Always Isn’t Forever

J.C. Cervantes mostly writes mythology-flavored YA, but Always Isn’t Forever pulls her into more straightforward contemporary territory with a paranormal twist. The setup is rough. Hart and Ruby are a young couple, very much in love. Hart dies in a boating accident in the first chapter.

Then, a few weeks later, a boy named Marco starts acting like he knows Ruby in ways he shouldn’t. The book asks the question you’d expect. Is it really Hart, or is grief making her see what she wants to see?

Cervantes handles the emotional weight better than the high concept. The grief sections feel real. The romance gets enough room to breathe.

Readers who want clean answers may walk away frustrated. The book is more interested in the question than the verdict.