4.5 Stars

I was really blown away by this book. I loved how such a compelling story was also very thought provoking about reincarnation and what it means to carry the guilt and memories from our past lives - does those past decisions define who we are, do we change with circumstance, do we have innate traits, how does knowing impact the life we lead?

From the beginning of the book I was totally intrigued and I binged the book within two days. For how fast the time passed in the novel, the strong bonds and relationships formed in the book felt genuine and I really was invested in the characters’ journeys.

I really liked Sivon and Donovan and I was rooting for them until the end.

The world building was so unique but explained pretty well. I loved the little definitions at the beginning of each chapter to give us a little more insight about the world as well.

The only thing that prevents me from giving it the 5 stars is that the ending felt rushed. There was a lot of information dumping at the end where Sivon basically came to a realization off page and was sharing her findings with other characters or other characters would just confirm and tell her things they found off the page as well. It slowed a bit of the action at the end and the reveal didn’t pack as much of an impact since so many details were revealed all at once.

I still like the ending and I enjoyed reading the book. It would be fun to explore these characters in another lifetime or maybe even other characters like Ziva in a future life, because I do think the world has so much potential.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Give me all the YA dystopian romance, because I really enjoyed this! I really loved the concept and the story lived up to the expectations.

If you like YA dystopian romance, this might be right up your alley. I think trend will especially enjoy the love triangle and all the twists and turns.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Dystopian Romantasy
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: July 29, 2025
📖 496 pages

Dystopian Future
Soulmates
Rom-Com Vibes
Forbidden Romance
Slow Burn + Banter
Sci-Fi Romantasy
Reincarnation

The premise comes down to reincarnation and soulmates. Each person has to participate in the kirling on their 18th birthday, which is essentially a test which will judge them based on their previous lives, match them with their ideal job and potentially a "soulmatch".

The dystopian future setting taking place after WWIII was interesting and I enjoyed use of new technology to better immerse the readers in the world-building. While this did not hit the mark of dystopian fantasy for me, it did hit a lot of other ones. If you're looking for an enemies-to-lovers rom-com with banter, tension, and a bit of mystery, set in a dystopian future, Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker is perfect for you!

Thank you so much, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley, for the digital review copy!

#SoulmatchBook #NetGalley

⚠️ I would not personally recommend to anyone under 15 due to use of profanity. There's also mentions of suicide which may be too sensitive for some readers.

The premise of Soulmatch is quite unique and intriguing—present lives atoning for sins of the past. I found the beginning to be a bit slow, but once Sivon goes through her kirling the plot developments move swiftly. I devoured the last 50% of the book within a day.

I did find the romantic subplot to lack development. Some elements felt rushed and didn’t feel authentic. Regardless, it was still an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for a chance to read and give a honest review an advanced copy of this book.

Soulmatch has become a top favorite read of mine for 2025. It’s nothing like I’ve read before. Learning about your previous lives when you turn 18? The level of corruption within society behind everyone’s Souls? Yes please. Soulmatch has the famous girl x brooding bodyguard dynamic and all the yearning! Sivon’s two best friends Corah and Vivi are so lovable that I beamed whenever they appeared on page. The eventual love triangle isn’t cringey or cliche and what I mean by this is - I appreciated both love interests and how different they were. The plot twists were definitely twisting, making this a page turner!

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise had so much potential -- exploring direction, purpose, and the choices we make -- but it was hard to connect with the main character. While I could relate at times to her desire for clarity and direction in life, her constant self-centeredness made it tough to root for her.

The journey she takes felt less like growth and more like entitlement masked as self-discovery. I kept hoping she’d pivot, make a choice that challenged the system in a meaningful way -- but instead, she followed a path that didn’t feel impactful or satisfying. I think the story would’ve been stronger if she had made a different decision from everyone else, especially with how much the book sets up the stakes.

Overall, a strong concept that just didn’t land for me emotionally.

This book had a lot going on. At first, it starts off slow and I was wonder how much longer they could keep talking about the kirling. After Sivon officially gets her title things kick off and it feels like it flies from one thing to the next. Ngl, there were times I felt a bit lost but it all comes together at the end and feels like you went through so much. Definitely an interesting read if you can get past the beginning. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

I really liked the whole concept of this book, set in the future w a dystopian vibe centered around reincarnation, it was something I hadn't read before. The reincarnation angle was explained more scientific than religious, which I think was a smart choice. It's also a romanticy, so you can't go wrong there. The plot started out really strong and stayed that way through the first three thirds of the book, it was easy to follow but still had some good twists. Then came the last part and it may have just been my simple mind but I think it got really complicated. It branched out into all these different conspiracies that I had to read over twice to follow. It did come back together at the very end, and I like how it wrapped up. Is it worth the read? Yes, it's a good book, my personal opinion, if it would have been simplified a bit, it would be a great book. I'd still recommend.

I was able to read an eARC copy through NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and thank you Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. The thoughts and opinions were all my own.

I don't get to read solid dystopian romances enough, so I thoroughly enjoyed this! The premise is fresh, unique, and enthralling. The social commentary in regards to prisons was well-placed and relevant in our current world. The romance was swoon-worthy and I found the characters to be very well-developed, and they were intriguing and quirky enough to hold my attention and interest.
You get plenty of unexpected twists throughout, and the pacing was done well enough that I stayed invested without getting bored. This definitely reminded me that I would never want to live in a society where I have to deal with my past being brought back in to my current life, and this felt like it could honestly be a little too realistic one day, which is scary!

The days of improbable YA fiction are so back, baby. This is very like Matched and Uglies with a soulmate scifi twist that keeps you guessing until the end.

God i've missed dystopias! Scythe meets the Program, i was completely enthralled with this world. I need more ASAP because I loved this concept. Romantic, twisty, and totally thought-provoking, you need to put this on your TBR if you want to get back into the age of Divergent and The Selection.

I am a middle school librarian and I was immediately drawn to this cover. I saw that the recommended age suggested by the publisher was 12 plus. In my opinion the book has way too much profanity for 12 year olds and it doesn’t add to character development or the plot in anyway. I liked the premise of the story but it got confusing when people’s past lives and different names were changed. This does mention reincarnation and have a few characters that use the they them pronouns. Overall it was ok. Maybe a secondary purchase fora larger collection.

this was such an interesting premise but the execution really lacked something in my opinion.
I liked the dystopian kind of world that is brought up but really disliked how complex the world got to be only because it made it very difficult to follow the characters. Trying to remember two names for all important characters was really confusing at times.
I also feel like there was no reason for me to feel connected to Sivon or Donovan. Sivon seemed really naive and Donovan just came across as judgmental and arrogant.
While some explanations were overexploited (looking at your soulid) there were other concepts that I think could have used more backstory, like SKI in general.
Overall, it's a really interesting concept that could have used a bit more revision.

Absolutely brilliant! This book is a five-out-of-five-star masterpiece that grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. The premise alone – a world shaped by past lives – is incredibly intriguing, and the "kirling" process introduces a fascinating layer of suspense and societal structure.

Sivon is a captivating protagonist. Her sharp wit and the early hints of her unique soul immediately draw you in, and her reaction to the earth-shattering revelation is both relatable and compelling. The author masterfully builds tension as Sivon becomes the center of global attention and danger.

The introduction of the "infuriating and off-limits bodyguard" hints at a delicious slow-burn romance amidst the high stakes, which is exactly what I look for in a young adult speculative romance. The description of a "high-stakes game where souls are pawns" and the mounting deaths promises a thrilling and unpredictable plot.

The emotional core of the story, with Sivon navigating impossible odds and protecting those she loves even if their affection is unrequited, adds a layer of poignant depth. This book sounds like a perfect blend of thrilling action, intricate world-building, compelling characters, and a touch of heart-wrenching romance. Fans of Scythe and Matched are in for an absolute treat! I can't wait for the world to embrace this masterpiece!!

Wow, wow WOW this debut novel by Rebecca Danzenbaker left me SPEECHLESS. It is utterly addictive, a dystopian triumph. Expect this to become a classic that ranks among the Hunger Games, Scott Westerfield's Uglies and Divergent. It was THAT good from start to finish.

Soulmatch is the kind of book that grabs you from page one and does not let go. I devoured it in a single day, and immediately wanted to dive back in for another round.

Truly, if you are a fan of dystopian/sci-fi fiction (this book is YA but my adult self LOVED it) -- then this is a must-read. Soulmatch delivers gut-deep tension, high-stakes world-building, and razor-sharp commentary on autonomy, identity, and power.

Danzenbaker builds a world that feels eerily plausible—the story is set 200 years after WWIII, and it is equal parts beautiful and terrifying—where your prior lives are re-integrated into your current life by a rigid, AI-controlled system. The concept alone is chillingly smart, but it’s the characters that make it unforgettable. Complex, raw, and fully realized, they make you feel every decision, every betrayal, every flicker of rebellion. You will root for Sivon and her friends, ache for them, cry for them. This book had me from the very first pages and it just did not let go.

The pacing is electric. The emotional beats land hard. And the romance? Slow, slooooow-burn, high-stakes perfection.

If you're craving a dystopian story with real heart, jaw-dropping twists, and characters you'll think about long after the final page, Soulmatch will blow you away.

- so glad i got the eARC for this! this book was such a “breath of fresh air” & i’m sad that i finished the book. i need moreeee! without giving spoilers, i would love to read other characters’ last letters - if it was “recovered” lol
- i would describe this book as YA, sci-fi fic, futuristic, dystopian.
- the book kept me hooked the entire time! even with the “world building” aspect - despite this being a standalone, it did such a good job in describing what you needed to know. — sometimes the definitions came later, but i think that’s one of the reasons why i wanted to binge this book. i just had to know & i had to knowww if my theories were correct! i also felt like the main character “explained” things perfectly as the story progressed & tied everything together perfectly in the end.
- the characters are easily lovable - especially their relationship(s) with each other. definitely a “found family” theme. i even found myself rooting for the main characters! the whole book definitely kept me engaged & asking questions.

Can I give this book 6 stars? 7? A million? I was absolutely OBESSED with it. This book gave me Scythe vibes in the way that the futuristic world was written which I ATE UP and am sure others who have enjoyed Scythe would also enjoy this. I don't think there was a character that I didn't like which is rare for me. Normally I beef with at least one character but that didn't happen here. Every character was so well written and I found myself caring about literally everyone. I've never read a book based around reincarnation and it was so refreshing to get something NEW.

All in all, run don't walk to get this book on release day.

I truly enjoyed the many layers of this tale. Secrets, the chosen one trope, found families, mystery, light romance set in a futuristic world of tech and secrets. Seems that the more people change, the less they actually do.
The naming has dual layers, which wordnerds like me should enjoy. I hope there are more books to come in this world.
Well done!

it was just a stereotypical ya novel until around the 70% mark, where things got really convoluted for me. the plot just twists off into so many directions that it is hard to keep track of and by the end you really just don’t care about the characters anymore.

it started off as a 3 star read, and as the plot progressed, it just dropped more and more. expect a recycling of older cliches, but presented with a more unique backdrop and world.

this one was just SO confusing

thank you to NetGalley for the arc :)