“Forget Me Not”, Julie Soto
Published July 11, 2023
He loves me; he loves me not...
Ama Torres loves being a wedding planner. But with a mother who has been married more times than you can count on your fingers, Ama has decided that marriage is not the route for her. But weddings? Weddings are amazing. As a small business owner, she knows how to match her clients with the perfect vendor to give them the wedding of their dreams. Well, almost perfect…
Elliot hates being a florist, most of the time. When his father left him the flower shop, he considered it a burden, but he’s stuck with it. Just like how he’s stuck with the way he proposed to Ama, his main collaborator and girlfriend (or was she?) two years ago. But flowers have grown on him, just like Ama did. And flowers can’t run off and never speak to him again, like Ama did.
When Ama is hired to plan a celebrity wedding that will bring her business national exposure, there's a catch: Elliot is already contracted to design the flowers. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. Add in a meddling ex-boss, and a reality TV film crew documenting every step of the wedding prep, and Ama and Elliot's hearts are not only in jeopardy again, but this time, their livelihoods are too.
“You may think everything ends one day, but you haven’t had ‘everything’ with me.”
Julie’s first trad pub novel is a swoony—and despite being a second-chance love story—slow-burn delight. It’s angsty and bursting with wedding florals, tension so thick you could wrap a bridal veil around it. The cherry on top, though? It’s set in Sacramento. As a Sac local (like Julie), I did this:
every time a landmark was mentioned—J Street, Midtown, Sac State, McKinley Rose Garden. This novel felt like a love letter to our underrated, charming little Californian capital.
Ama and Elliot’s dynamic is chef’s kiss if you’re into tortured glances, missed timing, and unresolved sexual tension. The dual timeline adds to the tension and supports the characters’ growth. It all fits into this heartwarming story that nails its emotional beats. I hope Julie writes another Sacramento-based novel, because representation matters.
Content Warnings
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of content and trigger warnings.
sexual content • injury • gaslighting
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Owned: signed paperback