Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early eARC of this book.

4.25 stars. This book is a fantastic addition to the dystopian genre. This book follows Sivon who just turned of age and is set to go into kirling. A process in which your soul is matched to previous lives and you are given inheritance, information about previous lives’ jobs, and possible prison sentences all based on the history of your soul. During the kirling process, something unexpected happens. The story goes from there.

I was absolutely hooked the moment I began this book. I was captivated by the entire concept and was kept on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what would come next. It had futuristic elements based on our current world which made it easily digestible. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was constantly thinking about it.

The ending to this book had a great twist however, I would say it did get a little confusing at times. It was a little difficult to track the people because they go by their birth names but also their soul ID names which meant double the names for each person. Regardless, I absolutely loved it.

I would highly recommend this book! This is perfect for readers who love dystopia and are looking for a refreshing new concept for the genre.

This review is currently available on Goodreads.

This story wasn't for me. The concept was so original that I was drawn to this book immediately. But I don't think that it was well executed. Or at least executed in a way that was interesting for almost 500 pages. Every action and conflict seemed unnecessarily drawn out. The world building dominated. But it was at the detriment of the overall plot. A little bit disappointing because the premise felt so original.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

DNF @36%

What a truly interesting concept but the execution just wasn't for me.

The ratio of plot to world building was off. The back and forth timelines made little to no sense. The conflict was odd to me. I would have preferred a different kirling result but that's just me.

Overall, the pacing and plot weren't enough for me to want to finish this book BUT I think Danzenbaker has an incredible creative mind. I look forward to more from her, this just wasn't a story for me.

Hundreds of years after a World War, society has discovered that all sounds are reincarnated, and can be tracked from life to life. Sivon has just turned 18, as has reported for her killing, finding out if she has a good soul, which will lead to an inheritance and job offers, or a bad soul, which could land her in prison for crimes committed in her previous lives. The results are a stunning surprise, and immediately thrust her into a world of political intrigue, threats, and of course, a love triangle.

This was deeply stupid. I think the author was initially trying to make some points about nature vs nurture, and free will, but gives it up after a bit to just head into teenage action thriller and romance. The soul-matching technology and world-building makes no sense and requires constant explanations. There are so many characters, and all of them have at least two names, which just leads to confusion. The writing is juvenile and the plot twists obvious, and the romance is basically a combination of "The Bodyguard" and Anna's story in "Frozen."

Imagine when you turn 18 you have to go through something called the Kirling and it informs you of all your past lives. It also shapes your future like what job you get, if you were a “bad” soul then you would get prison time, and it would tell you whether or not you had a soulmate!

I truly ate this book up. I couldn’t put it down. It was slow burning, yearning, and just a well rounded book. I laughed, cried, cheered, and got mad. It had me feeling all the emotions. I loved the idea of reincarnation and atoning for past sins. It was a tad predictable but it was still enjoyable. It had a great pace and I never lost interest.

My only “complaint” is that it felt a bit rushed towards the end and I just wish it had drug out a little longer so we could’ve had a little more.

All in all, a fantastic read!

Thank you so much @simonteen @simonandschuster for my early copy!

What can I say but… Soulmatch ate.

Plot twist after plot twist, this book had me hooked from the very beginning, and honestly, it still hasn’t let me go. Debut novel who? Rebecca Danzenbaker knew exactly what she was doing.

Imagine a world where you know who you are, and so does everyone else. Not in a creepy, Big Brother kind of way, but in a “your destiny was decided the moment you were born” kind of way.

The Soul Identification System is the backbone of society, a tool to fight crime, prevent war, and determine your place in the world. Your soul’s rap sheet could land you in the arts, in government, or behind bars to serve time for the crimes of your past life. In this world, no one escapes who they’ve been.

If you love YA novels for 12+ that let teens act like teens, Soulmatch delivers. If you’re looking for a spicy YA novel... this isn’t that, and you’ll be disappointed.

Sivon, our MFC, is (for lack of a better word) a teenage girl who’s been singled out by society and thrown into the spotlight. Love her or hate her, she’s exactly how I imagine a lot of teens would act if half the world wanted to be their best friend and the other half wanted them dead, which is basically her life now.

But hey, the book delivers on what it promises! If you’re in the mood for a YA dystopian romance with feel-good 2010s vibes, look no further. There’s romance, friendship, angst, pain, plot twists, and so much more. You’re in for a ride.

Short Synopsis:
It’s been 200 years since World War III, and every 18-year-old is now required to report to the government for an official “past life review.” If your soul lived a good life, you leave with ran inheritance, job offers, and maybe even a soulmate. But if your past life was marked by crime or violence, you’re forced to pay the price in this one.

Now it’s Sivon’s turn, and her results don’t just surprise her, they shock the entire world. Thrust into the spotlight, Sivon must navigate secrets, soulmates, and a society built on reincarnation, justice, and control.

My Thoughts:
Just hand me all the dystopian books, please and thank you. SOULMATCH gave me serious 2000s nostalgia. If you were obsessed with Divergent, Matched, or Uglies, you’re going to love this. I was fully immersed in the world and learning everything right alongside Sivon made it even more gripping.

And the romance? Chef’s kiss. The yearning, the tension, the complications were perfect. There’s a love triangle, but don’t panic. If you’re like me, you’ll be firmly on one side. 😏

I was fascinated by the concept of soulmates being tied to past lives, and how the story explores identity, especially the idea that your future shouldn’t be defined by your past. Of course, no good dystopian is complete without a corrupt government and some social commentary. And this one delivers. ✊

This is firmly YA and reads like YA, so adult readers, keep that in mind.

What You’ll Find:
🔁 Reincarnation
🏛️ Corrupt government
💘 Soulmates
📖 Debut novel
🔥 Slow burn romance
🚪 Forced proximity
✅ Standalone!!

It's been a while since I've enjoyed reading a dystopian book from beginning to end like I did with this book. I was worried it wouldn't be a cohesive story because it was a standalone story so I didn't know how much could be packed in one book but this definitely delivered. From the story, world building, characters, and romance, I had such a fun time.

In a world where your soul’s history dictates your future, society is divided by the lives you’ve lived before. If your past selves were good souls, your path is set with privilege, power, and an inheritance. But if your soul has a darker history? You’re punished in this life for the sins of your former selves.
Each chapter begins with a unique word from this society’s vocabulary and how it's woven into the chapter and throughout the story. It helped better understand the world building.

Sivon's world turns upside down when she receives unexpected news about her abnormal kirling results. She is overwhelmed with all this information and now put in danger because of what she discovered about herself. I totally felt for her because I would also be freaking out with the news. On top of that, you are assigned to a grumpy (but hot) bodyguard who seems to not trust or like you. She might have been too trusting at times, but I mean who wouldn't be, when the only people you can trust are those that are familiar to this situation. But what I liked about that is that she also questioned people's motives and tried to analyze their moves. As a skilled chess player, she always tried looking at the bigger picture and anticipate her opponents' moves. After some solid advice she received, she had turned it into her personal mantra: Seize your power. Trust your instincts. Protect your heart.

The romance consisted of some of my favorite tropes:
-Force proximity
-Slow burn
-Dislike to reluctant allies to lovers

Donovan's cold demeanor didn't deter him from being a protective and calming presence to her. He was so understanding during her panic attacks and she always sought him out because of how safe she felt around him. Towards the end, she was the one trying to protect her heart. (Loved the double meaning of this btw). And don't get me started with the ending where he gave her the surprise. *swoon* These sweet moments are what I wish we saw more of. Once they finally got together, everything started to get wrapped up, which didn't allow for more of the romantic moments I wanted.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to those who are looking for a fun dystopian story.

Thanks to the Simonteen and Netgalley for this early copy

This book had incredible potential; the concept is unlike anything I've ever read. I wish characters were half interesting. After half of the book, so many things started to happen quickly. Too many characters, too many souls, and so little time to remember all of them.

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The concept is super intriguing but I think the author had too many ideas and failed to fit them all into one story and flesh them all out. It ended up being a convoluted plot with motivations that were not explored and flawed logic. There are parts of this book that have so so much potential but they weren’t explored in the way they could have been. I also did not really buy the romance, the characters didn’t have much chemistry for a book about soulmates. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more when I was younger but now it didn’t do as much as I want my dystopian books to do.

This book has definitely been one of the best I’ve read this year! It follows Sivon who is now 18 and must go through kirling and find out about her past lives. Kirling is a requirement for everyone as a way to connect who you were to who you are now. This could mean you inherit money, fame and maybe a soulmate from your past lives or find out you were a criminal and still have more years to serve. Either way who you are is predetermined based on who you were in your past lives, so Sivon is understandably terrified by her possible results. This story has so many clever plot lines and the writing just flows all the way through. I was throughly entranced by Sivon’s story and finding out how it ends, so I’m happy to report the ending wrapped everything up perfectly!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I wanted to like this book SO BADLY. The plot of this book was so, so promising. The first 25% really drew me in, but then things went really off the rails.

I have a really hard time liking any of these characters. They all feel very two dimensional to me. There seemed to be so many characters important to the plot and none of them had enough time to develop. The main character, Sivon, really doesn't have much of a personality. I get that the author was trying to write her as someone intelligent, thoughtful, and logical but I generally found her to be pretty bland during her interactions.

The pacing of this book was really odd to me. The beginning of the book was pretty slow world building (which I always appreciate!) but then a ton of plot comes and smacks you in the face and it's a whirlwind. Everything is changing all the time in this story and it's like...the writing isn't able to keep up with all the story changes. There could be a revelation one chapter and then it could be totally upended a few chapters later. This would be ok if it were like, one thing...but to have multiple twists made me less excited for the real/actual true situation. Also it is insanely hard to keep track of every character and every past life they had because they are all involved in the overarching plot.

Additionally, it's so weird to me that certain people keep their relationships with people from their past lives but not others. Best friends and lovers generally seek each other out, but not parents and siblings? And it seems that some people remember things from past lives but not others? It feels like the details of this universe were half baked and needed to be fleshed out a lot more.

I gave this book two stars for the inventive plot and for trying to tackle complex topics of justice, nature vs nurture re: those who commit crimes, and criminal reformation. This book probably would have benefitted from being longer or even a duology/trilogy.

I'm really glad people enjoy this book! I just wasn't one of them.

A fresh take on reincarnation set in a futuristic world where your soul determines how you should live the rest of your life.

It has been 200 years since World War III has happened and the world is finally at peace due to the renowned soul-identification system. Every 18 year-old is sent to the government where they have to undergo a kirling, a process where they learn of your past lives. A good soul gets to leave with an inheritance, a career path and sometimes, even a soulmate. While, the bad souls leave in handcuffs. And our girl, Sivon, is about to undergo her kirling and her results leaves the world and her, confused.

This is the author’s debut novel and it did not disappoint. It gave everything I would want in a YA dystopian romance; compelling characters, awesome world building and commentary. Speaking of commentary and theme, I love how this gave a bit of a coming of age feel concerning reincarnation. Sivon, our FMC, is just like everybody else worrying, and feeling hopeful, that they are a good soul. Because a good soul means direction. A clear cut sign that THIS is what you are supposed to be doing in this life because your other lives have done so. And we all worry about that at least once or even more times than we can count in our lives; are we living the life that we should be? Are the decisions we’ve taken so far set in stone? Or do we still have the chance to change it and live the life we want?

And when I say the slow burn in this was deliciously slow then what? The minute Donovan was introduced, it was wrap for me. Because I could not stop giggling at their interactions together. The subtle glances and touches, a forced proximity here and there. And he’s her bodyguard! Yeah, I shipped.

Soulmatch comes out on July 29th. This perfect for anyone who wants to scratch that dystopian itch they’ve had since 2010 and on.

Thank you to Simon Teen and Rebecca Danzenbaker for the opportunity to read this eARC.

Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker is a nostalgic and fun read for anyone who loves dystopian fiction. The system in this book about past lives and how they affect your current one is a unique idea, and it was fun to see how the idea played out. I went in with expectations about the world, but was pleasantly surprised to be wrong about elements. Specifically about how our main character would be unique in this world. Sivon is smart and has a warm heart for all those around her. I loved how she grew over the course of the novel, too. I absolutely love a bodyguard trope, so this book was right up my alley. The love story was hooking and had just enough tension that made you want to keep reading even if it was late and you should be sleeping (not that I'm speaking from personal experience haha). Soulmatch blended romantic elements within the plot seamlessly. The story never felt like it was slowing down; in fact, it felt like it was speeding up at the end. While the ending is somewhat typical of what you'd expect from the dystopian genre, there are fresh elements that keep you engaged. Overall great read, and I'd be interested in picking up anything else Rebecca Danzenbaker writes!

(4.75/5)
Every 18 year old reports to the government to learn about their past lives and if they have a soulmate. Sivon has been looking forward to and dreading this day her whole life. Looking for direction, but fearing she’s a “bad soul”, her results are not at all what she expected.

This was a WILD ride. No matter where I thought things were going, I was always wrong. It was tense and suspenseful and kept me guessing the whole time. But at the same time, the romance was tender, and the friendship was so loving and kind. The characters were well written and felt like real people, and the writing was beautifully descriptive without going overboard. I loved that each chapter started with a definition of the technology in this world, acronyms used, or some of the unique character names. It really helped immerse me in the story and provide helpful info without bogging down the narration. I was unsure how I’d feel about the romance (it’s gotta be done right in a dystopian book), but given the soulmate aspect, it fit in nicely and didn’t overpower the main storyline. The only issue I had with this book is the reveal near the end. Due to the nature of this world (ie. reincarnation), it did become a little confusing and hard to follow. I’m unsure if this is due to the way it was written, or if I just had trouble understanding. Either way, it did impact my overall enjoyment just a smidge, but I’m not knocking it too hard, because it could have just been a *me* issue. Beyond that, the ending was great, and I like the way everything wrapped up. It leaves the reader with some moral and existential questions to ponder, and I have not stopped thinking about this book since I started it.

Anyone looking for a mysterious, action-packed, and fun upper YA dystopia with a bit of romance should definitely check this out. Soulmatch is a unique and interesting debut, and the author has some serious potential. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and Rebecca Danzenbaker for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a plot-twisty, glorious triumph of a novel. I love this. While a description is difficult to give ( there’s so much going on) I can promise a good, shocking time. Read it, please. Romance, a questionable government, friendship that will melt your heart, etc, are all here.

If you love dystopian books like I do then you definitely need to pick up this amazing book when it releases at the end of this month.

Past lives? Soul mates? Fighting against a corrupt system? This debut has so many plot twists and I was here for the ride!

I loved the take on reincarnation throughout the story and the links throughout history (You’ll see! I don’t know want to spoil!)

Honestly, this is a book that I wish I could reread for the first time and I just know it will be a massive hit in the bookish community! I will be keeping my eyes open for future books by Rebecca Danzenbaker. 😍


Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to this arc.

I fear however I describe this book will not do it justice. Yes, it is that good! I was a little nervous at the beginning because I worried it would not be a true "dystopian" story, but it is exactly as described. The world and the characters gave me the feelings of Hunger Games, but without the trials aspect. I am unaware if the author is from the DC area, but as someone from NOVA I adored the setting of futuristic VA/DC/MD. The characters are very diverse, easy to connect with, and their development is engaging.

I feel this story brings a lot more to the table then just the usual YA dystopian plot. The idea of reincarnation and if we should be punished or rewarded for our past choices had me stopping to reflect time and again. I did get confused every now and then when past lives came into play. Not because of the concept but the name changes sometimes threw me for a loop. The world building is so immersive though that after a quick review of who is who I was right back in the story no issues.

I didn't expect a ton of romance since it is YA, but the yearning made my heart flutter. I feel sometimes authors can make teenagers whiny due to their limited life experience, but with Soulmatch all the character acted age appropriate for the various scenarios thrown at them. I'm torn between loving that this a stand-alone and hating it. The end is perfect and put a smile on my face, but I also want more. I would love to know more about all the characters and the resulting consequences of their decision both good and bad. Soulmatch is absolutely a contender for my top read of 2025. Rebecca Danzebaker is now on my "must read whatever she writes" list. I know I will not only be buying a physical copy of this book, but it is a must re-read.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Rebecca Danzenbaker for gifting me a free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was unlike anything I've read so far.

The world building does take up most of the book but it's needed for this kind of mystery solving.

Sivon is terrified of knowing if her soul is good or bad. After WWIII, everyone goes through an experience revealing what they've done in past lives. Reincarnation is real and with careful collecting, the lives of the past are recorded and stored. On their 18th birthday, the past lives are revealed and thus, their futures set.

Sivon suspects she's different, and she would be correct. The first ''new'' soul in 40 years. This means her soul, her essence, hasn't been seen or recorded since the system was started. This leads her into instance celebrity status, something nearly as bad as being the worst soul out there.

Yet, something still doesn't feel right. With the help of her two best friends, her new bodyguard, who becomes the bane of her existence but also, the subject of her dreams, Sivon goes out to find the truth; who she is, down to her very soul.

The twists and turns kept me wanting more. I don't know how it was all kept straight during the writing.

Being a resident of Northern Virginia, I got a good laugh from seeing names of places I go to regularly. And also the way other places were combined post war.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book and am grateful to have gotten the opportunity to read it ahead of its release.

Clear a whole day for SOULMATCH because you won't want to put it down. Every page is filled with fascinating world building, lovable characters, and intrique after intrique.

Sivon's dystopian timeline, set in our distant future, feels so immediately poignant for now - when young reader's are facing so much uncertainty. How tempting would it be to let a swab and a scan determine your purpose and hand you the direction your life should take. Would the possibility of being a "bad soul" be much of a deterrent when presented with the freedom from choice? It sounds so easy if it wasn't also bone chillingly terrifying.

Sivon is one such that is looking for her soul's identity results to be the start of her life. But when her results are abnormal, on top of experiencing a very recent tragedy, she rightfully feels like all the rules of life were changed mid-game. How does one find their own purpose? How will she know if the next and the next and the next decision she makes is the right one? Is her new found fame genuine or the frenzy over a phenomenon? Who does she trust?

I appreciate that Danzenbaker doesn't directly answer all these questions. Instead she sends Sivon on an adventure - navigating political society, evading attempts on her life, hiding her feelings for her bodygurad, unraveling a murder mystery. Perfectly normal dystopian teenager stuff, right?

And its perfection! The writing is thought provoking and the scope of the world is immense. It holds space for a love that spans lifetimes right alongside cinematic seat-gripping action. Every detail is meticulously placed as if building an infinite-pieced puzzle.

Highly recommend SOULMATCH for a riviting immersive reading adventure. It's perfect for buddy reading or a book club. You're going to want someone to hear all your theories.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Simon Teen for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.