I finished this book, and it finished me. What a heart-wrenching yet incredible story! The writing was stunning, and I especially loved the poems. Evelyn and Arden were beautifully developed characters—you could truly feel the love, longing, and tension between them. It was captivating. Although the book was short, the pacing felt slow, the ending seemed a bit rushed by comparison. Having adored Laura Steven's Every Exquisite Thing, I anticipated an ending like this, but it still hurt to see them unable to remain in the life they so desperately longed for.

Where do I even begin? This book is amazing, one that I savoured with every page. It is truly one-of-a-kind, and I know it will stay with me for a long time. I have never read anything quite like it, and that feeling of originality was so refreshing.

I've given it an overall rating of 4.25 stars as I wanted more from the ending I suppose now that I've reflected but the writing was unbelievably captivating and it's brimming with longing and romance between our two main characters. I went into this book completely blind after seeing a few early rave reviews, and I’m so glad I did but also wish I'd start it sooner! I was constantly in awe of the worlds of Evelyn and Arden through different places and in time and their love story is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

I can't wait for this book to be released into the world and for others to experience what I did alongside Evelyn and Arden. I highly recommend!

Having read the two previous books by Laura Steven, I was keen to read her latest novel. It was very different from the mysterious themes of ‘Every Exquisite Thing’ and ‘Society for Soulless Girls’ , but still intriguing.
It took a while to understand what was happening and with the many lives lived by the two protagonists. It is an emotional journey with love at the heart of the story. Evelyn and Arden spend centuries to understand why they can only live till their eighteenth birthday. I enjoyed the book but it didn’t hit the mark of the the previous two novels for me.

Evelyn has lived many lives and doesn't remember every detail of each, only that she is killed in every one before she turns 18. By the same soul in every lifetime, but not the same person

Evelyn is always questioning who Arden will be in each life and if she will know him before the Time comes

However, Evelyn very much wants to stay in this life so she can save her sister and grow old

However, fate may have a different path and Arden has a task to complete

Why are the two always drawn together for such a tragic end and can their Fates ever be changed.....

Such an interesting story. Laura did a great job of showing Evelyn and Arden in so many different walks of life, genders and locations all whilst keeping their connection and identities clear

Great story to end the year with and I hope you all enjoy it when it is released in February

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the early review copy, all opinions my own

Ok, yes. Genius. Loved it. I have never read anything like this before. I honestly did not know where this book was going next and I loved the adventure it took me on. So many places & times across history. Steven's must have done so much research.

The longing and suffering was palpable. I was constantly on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down. I read it so quickly and when I wasn't, the characters followed me everywhere.

I recommend to adults as well as older teens. It feels like the sort of book I would have devoured as a hormonal teenager and, clearly, nothing has changed 😅

What an absolutely incredible book!
I absolutely LOVED every lifetime Arden and Evelyn have together even if it ends in their demise before they get to turn 18.
This book had me on the edge of my seat page after page.
That twist was just incredible and NOT what I was expecting at all!
What an unexpectedly beautiful and incredibly poetic book!

4.5/5
Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven made me want to throw my phone at a wall.

Upon looking at that you may think that I had a hatred for this book, however, it was quite the opposite.

This book tells the tale of two lovers who are fated to kill each other in every lifetime spanning millennia. This also marks quite a visceral shift for Steven as this book reads as much more poetic and mature than her previous books. It flows better and it is more lyrical with its prose.

I only have myself to blame for this but I thought this book was sapphic (it is, but not in its entirety) and that was why I put off reading it as I had disappointed myself. However, upon completion of this book I have re-disappointed myself as I should have read this sooner.

The book in its whole is a historian’s best friend and I loved the little snippets of history we got through each timeline. The relationships are spot on, although I do wish we had more Nia. The subtle hints towards V.E. Schwab’s books/tv show melted my heart as I know the authors are friends so that was a lovely little tribute.

(also i know we only had the greek sapphics for 30 seconds but i would read a whole book about them)

Finally, we should talk about the way this book ended.

I hated it.

In a good way of course. It was heartbreaking, it was tragic, and it was soul-destroying. But in the absolute best way. I thought Steven may leave us on a cliff hanger but the story was wrapped up incredibly nicely, but also in an absolutely earth-shattering way.

Words fail to describe the feelings I have about this book.

Many, many, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me get my grubby little mittens on this book early!

I loved this book so much, I could have lived through Evelyn and Arden forever. The prose was beautifully written, decadent and rich. I think I wanted a less abrupt “twist” leading up to the end, it felt rushed after the deliciously slow exploration of their different lives, but I think that’s my only complaint. Gorgeous book!

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of the eARC in exchange for a review, all opinions are my own and I was not paid to review the book.

Our Infinite Fates follows Evelyn and Arden, two souls who are always brought back together in all of their lives, although they’re having to live with a curse that means one has to kill the other before they turn 18. While I very much enjoyed the writing for this story, and it was an interesting concept, I knocked a star off for the plot being slightly convoluted at times. I really enjoyed the characters as they seemed well written, especially Gracie who was my favourite.

The concept of this book had me hooked from the first moment I heard about it on Laura’s TikTok. I am a sucker for the trope where soulmates find each other in every life. Adding in the side of murder was a further selling point.
I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to devour Evelyn and Arden’s relationship throughout the centuries and I was desperate for them to find a way to save Gracie. I could honestly read a one thousand page book of all of their lives and murders throughout the years and I think I was a little bit in love with Arden.
I was so certain that this was going to be a five star read until I got to the why. Like Evelyn, I had gone through every possible option for why Arden murdered her in every life, and yet, I was still completely caught off guard by the actual reasoning. It wasn’t that I disliked the why, or thought it ruined the story. It was just a bit weak. I think it would’ve benefitted from a little bit more time spent explaining things. The secondary explainer chapter felt like it over-explained things. It was nice to see the very origin of Evelyn and Arden, but the part with the mother was over the top and could’ve been implied rather than explained for a second time.
I still really enjoyed this book and adored the concept.

this book will hurt your heart. but if i began reading this as an empty cup, i finished reading it as a full one.

this is a story about soulmates who transcended time, gender and circumstance. but more than that, it’s a story about choosing to love despite the constant threat of grief.

evelyn and arden are cursed to find each other in each life, and in each life one of them kill the other. this is a cycle that has continued over centuries, and though some memories are harder to grasp than others, for the most part they don’t forget who they were before.

but not only does evelyn love arden in each life, she also continues to love each family member in the lives she’s born into. this was the more important love story to me. evelyn ‘loved a lot of siblings in a lot of lives’ and ‘yet for better or worse, i’d let myself love anyway.’ despite knowing what was going to befall her.

i found a lesson in evelyn. i write this review as someone who struggles with the concept of grief. the fear of loss is my constant companion. i harbour it, i nurture it, i fight with it. yet evelyn reminded me of how brave it is to love in spite of this, and how despite knowing there is loss at the end of every story, love is always at the heart of it. and how lucky was she, and how lucky are we, to have people in our lives we’re so afraid to lose. and more than that, love doesn’t go anywhere: ‘And so, in the absence of any abiding religious convictions, this was the one blind faith I had: that love was a physical force, and it was never wasted. Once it was called out into the universe, it would echo back to us forever.’

if you’re someone who’s aching for a good love story, or someone who’s struggling with loss, this is a beautiful story that is both gripping in plot and full of character. an original story that has had me in a book slump for weeks. a cathartic, stunning, weep inducing novel.

thank you Penguin Random House for the eARC, this is a completely honest review.

Wow what a love story. I loved the idea of this book and it was written beautifully.

I am really enjoying stand alones recently so this was a gd one!

Lyrical, beautiful, tragic, epic… I haven’t read YA in such a long time and I’m so so glad I dived into this. I felt every moment, marvelled at the attention to detail in all the different historical eras; I could have had a book in each one, not just a chapter. I found the suspense and mystery particularly skilfully woven, and romance itself felt brutally true. If I have one qualm, it’s that the mention of Waterstones in the future chapter at the end took me out of the world just a bit. It’s lovely to imagine Waterstones surviving in another twenty years or so - but then again I guess the message of the book is hope!

This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 so I was absolutely thrilled to receive an Advanced readers copy. It did not disappoint! I have heard non-stop rave reviews for this title and now I can join the crowd!

This was a quick read for me; the alternate timelines kept the pace moving and I was desperate to unravel the mystery. I adored the characters, and loved how Evelyn varied yet still seemed recognisable in all of the different bodies she inhabited.

I can’t wait to recommend this in the shop. This appeals to mystery and fantasy readers whilst also reminding me of great, bittersweet love stories such as One Day and Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow (to name a couple of favourites)

I haven’t read anything by this author before but I will certainly be picking up more!

I really, really enjoyed this sweeping love story across generations and lifetimes, between continents, through centuries, with two lovers who always find each other. Fated souls/reincarnation/destined love stories can end up being twee or disappointing, which I've found a few times, but Laura Steven absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one. Little nods to past lives, complex relationships, mistaken identities, and love - love between souls, love strong enough to carry between lives, love that can overcome anything! - as well as secrecy, betrayal, shock, found family, blood family, complex, layered, fiercely protective and thoroughly engaging love in all its forms. I devoured this over the course of two or three days where I spent every spare moment greedily returning to Wales and to all the other places these two lovers meet, and was left utterly satisfied at the end. Bittersweet and hauntingly beautiful, I think this is Laura's best book yet.

A young couple are destined to live their lives over and again through centuries of history but they both always die before their eighteenth birthdays. Evelyn can remember all her past lives. She can also remember that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday.
The problem is that she's quite fond of the one she's in now, and more importantly, her sister needs her for bone marrow transplants to stay alive. So now she has to find the centuries-old enemy who hunts her through each life and destroy them forever.

The plot premise is loopy but this is a compelling, genre-defying mystery with huge imaginative scope and great characters. A well crafted read for older teens or adult crossover

They have loved each other in a thousand lifetimes and killed each other in every one. Evelyn remembers all her past lives. She's also aware that she must die before her eighteenth birthday, but she cannot remember why.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven is a captivating novel that seamlessly blends the present with past lives, creating a unique narrative structure that keeps readers hooked. The transitions between the present-day storyline and glimpses into previous lives are done effortlessly, making the time shifts feel both natural and intriguing. The author’s ability to interweave these timelines allows for a deeper understanding of the characters and their evolving relationships.

At its core, Our Infinite Fates is a beautiful exploration of love and betrayal. The story delves into the complexities of emotions, showcasing how love transcends time and how past experiences shape present actions. The themes of loyalty, heartbreak, and the consequences of betrayal are portrayed with depth and sensitivity.

The pacing is generally well-managed. The story moves quickly enough to maintain tension, yet takes the time to develop characters and settings in a meaningful way. However, there are moments where the pacing stumbles, particularly in the final act. Some readers may find the resolution a bit predictable, and certain character arcs might feel underdeveloped. Despite this, the book’s emotional payoff is strong, offering a satisfying sense of closure while still leaving room for future possibilities.

This was an absolutely beautiful book. I've read and enjoyed Laura Steven's work before and this is a massive step up. The prose is so heartfelt, you can literally feel the yearning and emotions leaping off the page. My heart was racing and twisting with the characters and I was tearing up in the final chapters.

‘Sometimes I think the force of your love could mend the earth.’
‘I don’t need it to mend the earth. I just need it to mend this.’

I do think this is definitely a YA book, so don't go in expecting an adult book. All the focus is on the main two characters, there isn't too much character development in the side characters. The ending/big twist is also revealed and resolved rather quickly. The prose and the love story and emotions though are incredible and a step above other YA books I've read recently.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the e-ARC.

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

As soon as I heard about this book I knew I would love it, and I have not been disappointed. This beautifully written story of a lifetime of love, betrayal, hate, despair, and grief hooked me immediately, and I will not be moving on from Evelyn and Arden’s heartbreaking story for a long long time.

“No matter how many lives I lost, no matter how many families moved on without me, I would always be known by Arden. Perhaps he was my true homeland; our existence a language only we could speak”

This wasn't for me, I almost DNF'd but I powered through. I just didn't feel any connection to the characters, they kept saying they were in love, A LOT, but it was never shown. I also have issue with the logic towards the end, surely the reasonable thing to conclude was that stabbing the mother would just kill them both and start a loop again like with the main characters. Why did she think that killing the mother would end all the problems?

I liked that they weren't tied to particular genders. However I did get a bit confused sometimes working out which person was who in the flashbacks. I also didn't see the reveal coming about why they were in this pickle.

I really liked the concept, and the poetry was nice, but it just wasn't for me.