Soon by You

by Dahlia Adler

27 Dresses meets The Intimacy Experiment in this sexy, emotional, opposites-attract rom-com set in New York City's Modern Orthodox community.

If Arielle Becker has to serve as a bridesmaid one more time, she's going to scream. Between the expense, the collection of dresses she'll never wear again, the shower planning, the Spanx, the bridezillas, the family time, the heels, and a certain judgmental wedding singer she can't stop bumping into, she is exhausted, burned out, and seriously beginning to hate romance and all its celebrations. Besides, it's not like any of these girls are ever gonna turn around and do the same for her; Ari is not the kind of girl a good Jewish boy is looking to marry.

Judah Klein may be the tri-state area's most in-demand Modern Orthodox wedding singer and eligible bachelor, but after years of uninspiring setups, he's just about to give up on looking for his own Happily Ever After. Then a fiery, infuriating bridesmaid steps on his foot at a wedding, and before long, trading heated barbs turns into trading hotter kisses...and a realization that maybe he's been looking for the wrong life all along.

For the first time, Judah can finally get on board with a romance, and of course it's thanks to the one woman who has no interest in settling down - especially not with a guy who lives in the spotlight and has a professional reputation to uphold. But when neither one seems able to move on from a relationship that wasn't meant to go anywhere, they'll have to figure out whether there's a possible future for two people who've already given up on love.

Genres: Romance, Jewish, Contemporary, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary Romance, New York

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Dahlia Adler is the award-winning author of seven young adult novels, editor of five young adult anthologies, and founder of the website LGBTQReads. As a book blogger, her byline has appeared on Buzzfeed, B&N Reads, Reactor, Parents.com, and more. She enjoys ’90s rock, rewatching Grey’s Anatomy, finding great cover songs, crying at commercials, and extremely short walks on the beach. She lives in the New York City suburbs with her family.

Reviews

[Dahlia]

Hi, readers, and thank you for checking out Soon By You! Hope you enjoy! A few things:

I made a handy glossary for some of the lesser-known terms in the book. Hope that helps! There's also a "Jewish wedding explainer" in the back of both the ARC and the book to walk you through a traditional Modern Orthodox ceremony.

Trigger Warnings (all discussions of things that happened in the past off-page): Deceased parents (including a death by Covid), Divorced parents, slut shaming

[Isabel Sterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Dahlia's work ever since I first read her YA debut in 2014, and I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Soon By You (perks of being an author!).

Dahlia's writing is always witty, smart, and so freaking funny, and Soon By You is no exception. The dialogue at times is laugh-out-loud funny (I literally snort laughed at least three or four times), and I am OBSESSED with the MCs Arielle and Judah. Their dynamic is so fun (and did I mention how freaking HOT this book is??? SO hot) and their journey to finding their HEA felt so well earned.

As always, even when she writes about cishet couples, Dahlia is queer inclusive on so many different layers, which always makes me feel safe as a reader no matter the sexuality of her MCs.

Dahlia is truly a force to be reckoned with in Romance, and I cannot wait to read whatever she writes next.

[Amee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I just loved this. I laughed and laughed throughout. But, I was 36% into Soon by You, loving our main characters and the group of secondaries as their friends, but struggling with all the references to our mc’s religion and Modern Orthodox community. No backlash, I jumped in wholeheartedly knowing the setting and community, wanting to learn and experience a life I’m unfamiliar with. Author was nice enough to supply a glossary of terms, but understandably I was constantly referring to it, so much so it took away from the storytelling experience. I’ve felt this before with authors writing mixed race families who speak English mixed with another language. You just can feel left out unless the author can work the definitions into the story itself, versus by way of a glossary. I’d say that’s my only complaint and the loss of a star. The wedding traditions were so interesting and spurned me on to research them and others they observed. Author has definite talent and a writing style I was comfortable with. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, the opinions shared are my own.

[Jamie Feuerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sad I didn’t enjoy this as much as I wanted to. I just couldn’t get invested in the relationship between Ari and Judah. At one point, another character says “I’ve never seen two people so skilled at getting in the way of their own happiness.” It’s true, and very frustrating to read about. Genuinely don’t know how I was physically able to read the incredibly extended third act break up because I was rolling my eyes the whole time. You could see it coming from a mile away, because zero of the issues they were having prior to their first date were resolved before they went on it, and of course it all came to a head during it. They have the same “I’m not what you want” “yes you are! But also I have to figure out my life!” conversation over and over and over. These characters are 29 and 32 and have the communication skills and emotional maturity of 13 year olds (maybe this is an insult to 13 year olds). I liked all the side characters better than them.

I always feel bad giving not so great reviews to ARCs but this just wasn’t for me. Judah and Ari were not a couple I enjoyed, and their relationship was not a fun one to read about.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC ✨

I was initially interested in Soon By You because of the description; I loved stepping into the world of Modern Orthodox Jews, the idea of differing ideas of love and faith being key conflicts in the story. While I wasn’t sure what my expectations were, they were certainly exceeded.

I love a romance with fleshed out characters, and Judah and Arielle both had rich inner monologues about their individual struggles. I loved the exploration of Modern Orthodox Judaism and the unique pressures that come with it and how these were explored different through the two main characters. Also, this was much steamier than I expected, but in a very welcome way. The leads had such a clear chemistry and I was rooting for them. Even if they frustrated me, I felt their anxieties were very real and appreciated how much we were able to get into both of their heads.

I did feel the pacing was a bit off. The first half had me hooked and had steady build up between the two leads, but did feel the will they/won’t they in the second act went in too long without any major development. This was made up for by the third act resolution, which had me swooning.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this. It was refreshing to read a take on a romance from a world I don’t come from, and the characters had great chemistry. This was a fun read, and I’d happily read any other books by Adler.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, sweet, and HOT. Dahlia Adler has always been a fantastic writer, but dare I say this is her BEST!

[Sherwood Smith]

This one was difficult for me to evaluate. There was so very much to like--the witty narrative voice, the way that Orthodox Jewish culture was woven into the story, affording the reader a glimpse into this community. I liked the relationship between the Klein brothers. That in fact was the highlight of the book for me.

But as for the main couple, they really didn't seem to have anything going for them but lust. We got pages and pages of raunch instead of character development on her part. I just don't believe that a marriage based on even 350-horse-power, fuel-injected lust is going to last a lifetime--or be a foundation on which to build a family. And largely that was due to Arielle, who didn't seem to be interested in anything but hooking up and partying (except occasionally playing with Legos) until near the end. And even then her crisis was all about her having to grow up at last, and not wanting to, just as she doesn't want a family, or to learn to cook, or read, or do much of anything beyond partying and hooking up. She was funny, and seemed like she'd be a good party friend, but the habits of age 20 don't wear so well at thirty, especially with a potential mate who has very different habits and interests.

Given that he'd come from a broken home, and had taken emotional damage from it, when I finished the last page and the supposed happy ending (with her insisting still that she didn't want "five kids" and lust-dazzled Judah giving in immediately) I couldn't help but wonder if those two were perpetuating a sad pattern.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for sharing this ARC with me through NetGalley. Oh my goodness I absolutely LOVED this book! Arielle is an independent boss lady who doesn’t see herself going down the expected path of life while Judah is known for his vocal talent and being a “Nice Jewish Boy”. When the two of them continue to cross paths at weddings and events, they find something in one another which they haven’t found in anyone else previously. I really enjoyed Ari’s friends and family, as well as Judah’s brother, Akiva (and also some of Ari’s friends) keeping the two of them honest throughout the story.

They were simply SO into each other but had a difficult time coming to terms with it/justifying it when there were so many reasons they didn’t work… right? Wrong. This book is full of romance and spice and facing internal battles.

At the end of the book there is a Jewish Wedding Explainer, which was very cool to read through to get a better understanding of everything as a non-Jewish reader. I liked to hear about the traditions and customs of the religion throughout the story, learning many new things along the way! Great pacing too!

[SuzieQuzie7973 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Thank you Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Dahlia Adler for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.

Soon By You is so freaking hilarious. From the very start I was in love with Judah and Arielle. There were many moments that I laughed-out-loud. The character development and world building are nothing short of a Five Star Michelin chef's kiss. I truly love every single thing about this book, and did I mention that I love the MC's, oh I so totally do. The side characters were very likable and added just the right amount of sprinkles to this story.

I highly recommend that y'all get this book, y'all won't be disappointed.

[Jenn]

DNF. I usually like reading stories that have people that I don't know a whole lot about, but something here isn't working for me. I'm not sure why.

[Savannah Fernelius · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 20%

I saw this was an option under “Read Now” on NetGalley, so I took a chance on this one because the cover was pretty and the story sounded like it could be fun. But I have been struggling through the first 60 or so pages, and this just isn’t for me. The story isn’t gripping me like it should, and there are other books I’d rather move onto.

I also struggle reading a romance novel that’s based so heavily around religion. Nothing wrong with doing that, but I just don’t really want to spend my time reading that.

[Madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. “There is no ‘everything’ without you, and there is no path that I want to walk without you."

Thank you to St Martin’s Griffin for the Advanced Readers’ Copy of "Soon By You,” Dahlia Adler’s newest dual POV romantic comedy set in NYC’s Orthodox Jewish community!

Step into the world of Arielle Becker, Orthodox Jew, middle sister of three, and editor at KisStory—an interactive fiction app "specializing in the smuttiest of smut." She’s given up on finding love, and instead prioritizes her two amazing best friends turned roommates, Liana and Bella. Unfortunately for Arielle, Bella is leaving their shared apartment and getting married—so not only is Arielle forced to stand up at *yet another* wedding, but she must coexist with the world’s most annoying wedding singer: Judah Klein.™ Judah is prim, proper, and pious—everything Arielle is not. So when the opportunity arises to ruffle his feathers just a little bit, she can’t seem to turn it down…

Judah Klein, wedding singer extraordinaire, former Jewish boys’ choir prodigy (Miami Boys Choir, anyone???), and local Orthodox celebrity is not what everyone says he is. Being the Nice Jewish Boy everyone expects him to be is exhausting, and having passed 30, he’s beginning to think the Shadchan matchmaking dates will never amount to anything other than repetitive and overpriced hotel lobby chats over Diet Cokes. When the beautiful Arielle steps on his foot in the middle of his rendition of "Lecha Dodi,” at Bella’s wedding, he can’t seem to get her honey blonde curls and wicked smile out of his mind…

Arielle and Judah are both true delights to follow: Arielle as a fellow Shirley Temple connoisseur and Judah a complete dork—iconically delivering a romantic candlelit rendition of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Adler’s writing is crisp and deliciously readable—if you can get past the introduction of eight separate characters in the first *2.5!!!!* pages, and dozens more in the following 20 pages, that is… Learning more about NYC’s Orthodox community was fascinating, and enhanced my reading experience exponentially. I highly recommend picking up "Soon By You" when it hits shelves this May!

[Delaney (flairforfiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this book, I couldn’t stop. This book was everything I wanted in a romcom: two lovable main characters, a sexy storyline, fun side characters, and writing that made it all so wonderful. I truly loved every moment of this story.

Judah and Arielle were both so amazing. I loved how seemingly stoic but actually dorky, sweet, and loving Judah was. And Arielle was so confident and flirty, and she knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to ask for it (or demand more from those around her). I also loved that Arielle didn’t care about her reputation.

Watching these two figure out what they wanted together and what they wanted out of life was so lovely. Seeing how Judah struggled with his religion and his feelings for Arielle, and seeing how Arielle struggled with her feelings for Judah and what she thought SHE wanted out of life and what she thought HE wanted out of life, was handled so beautifully. I adored seeing how they figured it out and finally came together. The resolution was SO worth it but the build up was even more so. I loved their storyline and their chemistry just flew off the page from their first interaction.

The romance/sex scenes were SO beautifully written. Each one was SO well done and I couldn’t wait for the next one. They were incredibly hot but also so loving; exactly what you want out of your romance scenes. I loved watching how Arielle taught Judah how to get in touch with his sexy side and how surprisingly filthy Judah was without even trying. It was so FUN watching these two during these scenes and I just loved them all to pieces.

As I said, the side characters were amazing as well. I loved Akiva and his relationship with Judah, as well as how it developed throughout the book. Liana was so fun and I loved how her and Gideon helped Judah and Arielle get together. Their relationship was so cute and I loved that they balanced each other out.

Honestly, I just loved this book so much. Dahlia Adler can truly do no wrong and I look forward to her next (adult) novel.

[Kathleen Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is too cute.

To start off, I am not Jewish, let alone Modern Orthodox. I cannot comment on that side of things besides to say that I love how Dahlia Adler is able to simultaneously respect religion in all its forms, while also pushing her character to explore what religion means to each individually. Side characters and main character alike come to understand religion not as something that is meant to cage someone in rules and regulations. Most importantly, Alder shows that religion is a deeply personal topic, something that looks and feels different for every individual.

Onto the plot itself… I thought it was fabulous. I love enemies to lovers tropes, especially when said enemy is a beyond-talented singer. Two people who could not seem more different, yet compliment and push each other in the best ways. What I loved specifically was the ability of the author to show that these difference can be exactly what you love most about the other person.

Also, I love that the author is able to make a steamy novel while still allowing for both of the main characters to maintain boundaries regarding abstaining from sex until marriage (religious purposes).

Adler had also created a litany of incredible supporting characters that were so fun to explore. I think I need a second book featuring Avika’s search for a Modern Orthodox queer man. How about a third and fourth featuring Hannah and Dana (we know she cannot stay together with the asshole boyfriend)?!!

All of this is to say that I loved this book, read through it incredible quickly, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, steamy, Jewish romance novel :)

Thank you to the publishers for the advance copy!

[Emilie]

I flew through Soon by You. What really drew me in were the characters and how layered they were. Ari and Judah had a lot of complicated feelings to work through. I liked that Adler let the characters sit in their messy feelings instead of rushing through it. I enjoyed Ari's character. I liked that she was confident and didn't mold herself into what the community expected of her. Ari's character development was done beautifully. Watching her push for the job she wanted towards the end was rewarding. Judah was a solid MMC. Although I didn't love the moments where he thought down on Ari because of her past, I understood where he was coming from with the "good Jewish boy" pressure. I found a lot of his gestures sweet. The Lego flowers and his speeches near the end were great. I thought Ari and Judah's relationship progression was done well. I liked watching their guards come down around each other. I adored the Lego building and HGTV scenes. Both characters had their own reckonings about relationships, and I was happy when they finally got out of their own heads by the end. As for side characters, I do wish we had gotten more interactions between Ari and her coworkers. Gideon and Liana were great towards the end, especially Gideon! The writing was smooth, and the pacing was spot-on. The beginning of the book with the wedding scene was hilarious. As someone who doesn't know much about Orthodox Judaism, there were definitely moments where I had to pause and Google things. I appreciated learning more about the culture and reading Adler's note at the end. I look forward to Adler's next book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC. 

[Maryanne/MA · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Soon by You is an intriguing look behind closed doors of the live lives of young Orthodox Jews.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but with some reservations. Ari Ari defied so many of the social norms of her religion. On the one hand, I admire her for that…on the other hand, I felt like it was a cry for help. That she was insecure, and she hooked up with men for the wrong reasons.She never believed that someone would seriously want her for a partner, so she made it seem like she didn’t care, when in reality she was seriously unsure of herself.

Judah, on the other hand, was a polar opposite. Probably on the asexual spectrum, he vowed to not even touch a woman in passing before marriage..

Part of me struggled with their physical relationship. I’m not a fan of hypocrites. I am not personally religious, I admire people who live their religion, and I struggle with people who pick and choose which rules they want to follow..

One other thing I struggled with (I am using the word struggle way too much) was all that Jewish terminology. I wish the definitions had been more readily intertwined into the story. I often had to stop reading to Google to try and figure out what they meant.

Reading above, you might think I didn’t like this book. I did. It’s kind of amazing how spicy this was, considering that both main characters were technically still virgins. I also liked the Jewish aspect. It was intriguing to learn about these deeply held beliefs and traditions..

A big thank you to the publisher, and that galley for the opportunity to read this digital arc in return for Anne honest review.

[Esti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a physical ARC of this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book is Jewish Romance perfection. I honestly felt like I was reading a book about my friend group. The story follows Arielle Becker, a Modern Orthodox single living on the Upper West Side. All of her good friends are getting married, but she just wants things to stay the same. Our male main character is Judah Klein, THE premiere wedding singer in the Orthodox community who is 32 and single but has never felt a romantic spark with any girls he's been on dates with. Arielle and Judah do not get along, thanks to an incident involving a Chuppah (wedding canopy) and a high heel. But sparks definitely fly between the two. Their relationship journey is not easy but watching both Arielle and Judah grow apart and together, their HEA is definitely earned.

What I also love about this book is how Jewish it is, and just how good a job Dahlia Adler does in representing a specific subset of Jewish culture. There has been very little mainstream Jewish, and especially Modern Orthodox Judaism, representation in romances so this book is a revelation. Dahlia tackles questions about religion and practice with nuance and consideration, without judgement. And while the book is very Jewish, I feel like Dahlia has done a great job contextualizing or explaining everything so that all audiences, Jews and non-Jews alike, can read this book and understand this type of Jewish life.

I'm not much of a book annotator, but I found myself tabbing up any part of the book that felt relatable to my life. There are a lot of tabs, lol. This book makes me feel seen.

I hope everyone reads this book when it comes out in May.

[vlm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon by You is a vibrant, emotional, and delightfully modern rom-com that blends sharp banter, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt character growth against the rich backdrop of New York City’s Modern Orthodox community. Dahlia Adler delivers a story that feels both swoony and deeply grounded, offering a refreshing twist on the “27 Dresses”-style exhausted bridesmaid trope.

Arielle Becker is a fantastic heroine—tired of weddings, tired of expectations, and tired of always being the supporting character in everyone else’s love story. Judah Klein, the charming and highly sought-after Orthodox wedding singer, is her perfect foil: polished, adored, and secretly longing for something real. Their dynamic crackles from the moment they collide—literally—and Adler’s talent for sharp, funny, emotionally perceptive dialogue shines throughout.

What makes this story stand out is how it explores faith, community, identity, and the pressure to fit into roles that don’t always feel right. Ari and Judah’s journeys are relatable and complex, and their reluctant, slow-shifting relationship is equal parts tender and deliciously tense. The romance feels earned, messy, intimate, and incredibly satisfying.

Sexy, soulful, and packed with heart, Soon by You is a joyous opposites-attract romance that proves love can surprise you exactly when you’ve stopped looking. Adler fans—and rom-com lovers in general—are in for a treat.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

[Jenny K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really hoping to enjoy this peek into the Modern Orthodox Jewish world, but it didn't work for me.

Plot summary: Arielle is hitting 30, but she doesn't think she'll ever find the right guy. Judah is already past 30, and for some reason he never clicks with anyone. When they meet at a wedding, where Judah is a singer and Arielle a bridesmaid (again), sparks fly, in many ways. Can this couple, who no one would see together, pull it off?

I just didn't like the characters or story arc much. Arielle is described as only interested in finding someone to make out with. I didn't notice any redeeming qualities. She has a bad reputation, and deservedly so. Judah, at age 32, hasn't found a single girl he likes until Arielle? Weird. Also, Arielle seems to think guys want to be with her because she's easy, and instead of Judah turning that around, it seems the only reason he's interested in her is the same thing -- it's very superficial. He's just infatuated with her, not interested because he sees her fantastic qualities as a person, which she doesn't have, according to the story.

It just descends from there. Both of them throw their values out the window to meet their physical desires, which was incredibly disappointing. It's missing nuance, and I just could not find any reason to root for any of these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Dahlia Adler for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very torn on this book. Ari and Judah almost feel like the main couple in 'Nobody Wants This' in that they don't really fit and they have issues that should keep them apart, but they try to make it work, while also knowing they're not who the other person needs in their future, but they're also unable to stop thinking about the other person and can't keep their hands off each other...it was quite the dance. And while the pacing felt great in the beginning, it slowed later on. The book jumps in time throughout to when Ari and Judah are in proximity to the other, which worked, but I lost track of the timeline.

This one felt different from Dahlia's other books, and maybe that's just because the characters are adults. I wasn't expecting all the spicy scenes and I think a few could've been closed door as they didn't advance the plot or character ARCs. (I know I'm likely in the minority on this :P)

I think the pull and tug of Judah's decisions is relatable. We've all been confronted with that fork in the road of who we think we should be versus who we want to be/who we are. I love all the culture, even when I wasn't sure what they were talking about. (I didn't read Dahlia's note on goodreads ahead of time, but I found the guide at the end of the book.) I loved the friendships and sibling interactions.

In the end, I'm glad they were able to be themselves with each other, and find their happily ever after.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own. This one is hard to rate. First, I was really interested in the Orthodox Jewish info (I’m Russian orthodox), and I liked getting to know the tradition. Google was my friend as I didn’t know there was info at the end of the book since I had a digital version (footnotes linked in there would’ve been nice). I was truly coming in blind to most of it. I also kind of liked the wedding singer vibe as it never occurred to me someone could make a living (& a good one) like Judah does from his singing. Sadly, this is where my two stars ended. I had a real hard time with the slut-shaming, barely any basis for this love, and it was pretty graphic sexual situations I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t find it hot; I just found it a little odd. I get it that he was happy to finally find someone he was attracted to, but then he just goes all out and thinks he will find it with someone else bc she’s not into committing and relationships? I’m not giving spoilers as all that’s pretty much in the description, but I have to say the description gives the book more depth than the book itself. This one wasn’t for me, but I gave it two stars bc I at least got educated about Jewish traditions and terms. FYI graphic sexual situations, slut-shaming, profanity, and some use and abuse relationships

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this early! All these thoughts are my own.

This was my first Dahlia Adler book and it won’t be my last! It was so funny and witty. I really loved the insights into the Jewish culture as it has always interested me. I follow a few Orthodox Jews here and there on socials and this really was well done! I laughed out loud so many times. The banter between Judah and Arielle was perfect. Judah, wedding/ bar mitzvah, singer extraordinaire was just so sweet! I loved seeing Judah really come into who he was, being perfect is hard work and it was so good to see him really learn that he doesn’t have to be. Arielle really brought out who he was perfectly, imperfectly. Now for Arielle, she was witty, smart, and hilarious but also so scared to be loved as much as she deserved to be. She was the friend who watched all of her friends get married and of course was the girl with a huge collection of bridesmaids dresses to boot. She was getting tired of that life until a moment of pretend turned into something more. I loved it. If you enjoy antagonizers to lovers, his first kiss, wedding bikinis, and some pretty steam moment (🌶️🌶️.5) then I highly recommend this one!

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Arielle seems to be a perpetual bridesmaid, and the drama, time, and money that go into that role has gotten to her. She has begun to be turned off by romance, knowing no Jewish man would want her, and the supportive role for other women, knowing they would not return the favor. Judah, a highly sought out Modern Orthodox wedding singer, has similar sentiments about romance. But a literal run-in with Arielle at a wedding leads both to think twice about their assessment of romance, as their mutual animosity toward the other turns into something different.

This book had great chemistry between Arielle and Judah, it jumped off of the pages very easily. I also loved the dialogue and just writing in general, it was intelligent and witty all rolled into one. On a different level, there was a lot about Jewish culture, and I personally loved navigating the history there. All in all, an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Trianna/Treereads]

Conflicted about this one in the sense that I mostly enjoyed my time reading it and found Arielle and Judah to be interesting characters, but I had some issue with the nuance of The Romance of the book and how this fits into the Romance Genre.

It's dual POV, but I really think this book is more about Judah's story and journey than Arielle's. Which...didn't necessarily bother me but I wish her journey had been more nuanced and interesting. I like seeing love change characters and while it did change her I felt that a lot of the change wasn't internal and was off page.

I am not Jewish so I cannot comment on how accurate the representation of the book is (Adler is Orthodox Jewish herself), but I don't love religion on page this much in books, but that is a personal preference and I did like seeing Judaism on page, it just was a bit much for me.

Overall, this book was enjoyable, but didn't entirely work for me. Kind of bummed because Dahlia Adler's YA books are some of my all time favorites!!

*thanks to the publisher for the eARC; all thoughts are my own*

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My (romance genre lovin') heart sang with this read.

Arielle and Judah romance did not seem likely. Their awareness of each other for years was via Judah's younger brother/best friend to Arielle. Assumptions had been made.

So when Arielle encounters him at a wedding under an embarrassing but memorable moment, the scene is craftily set by this author to allow the future interaction of former acquaintances into something much more. Brava to the author showcasing a FMC who unabashedly owned her sexuality and a curvy silhouette . Brava to the author showcasing a MMC who strives to reconcile his professional persona with his personal desires.

Then there's how the author weaves in Jewish culture. This was not only a good romance but also a wonderful glimpse into the values and traditions of the Jewish faith.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Gwendolyn Zaczepinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley & the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love the author's YA books, but this one is a hard one to rate. Although I am Jewish, the modern orthodox world is a bit foreign to me. Instead of a description of these types of weddings at the end, I wish that this, along with definitions of terms found on her instagram page, were included in the beginning of the book. This would be especially helpful for those who read e-books. I also think an explanation of "modern orthodox" would have been beneficial, since it's quite different from conservative and reform judaism, and is not as common in certain geographical areas.

Overall, I found the book a bit repetitive with all the self-doubt, slut shaming, and spicy scenes. I don't mind spice, but it was a bit too frequent and took away from the storyline. Regardless, it's still a cute book, with lots of chemistry, and some fun characters.

[Debby Nachmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arielle and Judah provide a fun look into the modern Orthodox Jewish community. Arielle works in smutty books and Judah is a professional singer at weddings and other Jewish events. Their first meeting doesn't get them off to a great start but after continually crossing paths they find themselves in a secret relationship. Judah is forced to explore the traditions and observances that work best for him in Judaism and Arielle is forced to get over her fear of change.

I love seeing Jewish representation in books and liked the inside look at modern orthodoxy. While I'm not part of this community the idea of questioning your faith and traditions is universal and very relatable. I liked the strong FMC and the representation of queer members of the community too. I think the main issues of the breakup were dragged out too long and were a bit repetitive, however, I really enjoyed the book overall.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

[Hayley Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from NetGalley and it was pretty good! A very cute enemies to lovers with a hint of modern orthodox. Arielle met Judah at a wedding after she stepped on his shoe and bam enemies!
This does have lust in it which was nice! The book was filled with romance and spice which I was shocked since Judah was modern orthodox. I like how Dahlia went deeper into the community and the rules of no touching before marriage and how people can judge relationships.
I loved Ari’s friends especially Judah’s brother he was hilarious!
I’m gonna be honest sometimes Arielle annoyed me but after the of course break up it got better! If you’re looking for a cute read then read this!
I also liked how there was a Jewish Wedding Explainer at the end of the book helping give non Jewish readers a better look into Judaism!

[Kim L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon By You by Dahlia Adler was a quick, fun contemporary romance. The chemistry between Arielle and Judah was strong, and I enjoyed the humor throughout. I also liked getting a peek into the Jewish wedding industry and community, which is something new to me and found really interesting.

That said, while I enjoyed the romance, I wished there had been a bit more depth to the characters. There were also moments where the book felt like it was trying a little too hard to highlight Jewish identity; it sometimes felt heavy and redundant rather than natural.

Overall, it was a solid, enjoyable read, but it didn’t totally hit for me. 3.5⭐, rounded up. Thanks to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Beth Gerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. I found the religious aspect applied too heavily for it not to be distracting. I had to look up concepts multiple times while reading, which interrupted the flow. The main characters behaved as if they were at least a decade younger than they were, and the lack of clear communication became ridiculous. Some parts were fun and spicy, and the barriers they faced may have required some work, but the number of times they tread the same ground grew tiresome.

The writing was generally enjoyable and the characters grabbed me from the beginning, I just found it repetitive and immature by the end.

I received an ARC from NetGalley