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.

I was looking forward to reading this book based on the description. It had so much potential but felt like the characters weren’t fully developed, nor was the storyline . I ended up having such a hard time following it that it was not enjoyable. And I had a hard time finishing it.

This is a good book. Evan and Shosh are the two main characters in this book. These kids are faced with losses in their lives that bring them together under unlikely circumstances. This book travels you through time to multiple people with similar experiences. I was given an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and I am freely leaving my review.

Such a beautiful story. I really loved Arnold’s writing! I was a bit confused at some points in the beginning, but overall this was such a great read.

Thanks Penguin Group and NetGalley. I was excited about the premise of this and I wish I would have liked it more. I appreciated the author's creative writing and hope to read more from him in the future.

I had the joy of receiving an uncorrected proof of this book. I love books where the main characters find each other in every life and this book did that beautifully. I fell in love with the characters and especially the way the characters lived each other. Evan's all encompassing love for Will and the deep seated love Shosh has for Stevie and how those relationships fed into each other and affected the ways that Shosh and Evan began to love each other and everyone around them. The reason I ended up giving it 4 stars is because I wanted to spend more time with Shosh and Evan. They don't really start to spend time together until about halfway through the book. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked how in the other lives the names always started with an S and an E, to help you as the reader understand the patterns of them as people. Overall I would say this was a magical read and I can't wait for it to reach audiences.

Unsurprisingly, this book broke me a little bit. It’s lyrical, poetic, and heartbreakingly beautiful. Following two teenagers dealing with their own versions of loss. Evan and Taft couldn’t be more different until they both start to hear a song that no one else can. While also following our two main characters, the book is also full of little vignettes about love across time, which was my favorite component of the story. At its core, I Loved You in Another Life is about how sometimes two souls are just *meant* to be together, no matter the circumstances. There were some parts of the book that I didn’t love (TW: alcoholism) and that I wished were addressed in a more transparent way. Surprisingly, the main romance was not what stood out to me about this book! As I mentioned earlier, the little vignettes stole the story for me. They were all unique and heartwrenching in their own way, and it was so special seeing the same themes occur throughout time. Overall, this is the perfect winter read to curl up under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa. It’s a pretty quick read, but be prepared to shed some tears!