Soulmatch

De: Rebecca Danzenbaker

Narrado por: Gilli Messer

In a world where past lives determine your future, a sharp-witted girl confronts a major twist of destiny, embroiling her in a high-stakes game of danger, corruption, and heartbreak in this young adult speculative romance perfect for fans of Scythe and Matched.

Two hundred years after World War III, the world is at peace, all thanks to the soul-identification system. Every eighteen-year-old must report to the government to learn about their past lives, a terrifying process known as kirling. Good souls leave the institute with their inheritance, a career path, and if they’re lucky, a soulmate. Bad souls leave in handcuffs.

It’s a nerve-wracking ordeal for Sivon, who, given her uncanny ability to win every chess match, already suspects her soul isn’t normal. Turns out, she was right to worry. Sivon’s results stun not only her, but the entire world, making her the object of public scrutiny and anonymous threats.

Saddled with an infuriating and off-limits bodyguard, Sivon is thrust into a high-stakes game where souls are pawns and rules don’t exist. As deaths mount, Sivon must decipher friend from foe while protecting her heart against impossible odds. One wrong move could destroy the future lives of everyone Sivon loves, and she can’t let that happen, even if they’ll never love her back.

©2025 Rebecca Danzenbaker (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

A wild ride!!

Such a great read!! Twists and turns and surprises abound! Such an interesting premise, well developed and very intriguing. Love how complex the story is, and the depth of its characters. Congrats to Rebecca Danzenbaker on a stellar first novel!!

I listened every chance I got!

I loved that this book was so different! I couldn’t put it down. The narrator did a really great job also.

Highly imaginative & immersive!

My twelve-year-old daughter had the privilege of reading an advance copy of SoulMatch as she interviewed Mrs. Danzenbaker for a local magazine. For months, all I heard about was SoulMatch. To say my daughter is obsessed, is an understatement. I have enjoyed YA novels in the past like Hunger Games, Twilight, Mortal Instruments, etc… So, I thought I’d give this YA dystopian novel a go. I patiently waited for the audiobook to release as that’s the only way I’m able to read these days. I devoured this almost 500 page book in 6 days. I was fully engaged in the face-paced thought-provoking blend of dystopia, identity, fate, power, and romance.

I finished this book mere hours before unfortunately finding out that my father-in-law had passed away. Having SoulMatch on my mind gave me comfort as I imagined his soul being reborn. If his past lives determine his fate in his next life, he will be A-OK. He was a beautiful soul.

I devoured this!

Absolutely unputdownable. Soulmatch delivers a thrilling blend of speculative sci-fi, romance, and dystopian intrigue, perfect for fans of Divergent and Red Queen. From the first chapter, I was hooked by the unique premise: a future where your past lives dictate your fate, for better or for much, much worse.

Sivon is a smart, sharp, and deeply compelling protagonist, and the stakes of her journey kept me turning pages long into the night. The mystery at the heart of her soul’s identity unfolds with delicious tension, and the twists? So good. The world-building is layered and vivid without ever bogging down the pace, and the idea of kirling—this terrifying reckoning with past lives—feels fresh and hauntingly plausible.

The romance subplot adds just the right level of tension and heartache, and Sivon's off-limits bodyguard is the perfect foil, infuriating, magnetic, and impossible not to root for. I loved watching their dynamic evolve under pressure.

Gilli Messer’s narration was excellent. She brings Sivon’s inner world to life with nuance and energy, and I found her performance utterly engaging.

Though I’m relieved this was a standalone (because waiting would’ve been torture), I’m already mourning that it’s over. I will absolutely be reading whatever Rebecca Danzenbaker writes next.

Incredible plot 👏

I have not ever heard of any book similar to this one and for that reason I decided to give it a go. What I wasn't expecting was for it to blow me out of the water with just how good the plot is. There is a mix of intricate storytelling, futurism, romance, and murder. It definitely gave off some dystopian vibes and I think this is probably one of the best books I have read in 2025. What I loved the most about it is that I really did not see certain things coming in the book so it's unpredictable unlike many other books. The only thing that I felt was confusing was just visualizing the characters because they talk about different lives (same soul) they've been in the story and it was hard to just envision all of the characters physically. If you're thinking about reading or listening to it on audiobook please do, and thank me later.

Hooked from the start!

I loved the print copy so much that I bought the audio version to see if it would hook me, and it did! Rebecca Danzenbaker’s debut novel is one that has left me dreaming of characters like Sivon, Vivi, and Corah. I feel so connected to the characters and their stories! A must read for teens and adults!

Fantastic YA dystopian

In Soulmatch, the world is 200-plus years after WW3. Scientists have figured out how to identify souls and match them to previous lives. Which means, they may suffer their past lives' sins, benefit from their riches, or anything in between. I love the concept of reincarnation and how our past lives could impact our current and future lives.

The world-building was incredible and immersive, though I would have loved more time to explore this futuristic world and what it has to offer.

The characters were believable and relatable. But please note, the teens act like teens, which is a great thing for a YA book, and they weren’t obnoxious or annoying for this adult reader. Sivon can be a bit dramatic and impulsive at times, but she just turned 18 at the beginning of the book, so I didn’t expect her to act like a 30-something and have that level of emotional maturity. Again, it’s a YA book, made for teens, and the characters acted how I would expect people of their age to behave.

This book is very fast paced, with the last 100 pages being unputdownable with so much happening. There is a little bit of a love triangle, but it was resolved quickly and has a satisfying resolution.

The only downside for me was that I would have loved to spend more time with some of the plots and locations. I feel like a whole book could be spent in the Fringe alone exploring what that area is and how it works, and why it’s so different from the rest of the country. I could easily read another book or two in this world, and with Sivon and her friends. I don’t view this as a negative for the book, but a positive because I wasn’t ready to leave when it was over.

Loved it!!

What a great unique story. This is the kind of book you can read a number of times and find new things each time you read it. I throughly enjoyed it!

Great debut

This was a lovely debut from this author, and it made for a great audiobook. The narration was spot on. The plot was complex, but still sweet. It was a good read and very compelling.

Reincarnation saga

Gaandu story summed it up in one word ! wtf 15 word minimum is it 15 yet