4.5 stars!

Mark my words, this will be a movie! I'm calling it right now so that I have proof and can say later, "See? I KNEW this would be a movie!" :-D

Ama is a wedding planner who is about to do her first BIG wedding, but the thing that makes her want to stop is the fact that she'd be working with a particular florist for the next six months. The florist, Elliott, is her ex, and there is a LOT of bad blood between them. He's flat out rude, honestly. But, then something REALLY interesting happens. We get a chapter from Elliott's perspective, from over two years ago. From then on, we're treated to two timelines.

Ama's chapters are based in the present day, detailing the wedding planning and antagonistic encounters with Elliott. She's trying to find her footing in the wedding industry while navigating life without her former boss, Whitney. She's recently had her big break, a wedding for one of the hottest reality stars around. But Ama's relationship with Elliott was powerful, and the lingering feelings are nearly impossible to ignore as they're forced together.

Elliott's chapters reveal the development of their relationship. We see an unsure and relatively inexperienced introverted guy fall HARD for a girl with big dreams and a fear of commitment. What starts as purely physical develops deliciously into something more. But, one day, it explodes.

I couldn't stop reading about half way through. I had to know the answers to these questions: Was Ama going to pull off the biggest wedding of her career? And, more importantly, is the incredible love that Elliott and Ama shared gone for good, or could it bloom again?

This book was SOOOOO good. At first I didn't think I wasn't going to like it. But what a journey! Personally, I dislike reading about emotionless hook ups, careless heroines, and grumpy heroes. And that's how this story starts, BUT, as the plot moved along, it all changed as I began to understand the WHY behind all of the pet peeves I just mentioned. I wound up SOOO in love with these characters and whooping and cheering not just for them as a couple, but as individuals. I could have done with a little less wedding planning, and it took me a while to warm up to the characters, which is why I didn't give it a full five stars, but once this books really gets going, it's INCREDIBLE!

I CANNOT WAIT for Julie Soto's next book, coming in 2024. I'm hoping it's about her friend Mar and either her ex Michael or the super hot cellist who pops up at the end of the book. Fingers crossed!

I'd like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

trigger warning: allergic reaction to peanuts requiring epi-pen/hospital visit

This books was a breath of fresh hair! a love story between a wedding planner and a florist that didn’t disappoint, i was really excited to read this one. At first it was hard trying to get into the story since the two main characters didn’t interact much but the second half of the book was the best since we get to know more about their past + the tension between them grew more. Elliot was such a grumpy with a soft spot for Ama and i love it! Ama had her commitment issues but i’m glad we get to see her growth in this. Overall this was such a good read and it’s perfect for summer.

Oh my god this was good. Julie Soto you rocked this romance out of the park girl. I have read most of her fanfiction on ao3 and this one brought the thunder. Love the writing style, second chance romance and alternating timelines. What’s better than a romance about a wedding planner and a florist?

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the chance to read this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review!

This lovely book is out July 11th friends!

Thanks to the wonderful crew at Forever for early access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
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.
It was impossible to feature this book without including some flowers! I saw these lilacs on a walk a while ago and immediately thought of the cover of this book. The unique floral arrangements and the endangered/extinct flowers mentioned in the book are described beautifully. And as Elliot says early on, “Flowers are better than people.”
I don’t know much about fanfic, but that’s where Julie began receiving recognition for her writing, similar to Ali Hazelwood - a super cool entry to traditional publishing! This will publish next Tuesday, and I think it’s a great love story that really hit me in the feels - I sobbed through the last few chapters - mostly happy tears!

I loved this debut from Julie Soto. Loved it. I loved the pairing--sunshiney Ama, our wedding planner, and grumpy florist, Elliot--and how Ama just pushes her way right into Elliot's space and his heart, I like the way their story is told from a series of chapters that feature now and then, from alternating perspectives, and I love that the good guys win in the end.

Forget Me Not has all of the things I didn't know I was looking for and I found and if I had any complaint it would be about how quickly things resolve themselves when these two have been avoiding each other as much as they could. That being noted, it's not a total surprise that things do get resolved because a) this is a romance and b) the subtle looks, interventions, and seemingly irrational responses to each other spell out one thing: that they still love each other. This one took me by surprise, y'all. The cover didn't hint at the spiciness of their relationship and I had no idea I would adore every aspect of their story so much.

I know there are a ton of romances being turned into movies and Netflix series, so I don't say this lightly: Forget Me Not would make a good movie; I could totally visualize it and think there's an audience for it. Grab this one and enjoy!

I just read Forget Me Not by Julie Soto. This was a very cute romance about a wedding planner. The story is told in alternating points of view between Ama (the wedding planner) and Elliot (a florist). It was interesting to read the present story line from Ama's perspective and the past story line from Elliot's perspective.

While romance is not my preferred genre since I often find it predictable, I enjoyed this read and it moved quickly. It was a fun read perfect for the summer! Definitely recommend adding it to the vacation or beach bag list!

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

A must read for contemporary romance girlies. This book was executed perfectly. The writing is spectacular, if just a tad bit predictable which I don’t mind because it’s well done. Regardless, it had me swooning. The dual pov and set up was flawless. I couldn’t put it down. Julie Soto has won my support and from now on anything she writes will be an immediate buy. I hope there are special editions of this cause I’ll be splurging.

I really liked this book. I thought both characters were great and their problems seemed realistic enough but also dramatic enough for a book. I loved all the side characters and loved the descriptions of the weddings and flowers.

This one started out a bit slow but really picked 1/3 of the way in. I don't normally appreciate second chance romances but I think the structure of this one really worked to keep me engaged. It gave us more insight into Elliot's emotions and the prior relationship, but also gave me what I feel like most second chance romances are missing...the butterflies from the initial "courting" process. It had well-written spice and tension and I can definitely see why this has already been optioned for TV, it just has that feel to it. While I don't think this one goes on the shelf of favorite romances, I did stay up late reading it and that's a sign of a hit!

Thanks to Net Galley and Forever publishing for the e-arc in exchange for my host opinions.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this absolutely adorable story! The journey the main character, Ama, makes throughout the whole book was endearing and relatable. I also absolutely loved the way the present day was written from Ama's point of view and when it jumped to the past, it was written from Elliot's point of view, it added a unique flair to the story. After reading the book, I don't like the title or the cover all that much, but I would completely suggest this book to my friends!

I'm a little sappy mess at the end of this book. Julie Soto has made such a fun sunshine/grump love story set within the wedding industry (with a tattooed male florist and a donut-obsessed wedding planner!) It's second chance, it's patience and waiting, it's near-death moments that are lowkey funny, it's watching a stoic guy pine, it's an woman finally getting to stand up for herself, and it's dual POV. What more could you ask for?

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Alright, this turned out pretty cute.

I had a feeling I would enjoy it, as I have read Fan Fiction works from this author in the past. Diving into her first Trad Pub book was a delight.

Elliot and Ama are forced together again two years after the end of their ill-fated relationship. It was bound to happen, as they both work in the wedding industry. We don't know what first pushed them apart but we can see how they are effected by proximity at the present time. Through Elliot's flashback chapters and Ama's present day chapters, we piece together what tore them apart and see if they will be able to find their way back together.

I loved the pining, stoic hero. Elliot just stole my heart right off the bat. With his curt answers and floral tattoos... I was hooked. I was worried about how I would feel about Ama, as I was pretty sure what broke these two up and I wasn't wrong. That type of situation would normally put me off the heroine. However, Ama was just so likable to me. She works so hard and so genuinely cares about the couples she works with... I was really rooting for her.

The thing that kept me from completely going all in was how much "past" we saw. Especially because I'm still not sure how they got together in the past... and what changed for the future besides the hero caving on his wishes... but... whatever.

Anyway, this was a pleasant surprise and I look forward to more from this author.

This book has no right to be this good! I went in thinking this would just be another cute love story with two characters who aren't together when they should be and I was blown away by their story.

In another life, I always wanted to be a wedding planner. I get to plan events through my job, but not weddings. I absolutely loved getting to fall into the world of a career I wished I could do. While the love story was great, I think I liked that part the most. I could picture every detail of the extravagant wedding and all the gorgeous florals and I just wanted to dive into the book to be there in person!

As far as the characters and love story goes, this book had a lot to give. Ama is that wedding planner that doesn't believe in marriage, doesn't want the commitment, and can't fathom having a boyfriend, let alone a husband. Elliot is the quiet florist that believes in true love and knowing when you've found the right person. Obviously these different beliefs create quite the drama in their relationship.

This was a great debut and I can't wait to read more of her books in the future!

A readable, bingable contemporary romance with plenty of angst and drama.

The wedding business side of the story actually was interesting to me, and usually I do not like getting bogged down with the nitty-gritty details of a character's job. But I was so invested and I loved picturing the wedding designs and all the flowers, decor, etc.

There were a few funny moments I appreciated (like the callback to the Four Seasons Landscaping).

Great miscommunication and resolution as well.

Forget Me Not exceeded my expectations! It always feels amazing to enjoy an anticipated novel. 4.25/5 starts to this beautifully-written 2nd chance romance! Many thanks to Forever Publishing for approving me to read FMN early. The book releases on the 11th of July; in a week. Forget Me Not should be on your radar now if it wasn't before. :') Also, I suggest not reading the Goodreads synopsis, because there's a spoiler about the reason why the couple broke up the first time (like I said, it's a second-chance romance) in the blurb. :))

Julie Soto killed it with the Wedding Planner x Florist storyline! I'm a floral aesthetic girlie, so reading a romance book about design, flowers, weddings, and cozy vibes brought me back to life. Ama and Elliot's chemistry was off the charts. The way they complemented each other was just so.... perfect. They flourished each other's visions for the wedding they were planning together - LIKE JUST HOW FREAKING ADORABLE IS THAT.

Another thing that I loved about Forget Me Not was the dual POVs. We get Ama's POV for the present timeline and Elliot's POV for the past timeline (before they broke up). I loved seeing how different incidents from the past reflected in the present. It was heartbreaking to see what lead to their eventual breakup the first time. I felt so incredibly sad for Elliot, who had a rocky exterior but was secretly such a softie! His story and personality made me love the book even more. Seeing Ama grow and realize her true potential was such a treat too! Oh, I should mention this before I forget - Julie Soto's writing style is incredibly addictive and easy to get into. I loved how she added a humorous touch to random conversations between different characters.

The story was rushed after the 70 percent mark, which took away some of my enjoyment from reading the book. I wanted Elliot and Ama to have more scenes together too - so that's the explanation for my non-5-star rating. Other than these two aspects, I loved the book wholeheartedly. I cannot wait to read more from Julie Soto! Eagerly waiting for her next novel in 2024! :')

Another one that I’m not exactly sure how I felt about it. On one hand, there’s nothing I like more than forced proximity, and when that forced proximity is two people forced to work with their ex on a high profile wedding, yes please.
I think what fell flat for me is how Ama let her experiences with her mother influence how she herself felt about wedding and relationships, instead of her own experiences with Elliot. I think I might have enjoyed this more had we gotten more of Elliot and Ama together in the present, overall I still thought this was a cute read.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me an advanced digital copy in exchange for review

“No one should have to wait for happiness a second longer than they have to.”

Hello slow burn.
Hello unforgettable MCs.
Hello incredible supporting cast with rep 👏🏼
Hello background story on self worth, professional gaslighting, and how we put trust in people that never had our best interest at heart.
Hello book I was told was a romcom but it’s not. It’s so much bigger than that.
Hello life lessons that end with broken feet and a horse meme.

Thank you @lambsbooks (forever grateful 🥹) for reviewing this and telling me I would love it. I ran over to NetGalley thinking I was too late to get an ARC but requested it anyways… and here I am, feeling all the feels over a wedding planner whose mom has been married 16 times and a florist who’s also an architect and somehow still struggles to understand Instagram (don’t we all?! 😂)

Hit preorder. Hit it now. Julie Soto is going to explode. And I’m here for all of it. 🖤🙃

What’s inside:
🖤second chance romance
🖤slow burn
🖤grumpy x sunshine
🖤opposites attract
🖤dual timeline
🖤dual POV

Adult. 5 stars ⭐️

I don't know if it's because I'm currently planning a wedding or not, but this book was everything for me. It's the 31st book I've read in 2023, but I think it shot up to my favorite for the year. Ama is incredible, Elliot is incredible, the setting is incredible, and the sex isincredible. And you're telling me this is a debut book from Julie Soto?! If that's the case, she is going on my automatically read list. Very exciting to see what she writes next.

He's counting backwards....

Elliott Bloom is a florist who tattoos rare and extinct flowers on his body. He counts the days., minutes, from moments of his and Ama's relationship. Spanning years, past and present, we are quickly immersed in wedding planner Ama and florist Elliott's relationship. They are both very self aware new adults, adulting. Fresh and a more accurate take on a leading man and leading woman. Elliott is great, sensitive and emotional, and Ama channels The Wedding Planner perfectly.
Recommend.

Ama Torres is a wedding planner in Sacramento. She spent years working for the towns biggest event planner (Whitney Harrison) before starting out on her own. She specializes is smaller, very personalized weddings. A big name cosmetic influencer with her own brand asks for Ama to design her wedding to a local girl. The stakes couldn’t be higher. If she can pull this off it will secure her future. The only catch is they insist a friend, Elliott Bloom for floral design. Elliott is fantastic at what he does but Ama and he were involved for six months and it didn’t end well.

I was at first put off by the moody, broody Elliott. But Sotos writing and his story arc won me over. I’m not a tattoo person and Elliots made me swoon. The chapters count down to the future wedding and intermix with the story of Torres and Blooms first meeting and their relationship then. Ama's story seems more straightforward I don’t want to spoil anything by sharing specific details. But I love that she gets big moments. I absolutely believe in Ama and Elliotts HEA.

I love that the author flips the script whether it is during their first moments of intimacy and continuing to who says I love you first. The book surprised and delighted me. I’m in the minority by not loving the cover. It gave me vampire vibes. But it is striking and memorable. I will look for whatever Julie Soto writes in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (4.5 Stars)