"I Loved You in Another Life" by David Arnold is a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of love, destiny, and the timeless connections that bind souls across ages. Through its poignant storytelling and lyrical prose, the book takes readers on a journey through time and space, showcasing the enduring power of love.

The story centers around Evan Taft and Shosh Bell, two teenagers facing their own personal challenges and tragedies. Evan's plans for a gap year in Alaska and his responsibilities toward his family are upended by his mother's unexpected diagnosis. Shosh, a high school theater star with dreams of performing arts college in LA, is shattered by the loss of her sister in a tragic accident. These two characters, seemingly from different worlds, are connected by a mysterious and ethereal song that only they can hear.

David Arnold masterfully weaves together the narratives of Evan and Shosh, as well as those of characters from different time periods and places who share a similar connection through the celestial bird and its haunting song. The exploration of love and its transcendent nature across time and space adds depth and richness to the narrative.

One of the standout features of the book is the original songs, which were written and recorded by the author himself. These songs provide a unique and immersive element to the story, enhancing the emotional resonance of the characters and their experiences.

The characters in "I Loved You in Another Life" are well-drawn and relatable, each grappling with their own inner demons and searching for meaning and connection. Evan and Shosh's journey toward self-discovery and healing is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming.

While the book's concept is intriguing and its prose is lyrical, some readers may find that the pacing of the story varies, with moments of slow reflection and introspection interspersed with more action-driven sequences. Additionally, the nonlinear narrative and multiple perspectives may require readers to pay close attention to the shifts in time and character perspectives.

In conclusion, "I Loved You in Another Life" is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that explores the enduring power of love and the interconnectedness of souls across time and space. David Arnold's storytelling is both lyrical and thought-provoking, making this book a compelling read for fans of contemporary fiction with a touch of the supernatural. If you enjoy stories that delve into the mysteries of love and destiny, this book is worth immersing yourself in.

Honestly, I ended up loving this book even though I went in with very little expectations! I was curious about the "lovers through time" concept, but it was executed pretty well. The flashback chapters, however, did feel too short/disconnected at times. But that might have been intentional, since I started to understand that change in pace ensured that these additional details/timelines did not detract from the main storyline.

Shosh and evan were interesting characters, but I mostly stayed for Evan's relationship with his younger brother (and his unwavering love for ET) and his mom. The writing shined the best in these smaller, intimate moments!

While reading I LOVED YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE, I could not for the life of me (lol) get "American Teenager" by Ethel Cain out of my head, but while looking at the lyrics, it truly is a song that sums up this story!

Before I begin this review, I want to thank Net Galley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for allowing me to access I Loved You in Another Life before publication in exchange for an honest review. Check out this book on its release date of October 10th, 2023!

This story made me feel many emotions as I learned more about Shosh and Evan, their complexities, and their battles. Arnold did a great job of intertwining the stories of these complex characters and giving them their own voices. With that said, I think the story could have developed more, from the overall vibe of the teens in this book to the concept and plot. Also, despite labeling this story as romance, it lacked a bit in that department.

I really enjoyed the romance and liked the concept of two people finding each other over and over again through time and space. The book had an interesting outlook on life, and the characters were enjoyable to read and learn about. I will say that I was drawn out of the story because the settings and plot sometimes just fell flat.

Shosh and Evan are fun characters to follow along. They are going through their own problems, as teenagers typically do, but they also have traumas that each must work through. Evan's dad left, and his mom is battling cancer. Shosh's sister died in a drunk driving accident, and now she has to navigate a world without her. I felt for these characters and the emotions that they had. With that said, these characters didn't necessarily feel like teens. In many ways, they felt too cheesy or just someone's idea of what a teen acts like rather than how they actually are.

I liked the concept of the plot. It appears that, in many ways, the characters have crossed paths before in past lives and are destined to find each other again in this life. But even then, something about the plot was lacking. That isn't to say that it wasn't good or that the author didn't put much effort into it. It was evident that it was thought out and that there were enough details to keep the plot moving forward and make me want to read on. I just wish that the plot was more fleshed out and developed. It took about halfway through the book before the two leads started talking to one another. From then on, their romance seemed to move at a relatively fast pace. The story could have been more evenly spread out, and it would have been nice to see more of Shosh's and Evan's dynamics with one another, especially since this is supposed to be a romance book.

The book has multiple settings, and the author had an intriguing idea of introducing different nations and cultures throughout time to depict the different lives that Shosh and Evan have lived through. Yet, it didn't feel like I was reading about these cultures. It often felt as if I was still reading from the modern-day American perspective with little insight into the locations or periods that they were in.

Arnold does a fantastic job of writing his characters' thoughts and revealing their personalities, struggles, and victories throughout the story. Sometimes, the writing did feel a bit forced and cheesy, but overall, I still thought the author did a great job of writing between the different perspectives of Shosh and Evan.

Overall, this story didn't do it for me, but I would recommend it to anyone who loves YA, multiple perspectives, historical fiction, or magical realism.

I will be posting this to my website, The Bookish Editor, on November 10th.

story line is there and the concept is so beautiful. I am having a hard time to stay connected so I will be putting this one to the side and picking it up when I am ready. Still enjoyed the first half of the read.

this book has a very interesting plot and characters. It just wasn't for me as it references pop culture such as ET throughout the whole book which is a pet peeve of mine. I want to be immersed in a new world and it really takes me out of a story when there's references like this (I'm talking to you J.L. Armentrout👀😂)
However, if the references don't bother you then I would give this book a read!

I enjoyed this book but honestly, can't say that I loved it. I liked the concept of connected souls and how it brought Sosh and Evan together. It just didn't grab my attention and left me wanting more. More connection, more depth. I also was not really satisfied with the open ending, but it worked within the confines of the story.

I can’t get over the first/third person switch between character points of view. Also, the tone seems like it’s trying to be more mature than it really is. It’s ok for YA books to sound like teenagers without making deep philosophicals to show their underlying emotions.

Sadly it will be a DNF for me. The overall story line was interesting. I am definitely not the right target audience for this and therefore do not have anything negative to say. I did not read much, but what I did read was a very unique and interesting story, it just wasn't the story for me. Thank you for the arc.

Initially, I was drawn in by the beautiful cover art and the promise of a sweeping love story from the synopsis.

While I feel like I did get that out of the story...it also felt like a chore. The story as a whole is an incredibly slow-paced journey to get to a rather lack-luster ending. I have more questions than answers and I think if I'd gotten more out of the end, I wouldn't have felt like the pacing wasn't so monotonous.

I can appreciate the poetic, complex story-telling and how the character's individual stories were woven together. I absolutely adored getting to know Evan, his family's dynamic, and his friendship with Ali.

Overall, I found I Loved You in Another Life beautiful-written and deeply heart-felt. The characters were easy to fall in love with and intriguing. I just wish it wasn't such a chore to fully enjoy.


Thank you PenguinTeen for the e-ARC to read and honestly review.

4.5
Wow this book was so beautifully done. I was slightly confused in the beginning, but the book quickly grasped me in. And it was intense, so definitely check CW/TW. I was so captured by these characters, and Evan and Shosh both had such interesting and unique perspectives. This book was sad for sure, but also full of little lighthearted moments that made it really worthwhile. I especially loved Will and his relationship with Evan as well as lovd for E. T. I think this story dealt with grief, healing and trauma so well and there were definitely times I was getting emotional. I didn't fully know what to expect going in, but this story fully hooked me. I loved that music was a constant, and I loved all the interwoven love stories. It was just such a great idea and it was done exceptionally well. Huge thank you to Penguin Teen for the e-ARC to read and review!

Some books are strange and weird and hard to define.

Some books leave you feeling emotional, as though you’ve just gone on this incredible journey with these characters.

The best, most life-changing books manage to do both, and I think this one does.

What I Loved:
- Evan and Will's relationship. Brother banter and brother love will always reign superior. These two were honestly kind of the backbone of this novel for me. Will is so important to Evan, and I love that we got so many interactions between them.
- The way grief is depicted. Nothing makes me angry like badly portrayed grief. Arnold was very honest in his portrayal of grief, though. It was raw, vulnerable, and actually really healing to read. I was nervous that Shosh's addiction would overshadow her grief, but it didn't--it was handled beautifully and very sensitively.
- The vignettes. I didn't think I'd love these as much as I did, but they were incredible. I know that some people disliked these parts, but I think they added that necessary layer to the story and helped make everything feel bigger than just one life.

What I Didn't Love:
- The LGBT themes. I wasn't surprised by them because this is 2023 and inclusivity is important, but I would've liked to know ahead of time, so this is just a little note for those who want to know before diving in that there are LGBT side characters and intimacy.
- The strong cursing and swearing. I don't mind swearing, but I think some of it felt a little unnecessary. Like, the author was trying to prove how young adult these young adults are by having them swear and take the Lord's name in vein so frequently.
- The pacing. As much as I want to ignore this part, I can't. There's merit to everyone's concerns about how long it takes Evan and Shosh to get together, as well as the lack of on-page time we get to spend with them once they are together. This is probably because of the vignettes and the fact that the story spans such a long time (it jumps seasons a lot), but it did make it harder to actually feel emotional when the climactic moments happened.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's not something I would usually read (I mean, it totally is, but it also isn't), but it was a really fun and intriguing ride. There are so many memorable and beautiful quotes on every page, and I may just have to buy a copy solely so I can annotate it and hold it.

This is a good book for readers who enjoy the "I would love you in every universe" trope, soulmates, honest depictions of grief and addiction, unbreakable sibling relationships, and immersive worldbuilding.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

Content warnings: Alcohol, alcoholism, cancer, car accident, cursing, grief, panic attacks/disorders, sexual content, and vomit. There are also some LGBT side characters and F/F kissing.

Thank you Netgalley for the early copy. This started off strong but at about 15% the story and characters became confusing and unfortunately I DNF.

I found this book to be very difficult to review. In parts I absolutely loved it, it was an epic love story with wonderful characters. In other parts I found myself drifting and not super engaged, it did not hold my attention and I felt it lost its direction.
There were some beautiful prose and very lyrical parts but I found some of that to be a little over the top and that it retracted from the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I can read a book in one day if I love it--2 or 3 days max if I like it and only read it in the evenings before bed. I LOVED YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE took me the better part of a week because I couldn't get engaged with the story, as much as I would have liked to. I liked *all* of the characters and appreciated how Arnold addressed grief, anxiety, and therapy in particular--takes an anxious person to know one--but I wish the romance between Evan and Shosh--and just them, not their past lives--would have played a more significant role in the story. That's just me and my own bias, I know, but they didn't even really get involved with each other directly until 60% into the story. It would have been nice to have less John Greenish whimsy where teenagers don't really talk like teenagers and more Dracula-esque "I've crossed oceans of time to find you" eternal romance since that seems to be the overall theme.

I Loved You in Another Life if the perfect blend of sci-fi and contemporary, which is where David Arnold succeeds. A really fun twist on time travel with a lot of poignant moments.

Honestly, this book was really hard for me to get into. I think a lot of it had to do with the writing style and it just kind of being all over the place for me. I don’t feel like the characters were all that interesting and then it taking so long for the initial meet up just made things worse. It’s like the plot just drug on forever even though we knew they were going to meet. I think the story line was great but it had the opportunity to be so much better. These are of course my own opinions and no else’s.

Thank you NetGalley, the publishers, and David Arnold for the ARC.

The premise of this book immediately hooked me. Having a bird song connect lovers across lifetimes is something that is hauntingly beautiful. I found this novel to be lushly written and magical. I love how the different love stories were woven together to create a portrait of longing and love.

3.5 stars

Evan has plans for the future. Take a gap year in Alaska, take care of his mom and little brother, and continue to process the fact that his dad left. However, all that changes after his mom’s diagnosis. And he starts to hear a song no one else can hear.

Shosh had dreams before her sister died after being hit by a drunk driver. Originally, she was going to head to a performing arts college in LA. Now all that remains is a mysterious song that no one else seems to hear. Pulling together love stories from across time, Evan and Shosh might be destined to meet. But how will that affect their future?

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for an advanced copy of I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold to review! David Arnold is one of those authors where you never really know what to expect with his books. They’re a little abstract, and that’s what I like about them. They are open to interpretation!

The concept of this book is so interesting. A song that basically connects soulmates across time, and we get to see it play out in a teen couple in the present. As characters, Evan and Shosh work so well, both grieving but in different ways about different things. In a way, they both need each other, and it’s this mysterious song that brings them together.

As much as I enjoyed each of their stories individually, I do wish we got to see more of their relationship progress overall. This is billed as a romance, so I wanted to see that romance play out more on the page. They have such a great connection, and we only get to see a glimpse of it, really. I wanted more!

While I enjoyed the little snippets of other romances throughout, I think some of them could have been taken out to help further Evan and Shosh’s relationship. It makes the book seem more poetic in a way, and though that’s not a bad thing, I’m not sure it was entirely successful.

All in all, if you’re looking for a romance that’s a bit more existential, this might be the book for you!

The concept of the story of two souls finding each other throughout time is one that is a personal favorite of mine. I love the idea that souls are tied to each other and are fated to meet again. Unfortunately, this book didn't exactly land the execution of that concept for me. There are moments where the pacing felt off, and the scenes where we get to see the characters' past lives felt forced to bring some sort of chemistry to the characters.

I found myself grappling with the uneven pacing. The narrative's rhythm seemed to stumble in places, making it challenging to fully immerse myself in the journey of the protagonists. Additionally, the attempts to forge a connection through glimpses of their past lives sometimes felt strained. The plot, though intriguing, suffered from moments of confusion that detracted from the overall experience. The complexity of the storyline occasionally veered into unnecessary convolution.
While this book didn't fully resonate with me, readers who are passionate about transcendent love stories and don't mind a touch of narrative complexity might enjoy this.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this novel to be magical, mesmerizing, deeply moving. I loved how Arnold wove all of these different stories and paths together while telling the current story of Shosh and Evan. What a beautiful story of true love and of souls finding one another time and time again. 💖