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Don't Say Forever
All aboard the Dreamer of the Seas!
When Jessica’s relationship of five years crumbles apart, she boards the Dreamer of the Seas, in hopes that a cruise is all she needs to bounce back.
Catie finds herself in a sticky situation, but not one that she’s foreign to. Convincing her mom to let her go on this cruise with her boyfriend is the easy part. The hard part is finding someone on board to be her boyfriend. She’ll need all hands on deck to figure this out.
Jessica thinks sunshine, free drinks, and endless ocean views await her but when her and Catie are seated together at dinner with two cute and single brothers, Jessica’s plans suddenly include fake dating the guy across from her to help her new tablemate deceive her mom’s overbearing watch.
Now suddenly in a relationship again, Jessica’s head (and heart) are swept up in the currents.
Fake dating on a cruise ship, what could go wrong?
A lot, apparently.
When Jessica’s relationship of five years crumbles apart, she boards the Dreamer of the Seas, in hopes that a cruise is all she needs to bounce back.
Catie finds herself in a sticky situation, but not one that she’s foreign to. Convincing her mom to let her go on this cruise with her boyfriend is the easy part. The hard part is finding someone on board to be her boyfriend. She’ll need all hands on deck to figure this out.
Jessica thinks sunshine, free drinks, and endless ocean views await her but when her and Catie are seated together at dinner with two cute and single brothers, Jessica’s plans suddenly include fake dating the guy across from her to help her new tablemate deceive her mom’s overbearing watch.
Now suddenly in a relationship again, Jessica’s head (and heart) are swept up in the currents.
Fake dating on a cruise ship, what could go wrong?
A lot, apparently.
- GenresRomance
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2023
About the author
Catherine Downen
11 books179 followersCatherine Downen is the author of The Markings series. She recently graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has always had a love for writing and a passion for telling stories. Currently, Catherine is working as a Sustaining Engineer in St. Louis MO by day, while continuing to write on the side.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 3, 2023
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 🥳
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 🥳
May 24, 2023
ARC 💫
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 🥲
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 🥲
May 30, 2023
[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
“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
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
“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
June 7, 2023
**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- Don’t Say Forever is perfect for you!!!
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- Don’t Say Forever is perfect for you!!!
September 7, 2023
📖: 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!
✏️: 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!
May 22, 2023
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!!!
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!!!
February 25, 2025
This book was great! I loved everything about it from the plot to the characters to the super cute moments!! I want more! Jessica and Andrew had so many cute moments together and I swooned every time. It had some cliché things like playing mini golf and Andrew showing Jessica how to do it and not knowing how to ice skate, but it didn't matter that it was cliché, it was still so cute and I craved every detail. The other thing that I really enjoyed about the book was the descriptions of the places and excursions the characters went on during their cruise. It made me really want to go to all these places and see what they saw, such as zip lining in Honduras or snorkeling in Mexico. It all just sounded so beautiful. Overall a super cute fake dating on a cruise romance! Highly recommend if you want a sweet vacation vibes book. I can't wait for Catie and Mitch's story because their interactions in the background really had me intrigued!
September 18, 2024
Double Fake Dating 🤩
Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. It allows the characters to get to know each other and banter and flirt without feeling the pressure of titles and then......we all know the feelings blossom and grow 🤭
This book had not one but TWO fake couples and they're immediate friendship was just so refreshing and FUN 😍
Set on a cruise, Jessica, Catie, Andrew and Mitch spend time together to help Catie convince her mother she was seeing someone. But Andrew and Jessica just clicked 🥰
Hated that they doubted each other and honestly Jessica had no right to get mad, especially when she told another girl to take a chance with Andrew. Lucky for her, Andrew was end game 😍
Such a swoony book, finished in 1 day 😄
Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. It allows the characters to get to know each other and banter and flirt without feeling the pressure of titles and then......we all know the feelings blossom and grow 🤭
This book had not one but TWO fake couples and they're immediate friendship was just so refreshing and FUN 😍
Set on a cruise, Jessica, Catie, Andrew and Mitch spend time together to help Catie convince her mother she was seeing someone. But Andrew and Jessica just clicked 🥰
Hated that they doubted each other and honestly Jessica had no right to get mad, especially when she told another girl to take a chance with Andrew. Lucky for her, Andrew was end game 😍
Such a swoony book, finished in 1 day 😄
May 12, 2023
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.
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.
June 7, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
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.
May 31, 2023
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.
I recevied an arc through netgalley.
June 6, 2023
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
4.5 rounded up
June 15, 2023
This was so lovely from start to finish. The heartbreak, the hope, the new beginnings, the steaminess - it was all there, and done well! Definitely made me want to go on a cruise. Bonus points if you’re a Swiftie and can find all the easter eggs! I found 13 (!!!!!)
September 6, 2023
Another great story by this author!
Loved this story! I am a sucker for a fake dating trope and this was exactly what I wanted! Really cute clean read.
Loved this story! I am a sucker for a fake dating trope and this was exactly what I wanted! Really cute clean read.
June 29, 2023
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
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
August 14, 2023
This one might be one of my favorite books by Catherine (close second to Spellbound Lies, maybe?). Sweet, easy read, instant chemistry, believable - you name it and this book's got it! Perfect read for a feel-good story that will make you want to believe in romance again. While the setting is mostly on a cruise ship, it's done so well and it really captures what it might be like to fall in love after being broken - there are friendships, activities, excursions, etc. All are meant to drag you in and make you truly cheer for Jessica as she navigates the newly single lifestyle! We've all been there with needing to pick ourselves back up off the floor after an unexpected plot twist knocked us down. Loved Jessica as our Heroine and loved her Hero even more! Sweet, kind, responsive, and interested. This is the perfect vacation read - cannot recommend enough!
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