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. 💖

Thank you for the arch, however I had to DNF at 30%.

I wanted to love this book so badly, ever since I saw an advertisement for it on Facebook, however the story was so slow and the characters felt so flat. The few moments of flashback to previous lives felt disjointed and forced.

It's an interesting book hard to follow but I liked the aspect of two POV regarding two different gender going through life in high school and moving towards college. It shows that everyone goes through things in life and that everyone has a story to tell.

This one just didn't work for me. I was confused and I tried to finish but I just didn't get swept away by the story.

I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold is a poignant love story that explores the powerful connection between two teenagers whose souls intertwine throughout different eras. This heartbreakingly beautiful tale delves into the realm of speculative love, captivating readers with its timeless themes and emotional depth.

There's no denying that this was a very moving and poignant story. Arnold's writing was beautiful and packed with emotions. I loved the idea of these two souls bound together throughout time and finding each other no matter what. Arnold addresses heavy topics like grief, loneliness, and illness in a very poetic way. There were many passages and quotes I highlighted because Arnold perfectly summed up a feeling I've had before. As for the actual plot, I liked it but found it a little too slow. It took a while for us to learn the connection between Shosh and Evan, which made it hard for me to immerse myself in the story. Despite that, I would still recommend it and think it'll be an impactful read for most.

“I love you in another life” is so good. The characters are realistic, they act and speak as teenagers. Love how it’s written. The story is very sweet and the concept is so unique. The song are unique and I appreciate them, as a songwriter. The voice it is written on is made for the story(the author is a genius. Wish I saw more books like this. Congratulations to the author on this YA book! 5 out of 5.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for an honest review.

"While the premise of 'I Loved You in Another Life' was intriguing, I was left wanting more in terms of character development and storyline. The concept of people hearing music and following its instructions held promise, but unfortunately, it felt underexplored. The main group of friends was the focus, but the numerous subplots didn't receive enough attention, leaving the overall narrative feeling fragmented. Despite my difficulty in following the story, I persevered in the hopes that it would improve. Regrettably, it fell short of my expectations."

I know that many love David Arnold's work, but to me it is hit and miss. This one was a real hit for me! The writing style was perfectly suited to the characters, who felt very real. I especially appreciated the male/female friendship of the main characters, and the younger sibling. A book that I think many teens will relate to and enjoy. Can't wait to purchase it for my library.

I was unable to complete this book. The premise was very attention grabbing, making me WANT to read it but upon receiving it and reading, I found it was hard to get through. I read about the first 20% of the book but felt that nothing was happening and still it was hard to follow between the dual POV as well as the flashback to a prior life. It was also hard to feel much of anything for either character thus far, as it felt like the storytelling was most focused solely on one specific tragedy of each of their lives and not necessarily who they were beyond it or how they would come together in the present lifetime. The writing style of the author at times felt convoluted but also had moments of clear beauty which I did find to be a positive amongst the otherwise downtrodden feel of the text.

Evan Taft is a good guy--in every sense of the word. He tries to protect his younger brother and mom, he's willing to sacrifice his dreams, and he recognizes the good in those around him. Then toss spiraling, self-destructive Shosh Bell into his life, and Evan's good guy shine becomes even brighter. Shosh isn't a bad person, but she's definitely floundering. Luckily, Evan helps to ground her a bit.

The story is a realistic YA story. The characters talk and act like teenagers. They are flawed and kind of lost and kind of stuck and kind of dreaming as big as they can.....all simultaneously.

The weakest part for me was all the connecting stories; they just weren't necessary in the context of Evan & Shosh. However, I get it. It was something to make this story a little different.

Overall: 4 stars

I'll tell my students about: language, death, trauma, cancer, sex, alcohol

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin House Penguin Young Readers Group for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

This is a beautiful story. This is a story about people finding their true love in an unusual manner. Certain people start to hear music in their heads, and when the lyrics become audible, it becomes clear to them that they need to follow instructions and subsequently meet up with other people hearing the same music.

The story concentrates on one main group of friends, but There are a number of other subplots, throughout the book, which are also very engaging

This book was ok. It was confusing because I’m not sure where the other lives come into play. I liked the Evan and Shosh characters. Didn’t realize this was a YA which could be why I struggled with it

Review: The writing was very enjoyable and beautiful, and parts of the story were as well, but the vast majority was haphazard and made me feel the same. I was unable to fall in love with the characters and that left me feeling alone while I read. I found the acknowledgements to have more emotions then the book.
Recommended For: Those who want a YA love story.

Do you ever get the feeling of dejavu? Do you ever feel like you’ve felt a certain way before? In the wake of her sister’s death Shosh struggles to go on. Evan’s little brother Will is is also having his own troubles day to day and Evan feels the need to be the man and take care of Will and their mom. Both Shosh and Evan keep hearing the same song over and over, at the oddest times…Until their paths cross.
Join them in their journey of past and present to see how their dejavu unfolds.