Unfortunately for me, just not a book I was able to get through (made it about a third of the way through). I was not a fan of the main character and just the general writing style / plot format was not for me. I’ll keep an eye out for more from this author at a future date and might come back to this later, but currently, just not for me.

the story is super fun and sweet, it's an easy read with summer, vacation vibes. fun laid back beach read type vibes. I enjoyed it.

I had a hard time with this one. I love the fake dating trope, and I think it's so fun that it's on a cruise ship. I haven't read a book like that. However, I do require my books to be just a bit faster-paced to have my full focus. This was way too slow for me to be invested in. I think it is a cute premise but I just felt like it was missing a bit more speed and subplot.

(I will not be sharing this review on social media)

📖: Don't Say Forever
✏️: Catherine Downen
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thoughts: This was so much more than just a light hearted summer romance!! The themes of summery vibes, vacationing on a cruise ship, faking dating trope, friendships, and growth through grief made this book a hit for me!

It's a closed door romance, but I still found it enjoyable and a light read for summer! I enjoyed following Jessica's journey towards healing and moving on from a break up, as well as the healing journey Andrew went through dealing with the death of his parents. The chemistry between Jessica and Andrew was full steam ahead from day one! The scavenger hunt of memories...iykyk...ugh my heart 🥹🥰

I loved the cruise ship setting, the adventurous excursions of zip lining through the jungle or exploring coral reefs! Perfect summery vibes!

If you're looking for a book with summer vibes definitely pick this one up, but warning it may ignite a travel bug within you and cause you to book a cruise ASAP after you finish reading!

Read this if you enjoy:
🛟 Fake dating tropes
🛟 Cruise ship vacations
🛟 Vacation excursions such as zip lining, snorkeling, or hiking historical monuments
🛟 Found friendship
🛟 Closed door romance

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of don't say forever. This was such a cute romance and a bit of a different spin on it.

4.5 stars
Arc review -the book is out on 6th June 2023

Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to Catherine Downen and Netgalley for the chance to review this book early

This is such a cute summer-feeling book
I was excited to read this one after picking up Don’t Read the last page earlier this year and this book didn’t disappoint I’m also a big sucker for the fake dating trope so this was right up my street it did feel a bit slow for me but I still really enjoyed reading it and I also liked seeing how Jessica and Andrew’s relationship unfold and also seeing them healing from the grief they both going through with their separate situations
Overall this book made me so many emotions and made me want to take a holiday somewhere nice and hot 🤣 I would recommend it if you looking for a cute summer read this year or you big on the fake dating trope like myself

Jessica and Catie are strangers meet on a cruise. In an effort to.help Catie, they both agree to fake date brother's they meet on the first night. After her last relationship ended in a bad way, will Jessica trust again?
Looking forward to the book from Catie's point of view.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Are you searching for a fun and sweet summer read? Don’t Say Forever is EXACTLY what you’re looking for with vacation vibes, slow burn, fake dating, and HEA! Catherine Downen does an incredible job writing about healing and grief in such an authentic way. Jessica and Andrew were such an adorable couple and I cannot wait to get even more of them in the Caite and Mitch sequel!

Thank you to Catherine Downen and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun, fake dating, friends to lovers romance set across the week of the cruise. I loved each of the characters and getting to see each of their unique personalities. I also liked seeing how Jessica and Andrew’s relationship unfold and also seeing them healing from the grief they both going through with their separate situations. The third act conflict was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. I’m always skeptical about them but this one was great! If you like summery vibes, slow burn, fake dating, starting over, closed door, or HEA- this is perfect for you!!!

I had hearts in my eyes throughout this entire book! Even though they only had a short time together, Andrew and Jessica's relationship was adorable. I loved Catie's schemes (well, most of them) and she and Mitch were also such dynamic characters. They were a great balance to Jessica and Andrew, something which really added to the book. I could read this forever! (pun intended)

4.5 rounded up

**arc review**
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Don’t Say Forever releases today, June 6th!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5

If you’re looking for your next summer read, Don’t Say Forever is perfect for you! After a terrible start to the new year, Jessica escapes New York to spend a week aboard a cruise ship. During her escape, she meets a new friend who talks her into fake dating the brothers assigned to the same dinner table. As Jessica allows herself to live freely for the first time in over five years, lines begin to blur between what’s real and fake in her “relationship”.

I loved this book! The cruise ship setting was the perfect for this story to unfold. I loved each of the characters and getting to see each of their unique personalities. Following the journey of Jessica’s healing after her breakup was extremely touching and very well written. I also love love loved Andrew. Seeing these two grow closer together over the course of a week with no phones, no distractions was perfection. The third act conflict was one of my favorite parts of the entire book. I’m always skeptical about them but this one was great! I’m really looking forward to the sequel.

If you like summery vibes, slow burn, fake dating, starting over, closed door, or HEA- read Don’t Say Forever!!!!

6 months after Jessica is dumped via phone by her boyfriend of 5 years, her parents get desperate and book her a place on a 7 day cruise. On her first night aboard, luck is on her side when she's seated with vivacious Catie for dinner. Her new friend shares that due to her over protective parents, she's on the hunt for a man who will agree to be her 'fake boyfriend' in photos so that she can maintain her independence. To Jessica it sounds crazy, but she enjoys Catie's company and agrees to help.

So when 2 single brothers are also seated alongside them at dinner, it seems that the stars have aligned. When Catie shares her plan, all 4 agree to couple up for the week with no strings attached. But when the stakes are raised by an unexpected guest aboard the cruise with them, will Jessica and Catie be able to maintain their boundaries? Or will these fake relationships blur into something real?

Thank you to @authorcatherinedownen & @netgalley for providing me with this ARC. This was a fun, fake dating, friends to lovers romance set across the week of the cruise and told from the POV of Jessica. Just enough of her past was shared to understand how badly her break up had affected her and why she was so willing to take a complete leap of faith with three strangers and make this agreement.

I really appreciated the personalities of the two faux boyfriends and the depth that was also given to their back stories. It was a closed door romance and it was sweet to witness Jessica come out of her shell.

Look out for publication on June 6th 🥳

This was so cute! I think that the reason for the fake dating was kind of dumb but I feel like that was the point. Jessica and Andrew were adorable and I can't wait to see more of them in the next book. The scene where they get back together was so good and I loved it.

I recevied an arc through netgalley.

FIVE FREAKING STARS!!!!!! I loved this book so much, the sweet + natural build of chemistry between Jessica and Andrew. I loved how easy their banter was and how they had such an easy way of communicating. I def got teary eyed at what happened during the time they both fell in the mud — I can’t even imagine having to go through something like that. I just loved their love story, how caring Andrew was with Jessica. I loved the maturity we saw with Jessica as the book went on! Can’t wait for pub day, this book definitely needs a home on my bookshelf.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and it made me want to go on a cruise so bad 🥹

the story is super fun and sweet, it's an easy read with summer, vacation vibes ☀️

though I was so tired of reading about his "amber eyes" "golden swirls in his eyes" etc every single minute of the day, his eyes are golden we get it 😭

anyway this is the perfect romcom to read on the beach or a boat or a plane or anywhere holiday related 🏖 or just put on a summer playlist and pretend you're on a cruise from your bed it works fine too 🥲

This was short and sweet and a perfect beach read. I didn't gel with the characters and FMC as much as I had hoped but it's light and summery.

Thank you to NetGalley & the author for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed every second of this sweet story. Not to mention the vivid scenery and descriptions had me feeling like I was actually on the cruise with the characters. It felt like a nice vacation!

Jessica ends up on a seven day cruise, sent by her parents because she’s been so down in the dumps even six months after her breakup. The first dinner on the cruise ship, she is sat next to Catie. The two quickly become friends, and Catie explains she’s looking for a fake boyfriend for the week. As they’re scouring the dining room, it just so happens that two hunky brothers are heading their way. What ensues is a group pact of “fake dating”. Catie and Mitch, and Jessica and Andrew. As the group takes numerous adventures and lots of date nights, the lines between fake and real begin to blur….

Not only did I love Andrew and Jessica’s HEA, I also loved the fact that they were able to heal from their past trauma together.

If you’re looking for a fun and sweet summer read, this is the one!! I am also so excited that there will be a sequel following Catie and Mitch!!!

This book has such a gorgeous cover, I had to read it! I think this would make a perfect summer read! It had more depth to it than the cute cover suggests but I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the cruise, fake dating and grief conversations. Its a beautiful story and I highly recommend reading this summer!

Thank you publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Don’t Say Forever!

This book was a very sweet summer romance. I loved that the characters were on a cruise ship because I don’t feel like there was enough books that have that setting. I found some parts to be something that I couldn’t see happen in real life, but that didn’t make me dislike the book. Jessica finding herself on the trip was a great journey to see.

This was a total must-read. it had a lot working for it. I really enjoyed the story and all that it was about. Good story and will read more from this author.