Title: Forever is the Sweetest Con
Author: Joanna Thurlow
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fake Dating, Survival Romance
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: June 16, 2026
Synopsis
Cleo Des Rochelles doesn't believe in love anymore.
After her ex disappears and leaves her drowning in debt, she finds herself responsible not only for cleaning up his mess but also for supporting her mother. Desperate for a fresh start and a chance at financial stability, she signs up for Camp Couple-Up, a reality dating show with a $250,000 prize.
The plan seems simple enough: fake a romance, survive the competition, and win the money.
Then the crew vanishes.
Stranded in the wilderness with no phones, no outside help, and dwindling supplies, Cleo and the other contestants quickly realize that winning the show is no longer their biggest concern.
Now, survival is.
My Thoughts
I have to admit, I picked this one up without fully realizing how much of the story revolved around a reality dating show.
As someone who doesn't watch dating shows, that initially made me wonder whether this book was really for me.
During the early chapters, I felt a little lost trying to keep track of the contestants, alliances, and reality-TV dynamics. It's not a genre I normally gravitate toward, and for a brief moment I considered whether this might end up being a rare DNF for me.
Thankfully, I kept reading.
And I'm really, really glad I did.
As the blurb says, Cleo is in a difficult position after her ex disappears and leaves her responsible for his debts. With limited options and mounting pressure, she signs up for Camp Couple-Up in hopes of winning the grand prize.
I immediately liked Cleo.
She felt practical, determined and realistic given her circumstances. Her motivation made sense, and I appreciated that she approached the competition with a clear goal rather than getting swept up in the romance and drama.
Honestly, if I suddenly found myself on a reality dating show with a quarter of a million dollars on the line, I'd probably be focused on the money too.
The romance between Cleo and Kei was sweet, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. But what surprised me most was how dramatically the story shifted once things started going wrong.
Because this book isn't just a reality-show romance.
At some point, it becomes a survival story.
And that's where it completely won me over.
Once the crew vanished, I found myself far more invested in what was happening. Suddenly, the competition didn't matter nearly as much as simply getting out alive.
The survival elements added genuine tension, and the stakes felt very real.
I was especially worried about Kei. His need for insulin created an additional layer of urgency throughout the second half of the book, and there were several moments where I genuinely wasn't sure how things were going to turn out.
By the final portion of the story, 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.
Looking back, that's what I enjoyed most about this book. It wasn't what I expected.
I went in anticipating a romance centered around a reality dating competition and ended up far more invested in the survival storyline than I ever anticipated.
And somehow, that worked in the book's favor.
Final Thoughts
Forever is the Sweetest Con was a pleasant surprise.
While the reality-show setting took me a little while to warm up to, the strong survival elements, likable characters, and emotional final act kept me turning the pages.
If you enjoy romances that blend fake dating with high-stakes survival situations, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Just don't be surprised if you come for the romance and stay for the wilderness survival story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Pownal Street Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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