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Love Times Infinity
This heartfelt coming of age story follows Michie, a high school junior who begins to grapple with big questions of love, purpose, and family while working on something that could change her life.
High school junior Michie is struggling to answer the question of who she is for her scholarship essays, the only chance she has at making it into Brown as a first-generation college student. The essay prompts would be hard for anyone, but since Michie's been estranged from her mother since she was seven, her concept of family has long felt murky.
Enter new kid and basketball superstar Derek de la Rosa, an instant crush who sends Michie's focus into a tailspin. At their teacher's suggestion, Derek enlists Michie as a tutor to help him catch up in Spanish class, turning life upside down. Because Derek? He is very cute, very talented, very popular, and very much has his eye on Michie, no matter how invisible she believes herself to be.
When Michie's mother unexpectedly reaches out to make amends, and with her scholarship deadlines looming, Michie will have to decide if she wants to reopen old wounds or close the door on her past once and for all. And as she spends more time with Derek, she will have to figure out how close she can risk getting to him, and how much of her heart she is willing to share. Because while Michie may not know who she is, she's starting to realize who she wants to become, if only she can take a chance on Derek, on herself, and on her future.
High school junior Michie is struggling to answer the question of who she is for her scholarship essays, the only chance she has at making it into Brown as a first-generation college student. The essay prompts would be hard for anyone, but since Michie's been estranged from her mother since she was seven, her concept of family has long felt murky.
Enter new kid and basketball superstar Derek de la Rosa, an instant crush who sends Michie's focus into a tailspin. At their teacher's suggestion, Derek enlists Michie as a tutor to help him catch up in Spanish class, turning life upside down. Because Derek? He is very cute, very talented, very popular, and very much has his eye on Michie, no matter how invisible she believes herself to be.
When Michie's mother unexpectedly reaches out to make amends, and with her scholarship deadlines looming, Michie will have to decide if she wants to reopen old wounds or close the door on her past once and for all. And as she spends more time with Derek, she will have to figure out how close she can risk getting to him, and how much of her heart she is willing to share. Because while Michie may not know who she is, she's starting to realize who she wants to become, if only she can take a chance on Derek, on herself, and on her future.
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2022
27 people are currently reading
4608 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
February 28, 2023
Don't be like me, be better than me. This ARC has been sitting on my Kindle for months, I can't tell you the number of times I have thought about including this in a project only to talk myself out of it and say that I'll get to it later. Well here we finally are and this was truly a banger of a book.
Also, be better than me in go in knowing that this isn't a nice and fluffy walk down the YA contemporary streets. Clarke really tackles some hard hitting subject matter; like the support group our main character is part of for children that were conceived as a product of sexual assault, and on page panic attack, references to a past almost suicide attempt, general dysfunctional families from some of the side characters. A breezey stroll through the lives of children this was not, but Clarke navigated the journey this narrative took me on beautifully.
I think that what I really loved was how the narrative really seemed to center what all of Michie's relationships meant to her, not just the romantic one. I liked that we still spent time with her and Jojo being best friends and exploring things there, or her relationship to her grandmother and whether she should reach out to her mom despite how complicated things were between them. Even that her support group and the Clueless shenanigans that were happening there never seemed to be yanked from the narrative just because Derek was there for the romantic angle. Even the third act when the book could have really centered a romance the book took the time to let that be the b narrative while we explored more of the familial aspect of the story.
This is definitely the kind of a read that lingers long after you've put the book down, and I know that I'll be thinking about this for the rest of the year. I was heartbroken on one page and laughing on another and it just all worked for me in a way that I both didn't see coming and also loved to have the chance to experience.
But now I need y'all to see it, because there's not reason for this book to have the low number of reviews that it has when it's this good a piece of fiction.
Also, be better than me in go in knowing that this isn't a nice and fluffy walk down the YA contemporary streets. Clarke really tackles some hard hitting subject matter; like the support group our main character is part of for children that were conceived as a product of sexual assault, and on page panic attack, references to a past almost suicide attempt, general dysfunctional families from some of the side characters. A breezey stroll through the lives of children this was not, but Clarke navigated the journey this narrative took me on beautifully.
I think that what I really loved was how the narrative really seemed to center what all of Michie's relationships meant to her, not just the romantic one. I liked that we still spent time with her and Jojo being best friends and exploring things there, or her relationship to her grandmother and whether she should reach out to her mom despite how complicated things were between them. Even that her support group and the Clueless shenanigans that were happening there never seemed to be yanked from the narrative just because Derek was there for the romantic angle. Even the third act when the book could have really centered a romance the book took the time to let that be the b narrative while we explored more of the familial aspect of the story.
This is definitely the kind of a read that lingers long after you've put the book down, and I know that I'll be thinking about this for the rest of the year. I was heartbroken on one page and laughing on another and it just all worked for me in a way that I both didn't see coming and also loved to have the chance to experience.
But now I need y'all to see it, because there's not reason for this book to have the low number of reviews that it has when it's this good a piece of fiction.
February 5, 2022
Hi! I’m the author of LOVE TIMES INFINITY! I’m just here to drop the content warnings for LTI: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page)
February 12, 2022
➵ michie and derek are absolute sweethearts; this book has the most adorable romance. loved the complex intersection of love and identity, loved the ambitious + full of heart bookworm, loved the basketball superstar who is a cinnamon roll, loved the nuanced themes of biracial identity and socioeconomic standings—and proves how unconditional love from those around us can push us closer to self-love. rtc.
31.01.2022 girl busy with big dreams has a big crush on the school's new basketball superstar who is a cinnamon roll; why, yes please, i love seeing ambitious girls find love.
October 24, 2020
I had the honor of reading an early edition of this book TWO YEARS before it hits shelves and I read almost entirely in one sitting. Love Times Infinity follows sixteen-year-old Michelle "Michie" Cooper, a high school girl who lives with her grandmother due to a complicated relationship with her biological mother. As Michie begins thinking about the future--specifically college at her dream school--she's also forced to reckon with her history, and the uncomfortable truths that are intrinsically woven into who she is. This story is incredibly powerful as it takes on a topic I've never seen in YA, but it's also incredibly funny and heartfelt (I audibly LOL'd more than once). Michie navigates group therapy and mental health, first love, complicated family dynamics, and embracing all of who she is. The prose here is beautifully rendered, the characters are vivid, and the story itself incredibly compelling. I hope it cleans up on award circuits, because it is more than deserving.
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July 14, 2022Content warnings:
Woah. Just woah. I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked this book up and it put my emotions through the wringer. Which I am grateful for. LOVE TIMES INFINITY was such a perfect mix of cute, heartbreaking and hopeful. It discusses some really horrid topics, the main of which is being a kid born as a result of rape, the immense trauma that comes with it and how it shapes you as a person. This is a topic I had never read of in a book before and I am so grateful the author wrote about it and shed a light on something that many still consider taboo.
Michie is such a great main character to follow. She's real, breaking and healing at the same time. Her character journey and growth are amazing but not perfect. Because perfection is never the point. I also loved the conversations on identity, economic disparities, family, friendships and first loves. The romance was so wholesome, it warmed my heart. This was just such a well rounded and balanced book. I don't have a single negative thing to say about it. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long long time.
Woah. Just woah. I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked this book up and it put my emotions through the wringer. Which I am grateful for. LOVE TIMES INFINITY was such a perfect mix of cute, heartbreaking and hopeful. It discusses some really horrid topics, the main of which is being a kid born as a result of rape, the immense trauma that comes with it and how it shapes you as a person. This is a topic I had never read of in a book before and I am so grateful the author wrote about it and shed a light on something that many still consider taboo.
Michie is such a great main character to follow. She's real, breaking and healing at the same time. Her character journey and growth are amazing but not perfect. Because perfection is never the point. I also loved the conversations on identity, economic disparities, family, friendships and first loves. The romance was so wholesome, it warmed my heart. This was just such a well rounded and balanced book. I don't have a single negative thing to say about it. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long long time.
July 25, 2022
I was interested in Love Times Infinity after looking at the cover and while I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started reading it, I soon found myself invested in Michie’s emotional voice and was curious to see how she would grow by the end. Love Times Infinity is a story of first loves, identity and achieving inner peace at your own terms.
navigates through relevant topics
I really appreciate how Lane Clarke discusses abortion, therapy, mental health. I enjoyed reading about Michie’s experiences and discussions in her group therapy sessions. The book does a good job portraying depression and self doubts, especially as a teenager with the stress of college and applications looming over her while also dealing with her past.
Throughout the story, Michie grapples with the knowledge that she’s born as a result of rape and how it shapes her personality and influences her perspective of things. It’s wonderful how she worked through and faced the trauma after the guilt she’s lived with but also be respectful of other’s choices and finally realise she’s worthy of the love she gets. I haven’t read about this perspective so far and I’m glad it was handled in a authentic way.
Michie, an empathetic narrator
From the beginning, Michie is a captivating voice to follow. Her character arc is done so well, capturing her journey through her struggles with accepting herself and finally finding the closure she yearned for. It’s also nice to see she had an incredible support system, of her grandmother, her best friend Jojo, the kids from her therapy group and Derek later on–the way each of them show their love for her and help her through her inner turmoil. I especially loved Michie and Jojo’s friendship!
an adorable romance
The building romance between Michie and Derek, the new basketball player at school, was so cute to read! With Michie’s walls up around her, their relationship is more about the emotional connection and understanding both of them arrive at. And I loved that this book is more about about them forming a strong base than the path the usual romances take. Though, Derek is a great love interest to compliment Michie, with struggles of his own but a softness to his heart.
Overall, a well fleshed out and nuanced book, Love Times Infinity serves wholesomeness and a whole lot of emotions on the platter! I’m really happy Clarke decided to write this bold story.
thank you to the author for the ARC!
navigates through relevant topics
I really appreciate how Lane Clarke discusses abortion, therapy, mental health. I enjoyed reading about Michie’s experiences and discussions in her group therapy sessions. The book does a good job portraying depression and self doubts, especially as a teenager with the stress of college and applications looming over her while also dealing with her past.
Throughout the story, Michie grapples with the knowledge that she’s born as a result of rape and how it shapes her personality and influences her perspective of things. It’s wonderful how she worked through and faced the trauma after the guilt she’s lived with but also be respectful of other’s choices and finally realise she’s worthy of the love she gets. I haven’t read about this perspective so far and I’m glad it was handled in a authentic way.
Michie, an empathetic narrator
From the beginning, Michie is a captivating voice to follow. Her character arc is done so well, capturing her journey through her struggles with accepting herself and finally finding the closure she yearned for. It’s also nice to see she had an incredible support system, of her grandmother, her best friend Jojo, the kids from her therapy group and Derek later on–the way each of them show their love for her and help her through her inner turmoil. I especially loved Michie and Jojo’s friendship!
an adorable romance
The building romance between Michie and Derek, the new basketball player at school, was so cute to read! With Michie’s walls up around her, their relationship is more about the emotional connection and understanding both of them arrive at. And I loved that this book is more about about them forming a strong base than the path the usual romances take. Though, Derek is a great love interest to compliment Michie, with struggles of his own but a softness to his heart.
Overall, a well fleshed out and nuanced book, Love Times Infinity serves wholesomeness and a whole lot of emotions on the platter! I’m really happy Clarke decided to write this bold story.
thank you to the author for the ARC!
July 1, 2022
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Whew we went through a ride in this book.
Love Times Infinity is a coming of age YA contemporary about high school junior Michie. She has big dreams of being the first in her family to go to college and has her sights set on Brown University. But she still hasn't figured out what to write about in her essays. She also has an undeniable chemistry with the new basketball superstar, Derek de la Rosa. Then her mother unexpectedly reaches out. Michie isn't sure how to navigate all of this and with looming deadlines finds herself even more lost.
This was not always an easy book to read because of the topics discussed. Namely abortion. Michie has personal views about it and I'm not certain if they conflict with mine, but her feelings about the topic are incredibly personal and complicated. Which knowing her circumstances is very understandable. I'm really glad I read this before this SCOTUS decision this week, because I don't think I would've been able to finish this now. Clarke takes a lot of care with the topic and it was treated with respect, but it will nevertheless be hard to read for some.
Now, the whole book isn't about abortion, but it does come up a couple times. So does rape/sexual assault. Please be mindful of the topics this book centers on and whether you can actually handle this material.
Michie was a wonderful narrator. I really felt for her. She has struggled with parental abandonment and what family means for a long time. She is in therapy, but knowing something logically and emotionally are two different things. I really liked the journey she went on in this book. She shows a lot of growth and I think it's only the beginning for her. I kind of wish this would have a sequel where we could see her at college continuing to grow.
I really enjoyed the romance in this one too. Derek was so sweet and I'm here for the soft boys. I want more love interests like Derek!
Rep: Black/biracial cishet female MC with anxiety, Black cishet male side character, various Black side characters, various white side characters, side MLM couple.
CWs: Abortion (as a topic), rape (as a topic), mental illness (anxiety), grief. Moderate: alcoholism, sexual assault, abandonment.
Found in one of the books synopses: Content Warnings: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page).
Whew we went through a ride in this book.
Love Times Infinity is a coming of age YA contemporary about high school junior Michie. She has big dreams of being the first in her family to go to college and has her sights set on Brown University. But she still hasn't figured out what to write about in her essays. She also has an undeniable chemistry with the new basketball superstar, Derek de la Rosa. Then her mother unexpectedly reaches out. Michie isn't sure how to navigate all of this and with looming deadlines finds herself even more lost.
This was not always an easy book to read because of the topics discussed. Namely abortion. Michie has personal views about it and I'm not certain if they conflict with mine, but her feelings about the topic are incredibly personal and complicated. Which knowing her circumstances is very understandable. I'm really glad I read this before this SCOTUS decision this week, because I don't think I would've been able to finish this now. Clarke takes a lot of care with the topic and it was treated with respect, but it will nevertheless be hard to read for some.
Now, the whole book isn't about abortion, but it does come up a couple times. So does rape/sexual assault. Please be mindful of the topics this book centers on and whether you can actually handle this material.
Michie was a wonderful narrator. I really felt for her. She has struggled with parental abandonment and what family means for a long time. She is in therapy, but knowing something logically and emotionally are two different things. I really liked the journey she went on in this book. She shows a lot of growth and I think it's only the beginning for her. I kind of wish this would have a sequel where we could see her at college continuing to grow.
I really enjoyed the romance in this one too. Derek was so sweet and I'm here for the soft boys. I want more love interests like Derek!
Rep: Black/biracial cishet female MC with anxiety, Black cishet male side character, various Black side characters, various white side characters, side MLM couple.
CWs: Abortion (as a topic), rape (as a topic), mental illness (anxiety), grief. Moderate: alcoholism, sexual assault, abandonment.
Found in one of the books synopses: Content Warnings: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page).
November 25, 2024
UPDATED 11/25: I finished the book but my original review still stands. This one isn’t for me but I’d recommend it to others in the specific demographic. 2.5 stars
UPDATED 11/24: the book club is HYPING this up, and I was convinced pick this up again and finish it…we’ll see!!
ORIGINAL REVIEW 11/22: DNF at 50%. Not sure if it’s me or the book but I found myself really bored. I want to be fair to the book as I just finished an amazing 5 star read, so I don’t want to judge Love Times Infinity too harshly.
I like that this is a YA book that attempts to tackle some very real and difficult topics. I absolutely love the cover and am keeping the book solely for that reason.
UPDATED 11/24: the book club is HYPING this up, and I was convinced pick this up again and finish it…we’ll see!!
ORIGINAL REVIEW 11/22: DNF at 50%. Not sure if it’s me or the book but I found myself really bored. I want to be fair to the book as I just finished an amazing 5 star read, so I don’t want to judge Love Times Infinity too harshly.
I like that this is a YA book that attempts to tackle some very real and difficult topics. I absolutely love the cover and am keeping the book solely for that reason.
July 20, 2022
Before I get into this review, please know that this books deals with incredibly difficult topics (child sexual abuse - mentioned & abortion discussions), so check the full content warnings before diving into this one.
I knew going into this book that it would undo me, but I still wasn’t ready for the experience. I won’t be able to do the review justice, but here we go.
Love Times Infinity is a harrowing and poignant coming of age novel that centers the many definitions of love as well as its messy consequences.
Michie is such a complex and compelling character. Michie’s battling with college admissions while trying to grapple what her identity means to her all while trying to understand why she’s been dealt the life cards she has. Throughout the entire story, I felt her pain, her joy, her guilt…her emotions are so incredibly raw, and I couldn’t even imagine trying to process what she’s been through.
Derek was the perfect complement to Michie’s character. Dealing with his own grief and pain, he’s able to relate to Michie in ways that others couldn’t. Their relationship is by no means easy, but I very much enjoyed watching them learn from each other when it comes to grief and healing.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Michie’s support system that she had with both her grandmother and best friend especially with Mitchie trying to understand her mother’s abandonment.
If you’re a crier, get the tissues ready.
Thank you The Novl for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I knew going into this book that it would undo me, but I still wasn’t ready for the experience. I won’t be able to do the review justice, but here we go.
Love Times Infinity is a harrowing and poignant coming of age novel that centers the many definitions of love as well as its messy consequences.
Michie is such a complex and compelling character. Michie’s battling with college admissions while trying to grapple what her identity means to her all while trying to understand why she’s been dealt the life cards she has. Throughout the entire story, I felt her pain, her joy, her guilt…her emotions are so incredibly raw, and I couldn’t even imagine trying to process what she’s been through.
Derek was the perfect complement to Michie’s character. Dealing with his own grief and pain, he’s able to relate to Michie in ways that others couldn’t. Their relationship is by no means easy, but I very much enjoyed watching them learn from each other when it comes to grief and healing.
I also thoroughly enjoyed Michie’s support system that she had with both her grandmother and best friend especially with Mitchie trying to understand her mother’s abandonment.
If you’re a crier, get the tissues ready.
Thank you The Novl for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2022
I would die twelve times over for the friendship in this book!
😭
So much so that I actually helped Death in some way by finishing this in four hours.
😭
So much so that I actually helped Death in some way by finishing this in four hours.
July 10, 2022
“Loving people is how you get hurt.“
[…]
“You’re damn right,” she says. “You will break every piece of yourself loving someone deeply. But you’ll pull yourself back together too. It’s scary and terrifying and out of control. But you don’t have to be afraid of it. You’re worthy of love, Michie. But it’s on you to figure out who’s worthy in return. You get to decide. Only you. This is your life. “
~
Friends, I was so graciously provided an arc of Love Times Infinity by the author herself, Lane Clarke, and it was a wonderful, thought-provoking read.
In Love Times Infinity, we watch Michie navigate an overwhelming hurt that constantly brings to question if she has what it takes. Clarke takes from her own personal experiences what it’s like to live with this hurt, and puts to words so beautifully Michie’s story of falling and getting back up, and how hard it is to keep trying when it seems so rough. In fact, Clarke wrote an article for TIME that you can find on her socials that goes into this book and her own experiences that I encourage you to read for context and further understanding.
While the topics of this were much heavier than I anticipated, it was still lovely to read Michie put one foot in front of the other, even when it hurt. Thanks so much to Lane Clarke for sharing this part of yourself with us! Love Times Infinity is out THIS MONTH! JULY 26th y’all!! SAVE THE DATE! ♥️
.
.
Content warnings: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page)
[…]
“You’re damn right,” she says. “You will break every piece of yourself loving someone deeply. But you’ll pull yourself back together too. It’s scary and terrifying and out of control. But you don’t have to be afraid of it. You’re worthy of love, Michie. But it’s on you to figure out who’s worthy in return. You get to decide. Only you. This is your life. “
~
Friends, I was so graciously provided an arc of Love Times Infinity by the author herself, Lane Clarke, and it was a wonderful, thought-provoking read.
In Love Times Infinity, we watch Michie navigate an overwhelming hurt that constantly brings to question if she has what it takes. Clarke takes from her own personal experiences what it’s like to live with this hurt, and puts to words so beautifully Michie’s story of falling and getting back up, and how hard it is to keep trying when it seems so rough. In fact, Clarke wrote an article for TIME that you can find on her socials that goes into this book and her own experiences that I encourage you to read for context and further understanding.
While the topics of this were much heavier than I anticipated, it was still lovely to read Michie put one foot in front of the other, even when it hurt. Thanks so much to Lane Clarke for sharing this part of yourself with us! Love Times Infinity is out THIS MONTH! JULY 26th y’all!! SAVE THE DATE! ♥️
.
.
Content warnings: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2022
LOVE TIMES INFINITY
By Lane Clark
A perfect YA read full of emotions and one that will capture your heart.
Lane Clark wrote a beautiful story that tugged at all my heart strings and so emotional that I could not help but feel all the feels deep within my soul. I loved the themes of this YA novel that explored hard topics but in such a sensitive way through the characters in the story. I loved the character development and the way the story was told in a realistic and relatable manner. Well done!
By Lane Clark
A perfect YA read full of emotions and one that will capture your heart.
Lane Clark wrote a beautiful story that tugged at all my heart strings and so emotional that I could not help but feel all the feels deep within my soul. I loved the themes of this YA novel that explored hard topics but in such a sensitive way through the characters in the story. I loved the character development and the way the story was told in a realistic and relatable manner. Well done!
October 21, 2022
🥺✨
Love Times Infinity had me fighting the tears something serious. There was something about Michi’s story that hit me where my heart is. It is a beautiful story about a high school junior trying to find her purpose and why she is worthy of good things. At the beginning she is writing her college admissions essay and she gets stuck on why she deserves to be admitted.
She’s dealt with many hardships and the odds were stacked against her but she had, “a praying grandmother”. Not in the sense but if it wasn’t for her grandmother being such a prominent person and mother to her who knows where the story would have been. I loved how the author told the story, the good and bad. It was raw and heavy at times but it was so painfully needed. I loved that Michi had her therapist and support group. Throughout the book Michi shows more of her personal side to her friends at schools and overtime learns that she is worthy and not judged because of her background.
I just could not get enough of Derek & Jojo- they were literally the support system that Michi needed. I was squealing at the basketball game and when they went with Michi to see her mom I was trying to keep the tears at bay. I was not expecting to fall in love with this story the way that I did but goodness I couldn’t get enough of it. It was really good and I saw so much of myself in Michi’s story. Highly recommend 💙
Love Times Infinity had me fighting the tears something serious. There was something about Michi’s story that hit me where my heart is. It is a beautiful story about a high school junior trying to find her purpose and why she is worthy of good things. At the beginning she is writing her college admissions essay and she gets stuck on why she deserves to be admitted.
She’s dealt with many hardships and the odds were stacked against her but she had, “a praying grandmother”. Not in the sense but if it wasn’t for her grandmother being such a prominent person and mother to her who knows where the story would have been. I loved how the author told the story, the good and bad. It was raw and heavy at times but it was so painfully needed. I loved that Michi had her therapist and support group. Throughout the book Michi shows more of her personal side to her friends at schools and overtime learns that she is worthy and not judged because of her background.
I just could not get enough of Derek & Jojo- they were literally the support system that Michi needed. I was squealing at the basketball game and when they went with Michi to see her mom I was trying to keep the tears at bay. I was not expecting to fall in love with this story the way that I did but goodness I couldn’t get enough of it. It was really good and I saw so much of myself in Michi’s story. Highly recommend 💙
August 26, 2022
Oh wow. This gave me all the feels in all the best ways.
Teen angst and pining. Amazing friends (and chosen family) Dysfunctional families and generational trauma.
Michie is a wonderful main character. She has flaws, mainly her own self doubt, and as a reader you just constantly want to cheerlead her until she sees what everyone else around her sees. Of course, the path isn't smooth (it's a novel after all) but there are some obscenely heartwarming moments in between the bumps and angst and pain. Isn't that teenage life in a nutshell?
There are some darker storylines (content warnings provided) but these are handled with such sensitivity and skill by Lane Clark, that I think even younger teens would get a lot from this book & wouldn't feel like the storylines are too much or too hard.
I genuinely want to hug Michie, JoJo, Derek and Michie's Grandma, and then re read this book.
Stop reading reviews and go buy it or borrow it right now!
Teen angst and pining. Amazing friends (and chosen family) Dysfunctional families and generational trauma.
Michie is a wonderful main character. She has flaws, mainly her own self doubt, and as a reader you just constantly want to cheerlead her until she sees what everyone else around her sees. Of course, the path isn't smooth (it's a novel after all) but there are some obscenely heartwarming moments in between the bumps and angst and pain. Isn't that teenage life in a nutshell?
There are some darker storylines (content warnings provided) but these are handled with such sensitivity and skill by Lane Clark, that I think even younger teens would get a lot from this book & wouldn't feel like the storylines are too much or too hard.
I genuinely want to hug Michie, JoJo, Derek and Michie's Grandma, and then re read this book.
Stop reading reviews and go buy it or borrow it right now!
June 30, 2022
Lane Clarke is a phenomenally talented writer. I was so honored to read this story of love, friendship, found family, and finding out who you are and what you want in this life. Lane is a treasure and so is this book!!!
September 1, 2022
I won't ever stop reading YA contemporary as long as we're getting gems like this
August 2, 2022
2,5 *
Yeah… about that…… 😬😐
ROMANCE:
My main problem with this book was the romance. This is the definition of insta love, which I HATE with a passion! Michie and Derek meet (I immediately knew he was gonna be the LI because of how long and detailed his description was compared to everyone else’s), their hands touch for a second and Michie immediately feels ✨sparks✨. 🙄🙄🙄 (Side note: the amount of times she felt ✨sparks✨ and ⚡static⚡ when they touched – or simply when he was close to her – was absurd 😭).
They’re instantly in love with each other, despite being literal strangers, so their “love” was literally born out of them finding each other hot… 😐
If the insta love wasn’t bad enough, the author does another thing I hate: a lot of “telling” instead of “showing”. We randomly get lines like “We’ve already met during free period 3 times this week and [agreed to have] full-blown study sessions.” and “He joined our [lunch] table a week ago.”, so instead of seeing their relationship develop in these early stages, we just learn that apparently they’ve been talking a lot and are already pretty close. 😐😐😐 We literally just skipped the whole basis of their relationship! Characters’ 1st interactions are very important, especially if they end up falling in love, so completely glossing over these scenes makes it even harder for me, as a reader, to believe they like each other (and adding that to the insta love…….. yeah, I just didn’t see this romance AT ALL 🙁).
The author keeps breaking the “show don’t tell” rule throughout the book. Apparently Michie had a funny conversation with Derek where she made him promise not to give her anything for Valentine’s Day – we never saw this convo, it was just mentioned in 1 sentence. 😐 They go on little adventures during lunch breaks – that last maybe 1 or 2 paragraphs and we never actually see them having fun together. 😐😐 JoJo (Michie’s bff) and Derek become close enough that they’re playing around in class, showing each other texts they receive and creating group chats together – but we literally never saw them meet or bond; the author just skipped their friendship’s development. 😐😐😐 There are SO MANY examples like this throughout the book, which, unfortunately, made the story very weak, since we never got to see *anything* develop.
Overall, I felt nothing about Michie and Derek. The author *said* they were so close that not talking for just a couple of days made super miserable, but I literally didn’t believe it lol. I also didn’t even care when they finally kissed. Zero feelings, because their connection was forced and poorly developed.
I also didn’t like that the MCs spilled their whole backstories and internal struggles out of nowhere. They had interacted a couple of times and then randomly just went on monologues about their trauma 🤨 ??????? I like that the characters had personal issues (read: ~ tragic backstories ~ ) but I wish they didn’t just spill their internal conflicts and backstories in long monologues, completely unprovoked, to someone they barely knew. It came across as very forced and unnatural.
Plus the whole scene of Derek psychoanalyzing Michie and telling *us* the reader things about her that hadn’t been properly conveyed in the text……. Once again, the author “telling” instead of “showing” + yet another long, unprovoked, and unnatural monologue. 😒
Another thing I didn’t like is that not only was this book *insta love*, but it was also basically an *instant relationship*. Michie and Derek just acted like a couple throughout the entire book, and not in the “everyone knows you’re in love except you 2!”-way (which is actually fun). No! They did a bunch of couple-y things, and were very aware they liked each other, and acted accordingly: he'd rest his hand on her thigh, or around her shoulders when they sat side by side, they’d hold hands all the time, he’d pull her head into his lap and play with her hair until she fell asleep, they went on dates (and straight up called them “dates”, without even flinching)… When Derek’s parents called Michie “his girlfriend” (before they’d even kissed), she didn’t even panic. Because… yeah. You’re dating already, and you both know it. 😐
I just personally prefer slow-burns. I like the pining, the “accidental”, fleeting touches. Slowly falling in love. Finding excuses to spend more time with the person you love and not letting them know how you feel. One, or maybe both of the characters being oblivious… This book was literally just the story of 2 people falling in love at 1st sight despite being complete strangers, and then becoming a couple 5 chapters later. This didn’t feel like a romance developing – it was just a relationship without the label.
MICHIE’S BACKSTORY:
Michie’s mum was raped and that’s how Michie came to be. Because of this, her mum never really wanted anything to do with Michie – she reminded her of the worst experience of her life, plus she was only 15 when it happened, and she couldn’t be a decent mother at that age. I thought this was a very interesting backstory, and I definitely understand why Michie struggles so much with this.
With that said, I didn’t really like how it was addressed in the book. Michie is lowkey anti-abortion. She says: “I had come so close to the same fate; how could I say we don’t all deserve the chance at life?”, which……… ugh. Listen, I definitely understand why she struggles with that, and it is a very nuanced topic and a complicated situation to be in. However , I *really* wish the author had approached this differently. First of all, there wasn’t even a need to bring up abortion. Her mum was raped, and then was neglectful of her child. Those are already subjects that have a lot to explore. But even if the author really wanted abortion to be a theme here, why have lines like the one I just mentioned, or this one: “It’s not nice to talk about [abortion] in public.” (as if abortions are a shameful thing????), and never have them be challenged…?
Once again, Michie is in a difficult situation, and I didn’t expect her to become a human-rights activist by the end of the book, but I wish at least these things had been more contested in the story, and I wanted to see the topic being given more attention. I did some research and found out Michie’s backstory was very much inspired by the author’s, and she definitely isn’t anti-abortion, which is great!!!! So, yeah. Idk, I just wish this whole topic had been explored a bit more than it was.
I also didn’t love that the synopsis mentioned her mum reaching out to make amends yet the mum only actually appears at the 87% mark. 😐 I spent the whole book waiting for something that would only happen in the last 10% and lasted like 5 pages max. 🙃
OTHER STUFF:
• When Derek saw that Michie has a guy friend he immediately asked if they ever dated…… Boys and girls can be just friends, bro.
• Found a typo
• The characters were forgettable, no offense.
• I really didn’t like it when Michie rejected Derek and he just cut her off. I understand that rejection sucks, and it can hurt to be just friends with someone you want to date. However, Derek literally started flirting with Michie the moment they met….. and when she rejected him he just didn’t want anything to do with her……. 🤨🤨🤨 It just gives me the impression that he only really saw her as a potential partner and straight up didn’t care about their “friendship”. I feel like he always had the intention of pursuing her and since he failed he doesn’t even care enough to be friends 😐😬
THINGS I LIKED:
• Other than the thing I mentioned above, Derek was pretty alright. Definitely a breath of fresh air when it comes to LIs in romances. He was confident and flirty, but not cocky or arrogant. I liked that he was actually nice and understanding.
• Trigger warnings at the start!
• Pretty decent and believable “teen speak”
• Derek was sooo smooth (it’s truly a shame the romance was poorly developed insta-love; we could’ve had it all…….)
• The racial diversity!!!!
• They cared about and consoled each other. Sweet.
• ASKING FOR CONSENT TO KISS!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
• I appreciate that Michie had more going on than just the romance (university, her mum, therapy).
• Emphasis on the importance of therapy!
• PERCY JACKSON REFERENCES!
• The full circle moment with the book starting and ending the same way! I loved that!!!
Yeah… about that…… 😬😐
ROMANCE:
My main problem with this book was the romance. This is the definition of insta love, which I HATE with a passion! Michie and Derek meet (I immediately knew he was gonna be the LI because of how long and detailed his description was compared to everyone else’s), their hands touch for a second and Michie immediately feels ✨sparks✨. 🙄🙄🙄 (Side note: the amount of times she felt ✨sparks✨ and ⚡static⚡ when they touched – or simply when he was close to her – was absurd 😭).
They’re instantly in love with each other, despite being literal strangers, so their “love” was literally born out of them finding each other hot… 😐
If the insta love wasn’t bad enough, the author does another thing I hate: a lot of “telling” instead of “showing”. We randomly get lines like “We’ve already met during free period 3 times this week and [agreed to have] full-blown study sessions.” and “He joined our [lunch] table a week ago.”, so instead of seeing their relationship develop in these early stages, we just learn that apparently they’ve been talking a lot and are already pretty close. 😐😐😐 We literally just skipped the whole basis of their relationship! Characters’ 1st interactions are very important, especially if they end up falling in love, so completely glossing over these scenes makes it even harder for me, as a reader, to believe they like each other (and adding that to the insta love…….. yeah, I just didn’t see this romance AT ALL 🙁).
The author keeps breaking the “show don’t tell” rule throughout the book. Apparently Michie had a funny conversation with Derek where she made him promise not to give her anything for Valentine’s Day – we never saw this convo, it was just mentioned in 1 sentence. 😐 They go on little adventures during lunch breaks – that last maybe 1 or 2 paragraphs and we never actually see them having fun together. 😐😐 JoJo (Michie’s bff) and Derek become close enough that they’re playing around in class, showing each other texts they receive and creating group chats together – but we literally never saw them meet or bond; the author just skipped their friendship’s development. 😐😐😐 There are SO MANY examples like this throughout the book, which, unfortunately, made the story very weak, since we never got to see *anything* develop.
Overall, I felt nothing about Michie and Derek. The author *said* they were so close that not talking for just a couple of days made super miserable, but I literally didn’t believe it lol. I also didn’t even care when they finally kissed. Zero feelings, because their connection was forced and poorly developed.
I also didn’t like that the MCs spilled their whole backstories and internal struggles out of nowhere. They had interacted a couple of times and then randomly just went on monologues about their trauma 🤨 ??????? I like that the characters had personal issues (read: ~ tragic backstories ~ ) but I wish they didn’t just spill their internal conflicts and backstories in long monologues, completely unprovoked, to someone they barely knew. It came across as very forced and unnatural.
Plus the whole scene of Derek psychoanalyzing Michie and telling *us* the reader things about her that hadn’t been properly conveyed in the text……. Once again, the author “telling” instead of “showing” + yet another long, unprovoked, and unnatural monologue. 😒
Another thing I didn’t like is that not only was this book *insta love*, but it was also basically an *instant relationship*. Michie and Derek just acted like a couple throughout the entire book, and not in the “everyone knows you’re in love except you 2!”-way (which is actually fun). No! They did a bunch of couple-y things, and were very aware they liked each other, and acted accordingly: he'd rest his hand on her thigh, or around her shoulders when they sat side by side, they’d hold hands all the time, he’d pull her head into his lap and play with her hair until she fell asleep, they went on dates (and straight up called them “dates”, without even flinching)… When Derek’s parents called Michie “his girlfriend” (before they’d even kissed), she didn’t even panic. Because… yeah. You’re dating already, and you both know it. 😐
I just personally prefer slow-burns. I like the pining, the “accidental”, fleeting touches. Slowly falling in love. Finding excuses to spend more time with the person you love and not letting them know how you feel. One, or maybe both of the characters being oblivious… This book was literally just the story of 2 people falling in love at 1st sight despite being complete strangers, and then becoming a couple 5 chapters later. This didn’t feel like a romance developing – it was just a relationship without the label.
MICHIE’S BACKSTORY:
Michie’s mum was raped and that’s how Michie came to be. Because of this, her mum never really wanted anything to do with Michie – she reminded her of the worst experience of her life, plus she was only 15 when it happened, and she couldn’t be a decent mother at that age. I thought this was a very interesting backstory, and I definitely understand why Michie struggles so much with this.
With that said, I didn’t really like how it was addressed in the book. Michie is lowkey anti-abortion. She says: “I had come so close to the same fate; how could I say we don’t all deserve the chance at life?”, which……… ugh. Listen, I definitely understand why she struggles with that, and it is a very nuanced topic and a complicated situation to be in. However , I *really* wish the author had approached this differently. First of all, there wasn’t even a need to bring up abortion. Her mum was raped, and then was neglectful of her child. Those are already subjects that have a lot to explore. But even if the author really wanted abortion to be a theme here, why have lines like the one I just mentioned, or this one: “It’s not nice to talk about [abortion] in public.” (as if abortions are a shameful thing????), and never have them be challenged…?
Once again, Michie is in a difficult situation, and I didn’t expect her to become a human-rights activist by the end of the book, but I wish at least these things had been more contested in the story, and I wanted to see the topic being given more attention. I did some research and found out Michie’s backstory was very much inspired by the author’s, and she definitely isn’t anti-abortion, which is great!!!! So, yeah. Idk, I just wish this whole topic had been explored a bit more than it was.
I also didn’t love that the synopsis mentioned her mum reaching out to make amends yet the mum only actually appears at the 87% mark. 😐 I spent the whole book waiting for something that would only happen in the last 10% and lasted like 5 pages max. 🙃
OTHER STUFF:
• When Derek saw that Michie has a guy friend he immediately asked if they ever dated…… Boys and girls can be just friends, bro.
• Found a typo
• The characters were forgettable, no offense.
• I really didn’t like it when Michie rejected Derek and he just cut her off. I understand that rejection sucks, and it can hurt to be just friends with someone you want to date. However, Derek literally started flirting with Michie the moment they met….. and when she rejected him he just didn’t want anything to do with her……. 🤨🤨🤨 It just gives me the impression that he only really saw her as a potential partner and straight up didn’t care about their “friendship”. I feel like he always had the intention of pursuing her and since he failed he doesn’t even care enough to be friends 😐😬
THINGS I LIKED:
• Other than the thing I mentioned above, Derek was pretty alright. Definitely a breath of fresh air when it comes to LIs in romances. He was confident and flirty, but not cocky or arrogant. I liked that he was actually nice and understanding.
• Trigger warnings at the start!
• Pretty decent and believable “teen speak”
• Derek was sooo smooth (it’s truly a shame the romance was poorly developed insta-love; we could’ve had it all…….)
• The racial diversity!!!!
• They cared about and consoled each other. Sweet.
• ASKING FOR CONSENT TO KISS!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
• I appreciate that Michie had more going on than just the romance (university, her mum, therapy).
• Emphasis on the importance of therapy!
• PERCY JACKSON REFERENCES!
• The full circle moment with the book starting and ending the same way! I loved that!!!
August 17, 2022
Easily one of the best books I've read all year! I love the representation of mental health, non happy/lovey families, and an AMAZING best friend (The gift Jojo got for Michie's birthday had me in TEARS!).
I do wish we had taken a second to explicitly acknowledge how g-ma was gaslighting Michie about so many things, and a couple of things that are brought up throughout the book are extremely odd (is Derek a nerd for liking mainstream sci-fi and poor people don't have personalities outside of being poor).
But overall, I Loved the book and highly recommend it.
Youtube Review
I do wish we had taken a second to explicitly acknowledge how g-ma was gaslighting Michie about so many things, and a couple of things that are brought up throughout the book are extremely odd (is Derek a nerd for liking mainstream sci-fi and poor people don't have personalities outside of being poor).
But overall, I Loved the book and highly recommend it.
Youtube Review
May 11, 2022
I went into this book expecting a cute teen romance/ coming of age story and while this book met those expectations it also past them. Lane Clarke manages to write light-hearted fluffy scenes as well as emotional and darker-toned ones. The strongest points of this book are of the relationships the characters form. Michie's friends aren't just side characters but people with their own voices and lives outside of her. The way they support and understand each other made me think of my best friends. It warmed my heart so much! And of course, I have to gush about Michie and Derek. A soft handsome jock with a heart of gold is my weakness and Derek fits that to a T. The way they grow into each other felt so natural and made me kick my feet with giddiness. And the handling of mental health brought tears to my eyes. So rarely do I see books that talk about the helpfulness of therapy and how it feels going through it. And to see it in a book aimed at a teen was inspiring to say the least. It was such a joy to read this book.
July 26, 2022
Thank you both, the publisher and author, for providing me with this ARC.
TW: mentions sexual assault, abortion, suicide, alcoholism, and the death of a grandparent. Also includes parental abandonment, anxiety, and depression.
RATING: 4.5/5
I absolutely love this book! The writing was well thought out and the message was great. I loved that each character had different problems but they used the people around them to keep going. Derek's character was extremely wholesome and his crush on Michie was so cute. I went through such an emotional rollercoaster while reading this book. I would definitely recommend this book!
TW: mentions sexual assault, abortion, suicide, alcoholism, and the death of a grandparent. Also includes parental abandonment, anxiety, and depression.
RATING: 4.5/5
I absolutely love this book! The writing was well thought out and the message was great. I loved that each character had different problems but they used the people around them to keep going. Derek's character was extremely wholesome and his crush on Michie was so cute. I went through such an emotional rollercoaster while reading this book. I would definitely recommend this book!
July 25, 2022
[ I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Love Times Infinity is a YA Contemporary by Lane Clark. An outstanding debut novel that brings heart and emotion through the eyes of a young woman as she learns to love and accept every part of herself.
High school junior Michie life isn't an easy one. Yes, she has the typical teenage struggles of feelings invisible at school and worrying about her college essay and SATs. She also deals with the fact that she's the only kid at her school from a lower income bracket and while her peers are attending school games she's working and counting every dollar. But the biggest hurdle in her life is the fact that she is the product of a sexual assault and her mother never wanted to be a mother. She feels unworthy of love, so when the new hot senior basketball player befriends her and shows interest in more she pushes him away. Michie has to come to terms with and face the mother who walked away from her to be able to start living and believe she deserves a happy future.
"Sometimes when you can't describe it, that's how you know it's real."
I wasn't expecting how heavy this book turned out to be. It discusses frequently abortion and about children born from sexual assault, since that is our main character / narrators backstory. She struggles with self-worth and guilt and keeps even those closest to her at arms length for fear of rejection. There's also discussion of her attempting self harm in the past. My heart really broke for her. So many of the characters in the book have difficult family lives and each faces their own challenges.
He is safe and brighter than the sun, and I want to, need to, be wrapped around someone who wants to be wrapped around me. His arms tighten, and I hold on until I've lost sense of everything but him.
Amongst all the intense, there are plenty of moments that will put a smile on your face. Michie's best friend JoJo is an absolute delight. She's loving, supportive and caring. Michie's grandmother is a doll who unconditionally loves her and fills both mother and grandmother positions for her. All the unique characters in Mitchie's therapy support group. And of course, our love interest, Derek. He is such a sweetheart and it is adorable how smitten he is with Mitchie. He opens up to her about his own demons, and genuinely wants to get to know her as friends and on a deeper level. They have a slow burn relationship that begins as friendship and eventually becomes more. But Mitchie struggles with the idea that anyone could love her or that she's worth loving, that she pushes him away before acknowledging both their feelings. The romance is sweet and innocent, with a few well-placed kisses.
All in all , Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke is a wonderfully written YA contemporary, with love, friendships, positive mental health rep, young love, , a half-time show strip tease, matchmaking, honesty and found family.
Content warnings: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page)
Love Times Infinity is a YA Contemporary by Lane Clark. An outstanding debut novel that brings heart and emotion through the eyes of a young woman as she learns to love and accept every part of herself.
High school junior Michie life isn't an easy one. Yes, she has the typical teenage struggles of feelings invisible at school and worrying about her college essay and SATs. She also deals with the fact that she's the only kid at her school from a lower income bracket and while her peers are attending school games she's working and counting every dollar. But the biggest hurdle in her life is the fact that she is the product of a sexual assault and her mother never wanted to be a mother. She feels unworthy of love, so when the new hot senior basketball player befriends her and shows interest in more she pushes him away. Michie has to come to terms with and face the mother who walked away from her to be able to start living and believe she deserves a happy future.
"Sometimes when you can't describe it, that's how you know it's real."
I wasn't expecting how heavy this book turned out to be. It discusses frequently abortion and about children born from sexual assault, since that is our main character / narrators backstory. She struggles with self-worth and guilt and keeps even those closest to her at arms length for fear of rejection. There's also discussion of her attempting self harm in the past. My heart really broke for her. So many of the characters in the book have difficult family lives and each faces their own challenges.
He is safe and brighter than the sun, and I want to, need to, be wrapped around someone who wants to be wrapped around me. His arms tighten, and I hold on until I've lost sense of everything but him.
Amongst all the intense, there are plenty of moments that will put a smile on your face. Michie's best friend JoJo is an absolute delight. She's loving, supportive and caring. Michie's grandmother is a doll who unconditionally loves her and fills both mother and grandmother positions for her. All the unique characters in Mitchie's therapy support group. And of course, our love interest, Derek. He is such a sweetheart and it is adorable how smitten he is with Mitchie. He opens up to her about his own demons, and genuinely wants to get to know her as friends and on a deeper level. They have a slow burn relationship that begins as friendship and eventually becomes more. But Mitchie struggles with the idea that anyone could love her or that she's worth loving, that she pushes him away before acknowledging both their feelings. The romance is sweet and innocent, with a few well-placed kisses.
All in all , Love Times Infinity by Lane Clarke is a wonderfully written YA contemporary, with love, friendships, positive mental health rep, young love, , a half-time show strip tease, matchmaking, honesty and found family.
Content warnings: depictions of anxiety and depression, discussions of sexual assault, discussions of abortion, alcohol use, discussions of alcoholism, parental abandonment, grandparent death (backstory, off page)
February 27, 2023
actual rating: 4/5 stars
this was way more emotional than i anticipated going in. this is a ya coming of age story but our main character was convinced via rape and has an estranged relationship with her mother because of this. she is trying to apply for colleges and feels like she cannot get a grasp on what to write because of this relationship.
this relationship with her mother is a huge portion of the book and her grappling with the fact of how she was brought into this world. she is also in a support group with other teens going through this and we see how this affects them in different ways which i really enjoyed.
derek and michie are absolutely adorable and i loved their relationship so much. i do wish we got more about derek and his struggles. we focused a little bit on his family but michie goes through so much and i wish that derek had at least one thing. it seemed a bit unrealistic that his life was so peachy keen. derek was such a sweet, wholesome, supportive bean tho
i loved seeing michie's relationship with her grandma as well. a lot of the black community is raised by grandparents and other relatives so i loved seeing the representation even tho personally i have never had relationships with any of my grandparents.
i think this discussed something i have never even thought about personally in such an amazing way and we really saw how it impacted michie. while it may have been too much for a ya audience i think it could have done more to talk about rape culture and how rape impacts more people than just the children conceived from it. it talked about the mothers slightly but i think if it dove into that more it could have been an absolute favorite.
overall i would highly recommend this for the audience that it is aimed at.
thank you to lane clarke, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
this was way more emotional than i anticipated going in. this is a ya coming of age story but our main character was convinced via rape and has an estranged relationship with her mother because of this. she is trying to apply for colleges and feels like she cannot get a grasp on what to write because of this relationship.
this relationship with her mother is a huge portion of the book and her grappling with the fact of how she was brought into this world. she is also in a support group with other teens going through this and we see how this affects them in different ways which i really enjoyed.
derek and michie are absolutely adorable and i loved their relationship so much. i do wish we got more about derek and his struggles. we focused a little bit on his family but michie goes through so much and i wish that derek had at least one thing. it seemed a bit unrealistic that his life was so peachy keen. derek was such a sweet, wholesome, supportive bean tho
i loved seeing michie's relationship with her grandma as well. a lot of the black community is raised by grandparents and other relatives so i loved seeing the representation even tho personally i have never had relationships with any of my grandparents.
i think this discussed something i have never even thought about personally in such an amazing way and we really saw how it impacted michie. while it may have been too much for a ya audience i think it could have done more to talk about rape culture and how rape impacts more people than just the children conceived from it. it talked about the mothers slightly but i think if it dove into that more it could have been an absolute favorite.
overall i would highly recommend this for the audience that it is aimed at.
thank you to lane clarke, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2022
Thank you @hachetteaudio for the complementary audiobook. Im glad I chose to listen to the book.
Books like this is why at 32 I still read YA. The amount of heart in these stories is unreal!
Before you decide that you want to read this please read the trigger warnings. Take care of yourself.
I laughed and I cried. There were times when I felt like stopping, but I’m glad I didn’t.
Love Times Infinity is a book about healing, friendship and love. We follow Michie, a high school girl who is trying to find herself. As a child of a rape victim she’s trying to understand what her existence means. Her journey was raw and real, at times incredibly heartbreaking. This is a perspective I’ve never read before. Michie was a strong person despite everything going on in her life.
I really loved the side characters. Our love interest Derek is the best. This is how I want all YA couples to be. I was also a fan of bff Jojo and the grandma that raised her.
All the unique characters in Mitchie's therapy support group, loved them.
This book was amazing. Im shocked it’s a debut. If you’re a fan of books with powerful messages, I suggest you pick this up.
October 12, 2022
This was great!! It discusses a lot of series topics, but is mixed with plenty of heartwarming, cute, and funny moments. Loved all the pop culture references (I feel like Lane Clarke and I must be close in age lol)
TW: rape (prior to story), abortion (discussed), suicide attempt (prior to novel, but by MC), anxiety, panic attacks, death of a loved one (prior to novel, not POV character), alcoholism, abandonment
TW: rape (prior to story), abortion (discussed), suicide attempt (prior to novel, but by MC), anxiety, panic attacks, death of a loved one (prior to novel, not POV character), alcoholism, abandonment
December 14, 2022
Loved loved loved it
February 13, 2023
It was a good book! Probably would have enjoyed it more if I was reading it during high school when I was going through everything they were, but I enjoyed the nostalgia it gave :)
April 7, 2022
Love Times Infinity is a deeply moving and poignant story. It’s difficult to put into words how much I enjoyed this powerful and engrossing read, and I fear I won’t do the book justice. The characters, especially Michie, are layered and compelling, and I enjoyed each of their stories. Michie goes on such a journey, and I love how she grows and changes and learns from her experiences. Burdened by the rejection of her mother and the knowledge that she is the product of sexual assault, Michie feels so much guilt and anger and resentment. She faces a lot of complicated and difficult realities and really struggles to accept herself and feel like she’s worthy.
Michie has a great support system in her grandmother and many others she is close too, which helps Michie tremendously on her journey to self-acceptance and love. I particularly like the relationship Michie has with her grandmother. They are a team, and her grandmother is a wonderful support to Michie. She is a constant in Michie’s life, and their unwavering love and respect for each other are pivotal in Michie’s emotional success. They have some powerful and moving conversations, and their bond is beautiful and strong.
Michie’s relationship with her best friend is another bright spot in her life, as is her growing relationship with Derek. They have such a sweet romance, and their blossoming relationship is a bright spot in Michie’s life. Michie’s support group of teens is another source of comfort and understanding for Michie. This group helps each other so much, and they feel more like family than friends. Their stories are complicated and heartbreaking, and though their journeys are different, their connection, support, and encouragement remain strong. I love that the story highlights finding your people – the people who will love you unconditionally through the tough times. It also shows how beneficial therapy and support groups are, and I love that too. Mental health is so important and something that is often difficult for teens. Michie and her friends are going through such a confusing, stressful, and emotionally chaotic time of their lives, and having the proper people in place to help makes such a difference.
A deep and meaningful coming-of-age story, the book explores many relatable themes and issues. Michie’s journey is filled with life-impacting events. Choosing colleges, deciding whether she wants to see the mother who abandoned her, struggling with her identity and the guilt she feels, facing her fears and her past, starting a new relationship, and dealing with her mental health are just some of the experiences she faces. My son is the same age as Michie, and he hopes to attend the same school Michie wants to attend, so I very much relate to many of the realistic pressures, emotions, and situations she faces. Though the story tackles a lot of heavy subjects, they are balanced nicely with messages of hope, resilience, friendship, and love. It’s the kind of read that makes you laugh and cry and feel all the feelings in between.
I would definitely recommend Love Times Infinity to readers who enjoy upper YA contemporary fiction or romance, and I am so grateful to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Michie has a great support system in her grandmother and many others she is close too, which helps Michie tremendously on her journey to self-acceptance and love. I particularly like the relationship Michie has with her grandmother. They are a team, and her grandmother is a wonderful support to Michie. She is a constant in Michie’s life, and their unwavering love and respect for each other are pivotal in Michie’s emotional success. They have some powerful and moving conversations, and their bond is beautiful and strong.
Michie’s relationship with her best friend is another bright spot in her life, as is her growing relationship with Derek. They have such a sweet romance, and their blossoming relationship is a bright spot in Michie’s life. Michie’s support group of teens is another source of comfort and understanding for Michie. This group helps each other so much, and they feel more like family than friends. Their stories are complicated and heartbreaking, and though their journeys are different, their connection, support, and encouragement remain strong. I love that the story highlights finding your people – the people who will love you unconditionally through the tough times. It also shows how beneficial therapy and support groups are, and I love that too. Mental health is so important and something that is often difficult for teens. Michie and her friends are going through such a confusing, stressful, and emotionally chaotic time of their lives, and having the proper people in place to help makes such a difference.
A deep and meaningful coming-of-age story, the book explores many relatable themes and issues. Michie’s journey is filled with life-impacting events. Choosing colleges, deciding whether she wants to see the mother who abandoned her, struggling with her identity and the guilt she feels, facing her fears and her past, starting a new relationship, and dealing with her mental health are just some of the experiences she faces. My son is the same age as Michie, and he hopes to attend the same school Michie wants to attend, so I very much relate to many of the realistic pressures, emotions, and situations she faces. Though the story tackles a lot of heavy subjects, they are balanced nicely with messages of hope, resilience, friendship, and love. It’s the kind of read that makes you laugh and cry and feel all the feelings in between.
I would definitely recommend Love Times Infinity to readers who enjoy upper YA contemporary fiction or romance, and I am so grateful to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
February 21, 2025
This book broke me
I want someone to love like Derek did
update
I had to read this again for a 2025 book challenge and its still amzainnnggg
I want someone to love like Derek did
update
I had to read this again for a 2025 book challenge and its still amzainnnggg
November 25, 2022
I believe I might have been to old for this book or at least to mature of an audience for it. I found my self being very impatient with the main character. It might be just becasue she reminds me of the people I prefer not to be around. It's draining so I guess the book left me feeling drained becasue I had to sit through her story. I was absolutely in love with the two other main protagonist of the story as they were more close to people I find good company. The end was promising as it was something I dying to finally happen, just took a lot of story telling to get which was necessary. Now I'm not saying don't read it, it was actually quite enjoyable, a solid read I don't regret. I would recommend anyone in her age range which is middle to high schoolers.
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