Member Reviews

I thought this was a really fun book! I enjoyed the dual POV then and now timelines as it really helped build up the relationship between the two MCs. I always love a wedding-themed plot so that was a major plus!

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Ahh I loved this one! Spicy rom-coms for the win.

This is a second chance romance about a wedding planner and a florist who have to collaborate on a high-profile influencer wedding, despite the fact that she broke his heart years ago. I don’t want to spoil too much, because finding out the why and how of it is a big part of the book, but I really enjoyed these characters so much! I wasn’t sure if I would be into the wedding stuff, but the author managed to make their ideas really interesting and creative.

You will love this book if you like second chance romance, grumpy x sunshine, Reylo, tattooed heroes & a pretty decent helping of spice!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED!

If you told me this was going to be a favorite of 2023 I wouldn't have believed you. The cover of course was instant appeal the second chance element with a grumpy hero? Also an instant need to read.

Then I read and listened to it (Yay libro fm ALC!) and am no sad as heck that I can't force it into everyones hands yet.

I adored the way this story was told via two timelines. I found the writing to be incredibly engaging as well. Basically left in love with Amma and Elliot. Can't wait to see what else Julie writes!

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This book was wonderfully crafted with dual timelines and points of view from both main characters. As a second chance romance, the reader was able to journey through the past and the present and my goodness the ANGST and SPICE was perfect. Elliot - oh my . Swoon. I love a broody man. ⁣⁣
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Also this book solidified my love for tattoos 🥵Especially when they are part of the plot …
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All in all, highly recommend!

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I loved Forget Me Not and keep thinking about it, even though I finished it a week ago! The banter, the heat, the hate, THAT COVER.
Julie Soto has knocked it out of the park with this one. What could go wrong (or right) when two ex-lovers have to come together to help plan the wedding of the year? I was so invested in Ama and Elliott’s spicy, angsty, and funny romance journey. It’s told in two parts - the past (mostly Elliott’s POV) and present (mostly Ama’s POV.) And the character growth for Ama especially was satisfying to read.

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I started reading this in audio and had to switch to the ebook copy because the time jumps at the beginning of every chapter were nearly impossible to keep track of. I get why, but it was still really difficult. Even Teddy Hamilton couldn't convince me to stick with it and that is basically unheard of.

I did enjoy this despite the issues with the time jumps. We basically have a now/then situation where they were together and happy and now where they have a hard time looking at the other. They end up working together on an extremely high profile wedding. Elliot ends up doing more than his fair share in the wedding and it was nice to see him step up for her.

But. He was stepping up for her the entire time and it took the entire book for her to figure it out. I don't know if this can be classed as a slow burn because all of the spicy parts happen in the past until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the ebook and Libro.FM for a copy of the audio copy. My opinions are my own.

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2.5 STARS

Four months into the year, a novel has finally given me some hope that maybe just maybe I can overcome the reading slump I haven’t been able to shake in the last year.

Nonetheless… “Forget Me Not” was a grumpy/sunshine opposites attract second chance romance that will inspire readers to find their own version of Elliot.

The author's writing style was better than what I expected and it’s easy to get a gist of who the characters (minus one) are, even the step-siblings that partake in the wedding shenanigans. I loved the concept of a wedding planner and florist falling in love, and the meaning behind the flowers and the tattoos.

Notwithstanding, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Elliot and Amas barely had any interaction during the ‘Present’ time and it was mostly filled with inner dialogue, scenes with the engaged couple, and the less than a handful of times they were in a room together—conversation was centered only on the flower arrangements. Boo!

In the novel, the ‘Past’ was more heavily focused which I recognize is for the readers to get a better understanding as to why the relationship ended but I was really looking forward to the tension and heart-to-heart talks that simply didn’t happen. The romance and romantic gestures between the former couple were non-existent in the ‘Present’ time.

Besides the ‘Past/Present’ debacle—maybe it’s just me but the relationship just seemed very superficial and minus the minimal discussion about his father, degree and him being a grump—we know absolutely nothing else about Elliot.

All in all, “Forget Me Not” wasn’t terrible, I just wanted more and I am looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for readers in future releases.

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I really enjoyed this book! Right away, the writing captivated me, and I wanted to know more. I really liked reading about Ama and how she’s a wedding planner. I loved reading all the scenes where she was planning and running weddings. It was also interesting reading how Elliot is a florist. I loved all his creativity and knowledge about flowers. ( OK yes I understand that a florist would have to have the knowledge about florals and such 🤪 ) I loved reading how Ama and Elliot are forced to have to work with one another to complete a wedding. The two of them obviously still have feelings after being with each other a few years back. I am not one for multiple timelines, but I did love reading Elliott’s flashback POV. Also know that that is the only times we get his POV. I only have two issues with this book. What is Ama’s previous boss who is very manipulative and cruel. I did not like her at all lol. But my main struggle was that I did not like how Ama did not believe in marriage. Obviously seeing your mother getting married and divorced 16 times would have an effect on you being wary of relationships. But at least admit that you have a struggle with marriages, or don’t be in a serious relationship. I didn’t like how she messed a little bit with Elliot’s head.

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
Forced proximity
Multiple timelines
Wedding Planner x Florist
Second chance romance
All the feels
Open door romance
Slow burn
Enemies to lovers

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Time hops in romance novels are the BEEESSSTTT. It's such a useful structure not only to develop characters and give us backstop but to give us romance readers something different.

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Is there anything more delicious than a second chance enemies to lovers? I'm not sure there is, the tension and chemistry is almost unrivaled. This is an incredible debut, and absolutely lives up to the hype. Told in dual perspective and dual timeline, Elliot and Ama have to work together on a high profile celebrity wedding two years after a painful breakup. It's painful and delicious in equal measure, and confirms that I need a little pain to make the pleasure sweeter.

Elliot and Ama barely speak to each other in the present timeline, which is told in her perspective. He is the sort of taciturn grump that would drive me crazy in real life, but because we see their original relationship timeline from his perspective, it doesn't take long to see he has a reason for his standoffishness. I usually don't like dual timelines much, because it's so rarely done satisfyingly, but this is an exception. It's a brilliant narrative structure for these two characters in particular.

One marker of a good romance with well crafted characters for me is if I want to have whatever profession a character has when I'm done with the book. My heart believes it wants to both plan weddings, and be a florist, so Julie hit the nail on the head with this one. Also, can we talk about the multiple hurt/comfort scenes where Elliot got to grumpily take care of Ama? Especially when she expected him not to care after she broke his heart? Sigh.

I never have the right words to talk about books that I love as much as this one. Suffice it to say if I could give it six stars, I would. I loved every second of reading it, and already want to read it again to see if I can pick apart why it was so perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, it comes out in July, and all opinions are my own.

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Ama is an up and coming wedding planner. She's not sure marriage is for her, but weddings are just...magical.

Elliot, a reluctant florist who's taken over the family business, is Ama's former boyfriend.

When they're both contracted on a celebrity wedding that could give them both a leg up, they have to learn how to work together again.

This was a fun one. I mean, a wedding planner and a florist!? Sign me up. It had all the makings of a great romance: banter, angst, great supporting characters, hilarious mishaps, and even a villain. I enjoyed the dual timelines and POVs, though it did take some time to get my bearings.

Read if you like:
💐 Grumpy/Sunshine
💐 Second chance
💐 Dual POVs and timelines
💐 Open door and steamy

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Ama loves weddings. So much that she becomes a wedding planner. The problem is she has major commitment issues. Enter the grumpy and broody Elliot with his flower tattoos and flower business. Can he change her mind?

The story is told in flashback scenes which I really loved. We got a glimpse into the past and how everything pans out. Lately I have been reading books that just make me smile so big or put a knot in my throat from emotions. I absolutely LOVED Forget Me Not and now need a physical copy to re read because I love these characters!!!

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First of all… I’ve never read a book by Julie Soto. But she owes me money. For coffee. Because I stayed up til 230am reading this book. How. Dare. She.

I haven’t read a book I’ve loved since Yours, Truly by Abby Jiminez and that was months ago. I know, I’ve been in quite the dry spell. Will I read the next 3 books Julie writes simply because this one was so good? Yes, yes I will.

First of all it should be noted that this is a second chance romance. The chapters time hop. And as you know by now, neither of those things work for me. I’m not into them. THAT SHOULD TELL YOU HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS. It’s breaking the mold for books that work for me!!!

I could rant and rave about it but I’ll say- I absolutely loved her writing style. There were so many clever moments in the book- from the name of the heroines cat, to the conversation about Benjamin Franklin tattoos. I was so in it.

I didn’t like the heroines boss and I almost put the book down after getting some annoying vibes in an early chapter (chapter 2 maybe?). So glad I didn’t!!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy of this book.

This book officially makes it onto my list of required reading for romance lovers! Go check that list out!

5 out of 5 stars3.5 out of 5 steam.

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I really enjoyed Forget Me Not! I haven't read a lot of books where the FMC has commitment issues, so this was a nice change! ELLIOT YOU SWEET THING! I want to protect him at all costs. He was so in love with Ama throughout the whole things it was so cute. There were times where I had trouble seeing Ama's love for him, which is why I am only giving it 4 stars. It would have been nice to have seen Ama's POV in the flashbacks as well, and see her feelings for him grow, rather than just Elliots. Other than that, I thought this was a sweet, quick romance. I look forward to reading more from Julie Soto in the future!! Maybe Mar will get a story???

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Julie Soto for the e-ARC!!

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I devoured this book, it was exactly what I needed to pull me out of my reading slump.

This second chance romance featured Ama, a wedding planner who doesn't believe and forever and Elliot a florist who is only interested in the one who got away. These two are reunited after several years apart when an influencer Ama has always admired becomes set on them for her wedding needs, Ama considers backing out even but ultimately decides that she can handle being forced to interact with Elliot. What she doesn't account for is all the old feelings to come rushing back to make her reconsider the decision they made years ago.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this, I can definitely see the hype and I cannot wait for a physical copy to add to my shelf. A huge thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

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4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. A perfect balance of present day and flash backs, grumpy sunshine characters, and a hero that doesn’t like anyone but her. Elliott is the first to fall and I am 100% here for it! Bonus points for his character ‘hates everyone but her’. He’s definitely top tier book boyfriend material.

This book has such fun and hilarious side characters (which I do hope the author decides to get us books for), and the back story with Ama’s siblings is completely unique.

These characters really grabbed ahold of me, and I still think about them often. Both Ama and Elliot had unique backgrounds that brought them to this point in their lives and it was very easy to see how their families and other outside forces molded them into who they had become and how they viewed the world.

The author did such an amazing job describing the flowers in this book, I spent a good chunk of time looking them up while reading and just immersing myself more into this world.

Elliott really showed through his actions how he felt and not his words, and I loved the Princess Bride vibes at the end of the book. Perfection.

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This was adorable and I liked it way more than I anticipated! It was the book to get me out of my reading slump. Every time I picked it up, I wanted to read more and more.

Some things I loved:
🖤 Second chance romance
🖤 Groveling
🖤 Broody, doesn't talk much main character who is actually sweet and works with flowers
🖤 Independent, hard-working MC 👏
🖤 Forced to work together
🖤 Past and present timelines alternating POVs

Definitely adding this author to my list. I'd read more of her books for sure! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

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If you like:
- Enemies to lovers
- Grumpy/sunshine
-Wedding planning plot
- Second chance romance
- Dual pov

Then you should read this! I had so much fun reading this book, I liked the wedding planning plot, and I really liked both main characters. Ama, our fmc, finally has her wedding planning business, and our mc Elliot is a florist. They have history, and we find out why they broke up with alternating past and present timelines in the book.

Elliot is the silent brooding mc who only talks when he has to, while Ama is probably the opposite of that. We watch them put together a very chaotic wedding while also addressing their past and feelings about love and relationships. I do wish we had seen more relationship development and growth in the present timeline, but it was still okay.

Tthis was a fun, steamy, quick-paced read also can't get over the pretty cover! Thank you, Forever and Netgalley, for this arc for an honest review.

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When I initially requested this arc I had no idea that the author was also one of my favorite fanfiction writers! This was fate! I LOVED Elliot and AMA’s story so much. It was so enjoyable and believable. The grumpy/sunshine trope was chef’s kiss. The overall plot flowed really well and I love a good dual timeline.

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This debut from Julie Soto was such a refreshing, fantastic romance - I absolutely loved the story between Ama & Elliot as well as the dual timelines. I adore second chance romances and this one was perfectly done. I look forward to reading more from Soto in the future.

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