For all fans of You’ve Reached Sam this is the perfect book for you. Although the story did take me a little bit to get into I did fall in love with this book. I cried… a lot, but I also laughed and felt my heart swoon. At the beginning we don’t know if Hart and Rubys love will conquer all, but it does. This story also shows different types of grief. Ruby with her grief of losing the love of her life and Hart with losing his old life and who he once was before he died and an Angel pulled his soul from his body knowing he was dying but it wasn’t his time. As the book progresses you not only fall in love with Hart and Ruby but all the side characters.

I will definitely be ordering a physical copy of this book seeing as I received an ebook from NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story was so sad and wonderful. I was crying from the moment Hart died and was heart broken for him and Ruby. Their love story was so wonderful and a testament to true love. This book brought so many emotions and left me in a puddle of feelings.

“In the end, I’d rather let love break me open than never know it’s depths.”

WARNING: you will need tissues. Like, boxes of them.

I have never sobbed so hard while reading a book before. You could feel everything Ruby felt and the power of her grief is overwhelming. This isn’t a long read at only 300 or so pages, but I needed to take so many breaks because putting myself in her shoes and imagining losing the person you love most is devastating. All I could think of was losing my S.O even though he is right next to me, snoring away like a stupid, noisy little airplane. It almost felt as if this book needs to have trigger warnings because I was NOT expecting that level of powerful writing. I absolutely loved this book, it is one of those reads that changes you as a person; at least for a time.

Note- I received a copy of the ebook courtesy of NetGalley, Penguin reading group, and J. C. Cervantes. This ebook was an unedited copy and the above quote may not appear in the final print. (but it should)

This story takes the idea of soulmates to a whole new level, and I absolutely loved it. Ruby and Hart's story is a beautiful and emotional one that paints a really good picture of the ways grief can hit different people. Ruby has lost the love of her life in a sudden and tragic way, and months later she's still learning how to let herself heal without completely letting him go. And while Hart is gifted a second chance, he doesn't get to just tell everyone what happened and pick up where he left off. He also has to grieve the loss of his previous life, witnessing the pain his loved ones are in, and also the reality that sometimes loving someone does mean letting them go. We all face those moments where we have to learn to accept what is, even when it's painful. At the same time, Hart refuses to give up on the belief that love is worth fighting for. It's a heartbreaking struggle that is so well-written, raw, and realistic. I definitely felt all of the emotions these characters were experiencing. I really wasn't sure what kind of ending this story would have, and while I won't spoil it, I will say that it was really well done. It's a well-paced, engaging story that swept me in from the very beginning all the way to the very end.

I really loved both Ruby and Hart as characters, and I'm glad the book is told from both of their perspectives. We not only get to see how grief looks for both of them, but we get sweet little flashbacks of their relationship throughout the years (because they met as adorable little kids) and what it was like for them to fall together. Of course, it makes their separation all the more heartbreaking. But it's so easy to care about and root for them both. I enjoyed all of the side characters as well, and even getting to learn more about who Jameson was before Hart became him. And these characters give the story more than just grief and sadness – there's humor, warmth, and hope all throughout. It's an emotional story, but also a really beautiful one about relationship and connection.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this for anyone who loves a story that pulls at the heartstrings while still leaving you with hope. At its core it's a story about love, a force so powerful it can transcend death. And honestly, what better kind of story is there?

I feel like I’ve seen a lot of books by J. C. Cervantes, but this is the first one I’ve ever read. Since it was compared to YOU’VE REACHED SAM, I really wanted to check it out.

It took me a few chapters to get into the story and really fall in love with Hart and Ruby. I’m not sure why, but once I invested, I felt like it was really easy to enjoy the story.

Some of the mechanics of the plot do require a bit of willing suspension of disbelief. As Jameson, Hart has a super limited amount of time in which he’ll retain his memories of his life as Hart. Once that passes, he’ll have Jameson’s memories but still be Hart in spirit or soul. The rules of Hart’s exchange (his soul in Jameson’s body) state that he can’t tell anyone the truth about who he is and what happened.

There’s a bit of dancing around the edges of those rules and bending them here and there. I think it might be harder to enjoy the story if you needed the spiritual/afterlife side of it to make perfect sense and be perfectly self-consistent.

Fortunately, I found it pretty easy to suspend my disbelief because I wanted to know if and how Ruby and Hart could find one another again. I’m always up for a “Can true love conquer all?” type of story, and this one definitely delivered on that trope.

All in all, I can see fans of YOU’VE REACHED SAM or THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END liking this one. It’s a great light summer book with a sweet love story.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

Hart has loved Ruby since the day he saw her when they were 9 years old. It's always been Ruby. Sometimes you just know ehen you're soul mates.

So when Hart's life is cut short and he is given a second chance at life, he knows he wants to go back to see if a life with Ruby would be possible in his "new to him" body. But he can't tell her who he is, so that's a major complicaiton.

A great story about loss and an everlasting love that extends beyond the grave.

Hart, a teenage boy taken before his time, is offered a second chance in a new body. The only catch is he can't have his old life back, including the love of his life, Ruby. But he's not about to agree to a life without Ruby. With the help of Lourdes, the angel who accidentally took his life too soon in the first place, he's going to try his hardest to get Ruby back and live his life as Hart even if he looks and seems different.

This book really wasn't my cup of tea. That doesn't mean other people won't love this book, it just wasn't for me. The book is well written and the characters are well written enough for the most part. Hart is enjoyable as a main character apart from one or two odd incidents where he speaks in Gen Z buzzwords for no apparent reason.

Ruby is a believable grieving girlfriend who finds it hard to believe that this person who wears the face of a boy she used to hate has anything to do with Hart, let alone that it actually IS Hart in this body.

The character I really didn't care for was Ruby's younger sister, Gabriella "Gabi". She grieves for Hart's loss as if he were HER boyfriend, but it's never explained why she has such a reaction. Did she have a secret crush on Hart? Did she have a vision about it? We don't know. She mostly seems to exist in the story to read tarot cards for all the other characters and give Hart and Ruby conveniently specific messages to bring them together. Hart says that Ruby has become protective of Gabi since their dad died, but we don't see that either. All we see of the sisters shows them getting along.

Another factor is that we're told by Ruby that all the women in her family have supernatural abilities. Her aunt can read auras, Gabi does cards and Ruby has intuition which basically seems to translate to very strong gut feelings about things. She has one of these feelings the night Hart dies and tries to get him to stay home with her. But after that, her gut feelings don't really seem to be brought into it again, except for a vague pull toward Hart in his new body.

There seem to be conveniences and contrivances for the sake of our young lovers right and left. That said, the chemistry between them is believable and their romance is very sweet and full of self sacrifice on both sides. When that was what the story focused on, it was interesting and enjoyable. I just wish it could have been like that the entire time without the other supernatural elements that seem to only be there for the sake of the plot. Having Hart come back from the dead and having an angel help him win the love of his life back seems like enough of a story concept without tarot, gut feelings and so on added in. I think Ruby and Hart are engaging and good enough on their own.

I would recommend the book for Hart and Ruby and their romance, but not much else. Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story was full of heartache and hope. Right away, your heat breaks as Hart is taken too soon and his love, Ruby, is left to figure out how her life goes on. Thanks to the work of an angel, Hart's soul is transferred nto Jameson's body but there are cosmic rules he must follow, which include not telling Ruby he's Hart. I was captivated by this story and couldn't wait to find out if they could truly find their way back to each other, despite tragedy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The fact that I read most of this book in one sitting tells me how much I loved it. I've read four other books by the author. But they were all firmly in the fantasy/mythology genre, so this was the first time I read a story from her that was much more contemporary in feel (besides the magical realism of the supernatural). While some of the rules of what was allowed and what wasn't seemed rather arbitrary, once I got past that, I was able just to sit back and enjoy watching the story unfold.

I liked the (mostly) dual points of view as the story went back and forth between Ruby and Hart/Jameson, and having Lourdes and Gabi fill out critical parts was well done. Whether I was in the right frame of mind or the author is just really good at pushing my buttons, I ended up needing a lot of Kleenex. Any time a book can move me to tears, it means I connected strongly with the characters. There were more than a few moments when I felt really sad for who Jameson had been!

J. C. Cervantes is now on my list of authors to watch.

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

4.5/5

This book broke me. Perhaps the most well done aspect of the book was how it handled the different aspects of grief and the different forms they took. Ruby and Hart both went through so much and came out with the resilience that only teens can display, I love that the author did not gloss over the grief or tried to "make it age appropriate" because grief is raw and just because teens process differently, it does not make their pain or healing anything less.

While this was very much Ruby and Hart's story, I loved all of the side characters so much. They were well rounded and thought out without being overwhelming or taking away from the main storyline. Also Lourdes is the best. I love getting that glimpse into her evolution as an angel, it provided a nice extra layer to the story. I hope Dick got what he deserved and Whitney is happy.

I really appreciated how this book took the well worn topic of second chances and completely ran with it in another direction. It made for such an interesting read that I had read more than half of this book in a single sitting. It's been a while since a YA contemporary/romance has been able to grasp me like this one did.

Thank you Penguin Teen for my eARC.

This was such a great read! I loved the brief chapters, quick pacing, significant mystery, and unexpected turns through the entire book. This is a simple read book that will give you all the emotions. I would highly recommend this book!




Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Razorbill for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

I cried my eyes out. Cause I'm a sucker for tragic love stories and imagining theirs?! Omg.
However, the story is so good. They're perfect for each other. I just loved this book ao much.

I'm going to start by saying that I don't like that it has been compared to You've Reached Sam
for marketing thing because I feel that the two books are about very different things, beyond the difference between the way the protagonists "get closer" to her boyfriend who passed away.
I understand why the comparison is made, and it surely serves for sales. Let's see, I read it because I thought it would go that way, but no.

I feel like there are many things I didn't like about this book but I still can't give it such a low score because I think the problem was that I expected something else from the book, it's not that they sold me smoke or something like that, but rather that I just don't connect at all.

Beyond the fact that I thought that the book would deal with how the protagonist goes through the duel and how Hart would help her in that process (which, although it happens, are told with one hand), I felt that many scenes did not make sense, that it really seemed crazy to me. How did the main character behave? It was like ?????? many times. And that's why I never got to connect with her, or with Hart. Absolutely.

But the book itself is not bad! But I really don't feel like I can give it more stars.

Thanks NetGalley and Razorbill for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hart and Ruby have known each other forever. Best friends, and soulmates, the high school seniors are planning a future together when Hart tragically drowns in an accident. However, since it isn't really supposed to be his time to die, he gets the chance to come back only not as himself but as the town's bad boy, Jameson, whom Ruby despises. Hart is forbidden from telling Ruby who he is and every night he loses more of his memories. He is desperate to get Ruby to recognize him before time runs out, and he becomes Jameson forever.

This is a truly heart-wrenching but also an extremely heartwarmingly lovely book. Hart and Ruby are such good kind-hearted caring characters individually. Together they are a really sweet couple with an incredibly touching love story.

Hart and Ruby's relationship is not the only great one in this book. There are many other great relationships in the book as well including one between Ruby and her sister and one between Hart and Lourdes, the angel who helps him. In fact, all of the secondary characters in the book are extremely well-written and really add to the story.

Even if you don't ordinarily like books that with supernatural elements, you may enjoy this one because it is so character driven and the character are all so well developed. Although the book is meant for teens, anyone can enjoy this really beautiful book.

Woah-
This book was amazing. The characters, the plot and the writing. Everything about it was done and written so perfectly. It was fast paced and easy to get into with a heartbreaking and intriguing story that makes it so hard to put the book down. Ruby and hart, their story was written and done so beautifully, their love and connection was so interesting to read about.
This whole story had such an interesting and different concept that I really enjoyed reading about.
It talks a lot about the afterlife, angles and ancestors, I honestly separated that part from all my beliefs because at the end it is a work of fiction, a very beautiful work of fiction.
One thing that I wanted to point out was one of the side couples, they don’t have much of a significance but they do go against my religion and beliefs so I needed to point that out but other than that it was such a good story!!

Always Isn't Forever is like a second chance romance with Drop Dead Diva vibes. Hart, the mmc, is given a second chance at life through another man's body. A brooding bad boy type. This book takes us through Ruby's grief and love journey after she thinks her soulmate and best friend passes

"𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣'𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚."

𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝗝.𝗖. 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀

🅑︎🅞︎🅞︎🅚︎ 🅡︎🅔︎🅥︎🅘︎🅔︎🅦︎
Childhood sweethearts Ruby and Hart are and will always be soul mates, from the moment they met they have been in each others lives. One fateful incident leaves Ruby reeling in grief and change there lives forever. Their story wasn't entirely over because Hart came back in another body someone she would least expect. Would Hart and Ruby finally find their way back to each other and at what cost.

This book was heart shattering, loved the multiple POV. Gabi, Ruby's sister was definitely my favourite character especially because of her tarot readings. I loved Ruby and Hart's strong connection their unconditional love for each other and the people in their circle. Triggers grief, drowning, mentions alcohol.

Rating
5⭐

This was a great book about two best friends, Hart and Ruby. Hart passes away but comes back in a body known as Jameson though his personal memory is fading away and he’s trying to be close to Ruby who feels a connection with him. When I read You’ve Reached Sam, I was really surprised by how well that book was written. Though this book is not written by the same author and has a similar but different concept, I loved how this book turned out. It has a very emotional story with a paranormal plot line. I enjoyed the main conflict of the book and seeing how the characters went through it together but separately. I also thought it was cool with how Hart took over Jameson’s body and the way that played into the book. The pacing and seeing were perfect for the book. I read this book very quickly because the story was just so good that I just wanted to see how the MCs ended up. This book is written from dual perspectives which I enjoyed.

Ruby is the FMC who loved the water but after Hart’s death, her life changed. Then there is Hart (Jameson) who is back to life but can’t tell anyone about his past life. I really enjoyed both of these characters and the way they had to develop in the story. The MCs are POC though Jameson is a white boy now. There are many side characters but I was more connected to the MCs story as it felt like the main focus of the book. The tropes are a second chance at love and friends to lovers with a not so enemies to lovers.

The ending was well done but it was so sad to see to see Hart’s memories disappearing but there is a HEA. I just loved how the story played out and I know many wouldn’t enjoy the fact a POC went into a white guy’s body but let me say that the story is great. Especially if you love an emotional type of story then you would enjoy it. I do recommend this especially if you have read You’ve Reached Sam.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

This was a lovely story about two main characters that thought they had forever together, but after a tragedy strikes, their forever isn't what they thought it would be. Dealing with the grief of loss, we cry along with Ruby as she navigates life without Hart, at least the Hart that she knew.
It is a book everyone will want to binge read and discuss with their friends!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Always Isn't Forever by J.C. Cervantes

I like the idea of coming back in another body and falling in love with someone. It's so interesting to navigate a space that was previously occupied by someone else and trying to maintain appearances etc. etc. I loved this idea. I had a good time reading this--the story was really complex and well-done. I enjoyed the emotional moments and the super sweet moments, and I think if you're generally a fan of YA contemporary you're really going to enjoy this story. (Even as someone who generally stays away from Contemporary of any age-group, I liked this a lot!) I can't wait to get physical copies of this for my library!