I thought this was a really beautiful story. Did it drag in some spots? Absolutely. Overall, I really enjoyed the premise and the examination of "what would you do for love." Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

Evelyn has never reached her 18th birthday; for thousands of years, she's doomed to kill or be killed by Arden, her soulmate. This time, Evelyn needs to live long enough to undergo surgery to save her sister, but as her birthday approaches, so does the curse that binds her and Arden together. As the duo grows closer again, Evelyn asks herself what she would do for love.

Our Infinite Fates has monumental flashbacks that slowly reveal Evelyn and Arden's conflict and love for each other, and they were my favorite parts of the book. As interesting as the flashbacks throughout history were, I saw the curse more than I saw the romance between Evelyn and Arden, and I wish we had moments that weren't before their deaths that we see them more casual or intimate with each other. The pacing between Arden and Evelyn in the major plot line doesn't compare between the flashbacks because of the reveal.

Arden spent the entire book before the reveal saying he would never say why the curse was the way it was, only for Evelyn to find a way to break the curse. While I never would have guessed the reveal, I think it would have been better if it had happened before the surgery; that way, Evelyn would have had more time to think of a way to break the curse.

This book is a four-star read due to the beautiful writing; adding poetry between chapters was a nice touch. I haven't read anything from the author, but I plan to do so this year and the next 😉

Thank you, Netgalley, Laura Steven, and Wednesday Books for this phenomenal book!

There would always be us…

If you’re craving a book that drips with gorgeous prose and a tangible ache of longing, Our Infinite Fates by Lauren Steven should be at the top of your list. Steven’s writing is nothing short of luscious, weaving each sentence with a delicate, almost ethereal touch that feels like poetry in motion. Souls fated in every life—yes please. This is a bit of a slower paced, meandering read and it was exactly needed.

At its core, Our Infinite Fates explores the beauty of impermanence—the fragile balance of knowing your fate and the desperate need to carve out even a sliver of control. The characters’ yearning is palpable, their emotions raw and beautifully flawed, making every moment feel fleeting yet infinitely significant. The angst is palpable…

Highly recommended for fans of lyrical, atmospheric reads that challenge the boundaries of fate and free will. Our Infinite Fates by Lauren Steven is a master class for those who try and fail to walk the delicate line between lyrical prose and purple prose. Steven’s writing is a study in restraint, capturing the beauty of language without ever tipping into excess. Every sentence is a brushstroke, each chapter a canvas where longing, impermanence, and the fragile dance of fate come to life.

What sets this book apart is its ability to immerse you in its world without drowning you in it. The prose is luscious, yes, but also precise—never overshadowing the story but instead elevating it. It’s impossible not to adore the way Steven balances the ache of yearning with the need for control, exploring what it means to grasp at fleeting moments even when the future feels etched in stone.

This novel is perfect for readers who love to get lost in the rhythm of a story, where every word is chosen with intention and every emotion resonates with depth. If you’ve ever wanted to see how lyrical storytelling can enhance, not hinder, a narrative, Our Infinite Fates is an absolute must-read.

If you can’t tell, I loved it…

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Audiobook—
The audiobook experience is elevated by Sofia Oxenham’s exceptional narration. Her voice is a balm, guiding listeners through the story with a gorgeously soothing delivery. Oxenham masterfully conveys the yearning, angst, and nuanced emotions, making this not just a story but an experience that resonates deeply.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Audio

Favorite Passage…

“There was always Arden.

There would always be Arden.

Even when our families grieved and moved on,
even when our ancestors lay in the dirt, even
when we slipped through the cracks of time like
ghosts, there would always be us. No matter how
twisted and broken, we were the one true
constant, our love like a river wending its way
through the earth year after year, century after
century, growing deeper and wider with every
twist and bend. A certain peace came with
knowing the water would always flow a particular
way.”

I’m not the target audience for this book. I enjoyed the audio narration but there was too much language and additionally I was not expecting the amount of themes regarding lgbtq agenda. I don’t mind reading that content as a side plot or single instance, but when the book is focused around it I am not the target audience. Those themes were not included in the blurb at all and it was misleading, especially when books with lgbtq rep are highly marketed right now. I loved the writing style, the author is talented with words and I liked the idea of the premise as well. I did not finish reading this book, I stopped at a little over 50%.

WOW! Where do I begin with how much I loved this book! This is one of those stories that will pull at your heart. It 100% gives the same vibe as The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue! I would also say it reminds me a lot of Rebecca Ross’s novels- especially Divine Rivals.

Evelyn and Arden are two souls that are reincarnated just before Evelyn’s 18th birthday. They have lived 1,000 years of lives together, yet Evelyn only remembers moments while Arden remembers everything. Evelyn only knows that she is drawn to him, she loves him, and that Arden will murder her before she turns 18.

The story is beautifully told through jumping timelines. Chapters alternate between the modern world in 2022 and their various past lives around the world. Not only is this story full of incredible writing, prose, and language, but interesting words used at various timelines. It is enriched with different cultures and LGBTQ relationships. You can’t help but fall in love with their love story in every chapter while yearning to know what is the cause. Laura Steven does a fantastic job making the reader feel the love, yearning, fear, and confusion of Evelyn. This book is full of many deep themes of love that will have you pondering the many ways a person loves, the complexity of love, and what one would do for love. Other themes of life, what it means to live, humanity, grief, and pain are also explored through the telling of the story.

As for romance, the story center’s mainly around the yearning and burning for one another. There are a few petting/closed door romantic scenes including FM, MM, and FF.

My only critique is that I felt parts of the ending to be rushed. The reasoning for the reincarnation was unexpected and felt a bit strange to accept at first. I wish that the element of the lore and magic was introduced more throughout the novel as to make it more natural for the development and ending. I did like the ending and felt like everything concluded well. I was left in awe of the story and I’m looking forward to purchasing the book and reading a physical copy since I first listened to it.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillian Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for this advanced audiobook in exchange for a review.

AUDIOBOOK:
Sofia Oxenham did an excellent job bringing emotion and emphasizing the beautiful writing. Her accent brought an extra touch to the character. Fantastically done!

QUOTES:
“He collected words and slang expressions like shells on a beach, cockles and concealed. And brought them out to admire when you’d least expected it. Back in the trenches he told me He’d have given anything to snerdle. To cuddle up beneath a cozy blanket and while away the day.”

“You are very brave. I hope you know that”
“I’m not brave. I’m terrified.”
“It’s impossible to have bravery without fear. Bravery is picking up the fear and carrying it alongside you rather than allowing it to block the path.”

“The chances of something happening to you in that time is vanishingly small. But I understand that anxiety can make you fixate on the worst case scenario. You have to admit that the worst case scenario is pretty terrible.” She laughs sincerely, a warm chuckle that felt like a cup of tea and a hug. “That’s what makes it so compelling to our brains. And I want you to know that while your thoughts feel desperately emotional, they’re also very logical. Our brains naturally want to preamp and solve problems before they occur. You are not broken for feeling this way.”

“Life gives us grief like mounds of wet clay, ripe and heavy beneath our reluctant hands. And with it we can do one of three things.”

“Maybe that’s all love is in the end- an endless tempting of fate”

“I wouldn’t change my fragile, imperfect human heart- not for anything…To be human is to love and love and love knowing that it would only end in tragedy.”

“To love was to live. To live was to die.”

“I love you. And I have loved you. And I will love you.”

“Nothing tortures the human mind quite like the unknown”

Our Infinite Fates

"Even when there's no big joy... There's still the small joy. A sunset. A flask of tea. Your hand in mine."

Oh my HEART, this book! I absolutely adored it. I could not put it down. Evelyn and Arden and their love leaps off the page. The writing and prose is beautiful, and the story itself is as well.

Evelyn is cursed in every lifetime to be murdered by Arden before they turn 18. Over infinite lifetimes, they are reincarnated and fated to find one another, indescribably drawn to one another over and over. The story weaves through their different lives together, while repeatedly returning to the 2022 timeline, as Evelyn tries to piece together the why behind their cursed fate and uncover the origin to hopefully bring them out of the cycle. Their repeated mantra of "I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you." was so beautiful to witness.

While the story is technically YA as they are 17, their lifetimes of experience made the story read more like an adult romance. Highly recommend, especially if you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or the Divine Rivals duology.

I listened to the audio which was so magical, I could not stop listening. I do think it would have been equally wonderful to read with my eyes and savor the story.

HIGHLY recommend this one for fans of:
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue or Divine Rivals duology
- Magical realism
- Fated romance through lifetimes because "Love is the only thing worth believing in."
- Beautiful prose

Thank you to Macmillian Audio for this ALC! Our Infinite Fates is on shelves March 4, 2025! My opinions are my own.

I love you & I have loved you & I will love you
Evelyn and Arden have loved each other in a thousand past lives but they have killed each other in every one. 💔 This book was so devastatingly beautiful! 😭 I'm still crying! It is written so beautifully and the characters grip your heart. 😭 5 stars! I can't even begin to explain how good this was. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the Audio Arc! The audiobook was so amazing, it sucks you in immediately! Sofia Oxenham's voice was magical!

4.5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Evelyn and Arden keep coming back to each other in different lives, different bodies, and different times, but never live past the age of eighteen. In every single lifetime, Arden finds and kills Evelyn before they turn eighteen, and they die together before being reincarnated. While Evelyn feels an inexplicable pull to Arden in every life, she has no idea why.

This book is absolutely stunning. The writing is gorgeous and the while it is a little bit slow, the pace adds to the sense of longing between the characters. Evelyn and Arden are truly soul mates in every sense and I fell in love with their story. I adored the way they echoed "I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you" throughout their journey. My heart ached for them, and when I found out why they kept dying at the age of eighteen, I literally gasped. This is one of those books that will stick in my memories for a long time.

I listened to the audio which was beautifully done. Sofia Oxenham was an incredible narrator who brought depth to the story.

I received an ALC of Our Infinite Fates from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story but I had much higher expectations for it based on the description. The writing is beautiful, but for a story about fated mates intertwined over a thousand years the only real feelings you get for 70-75% of the book is hatred and longing. It isn’t until around 75-80% when you find out what caused our two MCs to be fated to love and kill each other forever. I will say, the twist of the how/why it happened, was really enjoyable for me. Especially with the perspective it gave our MCs after so many lifetimes once it was understood.

Another thing I enjoyed is that the timeline jumped around to different time periods and places in our MCs history, revealing what their lives were like, how they found each other and their loved ones, what they endured through time, etc.

All in all a good story and I would one that I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fated mates/reincarnation tropes.

I was provided both an ALC and an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This follows Evelyn and Arden through a thousand years as they have fallen in love and he has betrayed and murdered in each one before she turns 18. She can't remember why he hunts her or why they are bound to each other, and he won't tell her. All she knows that in this life, her younger sister is dying and her bone marrow is the one thing that might save her. She has to evade Arden long enough for the doctors to perform atleast her part of the procedure to give her sister a chance. The only problem is she hasn't figured out who Arden is masquerading as in this life as he has hidden himself very well this time and she is running out of time before her 18th birthday.

This alternates in varying timelines from the present day to past lives that Arden and Evelyn have lived. I liked that this takes us back to several different places in history, and Evelyn isn't always a woman and Arden isn't always a man and they aren't always in a traditional heterosexual relationship. Gender wasn't a preference for either one of them, it was more the connection they shared. Sometimes they are already together while others they have to find one another and that spark takes hold when they reunite again and they remember who they are. I do wish we would have spent a little more time in these past chapters getting to know the characters and their backstories a bit more. They were significant turning points in the relationship between the two main characters and would have lent a bit more to the character development and helped us understand how deep their connection really was and why they were willing to make the bargain they did.

We eventually find out why Arden murders Evelyn every 18 years just before her birthday, but it comes toward the very end and felt a bit rushed. I was a bit disappointed with the ending despite very much enjoying the rest of the book. I thought the reveal was good and the concept was great, I just wanted a bit more development and explanation to go with that plotline. Overall I did enjoy getting to know our characters and their relationship.

I was truly expecting a gut wrenching tale, in the likes of Addie LaRue. But unfortunately it fell a tad short for me. I absolutely loved the setup and how our characters are stuck in this curse. It really was just missing something, a soul, that extra feeling to connect to these characters. We are being told about their epic love and being reincarnated every 18 years but not really shown why their love was so strong or how they got there. It felt unfinished and bare bones.

Jumping between many timelines and recollections was a good plot device, I liked the experiences and memories they were able to keep. The highlight is Evelyn’s 2022 timeline plight to save her sister with a bone marrow transplant, her relationship with her mother and the life she wanted to keep living.

The writing was beautiful and I found myself trying to remember some of the phrases and poetic thoughts, a bit hard to do on audio! The phrase they repeat the most and adds that extra needed feeling for me was “I love you. I have loved you, and I will love you.” - reminiscent of “I remember you” from Addie LaRue. Definitely recommend for the prose alone.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook copy to review. Narration was performed by Sofia Oxenham and I really enjoyed her delivery and accent. She added an otherworldly atmosphere to the novel that kept me interested in the story.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

So this would be great for those that love Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. With that said this story isn't nearly as compelling. While the whole story is a very interesting premise it didn't really grip you until 80% and then felt very rushed. I wish we had more of their relationship but I also think a duel POV would have done this story some good.

Ultimately if you like two people in love for 1000 years and want snips of their life and are ok with them Romeo and Julieting themselves A LOT this is for you.

4.25⭐
Spice level:🫑(lots of yearning)

Evelyn and Arden are locked in some sort of curse where they are fated to meet and then die just before they turn 18. Usually it's Arden looking Evelyn, but sometimes Evelyn gets there first. They are born and live in different locations and times throughout history, not always as the same gender as before. Despite this, theirs is a story rooted in love and fated to die nearly together each life and come back to repeat the 18 year cycle, due to an agreement that was made with another party that Evelyn cannot even remember. After 1000 years of this cycle, Evelyn is trying to hold out long enough to save her sister in this life, before Arden catches up with her.

So the comparison was to The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and This is How You Lose the Time War, both of which I've read and this is fairly apt. I think the resonance with Addie comes through in the curse of living over centuries but never getting beyond 18 where as Time War comes in at the interplay of this couple, fated to murder/die yet not fueled by hate. I do not want to share too much more, but I will say that you spend the majority of the story not quite understanding what led these two to these circumstances.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an ALC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book is due to be published 3/4/25. I'll be posting to Instagram right around publication.

My favorite thing about this book was to writing. The writing was so lyrical and beautiful! When it comes to the overall story I was very underwhelmed. With the beautiful writing and the idea of the overall plot I was just expecting more. I don’t feel like a got a true sense of relationship between the characters. I was expecting an epic romance with yearning. Sadly instead I wasn’t invested in their love story at all. I think that has to do with the fact our characters are changed genders in the different timelines. We also don’t spend enough time in those different timelines. The ending was a huge shock I wasn’t expecting and sadly not in a good way for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audio copy!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!

I really liked the premise of this book! Two souls intertwined and destined to kill each other over and over again? Sign me up!

Unfortunately the execution didn't quite work for me. For most of the book I just didn't care about their relationship. The main character knew they were doomed to die and yet still felt so in love with the person about to kill them for no real reason. We did find out important information in the last like 15% which explained things more but by that point I just really didn't care.

I also felt like the jumps through time didn't give us enough time with the characters in those periods to be meaningful but instead made the storytelling feel kind of jerky as you kept getting pulled out of the main timeline.

So sadly this didn't work for me, but hopefully it will work for others.

4.5 stars

What a beautifully written book. It takes place over multiple timelines and lifetimes. It is a slow, steady pace with not a lot of action but we learn so much about the two main characters through the present day and their past selves. I liked the narrator for this book and found the audio hard to stop as the story went on.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook for review consideration via NetGalley.

Our Infinite Fates is beautiful, haunting and epic. It is only YA because of the mortal age of the main characters, but the story truly appeals to readers all ages. I especially recommend it highly to anyone who loved The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. Perhaps I loved this even more.

This was a 5 star read for me until the last like 10%. I don't do well when it feels open ended, but it also was not - not- a happy ending... still kind of struggling on how I feel. I do think the narrator did an excellent job for the audio, and the story was easy to follow while listening!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 346 / Genre: YA Fantasy
Audiobook Narrator: Sofia Oxenham
Duration: 11 hours 12 minutes
Release Date: March 4, 2025

Evelyn and Arden are cursed to relive their lives over and over again. And in each life, Arden murders Evelyn before her eighteenth birthday and then the cycle repeats itself. Each time they’re reborn, their souls are the same and they remember their past lives but they are born different people. Sometimes male, sometimes female, but they always find each other, fall in love, and then Arden has the sudden urge to kill her before her birthday.

The Groundhog Day trope is one of my favorites, but I really hated it in this one. Usually, the couple figures out a way to do things differently to make small changes until they finally get the outcome they want. This one just kept cycling with no resolution. It was so boring and I didn’t enjoy the flowery writing either. A definite DNF for me if I didn’t have to write a review in exchange for the free audiobook.

The only thing I liked about it was the lovely British accent of the narrator Sofia Oxenham.

Thank you, @macmillan.audio and @NetGalley for my free audiobook. #MacAudio2025 #macmillanaudio

wow. just wow. i’ve been following this book since may of 2024 when i saw a tiktok marketing it as if ‘exile’ by taylor swift was a book. i knew from the jump i would love this book. i was right. 



i was fortunate enough to get an eARC and an ALC of ‘Our Infinite Fates’ (thanks @wednesdaybooks and @macmillan.audio!) 



this book follows Evelyn and Arden across lifetimes. Evelyn remembers bits and pieces of her past lives. She also remembers that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being whose soul―and survival―is tethered to hers.

the problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her for a bone marrow transplant in order to stay alive. set in Wales, 2022, Evelyn, now Bran, must find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life―before they find her first… figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse.. oh, and try not to fall in love with the very thing destined to kill her. 



the writing in this book was beautiful. it was romantic and lyrical and its not often that i find myself unable to put a book or an audio down. there were flashbacks to previous lives that not only provided insight and helped move the story along but also had me asking even more questions about the story of Evelyn and Arden. this story also manages a nod to societal issues and changes in history such as humans affinity for war & conflict, our relationship with the earth and its resources, the dealings of mental health, and the LGBTQIA+ community (some of the more beautiful and meaningful flashbacks involved mm and ff pairings!)



and the ending? the entire last 10% of this book had me on edge. literally screaming, crying, throwing up, anxiously tapping on my kindle, furiously adjusting audio speeds, all of the above. this books ending not only destroyed me but put me back together seemingly at the same time.



i could probably go on and on for hours about this book but please just take my word for it and go read it! 



“I love you. I have loved you. I will love you.”