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It's Not Like It's Forever
I found the perfect man for my sister. What happens when I want to keep him for myself?
Impersonating my older sister Stella on a dating app is supposed to help her find happiness and true love.
Instead, she refuses to go on the date I set up for her with Joel, aka The Perfect Man. After months of work weeding through all the weirdos online, this is the thanks I get?
When I show up to tell Joel how I unintentionally catfished him, he immediately thinks I’m my sister. Before I know it, I’m on a date as Stella.
One night of pretending to be my sister won’t do any harm…right?
Except one date turns into two. I thought Joel was everything my sister would want in a man. Turns out, he’s actually everything I need in my life. It’s a twisted I like him, but he thinks I’m her.
Joel’s been lied to before. When he finds out I did the same, he’ll probably never want to see me again. But he’s the only thing that makes sense right now, when everything else is out of my control.
What’s a girl to do?
It’s Not Like It’s Forever is perfect for readers who love a well-earned happy-ever-after and enjoy weightier topics mixed in with their spice-free romance.
Impersonating my older sister Stella on a dating app is supposed to help her find happiness and true love.
Instead, she refuses to go on the date I set up for her with Joel, aka The Perfect Man. After months of work weeding through all the weirdos online, this is the thanks I get?
When I show up to tell Joel how I unintentionally catfished him, he immediately thinks I’m my sister. Before I know it, I’m on a date as Stella.
One night of pretending to be my sister won’t do any harm…right?
Except one date turns into two. I thought Joel was everything my sister would want in a man. Turns out, he’s actually everything I need in my life. It’s a twisted I like him, but he thinks I’m her.
Joel’s been lied to before. When he finds out I did the same, he’ll probably never want to see me again. But he’s the only thing that makes sense right now, when everything else is out of my control.
What’s a girl to do?
It’s Not Like It’s Forever is perfect for readers who love a well-earned happy-ever-after and enjoy weightier topics mixed in with their spice-free romance.
- GenresRomance
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
13 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Grace J. Croy
20 books206 followersVisit Grace's website gracejcroy.com and join her MVR (Most Valuable Reader) group to get her e-book, KISS ME, JANE free.
She is the author of both historical and contemporary romance that is clean and uplifting.
Grace loves reading, writing, her cats, travel, and delicious potatoes. She lives in Utah in a little house at the bottom of a little mountain, where the snow piles high in the winter.
She graduated with a BA in English from Utah State University, and then went on to study Library and Information Science from Emporia State University. When she's not writing, she works as a librarian. It’s the second-best job in the world—she gets paid to buy books, plan awesome community events, and advise readers on what books to try next. Creating stories is, of course, the best job in the world.
Her favorite places to travel include New Zealand, California, and Paris. No matter how long she's away, she always loves to come home.
She is the author of both historical and contemporary romance that is clean and uplifting.
Grace loves reading, writing, her cats, travel, and delicious potatoes. She lives in Utah in a little house at the bottom of a little mountain, where the snow piles high in the winter.
She graduated with a BA in English from Utah State University, and then went on to study Library and Information Science from Emporia State University. When she's not writing, she works as a librarian. It’s the second-best job in the world—she gets paid to buy books, plan awesome community events, and advise readers on what books to try next. Creating stories is, of course, the best job in the world.
Her favorite places to travel include New Zealand, California, and Paris. No matter how long she's away, she always loves to come home.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 7, 2025
Unintentional catfishing. In an attempt to help a single older sister when everything gets all twisted up. Identities are mistaken and not corrected. Declarations are made, plans are changed, life interrupts. How to correct a truth not told. How to handle life changing news. See’s chocolate and grief. Trust broken. Family tragedy morphing into job opportunity. Prime location for a storage closet office. Tears and cheers and not necessarily in that order. Full of wonderful characters. A book not to miss.
July 4, 2025
Aww...I have loved every book in this series, and this was no exception. It can be read as a standalone, but it's really fun to get the backstory on all of the characters first.
Joel. Ah, Joel. What a sweetheart.
And Roe. I was really interested to see how she would grow up, and she is wonderful. I wish I could meet her in real life.
I liked watching how they were able to help each other because of things they'd learned on their own. Their stories mingled nicely.
Joel. Ah, Joel. What a sweetheart.
And Roe. I was really interested to see how she would grow up, and she is wonderful. I wish I could meet her in real life.
I liked watching how they were able to help each other because of things they'd learned on their own. Their stories mingled nicely.
July 1, 2025
I feel like have been waiting and waiting for this book and have reread the others in the series so I could be ready for this book. And it did not disappoint! I loved it. There is so much character growth. When I compare the Roe at the beginning of the book hiding in the bushes to stalk her sister's date, with the Roe at the end of the book - happy in a good mind space and with the love of her life, so much has changed. She blossomed. I love that a whole year goes by in the course of the main part (not including epilogue) of the book. She really gets space to work through her issues. The same with Joel. But oh my goodness was there some hard hitting family drama, serious illness, and trauma about death happening in this story. Like heavy stuff. I cried. A couple times. But l'm a sympathetic crier when I see (or read) people struggling with serious issues.
To be clear, there is comedy, a happy ending, and NO ONE dies on these pages of the story.
Despite all those potential trigger issues, I seriously want to reread the whole book even though I just finished it yesterday.
Rating: PG, clean, no sex, there is kissing but I didn't find it to be descriptive, no hands roaming, etc. Triggers other than previously mentioned: one scene of people drinking to an excess but it is not glamorized and shown in a negative what not to do light.
To be clear, there is comedy, a happy ending, and NO ONE dies on these pages of the story.
Despite all those potential trigger issues, I seriously want to reread the whole book even though I just finished it yesterday.
Rating: PG, clean, no sex, there is kissing but I didn't find it to be descriptive, no hands roaming, etc. Triggers other than previously mentioned: one scene of people drinking to an excess but it is not glamorized and shown in a negative what not to do light.
July 1, 2025
As I began this story, I was convinced I might not like Roe, the female lead. I rarely find characters who lie to become endearing later in the story. I liked Joel right away and found myself wanting to protect him from the impact of the truth-once discovered. However, Ms. Croy has written such a beautiful, funny, touching, real-life (foibles and all) story that I worked through Roe’s issues and growth with her, saw her through a different lens, and began to like and root for her. She put in the work, emotionally and physically, to recreate herself and forge a new path-impressive! I love that the author gave this story the time to develop and for both characters to grow. Roe’s family is wonderful and while supportive, they are not enabling. “Pretending you’re not struggling doesn’t help you or anyone else.” There are some tough topics in this book, and I shed some tears but with joy as well as sadness. There is also great strength in the wisdom of the characters. “What if. The dreaded words that allow the future unknown to steal happiness from today.” I am looking forward to getting to all their stories and learning more along with them. This is a story that I will revisit and reread, and I thank Ms. Croy for such a wonderful story to add to my shelves.
June 29, 2025
It took me a little while to get into this one. But, once I got into the meat of it, it gripped me. There’s a lot to unpack in this book. There’s trauma, tragedy, romance (all clean and no swearing), some laugh, some drama. It wasn’t what I expected. This is the first in a series and the end sets the reader up for the next book in the series but it doesn’t end in a cliffhanger. It’s intriguing and I definitely want to read the next one. My recommendation is to not give up on it and to keep reading. There are some good twists and turns and some ups and downs but it ends in a HEA.
July 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Roe set up an online dating profile for her older sister and Roe's the one who ended up wanting to date Joel. There were a lot of lessons that Roe learned in the story as she grew up and faced her mom's cancer and Joel not being able to forgive her for lying to him. I was so glad that Roe found her happiness and moved on. I also enjoyed reading to see if Joel would ever forgive Roe for lying. "Joy is worth the pain." I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
July 26, 2025
This book... Wow.
The synopsis and the beginning make it sound like a rom-com, but it is so much deeper than that. Obviously, Roe in particular has a lot of growing up to do, and I thought it was handled very well. There is a lot of heartache that the characters must walk through, and this is not a light, easy read. But, it is a good read, and there is a happy ending.
This is a clean read and the editing is good. I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so and the opinions stated are my own.
The synopsis and the beginning make it sound like a rom-com, but it is so much deeper than that. Obviously, Roe in particular has a lot of growing up to do, and I thought it was handled very well. There is a lot of heartache that the characters must walk through, and this is not a light, easy read. But, it is a good read, and there is a happy ending.
This is a clean read and the editing is good. I received an ARC from the author. I was not required to write a review but chose to do so and the opinions stated are my own.
August 7, 2025
A relationship born out of an oops... actually I never would have guessed the direction this would go. I love how it switches back and forth between the two main characters' different point of view in order to feel more connected with the characters. Clean, sweet, full of forgiveness and second chances! This was my first read of the series, but I love the way Grace writes...highly recommended !
June 29, 2025
I absolutely loved this one! It's every bit as good as the first 3 books in the series. It's well written, and you feel like you know these people. It's sweet, sad, hopeful and made me smile!! This works as a standalone, go ahead and read the whole series. Clean and no cussing. Tropes: second chance,lovers to enemies to lovers, forced proximity.
July 26, 2025
Really cute story. I loved Roe and Joel. They seem so opposite but mesh and connect well together. Joel is so rigid when he discovers she is not Stella. Roe understands, but is truly hurt. I enjoyed reading this and loved all the characters.
I received this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
I received this book from the author and this is my voluntary, honest review.
August 17, 2025
Better than a light fluffy romcom
My biggest fear starting the book was that it would be a big long miscommunication story. Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Don’t let that stop you from reading, because you’ll miss a good book with depth and heart. This was the first in the series I read, now I’m going back to start at the beginning.
Clean, some kissing.
My biggest fear starting the book was that it would be a big long miscommunication story. Spoiler alert: it isn’t. Don’t let that stop you from reading, because you’ll miss a good book with depth and heart. This was the first in the series I read, now I’m going back to start at the beginning.
Clean, some kissing.
June 30, 2025
loved it
I really enjoyed this book. The storyline has some heavy topics like death of a loved one but I thought it was handled well. I liked how Monroe and Joel met and how their love story unfolded. I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this book. The storyline has some heavy topics like death of a loved one but I thought it was handled well. I liked how Monroe and Joel met and how their love story unfolded. I highly recommend this book.
July 4, 2025
A lovely read with all the feels, endearing characters, heartfelt moments, and swoonworthy texts: “I want forever with you”, “Every day for the rest of my life, with you “. A perfect summer escape.
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
June 30, 2025
This is my voluntary review of a copy I was given.
Roe made a mistake, seriously regretted it, and learned not to do it again.
Joel knows how to hold a grudge. Can he learn to let forgive?
The story is mostly light and uplifting, but it does touch on difficult things. I enjoyed it.
Roe made a mistake, seriously regretted it, and learned not to do it again.
Joel knows how to hold a grudge. Can he learn to let forgive?
The story is mostly light and uplifting, but it does touch on difficult things. I enjoyed it.
August 7, 2025
Such a fun story with great characters. Roe and Joel are fun to get to know as they work their way through their relationship. Good lessons learned along the way.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews