The Hundred Lives I Lived Before You

by Sean W. Willson

Ren has never been able to control his life. Without warning, he wakes up somewhere a different era, a different world, a different version of everything he knows. Pirates, Planets, and Kingdoms, he can't name. The people around him never notice. They keep living, as if the world didn't just change overnight.

Then he meets Eternity, and suddenly, he has something worth coming back for.

The Hundred Lives I Lived Before You is a genre-bending love story about chasing the right person across the wrong worlds, and wondering if love is strong enough to survive when reality itself refuses to stay still.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2026

About the author

Sean W. Willson writes contemporary fiction that blends heartfelt romance with high-concept twists. Drawn to stories of identity, second chances, and emotional growth, he explores the defining moments that shape who we become.

His work often centers on characters caught between who they are and who they want to be; navigating love, difficult choices, and the courage it takes to change. With a fascination for time loops and the idea of reliving pivotal moments, Sean crafts stories that combine emotional depth with page-turning momentum.

He believes that growing up is rarely a straight line—and that sometimes, we need more than one chance to get it right.

Reviews

[Ian Ostroff]

Though this is a work of speculative fiction, this book feels so grounded and real. I feel as though I am part of Ren's journey as he is waking up in different worlds, while also navigating regular life. I really, really enjoyed this read and the author's writing style. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that you'll be rooting for Willow's happily ever after by the time you get to Paris. I'll be looking out for more books by this author, and hope you will too once you finish this wonderful book.

[Amber Farquhar]

This book captures your attention right from the get go. You’ll laugh and cry and feel all the feels. I couldn’t put it down. A new twist on a wonderful love story so beautifully written. Sean has done it again!

[Stacey (Bookalorian)]

Book Review - Fiction - Fantasy - Science Fiction - Romance

Title: The Hundred Lives I Lived Before You by Sean W. Willson

⭐ Star Rating: 5 ⭐

🏆 Best of the Year Contender

🎯 Vibe Check: PASS (and bring tissues... seriously.)

This book felt like... The Time Traveler's Wife met Everything Everywhere All at Once with a soul-deep love story wrapped around it. It's one of those books that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

I was hooked... almost immediately. Every time Ren woke up in another life, another world, another reality, I couldn't wait to see where Sean was going to take me next. Pirates? Kingdoms? Entirely different worlds? Every chapter felt like opening the door to another adventure.

But underneath all of that genre-bending brilliance was something much simpler... a story about love, hope, and finding the one person who feels like home, no matter what world you're living in.

Did I care about the characters? More than I can put into words.

Ren completely stole my heart. Watching someone who has never truly had control over his own life desperately cling to the one constant he finds was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once.

And Willlow... what a perfect name. She isn't just a love interest—she's the anchor in all the chaos, the reason you keep turning the pages, hoping that somehow, against impossible odds, these two people will find each other in love not just friendship.

Tropes included: Unrequited Love & Love Triangle, Emotional Baggage, The "Two Shots" / Second Chance Twist, Slowburn romance, Speculative Romance & Magical Realism, found love, genre-bending adventure, emotional romance.

Did they deliver? Every single one. Sean somehow blends fantasy, science fiction, adventure, and romance into one seamless story that never loses sight of its emotional core. That's not easy to do, but he absolutely nailed it.

This book made me feel: everything.

Wonder. Hope. Joy. Heartbreak. That ache in your chest when you desperately want two characters to get the ending they deserve.

Sean has this incredible ability to make you emotionally invest in his characters before you even realize he's done it. One minute you're enjoying the adventure... the next you're completely wrecked because these fictional people now own a piece of your heart.

This book might make you: stop and think about fate, soulmates, and whether the people we're meant to find somehow always find their way back to us.

What didn't work: Honestly? Nothing. I just wasn't ready for it to end.

Perfect for readers who love... The Time Traveler's Wife, Everything Everywhere All at Once, genre-bending fiction, emotional love stories, and books that stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

🚫 Not for readers who dislike... stories that play with time, reality, or books that make you cry over fictional people.

😈 Petty Complaint... Sean... could you stop making me emotionally attach myself to your characters? My feelings are tired. 😂

All in all, this is one of those rare books that reminds me why I love being a reader. It's imaginative, emotional, beautifully written, and completely unforgettable. Sean W. Willson has this incredible gift for creating stories that don't just entertain—they make you feel. And honestly? That's what the very best books do.

I've had the privilege of beta reading Sean's work, and every single time he somehow finds a new way to surprise me. He has this uncanny ability to write characters that feel real and stories that demand "just one more chapter"... until suddenly you've binged the entire thing and are left wondering what you're supposed to do with your life now.

Five stars without hesitation. One of my favorite books of the year, and one I'll be thinking about for a very long time.

Thank you, Sean, for trusting me to be part of this journey. ❤️

[Stephen Christopher]

Kyren (Ren) Morrow is your average young man, except he’s not. Occasionally, when he goes to sleep, he wakes up in an alternate time or even another universe. He’s woken up on a pirate ship, as an elf in a fantasy world, and even in outer space. His family and friends also appear in each alternate version of his life; however, they don’t realise anything is amiss. He tries to keep relationships at bay as he never knows where he will wake up next, that is, until he meets Eternity. She awakens in him something he thought was missing. There is another woman in his life, though. Willow has been his best friend since college, but she’s also in love with him. Can he navigate his way between these two women while being transported around the universes? When a medical diagnosis may explain his “travels,” he realizes he has too much to lose. What happens to Ren, and which woman does he choose? Find out in The Hundred Lives I Lived Before by Sean W Willson.

I’m a huge fan of Sean W Willson. I was privileged to be given an ARC of this book, his second book, and the story had me on the edge of my seat, right up until the final page, where I bawled like a baby. Happy tears or devastation tears? You’ll need to read this book to find out. His characters are all relatable; they’ll have you laughing one minute, then gasping the next. The Hundred Lives I Lived Before You is a 6 out of 5-star read. Keep an eye on this author, he has a NY Times bestseller title in his future.

[Fierybooknerd]

The Hundred Lives I Lived Before you By Sean W Willson

5/5 ⭐️
5/5 💖
5/5 😭
Love story ✅
Humour ✅
Finding true love ✅
Mental health awareness ✅
Gets you in the feels ✅

We were kissing across every era, every universe, from Paris to the pirate ship. And then it was just her on this patio. It was always meant to be her.

Wow i am so in love with this Book . Sean w Willson you did it again , wrote a another masterpiece. After reading Emit after Emit and recovered from all the emotions , i couldn’t wait for this book to come out . I was again blown away, sean writes with such emotion. He knows how to draw you in and feel for the characters, knows how to tug at those emotional emotions and makes you ugly cry and than all of sudden humour enters lol . The boxers with the Baguette on the front is a prime example of awesomess of humour when things were getting heavy. I am just in awe , definitely going on my top books of this year list .

In conclusion my Book Loves , you all need this beautiful book in your lives . I highly highly recommend this book . Also if you haven’t read Emit after Emit than what are you waiting for 😏 onto the next Adventure

[Beth]

ARC read for Sean W Willson.

I genuinely have no idea where to start. This book was everything to me. It’s swoon worthy and so elegantly written. Parts of it felt like actual poetry. But the entire book was perfection from start to finish. I thought I had it figured out 10 times and I was still wrong.

The love story is one for the ages. No seriously, I’ll be watching this on Netflix someday. I would give you my favourite quote but I can’t spoil. I’ll just say I experience every. Single. Emotion.

Plus the side characters are my favorite. Jiro and Joel. They need their own books.

Plus the worlds he builds within chapters are amazing. I will need to read every book Sean ever writes. My new favorite female character ever!!!!!! Even though the book is ENTIRELY through the males POV. What the hell???? It’s a man’s pov and I still enjoyed it? Maybe there is hope for my love life after all.

[Emma]

This book was perfection from the first page. The writing. The story. The tropes. I think this is my favorite of 2026 and top 10 books ever.

Tropes: love triangle, slow burn, magical system but in modern day, friends to lovers, romanstasy (but modern day), mental illness rep (not called out in the book but I have to think the author knew what they were doing)

Reasons why I loved it: the poetic romance, that it was all a male POV and it didn’t bore me, the main girl is an actual human woman and not some fantasy version, the humor and grief all in one sentence.

I would read it again in a heart beat.

My only nit-pick is that I didn’t like the brothers name. That was super small tho and completely my preference.

[Andreea Istrofor]

Had to read this one after reading his first book!
I’m a busy mom that listens to audiobooks and this one was fantastic! I (had to) finish it in a day!
The person who narrates the audiobook was very easy to listen to and it was very clear when a different character was speaking.

The book itself had me feeling like I was living in the story myself. I was completely emerged in it and had to know what would happen next. Again going in a direction I wasn’t expecting. I’m hoping this gets made into a movie. I had such clear visions of what was happening in the book and loved all the places it transported too.

Highly recommend!!

[Leah Bullock]

ARC REVIEW - I devoured this book, although I wish I had taken a bit more time and enjoyed it with a glass of french wine and a cheese board. This story made me laugh, and cry, and I truly enjoyed every minute of it! It is wonderfully written, and the characters all felt so real! The different time periods were immersive and beautiful. I appreciated that this was a romantasy written by a man, yet it was touching, heartwarming and romantic all at the same time! I highly recommend this book! So sweet, and it stays with you after you read it!

[Amanda Amaral]

My first book from this author and I really couldn't put it down. Sean's writing was descriptive and captivating. I definitely became emotionally invested in the characters and their progress (often wanting to reach through the pages and shake them at times which to me is a sign I'm invested)! The pace was great and I loved the unique idea of waking up in multiple worlds.. it added interesting and unexpected layers and variation to the narrative. I definitely did not pace myself -- I devoured this book and now I'm sad it's over!! Highly recommend!

[JuJu]

(Unpaid ARC read)

I fell in love with the title of this book from TikTok and it did not disappoint. The romance was threaded so beautifully through the shifting realities Ren navigated. The characters were perfectly human and I felt like I was right there beside them. Willow deserves everything in this world and more.

I would love a second book, I think it works so well as a universe of different stories. Although Joel needs to be in all of them.

[Haley Baley]

ARC Read of The Hundred Lives I Lived Before You by Sean W. Wilson

This was not at all what I expected this book to be, it was honestly better and deeper than I thought. The plot was woven through different eras and Sean went to places with it I could not predict. I’ll admit I read it in two days. I could not put it down. The ending was sublime and I definitely cried, but in a good way. Would recommend to all readers, but especially those who enjoy sweeping love stories.

[Karolina Kosinska-Johnson]

ARC review

I loved the everchanging world of this story. It was interesting to see how each world also reflected the emotion of the story and came together in a meaningful way.
I loved the twists (yes, more than one!) and wanted to see what was next with every chapter.

I loved the main characters but the side characters are equally interesting within the world. Also I'm a sucker for a love story, so if you're interested in one by all means pick this up!

[Vanessays and books]

This book had me hooked and I read it all within a weekend. The characters were flawless, some of the best comedic banter and the romance was 😘. I think I expected more of a romance only, but it delivered on what it’s like to feel alone.

I wished I got more than one POV because there we’re a few characters who I wanted to see in their head. But that’s super minor because I did really fall in love with them . By the end I was blown away at how things came together. HEA ❤️

[Nadya]

Honestly expected this to be a cozy romance with some fantasy elements, but it shocked me. The romance was there but the book touched on themes that went wayyyy deeper than I thought.

“I kissed her on the rooftop until the candles burned out and the stars brightened the midnight blue of the night sky.” Swooooooooooooon

[Jaida BookSlaya]

Never have I loved being in a man’s head more. I usually like dual POV but honestly this one was dazzling. It was one part love story, another magic, but at the core it’s deeply relatable about the struggles we go through being human in an ever changing world.

This was a copy I received directly from Sean before the book was released. Thank you so much for including me in this.

[Amanda]

(Sean gave me a copy of the book as an early reader)

I went into this book thinking it was a romance novel that had romantasy like vibes. But it was so much better than that. It took parts of all genres and mixed them into a unique concept. I cheered for characters. I boo’d others.

I can’t wait to read what Sean comes up with next.

[Jenna]

This book was magical. I fell in love with every character, just Willow and Jiro stole my heart. I expected a cross-genre journey but I didn’t realize how much heart the book would have. By the end I was weeping. WEEPING and then I was smiling, then I was weep-smiling.

Honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year.

[Kendra]

I signed up to be an early reader because the cover art was gorgeous and the tropes were my favorite. I did not expect to sob my face off and fall absolutely in love with these characters. I was completely drawn into the story and needed eye drops the next morning.

[Rachael]

This is a beautiful story and such a unique concept.
It had me so engaged and laughing and crying and I couldn't put it down when it happened (no spoilers).
This is an easy and great read and couldn't recommend this high enough.

[Bianca Landon]

OMG the audiobook is my newest addiction. The narrator had me DRAWN in. The story was so deep, yet absolutely hysterical. I both wanted it to be longer and thought it was perfection. Will be listening to again and suggesting to my friends.

[Paige R]

Whatever the author put into this book needs to be studied. I was feral for it.

[Tina Vucic]

I will never get over the ending. I’ve never been so drawn into a male MC so much. The last sentence of the book had me extra choked up in the best way.

[Fatima]

This book is a magical rollercoaster through worlds and genres. Not to mention the emotional rollercoaster I felt. Happy, giddy, sobbing, anger. Devoured it in a weekend.

[Jen]

I bought this book yesterday and I finished it already. I was HOOKED. Beautifully written and chaotic. The plot twists hit me in the feels every time.

[Christa Charrette]

This booked had me hooked from the first few pages. I thoroughly enjoyed following Ren’s adventures and exploring the many different worlds he found himself in. I highly recommend!!

[Jen]

3.5

[Jenna Peraltaz]

Would give it 6 stars if I could

[Elly]

Wow. You did it again Sean! What a beautiful amazing thought provoking and heart warming book. I feel grateful for the opportunity to read this and I can not wait for what comes next 🩵

[Bookskee]

More than just a love triangle from the male POV. Intricate and immersive. Definitely something to talk about.

Enjoyed.