It took me a while to get into this, and we spent almost the whole book in one multiverse, so i was hoping for a little more on that side of things. It was enjoyable, just didn't wow me.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an absolute wild ride of a book and I loved every moment of it! I've already recommended this to two teens that are in my life as I really know that they will love this book. I loved the tie-in's with science, and how it truly showcases how your decisions and choices can shape your life. I loved the multiverse travel on so many levels.

My one issue in the book is the ending - it didn't feel very well hashed out and was such a let-down as well as being confusing. It was so abrupt and unexpected and really far off base from ANY of my theories!

This book was STRESSFUL but SO GOOD omg. The second half of the book had me on edge and feeling so panicky, I had to remind myself it was “just a book” otherwise I think I would’ve spiraled into a panic attack.

The premise is so interesting and it was done in such a good way. The story was intricate but still humorous and so human. Aria is a great character and the supporting characters are fantastic. Zayne is too pure and Rohan is so sweet.

The ending has me sobbing, trying not to wake up my partner because it’s 3 am. My heart hurts. And I mean all of this as the highest compliment.

Hollow Fires is one of my favorite books and Ahmed writes in a way I find to be utterly captivating and easy to digest (despite her writing about difficult topics). This story is now another favorite and I’m going to be thinking about it for months.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Interesting premise. But I think I understand the multiverse a lot more when a Marvel character explains it to me.






#TheSingularLifeofAriaPatel #NetGalley.
Publication Date 13/05/25

I think this was an interesting look into the multiverse in a way that was both simple and complicated at the same time. Having said that, there were some major moments that I felt were left unresolved (like her mom! what happens there!) As the book goes on, there's definitely an increase in stress level as you begin to wonder if Aria will ever make it home or if she even *wants* to. My only real gripe was that I wanted more to the ending, but overall, I thought this was super fun.

Solid 4 ⭐

TLDR: The Singular Life of Aria Patel does a great job mixing the seemingly different topics of quantum physics, poetry, and the struggles of belonging. Fair warning: I sometimes couldn't understand the explanations behind the sciencey bits. The poem that is a constant in every reality Aria is thrust into, To Be or Not To Be 2.0, is surprisingly so good! And that's coming from someone who doesn't really like poetry. Also that ending is unexpected to say the least (and a little confusing). Overall, it’s a fun, thought-provoking read for anyone who likes sci-fi with loveable characters.

Okay so what is The Singular Life of Aria Patel about?

Ever heard of people talking about how poetry changed their life? Well, think that but on a multiverse scale.

Aria Patel goes to her physics class one day to come home with homework that evolves reading a poem. Yup, you read that right. A poem. In physics class.

After getting this poem, Aria finds herself falling in and out of different worlds/universes. She only stays in each alternate reality for a short amount of time, but then she enters this world that is strikingly similar to hers, one that she is unable to leave. Rohan (her ex) and To Be or Not To Be 2.0 (the poem from physics class) seem to be following her in every world. As Aria desperately tries to leave this alternate world, she finds herself hitting roadblock after roadblock, finds herself becoming more and more like the Aria from that world. Can she find her way home, or will she be stuck living that Aria's life forever?

Sounds good, right?

I was checking out some of the reviews on Goodreads, and many of them said the same thing: they couldn't really understand the physics parts of the book. After reading it, I totally understand what they mean. Although I understood some explanations about quantum physics, Feynman, and multiverse, there were some parts that I was a bit lost on (no spoilers though!). Even though I didn't understand all of it, it was fun to just go along with it and pretend like I took physics in high school already!

I mentioned that Aria travels to different realities, which, by the way, was really well-written! My favourite had to be the one with the AI, which was really fun to read. It was also really interesting to see Aria in the reality that the majority of the book took place. This world was the most similar to hers, and surprisingly did not have phones. The following quote is something that stood out to me perhaps more than the main messages of the book of belonging, family, and the power of choices.

“It makes me wonder if not documenting every moment to share with the world makes it more real or makes me feel more present.”

Honestly, I find it a bit superficial when people post their monthly dumps and practically document everything in their lives. Not like everything in the pictures were fake, but when people are spending every moment taking pictures to be posted, it's as if they're trying to prove that they had a good time, and as if they're saying, "look at how much fun I'm having in my life that you aren't having." If you do that, please don't be offended—that's just my opinion—you do you.

That being said, the constant moving between realities at the start was annoying, and I am so happy that the entire book wasn't like that. If it was... let's just say my rating would not be 4 stars.

The Singular Life of Aria Patel truly fits the definition of every chapter leaving you wanting more! Before going to sleep, I would tell myself, "Okay Isabella, just read one chapter then you have to sleep." Ahem... maybe in another reality that is true, but definitely not this one. (See what I did there?)

All I have to say about To Be or Not To Be 2.0 is that, as someone who isn't the biggest fan of poetry, IT WAS SO GOOD! I loved why it was so central to the story, and how Samira Ahmed merged two completely separate subjects together. Here's the first two lines:

"Where are your roots planted / Where did your wings take you?"

Okay and another thing the reviews talked a lot about: the ending.

Not that I didn't like it, but it was so unexpected. I don't think I would have ever guessed that was how the book would end. I had a couple of theories, but none except one came true.

Also I just was a bit confused with some specifics of the ending.

⚠️ Spoilers Ahead ⚠️

If you read this already, could you help me understand why there were two Aria's? Like I know there was the "present" one that we were following throughout the book, but what about the other one? I think she was the Aria from the future, right? But if the Aria from the future was there, why did she make Aria go through all that? I guess it was for character development. Sigh.

⚠️ End of Spoilers ⚠️

Overall, I am sad I didn't read The Singular Life of Aria Patel sooner. Although it could be confusing at times, it was generally a good book that touched on so many important themes of belonging, the power of choices, and family. If you like books that blend science-fiction with the genuine struggles of a teenage girl, then this is for you!

P.S. Pay attention to the epigraph—it’s very relevant.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!All quotes are taken from an ARC and may vary from the published version.

Normally multiverse/time travel books annoy me. I find too many flaws and just get bored. However, this one hooked me right away and it is perfect for my high schoolers. I can see a lot of my gifted kids connecting to it and really liking it.

After finding a mysterious poem that haunts her throughout the story, Aria, finds herself being flung to alternate universes. Ones where her father is still alive, a futuristic world, a world with two suns, etc - all belonging to other versions of Aria. As she finds herself in one parallel world that is much like her own with a few differences like a version of her boyfriend she had originally broken up with but now in this new world can't resist and a complete family that she loves she finds herself struggling with wanting to go back to her normal life and also wanting to stay but having to live with the guilt that she is taking this life away from the Aria that actually belongs in this parallel world.

This was a fun read, that really respects it's audience. I read it all in one go and really enjoyed it. The pacing was well done and I was never bored. And I liked that Aria, to me, had pretty realistic reactions to being flung across the multiverse haha

Thank you to Netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review!

The Singular Life of Aria Patel is a coming of age, multi-verse, sci-fi YA novel starring a Teen girl named Aria Patel. Aria like facts, science, and predictable outcomes. Which is why she broke up with her boyfriend before they go to different colleges. It will be easier this way.
After witnessing what appears to be her mother in a car accident Aria beings falling through parallel universes. The places she travels are like her own world and also NOT. Aria is desperately trying to get home while also feeling the need to study and understand what is happening. Once she finds a universe very similar to her own, but with both parents living, and some special differences she could grow to love. Does she even want to go home?

The Singular Life of Aria Patel was a really interesting coming of age novel. I'm not the fastest at understanding Physics but this novel described it in the simplest ways possible. This book gave me "Wrinkle in Time" vibes but for a slightly older audience. Aria is a character who is easy to love because her emotions are so very relatable. Even as a grown adult, I felt for her and understood what was driving her decisions. I will say, I felt very tense for certain parts of the novel, but that was more because I was so invested. Well done! I look forward to more from Samira Ahmed.

Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers & NetGalley for the ARC!

This book follows our FMC, Aria Patel, who gets stuck going through the multiverse. She ends up in a place much like her own, and although she’s starting to love this new life, she knows this place doesn’t belong to her. We follow her through the journey of finding her way back to her own universe/home and we find out going back home is harder than it seems.

If you’ve never watched movies that explain the multiverse, this book may confuse you even more. It’s labeled as a second chance romance but does it count when the FMC falls in love with her ex boyfriend in an alternate universe ?? Meaning, it’s him but it’s an alternate version of him so it’s not really him.

I liked going through the different universes with Aria but I wish she stuck around the one with the AI because it provided a sarcastic sense of humor in this mind-bend of a book. The world where Aria gets stuck in the longest was kind of sad to be honest. It was a world where her family was whole and where she had a better relationship with her ex boyfriend.

I wasn’t really satisfied with the ending but I didn’t know how it could be better. I wish we could’ve seen how the two Arias interacted to see if there would be any conflict about who stays and who goes. It was still a good read for the most part and I loved how fast paced it was in the beginning to get to the main issue of the book.

The Singular Life of Aria Patel is a magical science-filled novel about recognizing one's own power and we see Aria go through this as she gets thrust into the multiverse. After falling into hundreds of Arias, she finds herself stuck in one life, which isn't that bad, but all she wants is to go home and be with her own mom.

I found this novel to have an interesting premise as I've not read enough books on the multiverse and love the concept along with a little bit of time travel. It was tough at times to see Aria struggle through her lives, but the character's heart and personality were easily shown through the pages and I felt I got to know her.

While at times the scientific portions showcased the deep breadth of knowledge that both Aria and the author have, it felt like it took me out of the exciting parts of figuring out how Aria was going to get home or to the ultimate understanding of how these things were happening to her. There were also a few areas that if there was more detail, the novel would have flowed easier including more on the why behind it all, but the open ending left me to come up with my own answers.

Overall, this was an easy, fun, and interesting read and I gave it 4/5 stars. Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The concept of this book is meaty: If you fell into a parallel universe where you made different choices, how would it feel? For science-obsessed Aria Patel, she gets a view into another life — one where she didn’t break up with her high school boyfriend before college — and insight on how that might change her path. It’s a refreshing take on the well-worn coming-of-age format. (Recommendation sent to subscribers of Word Smarts email newsletter)

Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and Samira Ahmed for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Aria loves science and the predictability of a world that is calculated and measured. She's just dumped her boyfriend because they're seniors and going to different colleges, and it's easier to break things off now...right?

But then, when tragedy is about to unfold before her eyes, Aria finds herself falling through parallel universes. Into lives that she could have lived in completely different worlds. She finds herself stuck in one parallel world that's very similar to her own and can't figure out how to make her way back home.

Overall, this book was captivating. I was interested to know how all the time traveling would settle. I was disappointed in the ending - I felt like the character development and growth was there, but I was hoping for more closure in regards to a major plot point.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

The Singular Life of Aria Patel by Samira Ahmed is a first person-POV YA sci-fi exploring the multiverse. Aria is a science-focused teen who is getting ready for college and breaks up with her boyfriend, Rohan, in preparation. Her intense determination to follow logic creates a wall between her and her ex, who she is still interested in, and her and her mother in the wake of her father’s death. When Aria and her mother end up in a car accident and Aria slips through the multiverse, she lives multiple lives belonging to different Arias, including the chance to try again with Rohan.

There is a second chance romance arc but I wouldn’t call this a sci-fi romance or a romantic sci-fi. A major focus on the plot is Aria realizing that she needs to accept that she can’t control everything or predict what will happen and the inciting incident that starts the plot doesn’t really have much to do with Rohan. Beyond that, Aria’s slipping through the multiverse is partly induced by her having headaches which are a chronic condition she has that many women face. There’s a lot of things that the plot is doing and the romance isn’t the main thrust for either the plot or character arcs but instead compliments them.

Aria is an only child in her original world but in the world she spends the most time in (and the world that gives her a second chance with Rohan) not only includes her father still being alive, but also a younger sister named Zayna. Zayna appears in several other dimensions and Aria grows attached to her fairly quickly despite herself. You can feel that Aria doesn’t want to get attached and does struggle to connect with Zayna as her sister instead of the sister of someone else, but she holds great affection for the seven-year-old and likes being an older sister for the most part. Zayna plays a big part in Aria’s character arc though not a super direct one and I appreciated how this familial relationship that Aria wasn’t looking for became one of her most meaningful relationships.

One of the most realistic things I saw in the book was how much Aria wanted to keep herself and the Aria who’s life she’s living separate and yet she would use the phrase ‘My mom’ for the other Aria’s mother. It’s exactly what I would expect from someone who is eighteen, separated from their family and world for an extended period of time, and here’s someone who is very similar to what they’re missing but they know they aren’t the same person. The lines are gonna start to blur no matter how hard you try to keep them separate and how much you don’t want to steal the life of someone else.

I would recommend this to fans of books centering the multiverse and readers of YA who love portal fantasies who want to try out a sci-fi

The morning Aria Patel fell through the multiverse, she thought the hardest part of her day would be ignoring Rohan, the ex she broke up with for logical reasons even though her heart hasn't yet caught up. But that's before she sees her mom almost get killed by a truck and falls through the multiverse before she can stop it or even know the outcome.

As to be expected when dealing with the multiverse and Quantium Mechanics, the science, well, doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But if you roll with it, it is a pretty cool concept. What happens to the other Arias? And what does it mean if their lives are bleeding together?

Aria jumping through the multiverses was also super fun. The first one was a Bollywood style musical universe that was bonkers but why not? If you saw Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness or Sliders (1995 show) then you'll know the multiverse is a bonkers place.

However, at about the 20% mark after Aria goes through a few multiverse, the bonkers fun screeches to a halt as we're told via exposition how she went through a bunch of multiverses and then made up some rules to survive and boom, the next chapter we see her in the multiverse she'll spend most of her time in. I didn't like that I didn't get to see the character growth and change she went through; one moment I'm seeing her experiencing the multiverses for the first time and three pages later she's slightly jaded and over the whole thing.

The other smaller issue I had was it did feel a little like it was written by a fellow millennial. Aria's prime universe is my own, and Doctor Who isn't as big of a cultural phenomena today with the teen crowd as it was when I was a teen. Also, what teen thinks they don't want to live in a universe without Keanu Reeves? He was a little too old for me to crush on when I was a teen, and that was *whispers* over ten years ago.

Still, those little nitpicks aside, I did enjoy this book overall. I also enjoyed how casual and positively it showed a faith community (in this case, the Muslim community) and how they do fun things like a fall festival for the community children. It reminded me of my own teenaged experiences volunteering at a similar type of festival in my own faith community. I have never seen religion shown in a positive light in mainstream YA; usually it is either shown as being oppressive and awful or the character suffers bigotry from others because of it. It was nice to see it as a normal part of a character's life and a source of joy.

It was also fun to see Aria act like a normal teenager. In the world of YA when the leads tend to be the best at everything despite being 17-18 years old, it was refreshing to see Aria struggle, make poor choices, and nerd out over science without being some sort of teenage science genius.

I recommend this to teens and others who enjoy science fiction and the idea of the multiverse, while still preferring character relationships over the science details.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I read This Book Won't Burn and then immediately moved right into another Samira Ahmed title. I just love her writing and the topics she brings to the page. This is one I was anticipating from the second I heard what it was about! Sure enough, once I got my hands on an advanced copy, I couldn't stop turning the pages! Can't wait to recommend this one to others and to talk about it with readers. This would be a great book club title, especially if your book club likes to discuss theoretical possibilities like those involved in multiple universes/dimensions/traveling in time and space.

Fan of this author and her character development. This was an interesting twist, and I haven't read many books like this. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend. Good story of friendship, family, community, and solving your own problems.

pretty good and well-written book with some strong themes of multiversal scifi. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

The Singular Life of Aria Patel – Samira Ahmed
Samira Ahmed delivers a mesmerizing story about fate, free will, and the weight of expectations. Aria Patel is a protagonist who feels both deeply relatable and refreshingly unique as she navigates the complexities of family, love, and self-discovery. The novel seamlessly blends emotional depth with moments of humor, making for an engrossing read that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Ahmed’s storytelling is as sharp as ever, making this a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction with a touch of magic.

Brush up on your quantum mechanics! As a fan of science fiction, I enjoyed bouncing around the multiverse along with Aria Patel. Although, some of the opening chapters were particularly disorienting, I know that this was an intentional move on the part of the author. The reader is in for a dizzying journey. However, the most poignant moments in this young adult novel were the moments where we were allowed to settle into the narrative. Although it took me awhile to settle in, I eventually found myself rooting for Aria (and Rohan) in every universe!