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Over and Over
In every lifetime, it's always you...
When Lissa meets Ash, she can't deny their instant connection. It's like they've met before, many times.
Then, the flashbacks start and somehow she just knows: these are memories of past lives. And in those lives, there's always one person. Always, she falls in love with him. Always, it ends in tragedy.
This time, Lissa knows she must do something different. Can the star-crossed lovers learn from their past mistakes and finally find their happy ending?
When Lissa meets Ash, she can't deny their instant connection. It's like they've met before, many times.
Then, the flashbacks start and somehow she just knows: these are memories of past lives. And in those lives, there's always one person. Always, she falls in love with him. Always, it ends in tragedy.
This time, Lissa knows she must do something different. Can the star-crossed lovers learn from their past mistakes and finally find their happy ending?
580 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 24, 2026
194 people want to read
About the author
Becky Hunter
4 books79 followersBecky grew up in Berkshire, UK, and has loved reading since before she can remember. After studying social sciences at Cambridge university, this love of reading led her to a career in publishing, where she worked as a book publicist in London for several years before taking a career break and moving to Mozambique to volunteer with horses. It was here that she decided to give writing a proper go, though it was still a few years, a few more destinations, and a couple more jobs before she had the idea that would become ONE MOMENT, her debut novel. (source: amazon.com)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
February 7, 2026
I am truly the number one fan of a “love in every lifetime” trope so I really did go into reading this book full of high expectations and optimism that I was going to love it.
Unfortunately, this book simply did not work for me.
We do get a main plot line of main characters Lissa and Ash. Lissa is struggling through her mundane life and navigating her complex familial relationships following the death of her little sister during her childhood. She meets Ash one day and he tilts her whole world on its axis. After meeting Ash, Lissa starts having vivid and realistic dreams of different points in history where a woman falls in love with a man in different lifetimes.
The general plot of the book had my attention, however the execution of the “multiple lifetimes” is very choppy. We would be in the middle of a plot point in the middle of a chapter and all of the sudden it would flip to different characters. Every single time it did this, I would be like “wait what is happening?” I had to reread the part one or two times to catch on and realize that ohhhh we did a time jump. This happened so many instances that it just begun to frustrate me.
Other than the time jumps, the story is written well, but the third person present tense POV also removed me from the emotional connection to the characters. The whole premise was ambitious and the result ended up just feeling like a lot of disconnection.
The main themes of the story are dark. So…if you go into this book to read a love story just keep in mind that the main plot points revolve around grief. Multiple plot points of grief. It’s only somewhat of a happy ending? To a degree. It’s complicated without spoiling it.
Ultimately, this became to feel a chore for me to get through and by the end I stopped caring what was happening between the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately, this book simply did not work for me.
We do get a main plot line of main characters Lissa and Ash. Lissa is struggling through her mundane life and navigating her complex familial relationships following the death of her little sister during her childhood. She meets Ash one day and he tilts her whole world on its axis. After meeting Ash, Lissa starts having vivid and realistic dreams of different points in history where a woman falls in love with a man in different lifetimes.
The general plot of the book had my attention, however the execution of the “multiple lifetimes” is very choppy. We would be in the middle of a plot point in the middle of a chapter and all of the sudden it would flip to different characters. Every single time it did this, I would be like “wait what is happening?” I had to reread the part one or two times to catch on and realize that ohhhh we did a time jump. This happened so many instances that it just begun to frustrate me.
Other than the time jumps, the story is written well, but the third person present tense POV also removed me from the emotional connection to the characters. The whole premise was ambitious and the result ended up just feeling like a lot of disconnection.
The main themes of the story are dark. So…if you go into this book to read a love story just keep in mind that the main plot points revolve around grief. Multiple plot points of grief. It’s only somewhat of a happy ending? To a degree. It’s complicated without spoiling it.
Ultimately, this became to feel a chore for me to get through and by the end I stopped caring what was happening between the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Hachette Audio for the gifted ARC and ALC!
2.5 stars rounded up. The concept of this book…10/10. I was so excited based on the synopsis. 2 lovers who keep finding each other, past life after past life. Sign me up! Unfortunately, the execution did not work for me. The prologue immediately hooked me, but it took so long to get to a part of the book that started to make the prologue makes sense. There was a lot of filler that didn’t seem necessary to the past life topic. I really wanted to love the characters but they fell a little flat. I was expecting a contemporary romance or rom-com and this was more women’s fiction/speculative fiction, in my opinion.
The audio was a little hard to keep up with, the story kind of jumps in the middle of a chapter into different lives and there is no explanation. You are just left questioning where you are and whose perspective you are getting. The narrator also didn’t give me nearly enough emotion and I got bored and would zone out while listening as times. I saw the potential and there were definitely good parts. I look forward to trying another book by this author.
2.5 stars rounded up. The concept of this book…10/10. I was so excited based on the synopsis. 2 lovers who keep finding each other, past life after past life. Sign me up! Unfortunately, the execution did not work for me. The prologue immediately hooked me, but it took so long to get to a part of the book that started to make the prologue makes sense. There was a lot of filler that didn’t seem necessary to the past life topic. I really wanted to love the characters but they fell a little flat. I was expecting a contemporary romance or rom-com and this was more women’s fiction/speculative fiction, in my opinion.
The audio was a little hard to keep up with, the story kind of jumps in the middle of a chapter into different lives and there is no explanation. You are just left questioning where you are and whose perspective you are getting. The narrator also didn’t give me nearly enough emotion and I got bored and would zone out while listening as times. I saw the potential and there were definitely good parts. I look forward to trying another book by this author.
December 13, 2025
Thank you Forever and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I really loved the opening portion of this book—I flew through it. I appreciated that it wasn’t just a romance, but also explored complicated family dynamics, grief, and the weight of our choices. That said, the remaining portion of the book wasn’t quite for me. While the author tied everything together thoughtfully, I found myself frustrated by the ending and the overall message of the story. It’s definitely not a typical read, which is admirable, but I think I was craving something more traditional for the love interests. The writing itself is strong, and overall I did enjoy the experience. ★★★½
I really loved the opening portion of this book—I flew through it. I appreciated that it wasn’t just a romance, but also explored complicated family dynamics, grief, and the weight of our choices. That said, the remaining portion of the book wasn’t quite for me. While the author tied everything together thoughtfully, I found myself frustrated by the ending and the overall message of the story. It’s definitely not a typical read, which is admirable, but I think I was craving something more traditional for the love interests. The writing itself is strong, and overall I did enjoy the experience. ★★★½
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first book by Becky Hunter I’ve read, but the cover immediately caught my eye and the synopsis sounded so intriguing that I had to give it a go. I have no regrets.
I was drawn to Lissa straight away — she’s a wonderfully complex character shaped by a tragic past and a complicated family dynamic. I wanted to be her friend, to sit with her, to hug her through so many moments.
I read a lot of fantasy, and fated mates is one of my favourite tropes, so seeing that kind of concept play out in a contemporary romance felt really unique. The past‑life flashbacks were a little confusing at first, but once I understood what was happening, I loved how they were woven into the present‑day storyline. It made me feel like I was in Lissa's shoes, trying to piece together how the dream-like visions linked to the present day.
I adored Ash. He was patient, steady and kind and the slow build between them was so satisfying. Watching their budding friendship deepen into something more felt really natural.
The side characters were also well developed. Darcy and Mia were brilliant friends who supported her, but also challenged her when she needed a bit of a push. Her mothers' actions were frustrating, but also kind of understandable, and I appreciated the contrast with her dad — two parents grieving the same loss but coping in completely different ways.
While it’s apparent pretty early in the story, this book deals heavily with grief, particularly the death of a child. It’s a huge part of the story, even though it isn’t mentioned in the synopsis. One scene in the charity shop with a little girl and a teddy bear left me in tears, because it hit so close to home. The portrayal of grief, its cycles and its persistence even years later, was beautifully handled, but I think it’s important for readers to know how central it is. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to read this.
It’s been a couple of days since I finished, and the story still hasn’t left my mind. To me, that's the sign of a great book. I’m giving it 4.5 stars purely because the last few chapters didn’t unfold the way I expected. The ending was still satisfying, just not in the way I’d imagined.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic books for the ARC!
I was drawn to Lissa straight away — she’s a wonderfully complex character shaped by a tragic past and a complicated family dynamic. I wanted to be her friend, to sit with her, to hug her through so many moments.
I read a lot of fantasy, and fated mates is one of my favourite tropes, so seeing that kind of concept play out in a contemporary romance felt really unique. The past‑life flashbacks were a little confusing at first, but once I understood what was happening, I loved how they were woven into the present‑day storyline. It made me feel like I was in Lissa's shoes, trying to piece together how the dream-like visions linked to the present day.
I adored Ash. He was patient, steady and kind and the slow build between them was so satisfying. Watching their budding friendship deepen into something more felt really natural.
The side characters were also well developed. Darcy and Mia were brilliant friends who supported her, but also challenged her when she needed a bit of a push. Her mothers' actions were frustrating, but also kind of understandable, and I appreciated the contrast with her dad — two parents grieving the same loss but coping in completely different ways.
While it’s apparent pretty early in the story, this book deals heavily with grief, particularly the death of a child. It’s a huge part of the story, even though it isn’t mentioned in the synopsis. One scene in the charity shop with a little girl and a teddy bear left me in tears, because it hit so close to home. The portrayal of grief, its cycles and its persistence even years later, was beautifully handled, but I think it’s important for readers to know how central it is. A few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to read this.
It’s been a couple of days since I finished, and the story still hasn’t left my mind. To me, that's the sign of a great book. I’m giving it 4.5 stars purely because the last few chapters didn’t unfold the way I expected. The ending was still satisfying, just not in the way I’d imagined.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic books for the ARC!
February 11, 2026
Sooooo. I didn’t realize going into this that the publisher left a warning that this book also deals with death and grief. And well, it’s not very much a trigger for me I did not see that going into this. So be warned. I really just wanted a romcom or contemporary romance type feel and this is not really what I wanted at this time, I really liked the idea of this book by what I read from the synopsis and I think the writing was good if I take that away from everything else. First, I’ll say for me to go back-and-forth, especially in time it has to be done a certain way to keep my interest, and I had a really hard time with this one. I liked the idea of the past lives but I had a hard time with the flashbacks. If it wasn’t for the audio, I don’t know if I would’ve finished personally. My ADHD probably would not have let me. I did really like the narrator, Lizzie Schenk. I will say, though I tend to listen at more higher rates of speed when it comes to audiobooks, and I did have to slow this one down to understand what was being said due to her accent. And that doesn’t always happen, but usually I find when it does it’s usually with a male narrator and not a female narrator. I did find her accent pleasant though, and I did really think she brought the characters to life. I would listen to another audiobook narrated by her.
Overall, I don’t know if I would read this book again and I’m a re-reader but I do suggest everybody else give it a try at least once and see if it might be for you. It might’ve gone completely different. If I knew what I did now going into it. And if you do try it. Definitely get the audio!
Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio for the completmeanry copys. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall, I don’t know if I would read this book again and I’m a re-reader but I do suggest everybody else give it a try at least once and see if it might be for you. It might’ve gone completely different. If I knew what I did now going into it. And if you do try it. Definitely get the audio!
Thank you to Forever and Hachette Audio for the completmeanry copys. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 13, 2026
Lissa works for a digital marketing company, a job she doesn’t truly enjoy. She dreams of something bigger and better, away from her home town of Bath.
However, she feels a degree of responsibility for her mother, Esme – 20 years ago, her younger sister, Chloe, drowned. Lissa was supposed to watch Chloe and she blames herself for her sister’s death. It’s fair to say Lissa’s mother hasn’t moved on; her house is a time warp, still decorated the same way as if to preserve Chloe’s memory.
Lissa’s love life is in a standstill, but it all changes when she meets Ash. Soon after meeting him, she starts to experience strange flashbacks and vivid dreams of past lives in New York, Scotland, and Paris.
She digs deeper and suspects she’s experiencing past lives regressions: memories of past lives or incarnations. In every life, she meets a man, falls in love, and in every life, tragedy occurs.
I won’t reveal more of the plot, but wow, what a story.
I was appalled at Esme’s behaviour towards Lissa. When the accident happened, Lissa was a tween and she was far too young to be looking after her sister. I felt it was very selfish of Esme to be solely blaming her daughter, but I imagine that she was also blaming herself, she just didn’t voice it. The relationship between Esme and Lissa was a tricky one.
It’s a beautiful story of choices we make and the consequences they bring. It’s not just a romance, it’s so much more than that. The pages contain grief, trauma, loss, and blame.
I definitely recommend it.
However, she feels a degree of responsibility for her mother, Esme – 20 years ago, her younger sister, Chloe, drowned. Lissa was supposed to watch Chloe and she blames herself for her sister’s death. It’s fair to say Lissa’s mother hasn’t moved on; her house is a time warp, still decorated the same way as if to preserve Chloe’s memory.
Lissa’s love life is in a standstill, but it all changes when she meets Ash. Soon after meeting him, she starts to experience strange flashbacks and vivid dreams of past lives in New York, Scotland, and Paris.
She digs deeper and suspects she’s experiencing past lives regressions: memories of past lives or incarnations. In every life, she meets a man, falls in love, and in every life, tragedy occurs.
I won’t reveal more of the plot, but wow, what a story.
I was appalled at Esme’s behaviour towards Lissa. When the accident happened, Lissa was a tween and she was far too young to be looking after her sister. I felt it was very selfish of Esme to be solely blaming her daughter, but I imagine that she was also blaming herself, she just didn’t voice it. The relationship between Esme and Lissa was a tricky one.
It’s a beautiful story of choices we make and the consequences they bring. It’s not just a romance, it’s so much more than that. The pages contain grief, trauma, loss, and blame.
I definitely recommend it.
February 5, 2026
Magical romance and time travel are some of my very favorite flavors of stories. Over and Over follows a love that is strong enough to transcend lifetimes, but honestly, I thought it was a little boring. The flashes to the past felt disjointed to me and there wasn’t enough emotion in the connection between the pair to make me go all in on the depth of their love. The exploration of grief was a stronger part of the plot to me and I honestly would have liked to have had more of the storyline between Emma and her half sister. I enjoyed the read, but I was a little underwhelmed. Thank you so much to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the advance copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I love Becky's books, and they have quite simply saved my life, particularly her first novel, One Moment.
It's quite similar to a novel I have been working on for a few years so at least I know the idea works and it has inspired me to revisit it.
I hate to say anything negative about Becky's books because she is one of my favourite writers, and is a masterful storyteller with great character development, but this one didn't grab me as much as her other books, it didn't entice or engage me as much either. It fell somewhat short of my expectations, I'm sorry to say.
I'm on the fence about the format. Becky explains at the start of the book that she initially started writing the different time periods as separate chapters but it wasn't working, so instead she interspersed flashbacks throughout the main story. And I understand what she was trying to do but I got a bit lost and would have preferred time periods separated by individual chapters so I could invest more in them.
The female characters were interesting to read about, very layered, and they had exciting lives to keep me hooked. But the male characters all felt flat and gave me nothing to invest in, and I felt no chemistry between anyone, in terms of romance or friendship.
It's romance and fantasy and magical, but it also hits on difficult topics like divorce, remarriage, grief, death, depression, trauma, and difficult familial dynamics. So it does have many layer which helped keep it interesting.
I feel it's a tad long, and tat is my main issue. It felt drawn out A lot of it felt slow and unnecessary and it means that by the time the ending came, it had all built up and I just found it lacked the spark I so dearly craved.
I think it was a fantastic premise and it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I adore her work so much, but it didn't give me what was promised and fell short of my expectations. On the strength of her two other books, she will always be an author I gravitate towards, but if this is your first then I beg you to go back to her debut, One Moment, which saved me during a very dark period of my life.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the advance copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I love Becky's books, and they have quite simply saved my life, particularly her first novel, One Moment.
It's quite similar to a novel I have been working on for a few years so at least I know the idea works and it has inspired me to revisit it.
I hate to say anything negative about Becky's books because she is one of my favourite writers, and is a masterful storyteller with great character development, but this one didn't grab me as much as her other books, it didn't entice or engage me as much either. It fell somewhat short of my expectations, I'm sorry to say.
I'm on the fence about the format. Becky explains at the start of the book that she initially started writing the different time periods as separate chapters but it wasn't working, so instead she interspersed flashbacks throughout the main story. And I understand what she was trying to do but I got a bit lost and would have preferred time periods separated by individual chapters so I could invest more in them.
The female characters were interesting to read about, very layered, and they had exciting lives to keep me hooked. But the male characters all felt flat and gave me nothing to invest in, and I felt no chemistry between anyone, in terms of romance or friendship.
It's romance and fantasy and magical, but it also hits on difficult topics like divorce, remarriage, grief, death, depression, trauma, and difficult familial dynamics. So it does have many layer which helped keep it interesting.
I feel it's a tad long, and tat is my main issue. It felt drawn out A lot of it felt slow and unnecessary and it means that by the time the ending came, it had all built up and I just found it lacked the spark I so dearly craved.
I think it was a fantastic premise and it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and I adore her work so much, but it didn't give me what was promised and fell short of my expectations. On the strength of her two other books, she will always be an author I gravitate towards, but if this is your first then I beg you to go back to her debut, One Moment, which saved me during a very dark period of my life.
February 8, 2026
It was cute and entertaining and I knew I was gonna love Becky's writing, like in Blood Bound. I flew through it!
I feel a bit the same right now as Lissa did/does, the sad, unbothered and slightly depressed/down mood so I did needed that right now. And love that she's a fellow name mate. 🙂↕️ And the way they met with the bike 🤭, iykyk.
I did sometimes miss the distinction between the real world and the dreams/flashbacks, probably bc I'm a ADHD girly 🤣🙈 since I have that more often with other stories.
Thank you Becky & Corvus/Atlantic Books UK for sending me this copy, I am excited to read Blood Bound 2 and your other work! 🩷
I feel a bit the same right now as Lissa did/does, the sad, unbothered and slightly depressed/down mood so I did needed that right now. And love that she's a fellow name mate. 🙂↕️ And the way they met with the bike 🤭, iykyk.
I did sometimes miss the distinction between the real world and the dreams/flashbacks, probably bc I'm a ADHD girly 🤣🙈 since I have that more often with other stories.
Thank you Becky & Corvus/Atlantic Books UK for sending me this copy, I am excited to read Blood Bound 2 and your other work! 🩷
November 22, 2025
This book absolutely wrecked me. I loved the concept when I found it, and I thought the whole past lives things was executed super well. It didn't feel gimmicky, which I was pretty worried about. As one might expect, there's some pretty heavy topics that are frequently talked about in the book, so be prepared for that.
The ending of this book is crazy, I honestly didn't think the author would have the guts to do what they did but oh my god. I was left shocked and in distress.
Give this one a read. You won't regret it
The ending of this book is crazy, I honestly didn't think the author would have the guts to do what they did but oh my god. I was left shocked and in distress.
Give this one a read. You won't regret it
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Quick Summary: A serendipitous, time after time romance
My Review: Over and Over by Becky Hunter is a "sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives—but are still searching for their HEA..." It is scheduled for release on 2/24/26.
About the Book: "Lissa is at a low point in her life when she meets Ash, but she can't deny their instant connection. It feels as they have met before, like she knows him somehow."
In My Own Words: Two people meet each other across time and relive their shared experiences repeatedly. Something has to change this time; but what?
About the Characters:
Lissa - > Only child post tragedy, plagued with guilt, burdened by dysfunctional toxicity in familial relationships, guarded & fearful, paralyzed by past, hungry for a future and a hope that seems beyond her reach, experiences dreams/flashbacks
Ash - > Spontaneous, running toward life even as he is running away from life, searching for the unsaid, weighted down by family obligation, hesitant with his heart, willing to go all in for the person he cares about most, tender heart
About the Conflict: The major conflict points were largely associated with the primary relationships in the book. There seemed to be an imbalance that impaired the connections. Additionally, the heavy burden of surviving beyond grief came across in a huge way. This was clear in the lives of both leads.
About the Book/Audiobook: I had the pleasure of reading/listening to this book via an immersive experience. I wholeheartedly believe that this was the best approach for me. I needed to savor what was happening in the story. The book alone shifted in ways that slowed me down. When the audio component was included, it opened up my mind in such a way that I could better grasp what the author was attempting to do with the characters and with the story. I would personally recommend an immersive reading for anyone seriously interested in understanding this novel. I think it will make for a richer experience.
This story was narrated by Lizzie Schenk. She did an amazing job of bringing the story to life.
My Final Say: This novel had a lot of movement and feelings. There were a number of time shifts and temporal adjustments throughout. Lives, past to present, crossed. Fleeting moments that revealed haunting memories were presented. Choices and regrets were made clear. The rawness of being emotionally vulnerable to those cared for was shown. The novel went there - to the heart place - and took things deeper than I expected. I really liked it.
This story made me stop and think about My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. Like the aforementioned, I found this book to be both complex and captivating. There was a troubling tone to it that was heartbreaking and somewhat bittersweet. It kept going on and on, but even as it did that, it revealed something that was important to see and necessary for growth to happen. It was an easy read yet not, at the same time. It was romantic in the way of the classics of old, in my opinion.
Other: This book is a mixed bag treasure. It will hold an appeal for some readers. Some readers, however, simply won't get it (and that is okay). What I will say is that for those who are willing to look beneath the layers, they will see a beautiful love story and life story.
Special Note: This novel would be excellent as a book club featured read. Though it is labeled a romance, I think a more appropriate listing would be that it is a women's fiction or general fiction story. Potential readers should note that there is a magical realism element.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 💜
Pacing: M
Format: 📱🎧
Narration: ✨
Cover: +
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever | Hachette Audio | Forever), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC and an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure to read and to listen to this work of fiction. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with this writer.
My Review: Over and Over by Becky Hunter is a "sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives—but are still searching for their HEA..." It is scheduled for release on 2/24/26.
About the Book: "Lissa is at a low point in her life when she meets Ash, but she can't deny their instant connection. It feels as they have met before, like she knows him somehow."
In My Own Words: Two people meet each other across time and relive their shared experiences repeatedly. Something has to change this time; but what?
About the Characters:
Lissa - > Only child post tragedy, plagued with guilt, burdened by dysfunctional toxicity in familial relationships, guarded & fearful, paralyzed by past, hungry for a future and a hope that seems beyond her reach, experiences dreams/flashbacks
Ash - > Spontaneous, running toward life even as he is running away from life, searching for the unsaid, weighted down by family obligation, hesitant with his heart, willing to go all in for the person he cares about most, tender heart
About the Conflict: The major conflict points were largely associated with the primary relationships in the book. There seemed to be an imbalance that impaired the connections. Additionally, the heavy burden of surviving beyond grief came across in a huge way. This was clear in the lives of both leads.
About the Book/Audiobook: I had the pleasure of reading/listening to this book via an immersive experience. I wholeheartedly believe that this was the best approach for me. I needed to savor what was happening in the story. The book alone shifted in ways that slowed me down. When the audio component was included, it opened up my mind in such a way that I could better grasp what the author was attempting to do with the characters and with the story. I would personally recommend an immersive reading for anyone seriously interested in understanding this novel. I think it will make for a richer experience.
This story was narrated by Lizzie Schenk. She did an amazing job of bringing the story to life.
My Final Say: This novel had a lot of movement and feelings. There were a number of time shifts and temporal adjustments throughout. Lives, past to present, crossed. Fleeting moments that revealed haunting memories were presented. Choices and regrets were made clear. The rawness of being emotionally vulnerable to those cared for was shown. The novel went there - to the heart place - and took things deeper than I expected. I really liked it.
This story made me stop and think about My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. Like the aforementioned, I found this book to be both complex and captivating. There was a troubling tone to it that was heartbreaking and somewhat bittersweet. It kept going on and on, but even as it did that, it revealed something that was important to see and necessary for growth to happen. It was an easy read yet not, at the same time. It was romantic in the way of the classics of old, in my opinion.
Other: This book is a mixed bag treasure. It will hold an appeal for some readers. Some readers, however, simply won't get it (and that is okay). What I will say is that for those who are willing to look beneath the layers, they will see a beautiful love story and life story.
Special Note: This novel would be excellent as a book club featured read. Though it is labeled a romance, I think a more appropriate listing would be that it is a women's fiction or general fiction story. Potential readers should note that there is a magical realism element.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Level: 💜
Pacing: M
Format: 📱🎧
Narration: ✨
Cover: +
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever | Hachette Audio | Forever), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC and an ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure to read and to listen to this work of fiction. I look forward to becoming better acquainted with this writer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 stars rounded up. Over and Over is about a woman, Lissa, who is mourning the death of her sister and paralyzed by the after effects her death had on the family. She has been frozen in place, allowing herself to be stuck in a dead-end job, not being open to or in relationships, and enduring her mother's emotional abuse. When she has a chance encounter with a man, Ash, in which he pulls her out of the way of a motor accident, she starts having memories of past lives in which she and her soulmate meet tragic ends. Lissa feels drawn to Ash (and he to her) but circumstances make her feel to guilty to pursue their connection.
This book is being sold as a romance, but I don't think that is true. It is a meditation on grief and guilt. Lissa is tormented by both. Ash is also effected by both. Lissa doesn't do anything to heal or move forward in her life because of the deep burden she carries. She isn't honest with herself or her friends. She talks to a psychic, but doesn't go to therapy. She reads into the tarot reading, but so incorrectly because of this burden of grief/guilt. As a therapist, I was getting so frustrated and upset at her constantly sabotaging her healing. I was getting frustrated that no one in her life called her out on it and treated her with kid gloves, preventing her growth. But that being said, I was only so upset because I was invested in her as a character and her story.
What didn't work for me was the flashbacks to past lives. The concept, yes. The way it happened, with no delineation in the writing, not even italics, was so confusing. I can guess it was to put the reader in the same state of confusion as Lissa felt, but it just was sloppy, having me read the same paragraph multiple times to understand. Also, I don't care about historical accuracy in these flashbacks, I wish there were more character development there. I wanted to yearn for those relationships as much as I did for Lissa and Ash. I liked he characters in these lives and wanted more. Also, Ash had no understanding of their soul connection, and I think the book would've been stronger if he did by the end.
Speaking of the end, holy whiplash. But I understand why the author did what she did. I guess I just wanted the growth to come sooner. I did like all the easter eggs and interconnectedness in the last chapters. I read an advanced copy so maybe some of the editing issues I had were fixed by time of publication. Regardless I enjoyed this story, despite its small flaws. I did love the journeys of Lissa's relationship with half sister Esme, her cousin, and her best friend. This book would be great for fans of The No Show by Beth O'Leary or who enjoy a little bit of magical realism like Rebecca Serle or Ashley Poston. Thanks to Net Galley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for my honest review,
This book is being sold as a romance, but I don't think that is true. It is a meditation on grief and guilt. Lissa is tormented by both. Ash is also effected by both. Lissa doesn't do anything to heal or move forward in her life because of the deep burden she carries. She isn't honest with herself or her friends. She talks to a psychic, but doesn't go to therapy. She reads into the tarot reading, but so incorrectly because of this burden of grief/guilt. As a therapist, I was getting so frustrated and upset at her constantly sabotaging her healing. I was getting frustrated that no one in her life called her out on it and treated her with kid gloves, preventing her growth. But that being said, I was only so upset because I was invested in her as a character and her story.
What didn't work for me was the flashbacks to past lives. The concept, yes. The way it happened, with no delineation in the writing, not even italics, was so confusing. I can guess it was to put the reader in the same state of confusion as Lissa felt, but it just was sloppy, having me read the same paragraph multiple times to understand. Also, I don't care about historical accuracy in these flashbacks, I wish there were more character development there. I wanted to yearn for those relationships as much as I did for Lissa and Ash. I liked he characters in these lives and wanted more. Also, Ash had no understanding of their soul connection, and I think the book would've been stronger if he did by the end.
Speaking of the end, holy whiplash. But I understand why the author did what she did. I guess I just wanted the growth to come sooner. I did like all the easter eggs and interconnectedness in the last chapters. I read an advanced copy so maybe some of the editing issues I had were fixed by time of publication. Regardless I enjoyed this story, despite its small flaws. I did love the journeys of Lissa's relationship with half sister Esme, her cousin, and her best friend. This book would be great for fans of The No Show by Beth O'Leary or who enjoy a little bit of magical realism like Rebecca Serle or Ashley Poston. Thanks to Net Galley and Forever for this eARC in exchange for my honest review,
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.75⭐
LIKED:
- It’s not like fated, reincarnated mates is the most unique idea on the planet, but I am a deeply flawed Hawkman x Hawkgirl stan and have been since I was 10. So. Take that as you will.
- The connection between the FMC and her family was probably the most interesting to me. I do think it was a bit too reliant on the trauma without much nuance which got a bit exhausting. I think the MMC’s relationship with his father was more interesting in that regard (especially with the repetition of that cycle).
- The FMC’s friends are also really good (but why they are friends with her? I’ll never know. Genuinely. - I know it’s part of the plot for one of the friends, but it was just odd).
- I like this cover a lot. I don’t think the sparkles add anything, but I like the colors and the overall design quite a bit.
LAMENTED:
- I think this book should have been split into two parts as opposed to this kind of tacked on long epilogue. It made it hard to connect with any of the characters after all was said and done.
- I mean I also just don’t think that I liked any of the characters, and I especially didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Which is, uh, kind of a major problem with people who are supposed to be destined to fall in a never end cycle of love and pain.
- I just felt that Ash was so flat and nothing. I think that some of the previous incarnations were maybe more interesting, but this isn’t a dual timeline book (nor should it be) but it we know so little about him.
- For how much this book takes place in Bath (and talks about taking place in Bath) we actually see and feel very little of Bath in this book.
- I don’t think this is the right title for this book. I think there are other phrases used in the book that work better. I don’t think it’s a bad title by any means, but it just doesn't feel like it’s the best.
LONGED FOR:
- Feeling connection to the characters.
- Chemistry between the characters.
- Ash to have any personality.
(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : Who knows, man. Who the hell knows.
Will I read the next one? : …I don’t know honestly. I think I liked her writing fine, and I am willing to chalk it up to the plot and characters falling flat.
*Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Similar Books :
- 'A Love Song for Ricki Wilde' by Tia Williams
- ‘Just Haven’t Met You Yet’ by Sophie Cousens
- 'The God and the Gwisin' by Sophie Kim
- 'Our Infinite Fates' by Laura Stephen
LIKED:
- It’s not like fated, reincarnated mates is the most unique idea on the planet, but I am a deeply flawed Hawkman x Hawkgirl stan and have been since I was 10. So. Take that as you will.
- The connection between the FMC and her family was probably the most interesting to me. I do think it was a bit too reliant on the trauma without much nuance which got a bit exhausting. I think the MMC’s relationship with his father was more interesting in that regard (especially with the repetition of that cycle).
- The FMC’s friends are also really good (but why they are friends with her? I’ll never know. Genuinely. - I know it’s part of the plot for one of the friends, but it was just odd).
- I like this cover a lot. I don’t think the sparkles add anything, but I like the colors and the overall design quite a bit.
LAMENTED:
- I think this book should have been split into two parts as opposed to this kind of tacked on long epilogue. It made it hard to connect with any of the characters after all was said and done.
- I mean I also just don’t think that I liked any of the characters, and I especially didn’t feel any chemistry between them. Which is, uh, kind of a major problem with people who are supposed to be destined to fall in a never end cycle of love and pain.
- I just felt that Ash was so flat and nothing. I think that some of the previous incarnations were maybe more interesting, but this isn’t a dual timeline book (nor should it be) but it we know so little about him.
- For how much this book takes place in Bath (and talks about taking place in Bath) we actually see and feel very little of Bath in this book.
- I don’t think this is the right title for this book. I think there are other phrases used in the book that work better. I don’t think it’s a bad title by any means, but it just doesn't feel like it’s the best.
LONGED FOR:
- Feeling connection to the characters.
- Chemistry between the characters.
- Ash to have any personality.
(How Long) Do I Think They’ll Stay Together? : Who knows, man. Who the hell knows.
Will I read the next one? : …I don’t know honestly. I think I liked her writing fine, and I am willing to chalk it up to the plot and characters falling flat.
*Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Similar Books :
- 'A Love Song for Ricki Wilde' by Tia Williams
- ‘Just Haven’t Met You Yet’ by Sophie Cousens
- 'The God and the Gwisin' by Sophie Kim
- 'Our Infinite Fates' by Laura Stephen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐
Over and Over
Becky Hunter
Publication Date: February 24th, 2026
Forever | Grand Central Publishing
416 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Women's Fiction
This book is about Lissa and Ash and their connection as soulmates. When they first see each other, it feels more like a memory than a first meeting. Then, Lissa starts to have very vivid flashbacks of different times and places she has never been. After experiencing these flashbacks, she realizes they are not just strangers meeting for the first time, but romantic partners who have found each other in many past lives. BUT all isn't rosy, as their past is one tragedy after another; no matter what era they are in, it always ends in heartbreak before they can reach a "happily ever after."
Lissa tries very hard to rewrite their history, hoping the story will turn out differently and change the ending they have been repeating over and over. This reminded me of the movie Sliding Doors. I liked the concept of "what if" and found the beginning of the book engaging. The author is great at figuring out how the tiny decisions we make, or even an outside disruption, can change the course of a relationship. I also appreciated how the author didn't shy away from grief; it made the book feel more realistic and showed how love doesn't solve everything.
The big problem I had was with the pacing. The book is over four hundred pages and spans many years, and there are a lot of near misses. It felt very repetitive after a while and slowed the book down for me. The constant cycle of breaking up and getting back together was a bit of a drag. The things keeping them apart felt a bit forced. Some of the missed connections were brilliantly done, but others required suspending belief, which frustrated me—especially where there was a lack of communication.
The conclusion provided closure, but I felt it was a bit of an abrupt ending after such a long, drawn-out timeline. The story itself is poignant, and the book is very well-written and thoughtful. I liked that it makes you think about fate versus the choices we make, but the "will they or won't they" back-and-forth got on my nerves. If you like your romances with a bit of sci-fi magic, and the will they or won't they factor, this would be the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
⭐⭐
Over and Over
Becky Hunter
Publication Date: February 24th, 2026
Forever | Grand Central Publishing
416 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Women's Fiction
This book is about Lissa and Ash and their connection as soulmates. When they first see each other, it feels more like a memory than a first meeting. Then, Lissa starts to have very vivid flashbacks of different times and places she has never been. After experiencing these flashbacks, she realizes they are not just strangers meeting for the first time, but romantic partners who have found each other in many past lives. BUT all isn't rosy, as their past is one tragedy after another; no matter what era they are in, it always ends in heartbreak before they can reach a "happily ever after."
Lissa tries very hard to rewrite their history, hoping the story will turn out differently and change the ending they have been repeating over and over. This reminded me of the movie Sliding Doors. I liked the concept of "what if" and found the beginning of the book engaging. The author is great at figuring out how the tiny decisions we make, or even an outside disruption, can change the course of a relationship. I also appreciated how the author didn't shy away from grief; it made the book feel more realistic and showed how love doesn't solve everything.
The big problem I had was with the pacing. The book is over four hundred pages and spans many years, and there are a lot of near misses. It felt very repetitive after a while and slowed the book down for me. The constant cycle of breaking up and getting back together was a bit of a drag. The things keeping them apart felt a bit forced. Some of the missed connections were brilliantly done, but others required suspending belief, which frustrated me—especially where there was a lack of communication.
The conclusion provided closure, but I felt it was a bit of an abrupt ending after such a long, drawn-out timeline. The story itself is poignant, and the book is very well-written and thoughtful. I liked that it makes you think about fate versus the choices we make, but the "will they or won't they" back-and-forth got on my nerves. If you like your romances with a bit of sci-fi magic, and the will they or won't they factor, this would be the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5 ⭐️
This one is a complicated read for me.
I usually go into books completely blind because I love discovering the story as I read, but in this case, that approach made things a little more challenging. After finishing, I read a few other reviews that didn’t love the format, and I completely understood why. The transitions between memories and the present timeline were jarring at times. However, the deeper I got into the story, the more I felt that was maybe intentional. The main character was confused and unsettled, so the reader is meant to feel that way too. She was unnerved, and in turn, so was I.
At its core, this is a story about a love that spans lifetimes, about grief, about the weight of our choices, and about the possibility of making things right. Does that erase the grief? No. But it explores learning from the choices we make and choosing differently the next time.
I really loved the premise and idea behind this book, but I do think it’s a bit of a disservice to market this as a romance. This book leans heavily into grief, loss, and mental illness. I was honestly surprised there were no trigger warnings listed beforehand. I’ve read Becky Hunter before, so I expected an emotional, layered story, but readers new to her work may be caught off guard.
What ultimately lowered my rating:
1. If I hadn’t been listening to the ALC while physically following along, I think I would have missed several timeline shifts. They’re subtle and easy to lose track of.
2. I felt a disconnect from the characters, which is rare for me with Becky Hunter’s books. Because of that, the ending didn’t fully settle for me.
3. Emotionally, this one just didn’t hit the way her previous books have. I felt glimpses of chemistry, but the structure kept it from fully clicking into place.
Audiobook Review 🎧
I was incredibly impressed with the narrator. She gave each character a distinct voice and handled multiple accents seamlessly—it was honestly so well done. Her performance made it much easier to distinguish between past and present timelines.
That said, this is not a book I’d recommend speeding through. I typically listen at 1.7x, and I had to slow it down significantly. It’s very easy to lose your place in the story or forget which timeline you’re in if you’re not fully immersed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, Hachette Audio, and Becky Hunter for the ARC and ALC. All thoughts are my own.
This one is a complicated read for me.
I usually go into books completely blind because I love discovering the story as I read, but in this case, that approach made things a little more challenging. After finishing, I read a few other reviews that didn’t love the format, and I completely understood why. The transitions between memories and the present timeline were jarring at times. However, the deeper I got into the story, the more I felt that was maybe intentional. The main character was confused and unsettled, so the reader is meant to feel that way too. She was unnerved, and in turn, so was I.
At its core, this is a story about a love that spans lifetimes, about grief, about the weight of our choices, and about the possibility of making things right. Does that erase the grief? No. But it explores learning from the choices we make and choosing differently the next time.
I really loved the premise and idea behind this book, but I do think it’s a bit of a disservice to market this as a romance. This book leans heavily into grief, loss, and mental illness. I was honestly surprised there were no trigger warnings listed beforehand. I’ve read Becky Hunter before, so I expected an emotional, layered story, but readers new to her work may be caught off guard.
What ultimately lowered my rating:
1. If I hadn’t been listening to the ALC while physically following along, I think I would have missed several timeline shifts. They’re subtle and easy to lose track of.
2. I felt a disconnect from the characters, which is rare for me with Becky Hunter’s books. Because of that, the ending didn’t fully settle for me.
3. Emotionally, this one just didn’t hit the way her previous books have. I felt glimpses of chemistry, but the structure kept it from fully clicking into place.
Audiobook Review 🎧
I was incredibly impressed with the narrator. She gave each character a distinct voice and handled multiple accents seamlessly—it was honestly so well done. Her performance made it much easier to distinguish between past and present timelines.
That said, this is not a book I’d recommend speeding through. I typically listen at 1.7x, and I had to slow it down significantly. It’s very easy to lose your place in the story or forget which timeline you’re in if you’re not fully immersed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, Hachette Audio, and Becky Hunter for the ARC and ALC. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Becky Hunter and Hachette Audio for this audiobook arc.
Okay so… this audiobook? Very cute. Very sad girl coded. Very “I listened to this while staring out a window pretending I’m in a BBC drama.” The narrator’s British accent alone almost bullied me into a higher rating. She was that good. Her male voices? Shockingly hot. The American accent? Unfairly convincing. I swear this is not a narrator fan account but wow, she understood the assignment.
The premise had me immediately sat: tragic soulmates across multiple lifetimes who keep finding each other and keep ending badly?? Hello?? I’m listening. If you loved Our Infinite Fates and finished it like “cool, now give me twelve more reincarnation angst books immediately,” you’ll probably be intrigued by this one too. It’s just different enough to stand on its own.
That said… some things didn’t fully work for me, like a lot of plot moments at least in the beginning happen off page and then get told to us later in past tense. So sometimes we don’t experience things, we just hear aboutthem. And for me that created this emotional distance where I wanted to feel the moment but instead felt like I was getting a recap. I know this is partly a third-person thing (which is why I’m always a little suspicious of it), but here it made the romance feel less immediate than I wanted.
There’s also a lot happening. Big cast plus these dreamlike past-life elements layered in. In theory? Gorgeous. In practice? Slightly confusing. It gave more murky than mysterious for me, and I sometimes felt like I was working harder than I wanted to just to keep track of everything.
What stayed with me the most wasn’t even the romance (though it is central), but the emotional undercurrent: grief, guilt, loss, blame, forgiveness. The love story sometimes steps back so those themes can come forward and honestly? That was where the book felt strongest for me.
So yeah this is one of those reads where I didn’t love it but I didn’t dislike it either. I appreciated the vibes, adored the audiobook performance and think the right reader will absolutely connect with it more deeply than I did.
Okay so… this audiobook? Very cute. Very sad girl coded. Very “I listened to this while staring out a window pretending I’m in a BBC drama.” The narrator’s British accent alone almost bullied me into a higher rating. She was that good. Her male voices? Shockingly hot. The American accent? Unfairly convincing. I swear this is not a narrator fan account but wow, she understood the assignment.
The premise had me immediately sat: tragic soulmates across multiple lifetimes who keep finding each other and keep ending badly?? Hello?? I’m listening. If you loved Our Infinite Fates and finished it like “cool, now give me twelve more reincarnation angst books immediately,” you’ll probably be intrigued by this one too. It’s just different enough to stand on its own.
That said… some things didn’t fully work for me, like a lot of plot moments at least in the beginning happen off page and then get told to us later in past tense. So sometimes we don’t experience things, we just hear aboutthem. And for me that created this emotional distance where I wanted to feel the moment but instead felt like I was getting a recap. I know this is partly a third-person thing (which is why I’m always a little suspicious of it), but here it made the romance feel less immediate than I wanted.
There’s also a lot happening. Big cast plus these dreamlike past-life elements layered in. In theory? Gorgeous. In practice? Slightly confusing. It gave more murky than mysterious for me, and I sometimes felt like I was working harder than I wanted to just to keep track of everything.
What stayed with me the most wasn’t even the romance (though it is central), but the emotional undercurrent: grief, guilt, loss, blame, forgiveness. The love story sometimes steps back so those themes can come forward and honestly? That was where the book felt strongest for me.
So yeah this is one of those reads where I didn’t love it but I didn’t dislike it either. I appreciated the vibes, adored the audiobook performance and think the right reader will absolutely connect with it more deeply than I did.
February 6, 2026
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Phew. Okay. Now that that’s out of the way: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS STORY!
*I bounced between the ebook + audiobook*
This book was clever and unique and complicated and intriguing. It took me a minute to get into because at first it all felt a little difficult to parse through what was happening… but once I understood I was absolutely hooked. Could not put it down hooked.
The devastation in the later parts of this book are truly so beautiful. “Dr. D” sliding into the storyline at the airport via stepping on Ally’s foot and putting the pieces together?! It hurts so good. It left me wondering: did they keep in touch?! Did Mia ever want to get in touch with Ally? How did Elsie come into Ally’s life — was that organic or did Darcy have anything to do with that?
Either way: I loved it and hated it so much. I hated what happened in the end to Ash and Lissa and I hate that Ally and Theo missed out on years together. 😭
The way that EVERY thing lined up blew my mind. All the timelines. All the patterns. Leading up to the culmination in the timeline for Theo and Ally. I wish we would have gotten more time with the two of them once Ally recovers her past life memories. Was Theo having any of that, too? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. Which is perfect because it reminds me of all the questions Lissa so badly wanted Saskia to answer for her about her life and the choices she should or shouldn’t make. (I feel like Lissa and Becky Hunter feels like Saskia 😂)
This book really was incredible. It was just… MORE! 🖤 I love how many layers to the story there was and how Becky had things unfurling in the coolest way the further into the book we got. I’ll be thinking about this book for a very long time.
Lizzie Schenk did a FANTASTIC job narrating. She did a great job of telling the story while infusing emotion without it feeling too overbearing. She has a lovely voice that’s so so easy to listen to! I loved her as Lissa.
Thank you to Becky Hunter for becoming a writer. Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever Publishing for the early advanced copies of the book. All opinions are my own.
Phew. Okay. Now that that’s out of the way: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS STORY!
*I bounced between the ebook + audiobook*
This book was clever and unique and complicated and intriguing. It took me a minute to get into because at first it all felt a little difficult to parse through what was happening… but once I understood I was absolutely hooked. Could not put it down hooked.
The devastation in the later parts of this book are truly so beautiful. “Dr. D” sliding into the storyline at the airport via stepping on Ally’s foot and putting the pieces together?! It hurts so good. It left me wondering: did they keep in touch?! Did Mia ever want to get in touch with Ally? How did Elsie come into Ally’s life — was that organic or did Darcy have anything to do with that?
Either way: I loved it and hated it so much. I hated what happened in the end to Ash and Lissa and I hate that Ally and Theo missed out on years together. 😭
The way that EVERY thing lined up blew my mind. All the timelines. All the patterns. Leading up to the culmination in the timeline for Theo and Ally. I wish we would have gotten more time with the two of them once Ally recovers her past life memories. Was Theo having any of that, too? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. Which is perfect because it reminds me of all the questions Lissa so badly wanted Saskia to answer for her about her life and the choices she should or shouldn’t make. (I feel like Lissa and Becky Hunter feels like Saskia 😂)
This book really was incredible. It was just… MORE! 🖤 I love how many layers to the story there was and how Becky had things unfurling in the coolest way the further into the book we got. I’ll be thinking about this book for a very long time.
Lizzie Schenk did a FANTASTIC job narrating. She did a great job of telling the story while infusing emotion without it feeling too overbearing. She has a lovely voice that’s so so easy to listen to! I loved her as Lissa.
Thank you to Becky Hunter for becoming a writer. Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever Publishing for the early advanced copies of the book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is not a romance. I repeat, this is not genre romance. Do not come to this book expecting a HEA or a HFN. If, however, you are interested in a sad x horny love story, then this might be for you.
Over and Over follows Lissa as she navigates present day impacts of past trauma, grief, guilt, and professional dissatisfaction. Oh, and dating and romance complications too. When she meets Ash, the friend of a current/past situationship, echoes of past lives begin to haunt her dreams and cloud her vision during moments of intense feeling. The story follows Lissa's journey to better understand these recurring visions, how they intersect with her grief and guilt, and what to do with her burgeoning feelings for Ash. There are alternately tragic and romantic vignettes of a couple whose timeline and relationship conflicts mirror Lissa and Ash in the present timeline.
While I enjoyed the story overall, I was frustrated by the plot "twist" that occurs near the 90% mark. I'd spent so much time invested in Lissa's journey of discovery and the romantic relationship development with Ash that, even though I saw it coming, I still groaned out loud. The overarching plot gets wrapped up, but it felt lacking in the emotional investment because two new characters were introduced to pick up the narrative thread.
Reincarnation. Past lives. Soulmates. These are romantic plot and character devices that I love. Indeed, several of my favorite genre romance books use these elements to great effect. The main difference here though is that Over and Over was less compelling by comparison. The chemistry between Lissa and Ash was too subdued, the stakes were present but largely hindered by narrative pacing. The story moved to slowly. The flashback vignettes tried to break up the slowness, but the audiobook production didn't do enough to distinguish them, which negated their potential impact.
All told, I enjoyed the story and narration but was hoping for more emotional impact.
Over and Over follows Lissa as she navigates present day impacts of past trauma, grief, guilt, and professional dissatisfaction. Oh, and dating and romance complications too. When she meets Ash, the friend of a current/past situationship, echoes of past lives begin to haunt her dreams and cloud her vision during moments of intense feeling. The story follows Lissa's journey to better understand these recurring visions, how they intersect with her grief and guilt, and what to do with her burgeoning feelings for Ash. There are alternately tragic and romantic vignettes of a couple whose timeline and relationship conflicts mirror Lissa and Ash in the present timeline.
While I enjoyed the story overall, I was frustrated by the plot "twist" that occurs near the 90% mark. I'd spent so much time invested in Lissa's journey of discovery and the romantic relationship development with Ash that, even though I saw it coming, I still groaned out loud. The overarching plot gets wrapped up, but it felt lacking in the emotional investment because two new characters were introduced to pick up the narrative thread.
Reincarnation. Past lives. Soulmates. These are romantic plot and character devices that I love. Indeed, several of my favorite genre romance books use these elements to great effect. The main difference here though is that Over and Over was less compelling by comparison. The chemistry between Lissa and Ash was too subdued, the stakes were present but largely hindered by narrative pacing. The story moved to slowly. The flashback vignettes tried to break up the slowness, but the audiobook production didn't do enough to distinguish them, which negated their potential impact.
All told, I enjoyed the story and narration but was hoping for more emotional impact.
November 27, 2025
3,5⭐️
L’histoire avait du potentiel, mais l’ensemble m’a paru assez décousu.
Le concept de revivre sa vie encore et encore en tombant chaque fois amoureux de la même personne m’avait vraiment charmée. Pourtant, ce n’est finalement pas sur cet aspect que repose le roman. On suit Lissa, une trentenaire encore profondément marquée par la perte de sa petite sœur lorsqu’elle était enfant. Le récit s’ouvre sur le vingtième anniversaire de ce décès, un événement qui s’impose comme le véritable cœur de l’intrigue. C’est ce jour-là que Lissa rencontre Ash, donnant naissance à une relation qui se construit lentement au fil des mois.
À partir de leur rencontre, Lissa commence à avoir des visions de vies passées. Cependant, ces scènes sont si brèves que je n’ai pas réussi à m’y attacher ni à en saisir la portée. Au lieu d’y voir une dimension de « magical realism », j’ai parfois eu l’impression que Lissa traversait surtout des troubles psychiques, ce qui m’a malheureusement sortie du récit. J’aurais aimé que l’on soit réellement plongés dans ses vies passées afin de saisir l’importance de ce qu’il s’était passé et de comment cela nous a mené à la Lissa du présent.
Le « drame des 80 % » m’a également agacée, au point d’être, je crois, le moment où j’ai décroché pour de bon.
En résumé, même si l’histoire possède un vrai potentiel, je n’ai pas réussi à m’y investir. La narration à la troisième personne a probablement renforcé ce sentiment de distance, me laissant extérieure à ce que vivaient les personnages.
PS: il sort le 12 février 2026 ✨
Merci à NetGalley et Atlantis Books pour ce sp numérique 🫶🏼
L’histoire avait du potentiel, mais l’ensemble m’a paru assez décousu.
Le concept de revivre sa vie encore et encore en tombant chaque fois amoureux de la même personne m’avait vraiment charmée. Pourtant, ce n’est finalement pas sur cet aspect que repose le roman. On suit Lissa, une trentenaire encore profondément marquée par la perte de sa petite sœur lorsqu’elle était enfant. Le récit s’ouvre sur le vingtième anniversaire de ce décès, un événement qui s’impose comme le véritable cœur de l’intrigue. C’est ce jour-là que Lissa rencontre Ash, donnant naissance à une relation qui se construit lentement au fil des mois.
À partir de leur rencontre, Lissa commence à avoir des visions de vies passées. Cependant, ces scènes sont si brèves que je n’ai pas réussi à m’y attacher ni à en saisir la portée. Au lieu d’y voir une dimension de « magical realism », j’ai parfois eu l’impression que Lissa traversait surtout des troubles psychiques, ce qui m’a malheureusement sortie du récit. J’aurais aimé que l’on soit réellement plongés dans ses vies passées afin de saisir l’importance de ce qu’il s’était passé et de comment cela nous a mené à la Lissa du présent.
Le « drame des 80 % » m’a également agacée, au point d’être, je crois, le moment où j’ai décroché pour de bon.
En résumé, même si l’histoire possède un vrai potentiel, je n’ai pas réussi à m’y investir. La narration à la troisième personne a probablement renforcé ce sentiment de distance, me laissant extérieure à ce que vivaient les personnages.
PS: il sort le 12 février 2026 ✨
Merci à NetGalley et Atlantis Books pour ce sp numérique 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Forever publishing and NetGalley for this eARC!
2.5-3⭐
I picked this up because I loved the sound of the premise. The concept stood out to me as I believe in reincarnation and especially love the sound of a romance transcending through time/lives. Unfortunately, the execution of this didn’t deliver for me.
I appreciated the exploration of grief in this book. Our protagonist, Lissa, navigates with a significant loss throughout the plot. However, despite its somber tone, the book failed to get an emotional responses from me. I found it challenging to connect with the characters, and I believe that a first-person perspective would have enhanced the narrative.
The pacing of the plot was slow, and some of the transitions of the past lives were confusing. The romance didn’t land for me, as I struggled to feel any chemistry between Lissa and the MMC, Ash.
Lissa’s inner struggles were a significant focus, which is important. However, I felt there could have been more opportunities to showcase their “strong” connection through their dialogue. We only know they have this “bond” because
There were moments towards the end that took me by surprise. While I appreciated why those events happened and the themes of this novel, I’m not sure if I totally agree with the message it was getting across.
2.5-3⭐
I picked this up because I loved the sound of the premise. The concept stood out to me as I believe in reincarnation and especially love the sound of a romance transcending through time/lives. Unfortunately, the execution of this didn’t deliver for me.
I appreciated the exploration of grief in this book. Our protagonist, Lissa, navigates with a significant loss throughout the plot. However, despite its somber tone, the book failed to get an emotional responses from me. I found it challenging to connect with the characters, and I believe that a first-person perspective would have enhanced the narrative.
The pacing of the plot was slow, and some of the transitions of the past lives were confusing. The romance didn’t land for me, as I struggled to feel any chemistry between Lissa and the MMC, Ash.
Lissa’s inner struggles were a significant focus, which is important. However, I felt there could have been more opportunities to showcase their “strong” connection through their dialogue. We only know they have this “bond” because
There were moments towards the end that took me by surprise. While I appreciated why those events happened and the themes of this novel, I’m not sure if I totally agree with the message it was getting across.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoy this theme in a book so when I saw this book I was excited. Lissa has had a hard life, loosing her sister and the fall out from that has defined many aspects of her life. Then one day she meets Ash a friend of a co worker she agreed to have lunch with and the pull is something she's never experienced before. Lissa has also started to have memory's or dreams she remembers, though she isn't sure what they are soon she starts to question if they are memories from past lives and Ash is in every one and they all end the same way. Quickly falling for Ash Lissa knows she can't have the same ending as all the others and makes decisions that will change everything or so she hopes.
This is a good book I like how we see their past lives and I really enjoyed seeing Lissa and how something in her past has defined so much of not only who she is but her entire family. Then her coming to the realization and trying to change that. I will say the ending was not expected and I'm not sure how I feel about it, going in I didn't expect it but I wouldn't say I hate it. I'd say it's open(without saying anything to spoil). I love the bit at the end with the reappearance of some characters that was beyond perfect and added such a great moment. This was a fun book and I'm glad I gave it a chance. This is also the first book from this author and I think she did a great job, not only with the writing but the characters.
*Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for they ARC
This is a good book I like how we see their past lives and I really enjoyed seeing Lissa and how something in her past has defined so much of not only who she is but her entire family. Then her coming to the realization and trying to change that. I will say the ending was not expected and I'm not sure how I feel about it, going in I didn't expect it but I wouldn't say I hate it. I'd say it's open(without saying anything to spoil). I love the bit at the end with the reappearance of some characters that was beyond perfect and added such a great moment. This was a fun book and I'm glad I gave it a chance. This is also the first book from this author and I think she did a great job, not only with the writing but the characters.
*Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for they ARC
February 13, 2026
When Lissa meets Ash, she can't deny their instant connection. It's like they've met before, many times. Then, the flashbacks start and somehow she just knows: these are memories of past lives. And in those lives, there's always one person. Always, she falls in love with him. Always, it ends in tragedy. This time, Lissa knows she must do something different. Can the star-crossed lovers learn from their past mistakes and finally find their happy ending?
This is such a beautifully written book and Becky does a fantastic job of telling the story in a unique way.
By incorporating the ‘memories’ of the past lives through the use of dreams and feelings, as a reader it was always evident the difference between them and reality, and I felt it definitely worked better in this format than maybe flashback chapters. This method allowed a connection to form with Lissa, I felt it definitely was there experiencing everything with her, figuring out the mysteries from the past alongside her.
The ending was also perfectly executed, I had a feeling of how it was going to conclude but I could never quite have imagined just how clever the final section would, tying up all the unanswered questions and leaving those open-ended possibilities that leave you with that warm and fuzzy feeling.
I always enjoy Becky’s writing and the ideas she explores in her books, I look forward to what comes next for sure!
This is such a beautifully written book and Becky does a fantastic job of telling the story in a unique way.
By incorporating the ‘memories’ of the past lives through the use of dreams and feelings, as a reader it was always evident the difference between them and reality, and I felt it definitely worked better in this format than maybe flashback chapters. This method allowed a connection to form with Lissa, I felt it definitely was there experiencing everything with her, figuring out the mysteries from the past alongside her.
The ending was also perfectly executed, I had a feeling of how it was going to conclude but I could never quite have imagined just how clever the final section would, tying up all the unanswered questions and leaving those open-ended possibilities that leave you with that warm and fuzzy feeling.
I always enjoy Becky’s writing and the ideas she explores in her books, I look forward to what comes next for sure!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC REVIEW
Over and Over
by Becky Hunter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 (3 out of 5)
Release date : 2/24/26
This was not was I was expecting and I've never read another book like it!
The Goodreads blurb states : A sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives—but can never escape their tragic ending—in this angsty novel, perfect for fans of Josie Silver and One Day.
I've never read anything that dealt with "past lives." And honestly I was a bit confused at first. Once I understood what I was reading, it made more sense. However sometimes these past life "visions" just appeared out of nowhere and I was again, confused on what was going on. It was an interesting concept for sure!
It felt a bit long. It did keep my interest but I wasn't very invested in the characters. I didn't feel like they had much chemistry and the overall tone of the book felt flat. The vibe of the book was "dull" (to me). I wouldn't read if you want a happy, cheery book! Big focus on death, grief and child death.
With that being said, I LOVED the ending. It was a 30 and 15 year jump that was beautiful!
Definitely not a bad read, but not super memorable to me.
However, still very thankful for the early read opportunity! Thank you @readforeverpub and @netgalley 🙂
Over and Over
by Becky Hunter
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 (3 out of 5)
Release date : 2/24/26
This was not was I was expecting and I've never read another book like it!
The Goodreads blurb states : A sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives—but can never escape their tragic ending—in this angsty novel, perfect for fans of Josie Silver and One Day.
I've never read anything that dealt with "past lives." And honestly I was a bit confused at first. Once I understood what I was reading, it made more sense. However sometimes these past life "visions" just appeared out of nowhere and I was again, confused on what was going on. It was an interesting concept for sure!
It felt a bit long. It did keep my interest but I wasn't very invested in the characters. I didn't feel like they had much chemistry and the overall tone of the book felt flat. The vibe of the book was "dull" (to me). I wouldn't read if you want a happy, cheery book! Big focus on death, grief and child death.
With that being said, I LOVED the ending. It was a 30 and 15 year jump that was beautiful!
Definitely not a bad read, but not super memorable to me.
However, still very thankful for the early read opportunity! Thank you @readforeverpub and @netgalley 🙂
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the early copy of the audibook.
I do not agree with the whole message of the entire story, and why 2⭐️? Honestly, it wasnt a bad book and i could see how someone would like this type of story. I would recommend the audiobook because I would have dnf this book so hard if I were to read it physically/ebook.
Now, onto the pacing of the story... This was the main problem of the entire story. The flashbacks were so odd and it was very hard to keep up with. Now onto the message behind this story... It is to heal yourself before finding love. A part of me agree but due to the reoccurring consequences that the exact moment the fmc chose love, the next second, both of them dies is NOT it.
Do you know the burden and guilt i would have had if I were to know its because of my actions, my loved ones dies. Wrong message to convey in this type of story unfortunately. The ending was not satisfying to me because after 45 years later, they start this cycle again and this could potentially break the reoccurring cycle and all she needed to do was heal her trauma? GIRL BFFR 😮💨😮💨
I do not agree with the whole message of the entire story, and why 2⭐️? Honestly, it wasnt a bad book and i could see how someone would like this type of story. I would recommend the audiobook because I would have dnf this book so hard if I were to read it physically/ebook.
Now, onto the pacing of the story... This was the main problem of the entire story. The flashbacks were so odd and it was very hard to keep up with. Now onto the message behind this story... It is to heal yourself before finding love. A part of me agree but due to the reoccurring consequences that the exact moment the fmc chose love, the next second, both of them dies is NOT it.
Do you know the burden and guilt i would have had if I were to know its because of my actions, my loved ones dies. Wrong message to convey in this type of story unfortunately. The ending was not satisfying to me because after 45 years later, they start this cycle again and this could potentially break the reoccurring cycle and all she needed to do was heal her trauma? GIRL BFFR 😮💨😮💨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this book, with my honest review below.
Over and Over revisits a couple (mainly through the eyes of the woman in the relationship) as they get together and find the same ending through different times and places. I love the idea of alternative paths for people in fiction, and found this beautiful but missing something really compelling past the anticipated tragedy.
I don’t want to ruin the different circumstances in which our couple gets together but I will say in every iteration they bring different tragedy from their past which is fascinating and heartbreaking to learn about. While their meetings and the build up of their relationship is beautiful it’s not necessarily inspiring. The main perspective we see them from is one in Bath, England, and appreciated that readers had a consistent and main touch point in that setting. Really this is melancholic and I do love a good read hitting that tone but I was just missing something from making it truly engrossing for me.
Over and Over revisits a couple (mainly through the eyes of the woman in the relationship) as they get together and find the same ending through different times and places. I love the idea of alternative paths for people in fiction, and found this beautiful but missing something really compelling past the anticipated tragedy.
I don’t want to ruin the different circumstances in which our couple gets together but I will say in every iteration they bring different tragedy from their past which is fascinating and heartbreaking to learn about. While their meetings and the build up of their relationship is beautiful it’s not necessarily inspiring. The main perspective we see them from is one in Bath, England, and appreciated that readers had a consistent and main touch point in that setting. Really this is melancholic and I do love a good read hitting that tone but I was just missing something from making it truly engrossing for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.
2.5 stars rounded up
I think a better title would be Always You which is a line from the book. Not exactly the HEA that I was expecting, especially for something that's categorized as a romance, and the ending was disappointing. Also, not a time travel - it explores past lives a bit. I didn't particularly like Lissa and couldn't connect to her, and wondered why her friends stuck by her. She was such a Debby Downer, and yes, I get why, to an extent, but if any character needs therapy immediately, it's Lissa. (AND her mother!! Oh my goodness.) Also, if you're going to mention the setting (Bath, England) SO often throughout the story, the reader should get a sense of place. This could have taken place literally anywhere; it's completely non-descriptive. Did I dislike it? No, I can't say that, it just wasn't at all what I thought it would be. I think I would have liked it more going in blind.
2.5 stars rounded up
I think a better title would be Always You which is a line from the book. Not exactly the HEA that I was expecting, especially for something that's categorized as a romance, and the ending was disappointing. Also, not a time travel - it explores past lives a bit. I didn't particularly like Lissa and couldn't connect to her, and wondered why her friends stuck by her. She was such a Debby Downer, and yes, I get why, to an extent, but if any character needs therapy immediately, it's Lissa. (AND her mother!! Oh my goodness.) Also, if you're going to mention the setting (Bath, England) SO often throughout the story, the reader should get a sense of place. This could have taken place literally anywhere; it's completely non-descriptive. Did I dislike it? No, I can't say that, it just wasn't at all what I thought it would be. I think I would have liked it more going in blind.
January 24, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the Arc!
I don’t really know how to feel about this bookI In my humble opinion, this is not a romance. This story is about one soul trying to break a pattern. I went back and looked, and this is what the synopsis says: A sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives.
But this is not what the story is. We do not spend enough time in Lissa & Ash’s relationship for this should be a story about soulmates finding their happy ending. Ash has absolutely no agency in this story. He does not know about the past lives until about 90%. I also think that it’s really sad that these soulmates were the core focus of this because I think the tragedy of it all would’ve been much sadder if I was actually invested in that relationship, but I wasn’t because we don’t spend enough time with them. I did find Lissa’s journey to be interesting but I didn’t really like the resolution that she couldn’t figure it out and had to die again before she found actual peace
I don’t really know how to feel about this bookI In my humble opinion, this is not a romance. This story is about one soul trying to break a pattern. I went back and looked, and this is what the synopsis says: A sweeping speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives.
But this is not what the story is. We do not spend enough time in Lissa & Ash’s relationship for this should be a story about soulmates finding their happy ending. Ash has absolutely no agency in this story. He does not know about the past lives until about 90%. I also think that it’s really sad that these soulmates were the core focus of this because I think the tragedy of it all would’ve been much sadder if I was actually invested in that relationship, but I wasn’t because we don’t spend enough time with them. I did find Lissa’s journey to be interesting but I didn’t really like the resolution that she couldn’t figure it out and had to die again before she found actual peace
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book primarily deals with love ( Lissa and Ash ) and loss ( Lissa’s sister many years previous ) via flashbacks ( Sister) and also flashbacks where Lissa falls in love and everytime loses that love,it is easier when reading it than explaining it in writing but it does work and does make sense in the story
I liked Lissa and her thoughts and some parts were very funny ie her descriptions of her work environment and boss Liam ( most of us can resonate with this at least once in our lives) but also admired her love for her Mum and her incredible loyalty to her even when this was pushed to the limit,it was also harrowing and emotive to feel her grief re her Sister
I also liked Ash so was easy for me to want them to be together and overcome these worrying flashbacks and be happy
It is a book of 2 storylines really that meet together and made for a uplifting at times and sorrowful at others read
Overuse of the word ‘snort’ everytime someone laughed etc was my only gripe in an otherwise endearing and unusually quirky read
I liked Lissa and her thoughts and some parts were very funny ie her descriptions of her work environment and boss Liam ( most of us can resonate with this at least once in our lives) but also admired her love for her Mum and her incredible loyalty to her even when this was pushed to the limit,it was also harrowing and emotive to feel her grief re her Sister
I also liked Ash so was easy for me to want them to be together and overcome these worrying flashbacks and be happy
It is a book of 2 storylines really that meet together and made for a uplifting at times and sorrowful at others read
Overuse of the word ‘snort’ everytime someone laughed etc was my only gripe in an otherwise endearing and unusually quirky read
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Lissa and Ash meet, they can’t deny their attraction, it’s like they have met before. Then flashbacks start and she knows, these are memories of past lives and there’s always one person who she falls in love with. But it always ends tragically, so this time she knows that she has to do something differently. Will they get their happy ever after?
I really liked the idea behind this one and enjoy books with a bit of a speculative edge, especially romance. This was definitely an intriguing read and explored some serious topics, so had emotional and thought provoking moments, however I found the execution a bit of an issue. This was mainly because the way the story was told was quite disjointed, meaning it was confusing at times. I also didn’t feel a huge connection with the characters, which also didn’t help with my investment in the story. Even though this wasn’t fully for me, I still appreciate the premise and what the author was trying to achieve. 2.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I really liked the idea behind this one and enjoy books with a bit of a speculative edge, especially romance. This was definitely an intriguing read and explored some serious topics, so had emotional and thought provoking moments, however I found the execution a bit of an issue. This was mainly because the way the story was told was quite disjointed, meaning it was confusing at times. I also didn’t feel a huge connection with the characters, which also didn’t help with my investment in the story. Even though this wasn’t fully for me, I still appreciate the premise and what the author was trying to achieve. 2.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
February 8, 2026
"Over and Over" by Becky Hunter is a speculative romance following two soulmates who have met in past lives.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for the digital advance reader copy of the book and the audiobook.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
When Lissa and Ash meet there is an instant connection.
The she starts having dreams that feel like flashbacks to previous lives.
Even if this is not what I initially expected from the story, I have to say that I liked it.
The romance is a very slow burn and we only get Lissa's POV.
She has a tragic past, having lost her sister and the relationship to her family is a toxic one.
Ash is a sweet man, that understands her and is very caring.
This is an emotional story, with complicated family dynamics that connected the past with the present and the future.
The audiobook is narrated by Lizzie Schenk and she was able to bring out all the emotions.
She did a good job as Lissa.
I did not expect the ending and I have to say that it made me emotional.
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for the digital advance reader copy of the book and the audiobook.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.
When Lissa and Ash meet there is an instant connection.
The she starts having dreams that feel like flashbacks to previous lives.
Even if this is not what I initially expected from the story, I have to say that I liked it.
The romance is a very slow burn and we only get Lissa's POV.
She has a tragic past, having lost her sister and the relationship to her family is a toxic one.
Ash is a sweet man, that understands her and is very caring.
This is an emotional story, with complicated family dynamics that connected the past with the present and the future.
The audiobook is narrated by Lizzie Schenk and she was able to bring out all the emotions.
She did a good job as Lissa.
I did not expect the ending and I have to say that it made me emotional.
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