This was a cute summer read. It was a little slow for me but had some fantastic moments of showing how individuals can overcome loss and grieve for that loss in different ways - whether it be the end of a relationship or the death of loved ones.

Our FMC is a little annoying at times due to her confidence about love being shaken, but overall this is a fun read that will leave you smiling at the end. If you like a cruise ship as a setting, fake dating (X2), and watching individuals find themselves while they close a chapter on their previous life, you will enjoy this.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley, Catherine Downen, and Xpresso Book Tours for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Don’t Say Forever releases June 6, 2023

4.5

“You can be all of my tomorrows until the end of time.”

Jessica has just gone through one of the biggest blindsides of her life after her boyfriend of five years ended their relationship.
Five months later, having moved back in with her parents, Jessica’s mother suggests taking a solo trip on a summer cruise as a way to relearn how to navigate life without the person she thought she was spending the rest of forever with.

On night one of the cruise, Jessica is seated with Catie, a girl who told her parents she was on the job (interning for the cruise line) with her boyfriend, but Catie is actually there solo and needs to find a fake date to keep up this elaborate story.
Andrew and Mitch, both brothers, get seated at the same table as Jessica and Catie.
Their night ends with two couples fake dating for the week.

It didn’t take long for these four to fall into a friendship dynamic that had the comfortability of knowing someone for years. Although the progression of their friendships/relationships were a bit fast, they felt so natural, which made it an enjoyable read.

The fact that both Jessica and Andrew were able to let go of their grievances and losses on this trip and had this weight lifted off of their shoulders was just amazing and so healing for them.

Having the last scene come full circle to where Jessica started was so bittersweet.

I’m so excited to know that Catie and Mitch are getting their own book!

Read if you like:
- cruise ships with lots of fun activities
- fake dating x2
- new lifelong friendships
- learning to truly live and love again
- letting go + starting new chapters
- feel good stories