𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I really enjoyed this one. The plot was unique and the spice was perfect.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Grumpy x sunshine
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Second chance romance
All the tension
Wedding planner FMC & florist MMC
Multiple POV
Forced proximity
Witty banter

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The tattoos
Heartwarming
LGBTQIA+ rep
Whitney side drama

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
All of the talk about Ama’s Mom’s 15 weddings
Hazel’s influencer aspect

Absolutely loved this second chance romance. The angst between these two hurt my heart! I loved the way their past was told almost exclusively from Elliot’s POV and the present was told in Ama’s! This book was so unbelievably beautiful. I look forward to reading what Julie writes next!

This is my first book by Julie Soto, but I look forward to reading more from her. This is the story of Ama Torres, a wedding coordinator who has worked with the big firm in Sacramento, California, but recently broke out on her own to do more budget-friendly yet tasteful weddings. She’s doing well, but hopes to hit the big time. She gets her chance when an influencer comes to her to plan a wedding that will be featured on a reality TV show. The bride throws a monkey wrench in Ama’s plans when she wants her to work with a local florist whom she dated a while back.
This is a well=paced, easy read that includes millennial main characters, a same-sex marriage, and just enough spice to keep it exciting. It is the perfect summer read. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this tender and steamy story we follow Ama Torres, a wedding planner on the rise who has been hired by Hazel Renee, a celebrity make-up influencer to plan her wedding to her girlfriend Jackie. The only hitch is she must work with Elliot Bloom, a hot, broody florist who is a family friend of the couple and also happens to be her ex that she broke up with two years earlier. This is a second chance romance told in a dual point of view, alternating between past and present with Elliot’s POV told in the past when they meet until they break up and Ama’s POV in the present, leading up to the big wedding. I was up late into the night reading this wanting to find out what happened.

Ama is twenty six and started her own business after she left her job with the biggest wedding planner in Sacramento to try and make it on her own. She was excited when Hazel and Jackie approached her to do their wedding after Jackie’s boss recommends her. They want a big wedding that is creative and will make a splash and I loved reading about the descriptions of the decorations, especially the flowers. When Ama and Elliot work together, their designs are magical, and they create epic décor like a dance floor with flowers and lights. Ama is named after a flower, which is a little mystery in the story so I won’t reveal it but Elliot hasn’t been able to have them in his shop since they broke up because they remind him of her.

Elliot went to school for architecture but took over the flower shop, Blooms, when his father got sick and passed away and he builds beautiful structures with flowers. He makes special boutonnieres for clients when they come in to meet with him about events and it’s really sweet when he makes one for Ama using flowers as his love language. He is quiet and has six tattoos of rare flowers that Ama is obsessed with and really wants to see. Things get spicy on the counter of the flower shop with dirt and flowers everywhere and I may never look at bouquets again in the same way😊 Elliot is protective of Ama and looks out for her and I love that he’s there for her when she needs him. He gets concerned when he sees she is still driving a disaster of a car with a nail in the tire and all of the dashboard lights flashing. He is a man of few words but when he speaks, he gets to the point and people listen and respect him.

Ama loves weddings but is strongly opposed to marriage. Her mother has been married sixteen times! In fact, Ama is one of the biggest commitment-phobes I’ve ever seen. She believes in love and weddings and when she comes into Elliot’s life she is a whirlwind of wonderful chaos. and even has a grumpy cat! If I sound like a fan girl, why yes I am and speaking of fangirls, the author spoke in an interview about how she wrote fanfiction before this and Elliot was inspired by Ren from Star Wars. There are other wonderful characters in the story like Ama’s step brothers and sisters that she hires as assistants, especially Mar, a brilliant and gorgeous photographer and loyal friend. Ama also loves donuts and brings them to all of her meetings with couples and vendors and thinks the perfect donut can solve most problems. I got hungry reading about them.

As it got closer to Hazel and Jackie’s big wedding, they are approached by a show on TLC, Fabulous Dream Weddings, and their crew will be there to film the wedding which will now be seen by millions of people. It gets emotional as tension builds both in the present story as well as Ama and Elliot’s past story line. This is quick paced and not too long and I would have gladly read more.

This book was so fun and I’m happy to highly recommend it to readers who love a steamy romance with a sweet wedding planner and grumpy but loveable florist as they get their second chance at love. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the advanced copy of Forget Me Not.

A very angsty & tortured second-chance romance. Big fanfic vibes (this is not an insult, just an observation). Nothing to shout about from the rooftops, but a fun read all the same.

Omg! I love this book so much!!! If I remember correctly if this is her debut title!! ITS AMAZING!! It has all the tropes that I need and didn’t even know i needed! Soo 100% recommend this book!

4.5 ⭐️ ♥️♥️♥️ this was so sweet!!! ama and elliot hold my whole heart fr!! in this we are following ama (a wedding planner) and elliot (a wedding florist). they met while working a wedding together several years ago and quickly fell head over heels for each other, but something happens to break them apart. but now we flash forward to a couple years later, and they are pushed in each others worlds again. what comes next is so so sweet!

my favorite parts of this were seeing elliot be so madly in love, him taking care of ama, and watching ama take charge in the workplace. they both were so perfect and i hope they’re doing well 🥺

thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever for this eARC! this book is out now 🫶🏻

I for sure understand what all the hype surrounding this book was about now! Forget Me Not has been one of my most anticipated reads since I saw it on BookTok & I can attest that all they’ve been saying about it is SO right! I mean.. a wedding planner who doesn’t believe in marriage and a flower store owner who creates magical pieces that I so wish I could see in person?! These two were a match made in wedding heaven once the female lead got her head on right.

This was a he falls first kinda book where at times you just want to throttle the female lead for not falling quickly for the grumpy bad boy looking but is really a mushy marshmallow type of man who just want to marry. I swear, at one point I screamed “If she won’t marry him, I will!” At my iPad. 😂

Julie Soto created a masterpiece with this book and I cannot wait to read more from her in the future!

Thank you SO MUCH to Forever, Netgalley, and Libro.fm for providing advanced copies of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own

I knew the moment I laid eyes on this cover that I needed this romance in my life. And the insides were just as stunning. I think this book may be somewhat polarizing, but personally I loved every angsty moment.

This follows our 2 main characters who met working the wedding scene - her a planner and him a florist. But while the heroine loves weddings, she doesn't believe in love or forever. After a whirlwind romance, their relationship falls apart causing them not to speak for 2 year. Now with the wedding of their careers on the line, they have to find a way to work together. And maybe figure out a way to mend what went wrong 2 years ago.

This romance is messy and angsty and full of grumpy banter. And I loved every second.

This has some of my favorite tropes, amazing narrators, and characters you can't help but love.

The heroine is sunshine and optimism (outside of her own romantic holdups), while the hero is reserved, quiet, and grouchy at the best of times. But their connection is immediate and no matter how much they get on each other's nerves, they can't deny their chemistry.

This hero is also the epitome of grumpy exterior with a gooey, soft center who absolutely worships the ground the heroine walks on. But he'll deny it to his final breath.

But I think what I loved most about this book was the stylistic choice of past & present chapters.

Which seems to be an unpopular opinion but hear me out.

This book opens up from the heroine's POV. You first meet the hero through her lens as grumpy and extremely rude. You immediately side with the heroine and assume that hero is responsible for their demise.

But between the heroine's present day chapters, the hero is telling the story of their romance from the beginning. You get to see how they meet, connect, date, fall in love, and inevitably fall apart. And as you get these chapters, you grow to understand, empathize, and even side with the hero.

I thought it was such an amazing way to highlight the dynamics of relationship. That it truly takes 2 people to build a relationship or destroy it.

I don't think this is a romance that will be universally loved. Between the past/present chapters, miscommunication, and drama, I think there are definitely reads who won't find this nearly as endearing as I did.

But if you like chaos, and messiness, and complicated, imperfect characters - definitely add this one to your TBR! If fun, fantastically written, and steamy.

Overall I was really pleased with this story, it was a cute second-chance romance and the tension between the two main characters was great. There were so many sweet parts and I can really see how the Elliot was swoony. There were a few things that made it miss the 5-star mark for me, among them being that getting the backstory took a little too long (like, most of the book), and both main characters had some rather alarming (if not red, at least pink) flags. I did really enjoy the setting, and the idea of a wedding planner and florist was interesting. I especially liked having Ama be a wedding planner with her views on love/marriage. I also appreciated the fact that it was the girl who was wary of relationships. With a guy like Elliot one would think it would be him with that hang-up, but for all his gruffness he wasn't, and I liked that. These few things kept this from being an amazing read for me, but I'm by no means upset that I read this book. I will happily hand-sell this title to readers looking for a more light-hearted romance novel and I have high hopes for Soto and her stories in the future.

Okay, I can't get over the plot and drama behind the romance???? Julie Soto knows her wedding planning stuff, a major applause for that. The details from wedding planning to also being a florist. Spectacular!!!

Elliot was such a GRUMP that was absolutely besotted by Ama and Ama had significant commitment issues but couldn't stay away from Elliot. I was here for it, unraveling this second chance romance from then and now moments, while also being equally invested in Hazel and Jackie's marriage.

What's interesting about this book is that the third act break up is pretty much the THEN moment of why they broke up. But I loved the turnaround and the now. This book heavily goes into details of the wedding planning and I felt that the romance was a layer to the story/plot! And not vice versa.

Anyways, I do want a man utterly obsessed with you in many ways like our man Elliot, fr fr.

I just finished this incredible romance book, and I'm still swooning! It's all about Ama, a wedding planner, who has to team up with her grumpy ex, Elliot, who's a florist. The drama is off the charts! Ama's got this major celebrity wedding to plan, but guess what? Elliot is already booked as the florist. The tension between them is intense, and the two brides totally see it too. They're trying to set them up without knowing their messy past. With a meddling ex-boss and a reality TV crew thrown into the mix, it's a recipe for both disaster and steamy romance. I couldn't put this book down! The chemistry between Ama and Elliot is so delicious, and the writing style is unique. It's like getting two love stories in one with their alternating perspectives. The second half is a rollercoaster of emotions, and I fell hard for the grumpy hero who's secretly a softie. This book is heartwarming, entertaining, and filled with romance. It left me grinning like a fool!

Influenced by Ali Hazelwood’s giveaway, I immediately requested this ARC and now EVERYONE should add this to their TBR.

Elliott is our grumpy, insanely talented florist ex with tats and a man bun.

Ama is a wedding planner trying to get out of her mentor’s shadow in the Sacramento wedding game and the sunshine to our grump. Oh, and they’re being forced to work together on a high profile wedding.

The STUNNING cover 😍 doesn’t hurt and this story was fun. Elliott was very grumpy at first, but he grows on you I swear!

And the story behind the tattoos 😊

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A second chance romance between a wedding planner against relationships and a tattooed flower shop owner?! Yes please! I was immediately drawn to this story because of the beautiful cover. Isn’t it absolutely amazing?? I also liked that the story took place in Sacramento, a place I spend some time in. Another element I enjoyed was how Ama’s mom and Elliot’s dad both had an effect on how they approach relationships now. I found it interesting how this romance novel touched on how childhood patterns and experiences still can determine what choices you make in adulthood. Forget Me Not had me feeling all of the emotions and I can’t recommend it enough!

A huge thank you to @readforeverpub via @netgalley for the e-arc. It in no way influences my thoughts. Forget Me Not is out now so make sure to get your copy!

Read if you like:
🖤 open door romance
🖤 alternating timelines
🖤 second chance romance
🖤 swoony can’t-catch-your-breath moments

Ama is a wedding planner, trying to make it on her own when she finds herself given the opportunity to plan the Hazel Renee’s wedding. This could be exactly the big break she needs….except it comes with a catch. Her ex, Elliot, is the florist.

I was sold on this book from the second I heard about it. First off, this cover is absolutely gorgeous. It definitely is going down as one of my favorites from 2023. Then secondly, it’s a grumpy/sunshine romance!

Ama and Elliot were both amazing, lovable characters in their own way. Although I did tend to prefer Ama’s POV, I loved them both. The narration style was great as well. The level of steam was perfect in my opinion, it definitely had some open door spice to it but it wasn’t constant spice.

This was a fantastic debut, I will for sure be keeping my eye out for future books!

P.S. Get ready to crave donuts, I’d have a few on hand before you start reading 🍩

Thank you Forever Pub for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Highlights:

Second-chance romance
Opposites attract
Grumpy/sunshine
Wedding planner

Ama Torres, a talented wedding planner, scores the wedding of the season, but if she agrees to plan it, she will have to work with Elliot, a grumpy florist who happens to be her ex. A few years ago, Ama and Elliot had a passionate six months relationship, but Ama broke Elliot's heart when she broke up with him because of her fear of commitment. This wedding will make or break Ama's career, but working with her ex-boyfriend is not going to be easy.

I adored Forget Me Not. It's a sweet and sexy second-chance romance with likable characters and a lovely setting. Ama and Elliot have sizzling chemistry. Second-chance romance is one of my favorite tropes, and Forget Me didn't disappoint. I highly recommend this book to all romance readers.

I loved this book! I pretty much read it in one sitting, no surprise. I actually almost missed my stop on the train because I was so tuned in to the last 3 chapters.

Read forget me not if you love: angst, dual timelines, and a fast paced plot.

I found myself acutely engaged the entire time, I was equally swooning at the previous timeline and holding tension in my jaw with the current one as the two MC deal with the consequences of their fallout (this is a good thing for me)

I'm a big romance girlie, and I had seen some buzz about Forget Me Not, the debut by Julie Soto so I was THRILLED to get an ARC from NetGalley and Forever Publishing. And what a gift it was, because I LOVED it and it is out TODAY!

Not gonna lie - I have been going THROUGH it, between work and home renovation drama, and this book was the PERFECT escape. It even managed to keep my migraine at bay - not an easy feat!!

It's the story of wedding planner Ama, who comes to the industry with a VERY interesting path - her mother has been married sixteen(!!!!!!!!!!) times. So while she may not believe in marriage, she believes in the event and the party of a wedding. She worked under the Queen Wedding Planner of Sacramento for years before starting her own shop, specializing in lower budget weddings where she can really be creative. She gets the opportunity of a lifetime when she nabs a high profile client - and she is escatic until she realizes the one vendor they have locked in his florist Elliot Bloom - who she has a long, and painful history with.

The story is told with dual timelines and perspectives, which I enjoy whe done well - and it is here. I loved Ama and Elliot. I am a sucker for a brooding but sensitive leading man - and Elliot hit all the right notes for me. Using the wedding that forces them to work together for the first time in years was the perfect device.

And the chemistry!!!! All the fire emojis.

I finished it this morning and have already texted several group chats that they need to pick it up. Happy Publishig Day, Julie!!! Can't wait to read your next one!

Will post this review on goodreads, my bookstagram @scottonreads, retail sites, twitter @sarahncotton.

An absolute slump-buster and debut all in one delightful book! I seriously could not put this one down. Ama and Elliot dated for around 6 months but broke up a few years ago (Elliot could tell you the exact amount of time since Ama broke his heart). They are now reconnecting through their businesses as Ama lands a dream wedding featuring a internet celebrity and her fiancé. As a wedding planner trying to hit it big, Ama knows she cannot turn this opportunity down but is not looking forward to working with Elliot again even though she knows he is the top florist in Sacramento.

So there's a bit of forced proximity here mixed with second chance romance, but what I really loved is that Elliot is the grumpiest of grumps and Ama is pure sunshine. I love me a grumpy-sunshine trope and Soto understands that assignment better than most. Elliot grunts more than speaks and yet you can tell exactly how much he cares for her. His actions speak louder than any words. In addition, Soto takes us back in time at points throughout the book to see inside how these two initially connected and where it all went wrong. I laughed throughout this whole book and smiled at all the sweet moments. The characters are truly loveable. You cannot help but hope that it all works out in the end for all involved.

If you are a lover of romance, this is a quintessential contemporary done right. You need to read this one now! I have no idea how Soto got it right her first time at bat but I am here for it. I cannot wait to see what this author brings us in the future!

This book was the perfect blend of so many romance troupes, the grumpy sunshine and second chance romance. I loved how the author provided us with both Ama and Elliot's points of view and I did like that we got to see their relationship now contrasted to how it started. It was almost un-put-down-able because I could not wait to figure out how they ended up at the end of the book. It was swoon worthy at times. It was also very romantic, which was probably helped by the wedding planning aspect of the story. I felt like I knew the characters of Ama and Elliot so completely that they played out in my mind like a movie. Overall, simply a fun and steamy romance that I will be recommending to all my friends!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.