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!

Hart and Ruby are the best of friends but also soulmates. They are so ready to head into their senior year of high school, until Hart drowns in a boating accident. Ruby is beyond distraught and beside herself on how to pick up the pieces. She just can’t move on or let go, but Hart comes back in another body; Jameson’s body. He can’t tell Ruby it’s him but he longs to. Ruby is drawn to Jameson even though she’ll never let go of Hart. But can being in a new body be enough to redeem your love back.

I loved the complexity of the story. The enduring love story that makes you come back. It gave me the feeling of What Dreams May Come, in the sense that you love someone so much you’re willing to be with them and save them by any means necessary. Even though this story is sweet and touching, I wasn’t overly sadden by it. Moments did have me gush at the sweetness the story told.

If you love star-crossed lovers who will do anything to stay together, than I’d say this YA Contemporary is a good choice.

Immediately, the cover and plot had me thinking of You’ve Reached Sam. When two best friends , Hart and Ruby, have their dreams cut short by Hart’s death, an angel named Lourdes save’s Hart’s soul and gives him a second chance at life. The catch? It is through someone else’s body. This books hits various themes of love and loss, giving every reader, I mean me, their favorite thing, a book that will make you cry. The beginning of the story was excellently fast paced. It will draw you in from the first page. By the end of the book, the story began to drag and was forced to catch up quickly in the end. Full of every emotion you could possibly ask for, this book encompasses grief, passion, and love and provides you with a story you wish did not end.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Dual perspectives, magical realism, afterlife/death, navigating grief, young love, and sacrifice are all themes/topics/devices in this book.

Ruby is a vibrant, full of life, adventure seeking, force to be reckoned with. Hart is a poetic, introspective, kind, and sweet young man. The two of them are madly in love, and are excited about their summer before senior year at high school. Hart wants to surprise Ruby with a boat, because they both love sailing and the water, and in order to make the last payment, he picks up a shift on another boat. During this shift, things go sideways when he saves a young boy, but loses his life.

Jameson is the high school's rich, handsome, kinda bad boy, devil may care, quarterback who is in a coma due to a drunk driving accident. Hart's spirit is given the chance to use Jameson's body as a vessel to help get closure with Ruby. Only thing is, he can't tell anyone he is Hart.

Accompanied by Ruby's younger sister, Gabi, a tarot reading, gifted spiritual advisor, and Lourdes, the fallen death angel, Jameson/Hart tries to let Ruby know his love lives on, even though he doesn't.

I thought this book was good. I enjoyed the characters and the writing is pretty effortless to consume. There are a lot of convenient things to allow the magical realism work, and I guess I was okay suspending disbelief. I think this is similar to You've Reached Sam (cover, idea of hearing from the afterlife, young love), but You've Reached Sam worked better for me than this did. Overall I enjoyed it and really liked the idea that it only takes one heart to love. But there were some scenes that felt unnecessary or inserted to bulk out the book rather than really helping drive the story home. Overall, 3/5.

When I first saw the cover it immediately reminded me of You've Reached Sam, and the plot is pretty similar as well. Hart and Ruby, best friends since they were kids, had dreams of exploring the world together. Due to a boating accident Hart's life was tragically cut short. An angel named Lourdes saves Hart's soul before it was too late, and he was given a second chance at life, but through someone else's body.

This book tells the story of love and loss, it will definitely tug on your heartstrings. I liked how this touch base on heavier topics but is still appropriate for young readers. The first half was fast paced but I found that the last half kind of dragged on for me. But overall I still liked the book. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for this type of read. If there are any I will definitely check out the authors' other books.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Note: On my StoryGraph I rated this a 3.5, since point I am not able to rate using half points, I have rounded up to 4stars.

"Loss and grief and pain force people into dark places. And all they can do is search for any light they can find"

Always Isn't Forever is the perfect read for fans of You've Reached Sam.

It's a heartbreaking yet healing read, the plot included the elements of loss and grief and pain. How do you even move on after the death of a loved ones, knowing that every history with them becomes a faraway memory.

After Hart was drown in a boat accident, he was given a second chance and wakes up in Jameson's body (the local bad boy who's on the verge of dying after an incident, also happened to have a bad past with Ruby )

"I'd rather let love break me open than never know its depths"

Ruby lives in pain and is drowning in grief after losing her one and only true love. But strange things happen after she encounters with Jameson, she felt the familiarity in him but yet he's a stranger to her.

It's a beautiful & devastating romance, I really enjoy every second of it.
Thank you Netgalley & Penguin Group Readers for gifting me an ecopy of Always Isn't Forever

If you're okay with reading a YA novel that reads a little bit more MG, you'll have a better appreciation of this than I did. I liked it for what it was, but I definitely wish that there was a lot more depth and maturity to both the story and the characters.


🌊 THE STORY

The story wasn't unique, but the vibe felt very sweet and youthful (again, this boils down to the narrative feeling more MG than YA). There was a cinematic feel to everything, despite not having any visuals to look at, which is pretty great.

We get a few snippets of the past here and there, but I wish there was an even deeper view into Hart and Ruby's relationship. There was also a bit more telling than showing when it came to this. I just wanted their backstory to be more fleshed out.


🌊 THE CHARACTERS

Ruby was fine. I think she was the one who mainly felt younger than she was -- but grief does that to people, so I wasn't really bothered by it. I didn't dislike her by any means, but I was also pretty unattached to her.

Hart? YES. He's so, so sweet and charming. I loved how he interacted with all the characters, even the secondary ones. He was just so good and pure. Absolutely refreshing.

Lourdes... I don't really know. I'm not religious at all, so that could be part of why I found myself being a bit put off by her. She just felt incredibly unreal, and not just because she was an angel.


🌊 CONCLUSION

If you're looking for a sweet, mindless read... You can definitely give this one a try. Go into it with an open mind, and I'd recommend that you go into it with no expectations. If you're into second chances and/or destined loves, this is definitely for you.