I was enjoying the reincarnation plot but that ending was fucking miserable.

SPOILER

Committing to "the universe keeps killing the gay boys" instead of "break the cycle by finding a way to survive" or LITERALLY ANY OTHER HAPPY ENDING was bullshit. I feel like I was tricked into reading about gay misery when I expected a YA romance with a hint of historical tragedy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars. There are two very different books squashed in here. One is a sweet, queer, instalove romance that's all about seeing the good in others and finding community. The other is a bleak mess of underdeveloped historical anecdotes with the message that everything is predetermined. Unfortunately, they do not mix. We're just building to...nothing. There is no resolution, no satisfaction, no grand truths about the world revealed. It just feels pointless. Riley and Jackson are both incredibly interesting characters, but they've barely started rowing by the time the end of the book crashes down.

2/5
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Characters: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Plot: 1/5
Writing: 4/5

The romance between Riley and Jackson was super sweet and a great spin on the fated mates trope. However, I think they were also codependent in a way that isn’t particularly healthy, and both their friends and the narrative itself encouraged that. For the first 90% of this book I really thought it would be a 4 or even 5 star read, but unfortunately, I found the ending really disappointing and kind of unsatisfying.

I normally wouldn’t put any spoilers in a review of an arc, but I feel like it’s necessary in order to accurately explain my feelings towards the book this time.

[MAJOR SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON]

I found the ending of this book really frustrating for several reasons.

The fact that the protagonists died together instead of living apart seems like a really unhealthy message in a YA book. A lot of kids think the person they’re with is their soulmate because feelings tend to be really intense when you’re young, and the fact that this book kind of suggested that neither character could exist apart from each other kinda gave me the ick.

Also, while I’m sure that this is not the author’s intention, I think if I read this as a kid, my primary takeaway would be: if I don’t know what to do with my future… I could always just die! Which isn’t great. It kinda feels like a cop out instead of having both characters find things that they’re passionate about, and become two separate people who still love each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed the dreams that are seemingly flashbacks of Riley and Jackson’s previous lives, but I don’t feel very strongly about the relationship between present-day Riley and Jackson. In reality, they haven’t had much time to get to know each other, and with all the jumps between time and place, the author doesn’t spend a lot of time showing present-day Riley and Jackson falling for each other. It makes for an interesting but uneven story that ultimately could’ve been stronger if present day was given more time and attention or if readers weren’t expected to believe Riley and Jackson were already falling for each other.

You know guys, it’s getting harder and harder to come up with quippy one-liner opening sentences to the tune of “this book disappointed me.”

I’m a sucker for reincarnation stories and the way they both delve into historical (or otherwise unfamiliar, if the book takes place in a secondary world) settings, and the way they show different facets of a character all revolving around the same core soul. Unfortunately, this book’s treatment of its supposedly central reincarnation themes felt weirdly like an afterthought. The past-life characters were shallowly drawn and since they all started already in love with each other, Snipes left himself without a way to show <I>why</I> they loved each other. Because the author said so, I guess.

To his credit, Riley and Jackson’s relationship development was a lot better. Sure, it was pretty tropey, but he honestly did a good job portraying that teenage yearning. I wanted them to get together.

But then, Snipes oversold it. That first blush of horny teenage love is relatable and likable, sure, but don’t try to convince me it’s true, undying soulmate love, worth dying for repeatedly. Other characters are right when they tell our protags the end of this one relationship won’t be the end of the world.

At first I was glad to see Snipes tackling darker, more realistic themes of queer teenage life, like parental disapproval and exes who would rather ditch you than leave the closet. Unfortunately, those segments often felt like they were dealing with capital-I Issues, like an afterschool special or a helpful Tumblr post. Every so often, it really felt like a character would just turn around to give the audience a heartfelt monologue, when all the audience wanted was a shred of subtlety.

In general, when the story actually started seriously dealing with its supernatural elements, instead of intriguing, it went straight for schlock. So many cliches and poorly-explained metaphysics, so little time. And look, I know these are not the best-educated teenagers ever seen in YA, but I sort of expected <I>one</I> of them to know that reincarnation is an element of actual religions followed by millions of real people in the modern world. (Albeit nothing like how it’s portrayed here.) And soulmate tropes are just that—tropes for romance novels and fanfic. But no, both characters and writer seem to have that reversed.

And then, the ending Thelma-and-Louised it all right off a cliff. Apparently a love which never lasted beyond age eighteen, no matter how many times it iterated <I>is</I> worth dying for. In a way which feels a little too close to romanticized suicide for my taste. At this point, I’d lost every shred of investment I had built up, rolled my eyes, and checked out.

Also, come <I>on</I>! Do not tell me these are the only people in the entire history of the universe who loved each other and died together. But of course, they are the only ones so speshul speshul, they break the rules of life and death. If the narrative at least presented it as ‘yeah, that’s happened to others before, but the will of the universe is still unhappy about it,’ I might have had an easier time buying it. As it was, my eyes were rollin’

I will say, for a four-hundred page book, <I>Don’t Let Me Go</I> did read pretty quickly. The writing style was basic, but voicey/immersive enough it carried me along. There was, in fact, a chance of me enjoying it. By the end? More like a snowball’s chance in hell.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

This straight up murdered me and then brought me back to life. My heart. Absolutely love love it. Wish I could read it again for the first time.

This was a surprise! The push and pull between the characters. I can’t wait to buy this book when it releases.

DNF'd at 15% and I will rate it 3 stars!

I really loved the concept of this book, like the premise is really my bread and butter, and the first chapter held SO much promise! Like "Never Enough" from The Greatest Showman was playing when I was reading the first chapter and I was ready to sob my heart out it was so beautiful and heartbreaking.

But then the present chapter starts and Riley Iverson is every ounce of the insufferable queer kid in your high school that stereotypes you relentlessly. And seeing as I was friends with them in high school, I am pretty familiar with it. I liked the easy banter between Riley and Jackson, but it is the inner monologue that gets me. "Jackson can't possibly understand us because he's a jock" is basically the vibe and I honestly have kind of outgrown that kind of thinking. Granted I'm in my twenties and this book is YA so I get it is not really meant for me, but I cannot push myself to read this if Riley is just gonna keep picking at Jackson for however many chapters.

I have also accidentally read someone else's review where they mention that there is a TON of misunderstanding trope and I don't wanna go through that personally.

I would probably eat this is up if it was an audiobook and I will definitely be looking out for it on Libby if my Library ever gets it, but the physical act of reading this book is very difficult for me.

All in all, this is such a neat concept and it does have a strong start and beautiful scenery, but the characters are not something that I can get with personally and I think it would be unfair to force myself to finish and come to resent them!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

Top-tier MM romance that has an epic love story. This book took me by surprise with the storyline of the history of different couples from different centuries. The modern romance aspect, and notably the love story of Jackson and Riley. Jackson and Riley don't have the best time with each other at first, but once they start talking more, they end up connecting. The way they talk about each other's history with others is notably interesting. One of my favorite moments is of Riley confronting Jackson about his past and hearing his side of the story. I thought it was interesting to reveal it and show the feeling of Jackson's life. Even though they seem like opposites in lifestyle and aesthetic, they have more in common than you would think at first glance. The pacing was well done, specifically when it came to the chapter of the different periods, and then having the modern story be the main focus. I did enjoy the side characters and the friendship aspects. The historical chapters were interesting in the historically relevant events that happened during those periods. The love story was the best part, and I ended up loving Jackson and Riley's love story. The intensity and passion they have for each other increase as the story progresses. The book was such a fantastic read, and a unique, memorable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved Don’t Let Me Go. It immediately reminded me of another ARC I read earlier this year, Our Infinite Fates, with its central themes of reincarnation and the idea of a love so strong, it transcends lifetimes. From the first few pages, I was completely hooked, eager to uncover how Riley and Jackson’s story would unfold.

What stood out to me in Don’t Let Me Go, in contrast to Our Infinite Fates, was how the chapters set in past lives weren’t just atmospheric or decorative. They meaningfully advanced the plot and deepened the emotional connection between the characters, making their love story feel earned and powerful. Riley and Jackson’s relationship developed in a believable and heartfelt way, from strangers to friends to something more. The slow burn felt authentic, capturing the raw, uncertain emotions that define first love.

The ending is bittersweet and leaves room for interpretation, which I appreciated. While the cycle may not have broken in this lifetime, I like to believe there’s hope for another. My only minor critique is that I wish there had been a bit more clarity around why the cycle was happening but given that the characters themselves are in the dark for much of the story, this ambiguity feels intentional and fitting.

Fans of Adam Silvera will likely love this one - the writing style is similarly emotional and compelling. Highly recommend to readers who enjoy love stories with a touch of the metaphysical.

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC! 3.25 ⭐️

SPOILERS AHEAD

The concept of this book was very intriguing. Love a good YA queer narrative, especially with the concept of time travel/multiverse/reincarnation tropes. Where this book struggles, however, is with the present day narrative. I really enjoyed the chapters of Riley and Jackson's past (ESPECIALLY Pompeii), but I struggled through their modern day chapters at times. The main issue is reading this as a 20 year old hoping to connect with a narrative set with 17/18 year olds and then not relating to them almost at all. Snipes does well writing characters in the past, but his interpretation of how modern day teenagers act/talk is cringey. They were either acting too young for their age or would say things a little too mature (especially around politics/queer rep). If Snipes were to write another book entirely set in a past moment (please write more in Ancient Italy!!! Please!!) I would definitely recommend and would expect my own rating to be higher.

The ending!! I was entirely surprised by the end of the narrative. I did not expect the pair to not break the cycle. I find both good and bad things within this decision. For the good: As I mentioned, I was shocked. I don't expect for YA narratives to end on more negative notes (which that itself can be interpreted as negative or not) which definitely gives this book more of an edge to it. I also appreciated the concept of the pair finding each other in each timeline. They will not let go. For the bad: it is also saddening to read another doomed queer narrative. I was rooting for the pair, especially as Jackson was finally finding himself and Riley was seeking out a future of his own. I was hoping they could break the cycle and live out their lives together (but perhaps that can still happen in another time).

Overall, very intriguing concept. I feel I would have enjoyed it more if their characters were characterized a bit better (perhaps even having an editor who is a bit closer to their ages), but I find that younger readers may still connect better than I did. I hope Snipes writes more queer narratives! I would definitely give him another chance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.25/5 stars

✧ Achillean
✧ Soulmates
✧ Multiple time periods
✧ Loveable queer side characters
✧ TWs: death & suicide, eating disorders, depression, homophobia, bullying

This book pleasantly surprised me! I thought that I was probably going to enjoy it, since the premise was super intriguing, but I didn’t know what a beautiful story it would be and how it would play with my emotions like it did!

I absolutely loved the soulmates/reincarnation premise of this story. It added something extra to what would otherwise be a standard contemporary romance and raised the stakes a lot, which I appreciate as someone who is mostly a sci-fi/fantasy reader. The fantasy elements weren’t explained extremely well and left a lot to the imagination, but I think it sort of works in this kind of story, since you only really learn what the characters themselves know, and they’re pretty much in the dark for most of the story.

I think the characters also shined quite a bit in this book. Both of the main characters, Riley and Jackson, go through their own personal journeys alongside their romantic relationship and have decently fleshed-out backstories that influence their thoughts and actions. The relationship itself was very wholesome, but also intense, partially in the way that relationships can be at their age (17/18), but also because of the incredible stakes of being together. I really enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives as they fell for each other and their relationship grew from strangers to friends to lovers. Additionally, I adored the side characters, especially Riley’s (and then Jackson’s) friendship group. They were incredibly supportive of Riley and Jackson both in their high and low moments, but they also had sweet and quirky personalities unique to themselves. I really felt the friendship between these characters, especially as queer teens finding community as their home in Florida becomes less safe to be who they are. It was only mentioned a couple of times, but I also really appreciated the conversations surrounding how the current political climate in the U.S. is affecting queer individuals.

I started crying throughout the whole last chapter, and when I finished the book, I put my iPad down and had to just stare at the wall in front of me. This story devastated me, but it was also really beautiful. It hasn’t left my mind since I finished it—I think it’s going to be a great reread sometime. I don’t think everyone will love how melodramatic can be at times, but I had a great time. If you enjoyed Heartstopper (especially the elements of friendship, queerness, and mental health) and They Both Die at the End, I think you’ll like this book too!

🕰️❤️🌋BOOK REVIEW – Don’t Let Me Go by Kevin Christopher Snipes🕰️❤️🌋

🌟🌟🌟💫 (3.5/5 stars) rounded down - Available 20 May 2025

Thanks to HarperCollins Children’s and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was so invested in Riley and Jackson’s story—queer soulmates dreaming across time, a slow-burn connection, and a warm, funny friend group that grounded the whole narrative. The concept is beautiful, and the execution had me turning pages fast. But the ending left me… a little adrift. I wanted more—more time, more clarity, more resolution. I think that’s a testament to how much I cared about the characters.

If you love stories like They Both Die at the End with a dreamy, speculative twist.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and HarperCollins Children's Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up Don't Let Me Go on May 20, 2025.

What a beautiful love story! Kevin Christopher Snipes beautifully wove together past and present storylines to paint this gorgeous picture of eternal, star-crossed love. This book immediately sucked me in, and it was easy to grow to love these two characters. Their chemistry and intimacy were immediate, no matter the era.

I do wish we'd gotten a bit less miscommunication throughout the middle of the book. I understand that they're teenagers making teenage decisions, but at times, it would've been so nice to see them resolve their problems with a simple conversation.

But the ending made me cry, and I love the direction the author took with it.

Don't Let Go is about Riley and Jackson, two teenage boys living in present-day Florida. At the beginning of the book, they meet, and Riley promptly faints and has a very vivid dream about the two of them being young lovers in 79 AD Pompeii. Riley is shaken, but he and Jackson slowly become close despite the strange incident.

Jackson believes he is straight, but his connection to Riley makes him happier than he has been in a long time. The two confide in each other, make each other laugh, support each other, and Jackson is growing to adore all of Riley's quirky and queer friends. As the two fall in love and become inseparable, the dreams continue. The couple begins to wonder what they mean and why their story always seems to end in tragedy.

I found the blend of contemporary and historical timelines riveting. Every time I sat down to read this book, I devoured several chapters at a time. It's a seriously compulsively readable book!

As someone who loves reading about history, the various dreams were my favorite parts. A few are set in periods that I know a lot about, and others are from times I'm more unfamiliar with. Once I finished Don't Let Me Go, I enjoyed looking up more information about those eras.

The present-day chapters are mostly light and read like a typical YA contemporary romance. There are issues with parents, bullies, and lots of time spent with a great friend group of diverse teens. The story grows darker, more intense, and emotional as it goes.

I recommend this most to readers who love soulmate stories and all-consuming romances. Their relationship is intense in all timelines and is, by far, the biggest focus of the book. Readers who enjoy tragic love stories and don't mind darker tales will enjoy this the most.





My Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑(4/5 stars).

Pages: 400 (Kindle Edition)

Tropes/Tags: Young Adult/New Adult, Romance, Queer, Coming Out, Soulmates, Non-binary supporting character

Content Warnings: Major Character Deaths, Discussion of an eating disorder, Bullying/Hazing, Homophobia, War, Sexual Content

Fun Fact: In the acknowledgments, the author credits Doctor Who for his love of history!

I knew pretty much from the first chapter this book wasn't for me. I knew from the second that it was going to be a bit of a struggle, But I wanted to believe in some capacity that I was being too harsh. Unfortunately, I was the wrong audience, but more than that I wasn't sure who the actual audience was for this book. Before broader tone issues I had with it, there were some specific annoyances I had with the historic sections of the book that took me out repetitively because it did seem to keep framing cultural norms as our own while also placing higher social expectations on teenagers than was necessarily true of multiple eras. But that goes back into I was not the audience for this book pretty explicitly. Which is too bad because I do love a reincarnation story. Then again, I love a reincarnation story in which I actually believe the characters care for each other based on more than their repetitive words that that is the case.

Bigger though was the tone of the novel continuously puzzled me. Parts were also preachy towards queer acceptance. Not educational, not welcoming into the community, Almost shaming for not knowing better. As one of the narrators professes to not knowing anyone in the queer community and is (for all intents and purposes) an actual child, no real grace is offered. And yet grace is extended and demanded of the adults who reject that child. While again oddly sanctimonious at times, the book is unkind to queer characters repetitively on a structural level that ended up feeling weirder the longer it continued. But from the start the only non-binary character is misgendered by their friend in a moment of disorientation that does nothing more than inform the audience what flavor a queer this person is. This dynamic in tone does not shift through the book as characters grow. This tone is why I say I don't know who the book is for. It does not feel welcoming to someone who may be trying to expand their reading into more queer stories. But at the same time it does not feel, to me, kind to queer youth who presumably are the target for this book.

Thank you HarperCollins Children’s for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

I wanted to fall in love with this book so badly: the tragic romance, the finding each other in every timeline, the poetic and romantic quotes between Jackson and Riley, but for me, I ended up liking the book but not loving it.

Dont Let Me Go had many strengths, from the diverse and well developed cast, to realistic teenagers who aren’t always perfect in their words or actions ; however, it fell short in a few areas.

At times the story felt a bit repetitive, specifically through their past lives. It felt like the only thing that would really change in each scenario was their historical event and their names. There were also a bit too many sex scenes in my opinion, which though not descriptive at all, kinda diminished the romance a bit for me, as it seemed like that was all they would do together. Im all for physical intimacy however it would be nice to have a bit more non intimate scenes in their past lives. Finally, I didn’t personally love the ending as it didn’t feel like it provided much closure for the two of them and their story. However, I do think this can be viewed as claiming their story to be endless.

Overall, I felt this story was cute at times and had some pretty memorable things to take home even if I didn’t fall in love with it.

Love is forever, but it comes at a cost. Riley is closed off after a bad experience with his ex-boyfriend; he keeps to himself, except for his closest friends. That is, until Jackson, a boy with a questionable past, escapes from Tallahassee to Orlando. Riley doesn't just swoon over Jackson; he dreams about him in Ancient Rome, London during the Blitz, and beyond. What awaits them is more than just unexpected love; it's fate. Fans of "Heartstopper" and "They Both Die At the End" will surely delight in the genre-blending romance. With themes of found family, self-discovery, and second chances, Snipes delivers an addictive read that encourages readers to embrace something new while finding comfort in the pleasantly familiar.

I really, really loved this book almost all the way through. I loved the flashbacks throughout the book, and I loved how you get to see Riley and Jackson's relationship develop through the book alongside the flashbacks. Riley and Jackson's friends each felt like individuals, and I felt that they added to and supported the plot and storyline.
The one part I didn't love was the ending. It felt extremely abrupt compared to the rest of the book, and the ending just really wasn't for me. However, I enjoyed the majority of the book right up to the ending, and I think it has a lot of strong elements and parts that readers are going to love.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy!

I'm having really complicated feelings about this book. Some of this could be a solid 5-star read, and then other parts of it were so off-putting to me that I'd be tempted to give them a 1-star - so we'll split the difference and give it a "3? I guess?" score.

Riley is an out gay teen in Orlando, with all of the joys and struggles that entails. When a new boy moves in next door to his friend, Riley is ready to dismiss Jackson as another stereotypical jock, like all of the other homophobic bullies he's used to dealing with around school. But Jackson is nothing like that; he's kind and patient and understanding, even when Riley is standoffish and downright rude. As their friendship grows, Riley has to try not to develop deeper feelings for his supposed straight new friend. But Jackson might not be as straight as he once thought. And, at the same time, both of them are experiencing eerily realistic dreams of the both of them in different times and settings - dreams where they always die tragically at the end.

I had so much hope this was going to be another reincarnation/doomed lovers story along the lines of "Our Infinite Fates" released earlier this year. And, to be fair, it had a lot of potential to be exactly that. Two boys finding each other over and over again throughout time, falling in love, and then dying. The detail put into these dreams were amazing, and easily my favorite parts of the book. The Pompeii storyline was particularly well done, in my opinion! Riley and Jackson's relationship was sweet and well-developed from friends to lovers, and their friends were fun (if a little cookie cutter). I also loved the relationships both boys had with their family - Riley with his father, and Jackson with his aunt.

On the other hand, this is a book that was desperately in need of an epilogue. Desperately. It ends abruptly and jarringly. What had previously been a solid four/four and a half-star read fumbled it with that for me. It felt like the overall plot was just dropped. I also, personally, would have liked to see more of the flashbacks/dreams to really drive home the connection between the boys over time.

This isn't a bad book, by any means, but I just don't think it was for me in the end. I imagine I have some students who might enjoy it for exactly the reasons I did not, though, so I'm happy I gave it a read.