★.·´¯`·.·★ A R C Review ★·.·`¯´·.★
✨ Always isn’t Forever by J.C. Cervantes ✨
💭 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💭
⚠️ TW: Grief, Death, Loss of a loved one, Therapy sessions

“I’d rather let love break me open than never know its depths.”

°•*⁀➷

I want to express my gratitude to Netgalley, JC Cervantes, and Penguin Random House for providing me with both a physical and digital ARC of this incredibly moving and uplifting book. HAPPY PUB DAY TO THIS BEAUTIFUL BOOK TOO!!!

Initially, I was drawn to this book on Netgalley because of its stunning cover. When I read the description, my interest was immediately piqued. The concept is refreshingly unique, unlike anything I've come across before. I must admit, though, that I was a bit hesitant at first. I've reached a point in my life where I tend to shy away from overly youthful reads, unless they fall into the realm of high fantasy. However, I'm thrilled that I decided to give it a chance and requested a copy. I'm grateful that PRH reached out to me and sent me a physical copy of the book.

From the very beginning, the story captivated me, and I never found myself getting bored. It was an emotional rollercoaster, even from the first few pages. The moment Hart Agusto chose to save that boy from drowning and sacrificed his own life, leaving behind the love of his life, Ruby, until the final pages, I was deeply invested. There were also plenty of lighthearted and funny moments scattered throughout.

Cervantes' writing style and the flow of her words are exceptional. This made the book incredibly easy to read, to the point where I would have devoured it in one sitting if given the chance. She has a talent for creating relatable characters, and connecting with them was a breeze. Each character felt genuine and realistic, and I could feel their emotions seeping through the pages. My heart ached during the heartbreaking scenes, and I appreciated the well-paced chapters that didn't drag on unnecessarily.

This book delves into themes of loss, grief, letting go, and finding closure, while also highlighting the power of true love and perseverance. It was my first time reading Cervantes' work, and it certainly won't be my last. I fell in love with Hart and Ruby, and I admired how Cervantes expertly weaved this beautiful afterlife concept and the stages of grief into their compelling story.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone in search of a heartwarming, easy-to-follow, and tear-inducing read.

°•*⁀➷ Recommended for those who like:
✨ Romance, Sports Romance
✨ Fantasy, Paranormal
✨ Heartbreaking and uplifting stories
✨ Second chances
✨ Multiple POV
✨ YA, Small town romance
✨ Soulmates
✨ Sister bond, Family, Found family
✨ Short chapters

I was taken aback by the profound emotional depth of this book—it truly took me on an intense and heartfelt journey. In comparison to "You've Reached Sam," I found it to be executed far more masterfully. The inclusion of multiple perspectives added a layer of adoration for me, as it allowed us to intimately experience each character's unique vantage point. The book's poignant exploration of loss and tragedy struck a chord with me, showcasing its exceptional handling of these themes.

It’s been so long since a book made me cry but it just couldn’t b helped with this beautiful story. I’m having trouble putting my thoughts into words, but this book was just such an emotional story about two teens cruelly taken from each other. I knew this would be heartbreaking, but while reading and sobbing, I also found a beautiful hopefulness in this story that I will not forget. It is a story of loss and sadness but also, real true love. 100% worth the read!

The story was so beautifully written and I can't stop thinking about it. Hart's journey was absolutely incredible and I loved every minute of it. I found myself crying throughout the whole book. But let me tell you, those tears were worth it! The story was just so heartfelt and touching. I can't thank J.C. Cervantes, Netgalley and Penguin Group enough for the ARC!

hart and ruby were destined to be together, but then hart tragically dies in a boating accident. he’s given another chance, though, through inhabiting the body of a classmate of his who was on the verge of dying. with cosmic forces preventing him from telling anyone the truth, and taking his memories along the way, will hart—who now appears as the bad boy jameson—be able to win ruby back?

it’s been so long since a book made me cry, so i was oddly pleased when i started crying just 14% into this. i’m having trouble putting my thoughts into words, but this book was just such an emotional story about two teens cruelly taken from each other. i loved how much it was shown that hart and ruby’s souls were intrinsically linked and that they would always fight to find their ways back to each other. i also loved the role friendship and familial bonds played in this book!

i would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a tearjerking read.

🐞⚓️🛟Always Isn’t Forever- J.C Cervantes 🛟⚓️🐞

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“And in the end, I’d rather let love break me open than never know its depths.”

“I should have stopped you. Deep down I knew something bad was going to happen. I could feel those thorny branches of my intuition days before. I’d never felt something so powerful, and I ignored it because I didn’t want it to be true. And maybe I was hoping that whatever it was wouldn’t turn out to be that bad. I was wrong. Anyways, wherever you are—I hope you’re happy and you have a guitar. And maybe if you’re not too busy, you can send me a sign? Just so I know you’re okay, that . . .” 🐞

Absolute gem that swept me away on a breathtaking journey of love, courage, and self-discovery. I’m not kidding. I need to give credit where it’s due and commend J.C Cervantes for crafting a story that seamlessly blends genres, effortlessly intertwining romance, fantasy, and adventure. The pacing is perfect, with a well-balanced mix of heart-pounding action and heartfelt introspection that kept me engrossed throughout. This releases tomorrow (6/7/2023) and I’m so so excited for you all to pick this up! If you’re a fan of crying, second chance romance, undefinable love. GO GET THIS!!!

Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

#BookReview #AlwaysIsntForever #JCCervantes #UnforgettableReads #MagicalJourney #Netgalley #NetgalleyArc

I really wanted to love this book. I really did-! When I read the summary, I was absolutely hooked! I could already tell it was going to be filled with both angst and fluff.

Immediately starting, the opening chapters- were SUPER SLOW AND BORING… Which, I didn’t mind, since some books start out like that and pick up shortly (give it some time that’s all). Sadly, that wasn’t the case here…

Unfortunately the story , continued having this cycle of being boring then slowly good. Only for it go back into the pattern again .

Ultimately in my opinion, Chapter 30 and onward, the story finally started picking up in pacing, and plot.

Moving on, at first none of the characters really caught my attention. The more it went on, I really enjoyed the encounters between Hart and Ruby, also the minor character’s also.

Oh my goodness, the ending was so perfectly written! I thought I had an idea how was it going to end, only to be caught off guard. But would I recommend to friends, no.

This novel has somewhat of a Freaky Friday vibe to it - in fact, Freaky Friday is mentioned in the novel. Ruby and Hart are high school seniors, best friends from childhood whose friendship morphed into love, who enjoy many of the same activities, and work for the same employer. They plan to spend their lives together. But then a terrible accident occurs, and Hart dies saving a child's life - or does he?

This is a story of love, loss, grief, and learning to live again. It is also a somewhat sappy YA romance novel, but it goes deeper than that. For anyone who has had to deal with loss - especially the loss of a partner - this novel deals with grief and depression in a very real way, but it also has an outcome that many grief-stricken people hope for and can never have; in that sense, those having difficulty dealing with loss may want to avoid this novel. Appropriate for high school and adult.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a 4.5-5 star review for me.

First off - I cried. A lot; Like snot cried. this story was absolutely beautifully written and the heartache could be felt through the pages. I really enjoyed 'You Reached Sam' and this gave the same vibes, but IMO was amplified and more emotionally involved for the reader.

Losing the love of your life is something no one wants to ever experience. But this story is about second chances and when the love of your life comes back in another body to fight for love - Can you say "star-crossed lovers"?! Hart and Ruby are a phenomenal couple but even as individuals, they were two characters that had so much heart and dedication. Their relationship leaves goosebumps on your skin and butterflies in your gut. The grief wrapped into this story was so well done, that I seriously had a hard time not crying. The way the grief didn't just define this story, but helped develop the plot and character growth was something I applaud. The plot of this book wasn't just about Ruby moving on but how she was coping with the loss.

The pacing of this book was perfect, I also loved that the chapters weren't super long. The cover alone had me hooked. So if anything you see about this book sparks your interest - Please pick this book up.

Please check the trigger warnings as this story contains grief, drowning, and substance abuse.

whelp. ouch. This book hits you right in the feels from the get go. Felt very similar to You've reached Sam but J.C was able to encompass more of that feeling of grief, it was difficult not to empathize with Ruby and not cry for her and what was lost. I really liked how we also got to see other characters and how Harts death effected them as well, it felt more natural to read when the impact was more widespread that the MC. The only off-putting part of this story for me was Lourdes, I felt like aspect didn't blend well into the story and its something I believe could have been written a little better.

Always Isn't Forever was a beautifully written story and I can't stop thinking about it. I wasn't sure how I was going to like it since there it revolves around death but the author handled it respectfully and honestly. Without giving too many spoilers, I absolutely adored Hart and the journey he went on. Ruby's grief was raw and heart wrenching and I found myself crying throughout the whole book. The supporting characters were wonderful; Gabi and Lourdes, George and even Jameson. It was just fantastic and I am so grateful to J.C. Cervantes, Netgalley and Penguin Group Razorbill for the ARC!

Always Isn't Forever is a book that took me on an emotional journey. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it a thrilling read. The pacing is quick, and the chapters are brief, making it easy to get lost in the story. While some of the supernatural elements could have been better explained, the characters were well-developed and captivating.

This book surprised me by being quite emotional, and it was undoubtedly an emotional ride. If I had to compare the book to You've Reached Sam, I would say it was far better done. I adored how the multiple points of view allowed us to hear each perspective of the tale. the manner in which it addressed loss and tragedy.

With its brief chapters, quick pacing, significant mystery, and unexpected turns, the entire book is simple to read. Although I thought some of the supernatural aspects weren't properly stated, I thought the characters were fantastic. However, this novel was still quite charming and had me from page one.

I cannot stress how highly I suggest this book! In the same breath, this book was both upsetting and inspirational!

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review!

It’s not a joke when the synopsis compares Always Isn’t Forever to You’ve Reached Sam. The cover gives even the same vibes. But where You’ve Reached Sam hit a little bit of a roadblock for me, this book blew past my expectations and opened my heart (and the floodgates) to Ruby and Hart’s story.

I’m a sucker for romances that hit you deep in the heart and this one is no exception. For a story about death and getting a divine second chance to potentially reconnect, whether you love the book or not hinges on how well you love the two protagonists. I’d say I’m sometimes pretty jaded when it comes to romance stories – I’ve definitely read a lot – but these two teenagers had such a woven and realistic story of love from childhood friends to something more.

The dual POV from Hart (in Jameson’s body) and Ruby gave so much insight to who they each were, but also who the other meant to them. Hart was a songwriter, and his soul was entwined with music and melody that dreamt of their love. While his memories were slowly disappearing, he held on desperately for his memory of Ruby and the music he was in the midst of writing for her at the time of his death. Ruby, on the other hand, loved the water, practically lived in it. After Hart’s drowning, she had to reconcile her love for the water and its hand in taking away the only boy she ever loved.

My heart is still beating rapidly just thinking of their story. The prose and flow had everything to do with it too. Cervantes carved their love story through quick chapters, little memories engraved in their souls, and raw emotions that aren’t always easy to deal with in the face of goodbyes.

“Love doesn’t need more than one heart.”

If there’s one thing that both Hart and Ruby learned, it was this quote. Oh, my poor heart suffered with Hart as he desperately tried to tell the people he loved, especially Ruby, that he was back. But regardless if she didn’t fully know who he was inside a new body, he knew. And love doesn’t require more than one heart.

Aside from these two whom I fell in love with, there were a few secondary characters making an impact. Ruby’s sister, Gabi, is exactly what I would want in a sister if I were to have one. She pushed Ruby when others may have given up when she went into a sad spiral. They bickered and they disagreed on things but you can tell love was the underlying motive for everything Gabi did for Ruby. And on Hart’s side, let’s just say there’s a fun divine being he befriends who ended up being a nice, more lighthearted character to throw into their mix.

Who surprised me most was Jameson. We can’t forget the boy whose body Hart took. This is NOT like The Host (aka my favourite book ever) where two souls vie for one body. The divine rules for body recycling is interesting, but a body can hold memories so getting to know pieces of Jameson was also amazing. Cervantes has a way of making each character feel real with their emotions and how they grapple with things like grief and guilt and joy.

All this to say, Always Isn’t Forever blew past my expectations. Did I think I would cry? Yes. Did I actually cry? 100 times yes. But it held such a good balance of hope, love, and grief that I could only ever hope to find in a book. If you liked You’ve Reached Sam, I’d say you’d LOVE this one.

Overall Recommendation:

Bring your tissues because Always Isn’t Forever will tug at your heartstrings while you’re screaming at yourself to not let your heart beat with hope for Ruby and Hart. Reminiscent of You’ve Reached Sam, an unexpected early death throws a wrench in their plans for their forever future, but these two lovebirds find a way to connect with each other again even after death. Except Hart can’t tell Ruby he doesn’t appear as he used to! I loved the dual POV that gave insight into their love that defies the passing of time and their age. Their journey for even one more moment together had me hogging the tissues in a corner as I gobbled their story in one sitting. 100% worth the read!

Overall the story was good! I felt the grief and growth from the mc’s and the concept of the story was good, had the potential to really break my heart.
I did not like that as a YA it had swearing and used religious terms as a form of a swear word. It was a little too much in my opinion since we are talking about the afterlife.
Overall I loved how the book showed grief and a form of real true love. Almost in my opinion like soulmates!

Thankyou NetGalley for letting me be apart of the ARC group.

10% in I was tearing up, finishing the last page with a sniffling nose and blurry vision. Ruby & Harts story of love, lose and finding a way back to each other just broke me at the same time put me back together

5 stars is not enough, cannot wait to get my hands on a hard cover of this to put on my shelf to remind me love is just….everything, in all forms

I really enjoyed this book - I read the whole thing in one sitting. The concept and plot very unique, I don't think I've ever come across a book with the same plot before. Loved all three of the main character's the the multiple perspectives.

The concept of this book was really interesting! I really enjoyed reading it!

I also really loved the main characters in this book and that they had so many layers. Ruby was such a raw character which I really enjoyed seeing! I really enjoyed how we could experience both Jameson’s and Hart’s emotions. The author really reflected both characters so well!

This book was a tad bit slow for me in the middle but overall I really enjoyed it.

Those last few pages really had me shedding a few tears. This book so beautifully written and was just such a heartfelt story.

I really recommend picking this book up if you are in the mood for an emotional but beautiful read.

nothing too special and honestly forgettable. did i close it with a smile on my face though? absolutely. this was a nice little palate cleanser that kept me entertained so if that's what you're seeking, look no further.

3.5/5⭐️

This story centers around teenage love and how all-consuming and fraught it can be.

Ruby and Hart have known each other since early childhood and have become soulmates. Following a devastating turn of events Ruby loses Hart. But through an angel’s intervention, he returns in the body of their school’s troubled and arrogant bad-boy quarterback Jameson. Will Ruby realize what has happened before all of Hart’s memories are taken away? Can a powerful “always” kind of love really be a “forever” kind of love?

While this was fine and had its good moments and points (and kudos for keeping the relationship chaste), I didn’t really get all the feels of an emotionally compelling love story and loss that I was hoping for. I also felt like while the focus was on the couple’s relationship, I didn’t have enough background/insight into each protagonist, so I didn’t get a good sense of them as individuals. So unfortunately, I just didn’t feel that invested.

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Razorbill for providing the free early arc of Always Isn’t Forever for review. The opinions are strictly my own.