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, Fake Dating, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, He Falls First

292 pages, Paperback

Published 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 (semi-hiatus)]

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

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I picked this one up without realizing how much of the story would revolve around a reality dating show. (I admit, 100% my fault)

And tbh, at first, I wasn't sure it was for me.

I don't watch dating shows or TV, in general, and during the early chapters I felt a little lost trying to keep up with the contestants and all the reality-TV dynamics. But instead of DNFing it, I decided to keep going. Aaaaand I'm really glad I did.

As the blurb says, Cleo is in serious trouble after her ex disappears and leaves her responsible for his debts. Desperate for money and determined to protect both herself and her mother, she signs up for Camp Couple-Up, a reality dating show with a $250,000 prize.

The plan is simple: survive the competition, fake some love and win the money.

Of course, things don't exactly go according to plan. They never do, don't they? Anyway...

I liked Cleo from the start. She felt practical, determined and realistic given her situation. If I found myself suddenly on a reality dating show for a chance at a quarter of a million dollars, I'd probably be just as focused on the prize.

The romance was cute, and I enjoyed watching the relationship between Cleo and Kei develop. But what surprised me most was how the story gradually shifted from a dating competition into something much more intense.

Once the crew vanished, I became far more invested in what was happening.

Suddenly, winning the show wasn't the biggest concern anymore.

The survival elements added genuine tension, and I found myself especially worried about Kei. His need for insulin created even more intense moments, and there were a few times when I was genuinely concerned about how things would turn out.

By the final portion of the book, I was completely invested in the group's attempts to survive and escape. The last stretch was emotional, suspenseful and easily my favorite part of the novel.

Overall, this ended up being a pleasant surprise. I came for a romance and found myself reading a survival story with romance woven into it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Pownal Street Press for the ARC.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What starts off feeling like the season premiere of Love Island quickly transforms into something much darker, edgier, and completely impossible to stop listening to. When Cleo signs up for a reality dating show hoping to win enough money to save her home and protect her mother, she never expects the competition to become a fight for survival.

The Love Island meets Survivor energy is absolutely spot on, blending romance, adventure, high stakes challenges, and intense suspense into something that feels genuinely fresh. The pacing is fast, the twists keep coming, and the survival elements add a layer of tension that had me glued to my headphones.

And can we talk about Jesse Vilinsky? Her narration is so incredibly talented it’s almost unfair. She doesn’t just read the story, she performs it. Every emotion, every moment of fear, hope, attraction, and determination comes through perfectly. She’s truly one of the most gifted voice actors working today, and this audiobook is another reminder of why she’s an auto listen narrator for me.

If you’re looking for a romance that steps outside the usual formula and delivers adventure, suspense, survival stakes, and a love story worth rooting for, add this one to your TBR immediately.


For readers who love:
🎧 Reality Dating Shows
🏕️ Survival Adventures
❤️ Fake Dating
⚡ High Stakes
🌲 Northern Ontario Setting

[The Bern Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★.75
ARC Review:
I received an advance copy of this book from Sugar Shack Books in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: June 16, 2026

Standalone or Series: Standalone
POV: First Person, Single
Genre: Romantic Suspense (ish)
Vibe: Love Island Meets Survivor
Pacing: Slow start that blends into a fast end
Spice Level: 🌶️
Cliffhanger: No
Reread-worthy: Yes

Tropes:
✵Reality Dating Show
✵Fake Dating
✵Mysterious Disappearance


Synopsis: Love Island meets Survivor in this debut from Joanna Thurlow. While struggling with debt from her ex, Cleo is approached by a rich man with the opportunity of a lifetime: join a reality dating tv show on a luxurious island and work towards the chance at $250k. Determined to not fall in love, Cleo makes a deal with Kei, the sweet, guitar playing contest to help each other win and take home the cash prize. But, when the crew mysteriously disappears and supplies start to dwindle, the contests are forced to work together and figure out a way off the island.

My Thoughts: This was an excellent debut novel in my opinion. I thought the concept was very unique, and when I first picked up this arc, I had no idea that this would be a romance with a thriller element to it. I have been really enjoying the romantic suspense genre recently, so I was very excited when I heard there was a bit of mystery to this one. While I have never watched Love Island or Survivor, I know the general gist of it and this book really was a great mix of the two. The whole concept surrounding Camp Couple-Up seemed like it was too good to be true from the very beginning. When Cleo joins out of desperation, I expected to her face so many antics being in the Canadian wilderness. What I got was so much more. So many red flags were hinted at from the very beginning, and there were so many moments that I could not tell where the story was going to go. It’s mentioned in the description that the crew suddenly disappears, and it happened at a moment that I was not prepared for. I guessed immediately the reason they disappeared, but I was still so surprised to see how things unfolded after that moment. This is where the story really picked up. Up until this point, the plot was moving a bit too slow for my liking, but when the suspense kicked in, I was hooked. I flew through the rest of the story to find out what happened and I was truly shocked. A few moments in the climax did seem to be a bit farfetched, but overall I was satisfied with the ending.

As for the characters, I felt like they were a bit underdeveloped. We learned a lot about Cleo from the first person POV, but I found her a bit unlikable for most of the book. Kei though… WHAT A MAN! I fell in love with him the minute he appeared, and I was rooting for him the entire time. He had such a soft persona, and I found myself swooning over his actions. He made Cleo a lot more tolerable for me. When they were together, her constant complaining paused, and I loved how he really helped her see the bright side of things. Kei really made this story for me. I wish we got to see his POV in this story. The rest of the characters seemed like they were just there to fill the background. I never fully connected with the rest, and we learned very little about them. I liked that Cleo was able to form a few relationships throughout her time on Camp Couple-Up, but I wish we saw some more of these relationships bloom.

Overall, I really did enjoy this one and I think it was a strong debut. I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more!

[Ari (ariannasreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, this book was so sweet and funny and honestly has a lot more emotional depth than I’d been anticipating. Firstly, we love a book with a Taylor Swift influenced name. That’s just a given. But the fact that it had me cracking up and making audible “awwww” sounds throughout, but also applying enough pressure to tug at heartstrings… that’s impressive. I would absolutely read it again.

[Amanda Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure here, I originally bought this book to support Joanna. We went through school together (and I'm not sure I've seen her since we graduated). But, when I started to read the book, it was really good. I set a timer when I read before bed so I actually go to sleep at a reasonable time. I'm consistently reading an extra chapter or 2 after the timer goes off and that's something I rarely do. Congratulations Jo! I hope this is just the first of many novels for you!

[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!

[Ghalz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 rounded up to 3,75⭐

Thank you to netgalley for giving me access to read this for an exchange of an honest review.

This debut book was a very interesting read and a first to me. I loved that it's a reality TV show mixed between Love Island and Survivor. I had a great time reading it and there were moments where I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen, which made me like it even more. I could not put it down when I reacher the last part of it at all, which is very good. A closed off FMC who doesn't believe in love anymore, and a MMC that's fresh out of a bad breakup is a plot that was very interesting to see, especially with the slow burn.

The story follows Cleo, an aspiring actress that got all her dreams shattered because of her ex-boyfriend who took advantage of her money and put her in a very bad financial situation to the point to never trust any man and to swear off love. When the chance of getting on a reality TV show that promises a big amount of money if you win, she takes it since she is drowing and dept and doesn't have any alternative. On the set of the show, weird things keep happening, the camera crew and the management are being secretive, the setting feels off and they don't even have the luxury of an actual reel reality TV show. On set, she meets Kai, a canadian singer who's trying to find a contract to make himself a well known artist. He looks like the shy golden retriver guy, but what she didn't know at first was that he was also there for the money and that's when things get complicated. He is also diabetic, type 1, which complicates things at some point throughout the book. He wants them to fake a relationship to be the couple that wins so that they can share the money and each one of them gets what they want. Although, in the behind the scenes, things keep getting even worst, one day the camera crew and the management team leaves and doesn't come back, which puts the participants in a very bad situation, and from them, things go south.

If you're curious about what happens next and you're an adept of a fake relationship and slow burn, you might want to add this book to your tbr <3

[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!! ☺️

[Ashley G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I expected. Very entertaining

[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.

[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

[Callie Trainor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75✨

I had the privilege of reading an early copy of this book. This book embodies summer camp, with very strong Camp Rock vibes if it was mashed with Love Island. I just couldn’t put it down!

I was hooked from the very beginning of this book. Joanna writes with so much wit and humour I couldn’t help but fall in love with Cleo and Kei. This disaster of a dating show brought so many people together, and formed some very unlikely friendships. I also appreciated that in true rom-com fashion we got a happy ending.

I really appreciated Cleo as a heroine because she was strong and confident, but also recognized her shortcomings. I just wished she had a little more self-reflection before coming to the realization that she loved Kei. Kei was such a sweetheart. From the very beginning I knew he could do no wrong. Some of his choices (you’ll know the one) made me gasp because they were so contradictory to his character, but he always came through in the end.

I also loved how fast-paced this novel was. I genuinely read it in two sittings because I couldn’t stop turning the pages. And that ending?!?! Lord, I’m gonna need a minute to recover from that.

This has to be one of the best debut novels I have ever read and I can’t wait for June when everyone else can experience this delight of a summer romance novel for themselves!

[AOKayy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Pownal Street Press, Sugar Shack Books, and Joanna Thurlow for the ARC of Forever is the Sweetest Con!

This story follows Cleo, who is left in financial shambles after her boyfriend abandons her, leaving her with no money and a debt she can't afford to repay. An aspiring actress working at a rundown bar off the Las Vegas Strip, she's approached to join the cast of a new reality TV show filmed at a summer camp in Canada. Think a mix of Love Island and Survivor! But how good of an actress is she? Can she con everyone into believing she's fallen in love long enough to win the prize money she desperately needs?

This book is laugh-out-loud funny!! Cleo's cynical attitude and relentless hustle make her an entertaining FMC. Add in the over-the-top reality TV antics, awkward moments, and escalating chaos, and you've got a story that's impossible to put down.

I thought I knew where the story was heading, but the last ten chapters completely caught me off guard. I was genuinely stressed! What starts as a fun reality show around the campfire quickly spirals into some Alone-style survivalist madness.

I highly recommend this as your next summer read if you're looking for laughter, romance, adventure, and plenty of surprises along the way!

[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 :)

[Charlotte ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Joanna Thurlow and Sugar Shack Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

How conflicted I feel about this book! To start, I found it to be so intriguing - it’s a really unique story and a very interesting idea. The concept of a romance with a dystopian style twist is right up my street. However, as it progressed, I did feel that it got more and more unrealistic, so much so that things just kept coming!

Having said that, it was still a really enjoyable book and I absolutely flew through it since it was so easy to read. I think for me, the ending felt a little bit rushed so maybe it could’ve been longer, since the reason Cleo went into the competition to begin with was that she needed the money and I felt like this wasn’t really concluded properly. Representation seemed to be a winning part, as there were many different people within the camp, including a diabetic character.

Maybe I felt that there needed to be more story so that everything was laid out in a better progression? I’m not sure, but I did really like the twist!

[Emiley MacKinnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing debut novel! Forever is the Sweetest Con is about Cleo, an aspiring actor and bartender who has been financially screwed over by her ex. When the opportunity to go on a brand new reality dating show falls into her lap, she jumps at the opportunity to win $250,000 and save herself and her mom from total financial ruin. Instead of a glamorous retreat, initially pitched to her as love island x survivor, she finds herself in Northern Canada faking a romance with Kei, a musician with lofty dreams of being a star. But then the crew vanishes and suddenly Cleo and Kei are fully fighting for survival, together.

If you love reality TV, you will love this book. It was so fun being inside Cleo’s mind as she strategized her gameplay during the first half of the novel. I loved that the game was set on an Island in Ontario, I just think that was so funny and added to the hilarity of the scenario (the maple syrup incident. The whole idea of Love Island x Survivor is so clever, I really enjoyed it and it was a fun read!

While I did love the story overall, I think the disappearance of the crew should have happened a bit sooner than it did. Then we could have watched Cleo fall for Kei as he took charge of the situation. What could be hotter than a man who knows how to take charge in an emergency? She fell for him very quickly, after not really knowing him well at all mainly prompted by a kiss. I would have liked to have seen them develop trust through the process of getting off the Island. This also would have been great character development for Cleo, for her to learn to trust someone again after her ex betrayed her.

The secondary characters really made this story for me. I would have liked more background information on many of them, as I feel like it would have really rounded out this story, particularly on the silver fox and Garrett. I feel like he could have had a larger part in the story and the unravelling of the show!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Can’t wait to see what you write next Joanna!

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummmmm WOW. I did not see half of that coming. I adore Cleo and how cynical she is. Loved the found family aspect of this book and I was NOT expecting the SUSPENSE.

I requested this title on Netgalley solely because the title (cover is cute too), I’m a swiftie. What can I say. I knew absolutely nothing about the book going into it, like I didn’t even read the blurb 😅😅 but damn that was a wild ride. It was honestly kinda fun starting it knowing absolutely nothing about the tropes, plot, anything.

Pitch from Joanna’s IG that perfectly encapsulates the vibes:

“A contestant on a shambolic reality dating show fakes her on-screen relationship, only to discover the show itself is fake... but despite her best laid plans, her feelings are not.”

If you need a slightly unhinged love story to escape from reality, I definitely recommend this one 👌🏽

[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!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank NetGalley for the pleasure of receiving this ARC.

A lovely little summer romance with a shocking plot twist!

I devoured this, reading most of it in a single session. Really loved the plot, was really quickly paced and the plot twists kept things progressing beautifully.

A thrilling read, perfect book to bring to the beach.

Congrats to Joanna on such a great debut.

[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.

[Bianca Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one definitely took me a minute to settle into. At the start I wasn’t totally sure what direction it was going in, but once things started clicking and the bigger picture came together, I was really into it.

It gives off a mix of romance + suspense + survival vibes, and the stakes end up being a lot higher than I initially expected. I also really liked the character growth throughout and the found family dynamic that slowly builds over time.

Overall, this ended up being a really engaging read.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 68%

This did not work for me. I found Cleo to be frustratingly naive, mostly in the beginning. I didn't love the premise of the dating show but that's my own fault because I dont enjoy watching them either. I didn't like how the mystery element wasn't introduced until two-thirds of the way through the book and by that point I had checked out. The relationship developing between Cleo and Kei was interesting but not engaging enough for me to want to continue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pownal Street Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something deeply unhinged about signing up for a reality dating show when your ex has financially ruined you and you are one bounced check away from losing your house. And yet Cleo Des Rochelles said, you know what, this seems stable. This seems wise. I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs, and Cleo absolutely chooses wrongs for at least the first half of Forever is the Sweetest Con.

Cleo is our prickly, cynical bartender queen who got swindled by her trash fire of an ex and is now drowning in debt while trying to protect her mom. She does not believe in love. She believes in survival, spite, and possibly mild fraud. So when Camp Couple-Up dangles a $250k prize in front of her, she’s like sure, I will absolutely fake a relationship on television. What could go wrong. Besides everything.

Enter Kei. Sweet, charming, musician Kei. A man with big dreams, soft eyes, and insulin that he very much needs to live. Their agreement is simple. Fake it. Flirt for the cameras. Win the money. Do not catch feelings. And listen, the second two people say “we will not catch feelings,” I start mentally picking out wedding colors. It is science.

The first chunk of this book really leans into the reality TV chaos. The confessionals. The coupling ceremonies. The strategic flirting. Cleo narrates everything with this sharp, slightly self-loathing humor that makes you want to shake her and hug her at the same time. She is messy. She is defensive. She has walls taller than the Canadian pines surrounding this cursed camp. But every time you glimpse the fear under her bravado, it hits. You understand why she keeps everyone at arm’s length. She trusted once and it cost her everything.

And then, around the halfway mark, the show goes from low budget Love Island to full blown Survivor meets Fyre Festival in the woods. The crew vanishes. The food runs low. There are no phones. Kei’s insulin supply becomes terrifyingly finite. Suddenly this fake dating scheme turns into an actual survival story, and I was clutching this book like it owed me money. The tonal shift is wild, and honestly kind of impressive. One minute we’re side eyeing strategic cuddling, the next we’re wondering who is going to make it off this island alive.

I will say, the pacing is a little chaotic. It takes a minute to really get going, and then the last third absolutely sprints like it just heard a bear in the distance. I wanted a bit more time sitting in the emotional build between Cleo and Kei before everything explodes. Because when they work, they really work. Kei is steady where Cleo spirals. He sees through her nonsense but never shames her for it. Watching her slowly realize that someone can be kind without an ulterior motive is genuinely soft in a way that sneaks up on you.

The romance itself is closed door, which honestly fits. This story is less about physical heat and more about emotional survival. Cleo learning to trust again feels bigger than any spicy scene could have been. There is something deeply satisfying about a woman who thinks she is unlovable realizing she is not broken, just bruised. I did tear up. I am not proud, but I am honest.

Some of the side characters could have used more depth, and there are a couple of mystery threads that feel a little rushed in the final stretch. But the concept? Delicious. The execution? Messy in a way that feels very on theme for a book about a reality show imploding in the Canadian wilderness.

Overall, this is a solid 3.5 stars for me. It is not a perfect romance. But it is bold, weird, and emotionally sincere. And sometimes that chaotic cocktail is exactly what you want.

Huge thank you to Pownal Street Press and NetGalley for the ARC. Thank you for handing me a fake dating romcom and then emotionally shoving me into the Canadian wilderness. I had a great time. I was stressed. I was invested. I would absolutely sign this waiver again.

[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.

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars!

This wasn’t what I was expecting at all! Going into this book, I thought it was going to be a cute and fun summer romance set with the backdrop of a reality dating show. But about halfway through the book, things did start getting ‘sus’. And I was unable to put down this ARC! Even read this one all in one day 😲

This was a unique approach to the reality dating show trope. It was refreshing, literally and metaphorically, not being in a luxurious beach setting with vapid characters. The familiar setting of the Canadian wilderness made this hit closer to home for me as well. The setup of the show was intriguing and I think the progression from your standard reality show format to suddenly things not beings as they should be, made for a gripping read.

I will say though, that it was a very slow start and I questioned where the author was going with the story. I was prepared for some reality TV drama, some nasty side characters, etc. but instead the story evolved into a heart-pounding mystery. I was on the edge of my seat in the latter end of the book.

While the stakes did get higher towards the end, I did find a lot of sort-of cliched mishaps occurred to elevate the story. So I was still eager to know the end but unfortunately I wasn’t all that surprised by some of the events taking place and it felt a little much at the end too. Granted, I did read an ARC copy of this book, so these may be edited out. But it was still enjoyable, nonetheless.

As for the characters… Kei was great. And I liked that he was of Japanese heritage (not your average Caucasian MMC) and the fact that he was diabetic added an interesting element to the story too. I even liked the ‘villain’ contestant. The FMC, on the other hand, was a little annoying and didn’t have as much of a character arc as I was hoping for. In fact, I felt like there wasn’t enough time to really get to the characters in this story. While I did tear up a bit near the end in the final scenes with all of the contestants, I feel like there wasn’t as much time on this so-called reality dating show to get to know each of the characters individually. They kind of became this happy little found family (which I loved) but it would have been more rewarding to know the characters a bit more in depth.

The romance seemed to predominate the first half of the book but then felt like it lost its footing near the middle when things got murky around the reality show itself. There are no explicit spicy scenes in this book but I liked the chemistry between Cleo and Kei. I thought the buildup to their ‘alone-time date’ was great. But things sort of fell apart there for me. I would’ve loved if the characters got to each other better before a literal fight for survival came into play.

But all in all, I’m quite impressed with this debut novel! It was completely unexpected in a great way. The book definitely felt atmospheric and summery. But will definitely get your blood pumping in more ways than one!

Thank you so much to Sugar Shack Books/Pownal and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Cleo. Her sorry, ex-boyfriend scammed her. Not only did she come home one day to an eviction notice, but the dude took all of their stuff and ghosted her. And on top of that, he left her with a mountain of debt in the form of a loan she co-signed for him. She's been bartending, and not that I approve of her methods, but she's been charging customers extra and pocketing it to pay her bills. Unfortunately, her mom isn't in great health, and her childhood home has been deeded to Cleo, which will be taken as collateral if she can't start making some payments on this loan that her ex defaulted on. One night at the bar, she gets a card for a guy recommending her to his friend's dating show. Cleo isn't interested until she finds out that she's about to lose the home her mother lives in. Desperate, she decides to ignore some red flags to join this dating show in hopes that she can act her tail off and win the $250,000 prize.

Camp Couple-Up is the name of the TV show. And Cleo is one of 8 contestants. There are 4 girls and 4 guys. Two producers. One host. Cameramen, as well as hidden cameras everywhere. The contestants are taken to this camp on an island in Canada. The camp seems a bit run-down, and all of the contestants are assigned chores like cleaning, cooking, and trash. They have some challenges and various tasks they have to do. Cleo is determined to win through acting, so she zooms in on Isaias, whom she thinks will be her best shot at winning with. Only, he also has eyes for Sue-Ellen, whom Cleo takes an instant dislike to. But Kei zeroes in on Cleo. They've met before, both in the bar that Cleo used to work at and on the airplane. Kei and Cleo decide they might actually be able to win the competition if they stick together.

One thing about Cleo that annoyed me early on in this book is how judgmental she is. She's had horrible taste in men. She's made poor financial decisions. She has no problem with stealing from customers or her job. She is willing to borrow another woman's lingerie. Yet she's immediately turned off by a guy's long hair, a guy traveling with a guitar, and a guy giving a thumbs up. Not to mention her immediate dislike and competitive attitude toward Sue-Ellen. I really couldn't tell if this was character-specific about Cleo or if this was a case of the author inserting her own "icks" into the story. And if I can't tell the difference between the character and the author, I often take that as a negative thing.

Ultimately, Cleo grows as a character. She learns not to take everything at face value. She has to face challenges and come out the other side. She has to face surviving or not to save someone else, multiple people, actually.

Forever is the Sweetest Con did not go in the direction that I really expected it to. And despite Cleo being an annoying character to start with, I did really enjoy this story. And I'm happy to give Forever is the Sweetest Con 4 Stars. It does have language and a little spice, but nothing too drastic. Have you read Forever is the Sweetest Con? What did you think? Let me know!

[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.