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The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven

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She'd travel across infinite universes to avoid asking him for help. Unfortunately, that's exactly what's happening.

Physics genius Bethany Raven has spent her entire career trying to stay one step ahead of Tyler Adams – brilliant, insufferably charming, and blessed with the kind of confidence that makes her want to throw things. So when she wakes up to discover she's slipping between alternate universes with no idea how to stop, the very last person she wants to call is him.

But Tyler is the only one who might understand. And across universe after universe, he is proving to be considerably more difficult to despise than she'd like.

With every skip between worlds, Bethany's life shifts a little further from the one she knows – her work, her friendships, her sense of self, and above all her relationship with her beloved sister Cesca, growing more distant with every jump. Some of the lives she lands in are strange. Some are sad. One or two are genuinely alarming. And in all of them, Tyler Adams is right there – different, and yet somehow always him.

To get back to her own world, Bethany is going to need every scrap of her considerable genius, an unlikely alliance with her most infuriating rival, and the growing – deeply inconvenient – suspicion that falling for someone across nineteen multiverses might just mean something.

Sparkling with wit, warmth and heart, The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven is a love story about the choices that define us, the bonds that endure across any universe, and one woman's very inconvenient discovery that the right person has a habit of showing up everywhere.

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2026

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Sarah E. Bonner

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5 stars
22 (44%)
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18 (36%)
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8 (16%)
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1 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for AJM.
27 reviews
August 13, 2026
This was such a funny and entertaining read and it definitely deserves its praises! I can't believe more people aren't reading this and it caught my eye in the bookstore immediately.

I have come to the realisation that I love books with some scientific or magical realism elements to it and this one didn't disappoint.

Being able to see the different lives that were similar yet completely different was so entertaining. I loved the theme of the sister and how the ending wrapped all the lives up.

I'd love to read a second book that goes into the other bethany's life and how she lived while in this bethany's body, even going through her return home and how that felt for her would be amazing.

Overall it was a fun and light hearted read that was so enjoyable to read. I can't wait to see more of this authors work!
Profile Image for Inaaa_Sayshi.
420 reviews2 followers
June 18, 2026
STEM and contemporary romance lovers, where are you at and why is nobody talking about this book???

For a story that has a multiverse concept, yall are missing out on this gem. This was such a fun,interesting and unique story to dive into
I honestly want this to be adapted into a movie. I can literally envision Bethany and Tyler being on the big screen.

Dont get me started on how complex this story is. I was wondering the whole way through on how this will conclude and I felt that the ending could have been explained more because that felt a lil tad too rush for me but overall, it concluded with such a satisfying way possible. I ate this up and want more of such concept. Well done 🙌🙌
Profile Image for Ellie Mccormick.
128 reviews1 follower
May 17, 2026
Advanced Reader Copy from HQ Stories
This was so perfect!! I loved the writing style and found it so easy to read.
•The concept of the book!! multiverse theory was so interesting.
•The way Bethany and Tyler were brought together in the every universe and he helped her with no questions asked and never doubted when she told him she was in the wrong multiverse 😫
•The way the book describes every different life she lived was amazing! visual imagery was so good
•I loved the ending
•This should be a movie!! it would translate so well to screen 🫶
Profile Image for Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs.
550 reviews89 followers
May 7, 2026
I found the premise of a contemporary multiverse so intriguing that I couldn’t wait to dive into The Diverging Lives Of Bethany Raven as soon as it arrived! I’ve been known to love a book with some rivals/workplace romance and also ones that have some of that STEM vibe I adore in books from people like Ali Hazelwood. We meet Bethany, a certified physics genius, who just discovered actual proof of the multiverse—a theory that begins as a wonderful discovery and quickly spirals into the small matter of her accidentally jumping from one multiverse to another, with little to prove how to stop and return back to her own life and not the ones in which she’s not close to her sister, Cesca, and other random oddities. Stumped, Bethany faces having to drag the only person who might be able to help: her long-time nemesis, Tyler Adams.

Bethany just has to make Tyler believe her story, that she isn’t-and-is Bethany, or at least not the versions he’s meeting, who all seem to be equally as perplexed as to why they aren’t themselves. She knows she isn’t the Bethany that gets stiff-armed hugs from her sister and doesn’t know everything that’s going on in her loved ones lives. She’s never been close enough to her aloof rival, but getting Tyler to take her seriously is a task in itself—but even he doesn’t quite seem like himself. Even though she fights it, there’s something in the banter with him that makes it clear there’s something unspoken between them, multiverse or not. But as nineteen, twenty multiverses and counting keep skipping by, she knows a plan to rectify it is verging on as complex as discovering proof the multiverse existed in the first place—and it’s going to take not only all her selves to put it right, but knowing how to restore harmony to divergent timelines that derailed her existence.

I left this book with my head in a spin, in the best way possible. The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven might just be one of the most distinctly unique books I’ve ever read. It is a bustling trifecta of scientific precision, side-splitting humour, and genuine heart. In it’s very atoms is the adoration of not only romantic love, but all the different kinds of love in our lives, the bonds we make and the people in our hearts. Every chapter and revelation feels deliberate and perfectly timed through Bethany’s adventures through lives and lessons, creating a reading experience where the science, banter and joy is as strong as each other. It’s easily one of the most original, witty and lively books I’ve read in such a long while and I didn’t know how much I needed this breath of fresh air. I breezed through it in a day, and thoroughly enjoyed every moment—I think STEM romance and contemporary lovers will eat this up!

Profile Image for Kiera.
120 reviews2 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
May 3, 2026
I found this concept so intriguing going into the book, and Sarah E. Bonner definitely fulfilled it. Even though multiverses can sometimes feel overused at the moment, I really enjoyed this one, based on this story being grounded in reality, with the lives being different because of mundane everyday moments. We don’t realise that doing one thing differently can set you on a completely different path, but Bethany Ravens’ many lives showcase this.

I loved Bethany's character and found her really smart, interesting and likeable. I loved that her connections with Tyler were all different but ultimately intertwined in one way or another. I really enjoyed exploring the diverging friendships she had in the universes; her one with Amina was a highlight. My favourite of Bethany's relationships was with her sister, Cesca. As a sister, it’s so easy to let your relationship ebb and flow, not realising the differences it can make to your connection. Bethany’s north star was always her sister, no matter what universe or relationship they had, and it was really interesting to see our Bethanys' reactions to other Bethanys' relationships with their Cesca.

The story was told in a way which won’t confuse the reader if they know nothing about science, which made it even more enjoyable as it kept the complex plot, but you felt in on the theorems with Bethany rather than watch her genius from afar. This story felt quite reminiscent of About Time in places, with it dealing with a form of time travel, the subject’s connection to their family and their realisation of the importance of life. Bethany Raven had all of this, but with an added scientific twist, which I really loved.

Overall, this story felt really rich in its storytelling and exploration of relationship dynamics while keeping a quite light hearted and comedic tone, which made me fly through the book. Such an incredibly complex quick read, which I'd definitely recommend!

Thank you, HQ Stories, for the finished copy of The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven by Sarah E Bonner! ★
Profile Image for Aga.
424 reviews14 followers
May 15, 2026
Thank you HQ and NetGalley for this ARC.

I don’t usually reach for multiverse stories, but the premise of The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven immediately caught my attention — and honestly, it was so much more engaging than I expected.

Bethany Raven is a physics genius who writes a theorem about the multiverse, only to wake up after a night out with her sister Cesca in a completely different version of her own life. Casual little existential crisis, as you do.

Suddenly Bethany has to figure out where she is, what happened, and how on earth she can get back to her own world. And in order to do that, she may have to turn to the one person she really doesn’t want to ask for help — Tyler, her academic enemy, who might be the only person capable of understanding what’s going on.

I really enjoyed how fast-paced and addictive this was. For a story dealing with alternate universes and physics, it never felt dry or overly heavy. Bethany was easy to root for, the concept was clever, and I found myself genuinely invested in which version of her life she would end up choosing — or whether she could even choose at all.

The only reason this is a 4-star rather than higher is that things did get a little confusing towards the end. That may very well be a me problem because physics and I are not exactly besties, but I did have a few moments of “wait… what timeline are we in now?” Still, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride.

Overall, this was smart, engaging, and surprisingly emotional. A great pick if you like stories about second chances, identity, alternate paths, and the terrifying thought of meeting other versions of yourself. Because apparently one version of us struggling through life wasn’t enough.
Profile Image for Julia.
3,237 reviews107 followers
May 8, 2026
The Diverging Lives Of Bethany Raven by Sarah E Bonner is a very entertaining contemporary novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The plotline is unique – one in which Bethany Raven wakes each day in a different version of herself. There are similar but different life experiences as we witness what life could have been like if she had made different choices. “One tiny choice created a whole ripple.”
Her final wake up life is horrendous as she is married to a bully. Bethany is desperate to find her way back home.
Constant in her many lives is Tyler Adams – her nemesis in her original life, and just a science teacher in her final life but his brain is huge, and she needs all his knowledge to help her get back home.
We witness Bethany Raven interacting with her friends in the different worlds.
Her bond with her sister is strongest in Bethany’s original world.
With so much of her life in uproar, Bethany Raven finds comfort in physics. “I wrote out the theorem. Finding a soothing rhythm in numbers… Trusting that maths and order and logic will help me.”
All the characters were well drawn, likable and believable. There is a warmth and a camaraderie that developed between the two lead characters.
The novel was engaging and entertaining. This unique perspective of life grabbed my attention from the start and I never wanted the book to end.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Arc review booklover.
176 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
April 23, 2026
4.5✨ Wow this story is so deep makes you realise that you don’t alway have to do things or be a certain way and that’s it’s ok to step out your comfort zone. As a person who struggles with change this book really helped me see from a different perspective and for that I’m so forever grateful to Sarah E. Bonner for writing this book! The write was flawless , the plot was amazing and the characters were so relatable!
Bethany was such a fun and interesting character who has a PHD she’s was very smart, loved her younger sister and the her batter towards Tyler was hilarious!!
Loved Tyler even though he comes across as a bit a know it all and the smirk was driving me mad 😂
I thought Cesca, Bethany sister was the issue behind their strained relationship but I was so wrong.
The end was sweet and made you an appreciate things which you probably didn’t before!

Overall highly recommend loved every single can’t wait to read more books from this author 🙌🏼

Thank you HQ Stories for the beautiful physical arc copy 🫶🏼
Profile Image for Cara bunnypop_bookstagram.
212 reviews8 followers
May 12, 2026
I enjoy all kinds of romance stories and what I loved about this one was that it was there and we touched on it, things were hinted at, a few passionate moments here and there but it wasn’t the whole focus of the story.

Bethany Raven’s story was so much more. About her sisterly bond with Cesca… about discovering truths that lead to better relationships… believing in your talents and intelligence… navigating alternate dimensions and discovering how different decisions no matter how small can impact your life.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bethany and Tylers interactions in each dimension and how he was a kind of constant in each place. You could see their relationship grow a little each time.

The bond between Bethany and Cesca was so beautiful and you really understood as the story went on how strong that was and how much that relationship meant to Bethany plus some realisations about things that maybe needed to change.

The whole story is told from Bethany’s POV but there’s plenty of character involvement and plot that it doesn’t feel like anything is missing.

Another 5 star read from Sarah. Thank you for the ARC of the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️/5
Profile Image for Elizabeth Ducie.
Author 37 books100 followers
June 17, 2026
We've all had days when things don't seem quite right; when we mis-remember things and wonder if we're losing the plot. But for Bethany Raven it happens day after day, and she quickly realises it isn't her - or at least not the version of her that she thought it was.

This is an intriguing story, well-plotted and with lots of little details that don't make sense until much later, but do make sense in the end. It's poignant, edgy and very funny with some great characters. Bethany, so human and flawed, but in a good way (or ways). Tyler, the man we love to hate, or do we? Both wearing their genius so effortlessly. And then, there's Lily!

This is a new direction for Sarah Bonner, without a killer in sight, and it's highly readable. A great holiday book, highly recommended for lovers of time travel, sci-fi and rom-com alike.
Profile Image for Christine.
16 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2026
I usually read Christian fiction, but I have always been interested in time travel or multiversal books. The first person narrator is funny and relatable. A genius who discovers multiversal travel is possible suddenly finds herself waking up in worlds slightly different from her own. The story is mainly about her relationship with her nemesis, whose mutual animosity is built on a misunderstanding. And the most important relationship of her life: her sister Cesca. As Bethany wakes up in increasingly stranger universes, she learns that the other Bethanys are not as close to Cesca. What happened to their relationship? Can it be repaired? Will Bethany ever get back to her world or is she doomed to skip to a new universe every three or four days? Tyler, the guy she hates (or loves?) may be her only help to get home
Profile Image for Beth Adman.
146 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 5, 2026
I enjoyed this even more than I had expected to, and I'm still thinking about it days after finishing it. The little messages woven into the story are so important, and I loved the focus on her relationship with her sister. While the plot is a little complex, the story didn't ever feel confusing, which is pretty impressive given the science content and the fact that I am absolutely NOT a science girl. The romance is there throughout but without it being the key focus - and there is no spice (for those who might be wondering). Overall a really good read that completely took me by surprise!
445 reviews12 followers
May 21, 2026
I was drawn to the fun concept of this book and enjoyed seeing how the different Bethanys were living in each time skip. I liked that all of the Bethanys had more going on in their lives than just the romance bit, although that was quite cute.

The drawbacks for me were that the plot did get a bit repetitive, and the story lacked depth. Also the 'Oh, Ooohhh's were very annoying.

Overall I did enjoy this and would recommend it, but it didn't set my world alight.
Profile Image for nicole.
77 reviews2 followers
May 14, 2026
The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven was such an enjoyable and unique read, full of speculation and confusion in the best way possible. With each alternate universe, I loved how even the smallest decisions had drastic impacts to Bethany’s life – it truly kept me thinking about how unpredictable a life path can be.

Every version of her had similarities, but each one were shaped by entirely difference experiences, relationships and choices, which made the book incredibly compelling to follow.

I loved how the rom-com moments didn’t outshine the focal point of Bethany discovering who she truly was and the importance of her sister in her life across the different versions of herself. But it was nice to see the slow burn and eventual closeness between Bethany and Tyler develop naturally throughout the book and universes (I loved that he immediately believed her story in every life 🥹)
Profile Image for Pui Kim.
547 reviews8 followers
July 22, 2026
A very creative concept. I did not see the twist coming and I really liked the exploration of how things can become slightly different as Bethany continues to travel through different universes. I also liked how the author explored the emotional and psychological toll it takes on Bethany after being in so many confusing timelines.
41 reviews
May 16, 2026
A fun read with Bethany jumping between timelines, a romcom meets sci-fi. Loved how accomplished Bethany is in all her universes. But would have loved more interaction between her and Tyler, especially at the end, which left me wanting more. This is a great summer easy stem romcom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christina Pishiris.
Author 5 books121 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
April 20, 2026
Physicist Bethany Raven finds theoretical proof of the multiverse and then slowly realises she's jumping from one reality to another. At first only small things are different - a new pair of white flip-flops when she knows she bought them in beige, but gradually the differences get starker and starker, including worlds in which Bethany is estranged from her beloved sister Cesca. Only one person can help her because he's the only one who'll believe her: fellow physicist and annoying work rival Tyler Adams. Can Bethany find a way back to her own world?

This is such an original and compelling book, with a tantalising hook that keeps you turning the pages. At its heart, it’s a love story, but the book also explores deeper themes of family, identity, and the importance of staying true to yourself.

The plot unfolds effortlessly, the tension building as the stakes for Bethany get higher and higher. Each chapter leaves you wanting just a little more, making it one of those irresistible “just one more chapter” reads. Everything comes together in the end in a way that feels both satisfying and well-earned.

Probably one of my books of the year.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews