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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you”
I deeply loved so much of this book. Firstly, the concept had me enraptured from the first moment I heard about this book. I’m a huge fan of reincarnated soulmates, add in the extra tragedy of doomed love and murder and you have a fascinating concept that is so up my alley.
Then there’s the mystery element of this book - the question of ‘why’. Bits and pieces of Evelyn and Arden’s history are slowly revealed throughout the interwoven single chapters across time. These were my favourite parts of this story. I loved finding out about each iteration, their history, and the moment they tragically intertwined once more.
All the while, the through line of 2022 Wales brings us on a journey Evelyn desperate to live - not just for herself and her life, but for her family. Another attempt in a long line of tragedies to live.
There is so much going for this book, and so much I resonated with. So why is it 4 stars? The main climax of this book is…strange. It feels disjointed from the whole of which it is a part. Elements feel like they jut up against each other and aren’t given the space to breathe or expand. Instead the pace speeds through these revelation and resolution, tacking on the final ‘why’ at the end of the disjointed section far too soon to have the ‘twist’ reaction it should. Information which undoes the reader’s previous understanding is given out far too quickly after the original information is provided to have any major impact. I almost feel that the beginnings of the ‘why’ needed to be explained and woven into the main narrative earlier to give the concept, climax, and final lore drop the room to have the impact it needed.
But despite all that, the final chapter did make me cry and I got the ending I felt a book like this needs. This is a book about soulmates and love, but it is also a book that is deeply rooted in family and connections. And while I may not have loved where the final act of this book took me, I really did enjoy the journey to get there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Death of parent, War
Minor: Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
This was very slow paced, which did have me being distracted a fair bit.
The book also didn't make me feel much of anything, despite the love that lasts through infinite lifetimes.
The book also didn't make me feel much of anything, despite the love that lasts through infinite lifetimes.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
2.5 stars rounded up cos the writing is very pretty. I never thought there could be too much yearning but I hit my limit with this book. It was SO LONG. The plot twist was cool but it took so long to get there that I wasn't invested anymore.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I expected to be hurt, I didn't think I'd wind up broken.
I read this on an impulse and I only stopped to sleep.
You see how everything was put together in a non-linear sense of storytelling—which, personally, only helped me better enjoy it. I like when things are being foreshadowed, so seeing them reveal what was earlier mentioned in the next chapter was exciting. Of course, I'm just talking about the method of how Evelyn's and Arden's story was introduced.
Their actual story? Their life, or lives, rather? All their connections? It was a raw type of love, where there's always only just each other. The complexity of feeling everything from longing and yearning, anger and guilt, love and hate, and coming back to the sense of home. In every chapter I broke, little by little. If I could fall in love with this book all over again, I would.
I read this on an impulse and I only stopped to sleep.
You see how everything was put together in a non-linear sense of storytelling—which, personally, only helped me better enjoy it. I like when things are being foreshadowed, so seeing them reveal what was earlier mentioned in the next chapter was exciting. Of course, I'm just talking about the method of how Evelyn's and Arden's story was introduced.
Their actual story? Their life, or lives, rather? All their connections? It was a raw type of love, where there's always only just each other. The complexity of feeling everything from longing and yearning, anger and guilt, love and hate, and coming back to the sense of home. In every chapter I broke, little by little. If I could fall in love with this book all over again, I would.
WOW WOW WOW
SUCH a cool concept
some parts are a little odd but overall UGH the angst was perfect
not a feel good book tho if you’re looking for that
SUCH a cool concept
some parts are a little odd but overall UGH the angst was perfect
not a feel good book tho if you’re looking for that
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes