This and Every Life

Ich habe wirklich nicht genügend Wörter, um zu beschreiben wie wahnsinnig gut dieses Buch ist. Es ist unglaublich, und ich komme immer noch nicht damit klar, wie tief es mich berührt hat. Ich kann gar nichts weiter dazu schreiben, weil alles was ich sagen würde, auf irgendeine Art und Weise den Inhalt Spoilern würde, und das möchte ich niemandem antun, es ist es nicht wert, jemandem die Möglichkeit zu nehmen diese Reise selber zu gehen. Ich habe noch nie soviel geweint, wie während dieses Buches, aber, und das ist ein großes Aber, nicht aus Frust oder Traurigkeit, es war fast immer aus purer Freude und Rührung. Es ist so wahnsinnig ergreifend, man kann es sich nicht vorstellen, bis man es selbst erlebt hat. Ich wünschte mir jeder würde dieses Buch lesen, in vielerlei Hinsicht, öffnet es Augen, lässt einen anders auf Dinge blicken, und vor allem lässt es einen so wahnsinnig viel spüren. Ich glaube ich werde noch ewig von dem zehren, was mir hier in den letzten Tagen passiert ist. Ich werde wahrscheinlich mein Leben lang immer wieder an dieses Buch denken, und es ganz sicher noch viele Male in die Hand holen und nochmal lesen, auch wenn ich weiß, dass es nie wieder wie beim ersten lesen sein wird.

I can't write anything about the content of the book, as that would spoil the entire plot. The story deeply moved me and at times brought me to tears. It also made me think in several places. I imagine that you either love the book or you don't. For me it was a unique journey. It's a shame that you can only read this book once for the first time. I think it will stay with me in my thoughts for a while. I read/listened to it together with the audiobook, as a duet (Zachary Johnson and Tim Paige). Incredible.🤌🏼

What I love about this book is how all four parts initially appear completely different, yet in the end, it's actually one large love story. Each story features the same two souls, just in a different life, with different circumstances, different bodies, and yet, always the same magnetic pull between them. Part 1 introduces the historical, tragic, and bittersweet setting, giving off 'cursed lovers' vibes, making you think they're destined but can never truly be together. Caspian sees this in hindsight and remembers the rough ending of that life. Part 2 is more modern, dealing with body dysphoria and Charlie slowly finding himself. You realize they love each other, but it's not yet the life where everything is perfect. Still, it's a happy end, albeit with open edges. Part 3 is much softer-Ezra and Gray-both aro, finding each other in a relationship that isn't the 'classic romance' thing, but their own unique form of love. Again, happy vibes, although entirely different from before. Then comes Part 4, and suddenly you understand everything. Caspian can see all his lives, every death, every pain, every moment he and his soulmate were separated. He remembers every version of Lee, every loss, every reunion. That's so heavy-it's a beautiful ability, but ultimately a burden, like having to re-read every life and getting stuck at the sad part every time. You realize they truly are the same souls: same energy, same love, just new situations. I was impressed by how the themes of freedom vs. determination were addressed. If you already know how your life will go, do you even have a choice? Caspian struggles, Lee struggles, but in the end, they come to that beautiful statement: you always have a choice; you are not powerless; you determine what your life means. The astronomical motif connects everything...Caspian always wants to reach the stars, and in the end, he finally becomes an astrophysicist. This fits perfectly, as the stars symbolize the connection across all lives. All couples had their happy endings, each in their own way. My only wish is that there were more small, recurring character details throughout all the lives - just tiny 'ah yes, same soul' moments. There were a few, but I wanted more. Despite that, it was such a beautiful concept. Not truly sad in tone because Caspian has such a positive personality, but when you think about the big picture, it’s intense. And the love scenes weren't just smut; they were so intimate, so emotional, so 'we found each other again'-vibes. In the end, it feels like a love story that transcends time, body, identity, and space - and no matter how often they lose each other, they find each other every single time.