4.5

WOW what a debut

I know we’ve said dystopia is back but it’s SO BACK!!

It took me a while to wrap my head around the world based in reincarnation but it is so well written, I was living for every second of world building we got.

my critiques are minor, this is a really good debut with a good slow burn romance subplot, I loved it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Very impressive for the author's first book. I personally loved the worldbuilding and the concept of how reincarnation is handled in this story—especially the concept of past lives affecting job opportunities, personal wealth, public opinion, etc.

However, I feel a lot of the story beats and worldbuilding were slightly heavy-handed in how everything was explained, including a passage where someone's Soulid was explained letter-by-letter. Even though this book is YA, I'd say the writing would benefit from a little less over-explaining.

However, a very solid foundation and a super cool concept! 3.4/5 stars.

Let me start off by saying this is not my typical read, but it was so good! Soulmatch is a dystopian, YA fantasy that takes place after WWIII. Now, I'm in no way a dystopian or history geared person which is the only reason this lost some points with me. I'd zone out for that reason.

HOWEVER!!!

I am a big slow burn, banter, tension, enemies to lovers person.

And if you are too, pick this up. The banter in this is just *chefs kiss*

But especially if you love dystopian because then it's a 5 star read

I ate it up. I'm not going to give anymore away but I love them and that's it

SOULMATCH absolutely blew me away! From the very first page, I was hooked—this book is the perfect blend of dystopian tension, soul-deep romance, and heart-pounding twists. The concept of “kirling” and learning your past lives at 18 was SO fresh and unique, I was devouring chapters and savoring every moment at the same time! Sivon is such a smart, strong, layered heroine and the dynamic with her off-limits bodyguard?? Chef’s kiss.

It had me on the edge of my seat with major plot twists, emotional gut punches, and a game of soul-fueled high stakes that felt like dystopian Hunger Games meets Matched but BETTER. I was constantly second-guessing everyone and everything—just when I thought I had it figured out, BAM, plot twist! This is one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far, and I seriously need more from this world immediately!

Soulmatch is a dystopian mystery/romance that takes the idea of reincarnation and sets it on its head. The story takes place in a post-WWIII world where young adults are "kirled" on their eighteenth birthdays, learning the identity of their souls and their past lives. The protagonist, Sivon, has always wondered what she's supposed to do in life and is hoping that her kirling will give her an idea. However, Sivon gets more--and less--than she bargains for. I loved this book, and I am so happy to be able to add this to my collection for the beginning of the next school year.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 rounded up because despite some mixed feelings about some things I stayed up until 3AM for this one. The premise is reincarnation and matching your soul to past lives (and their good and bad consequences) but add a big conspiracy that had me racing through to get to the bottom of it.

If you really really hate the special snowflake trope maybe this isn’t the book for you HOWEVER I felt I could overlook that aspect in favour of the fascinating world and other characters. The romance arc was reallyyy well done with a realistic (in the context of the world) push and pull dynamic.

The world created felt so immersive, with so many cool little inventions and predictions for how certain things might evolve in the future. Before reading I’d skimmed reviews saying the invented terminology was too much and too confusing, and it’s true the chapter epigraphs often had definitions that appeared much later than when the word first appeared in-text, but their appearance in-text was always well-contextualised from my perspective. The later definitions were just a neat little cherry on top. If you’ve read some futuristic dystopia before, you’ll be fine.

Certain character dynamics were some of the best I’ve read in a while, especially the ~friend~ group that ends up forming. Bardou grew on me like a weed.

The ending got a little bumpy, with a bunch of revelations and loose threads coming together very quickly, so it was a little overwhelming and I had to slow down to make sure I was fully getting everything. I think that could’ve been handled a little better, but the way it went down fit into how the story had been building up and characterisations, so I’m not mad.

This was an ARC from NetGalley. This story was a unique take on the dystopian genre with a focus on reincarnation. I definitely got flashbacks to the genre crazy of 2010. I appreciated the attempt, but the complexity of the world bogged the story down. Characters had multiple names and past lives that had to be tracked, the span of characters continued to grow, and throw in multiple character swaps. It made it hard to get invested in the story. Additionally, this could have used more backstory development, why did WWW III occur, why did the SKII system form, etc. It just felt surface level and lower stakes. #netgalley #soulmatch #dystopian #reincarnation

DNF at 50%

I really, really tried to like this, but I cannot go through anymore of this. It felt really juvenile, and I’m the target audience for this book! The writing was okay but it wasn’t anything special, and the plot felt like it was done before. There were so much similarities between dystopia books I’ve already read and it didn’t feel original at all.

Also, the worldbuilding wasn’t that good either. Definitions for silly, made-up words were given after they were already used and made things confusing. The characters didn’t stand out either.

Also, I thought maybe only the beginning was slow but it took forever for Sivon to even get kirled, and half-way through barely anything happened!

This book is very slow-paced, and things took forever to get set in motion, and when they did it felt very underwhelming.

Also, the politics didn’t feel very thought-out. The kirlings made no sense, and whenever someone did something that was supposed to make it seem dystopian it felt silly and naive.

Thank you Rebeccar Danzenbaker and NetGalley for this ARC..

Firstly, what an incredible debut for a first-time author! Overall, I'm highly impressed by the writing, the plot, the story, and character development; it is such an achievement!

This is a YA, dystopian society that mixes political intrigue, suspense with a splash of romance. This book explores reincarnation and past lives in a futuristic setting. Soulmatch follows a young girl, Sivon, who's reporting on her 18th birthday to determine who she was in her past lives. The catch? If she was a bad person in her past, she leaves in handcuffs; if she was good, it will help her determine her path for the rest of THIS life.

Sivon's results aren't anywhere close to what she expected and they throw her into a world rife with danger and more questions than answers.

With an infuriating bodyguard as a shadow, Sivon is thrust into a game where she's a pawn and there are no rules. Sivon must decipher friend from enemy while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong misstep puts not only her life in peril but those she loves, as well.

The book started off a bit slow but quickly picked up the pace. At no point did I want to put this book down. I'm giving it 4 stars because I felt like the end became a bit overwhelming for the reader as everything was being revealed kind of in a rapid-fire pace. However, Soulmatch kept me on my toes and I would not say any piece of it was predictable.

Amazing debut!

This was a great read for those who miss the days when Dystopian was the most popular genre amongst YA readers. The book encapsulates a striking theme, plot, and subplot of romance all in one. It was an enjoyable read from start to finish. The concept was intriguing. Although it did get a bit convoluted at the end when wrapping up, it still had a satisfying ending for a standalone novel.

I was gifted an eARC from the publisher of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley!

Rebecca Dazenbaker came out the gate hot with their debut novel SOULMATCH. An interesting and fresh take on a futuristic version of our world, where they’ve figured out how to link all passed lives of every soul. Upon turning 18 they learn all about their soul — how many lives they had, their passions, hobbies && careers, when they die, && if they have a soulmate. They then use this information to help shape the path they take.

But not all souls are good, and sometimes you’re forced to pay for crimes of your previous self.

Sivon knows something is different with her soul, her mother who reads auras has never seen anything like it. Worried what her past lives may have gotten into, we follow Sivon as she figures out her heart, what she wants for her life, & her soul — of both past, present and future.

✍️DEBUT NOVEL
🎣 HOOKED IMMEDIATELY
🌪️& ↪️ GREAT TWISTS & TURNS
🤖🛰️FUTURISTIC SETTING
🪽vs👹— GOOD vs EVIL

1st IMPRESSIONS @10%:
interested in the story, seems fresh & different than anything else I’ve read.
PREDICTIONS:
— Sivon soul is a brand new/original soul
—>> CORRECT! ✅ (@21%)
— Sivons dad was killed; safety system
purposefully disabled — he figured out SKI is SUS/SHADY AF!
—>> CORRECT! ✅ (not til ending)

UPDATE @20%:
Still interested! FMC is funny & super relatable, find myself cheering for her.
Interesting array of side characters so far.
Story flows && world builds nicely.

UPDATE @30%:
ooooh do I sense a LOVE CONNECTION brewing *eye brow raise* with Sheppy

UPDATE @ 50%:
Can’t put it down! This book has me gripped & thoroughly enjoying the read!

PREDICTIONS:
— the entire SKI except Windrose are SUS AF && Savon shouldn’t trust any of em
—>> CORRECT! ✅
— Janus is ONLY flirting w/ Sivon to use her for his Uncle & probably his own desire to be Prime Minister
—>> (FOR THE MOST PART) CORRECT! ✅

THEY SAY “ANY MAN WHOS NAME STARTS WITH ‘J’ WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE” — well this one’s name is J-ANUS. He’s bound to be a GIANT ASSHOLE.
—>> CORRECT! ✅
— Doubling down on Sivon/Shepard being Soulmates. IDGAF what these “tests” say.
—>> CORRECT! ✅

UPDATE @ 85%:
OMG- the twists, the turns! It’s *chefs kiss* SO GOOD! I AM SHOOKETH!

FINAL THOUGHTS:
Reading this book really was a wonderful experience. I had been in a bit of a slump the last 2 months, struggling to be truly into any of the books I’d been starting.

Just when I’d think I’d know what was going to happen, I’d be pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Even though all my predictions were proven right, it was always still somehow different then what I had assumed. It was fresh, interesting and a hell of a debut. Truly look forward to seeing what else the author puts out in the future! One of very few 5⭐️ reads for me so far in 2025! Has the potential to be a big hit on BookTok if it can get the push behind it/the exposure

In Soulmatch, the world is 200-plus years after WW3. Scientists have figured out how to identify souls and match them to previous lives. Which means, they may suffer their past lives' sins, benefit from their riches, or anything in between. I love the concept of reincarnation and how our past lives could impact our current and future lives.

The world-building was incredible and immersive, though I would have loved more time to explore this futuristic world and what it has to offer.

The characters were believable and relatable. But please note, the teens act like teens, which is a great thing for a YA book, and they weren’t obnoxious or annoying for this adult reader. Sivon can be a bit dramatic and impulsive at times, but she just turned 18 at the beginning of the book, so I didn’t expect her to act like a 30-something and have that level of emotional maturity. Again, it’s a YA book, made for teens, and the characters acted how I would expect people of their age to behave.

This book is very fast paced, with the last 100 pages being unputdownable with so much happening. There is a little bit of a love triangle, but it was resolved quickly and has a satisfying resolution.

The only downside for me was that I would have loved to spend more time with some of the plots and locations. I feel like a whole book could be spent in the Fringe alone exploring what that area is a how it works, and why it’s so different from the rest of the country. I could easily read another book or two in this world, and with Sivon and her friends. I don’t view this as a negative for the book, but a positive because I wasn’t ready to leave when it was over.

Thank you, SimonTeen and NetGalley, for the eARC copy. This review is based solely on my opinions.

I received an ARC of Soulmatch and was completely hooked from the start. This dystopian YA blends reincarnation, soul bonds, and fate in such a gripping and thought-provoking way. I loved trying to piece together who was truly good or bad, who belonged together, and what it all meant when fate felt like a mystery. The twists kept me guessing, and the central question—what do you do when you don’t know your fate?—lingered long after I turned the last page. It’s a compelling, emotional, and unforgettable read.

I was so excited to read this book, and this plot was extremely interesting!! I feel like I've been looking for something like this book for such a long time now. I wasn't bored, was captivated, interested and stayed up to finish this!

This was my first ARC and wow, setting the bar high aren't we?
I enjoyed this so much. The world building was descriptive, the characters were multidimensional, and the story had my guessing until the end.
The MFC was realistic, relatable and you could see she was just like everyone else her age trying to figure who she is.
I LOVED the headers at the beginning of each chapter. It helped with the world buidinh but it also made it more exciting on guessing what would happen next. This book reminds me of the feeling that other books gave me when I was a child in school. That uncomfortable unease by characters when, superficially, they are good people. Protect your heart and enjoy this wonderful story ❤️

My mind is actually blown. I was so excited to read after hearing it was a similar concept to matched. This book absolutely surpassed it. All my favorite parts of dystopian world while intertwining mystery, thriller, and star crossed lovers.
My jaw was one the floor half the time and the heroine is so damn smart it makes me proud. She blows them all away and I was one the edge of my seat probably 3/4 of the book. This was absolutely a five star book and I will highly recommend this book to anyone I can!!!!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @simonteen for an early copy of Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐.5/5
Release date: July 29th, 2025

Blurb: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220160382-soulmatch?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=bfSUudRPo8&rank=1

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

Soulmatch is a dystopian sci-fi fantasy that explores the concept of reincarnation as a tool to guide each soul’s future in its current body. While the premise is promising, I feel like the execution and pacing was lacking. The world building and system was quite all over the place and the pacing was too slow for my liking. Additionally, the main characters were difficult to connect with, especially Shepard and how judgmental he is of Sivon.

An overall okay read but not something I would pick up again to re-read.

This was. SO unique and such a fun read! Highly recommend if you enjoyed the divergent boom of the early 2010s. Really great read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

SOULMATCH by Rebecca Danzenbaker

Thank you Netgalley and Simon Teen for the earc (Jul 29)

SOULMATCH is set in the future. when people come of age, they are kirled---where the learn about their past lives and/or who their soulmate is. Sivon knows she has no ordinary soul. When she is kirled, she learns the truth---so does everyone else throwing her into a world she isn't used to (threats and scrutiny). She teams up with her bodyguard to figure out what was really happening, who she could trust, etc.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but I know SOULMATCH wasn't at all what I was expecting. I knew this would be a dystopian/romance type deal, but what was delivered was much greater. DANZENBAKER combines romance with corruption in perfect proportions. There is an underlying mystery that goes back years---lifetimes even. With it's dystopian-esque setting, SOULMATCH grabs the reader with promise of romance and soulmates. Its premise is interesting and immediately drew me in. I really liked how the romance was everso subtle in a way that really intoned what this book was about.
Without spoiling it, I was rooting for Sivon and [REDACTED] from the get go, and I loved seeing how their storyline played out.
SOULMATCH is for those looking for futuristic settings. This is book is for the hopefuls that there is someone put there for them regardless of past lives, current lives, etc. This may not have been a five-star read, but it was pretty close.

When I say I want a YA dystopian w/ a side of romance, THIS IS WHAT I WANT 👏 This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, whether it was a major plot twist or the chemistry between Sivon & Donovan.
I really loved a lot of the social commentary about classism, fate & even the idea of what it means to be a “good person”. There were so many amazing things about this book but my favorite was just the way it completely sucks you in. This is not a book that takes awhile to get invested in, you care about the characters & the high stakes from chapter 1.
This story has the perfect mix of mystery, romance & drama and I absolutely could not get enough.