Forever is the Sweetest Con

by Joanna Thurlow

“Twisty, sharp, and utterly addictive — a love story wrapped in a con you’ll never see coming.” Kristin Wollett, author of As a Last Resort


Cleo Des Rochelles doesn’t believe in love—not after being swindled by her ex and left to repay his debts or risk losing her home and her mother’s safety. Desperate for cash, she signs up for Camp Couple-Up, a reality dating show with a $250k prize.


But instead of a glamorous retreat, Cleo finds herself in the wilds of Canada’s Northern Ontario, scrubbing toilets and faking romance with Kei, a charming musician with lofty dreams of stardom. Their pact is play pretend, win big, and never catch feelings.


Then the crew vanishes. With no food, no phones, and no refill of Kei’s insulin, the stakes skyrocket from love and money to sheer survival. As danger closes in, Cleo discovers a strength she never knew she had—and a love too real to fake.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fake Dating, Adult, Fiction

292 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Joanna Thurlow is a writer & editor, yoga teacher, and professionally trained baker who proudly claims to make the world's best chocolate chip cookies. A lover of books, sunsets at the family cottage, and "pie-in-a-bathing-suit" season, Joanna is happiest with her husband, their two children,and the dog she never expected to adore. This is her debut novel.

Reviews

[enola]

stop with them taylor swift lyric titles😭🥺
i do love cowboy like me

[Skylar Fink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love island meets survivor with an extreme twist. Not only is love on the line but everyone’s lives as well! At first, I was a bit iffy but once everything started to fall into place and things that happened in the story started adding up it all made sense. I guess you could call this a romance suspense. Found family. So much character growth. I definitely think this is going to be a huge hit this summer. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read in advance!

[VeroniCanRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐ ARC Review - The perfect summer romance with a thriller twist that had me binge reading 80% of the book in a single sitting!

🏕️ For Fans of:
- romantic suspense
- dating show romance
- reality show romance
- fake dating everyone
- recently single
- short chapters
- thriller elements
- FMC healing and growth

✏️ Spoiler-Free ARC Review
Without giving away the whole plot, this romantic suspense had me cheering for the main character, heart hurting for her, suspicious of the bad vibes, and my eye twitching because I was so concerned and read the last half of the book in a single sitting!

This is only the second romantic suspense book I’ve read and I truly enjoyed it! There was one moment that I had to suspend belief, but even that felt inconsequential compared to the larger plot and intensity of the book.

With all that the characters go through (and oh boy do they go through it) the ending was that much more meaningful. I’ll even admit that I teared up a bit because there WAS so much going on in the FMC’s life that I could feel the heartache, the panic, the love, and the relief as I was reading.


🖤 Thank you to author Joanna Thurlow, Pownal Street Press, Sugar Shack Books, and NetGalley for the free digital advance copy. As always, my reviews are honest, my own, and voluntary!

📚 Book: Forever is the Sweetest Con by Joanna Thurlow
📅 Release Date: June 16, 2026
⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5

[Lizzie Marsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book before publication!!

I was REALLY looking forward to this book, with the themes of Love Island in it.
The story starts off with Cleo, a girl who had just been left without a proper home, money and a meaning in life.
As she’s working her next shift at the bar, she is approached with the opportunity of a lifetime, the opportunity to win £250K on a dating show…

There were SO many twists and turns in this book and the last 45% was a TURN and a half that I didn’t see coming at all!
What a read!! ☺️

[Sarah]

I couldn't put this book down. It was so good. Its part romance, part adventure.

The characters are contestants on a "love islands" meets "survivor" type dating show, which, honestly, seems like a really good idea for a show. The FMC, Cleo, needs money so she agrees to go on a dating reality show in the Canadian wilderness in hopes of winning the prize money. To do that, she partners up with a fellow contestant to fake a relationship to win. Then, things go wrong. The last half of the book was very suspenseful. I really liked the twist and that it wasn't simply a romance book.

[Rachel B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

What a fun ride! I was on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to go wrong in this story, and when it did, I couldn’t put it down! I was even wondering if this was going to turn quasi-horror at some points. Writing very reminiscent of another Canadian gem, Karina Halle, the imagery was beautiful.

If you love reality tv and especially if you HATE reality tv (me) you’ll love this read.

Note: this is a Closed door romance / fade to black

[giulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

I haven’t watched an IRL reality show in … a while. But I consume the drama like water, so I was intrigued by this concept if anything! Northern Ontario and our MMC kind of sold it. I lived for the drama and outlandishness of it all and the chaos from the beginning had me hooked and I read this in pretty much one go. I found the characters enjoyable for the most part and thought the way they were written showed their personalities & layers beyond what we saw for their first introductions and we didn’t need big revelatory moments for them, so I didn’t even particularly dislike the enemies, y’know? When the twist twisted, the vibe change was distinct enough that I felt as on edge as our characters must have and it kept me flipping pages so I could see where things would end and how it would all play out!! It was a rollercoaster and I was happy to be on it.

I will only said I didn’t enjoy the epilogue and thought it fell a little flat, I felt like I didn’t fully understand it but maybe that’s on me! I enjoyed the journey :)

[Hannah Swain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC and here’s my honest review!

✨baby’s first ARC ✨ lol

This story started off really strong, and I liked the FMC. It was a fun twist on a reality tv romance, with some believable trauma for the FMC. The first 70% of it was great, 5 stars. And then it started to go downhill for me - it was so much disaster all at once, and some serious medical events that definitely needed trigger warnings. As person with a partner with T1D, I really would’ve appreciated a trigger warning here!!! Yet, there were these very serious medical events that did not end like they would have in reality. So it felt like a roller coaster of emotion to me! The ending felt so rushed, and the epilogue was a bit hard to follow. Altogether I did like the story, but the plot was lost at the end.

**All genres of books should have trigger warnings! Please list them in your novel, and in online descriptions like here on Goodreads.

[Bethany Busse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This book came out of nowhere!

Described as Love Island meets Survivor or Fyre Island.

I actually couldn’t put it down. It was kinda crazy that you knew that the twist was coming but you didn’t know how or when.

I love a romance/thriller survival story. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC that was perfect!

[Emer Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to start by thanking NetGalley and Pownal Street Press for the advanced reader copy of Forever is the Sweetest Con by Joanna Thurlow.

Wow. Just… wow. This is my first 5-star read of 2026, and what a way to start the year. It’s also the first book in a long time that made me cry.

Going in, I knew there would be some kind of twist, so I was half-prepared for it to either fall flat or completely blow me away. It absolutely blew me away.

What begins as a fake romance on a reality show quickly spirals into a terrifying survival situation in Canada. The stakes skyrocket when Kei’s diabetes becomes central to their fight for survival. Watching him struggle without access to insulin while stranded added a level of tension that made every page feel urgent. It wasn’t just romantic tension, it was life-or-death tension. The suspense was relentless.

Fake dating will always have my heart, but this book might have ruined the trope for me. I genuinely don’t know how anything else is going to compare.

[Jessica’s Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(because this was fun!)

Thank you to Netgalley for proving me this ARC for review purposes

I enjoyed this so much! This is the perfect summer read. It is fun, definitely flirty, will make you laugh and for some reason, will also make you want to go camping (despite everything this experience serves up for our characters). Anyone who has ever been to summer camp will definitely be getting flash backs. 

Cleo Des Rochelles is jaded and broke. After her ex-boyfriend leaves her with shattered trust in men and a huge amount of debt, she agrees to be a participate on a new dating game show in hopes of taking home the $250k prize money. To be clear, she is doing this for the money and NOT to catch feelings. Unfortunately for her, the game show takes places in Northern Ontario, deep in the wilderness and is lacking all the glamour of a typical reality show.

First Thoughts
My first thoughts as Cleo arrived on the island were that it was all a bit over the top. We had characters sliding into every stereotype and super sketchy producers who seemed to rush them through everything. Honestly though, that may have been what made it work in the end. Somehow the author gave us a million characters without it being wildly difficult to keep track of them, and they played their roles to perfection. It was cheesy and ridiculous, but isn't that exactly what reality television typically is? Were there moments that were a bit too cheesy and rushed for me? Yup (thank you, POPPs). Still, I can still appreciate what those over dramatized moments did for the story.

The cast of characters was perfect for this setting. Cleo was everything she told us she was. She was jaded and determined not to love, but underneath it all it was love that drove her to the show. She was there to find a way to take care of her mother, and is honestly a softie underneath. I loved watching her character grow and find that self worth again. Kei was so darn sweet and is basically the walking green flag we should all be looking for. All of our side characters played their roles perfectly, and I just loved how these characters (eventually) evolved together throughout the story. 

Writing and Plot:
Joanna did an incredible job with her debut novel. Her writing style flows easily and her pacing is perfect. The story moved along quickly, ensuring there were no “lags” in the flow. I loved how every plot hole that I latched onto was patched up neatly moments later (for example, the maple syrup tapping!). As a Canadian who has family in Thunder Bay, I was super excited to dive into this and find TBay as the setting. This book has closed door spice, which was refreshing. It fit perfectly to the story. 

There were moments that had me giggling aloud and there were definitely moments that had the tears going. One of my favourite moments is a hardcore spoiler, so for the sake of a spoiler free review I will just say that the ending did not disappoint. It moved quickly and a LOT happened, but I loved it. I was actually really pleasantly surprised by the twist the book took around the 55-60% mark, so definitely buckle in for a fun ride from there out. 

As a side note, I also loved that Kei had diabetes. As someone who has diabetics in their life, I love to see representation in books. 

My last thoughts:
This was a fun read with some exhilarating curve balls and super sweet moments. A definite recommendation for your summer TBR.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok so the gist is that Cleo is in a bit of a bind after her ex left her drowning in debt and she's expected to pay for his fuck ups. The stars magically align and she ends up on a dating show with a cash prize for the winning couple. She is looking for money, not love. But are things really what they seem? Can she make it out of this show unscathed? Is it all too good to be true?

So… yeah. I liked this! It's not my usual genre but I think the added mystery/survival element helped make this more enjoyable for me.

The pacing was, unfortunately, one of my biggest gripes. It takes about 20% to REALLY get off the ground. I do like how our main couple met but the story slowed down after that first meeting. I'm torn. I also felt like the third act breakup/separation happened at a weird time?? And it seemed to last forever given how short this book is. (60-80% if you're curious). And the last third of the book is wild. Things go off the rails. I haven't decided if it hurts or helps the book.

And the characters!! I liked our main couple together. Mostly. Cleo is an acquired taste but every time you see the vulnerability beneath her mask, it makes the frustrating bits worth it. There's some stuff left unanswered or expressed very vaguely that I wish we'd delved deeper into but that might just come down to personal preference. Same with the love interest, Kei. I really wanted to crack that boy open even further. We got SOME stuff, which was delightful. But… I don't know, you guys. I just wanted MORE. More pages! More time with these characters spilling their guts and doing things.

The support cast was decent. Obviously not really fleshed out but it wasn't just our main couple that had moments to shine. I'd like to say more about a few of them but it would be spoilers, so I'll refrain.

The writing style isn't anything special but it's also in first person, so it's very much done on purpose. The author leans into Cleo's voice and I loved that. The only time I was unsure of the voice and writing was pre-show bullshit.

There were comments about women's bodies that didn't bother me at first because I figured it was commentary on how fatphobic, fake, and problematic reality tv is. But… it kinda all stayed surface level. Which isn't the end of the world! But I was definitely disappointed. We did get a very brief discussion of a past ED, which was nice. I guess what I'm getting at is the average person isn't necessarily going to feel represented in this book. It's not an unforgivable sin, but it's worth noting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a fake relationship type of romance. Bonus points if you watch reality tv. It's a closed door romance for those who care (didn't bother me).

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[megan mien · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Play pretend, win big, and never catch feelings."

I went into this without fully reading the description and HOLY CROW. So glad that was the case!

A reality dating show setup (real connection or not), a $250,000 prize, and then suddenly... the crew disapears??

I was SHOOK.

Like fully locked in. I read this in one day. ONE. UNO. That almost never happens to me.

This was an absolute catch. This book was such a fun mix of suspense and romance. It starts off feeling like a strategic, fake-it-for-the-money situation, and then it flips into something way more intense. I was on the edge of my chair at a few points. LOL

Cleo is... a lot. I won't lie. She's relatable in some ways (financial stress? yeah, felt that), but also very "girl, what are you doing??" at times. Not for everyone, but I did appreciate her growth. Also, she's a pinot grigio girly and I love that.

Kai though??? Perfect. Exactly the kind of MMC this story needed. Grounded, refreshing, and the balance to Cleo's chaos.

And their dynamic? So good. The banter, the tension, the slow shift from "this isn't real" to something that maybe is... yeah, that really worked for me.

What I loved:
- the twists
- the suspense once things went sideways
- character growth
- one of the strongest openings I've read in a while

Why not 5 stars?
I just wanted more. More depth, more time with the characters (especially side characters), and a slightly less rushed ending. It felt like there was a handful of unfinished questions.

Still, this was an absolute thrill! 4 stars.

If you like suspenseful contemporary romance with twists, fake dating energy, and chaotic characters who are messy but worth it... this one is right up your alley.

Be sure to keep an eye out for it! Releases June 16th, 2026.


Thank you NetGalley and Pownal Street Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Ok, so based on the description, I thought the reality show was going to be a small part, with everything described in the summary being the whole story but only with the two MCs. But nope, I was wrong, and you know what? I’m not mad about it. I had a really fun time. The show is pitched to contestants as Love Island meets Survivor. That already sounded like an interesting premise.

Cleo is trying to win the money to pay off a debt her scummy ex left her with, so she decides to scam her way through the show by pretending to fall in love and gain the audience’s approval. What she doesn’t expect is falling for Kei, a sweet musician who’s willing to partner with her and take part in her scheme. I really liked their relationship. She needed someone she could trust, and Kei provided that for her. My only gripe with their relationship is how quickly they fell in love. Maybe because I’m a fan of slow burns, but two weeks seem way too fast to say “I love you.”

Cleo had me laughing from the start. She’s a realist and has become jaded after her past relationship. She doesn’t believe in love and doesn’t trust men. She finds any excuse to not see someone as compatible. Her commentary on reality shows and her fellow contestants felt real and like something a lot of us have probably thought when watching these types of shows. The characters were your stereotypical reality show personalities. Some she became good friends with, others took some time, but in the end, I liked how it all played out between them. I would have liked to see them together one last time at the end after the show, especially because of how close they became. I wanted to see what they were up to and if they were still close with Cleo.

If you're looking for something quick and entertaining, I think it makes for a great summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Bonita. E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about dating show, its always fast-faced and love how the characters always calculate the way to gain viewer attention that make it fun.

Forever is the sweetest con is about a young woman, Cleo who's desperate for money. She's beautiful and talented actress but life doesn't always went well for her, she's working in a wine bar to pay debt that left behind by her former boyfriend. One day she offered to go this new dating reality show and win great money for the grand prize, not that she has much to lose, she accepted it. In there she met plenty of people, some girl friends and of course the eventual love interest, however that place is not what it seems to be, there's something strange about it but she couldnt put finger on it, but she only focuses to win, even what it takes is fake dating a hot man she's desperately convinced herself she's not fall to.

I found Cleo as an interesting character, I share her trait of finding icks and general dislikeness towards men lol and how she trying to be a girl's girls but at the same time trying to beat them, she's done many questionable and stupid things too but well that's okay.

Also I found a bit silly that she think she's a con artist when she participates in a dating show but not really want to find new partner but only eyeing the money, I think everyone already knows that and to think otherwise just a bit naive and not in line with her initial personality in the first time we got to know her. If you really want to find partner for good, dating show is not it, it's lucky if you got one but not many people really expects you too and its public knowledge lol but yeah I think we need a protagonist who think that's not a good thing to do, i don't know.

Anyway, I have a good time reading this, thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC. all reviews are my honest thoughts.

[Brittanie Chavis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forever is the Sweetest Con was a cute, easy read overall. The premise is fun and high concept. A fake dating reality show set in the wilderness with a cash prize, only for the crew to disappear and survival to take over. It blends romance with light thriller elements in a way that makes it accessible and suitable for most readers.

Cleo and Kei have a mild chemistry. There is connection there, but no real burning tension. Their relationship develops in a softer, steadier way rather than anything intense or consuming. That works for the tone of the book, but it does keep the romance from feeling particularly memorable.

There were also some questionable decisions made once the survival element kicked in. A few moments, especially around fleeing the island, felt obviously reckless or poorly thought out, which pulled me out of the story a bit.

One thing that stood out stylistically was the heavy use of em and en dashes. It sometimes read more like a script than a novel, and at points it almost felt AI generated because of the excess formatting and pacing choices. That distracted from what could have been a tighter, more immersive narrative.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ Mild
There are a few romantic moments, but nothing intense. The spice is light and very manageable, making this suitable for most readers.

Cover Art: 🎨🎨 Mixed
The cover fits the vibe of the book, but it definitely could have been cooler given the premise. With a reality show survival twist like this, there was room for something more dynamic or striking.

Overall, this is a solid three star read. It is entertaining, approachable, and suitable for a wide audience. I did not love it, but I did not dislike it either. It lands comfortably in that middle space.

[Devonie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast-paced romance with a clever premise and strong chemistry between the leads. The book is based around a "Love Island meets Survivor" style dating show. After reading the description of this book I knew I had to pick it up.

Cleo is forced to say yes to a reality dating show in order to keep her house and ensure her mother's safety after her ex leaves her responsible for repaying all of his debts. The problem is, Cleo doesn't believe in love. She finds herself faking a romance with Kei, a charming musician, and the two must make their relationship believable if they want a chance at winning the prize money at the end.

This book started out strong and had me hooked right away. The reason for the four star rating is that some elements felt reminiscent of Love Island, just with a summer camp twist. However, the chemistry between the characters kept me hooked. I really enjoyed watching the different relationships that Cleo built throughout the book. Once the crew vanished, the tension ramped up and I truly couldn’t put the book down as twist after twist unfolded.

I enjoyed the realness that Cleo brought to the story. I fell in love with Kei. He was a true sweetheart and you can’t help but hope he gets the happy ending he deserves. Be prepared that if you pick up this book you are not going to want to put it down until you are finished with it.

If you enjoy tropes like fake dating, forced proximity, slow burn, and heist/con storylines, this will likely be right up your alley. Fans of reality-TV-inspired romances will especially enjoy this fun and twisty take on the genre.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever is the Sweetest Con is such a breath of fresh air, combining romance, mystery, and thriller all wrapped into one in a uniquely fresh take on both genres. It kept me up all night reading, and as someone who prides herself on usually guessing the endings, this book had me hooked and fooled all the way to the last page.

Cleo finds herself in financial trouble and signs up for a reality TV dating show in the hopes of winning a cash prize, and although she starts off with the 'not like other girls' mentality, she soon grows and evolves into a character you can't help but root for. I do not enjoy reality TV shows at all (I prefer my entertainment fictional and in a literary format), but the concept was so gripping that it hooked me in, and I devoured this book in what felt like no time at all.

The story gets off to a slightly slow start, but that just adds to the crescendo that builds up to the electrifying climax, which will have you sitting on the floor because you sat just too far off the edge of your seat. It's truly one of the only thrillers which you'll find actually thrilling. My heart is still racing from the conclusion of it all.

I love the inclusion of the diabetic representation, and how it wasn't used in the cliché way of being the financial strain on a character. Thurlow will have my eternal gratitude for this, and I cannot wait to see what they write next.

Thank you to Pownal Street Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

(4.5 stars, rounded up to 5)

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main reason this drops a star for me is that I found there were some issues with the pacing. I thought the first part was really slow, especially as they don't get to the island until like 20%. Then, although we know the production crew disappear from the blurb, that doesn't actually happen until around 60% with in my opinion too much build up before that. Also the action doesn't really get going until the last 20% which I would've liked to have started earlier. The other negative thing is that while I liked the little cliffhangers at the end of some of the chapters, I would've liked if the tension had been held there a little longer rather than instantly finding out what happened at the start of the next chapter. I think because of this, another person's perspective might have been good for this book to break it up a little bit.

That being said, I loved the relationship that progressed between Cleo and Kei and I think the title referencing Cowboy Like Me is perfect for this couple. I also really liked that this wasn't just a simple romcom like the cover would make you think and that it did have the elements of mystery, tiny hint of thriller and the action towards the end. This is the first book I've read by this author and I didn't realise it was also a debut, so I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you so much to the author, Netgalley, Pownal Street Press and Sugar Shack Books for providing me with an e-arc. This review is entirely voluntary and all thoughts expressed here are my own.

[Rebecca Bski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever Is the Sweetest Con is one of those books you have to read in one sitting because you cannot possibly guess what’s going to happen next, and the suspense will absolutely eat at you until you turn the page.
Cleo is jaded by love, freshly swindled by her ex, massively in debt, and running out of options. So she signs up for the dating reality show Camp Couple-Up, which is basically Love Island meets Survivor. She’s not there to find love. She’s there for the $250K prize.
She teams up with Kei, a charming musician with big dreams of stardom, and the plan is simple: fake it, win the money, don’t catch feelings.
But after a few days, the show becomes a little less Love Island and a whole lot more Survivor when the crew vanishes, the campers are left on their own, resources start dwindling, and things go from fun and flirty to full-on survival.
I loved how unlike anything else this story felt. The concept is fresh, the stakes are intense, and the characters have so much complexity that you can’t help but get invested in their journey. If I had one tiny note, it’s that I wanted a little more development around some of the mystery threads (More Silver Fox details? What does the film crew have to say?), but overall, I absolutely loved this debut from Joanna Thurlow.

[Nancy Belusz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever Is the Sweetest Con blends romance and strategy in a way that feels fresh and entertaining, giving the story a vibe similar to Love Island crossed with Survivor. Set in a high-pressure, competitive environment, the book explores what happens when attraction, alliances, and ambition collide.
One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is how it questions whether relationships formed in a game can ever be fully real. Thurlow does a great job showing how contestants must constantly decide between emotional connection and self-preservation. The tension between playing to win and genuinely falling for someone keeps the story engaging and unpredictable.
The characters feel realistic, each bringing different motivations into the competition—some looking for love, others for strategy, and many caught somewhere in between. As the stakes rise, the lines between manipulation and genuine care begin to blur, reinforcing the book’s central idea that “forever” can sometimes be the biggest con of all.
Overall, Forever Is the Sweetest Con is a fun, thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of reality dating shows and competition-based stories. It’s a smart take on modern romance, trust, and the cost of choosing love over winning—or vice versa.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, Pownal Street Press, for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley.

✨Forever Is the Sweetest Con ✨by Joanna Thurlow follows our female main character, Cleo, as she navigates past relationships, financial struggles, and the challenge of learning to trust others again. In an effort to fix her financial situation, Cleo joins a reality TV competition, best described as a cross between Love Island and Survivor, where romance, strategy, and survival all collide.

This book was a refreshing and engaging read, so different from typical romance or thriller novels. Being a Taylor Swift fan myself, the title immediately drew me in. The reality-show setting gave the story a unique edge that set it apart and kept me invested.

At times, the storyline moved a bit slowly, but it never detracted from my desire to keep reading. There is a constant sense that a twist is coming, but you’re never quite sure when or how it will unfold. The blend of emotional tension, strategy, and romance worked really well.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and memorable read that stands apart from standard genre expectations. I would recommend it to readers looking for a refreshing contemporary romance with a storyline that keeps you guessing until the end.

[Hope Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Camp Couple-Up: Extremes Edition were a book, this would be it, complete with fake dating, wilderness survival, and unexpected romantic sparks. Our heroine Cleo signs up for a reality show to pay off a swindling ex’s mess, only to find herself scrubbing toilets in rural Canada, pretending to fall for a musician with a killer smile (and questionable wilderness skills) so they can win big. Then the crew disappears, the phones die, and suddenly it’s Survivor: Heartstrings Edition, insulin refills not included.

I had high hopes for this one, and honestly the premise had me saying, “Yeah, I’ll watch this show.” The first half was a hoot, and the slow-burn chemistry kept me turning pages. But at times it felt like I was reading two different books. One was a cheeky fake-dating rom-com, and the other was a semi-survival thriller asking, “Wait… are we still having fun?” The tone wobbled in places, and some scenes made me chuckle while others made me scratch my head.

It’s an okay read, not a masterpiece, but not a catastrophe either. If you want something that’s breezy with occasional grit, some charm, and a couple of “Oh, come on…” moments, give it a shot. Just don’t be surprised if it leaves you thinking “sweet…ish.”

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 1.5/5

First person POV, Single perspective: Cleo
Linear timeline
Contemporary romance with thriller elements
Setting: Canadian Wilderness
FMC: Cleo, MMC: Kei

This book was a lot of fun! The themes of romance, comedy, and suspense were blended exceptionally well.

Cleo is a messy, determined heroine you can’t help but root for, and Kei brings the perfect balance of charm, kindness, and swoon. Their chemistry builds naturally as the stakes climb higher and the situation around them gets more dangerous. The mix of humor, tension, and slow-burn romance made it nearly impossible to put down. The book focuses much more on the plot, suspense, and emotional connection between Cleo and Kei rather than explicit romantic scenes.

What really made me keep turning the pages was how the story keeps raising the stakes. Just when you think you know where things are going, the plot takes another turn, turning a playful con into a high-stakes fight for survival. It’s clever, fast-paced, and packed with heart.

Thank you Pownal Street Press and Sugar Shack Books for electronic ARC of this book which was provided to me via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Marie-Hélène · Rating 3 out of 5]

After getting out of an unhealthy relationship, Cleo cannot seem to manage to shrug off all the financial trouble her ex left her in. So, against all her beliefs, she auditions for a reality dating show, Camp Couple-Up. Arriving on a sketchy island - in Canada, how’s that for a summer destination - she’s about to find way more than she bargained for, not necessarily all good.

Cleo was very relatable some of the time, and quite annoying the rest of it. This is on me, as reality tv people give me the Ick. On the other hand, Keiji was an absolute darling. He’s endearing and sweet and just feels like a general good dude who made a bad life choice - but then again, same counts for Cleo. The producers made me absolutely uncomfortable, which turned out to be very valid. When things get even worse, the story really picked up for me and I found myself rooting for all of them, flaws notwithstanding, to make it.

I know this is an ARC, and thus the text is not final, and I really see the potential in this book. It has good bones, a compelling voice, but I feel it needs some more editing and research (mainly about diabetes) to make it the book I believe it could be.

[Linda Lefler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet love story with a bit of backwoods thriller. It works! Cleo, at the end of her financial rope after her ex defrauds her of everything, takes a chance on a reality dating show set in an old camp in Northern Ontario. If she can strategize and act well enough, she can clear her debts with the prize money. Cue fake dating that gets out of hand in the feelings department, obstacles, and dangers. What stood out to me in this was the excellent prose and wry humour. The MMC, Kei, was suitably swoony -- but still real. Thurlow managed to introduce the whole reality show contestant slate and not confuse us, which is not as easy as it looks. I've glazed over reading similar titles with less expert line level writing skill. The happy ending is more than earned in both the literary and plot senses! Take this book on your winter vacation.

Out: June 16. 

If you've read either or both of Robin Lefler's (no relation) two novels, let me know if you think they are comps for this. Both came to my mind! So fun! 

I read this book courtesy of the author, the publisher Pownal Street Press: Sugar Shack Books imprint for contemporary romance and Netgalley. Thank you. Opinions are my own.

[Sydney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Pownal Street Press for this arc!

Going into this read, I wasn’t sure I was going to love it. Romance isn’t my favourite genre to read and at first I was really just hoping we’d get to the mystery/thriller elements asap. After the first few chapters though, I completely changed my mind and was just loving this read. I liked the characters and was enjoying seeing them all come together at Camp Couple-Up. Cleo’s ability to get the ick from any man within about 5 seconds was hilariously relatable for me personally but I was secretly waiting for her to finally find a man who wouldn’t be completely insufferable.

I really enjoyed the subtle hints that things might not be as they seem while we were still experiencing the love island style drama of the shows couples and think that this was paced really well. I also really enjoyed the varied reactions of the characters when things really hit the fan.

I was absolutely on the edge of my seat as the characters made and executed their escape plan and did end up staying awake until 2am to finish this book in one sitting. Honestly, I could have read another 200 pages of this story.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is “Love Island” meets “ Survivor.” If you love reality t.v shows and cannot wait for the next episode or season, this book is the fix to that.

The concept is unique, featuring representation of diabetics and Canadians, and it feels like a “tell-all” reality episode unfolding in real-time. I LOVED this book. As someone who prioritizes sleep, I barely slept to keep reading.

Cleo (FMC) was burned by her ex. He took everything and left her with his debt, or she risks losing her house and risking the life her mother knows. She is faced with two options.
Fall into crippling debt or sign up for Camp Couple Up, a reality dating show.

The camp is not located on a tropical island; it is an island in northern Ontario. (We adore Canadian representation.) Cloe starts to have feelings for another contestant. People start to disappear, and they are left finding a way off the island.

This romance meets thriller is a divine romance book is a 5 star read for me.


I got an advance copy from NETGALLEY the opinions above are my own. I am greatful for being chosen to read and review this book.

[Jo ◇ Ldybookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever is the Sweetest Con by Joanna Thurlow hooked me! I finished it quickly and enjoyed the story and characters. Cleo and Kei are sweet and smart and the slow burn strangers to lovers dynamic is very well done! I've actually been thinking about them a lot since I finished this book on Sunday. I think that characters that stay in your head and heart are the mark of a great book and author!

FOREVER IS THE SWEETEST CON has it all! Surprises, twists and some very dark moments make this a roller-coaster of emotions, fears and adrenaline.

This book was an unexpected win for me! It was fast-paced, funny, endearing and a bit anxiety-inducing! Think - camp, mosquitos, guys and gals on an isolated island, a shared bunkhouse, love, bears, murder and more! (So much more!)

I'm super grateful to @pownelstreetpress @sugarshackbooks and @netgalley for the gift of reading this book early. It is out on June 16, 2026! It is going to be a fantastic and popular summer read! Most of all, Thank you to @joannalovesbooks for writing this gem of a book!

#NetGalley #JoannaThurlow #ForeveristheSweetestCon

[jade’s reading journey · Rating 4 out of 5]

actual rating= 4.25 stars


Fans of Love Island or similar dating shows will binge this book.

I thoroughly adored this story. The protagonist, Cleo, finds herself in a difficult situation when she must raise a large sum of money in a very short time. An unexpected occasion arises: participate in a camp-coupling show, where the winning couple receives a $250K prize.

Cleo had trust issues, shaped by past events, which add emotional depth to the plot. It was heartwarming to experience her slowly opening up to new friendships and the possibility of love. Speaking of love, Kei is kind, supportive, and a perfect match for Cleo.

The book captures the feeling of watching a daily dating-show episode on TV, making it an easy and engaging read. Plus, the plot twist towards the end kept me on the edge of my seat. I wasn’t certain whether all the characters I have grown attached to would receive their own happy endings.

Thank you NetGalley and Joanna Thurlow for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.