Review: Forget me not
Author: Julie Soto

Rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ 3/5

I really wanted to love this. I generally love everything Ali Hazelwood recommends but this just wasn’t it for me.

I felt no connection to present day Elliot and Ama. Their past POV had some sweet moments which is why I gave 3 stars but I just struggled to root for their present.

I also found the surrounding plot lines to not be engaging enough to hold my attention.

I honestly was so bummed out by this book. I was so excited to read it :(

This was the contemporary romance novel of my dreams!

I had a suspicion that I was going to love this book when I first heard what it was going to be about and I'm happy to report that I loved it even MORE than I thought I would.

This book was incredible. I'm finding it hard to believe that it's a debut but with that being said, this author does have a lot of previous writing experience.

I loved this story and I truly loved these characters. Of course I absolutely adored the character of Elliot but Ama fully captured my heart through our own similarities. I think many readers will relate to either (or both) of these characters.

This book had spice, this book had humour, and this book had donuts...if that's not considered a success I don't know what is.

As an additional tangent: Fans of Ali Hazelwood, pick this book up! This author has their own unique writing style and authentic way of storytelling but I could not help but feel as if I was experiencing that same joy that comes from reading a Ali Hazelwood novel.

***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Forget Me Not is a second chance romance that tells the tale of Ama, a wedding planner who believes in weddings but not marriages, and Elliot, the broody florist who believes in both.

This story is split into two timelines with Elliot’s point of view being in the past and Ama’s point of view being in the present timeline. This story-telling style allows readers a view into both characters’ minds but keeps some suspense alive since you don’t always know what each character is thinking.

I enjoyed this second chance romance more than I appreciate most second chance romance stories. I liked the Reylo vibes from these characters. I particularly liked Elliot. As a happily-ever-after enthusiast, I found Ama harder to love, but I came around in the end. Knowing her backstory definitely helped in understanding her.

4.5 stars!

This book gave me all the feels. Loved the dual pov and timeline! The steam and tension were top notch

This book was everything. Sometimes with books that I know there is heartbreak in some capacity, I tend to avoid because I don’t want to feel all of the feels. Forget Me Not gave me every single one of those feels on a silver platter.

I felt so connected to these characters. I felt their pain, longing, and the hope that things could be better. Ama is easily one of my favorite characters of this year. Her personality is just so fun and bubbly, she is someone I could see myself being friends with. I adored her sunshine personality and how she could just walk into a room and command everyone’s attention. Elliot had me cracking up, he isn’t a man of many words, but when he did manage to say something it was to be an overall grump. The grumpy x sunshine trope was real for this book. As was the enemies-to-lover trope.

This book is told in alternating timelines, which I thought would throw me off but didn’t. I actually appreciated the change in what was going on in the alternating chapters. We get Ama in the now and Elliot in the before. Towards the end of the novel the POVs and timeline change a bit, but I think that it was for the best reasons, and loved how the author worked this into the story.

On a side note: I really don’t like Ama’s mother, even though she isn’t featured in a majority of the story, I do truly believe that her thoughts on marriage and the fact that she has been married so many times were really the root of the problems that the main characters faced in this book. I get that her mother was essential for the story, I just really didn’t like her character.

I can not sing enough praises for this Forget Me Not. I thought I was going to have my heart ripped out of my chest but I was surprised. I finished this book with tears in my eyes. I loved every moment of it and can’t wait to read more from Julie Soto in the future.

My heart felt every word, every emotion that Soto has had weaved to spin this tale. l loved how due to the POVs we get to have into their respective heads and understanding and get the picture, it made things so intense. Everything felt lush and angsty. Emphasis on angst, is quite high here. The chemistry was palpable, and the character’s arc was top notch. I loved the ending, it was so cute.

Having watched her mother marry and divorce over a dozen times, Ama doesn’t believe in the institution but loves her job as a wedding planner. When the opportunity arrives to plan the wedding of a major influencer she agrees, the only problem is the couple insists on using Elliot Bloom’s florals. Ama and Elliot dated for several months three years ago but their relationship ended badly. The pair must now work together to throw the wedding of a lifetime in hopes of expanding their respective businesses, while the tension of their attraction and the past is still very present.

This book kept me up until 2:30 AM because I could not put it down other than google all the flowers that were referenced. I loved Ama from the start and Elliot grew on me until I loved him too. The structure of the book works wonderfully. Ama’s chapters are all present day leading up to the influencer wedding, while Elliott’s are in the past taking us through their relationship and leading up to the breakup. The tension (both the heat and animosity) levels were absolutely perfect throughout the book. There were many of the plot points I saw coming but it never felt predictable. I really enjoyed the side characters, especially Ama’s various former step siblings. Much like Lady Bird, this book is a love letter to Sacramento and made me really want to explore the city. I am very excited to see what Julie writes next.

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

What a great debut!

I had so much fun reading this!

This book was filled with angst, flowers, and all the horny and tension laced moments.

I thought that this was such a fantastic debut from Julie Soto. I thought that her characters were compelling and there was a perfect amount of angst within the conflict of the plot.

I was laughing, I was sweating, and I was dreaming of my own perfect wedding. Ama reminded me of Jennifer Lopez's character in The Wedding Planner and I loved seeing her passion for wedding planning and design!

Let me tell you, I LOVED that this was both dual pov and dual timeline. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of a dual timeline, but I loved the way Julie perfectly balanced Ama and Elliot's past and current relationship status with one another.

Elliot is the perfect man and I love him so much. I loved how he took care of Ama and was there for her despite their tense past.

Overall, this was such a joy and I loved every second of it.

Thank you Julie Soto, Forever Publishing, and Netgalley for this eARC for my honest review.

This book was EVERYTHING.

Oh my god. The characters. The plot. The dual timeline. The dual POV. The side characters. The love story. The location. The flowers. ALL OF IT. So freaking amazing and perfect.

The dynamic between Ama and Elliot was *chef’s kiss.* Grumpy/sunshine is always an absolute favorite for me. This book had it and it was written perfectly! It had the whole “she is annoyingly pretty and happy and forcing herself into my life but I’m not mad about it but I’ll appear mad about it on the outside” thing going on. Oh my sweet Elliot.

Elliot. He’s the broody, grumpy love of my life. I swear. This man loves flowers AND is a grump??? Quite literally the perfect combination I never knew I needed so desperately. Having his POV be primarily for the past timeline was incredible. Seeing everything happen from his eyes was my favorite (it’s always the grumpy pov I love the most lol). He made my soul so happy and ache so hard throughout this entire book. I just wanted to kiss his tattoos to make him feel all better.

Ama. This girl: I loved her… but also wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her violently about 3000x throughout the whole book LOL. I completely understand where her stance on love and marriage came from which is heartbreaking. But come on girl. You’ve got ELLIOT. Despite me rambling about my “annoyance” with Ama, I genuinely did love her. Her heart for people is so big. You could seriously feel her love for her job and the people she worked with come off the page. She was written perfectly.

I adore this book with a passion. It had SO much plot within this story that wasn’t just about Ama and Elliot. Yes, ultimately the whole story was about them, however I always felt like there was always the perfect amount of focus on the wedding plot and the friendship plots. It was all balanced incredibly well and I adored every second of reading this book.

Overall, I feel like I have so much more I could say to express my love for this book, but right now I’m all in my feels about my love for Elliot and Ama and I totally want a novella about their future… and by want, I mean completely and utterly desperate for.

*Thank you Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

All of this is a debut?! You’ve gotta be kidding! SO SO GOOD!

A passionate, heartbreaking and beautifully written love story! Combining enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine and second chance romance in the best way, Julie Soto manages to create a really memorable story with alot of creative and unexpected moments which I adored!

I would recommend this one to lovers of Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka as it definitely gave “The Roughest Draft” vibes!

There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this debut by Julie Soto! The Wedding Planner is one of my favorite movies of all time and I love how versatile their jobs are, so Ama’s journey in owning her own planning business was so fun to watch. I was a huge fan of Elliot’s grumpiness and yet the tender ways he shows his affection. I also really liked the dual POV/timelines. But I just felt like I wanted more of certain storylines and less of others, which kept this from being a 5⭐️ read for me. I definitely think this is a fun read and worth checking out!

Thank you @readforeverpub and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

(4.5/5 stars) I ADORED this book! It was such a sweet, feel-good, laugh-out-loud rom-com.

Our main characters, Ama and Elliot, were fun to read about and the way their story was written kept me hooked. I loved the development of their relationship in the past, mixed with the angst and tension of the aftermath in the present. It keeps you on the hook, wondering what the hell happened to these two people who are so clearly not over each other.

I loved the side characters, even though we didn't get much of a glimpse into them, but they were funny, quirky, and endearing.

The only thing I would've liked was a little bit more insight into why our MCs are the way that they are. It was touched on briefly and then that was it. You have a wedding planner who doesn't believe in marriage and a florist who hates flowers. While the reason Ama feels that way about marriage is obvious in the grand scheme of things, it's the nuances that are missing. And Elliot is a florist who hates flowers... until he doesn't. What changes? Just small things that I wondered about and missed. I feel it would've added to the emotional connection for me. That's the half star deduction.

But overall, this book was an enjoyable read. There were times I was laughing, times my heart hurt, and times I thought I would need a cold shower. The tension of the split timeline was perfect in adding to this and building the anticipation of the reader.

And the ending....I LOVED the ending. It was perfect for this book (but I still want an epilogue 5 years down the road giving me a glimpse into their lives). If you like a feel-good romance with a HEA, I recommend this book!

Tropes: grumpy/sunshine, second chance romance, forced proximity

**Reviews will be shared to IG and TikTok by Wednesday, July 19th. I will add the links once they're up!

This book was perfection! Was it tropey? Yup. A smidge predictable? Of course. But it was these things in all the right ways and had enough freshness to make it not feel stale or repetitive.

I loved how there were small details interwoven throughout the book that end up playing a big part later. There was never a point where something felt unnecessary or gratuitous. It all connected and complimented the characters and their arcs.

Speaking of characters, I LOVED this dual POV. Each POV is told in a different timeline. Hers is the present and his is when they first meet and date. It gave such a unique insight to how they affected one another then and now. It also left enough mystery about him in the present that I wanted to know more while also giving me enough insight that I felt like I did know more.

The spice was very surprisingly spicy. Idk why I thought it might be tamer. It was vanilla but far from dull or sparse. I adored every bit of it.

The best part was I also adored all the side characters (or hated them appropriately) so there was never a moment I felt I was having to put up with any sort of interaction.

Highly recommend and I will be re-reading!

Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, second chance romance, "i can't stand you but I'm gonna take care of you", he falls first, she finally comes into her own badassery.

3.5 ⭐️ but rounding up to 4-stars because it was enjoyable and I read it quickly

"She may not need to define long-term, but to me, forever sounds nice.”

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ sacramento setting
✨ wedding centered
✨ she’s an upbeat up and coming wedding planner who doesn’t believe in long term relationships
✨ he’s an tattooed asshole and the best florists in town, but he doesn’t do casual hookups
✨ forced proximity
✨ co-workers to lovers
✨ second chance romance
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ he falls first
✨ “I hate everyone but you”
✨ so much tension
✨ witty banter
✨ size difference
✨ 3/5 spice
✨ dual pov
✨ dual timeline: flashbacks are in his pov
✨ lgbtq rep
✨ tw: death of a parent (past, off page)


My Thoughts:

As a fan of Julie's Dramione fanfics, I was eager to read her first traditionally published book - and it did not disappoint! This was such a fun, sweet, and sexy story that I know many will fall in love with.

What I liked:

The second chance romance portion was done extremely well. I'm not usually a fan of this trope, however, it made perfect sense why Ama was so reluctant to marriage and ended her relationship with Elliot. I also understood Elliot's hesitation to Ama, but absolutely adore his continued commitment of love to her even though she rejected him in the past.

Writing in dual POV and dual timelines was a good move. I loved seeing how they fell in love the first time from Elliot's POV and their second chance from Ama's POV. This really let the reader understand the characters - their reservations, fears, hopes, and dreams.

The wedding planning premise and having both Ama and Elliot a part of the wedding industry was so much fun. Weddings are exciting and the perfect opportunity to bring people together. There were already so many stressful elements to planning the wedding, but then add Ama and Elliot's tension and you've got so much drama and angst. It was a wild ride!

Jackie and Hazel, whose wedding Ama was planning, were great characters that never overshadowed the MCs. Sometimes side characters can play too big of a role in the story or they can be annoying, but Jackie and Hazel did, and were, neither. They were perfect and added just enough drama to make things interesting.

The overall writing was well done. I really loved Julie Soto's use of prose. She also writes stories and characters that you feel attached to but she does so in a way that's easy to read and follow along.

I liked Ama but I loved Elliot. This man, with his grumpy attitude and tattoos, is the epitome of falling hard and never moving on. But I loved how he didn't just fall all over Ama the second she came back into his life. Instead she had to earn his trust back. And seriously, his tattoos, while lovely by design, have such beautiful meanings behind them. 💕


What I didn’t like or understand:

During sex scenes, there was a lot of pulling or moving her panties to the side. That's not a bad thing but I'm confused why that was done so much instead of just taking or ripping them off. I guess it's really the fact that it happened so often that I noticed is the problem. Maybe remove those panties one or two more times in the story.

How is Elliot so skilled and suave with sex when it's said he's only asked four people out (and who knows if he's even slept with them)??? If I misunderstood this about his character, please let me know.

The timeline sometimes felt too jumpy. I get Ama and Elliot only see each other when they meet for wedding stuff, and the wedding planning happens over the course of a few months, but the story often jumps ahead weeks which was jarring. I kept wondering what they were doing during that time. Nothing? I guess for both the flashbacks and present, it would have been nice to have more scenes in between instead of summarizing what happened over those weeks while they didn't interact.

Ama having a bit of an imposter syndrome made sense, however, she seemed a bit too naive at times and that annoyed me.

I'm confused how Elliot went from grumpy asshole to a sweet guy who would do anything for Ama. The grumpy sunshine dynamic is really highlighted at the beginning of their relationship and then once they're reunited but are estranged, however, I would have loved more insight into Elliot and why the grumpy mentality towards Ama changes (more inner dialogue I suppose).

While I like Elliot, I don't feel like I truly understood his character well. Who is he besides a florist/designer? Also, why is he so grumpy? Is it because some girls made fun of him when he was younger (as was mentioned)? If so, why did that make such an impact? I need a meaningful reason as to why he's grumpy.

I also think, overall, I would have liked for things to have gone deeper or explained a bit more. For example: Why did Ama even like Elliot if he was such a grumpy asshole? Why did Elliot like Ama if he thought she was annoying? Is she really just THAT special? If so, that's some heavy 'pick me' energy. I think a lot of the depth that was missing could have been shown more during the flashbacks, and possibly, by adding some of Ama's POV to the past and Elliot's POV to the present.

What can I say about Elliot Bloom🥹 I really enjoyed this story and how the present was told from Ama’s point of view and the past from Elliot’s. It was a fresh take on a dual timeline second chance story!

Elliot was the perfect cinnamon roll hero! His countdowns and his behavior throughout🥹 he’s precious and I completely see why everyone is falling hard for him!

Ama was such a fun character in this book! I wish we got to see her thoughts transform a little more at the end of the book but I loved her and Elliot’s story!

Pick this one up y’all. It’s so cute and great for summer! I did receive an early copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Forget Me Not is the DEBUT NOVEL from fanfic writer, Julie Soto! I was so surprised to find out this was a debut novel and you can tell that Julie has a lot of experience in the writing department as this book was excellent! I loved how this was told with a dual POV and dual timeline. It was fun to see how what happened in their past relationship led to where they are now.

I really loved Ama and Elliot! They were such an amazing duo and had so much tension in the present that I was dying for the past POVs to find out what made them act this way. Ama is such a strong lead and so confident in her work. I really enjoyed all the wedding planning elements in the book and it made me want to plan a wedding! It was SO frustrating (in a good way) as a reader when she would doubt herself based off her ex-boss’ judgement and I LOVED how that came full circle in the story. I really enjoyed her character development.

Elliot was the perfect grump. Rough on the outside, soft and squishy on the inside. Honestly, I need a MMC with rare flower tattoos from now on. He was quiet but so thoughtful and only a little quick off the mark 😉 I really appreciated how much of his POV we got to understand his character in depth. I need all romances to be dual POV, it really is elite.

I loved how this story developed and how the plot was laid out. The dual timeline and POV was so good for keeping the reader engaged and I really flew through it. I loved all the special details within the wedding planning for Hazel and Jackie. It was so descriptive and I felt like I was going along planning a friends wedding! I also thought this was visually descriptive for the floral arrangements/custom pieces and it was one of the few books that I could really picture the setting!

Overall a super cute debut novel with a nice dash of spice on top!

ⓣⓡⓞⓟⓔⓢ
-Second Chance Romance
-Grumpy/Sunshine
-Dual POV
-Forced Proximity
-Enemies/Exes to Lovers

4.5/5 Stars

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, however; the ending went WAY too fast for me. Forget Me Not follows Ama and Elliot through planning a wedding that will enhance both of their careers. During the book, we go from present day to historic landmarks of their past relationship. There was a lot to build up to the HEA and once we received it, the book was over. I was disappointed we didn't get to relish in their bliss for very long.

I will recommend this to romance readers. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Forget Me Not is a delightful romance novel that takes readers on a journey of love, redemption, and second chances. Set in the vibrant world of wedding planning, the story revolves around Ama, an ambitious and talented young wedding planner, who finds herself reluctantly partnered with her grumpy ex-boyfriend, Elliot, a skilled florist, on the most high-profile wedding of her career.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each carrying their own emotional baggage that adds depth to their interactions. Ama's drive and determination are evident from the start, and her passion for creating unforgettable weddings is infectious. Meanwhile, Elliot's guarded nature and undeniable talent in floral design make him an intriguing and enigmatic character.

The wedding planning backdrop adds a unique twist to the narrative, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the glamorous and often chaotic world of event management. The attention to detail in describing the wedding preparations and the intricacies of Ama's job adds depth and authenticity to the story.

The only minor criticism is the pacing. It took me a bit to get into this book, but about half way in I was hooked. If you're in the mood for a second chance at love, Forget Me Not should be on your reading list.

I received an ARC from Forever and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Forget Me Not involves a determined wedding planner and a grumpy florist who have worked together crafting custom weddings, which led to them also working together in the bedroom. & Alternating chapters from Ama's POV in the present with those from Elliot's POV in the past, the book provides backstory about their past relationship through the lens of planning a particularly lavish wedding for a celebrity couple.
The book's setting is Sacramento, CA, where the author grew up. While I knew nothing about the city before reading this, I loved that the city was so prevalent that it felt like a character in the book. I hope the city's tourism department is aware of how well it is marketed here. Overall, a very great read

Overall this was such a sweet read. I did feel however it was a slow burn. The author was allowing us to slowly fall for the characters past relationship while also falling for the present. Towards the middle I almost DNFed the book but I'm glad I pushed through and finished it. This book is such a good example of how our childhood traumas can effect our adult lives and relationships.