertheless, the story has merit, and for those who appreciate the weaving of historical past lives throughout, it avoids becoming monotonous. I appreciated the sense of closure in the ending, which managed to wrap up the narrative threads quite well.

Evelyn and Arden are eternally bound together, destined to be reborn time and again, never reaching their shared eighteenth birthday. For over ten hundred years, they have been stuck together in an endless cycle of love and loss. 
 
TLDR: The premise of this book initially captured my attention, star-crossed lovers fated to love and lose each other, however the execution fell flat.  I feel like I was left with more questions than answers. There was a lot of fluff in the middle of the book that could have been better utilized in the ending.

The narration, while soothing, lacked the vocal distinction needed to bring conversations to life. It was difficult to follow character interactions via audio alone and I recommend pairing with a physical or ebook copy, or skipping audio altogether.
 
Where this book shines in its lush imagery and beautiful prose. The word choice was lyrical, almost elevated and poetic. Scenes and feelings were conveyed through vivid, layered descriptions rather than direct sentences.
 
Yet the beauty of the words could not shake me from wanting more answers about the plot and character motivations. Evelyn’s and Arden’s love for one another, meant to transcend lifetimes, remains frustratingly out of reach for the majority of the book. We are only offered small glimpses into their eternal love. Yes, their love is undeniable and spans hundreds of lifetimes, yet I was left wanting more. More yearning, more tension, more emotional impact to their love and loss. I also wanted more of an explanation as to why they were bound in this endless cycle, not just the fact that they were.
 
The frequent visits to past lives follow a predictable pattern: jump to the past, meet two new Evelyns and Ardens, learn of their love for one another, witness their demise, rebirth. Each journey to a past life interrupted the momentum of the present timeline and led to inconsistent pacing.
 
I recommend this book to a reader who enjoys:
+ lyrical, atmospheric writing
+ tragic, star-crossed lovers
+ fated love and reincarnation
+ slow, immersive storytelling

Thank you Macmillan Audio & Wednesday Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.