An Old Soul

by: M. Kevin Hayden
published: May 6, 2025
genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy
233 Pages, E-Book ARC Courtesy of NetGalley
Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis

In An Old Soul, Isaac André stumbles into a love story unlike any other when he meets Noa Gayle in a mid-’90s internet chatroom. What begins as a whirlwind romance soon unravels into a mysterious and surreal journey that blurs the lines between reality, fate, and something far more cosmic. Set against the backdrop of 1996 Chicago, this genre-bending novel explores love, identity, and the strange beauty of synchronicity.

Review

Summer in Chicago is always sweltering, and the summer of 1996 is no exception. But for Isaac André, things are unusually… smooth. The bus shows up right on time every day. His job at Big Shoulders Video—a VHS rental spot that gives total Blockbuster vibes—is right where he left it. Even when he asks his boss Ron for an advance on his paycheck, he actually gets it. With $283.57 in hand, Isaac heads straight to Silicon City to finally buy himself a desktop PC and see what all the fuss is about with this new thing called the internet.

Once he’s lugged the boxes home and set everything up, Isaac loads up the Columbia Online (basically AOL) CD-ROM, listens to the familiar dial-up tone, and boom—“You have messages!” He eventually wanders into a chatroom hoping to connect with people who, like him, believe the world might be a simulation. That’s where he meets BirdGurl9, aka Noa Gayle.

Their connection is instant. They talk all night, and Noa—who’s already been in Chicago for a few months—suggests they meet in person. From there, a whirlwind romance begins. Isaac brings Noa into his life, introducing her to his friends, his family, and the deepest parts of himself. But there’s something he can’t quite shake—something doesn’t feel right. Noa often disappears without warning, saying she’s headed back to “Northern Lights, Canada”—a place Isaac eventually learns doesn’t even exist.

My Final Thoughts

I knew there’d be a twist, and while I thought I saw it coming, I couldn’t quite figure out the why until it hit. The writing here is phenomenal, especially for someone like me who doesn’t usually gravitate toward Sci-Fi or Fantasy. I was completely immersed in Isaac and Noa’s world. I’ve never experienced 1996 Chicago, but Hayden painted it so vividly, I felt like I had.

To me, this book reads more like a romance fantasy (Goodreads didn’t have it categorized). At its core, this is a love story. Noa’s love for Isaac is so deep it transcends logic, time, and even reality.

That said, the more Sci-Fi-heavy elements—GAIA, SOMA, NP, AGI—kind of lost me. I needed a bit more context to really understand those layers. Also, the subplot involving the Faber siblings (Carolyn and Jace) felt underdeveloped—if their conflict was explained, I must’ve missed it. And once we shifted into Noa’s perspective, the story started to drag a bit. The trash chute scene, in particular, felt overlong and overly detailed.

Still, this was a surprisingly quick read at just 233 pages. It’s a great choice for a long weekend or flight. I’d absolutely recommend it if you’re looking for something different—something that blends nostalgic vibes, first love, and cosmic mystery.

Acknowledgement

Thank you to NetGalley and Muse of the Moon Books for the opportunity to read An Old Soul by M. Kevin Hayden. I’m so glad I took a chance on this one—it’s a unique blend of nostalgic romance and speculative mystery that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.