Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
Contemporary Romance
July 11, 2023- Forever
ARC

Review by Angela

This is another case of don’t judge a book by its cover. I wasn’t going to pick this book up because this is a really terrible cover, but after hearing good things on Twitter and finding out this debut author already has a television series deal in the works for it, I decided to see what the fuss was all about. And I’m really glad I did.

This is a grumpy/sunshine, second-chance romance with dual POVs and timelines. The FMC narrates in the present day with the MMC’s POV mainly in the past from when they first meet right up until the big break up before the beginning of the book. Not only does it help the reader get to know each of them, but it also builds the tension between the two so, so well.

Ama Torres is a wedding planner, who doesn’t believe in marriage. This is mainly due to her mother’s relationship history and 16 marriages. But she does have a great relationship with all of her ex-step-siblings and even hires them to work for her. Her best friend is another ex-step-sibling and their relationship is pretty fabulous. Ama doesn’t have a degree but realized where her gifts and passion lay and got a job right out of high school working for the premier wedding planner in Sacramento. She moved up the ranks pretty quickly, before going out on her own to find success. Her only issue, which really isn’t an issue per se, but is pounced on repeatedly by her former boss, is that she gets too close to her clients and vendors.

Elliot Bloom is the owner of Blooming, a florist who met Ama when he is just a man taking care of his ill father and taking over the family business. He’s the grumpy in this grumpy/sunshine relationship. His “flowers are better than people” resonated with me and even though he’s grouchy, irritated, and crude at times, I liked him immediately. I’m glad readers were able to get his perspective as their relationship was developing, mainly because during the present-day scenes he’s so quiet and standoffish. I don’t think this love story would have worked any other way.

Ama and Elliot are brought together again when a popular social media influencer and her fiancee choose Ama as their wedding planner, with Elliot already being contracted as their florist. The two haven’t worked together since their break-up, which as you can imagine, creates lots and lots of angst. I kind of liked being thrown into their established relationship, only getting glimpses into what happened years prior in interspersed chapters and watching them slowly but surely figure out a way to work together. There aren’t a whole lot of lovey-dovey scenes between them in the present day, the big heart-to-heart and reconciliation comes at the very end after something BIG happens at the wedding. But it worked for me.

This is 100% an open-door romance, and the scenes between the two are hot, hot, hot. Ama is the aggressor and I don’t think Elliot knew what to do with her at first. Don’t worry though, he figures it out. The main issue in their conflict arises from fear- fear of falling in love and defining the future. Elliot wants more, and Ama runs when he asks for it. I really loved the ending and HEA. I thought it was a perfect fit for this couple.

I am impressed by this debut author, highly impressed. I’m already looking forward to her next release. But for now, I recommend everyone who enjoys these tropes to put this one on your TBR.

Grade- B+

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