“I think this is where I’ll die. I think I’ll just lie down and wait for death. He can use me to fertilize the flowers. I can’t look at him, but Hazel is smiling with a romantic haze in her eyes.”

This line right here encompasses everything Soto brings to the table with Forget Me Not: humor, romance, and all the flowers.

I devoured this story in under 24 hours. I knew from the first three chapters that I wasn’t going to be able to put it down and I was not disappointed.

I loved the two different timelines we followed as well as both characters, and how they both slammed into each other by the end of the story. I loved the beauty of the writing and the significance of flowers throughout the story. What I might have loved most though, was that there was humor throughout. When a book can make me laugh? I call that a win.

There were moments where I wanted to smack Ama for being a demanding workaholic, there were times I wanted to strangle Elliot for being to scared to ask for what he wants and then there was Jackie and Hazel who were simply perfect and adorable throughout - plus, as a bonus, their wedding date is MY wedding date (October 7, 2023)!

Throughout the story we see strong women, women who hold no shame for their relationships -or lack there of - we see male characters being vulnerable bosses being put in their place and so much more. Soto truly brought in a bit of everything with this story and I am here for it. I don’t know what else to say other than I loved it. I will be buying a copy and Julie Soto is now an auto-buy author for me - hands down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for sharing this ARC with me and letting me in on the gem that is Julie Soto’s writing!

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

This was such a cute read! I will say I didn’t find myself connecting with Ama as a character - and that’s okay! I think I loved Elliot enough to make up for it. This book was written in such a way that everything flowed together seamlessly. I really loved the flashbacks and how we saw both of our main characters falling for each other.

The ending was a little open ended and definitely had me wishing for more - I feel like I can never get enough of Elliot Bloom now!

Maaaaaaybe 3.5 stars? There’s a lot to like about this romance, but I didn’t love it unfortunately. Elliot hands down was the best part for me. We love a grumpy yet sweet and pining hero! I liked Ama, but I didn’t get the sense that she was pining for Elliot nearly as much as he was pining for her, and bc of that I can’t say I was really rooting for the two of them to end up together.

I really enjoyed how Ama was a wedding planner and Elliot a florist, but I also felt that all the drama in the present day timeline with Hazel and Jackie’s wedding overshadowed the development of the romance.

PS The audiobook was fantastic! I adore Callie Dalton and Teddy Hamilton 😍😍😍

**thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

First of all, can we talk about this cover? Absolutely GORGEOUS.

I've learned recently that I'm a SUCKER for a second chance romance (when done correctly) and boy was this *chef's kiss*.

Ama, Amazing, Amateur depends on who you ask really. She's a sweet, sassy, donut loving wedding planner who has been hired to coordinate a major influencer's wedding. She's not new to the wedding planning game but she hasn't had her own business long and there's ONE florist she's dead set on never working with again.

Elliot-The florist in question. He's tall, handsome and most importantly BROODY. He's angry to his core and doesn't care who knows it. He lives by the quote "flowers are better than people" but sometimes, it seems he doesn't even like flowers.

This unlikely pair make the BEST duo. Their banter is cute and funny. Where Ama is overly excited about things Elliot couldn't be bothered. The dual POV and past/present POV's really kept me wanting/waiting to know what happened between the two.

*Thank you NetGalley, Julie Soto and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my copy of Forget Me Not.*

Second chance romance is very hit-or-miss for me, so it's not a trope I typically gravitate toward without good reason. I was hearing fantastic early buzz about Julie Soto's debut novel, however, and ended up loving it. It's yet another contemporary romance based on Reylo fanfic (I seriously cannot believe how many there are; it's not my preferred ship, but I've ended up reading several just based on synopsis) and does a great job establishing the initial relationship between the main characters through flashback so that the reader doesn't feel out of the loop during the book's current storyline. It's well-written with fleshed-out characters and so much angst; even knowing that there was a guaranteed HEA, I was getting so nervous during the read. I'll absolutely pick up more from this author; she managed to really stress me out, which means I cared about the characters and storyline. I received an eARC of Forget Me Not from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

such a cute fun read! i love a good second chance romance and this did not disappoint. i knew i would love julie's writing (i've read some of her fanfic) and i loved using his pov for more of the context from their past!

I absolutely loved this book! Julie Soto’s writing style immediately grabbed my attention and I devoured this in a couple of hours! I loved the grumpy x sunshine trope as well as the second chance romance! This is a great book to pick up for a quiet weekend in. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Yeah I think GrumpyxSunshine might be it for me because the way I devoured this in less than 24 hours!!! The Dual POVs were great and uniwue because we hear from Ama in the present while we hear from Elliot in the past! I really enjoyed how their POVs flowed together and didnt take away from the story! The humor was on point albeit cusp of millenial-gen-z lol! Writing was solid and the chemistry between this two was just amazing! Looking forward to all future reads from this author! Thank you NetGalley!

God, this was so good. A wedding planner and a florist who are exes having to work on a high-profile sapphic wedding? Chef's kiss. Definitely one of the best romances I've read this year.

Everything just worked. The premise was great, the plot was compelling, and the narrative style was solid. The second-chance romance and enemies-to-lovers elements both flowed into each other seamlessly and Ama and Elliot had great chemistry. They were also just very well-written characters; it's easy to understand and sympathise with their motivations and fears, and the build up of the re-emerging romance was delicious.

The one thing I had to suspend my disbelief for was Ama's mother being married 16 times (who has the money to do that?). I didn't think that was particularly realistic, but I could buy into it when the rest of the story is so good. Would highly recommend this one!

Ama is becoming a big name in the wedding planning world. And her ex-fling? Yeah, he’s the florist. They haven’t worked together since they parted ways and now an Influencer is demanding she have them both. Will this rocky path lead anywhere good? Or is it all downhill from the start?

I’ll just start this off with this book didn’t hit for me like it did for others. It was relatively cute and well written, but when it boils down to it…that’s kind of it.

I really wanted more all around. The characters used their trauma and jobs as a personality and it killed me. I completely understand how those two things can shape someone, but making it all they are and giving them little depth is not something I can appreciate in my reads.

As for the relationship, it’s like there’s nothing to it. They dance around it, they don’t talk to each other, and when they finally do it’s a minimalist conversation and the walls come tumbling down.

The events in the book tell the tale of planning a wedding - so that is right on the money. But I felt like allowing this to be the focal point of the book took away from information in their pasts, events that took place in the present, and made their relationship seem rather surface level. And by keeping it surface level, the read seemed to drag.

2.5/5

This was a very cute romance, and I loved the main character. But for some reason I had absolutely no interest in the male main character, his grumpiness and rudeness absolutely did not do it for me! I’m pretty neutral about a grumpy x sunshine trope, but this one didn’t stick the landing. I liked the setting a lot though, and still recommend this one to folks.

3.5 rounded up!

🌈 Queer rep: lesbian/queer side characters/couple (FF)

"Forget Me Not" by Julie Soto is a touching and heartfelt romance novel that delves into the depths of love, loss, and the power of second chances. Soto's storytelling warmth shines as she weaves a tale of rekindled emotions, personal growth, and the resilience of the human heart. The book's emotional depth and relatable characters create an immersive reading experience that resonates with fans of romance. Soto skillfully explores themes of healing, forgiveness, and the enduring nature of true love, adding depth to the narrative. "Forget Me Not" is a poignant reminder that the heart has a way of remembering even when memories fade, leaving readers with a sense of hope and a renewed appreciation for the transformative and healing power of love.

I knew where Julie got her book published, I just had to have it. As a long time fan of her fan fiction I devoured this book.

Grumpy and sunshine
Second chance
Coworkers

Oh, wow. This book was more than I expected in the best possible way. I love both of the flawed MCs, even when they both had me frustrated at their missteps. Everything was just so romantic. Gah. And it wasn’t even cheesy! Forget Me Not is funny, sexy, authentic, romantic, and filled with characters that perfectly imperfect. I’m mad I can’t read it again for the first time.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.

Forget Me Not is a fun, romantic, slightly spicy and humorous tale about Ama, a wedding planner beginning her own business, and her working relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Elliot, a flower shop owner. I love how both of them support each other to become successes, even when they were still at odds with each other. Everyone knows they belong together, but because of their pasts, fears and insecurities, it takes them a while to realize it too. I would have loved to have more of the relationship between Ama and her mother fleshed out, since so much of Ama's relationship anxiety stemmed from seeing her mother have many, many husbands and weddings. I hope this someday becomes a movie/TV series as I loved the characters and would LOVE to see then and their wedding/flower creations come to life!

This book lived up to all of the hype. I literally could not put this one down.

Amma Torres is a wedding planner who has gone out on her own after working for someone else most of her career. After landing the wedding of her career, she realizes the florist the couple wants to use is none other than her ex boyfriend. While Ama tries to pull off the wedding of their dreams, she is also trying to navigate her feelings for Elliot, the florist.

This book is sweet and full of wonderful banter. The story felt fresh and unique and the characters were perfection. I could not stop reading.

This was definitely a 5 star read for me.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book so much. It’s got some of my favorite tropes, enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and grumpy sunshine.

Ama is a wedding planner who left a large event planning firm to start her own company. She plans weddings with slightly lower budgets until she’s approached by an actress/influencer and her fiancée. Their wedding will be an extravaganza that could put Ama’s business on the map.

She works with several florists but not with Blooming, now owned by her ex boyfriend Elliot. However, for this wedding, she’ll have to work with him because 1) he’s friends with the bride and 2) he’s the only one who can produce the elaborate arrangements that will make this wedding special.

As they work together, their old feelings come back. Ama isn’t a believer in marriage, her mother has been married 16 times. As she and Elliot get closer and closer she starts to wonder if she’s been wrong the entire time.

This is a well written romance that I recommend, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely loved this book it’s definitely worth the read. The cover is amazing which added to such an amazing review. I like the dual timeline although it had me a little confused which stopped the rating from being higher. I loved the drama behind the wedding that took place, and the second chance was just spectacular.

Ama gets the chance to plan a wedding for a prominent couple and is forced to work with the grumpy, silent, tattooed florist, who is in fact her ex. Of course, shenanigans will ensue.

I absolutely adored all of my time with Forget Me Not. I liked that the dual POV was also partnered with a dual timeline. So we read Ama's POV in the present and Elliot's POV in the past, it made for an engaging experience. It baited me along for the ride as Elliot falls in love with Ama, but then when we flash to the present, I was hooked needing to know what happened between them!

This novel carried emotional weight, along with the lovely fluffy romantic parts and I am honestly coming to love that about some new romance novels. It felt balanced alongside the running gag of donuts & Ama's broken car.

Of course, the romance is my favorite part of a romance novel , but the growth that Ama experiences going from basically imposter-syndrome to shining bright star was so heart-warming to read.

I don't think that Forget Me Not is a revolutionary piece of work in the grand scheme of things, but it gave me exactly what I needed from a romance novel and I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.

What to Expect:
- Sacramento Setting
- Dual POV, Dual Timelines
- Flower Language
- Second Chance
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Workplace Romance
- 'He Falls Harder'

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this romance. I was so fully invested in it, I couldn’t put it down from start to finish. Literally kept reading while at a concert. It’s spicy, it’s sweet. I loved the characters, the setting, the premise, the tropes… all of it.

If you love a guy who falls harder and faster, spicy romances, or any of the tropes listed in the slides, then you should definitely check this book out.

Funnily enough this is not the first enemies to lovers romance I read this year where both characters work on weddings, the guy’s career goes differently than expected, one of them is a wedding planner, and they do the deed in a closet during a wedding.

I liked this one more though. Any guesses for what the other one was?

👍
+ The chemistry, pining and tension was so perfect from the very beginning. I was rooting for them the whole time. And even though I don’t always like flashbacks in romance, in this one, it really helped establish their past.
+ Elliott was a fantastic love interest. He’s grumpy and curt but he’s also so clearly in love, so caring. thoughtful, and deep down extremely romantic. I loved reading into all of his actions and witnessing how in love he was even when ama didn’t.
+ I also loved all the work stuff. Elliot’s flower design work as well as Ama’s wedding planning and design work. I just loved how she got to know the couples and tailored weddings to them despite some baddies trying to convince her that was a weakness. I really enjoyed seeing Ama slowly grow her backbone.
+ Everything felt authentic. Ama doesn’t want to get married, which I could definitely relate to, for very solid reasons. Their past isn’t just a silly misunderstanding. Even when Ama’s actions and words don’t match up, it feels real and not like drama for the sake of it.
+ Also, competent people make me really happy so I loved that they were both great at their jobs and even better working together.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!