A review by just_one_more_paige
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

emotional lighthearted medium-paced
  • 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

4.0

 
I borrowed this as an ebook from the library during a recent trip (I do love a romance read for a plane ride - they're light and quick and easy, which is exactly what I want under those circumstances), but didn't have a chance to get to it. I always overestimate how much reading I'll get done during a trip! Anyhoo, I kinda forgot about it, but when it auto-renewed, and I got the email letting me know, I was like "it's a sign!" and decided to start it right then.  
 
Ama Torres is a wedding planner who loves weddings, but isn't so sure about marriage (seeing her mother married voter a dozen times will do that to a person). She's great at her job though, taking pride in creating the perfect fit weddings for her couples. Elliot is a florist who never really wanted that, but inherited the shop from his father and is making it his own. When a celebrity couple hires Ama to plan their wedding, the exposure is exactly what she needs to bring her small business to the next level. But there's a (not so) small problem: they're also set on using Elliot's business for flowers. And they don't know that Ama and Elloit have a history. One that they're both trying to recover from, but can't manage to stop thinking about. Between that, a film crew following them around, Ama's condescending ex-boss, and the grand scale of the wedding in question, the two are dealing with some very real personal and professional challenges.  
 
Alright look, I, too, love weddings. I’m a sucker for the unbridled love and fun and dancing, so I’m here for this framework. And honestly, it delivered on the fun and love, though with a side of drama, instead of dancing. I am also a sucker for a good grumpy-sunshine match and Ama and Elliot deliver that bigtime. Elliot was all gruff and mumbly and tattoo-ed (a point Ama and I definitely agree on as attractive; and in this case especially so because the theme - extinct flowers - was so perfect!). And Ama was a short ball of energy and enthusiasm that threw Elliot off adorably. Loved them. And, with the dual POV, I loved experiencing them through both their own eyes and each other's eyes; the differences were heartwarming. Speaking of the dual POV: I loved the way Soto used it. The dual timeline approach, with Elliot telling about their first meeting and falling for each other, while Ama tells her story in the present tense, allowed the classic "third act breakup" trope to be present, but in a unique way. That really worked for me because I am, quite honestly, very over the fabricated reasons for that breakup. This way, we got to see both characters through their genuine "falling for the other person" and "realizing it's forever" moments, even though they happened on different timelines. Hats off to Soto for that. 
 
Now, I will say... I get Ama's relationship issues (a hesitation about marriage with a mom who has gone through it so many times is obvious baggage). But, Elliot? Like, why his internal monologue was “I'm terrible at this” or “I'm not cool enough” never made sense to me. I kept waiting for a reveal that would explain it and never got one. Maybe just general low-confidence, and that's fine as a reason, really, but it was just never clear enough for me. However, in the end, I loved the actual finale for Ama and Elliot's relationships. They each made an emotional compromise for the other to put them, together, as a first priority. It allowed for a not-too-perfect-to-be-real ending, and was such a sweet way for them to actually change the "side" they were on, as far as providing this thing was forever/how important that was to them.  
 
As for the rest of the plot, it was solid. There was tons of wedding planning drama that kept things interesting. There were a lot of moving parts and, while they maybe weren't all necessary to include (I don't think), I was definitely entertained. The wrap-up of a couple of those pieces coming together - Ama's toxic ex-boss and the filming of the reality show for the famous wedding - was so good. I love an appropriate comeuppance, especially for a bitchy fancy lady who is fake AF, and Soto's conclusion there was incredibly satisfying and tidy. Sort of related, I am so here for the message that you can be “unprofessional” by arbitrary/old-school standards and still be a fantastic success. I feel super strongly about that IRL. If you're good at your job, and you're personally comfortable with your boundaries, then who the hell cares what you look/dress/act like? And if it doesn't involve someone directly, then what right do they have to comment? Ugh. Anyways, it was great to see it claimed here by Ama in general and as a final “middle finger.” A last comment: I'd like to voice full-throated approval for the Ama's cat's name: Lady Cat-ryn de Purrgh. Combining puns and Jane Austen? Yes, please. 
 
This was a solid, if not standout, contemporary romance. I enjoyed it. 
 
"I want to love what you love, even if it’s extinct.” 
 
"Everything is starlight for millennia." 
 
"There’s a flower in my chest, just now starting to meet sunlight, finally blossoming." 
 
“There’s no perfect someone for everyone. There’s just promises and weddings. One can be broken. The other—” “Is just a party,” 
 
"You were my first relationship, and I’ve grown up knowing that you don’t only get one. But…I only want one.” 
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