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lex_is_bookish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Emotional abuse and Cancer
karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
“You may think everything ends one day, but you haven’t had ‘everything’ with me.”
Ama is a small scale wedding planner with a skewed outlook on long term relationships & marriage due to her mother getting married more times than I can remember (it’s literally upwards of 16x). Her passion and dedication to her job is prevalent as she transforms ordinary spaces into magical & utterly romantic wedding venues.
Elliot studied architecture in college but took over his family’s florist shop after his father's passing to keep the legacy going. Although he is reserved and closed off by nature, his brilliance shines through in his craft.
When Ama is asked to plan the wedding of a reality tv star and the hired florist just so happens to be her grumpy ex, can they work through their past heartbreak to make the brides’ to be dreams come true?
— ✨𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼✨—
I truly enjoyed this book! The romance was unique in how it featured dual timelines with Ama’s chapters in present tense, and Elliot's in the past (with exact time references that we learn the meaning of in the end).
One thing I absolutely love is when an author drops subtle hints throughout the entire book, with a reveal in the end that may not be grand in stature, but deep & meaningful all the same. I adored Elliot’s confession regarding the timeline and how it perfectly encapsulated his deep love for Ama.
The more I think on it, the more I fall in love with this story and these characters. I already see myself revisiting this book before long & I cannot wait to relive it all💓
what to expect—
angst
forced proximity
slow burn
grumpy x sunshine
second chance
he falls first
a secret tattoo
dual timelines
spicy good times
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
readingwiththeroberts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved that we got Ama's POV for the present and Elliot's POV for the past. I think the only thing that really bothered me was that with it jumping back to the past (which I did love seeing them fall for each other) we didn't get to see them in the present really figure out their relationship. It's like they got to see each other every now and then when I wished we got to see more in depth interactions between the two. I also feel like most of the romance you get with the book is centered with the past and when it comes to the present you get amazing angst between the two. Overall a really great book and I can't wait to read more by the author.
What you get:
~ Grumpy florist with man bun
~ Dual POVs with past and present
~ MC with flower tattoos
~ Forced proximity
~ Second chance romance
~ "I hate everyone but you"
~ Angst
Rating: 4.5/5
Minor: Death of parent
booksandteatime's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Sexual harassment, and Death of parent
readbykatherine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Classism
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
In the present we get Ama's POV. Her mother, and her million marriages, have instilled a fear of marriage and commitment that she struggles to get past. She falls for Elliot, but cannot overcome her insecurities. She is incredibly driven to succeed professionally and has so much passion for her work. I love her relationship with her ex-stepsister.
In the past we get Elliot's POV. I really liked this structure because it helps us get to know him better. In the present, he comes across as grumpy, rude, and brooding. But in the flashbacks we learn that he falls hard and fast for Ama. She is his soft spot. He wants nothing more than to build a life with her. That tattoo...OMG! Elliot is steadfast and so supportive of Ama.
I really loved these two together and
I would have liked the book to delve a bit deeper into the characters. I felt a lot of the character develop was a bit surface level.
Tropes: Second Chance, Grumpy/Sunshine, Friends to Enemies to Lovers, Workplace Romance, Forced Proximity
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Death of parent
btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I actually loved the depth it went into with the MCs feelings, as well as their work, because they were both so important to them for different reasons. The development of relationships and the secondary characters also made the book so much more fun and colourful.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for new books by Julie Soto going forward - her writing is addictive. All in all, this is a new favourite for me!
TW: sexual content, workplace emotional abuse, injury detail; mentions cancer, death of a parent, sexual harassment
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
rickireadss's review against another edition
4.25
⚠️: injury/injury detail, death of parent, grief, gaslighting, toxic relationship (FMC & boss), cancer, sexual harassment, vomit, medical content, abandonment, violence, slut shaming
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual harassment, Medical content, and Vomit
Minor: Abandonment and Violence
akswhy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Death of parent
middle_name_joy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship