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lisa_m's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
I wanted to love this book, I really did! It has so many things that I love and it was one of my most anticipated books this year. But now that I'm done, I just feel kind of 'meh' about it.
What did I like?
I love books with timejumps and I think telling the backstory that way was done really well.
I also do like the idea of a grumpy handsome man who owns a flower shop.
I really like his tattooes and especially the meaning of them.
The peanut butter donut incident was interesting.
What did I not like?
The story? It might just be that I'm not really that interested in weddings but I just got bored while reading this. It felt like I was reading a todo list of a wedding planner and I really did not care about all the details and planning and other aspects of the wedding.
I also feel like the characters fell kind of flat. I like the idea behind both of them but I just didn't feel a connection at all. Ama is someone I can relate to quite well just because of her busy thoughts but even feeling that connection to her did not make me like her? All the characters felt really flat and everything we do get to know about them has some other relevance for the story.
The whole book was planned out and interconnected really well. But it was just missing the emotions for me. I don't understand why they did what they did and I didn't root for them. I don't even know what exactly the issue was because I like most of the ideas of the story. If someone told me what happened in the book and told me about the characters I would think that I'd love this book, but the way it was written just did not work for me.
The mother who constantly gets married & divorced and has a wedding planner daughter - amazing, but we don't find out anything about her besides that!
Ama having loads of stepsiblings who help her out - I like that idea but even the siblings that have a bigger role in the story just have no personality at all.
Strong ex-boss who is kind of fake nice and supportive - interesting idea but it just made Ama look weak and also her flip from adoring her to hating her went so fast. Their relationship was just not explained well enough for me.
I wanted to like it all but I just couldn't. I strongly considered dnfing about half way through and I'm glad I didn't but also nothing that interesting really happened? I was so excited to find out what the big issue was that came to light at Elliots mother's wedding but then we find out it's just a miscommunication? I was really disappointed at that.
The ending was sweet, I really enjoyed the Tattoo reveal at the end but besides that I just don't understand their motivation. It feels to me like no issues between them really got solved and they're just ignoring them. Either that or Ama just completely turned around in 24hours and decided that actually her fear of commitment is unreasonable and she will stop with that (which is not how that works).
So all I can say is that this wasn't it for me. I was bored by the wedding details and the characters all felt incredibly two dimensional. Also the only interactions between the main couple we see is either smut or story relevant so I didn't understand their mutual obsession at all (but good for them I guess).
If you like weddings, tall and broody man who is obsessed with a small energetic woman, and smut, then this book might be perfect for you.
What did I like?
I love books with timejumps and I think telling the backstory that way was done really well.
I also do like the idea of a grumpy handsome man who owns a flower shop.
I really like his tattooes and especially the meaning of them.
What did I not like?
The story? It might just be that I'm not really that interested in weddings but I just got bored while reading this. It felt like I was reading a todo list of a wedding planner and I really did not care about all the details and planning and other aspects of the wedding.
I also feel like the characters fell kind of flat. I like the idea behind both of them but I just didn't feel a connection at all. Ama is someone I can relate to quite well just because of her busy thoughts but even feeling that connection to her did not make me like her? All the characters felt really flat and everything we do get to know about them has some other relevance for the story.
The whole book was planned out and interconnected really well. But it was just missing the emotions for me. I don't understand why they did what they did and I didn't root for them. I don't even know what exactly the issue was because I like most of the ideas of the story. If someone told me what happened in the book and told me about the characters I would think that I'd love this book, but the way it was written just did not work for me.
The mother who constantly gets married & divorced and has a wedding planner daughter - amazing, but we don't find out anything about her besides that!
Ama having loads of stepsiblings who help her out - I like that idea but even the siblings that have a bigger role in the story just have no personality at all.
I wanted to like it all but I just couldn't. I strongly considered dnfing about half way through and I'm glad I didn't but also nothing that interesting really happened? I was so excited to find out what the big issue was that came to light at Elliots mother's wedding but then we find out it's just a miscommunication? I was really disappointed at that.
The ending was sweet, I really enjoyed the Tattoo reveal at the end but besides that I just don't understand their motivation. It feels to me like no issues between them really got solved and they're just ignoring them. Either that or Ama just completely turned around in 24hours and decided that actually her fear of commitment is unreasonable and she will stop with that (which is not how that works).
So all I can say is that this wasn't it for me. I was bored by the wedding details and the characters all felt incredibly two dimensional. Also the only interactions between the main couple we see is either smut or story relevant so I didn't understand their mutual obsession at all (but good for them I guess).
If you like weddings, tall and broody man who is obsessed with a small energetic woman, and smut, then this book might be perfect for you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
starlitpage's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Violence, Vomit, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
takarakei's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
- he owns a flower shop
- she's a wedding planner that doesn't believe in marriage
- dual pov,
- dual timeline, second chance romance
- narration *chefs kiss* Teddy Hamilton is 🔥
Since this book is told in past/present, I would've liked a bit more of the present in terms of the second chance part of the romance. Elliot has my whole heart.
you may think everything ends one day, but you haven’t had everything with me
*Note on diversity* side characters are diverse. MCs are planning a gay wedding for the whole book.
3.5/5 🌶️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cancer, Medical content, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
arwyn_1926's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment
rachbreads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I want to love what you love, even if it’s extinct.
I swear Julie Soto can do no wrong, I love every word she has ever written (and yes, I am mostly talking about her fanfic here). I am not usually a big second chance romance fan but this was done *so well* - not only did we have dual POV/dual timeline, but they were also like converging timelines, where Ama tells the story in the present tense and Elliot tells the story beginning in the past leading up to their first break-up - slightly different from the normal "flashback" style we normally get in second chance romance. The grump/sunshine trope was also really great here, and it was just all around a really fun, sweet, heart pounding romance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
courtneyb_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4.25🌟. I loved this romance. It was beautifully written with characters who are flawed but it made them so much more relatable. I enjoyed the dual POV/timeline- Ama’s present POV mixed with Elliot’s past POV leading up to “The Wedding” was both refreshing and smart. I loved both character’s development. I enjoyed the side characters- they helped move the story along without being too much.
Highly recommend. Especially if you like:
- Second chance romance
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy/Sunshine vibes
- Wedding industry backdrop
- Spice!
- Angst & tension.
- Dual POV & Dual Timeline
- Fun banter.
What made it NOT 5stars:
- I felt like the ending (the resolution/ the HEA) was rushed. Like the hurtful things said between the two MC’s…it just kind of went away for the HEA.
- Also, present day Ama and past Ama felt different- past Ama seemed bold, present day Ama was more reserved and less forward. I know she grew up a bit but it felt off.
TW: Manipulative boss. Death of a parent. Gaslighting. Sexual content (spicey). sexual harrassment scene.
Highly recommend. Especially if you like:
- Second chance romance
- Forced Proximity
- Grumpy/Sunshine vibes
- Wedding industry backdrop
- Spice!
- Angst & tension.
- Dual POV & Dual Timeline
- Fun banter.
What made it NOT 5stars:
- I felt like the ending (the resolution/ the HEA) was rushed. Like the hurtful things said between the two MC’s…it just kind of went away for the HEA.
- Also, present day Ama and past Ama felt different- past Ama seemed bold, present day Ama was more reserved and less forward. I know she grew up a bit but it felt off.
TW: Manipulative boss. Death of a parent. Gaslighting. Sexual content (spicey). sexual harrassment scene.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
whackettreading's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
a_rich_read's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Medical content, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
lizgriffinwords's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.75
Smart, sexy, and (dare I say?) Reylo-coded, this wedding planner contemporary romance juggles questions of self-worth and workaholism while also balancing a dual-timeline/dual-narrator structure. Spicier than my usual fare (5-6 moderately explicit scenes), but clearly I enjoyed it regardless!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual harassment
meganpbell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
I didn’t think I liked second chance romances, but after this fun and swoony romp through wedding season, I guess I’ll have to give them a…second chance! This grumpy x sunshine romance (think Ted Lasso’s Keeley/Roy) between an up-and-coming wedding planner and a talented, tattooed florist is told in dual perspectives across the years from their mysteriously-ended whirlwind romance and the career-defining celebrity wedding that brings them back together.
Other thoughts: I was surprised by how much Julie Soto makes wedding planning entertaining and interesting. I didn’t have any interest whatsoever before the book but loved those details throughout! I’m wondering how other readers will take Elliott’s next-level grump through the first part of the book and if he’ll win them over still. I didn’t understand how the “Ama/Emma” bit was supposed to endear us to him—maybe it was just supposed to reinforce that Ama is a as in apple instead of a as in all? And I wish we got a little more about Ama’s view on marriage at the end. Still, I really enjoyed this and it was easy to get into! I’ll be on the look out for Julie Soto’s next book!
Other thoughts: I was surprised by how much Julie Soto makes wedding planning entertaining and interesting. I didn’t have any interest whatsoever before the book but loved those details throughout! I’m wondering how other readers will take Elliott’s next-level grump through the first part of the book and if he’ll win them over still. I didn’t understand how the “Ama/Emma” bit was supposed to endear us to him—maybe it was just supposed to reinforce that Ama is a as in apple instead of a as in all? And I wish we got a little more about Ama’s view on marriage at the end. Still, I really enjoyed this and it was easy to get into! I’ll be on the look out for Julie Soto’s next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment