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A review by jasperdotpdf
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This... didn't really feel like a romance novel? Don't get me wrong, there was romance in it, but it really felt like it wasn't the focus of the book.
Forget Me Not is told in two timelines; the past, where Ama and Elliot are beginning to date, and the past, where Ama and Elliot are broken up, but forced to work together. The majority of the development of their actual relationship happens in the past, where we get to see how their relationship first developed. Which was all fine and dandy, and obviously not a bad choice to make in a second chance romance, but the present felt woefully underdeveloped in comparison to that. The focus was much more on the wedding they were planning, and a lot of the moments that bring them closer aren't giving the space needed for them to really have the impact they should be having, both on the characters and the reader.
I wish we'd gotten more insights into all the internal struggle both characters must be going through, especially Elliot, since the present is told entirely from Ama's perspective. It just feels like the potential of a second chance romance is wasted a little bit, because it doesn't fully utilise all of the interesting dynamics and tension that could have been there. You could definitely tell that they were reluctant to work together, but I wish there had been more of that past relationship weighing down on them and making itself known, because as-is it could've seemed like old estranged friends begrudgingly having to work together again, with a bit of added attraction. It all caused their ultimate reunion to feel a lot less earned.
I appreciate that there was a plot alongside the romance, but truthfully I didn't care one bit about the couple that was getting married, and I feel it could've had the exact same impact had it taken up less space in the story and let Ama and Elliot be the main focal point.
Also, the thing with the tattoos was corny as shit. Both Ama's weird fixation on them, as well as the way he got the flower she was named after tattooed because he can't have her. Womp Womp, get over it, basically getting your ex's name tattooed is not as cute as you think it is.
Forget Me Not is told in two timelines; the past, where Ama and Elliot are beginning to date, and the past, where Ama and Elliot are broken up, but forced to work together. The majority of the development of their actual relationship happens in the past, where we get to see how their relationship first developed. Which was all fine and dandy, and obviously not a bad choice to make in a second chance romance, but the present felt woefully underdeveloped in comparison to that. The focus was much more on the wedding they were planning, and a lot of the moments that bring them closer aren't giving the space needed for them to really have the impact they should be having, both on the characters and the reader.
I wish we'd gotten more insights into all the internal struggle both characters must be going through, especially Elliot, since the present is told entirely from Ama's perspective. It just feels like the potential of a second chance romance is wasted a little bit, because it doesn't fully utilise all of the interesting dynamics and tension that could have been there. You could definitely tell that they were reluctant to work together, but I wish there had been more of that past relationship weighing down on them and making itself known, because as-is it could've seemed like old estranged friends begrudgingly having to work together again, with a bit of added attraction. It all caused their ultimate reunion to feel a lot less earned.
I appreciate that there was a plot alongside the romance, but truthfully I didn't care one bit about the couple that was getting married, and I feel it could've had the exact same impact had it taken up less space in the story and let Ama and Elliot be the main focal point.
Also, the thing with the tattoos was corny as shit. Both Ama's weird fixation on them, as well as the way he got the flower she was named after tattooed because he can't have her. Womp Womp, get over it, basically getting your ex's name tattooed is not as cute as you think it is.