A contemporary YA with a mind-bending multiverse twist that felt both emotionally grounded and wildly imaginative.

I’m going to be thinking about this book for days. Such a unique premise that is beautifully written. Aria is a wonderful protagonist who makes the choices, and mistakes expected of an 18 year old who just discovered the multiverse. The end came on so fast and I am still reeling from it. I would have liked a more clear cut ending, but that’s just me, the ending was what the story needed. I can’t wait to read more of Samira’s work, I adore her writing style.

I don't think I have enough words to describe just how incredible The Singular Life of Aria Patel is. I went into the book completely blind, and came out utterly wowed. Physics was never my strongest subject, and I haven't studied it since I was in grade 10, but this book actually made it kind of fun. The science fiction elements of the book, especially when it talks about Feynman, quantum physics, the concepts of the multiverse and so much other stuff were so so interesting. I know its fiction, but it was pretty fun to learn this.

The base of the story lies in the way the multiverse is written about. It starts off with a poem written by an unknown author which leads to our main character, Aria, falling into different worlds and universes, where there is one constant - her. I honestly loved how the first half of the book showed us all the different universes that could be - my favourite was the one with the AI companion (no spoilers, but it is soo funny). The explanations are explained so well and are very easy to understand, especially if you're a noob like me when it comes to physics.

The heart of the story is Aria though. Like I mentioned, she's the one constant in all these universes she's falling into. The physics of it all aside, the story does a phenomenal job of making us love Aria. Her life is not as great as it seems; she's lost a parent, broken up with her boyfriend and now she's falling into universes where she doesn't belong (no matter how she wants to). Once she arrives in a world similar to her own, Aria thinks this is where she could belong. But of course, that's not her home. In all interactions with the people of said world, you can see Aria missing her real one, even if she starts to love them all (including this world's Rohan) and even if she denies it.

I love the way all the science concepts were used as an explanation to things that Aria did/was going to do and how these explanations made it all the more easier to feel. Which is something I always love to see in science fiction. Her character growth and arc are so masterfully done, and I don't know about anyone else, but that ending was beautiful. I kind of didn't think it would happen that way, but the unexpected made it the best.

The Singular Life of Aria Patel has found its place as one of my favourite reads of the year and it also gives me the push to finally finish reading all of Samira Ahmed's books this year!

I have to admit that this book made me tear up at the end, the dense quantum- physics logic of the denouement was blended seamlessly into the emotional journey of our hero, lost in the multiverse too afraid to risk loving for fear of the pain that it’s loss will cause her. Emotional, exciting and thoughtful science fiction story about love, loss and acceptance. Beautifully written.

Samira Ahmed’s The Singular Life of Aria Patel is a captivating, mind-bending exploration of love, identity, and the multiverse that will leave readers questioning the very nature of self. Blending science fiction with a heartfelt second-chance romance, this novel is perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao and See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon.

Aria Patel is a young woman who thrives on stability and predictability, qualities she finds in her love for science. But her carefully ordered world is turned upside down when she begins falling through parallel universes, waking up in a new reality almost every day. As she navigates these strange new worlds, Aria is haunted by the presence of Rohan, her ex-boyfriend, and a poem from her English class that seems to follow her wherever she goes.

Ahmed’s storytelling is both imaginative and deeply emotional, capturing the disorientation and wonder of Aria’s journey through the multiverse. The novel’s exploration of parallel lives and the choices that define us is thought-provoking, while the slow-burn romance between Aria and Rohan adds a layer of warmth and longing to the narrative. Aria’s struggle to reconcile her feelings for Rohan with the knowledge that he belongs to another version of herself is both heart-breaking and beautifully rendered.

The novel unfolds at a perfect rhythm, with each leap into a new reality peeling back another layer of Aria’s character and illuminating the intricate ways love transcends dimensions. Ahmed’s writing is both poetic and vivid, painting Aria’s journey with a delicate balance of wonder and introspection. Themes of self-discovery, the weight of sacrifice, and the timeless strength of love weave through the narrative, leaving an indelible mark that ensures The Singular Life of Aria Patel stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.

A gripping read, perfect for fans of You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao or See You Yesterday by Rachel Lynn Solomon.