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.

This was hauntingly beautiful story about grief, second chances, new beginnings and so much more.

Hart, Ruby, Jameson, Lourdes and all their friends and family are dealing with circumstances completely out of their element. While dealing with the grief of death and accidents they will journey on new beginnings, letting go, falling in love, broken hearts and so much more.

If you are need of a book that will make you feel all the feelings this is the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review.

Woah! Wow! Oh my god! This book you guys, unbelievable. I absolutely FLEW through this! I did not expect to love it as much as I did but wow did it blow me away!

Before I get into the characters (we all know how much I love my characters) I want to talk about how COOL this concept is. A guy dies and then gets a second chance to be with the love of his life BUT his soul is transferred into the one guy his love doesn't like, talk about heartbreaking! Hart has to show Ruby that he's still here even though he can't tell her it's really him AND he's slowly losing his memories, way to pull on my heartstrings. J.C. Cervantes did not disappoint. With a plot like that it's hard to imagine anyone pulling it off but my god did J.C. Cervantes not only pull it off but gave me another 5-star read. I want to go reread it even if I'll cry again.

Now let's talk about the characters. Despite this book dealing with grief and the trauma of losing someone it was also really funny at times! Lourdes just going into a British accent had me cackling literally for no reason. (I like British accents, okay?) Hart was very determined, and I loved him, he never wanted to give up on Ruby. Ruby was also a really good character and we got to watch her battle her grief and learn that even when someone's gone, we can learn to be happy and not forget them at the same time. Also, Gabi? Literally love her, the whole tarot cards plot point was awesome, and I loved it. Gabi was the amazing, annoying little sister and I fell in love with. (I also love Victoria but literally only for the ending lmao, if you've read it you know what I'm talking about).

I loved everything about this book from its concept to it's amazing and out of the park execution. From the characters to Josie (the amazing dog) and everything in between. If you like You've Reached Sam, you'll most likely love this too! Prepare your tears and get this book! If you need a good cry, get this book! If you love contemporary with hint of magic, get this book!

"The ocean rushes by so fast
Moonlight splinters through the mast.
Our hands stretch tall toward the stars.
Oh, yes. Yes, the future is ours."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

"Always Isn't Forever" is a heart breaking story about teenage love is so powerful and true that it overcomes the tragedies of death.

This book is ideal for lovers of YA romance and low fantasy. Cervantes's storytelling prowess shines through, painting a vivid world and bringing forth well-rounded main and side characters that readers can't help but root for. She does an incredible job with the split POVs of MCs Hart and Ruby as well as the "angel of death" Lourdes, their different perspectives really enrich the overall storyline. The plot keeps a steady pace, keeping readers engaged throughout the book.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group in exchange for a fair review.

Much thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
The amount of tears readers will shed while experiencing this book will no doubt equal a tsunami of epic proportions. By all means grab this, but not without a family-size package of tissues handy.
Two primal emotions rule here - the unconditional, intense love of a couple who've been soulmates since childhood and the overpowering, wounding grief befalling them due to the cruelest of fates.
Teens Ruby and Hart were practically born to be together, until Hart loses his life through a selfless act of bravery. But while his physical body has succumbed, an intervening angel offers a chance for his spirit and soul to live inside someone else who's positioned on the border of life and death.
Seizing the opportunity to come back to Ruby, Hart inhabits the body of Jameson, the high school's star athlete/and all-around obnoxious jerk. about to come out of a motorcycle accident coma.
Here's where the book's particular heaven-and-earth mythology becomes quite complicated and involved, presenting Hart, in his new incarnation, with a daunting challenge to win back the grief stricken Ruby. His, sensitive artistic soul now exists side by side within Jameson, along with Jameson's own abilities and memories. But Hart's memories, including those of Ruby are only taking up temporary residence.....they're fading fast and the clock's ticking
Even worse.....how can Ruby comprehend why on earth Jameson, once a smug, self centered delinquent, has transformed into such a caring, kind soul? And what kind of unbelievable news, something he's incapable of saying out loud, is he desperately trying to communicate to her?
Once J.C. Cervantes hooked me with this incredible combination of suspense and gut-wrenching emotion, I literally could not stop reading until the end.....and yes, it's just about impossible to navigate through this story with dry eyes. It's everything you'd expect from a romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat, hoping and praying for the ripped-asunder soulmates to somehow find each other again. a truly passionate 5 star read for sure. An absolute TBR must-have.

Absolutely heartbreaking, magical and full of with love and hope!

I think if you loved You've Reached Sam, you want a bit of a similar vibe/feeling as it was, but you also want to have that 'magical fantasy-esque' twist to the tragic love-story, you are gonna love Always Isn't Forever - which is a story about love, that was meant to last forever but ended too soon, too suddenly. Which is quite the relatable thing: be that a significant other, a loved one, a friend... relationships breaking and ending before they were meant to is always a heartbreaking, grieving progress we have to get over.

The story of Hart and Ruby (and on the side Lourdes, Jameson) was touching, reflective and adorbale. The whole novel has a mature voice despite of being a YA novel: it teaches about all forms of love, the grief that comes with it, the missed or perfectly timed possibilities.

I do feel like I went through all the stages of shock/grief/acceptance/moving on with Ruby, struggled with Hart to remember and rooted for him to be able to hold on to his memories. BEAUTIUL.

read it for:
- childhood friends to lovers
- insta love (one sided)
- found family
- magical touches
- miracles
- a little bbit of heartreak

This book cover remind me of you’ve reached sam (which is a sad book, but somehow i don’t really enjoy it that much) and i’m hoping that this book will perform better than that. But i was wrong, sadly:(

Maybe it’s because i’m in such a reading slump that i couldn’t entirely connect with the characters and story. This book is sadly doesn’t really meet my expectations, although lots of interesting point and concept storyline in here that i think my friend will like. So i will still recommend this book to my friend that like to read any kind of sad book. It’s still a win, right?

Thank you to NetGalley, Razorbill, and Penguin Teen for allowing me to read this e-ARC.

I wasn’t able to read past 20%. I did not find myself enjoying the story enough to want to continue. The dialogue was cringey and seemed repetitive at times. Hart was not favorite. There were many small moments in which he irked me. This is why I wasn’t able to care about his relationship with Ruby. I also think that not much thought or care went into the way he was able to come back from the afterlife. The premise of it seemed shallow.

2.25 ⭐️’s This took me awhile to finish and that’s because I just couldn’t get into it. I kept pushing myself to finish it hoping it’d get better but I just didn’t feel any connection to the characters or the storyline. There were maybe one or two parts where I felt a little sad for the characters but not enough to make me tear up or feel that emotion for long. I really wanted to enjoy this!! I’d still try to give this author a chance with other books they’ve written because I could end up liking those!

I teared up at 50%, cried at 60%, cried at 70%, and bawled through the rest. That right there earns every last star.

I went in with the You’ve Reached Sam cover and forgot it was a romance. I’m personally not sure how I feel about the ending, and I think it could have sent a more beautiful message. Regardless, it certainly packed a punch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

Always Isn't Forever by J. C. Cervantes sounded like an interesting young adult novel for me to check out. Thank you, netgalley and publisher for the early copy.

Young love lost too soon. Can't imagine losing the love of your life so soon before even beginning life together. Beautiful story that was well written to show the point of loss and grieving a loved one.

Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story.

Fav quotes:

“The human heart was specifically designed to maybe not forget, but certainly to heal”

“When one thing ends, something else begins”

“Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. It just means goodbye for now”

yeeee, i loved this. I need to admit that I started reading it mostly because of the cover (perfection) but as I became to know Ruby’s and Hart’s love story I couldn’t stop reading it and I just wanted them to be happy.

A little synopsis, we will follow this two characters that have been lovers since they meet and Hart dies, yes I know 💔 then Hart as the opportunity to became to life in another body and he accepts it.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every second of it.

It releases on June 06th and I 100% recommend it.