Soulmates

by Holly Bourne

Every so often, two people are born who are the perfect matches for each other. Soulmates. But while the odds of this happening are about as likely as being struck by lightning, when these people do meet and fall in love…thunderstorms, lightning strikes and lashings of rain are only the beginning of their problems.

Enter Poppy, the 17-year-old cynic with a serious addiction to banana milk, and Noah, the heart-throb guitarist; residents of mediocre Middletown, sometime students, and…soulmates.

After a chance meeting at a local band night, Poppy and Noah find themselves swept up in a whirlwind romance unlike anything they’ve ever experienced before. But with a secret international agency preparing to separate them, a trail of destruction rumbling in their wake, (and a looming psychology coursework deadline), they are left with an impossible choice between the end of the world, or a life without love…

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Chick Lit

544 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

Holly started her writing career as a news journalist, where she was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general ‘agony aunt’ for a youth charity – helping young people with their relationships and mental health.

Inspired by what she saw, she started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling, award-winning ‘Spinster Club’ series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When she turned thirty, Holly wrote her first adult novel, 'How Do You Like Me Now?', examining the intensified pressures on women once they hit that landmark.

Alongside her writing, Holly has a keen interest in women’s rights and is an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health problems. She’s helped create online apps that teach young people about sexual consent, works with Women’s Aid to spread awareness of abusive relationships, and runs Rethink’s mental health book club.

Reviews

[Aj the Ravenous Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I have proven after my second book by Ms. Holly Bourne is that she is a subversive writer and I mean that in a constructive way. She defies norms and popular culture through her stories and isn’t scared to express her principles through her characters’ thoughts and it’s why I like her. Just take a look at her take on clichés.

“It’s just a relationship, Poppy. They’re all clichéd. There’s nothing special about us-apart from the fact it’s us. You and me. And I’m glad it’s you and me, because I feel what we’ve found is pretty great. But I think this “falling in love” stuff is just the same for everyone.” - Noah

I usually find myself nodding in agreement whenever her characters express their thoughts and I often pause to copy excerpts.

“Old Poppy would have been yelling at the television, chucking popcorn at us on the screen , saying it was ridiculous, -ludicrous, even –to say “I love you” so soon. I had changed beyond recognition, become everything I’d ever hated and yet I was so, so happy I didn’t care.” -Poppy

“Well, I don’t want my happiness to depend on a boy. It never did any good to anyone". - Popppy

“That’s just silly. Look at all those trashy romcoms that do so well at the box office." - Lizzie

"You’ve found someone who loves you. You. For exactly who you are. Some people go through their whole lives without ever experiencing that and you’ve managed to achieve it at the tender age of seventeen. So stop worrying and enjoy it. Just don’t forget who your friends are.”
-Lizzie

So despite the almost ridiculous, sci-fi-ish take on the concept of “Soulmates”, I found myself really enjoying the story. Though the romance got too cheesy that I hear myself groaning a lot of times, I don’t know why it still worked at least to me. Even the tragic ending was convincing. So plot-wise, I don’t think you would appreciate the book but chop it down to its smaller elements and I think you’ll enjoy it. Put all these parts together and you have an innovative, weird, sci-fi/cheesy romance that somehow still works.

[Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't do spoilers. But I've never wanted to so much! I feel like this book should come with some kind of warning. At some point, you will cry. That's all I'll say.

Bourne is the writer I've been waiting for. Finally I get to read an amazing YA story and it's British! I read so much US YA that I forget how nice it is to have Brit references that I actually recognise and relate to. Please publish more stuff like this! Poppy and Noah are the perfect couple. Reading about their love blossoming was so sweet, but not in a sickly saccharine way. They're both wonderful characters, and you want them to have everything.

The paranormal element turns a sappy love story into something else entirely. Anita and Rain are like baddies trying to save the world, and they're brilliant. Poppy is so strong, so much her own person, even when falling in love, she makes a perfect female protagonist. Noah is so flipping gorgeous and wonderful. Best boyfriend ever.

This has to be the world's vaguest review - there's so much I want to say, but can't! Bourne's writing is so good. You feel everything Poppy feels. Her friends are brilliant supporting characters. It's all so real, so true and then there's an injection of the paranormal that takes your breath away. This can't be happening, but it is...

If you've read my reviews before, you'll know I have a thing about endings. Very few live up to my requirements. I can't decide if I love the end of Soulmates, or hate it. I think it has to be a bit of both. It's very very brave.

I've just re-read what I've written and it's oh-so disjointed. That's how I feel after reading the book though. If I'd started writing this half-way through reading it, you would have had a paragraph (at least) about the power of true love and stuff like that, but I don't think I can do that now. Poppy and Noah's romance is incredible, wonderful and beautiful to read. But. There is a But. I just can't say what it is. Sorry. Read it if you're feeling brave, and love it for its beauty. I'll definitely read whatever Bourne has to offer next, but if it's too much like Soulmates I will probably want to pour a banana milkshake over her head. Also, banana? bleugh.

ARC received via GR giveaway. More reviews at http://escapeintowords.blogspot.co.uk

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm shaking right now...I don't know what to say. I literally just finished crying. The ending...Jesus Christ, that ending. All the way through the book, I was just waiting for something bad to happen. Poppy and Noah were just so happy... I just don't know what to think. It certainly has been one of the best books I've read in a while.

BUT THEY WERE SO CUTE AND I JUST WANTED TO HUG THEM AND HOLLY BOURNE - THAT ENDING, WHY?????????????

I know it might not be some people's cup of tea, because it was slightly insta-loveish, but I think that's the way it was supposed to be (I mean, they were soulmates).

I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO DOESN'T MIND HAVING THEIR HEART BROKEN.

[Alexandra Norman · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up fairly cheap in WH Smiths as part of a 3 for two offer. I didn't have incredibly high hopes for it, the blurb sounded vaguely interesting, and I'm a sucker for soulmates, but I hated the cover (dull, unimaginative, and looks as though someone Googled soul mates and chose the first image that came up..)

It smacks of a debut, and one which doesn't really fill me with hope for the writers second novel. The characters were derivative, and painfully one dimensional. I felt no warmth towards any of them, and I had 0% empathy and even less tolerance for the main character Poppy.

She was a 17 year old with no personality whatsoever besides hating cliche's and CONSTANTLY saying and thinking that she hates cliches, all while of course being one..

The book is filled with descriptions of mindless nonsense and 'lashings of mascarra' (a phrase that popped up at least twice and annoyed the hell of me!) Girl meets guy, Noah who is himself a walking cliche (dark brooding lead guitarist in a band with issues obviously..) girl tries to play hard to get with a witty retort (the only tiny paragraph in the entire book that I didn't despise) before giving into her whiny over analyed feelings and letting him buy her a designer dress take her to the ballet (because of course hes also rich, duh..)

The author seemed to realise that there really wasn't much plot going on and decided to add a vague (and severely undeveloped plot wise) secret government facility which can track soul mates.. How, you ask? No clue.. But they have computers and people who havent slept in weeks because its so very important, and a massive bitch boss so it must be legit.

They can somehow see that Poppy and Noah have met because their teenage lust is causing freak weather. And if they sleep together the world may end. They can just about identify that the couple are in Europe, however when the freaking army burst in and stop them from consummating the hideous relationship, they know them both by name.

It is explained to the love stuck teenagers that they can never never be together as their love could destroy the world. So they use their love to smash some windows, blow some bulbs and run away over the hills. Over to surrender 10 minutes later and give up the love that Poppy was so overwhelmed at the thought of loosing just a few pages previously she was passing out and having panic attacks. But they are allowed to write to each other at Christmas. So.. Yeah.

I'm aware that this is a very harsh review, and I would be devastated if I ever had anything this harsh written about any of my stories.. But I'm all for honesty, and I don't like to sugar coat it when I am this disappointed with a read. Maybe with a lot more edits and some serious work on the characters and plot development it could have been something. But unfortunately it wasn't ready, and is incredibly thin for such a thick book.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

WTF just happened????

Did I really just read this???

Okay, so haha joke is on us, there must be a second book coming out and Poppy and Noah find a way to cheat chemistry and now they can be together?!?!? Right???? No?? Oooooookkkkkayyyy!!

So I'm all for an author writing something completely different, but holy hell did this kind of different break my heart. Its been three days since I've finished the book and I barely felt able to write a review. I won't say I disliked it, but for once I didn't love different (if you know me I'm all about different)!!!!

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dos Almas es una novela juvenil un tanto paranormal que me llamó la atención desde el primer momento. Aunque ciertamente la sinopsis que tiene no le hace justicia y podría ser menos comercial y más justa para la historia que nos cuenta la novela. Por ello lo que he encontrado entre las páginas de este libro no ha sido para nada lo que esperaba... y algo que me ha gustado muchísimo.
Si bien es cierto que las almas gemelas son un estereotipo como otros muuuchos que hay en la literatura juvenil, también es cierto que me encanta el tema y que todas las novelas que traten este tópico pueden pasar por mí que las leeré encantada. He leído muchas novelas sobre almas gemelas y probablemente por eso últimamente soy más dura con el género. Pero esta novela me ha encantado, con todas las letras.
Dos almas cuenta una historia de amor de verdad, rodeada de personajes profundizados, con una ambientación que el lector siente real y con ritmo constante que hace que todas las relaciones que van surgiendo entre personajes no sean demasiado rápidas ni demasiado lentas, sino, reales.
Por eso mismo me ha gustado tanto Dos almas, porque no trata de una historia de amor de película que surge sin motivo, sino que tiene una razón y que se va dando poco a poco para que el lector pueda adaptarse a ella.
Además la novela cuenta con acción y giros de trama que me han gustado mucho, no aburre en ningún momento y no decae, lo que siempre hace que la lectora quiera continuar con la lectura.
Algo muy curioso que me ha pasado con este libro y que hacía mucho tiempo que no me pasaba es que me quede, literalmente, frita leyéndolo. Estaba muy cansada pero me empeñé en seguir leyendo hasta el punto de que me desperté a las 3:00 am con el libro abierto encima mía y la luz encendida...
En resumen Dos almas es una historia juvenil, con personajes adolescentes que tienen sus propios problemas, que cuenta una historia de amor que parece real y que engancha desde la primera página.

[Maddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is so clever in the way it rationally explains insta-love, and the fact that it's self aware of how fast paced the romance is does help me like it more, but there was something fundamental that I didn't like about the portrayal of friendship between girls and what's deemed effeminate (drinking banana milk doesn't threaten masculinity, does it?)

'Soulmates' is five steps behind the Spinster Club series, but it was great to see the seeds of what makes that series amazing popping up in Holly Bourne's debut!

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've got a book hangover!

This book is beautiful. Everything I expected with the twist of the unexpected at the end.

"It starts just like any other day, with the sun rising."

SOULMATES follows Poppy who is totally against every idea of love. The meaning, rubbish. Cliché. Soppy. Ew. But then she meets Noah, a guitarist who's part of the new hot band "Growing Pains" (out of all the names, they call themselves that...ahaha, jokes) and she feels an instant tug. Something that draws them together. Stronger than either of them anticipated and soon all they can think about is one another. Poppy is all in for the cliché now. Soppy, yes! And every little romantic thing in between.

People say that when you fall in love you can do anything and creating thunderstorms and snow is not one of the things that should be able to do.

Now, I'm not much of a British author reader and reading this book makes me realise what i miss out on because of this. This book is so cute and whilst American authors create a romantic dream, Bourne manages to keep her book very grounded and close to reality. This is done extremely well through Poppy's friends and I couldn't help but think of my friends whilst reading this book. They are kinda similar. But also poor Frank! The love hate relationship with him and Poppy is too obvious...but he isn't Poppy's type and we can't argue with that if she doesn't see it.

I love the twist in this book that doesn't fully make this book neatly sit under the romance category, it's a hybrid with a supernatural genre twist. The idea is definitely something I've never come across.

My last verdict...
JUST PICK UP THIS BOOK! - you won't regret it.

[Constanza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pueden leer mi reseña completa en: www.booksforfly.blogspot.com

Por aquí pondré tres cosas que me abrumaron y que me TIENEN HARTA EN LA LITERATURA:

1.- Por qué las escritoras siempre escriben que el CABELLO SUDOROSO es sexy??? AHHH?, es ASQUEROSO!!! más aún cuando les gotea porque tocaron en un bar lleno de humo y cerveza...Puaj!

2.- Si un chico APRIETA LOS DIENTES para preguntarme con quién bailaba anoche, no me parece LINDO!!! me parece un celoso psicópata machista!

3.- Si un chico me pregunta: "Podríamos al menos ir a tomar UN PUTO café para intentar entender que diantres está pasando?". Salgo corriendo!

[Josefina Wagner · Rating 1 out of 5]

böyle salakca yazilmis bir kitabi neden okudum,hic bir sekilde anlami olmayan bir roman alacakaranlik serisi yada vampir hikayeleri dahi bu romandan daha akli basinda diyebilirim. hep acaba daha sonra iyi olurmu beklentisi ile sayfalarda ilerledikce hayalkirikligim artti da diyemem fazla bir beklentim olmadan elime almistim zaten fakat cerezlik kitaplardan sacma da olsa vakit gecirten cinsinden gibi(belki) dusunmeme ragmen tamamen zavalli zamanim diye hayiflandigim diye bir kitap oldu.

[Flor Méndez]

DNF at 37%

Lo considero demasiado insultante con el género femenino como para seguirlo. Qué odio encontrar clichés y misoginia más que nada en un libro escrito por una mujer.

[bookishpoetess · Rating 5 out of 5]

It happened just like any other day, with the sun rising. It happened when I was in the midst of book strolling in one of my favorite bookstores when I crossed paths with Soulmates. I was not fascinated with the cover but I was curious with the title. The title caught my attention from afar because it reminded me of someone. Then I held it in my hands and turned it around and the sypnosis captured my attention even more:

"Soulmates do exist.
But not as you think.

Every so often two people are born who are the perfect match for one another. Soulmates.

But what if meeting your soulmate is earth-shattering – literally?"

The word "literally" got me! I typed it in my note so I can remember to looked it up on Goodreads. Then one of my bookstagram friend has read the book and she told me that it was a great read, so I started it earlier than I intended to. And when I read the first sentence? I fell in love immediately with the book. I'm smitten, swooned, and soppy.

Poppy Lawson, a man-hater, lives in Middletown where she believes that there is no kind of man she enough for her. Until she met Noah Roberts, a band guitarist. And everything she thought and believes about love came tumbling down. She became delirously happy because of a boy. She became dependent to him. She had no panic attacks. But there's something happening in England, some weird global warming stuff—from floods to snow storms to horrificly hot summer. And nobody knows what causes it. Aside from Dr. Anita Beaumont, her assistant Rain Hamilton, and who-knows-who from their organization. When everything is so fine in Poppy's world, the real whole world is crashing down. Because Poppy and Noah found each other, they're soulmates.

I know it's too long already but I wanted to tell you how much I love this book. I love Noah. His character seems too good to be true but he's a perfect boyfriend. I love how he treats Poppy, to the point that he would be willing to give everything to her. He is such a gentleman and every woman's dream. I could kill just to have a guy like him in my life! Poppy is just so lucky to have him. Though I got pissed with Poppy because she doesn't like The Notebook. I mean, who doesn't like The Notebook? Be in a book or movie, everyone loves it! Or maybe, once again, I'm biased because that is my favorite. On the positive side, I admire Poppy. An independent, young woman. But just like any other girl in the world, a paranoid and jealous and dependent and insecure when she fell in love. I wouldn't blame her though. I would be if my boyfriend is like Noah. Their love story is sweet and such a cliche but I love it anyway. And then I don't know what else to feel. I didn't cry so hard like any other books but I can feel my heart breaking into thousand pieces inside my chest. I can feel my own world shattering while nearing the ending of Soulmates. It crushed my beliefs about love and soulmates. It ripped my soul away from my body. Devastating is such an understatement.

I love every bit and pieces of it. The beginning. The middle. The ending. The words. The sentences. The paragraphs. The chapters. The book. I love it. I love Soulmates so much. I highly recommend it and of course, it's added on my all-time-favorites list!

"Real love doesn’t mend everything. Real love doesn’t conquer all. And, most importantly, real love doesn’t require a happily-ever-after – that’s not what it’s about. But real love does change you. It moulds you. It burns your heart into a charred cinder that relights like a phoenix, stronger and more blazing than ever."

[Phoebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING?? no. nope. That did not just happen.

I'm not just judging this book on the ending, I found the whole thing terribly clichéd and muddy, but that ending. WHY.

[Tatyana Naumova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Несмотря на чудовищный набор штампов, это было а)мило; б)волнительно; в)а в конце я поплакала.

[Aletheiia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lo único que me valió la pena fue el principio y el final. 😐

Comencé el libro con expectativas media-altas y terminé enfadada. El libro presenta una trama que se ve interesante, con una protagonista que tiene ciertos detalles que llaman la atención, y unos elementos que pueden llegar a explotarse mucho. El problema, es que sentía que todo eso se perdía a medida que avanza el libro. 😒

Aunque esté basado en el "cliché" de las almas gemelas , me atraía el hecho de que lo explicaban de forma científica y le daban un nuevo significado respecto a consecuencias. ¡Pero es que casi TODO el libro termina siendo Poppy y Noah teniendo citas e intentando controlarse las ganas! No conseguía empatizar nada con los personajes, y odiaba a Ruth. 🤷‍♀️

No hay evolución, ni gran acción, solo dos adolescentes melosos y aburridos. Todo es demasiado perfecto entre ellos (vale que sean almas gemelas) sin tener que hacer ningún esfuerzo. Además, el lenguaje de la narración deja que desear, y no se profundiza muy bien en los protagonistas.

A menos de la mitad del libro ya estaba deseando que pasase algo, y seguí leyendo con la esperanza (lo leí del tirón hasta el final para acabar ya) . Se me hizo un libro tedioso.

Tiene el toque mínimo que consigue que sigas leyendo a pesar de todo, y el final salva un poco el libro porque es diferente a lo esperado. 😯 Aún así, se podría quitar la mitad de en medio del libro y seguiría siendo igual (lo digo en serio, ¡sobra la mitad!).

[Svetlana Dorokhova · Rating 2 out of 5]

Начну с того, что задумка у книги довольно необычная. Интересный взгляд на тему родственных душ и любви. И я на это купилась, ожидая чего-то очень интересного и увлекательного. А на деле мои надежды не оправдались.
Во-первых, повествование оказалось невероятно затянутым, порой оно тянулось как резина, и я со скучающим видом перелистывала страницы. И это при том, что автор сама признается в интервью, что объем книги сокращали, удаляли некоторые главы. Боюсь представить, что там было изначально. Сюжет полон клише, о которых всю книгу твердит героиня. И мне совершенно не верилось в такую всепоглощающую любовь, которая возникла у семнадцатилетних подростков, вот ни капли. По сути, все у них и свелось к тем самым играющим гормонам, которые многие, в том числе "злодеи" этой книги, называют любовью. А для меня любовь совершенно не об этом, она гораздо глубже, но Борн не раскрывает тему с этой точки зрения. В итоге мы имеем 500 с лишним страниц о пробегающих электрических разрядах, поцелуях и обнимашках - типичный роман. И лишь в самом конце проснулся какой-то интерес и появилась динамика, но повествование все так же напоминает нереалистичный блокбастер. Концовка вообще вызывает недоумение и вопрос "зачем вообще тогда все это было написано?". Нет, я не любительница хэппи-эндов, но здесь окончание истории оставило у меня некоторое депрессивное послевкусие. Тема любви и родственных душ, на мой взгляд, оказалась не раскрыта.
Ну, и хочется сказать о языке. Мне он не понравился, я буквально продиралась через текст, порой глупые диалоги, спотыкаясь чуть ли не на каждой фразе. Возможно, именно этот фактор помешал мне проникнуться историей, героями и их переживаниями.
Ставлю 2 из 5, скорее, за общую концепцию.

[Tilly · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
If you had told me Holly Bourne had written this book after I'd read it, I wouldn't have believed you. I ADORE Holly Bourne and have read the majority of her books and loved them. She is one of my auto buy authors! But this was awful. Childish, awful characters and just so uninteresting. Gutted I have had to DNF at over 200 pages but I just couldn't continue!!

[Wenda Dohmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat n prachtig mooi boek! Kon niet stoppen met lezen. Echt ik móest doorlezen! En dat einde....Mijn god, wát n ongelofelijk mooi einde..... Ik was helemaal van slag! Wat heb ik moeten huilen....zoooo mooi!!

[Brujaxa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandonado en la página 127.
No puedo con esto. Me parece ridículo. Los protagonistas me caen mal y son muy pretenciosos, además las conversaciones son demasiado forzadas.

[emine · Rating 5 out of 5]

bu kitabi lisede sira arkadasim verdigi gun hayatim degisti... aglamaktan olmustum kitap bitince BU KİTABİ COKKKKK SEVİYORUMMMM nolur olur da okudum diye isaretlemem allah kahretsin beni

[Mimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is gonna be hard. Phew. Let's begin.

I am a sucker for the "destined partners" trope - whether mates or soulmates, you get it. So, naturally, I got super excited when I first saw this book on Goodreads. I did not care what it was about as long this trope was there. (A mistake I paid for, may I add.)

I finally got the book and the moment it was on my Kindle, I started reading. My opening impression was pretty good - the writing was easy to read, some characters were witty, some infuriating, most of 'em likeable and quite well written, the plot was flowing.
The whole time, however, I was waiting for something special to happen. But when it did, but it was confusing and the further into the book I dived, the more concerned I became for the characters. (And rightly so.)
Then the ending happened. And I was... quite shook? Really disturbed? Disappointed? Angry? All of them at once and more?
I'd been having a nice time. I really had. And the ending absolutely ruined things for me. What is the point of writing a whole book that is 500 pages long only to end it like that?! To prove how people don't really fall in love, and it's all the hormones' doing?! To show how people can give up on love (although it's still only the hormones in our bodies)?!
Maybe it's just me. Maybe this is a brilliant book I simply misunderstood. But the blame is definitely not all on me and that's why I had such trouble deciding how to rate this book.
I had expected to love this book and I didn't hate the book, I hated the ending - and it's easier to give three stars to a book which had a rough beginning than a book with a totally unsatisfying culmination, mind you.
Ugh. You know what? Screw it. I really wanted to adore this one. It fulfils so many criteria that determine my opinion on books. And yet, it managed to mess up.

In conclusion, I do not recommend this to anyone. It was disappointing and lacked a proper conflict, when I think about it. Although, if you like waiting for a miracle that won't come, give it a try. I'm sure you won't be disappointed then.

→1 star

[Dreya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I did not expect the ending. It was so heartbreaking and made me cry :'(

But overall, the whole story was good as well as the writing style. I just hope people like Rain and Anita don't exist in real life. Hahahha!

[Arabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart hurts too much.

[hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

awwww it’s just as cute as i remembered it

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claramente a autora está aos poucos a conquistar um lugar no meu coração. Nesta história, que é o seu primeiro livro publicado, encontrei algo completamente inesperado...mas sem dúvida alguma viciante e fascinante.

É muito mais do que a busca pela nossa alma gémea, o nosso amor destinado...É acima de tudo, sobre a busca de nós mesmos, no meio do caos que pode ser a nossa própria mente. Uma história que permite uma introspecção fantástica relativa ao amor, e que nos faz questionar a realidade.

Adoraria conseguir definir este livro, contudo se o tentasse fazer estaria a destruir o prazer que é esta leitura...então, não o vou fazer. Não vou explicar o que vão encontrar nestas páginas, vou sim, expressar o que senti quando as li.

Senti um amor maior que a vida, senti amor, dor, alegria..Ler este livro é regressar à adolescência, é reviver uma época tão complexa e repleta de emoções. O que mais me fascinou foi a beleza da escrita - é tão humana, tão credível, que sentia que estava com a Poppy, que vivia tudo o que ela estava a viver. Por ser tão "real", a leitura flui com uma naturalidade única...e quando se dá conta, chegamos ao fim.
Um fim agridoce, mas que era o único possível - o amor é tudo e somos melhores por termos amor nas nossas vidas, por termos amado.


"The true test of life isn't how you cope when everything is going in your favour; it's how you deal with things that could destroy you, if you let them."

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big fan of Holly Bourne's books, I was excited to go back and read her debut.

Although this book was very good, it's not my favourite and is clearly her debut book.

This book is really long, over 500 pages. However, it doesn't feel like that when reading it. It was a very quick and easy read.

This is the only book which Holly Bourne has ever included a fantastical, sci-fi element too. Although fun, I'm not sure if it worked and I'm glad she stayed away from mixing genres since.

The writing is classic Holly Bourne. Funny, witty and very engaging. The characters are great too. Holly does a great job at writing teenagers.

Although, not my usual genre, I do like Holly Bourne's writing and characters. Her books are definitely feel good books.

Although not my favourite book by her, I'm glad I have read it and I look forward to the new release later on in the year.

[Lauren Elkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this but it ended far too abruptly and I’d have liked to see a dual POV from Noah’s side as well! I feel it was a slow burn that then went 100mph and the end which was a shame as the ending felt rushed and could have built up a lot better!

[Rozanne Visagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Falling in love with you, Poppy, is the easiest thing I've ever done. I didn't even have to think about it. It just happened."

When we think of soulmates, we think of a happy ever after. Of moments spent holding hands and finding that person who accepts you for who you are. This is not that kind of soulmates; this is the kind of soulmates where your heart aches with love, but they're the one that got away. This is soulmates with forbidden love. Soulmates is a YA romance with a lot of heart. First love and boy crushes and those giddy feelings that come with it.

I enjoy reading Holly Bourne's books, in each book, she always discusses important topics and leaves the reader thinking. That's why I feel it's so important that young adults read her books as soon as they can they will benefit so much from it. Back to this review, it took me some time to finish this book, as it is 500+ pages, but I got so invested in Poppy and Noah. Ruth is such a terrible and annoying friend, the way she treats Poppy is awful. But somehow they were friends. I liked the incognito POV, something is happening but we're not exactly sure, but it's connected to Poppy and Noah. I didn't expect the ending to be so emotional, I literally put off reading the end as I felt it in my soul 🥹 Cue sad song playlist....
Fans of Five Feet Apart and The Fault in Our Stars will enjoy this book. Please note that older readers might not enjoy this as much as the audience is YA. But that doesn't mean the story won't pull at your heartstrings.

"The true test of life isn't how you cope when everything is going in your favor; it's how you deal with things that could destroy you, if you let them."

Thank you Penguin Random House SA for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[helana ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

There MIGHT be some spoilers ahead. Just so you know.

“Of course, you're always a cynic before you fall in love yourself...”

Soulmates is one of the most heart-shattering novels out there, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out for me. Sure it was it was heartbreaking but I didn’t feel that way because of several reasons.

First. I hate most of the characters. They are very annoying especially Poppy’s friends. I hate Ruth for being an insensitive bitch. She’s narcissistic, and in her narcissism, she thinks that everybody give a damn about her and as if she can get ay guy she wanted. I hate her attitude towards her friends because she keeps on putting them down instead of helping them boost their self-esteem. I also hate her for saying that if Poppy won’t sleep with Noah; a lot of girls would love to take her place. I mean, you don’t need to give everything to a guy to make him stay.

Then, here’s Lizzie. I like her at first, I thought she was such a good friend and that Poppy is so lucky to have her. But I was SO WRONG. Lizzie is way to nosy for a friend who loves to talk about other’s business when in the very first place she had nothing to do with it! Seriously, shut your damn mouth! I hate how she keeps on nagging Poppy to give her details about her moments with Noah so that she has something to tell others. I mean, you don’t need to know everything about someone’s personal life and that is kind of self-explanatory from the word itself—personal. I really wanted to slap the word PRIVACY in her very damn talkative mouth. I can’t even consider her as Poppy’s friend because she can’t keep a secret and as if she only wanted to be with people so that she can get a news scoop to gossip around.

I hate that all of Poppy’s friends keeps on meddling with her relationship with Noah. There are things that need to be kept between you and your significant other. Poppy don’t have the obligation to explain everything they do together and her friends don’t have the right to know everything. They have to respect ones privacy because in the very first place, it’s her (Poppy’s) right.

I hate Poppy, too and I can’t get her most of the time.

The only thing I liked about this book was Noah… and… Just Noah. He’s a perfect boyfriend material and Poppy’s too lucky to have him.

Second, it was very slow-paced and the story didn’t really make sense to me most of the time. There were a lot of scenes that aren’t needed in the story and are just waste of time. I was almost done with the book and I can’t still find any logical explanations as to why things on the book happened. The book could have been better. It was sci-fi, yes but it didn’t feel it. It was more of a contemporary young adult romance with twisted parts that science can’t explain—like a natural phenomenon. I wish she just made the book shorter because it was like 95% of boredom and 5% of awesomeness, and it wasn’t even that awesome, and it annoys the hell out of me. The plot twist wasn’t that catchy simply because it was revealed late. I just scanned and struggled to finish the book because I want it done already because it didn’t work out for me.

And to tell you honestly, I loved the ending. I am so happy that they didn't end up together. It is actually better that way rather having a happy ending without reasonable and clear explanation.

So there. 2 out of 5 stars (for Noah and the ending)

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, a week ago I read these exuberant reviews about Soulmates and I spontaneously went and bought it for my Kindle. I'm not as over-enthusiastic as all the other reviewers but it really is a great book. I feel more people should know about this debut author because I'm sure that Holly Bourne has a lot more to say. By the way, I really love the cover, it's simple but strangely beautiful.

At the end of the novel, Bourne explains how she came up with the idea for the novel:

It [Twilight] got me thinking about why we always want love to have this huge overarching dramatic narrative. Why do we crave fireworks and drama and forbidden-this-and-that, when it's actually probably not very good for us? So I took the most romantic idea of all -soulmates- and thought, What would happen if finding your soulmate was actually the worst thing ever?

And the first thing I thought was: why the heck should we not want that? What's wrong with a little dreaming, because that's what this is all about right? Nobody ever imagines that stuff like this will really happen to us. But it's fun to dream about it. But then, Holly Bourne is right. Many of those great dramatic romances don't end well for the couple. I do believe there's the possibility to be too much in love. When it stands in your way to live your life. When you can't think straight, let others down, basically don't care about anything else.

In her book Soulmates that is not the bad thing about being in love. The bad thing is much worse and actually endangering many people. But I won't tell you too much about it. Soulmates is this really cute love story of Poppy and Noah who feel their strong, almost electrical attraction right from the first moment the lay eyes on each other. Their attraction, and soon love, is so strong that it often feels frightening for the reader, too. I wasn't always comfortable with it, there always stays a lingering feeling of dread, which is intended I think. The plot is not multi-layered and pretty straight-forward.

What I really appreciated about this book was its British charme. The way teenagers behaved, going out, dealing with alcohol in a natural way, the lack of high school drama, the behavior of parents, this all sounded so familiar to me, probably because it is the European way of life. I mostly read American YA literature where things feel a bit odd sometimes.

Poppy is a very cynical main character. I adored her humor. I tried to capture some of it in my quotes, so have a look at them, too. Her skepticism about love was very realistic, I liked how she tried (and eventually failed) not to be swept away by it and stay grounded. She has a serious problem with panic attacks which sort of fits to Noah's former depression. And Noah, well he was so so sweet even though a bit full of himself but that was also cute in a way.

Everyone who's into YA romances should go buy and immediately read this book. It has an amazingly refreshing writing style, this hilarious humor and an epic love story. It's not cheesy at all, somehow it manages to stay down-to-earth which I really admire.