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Soon by You: A Novel
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.
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.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 19, 2026
About the author
Dahlia Adler
22 books2,876 followersDahlia 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.
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July 10, 2026Absolutely terrific romance. Notably focused entirely on the MCs relationship, no subplots, no evil exes, just two people struggling to work things out, and all the better for it because this is swoony.
Basically Judah is a conservative observant Jew, doesn't do physical contact with women outside marriage, and Ari is significantly more relaxed in her observance (has plenty of sexual encounters although won't do penetrative sex outside marriage). Ari likes sex and has had it with a lot of the men in their fairly small sphere, giving her the reputation of a good time had by all. The misogyny and slut-shaming of religious culture are in no way downplayed here: Ari's 'reputation' is shown to be not just a theoretical issue, but something with the potential to damage Judah professionally and personally. More than that: we see that misogyny in Judah very clearly, and part of the book is him learning to get over it and face his own double standards. This also means the book is that rare thing: a romance where an insecurity-based conflict actually works because we can really share Ari's concern that Judah won't stick around.
This is a proper, meaty internal conflict done extremely well, with insecurities and inconsistencies and people behaving in problematic but fully understandable ways. It works really well because Judah is such an endearing hero, facing up to himself and doing better and not putting his issues onto Ari.
A delight. Strong recommend as a real proper romance (and indeed one that shows you don't need PIV for hot sex scenes).
Basically Judah is a conservative observant Jew, doesn't do physical contact with women outside marriage, and Ari is significantly more relaxed in her observance (has plenty of sexual encounters although won't do penetrative sex outside marriage). Ari likes sex and has had it with a lot of the men in their fairly small sphere, giving her the reputation of a good time had by all. The misogyny and slut-shaming of religious culture are in no way downplayed here: Ari's 'reputation' is shown to be not just a theoretical issue, but something with the potential to damage Judah professionally and personally. More than that: we see that misogyny in Judah very clearly, and part of the book is him learning to get over it and face his own double standards. This also means the book is that rare thing: a romance where an insecurity-based conflict actually works because we can really share Ari's concern that Judah won't stick around.
This is a proper, meaty internal conflict done extremely well, with insecurities and inconsistencies and people behaving in problematic but fully understandable ways. It works really well because Judah is such an endearing hero, facing up to himself and doing better and not putting his issues onto Ari.
A delight. Strong recommend as a real proper romance (and indeed one that shows you don't need PIV for hot sex scenes).
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November 25, 2025Hi, 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
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
May 19, 2026
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride—and Arielle is fine with that, for now. She's not ready to settle down. But in her modern Orthodox community, young marriage is the norm (not least because there are a whole host of restrictions on what you can do with the opposite sex before marriage), and her friends are all pairing off, and she finds it easiest to keep things no-strings. That is...until a very buttoned-up wedding singer comes into the picture, and no-strings gets more complicated.
Adler's books are a delight, and this is no exception. In many ways this is a standard romance novel (enough so that I hesitated before picking it up, because Adler's queer books are my favourite, and the primary romance here is heterosexual), but with the not insignificant twist that the characters are almost all observant, Modern Orthodox Jews. This means: keeping kosher; keeping Shabbat (no work, no electronics, etc., from Friday evening to Saturday evening); men not listening to women sing; observing a whole host of different holidays that I know little about; and—for some of them—no touching the opposite sex. Now...this is a very steamy romance; some of the characters are more observant than others about who they will and won't touch (and some are more observant than others about whose music they will listen to, for that matter). The concept of a tefillin date sent me, because...well, of course in every religion that has more than one follower, there will be differences in belief and practice, but I haven't given all that much thought to what that might look like in Modern Orthodoxy.
Meanwhile, the relationship is doing interesting things. Arielle has a reputation, and it doesn't bother her—she knows what she wants, she knows her boundaries, she knows who her friends are, and she knows that the right guy will take her as she is. So when she and Judah have reservations about the possibility of a future, it's not really because of either of them not knowing what they want; it's because they haven't worked out (alone or together) how they can make their visions for the future align. And, well, there are some other complications along the way, but by and large we have a heroine who knows exactly who she is and what her limits are and a hero who is still figuring himself out but knows enough to respect the hell out of the heroine's autonomy. Plus, really genuinely interesting discussions about individual interpretations of religion and related choices.
I would have liked to know more about Arielle's job. (I applied for a job like that once; I still regret that I never got an interview, because I would have killed the interview and probably excelled at the job.) And also would not mind *cough* a bonus scene that takes place after the end of the book...although on the whole I really can't complain. Someday I will finish making it through Adler's backlist, and that will be a sad day until her next book comes out.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Adler's books are a delight, and this is no exception. In many ways this is a standard romance novel (enough so that I hesitated before picking it up, because Adler's queer books are my favourite, and the primary romance here is heterosexual), but with the not insignificant twist that the characters are almost all observant, Modern Orthodox Jews. This means: keeping kosher; keeping Shabbat (no work, no electronics, etc., from Friday evening to Saturday evening); men not listening to women sing; observing a whole host of different holidays that I know little about; and—for some of them—no touching the opposite sex. Now...this is a very steamy romance; some of the characters are more observant than others about who they will and won't touch (and some are more observant than others about whose music they will listen to, for that matter). The concept of a tefillin date sent me, because...well, of course in every religion that has more than one follower, there will be differences in belief and practice, but I haven't given all that much thought to what that might look like in Modern Orthodoxy.
Meanwhile, the relationship is doing interesting things. Arielle has a reputation, and it doesn't bother her—she knows what she wants, she knows her boundaries, she knows who her friends are, and she knows that the right guy will take her as she is. So when she and Judah have reservations about the possibility of a future, it's not really because of either of them not knowing what they want; it's because they haven't worked out (alone or together) how they can make their visions for the future align. And, well, there are some other complications along the way, but by and large we have a heroine who knows exactly who she is and what her limits are and a hero who is still figuring himself out but knows enough to respect the hell out of the heroine's autonomy. Plus, really genuinely interesting discussions about individual interpretations of religion and related choices.
I would have liked to know more about Arielle's job. (I applied for a job like that once; I still regret that I never got an interview, because I would have killed the interview and probably excelled at the job.) And also would not mind *cough* a bonus scene that takes place after the end of the book...although on the whole I really can't complain. Someday I will finish making it through Adler's backlist, and that will be a sad day until her next book comes out.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
February 7, 2026
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.
July 2, 2026
I thought the depiction of Modern Orthodox Judaism was interesting, but there were far too many sex scenes for me. Full review to come!
July 4, 2026
A quick and fun read with plenty of chemistry. It was cute and steamy, and easy to just breeze through. What I loved best was the message of accepting someone for who they truly are rather than trying to change them. This gave the romance a little more heart behind all the flirtation and 🔥.
June 6, 2026
There should honestly be a support group for women who have spent half their adult lives buying bridesmaid dresses for other people’s happily-ever-afters while wondering where the heck theirs wandered off to.
Dahlia Adler’s Soon by You completely swept me away. St. Martin’s Griffin, thank you so much for the gifted copy.
I picked this one up because “always the bridesmaid” and “wedding singer” felt like a combination that was either going to be a lot of fun or a complete disaster. Thankfully, it was the first one.
Arielle Becker is beyond done with weddings. She’s tired of the dresses, the expectations, the money, and the feeling that everyone around her has life figured out except her. Then there’s Judah Klein, the wedding singer she keeps running into over and over again. He’s the guy everyone seems to love, but the more time I spent with him, the more I realized he’s carrying around his own baggage too.
These two annoyed each other so much at the beginning that I immediately knew I was going to have a good time.
What really worked for me was that neither of them felt perfect. Ari is confident one minute and questioning everything the next. Judah seems like he has his whole life mapped out, but underneath that he’s just trying to figure things out like everyone else. They both felt like actual people instead of romance-novel versions of people.
And their banter? So good. Half the time I couldn’t tell if they wanted to argue or kiss, and honestly I don’t think they knew either.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
“The rules changed when you’d touched and kissed and tasted every inch of someone’s body, when you cooked them dinner and sung to them during a storm and held them in your arms all night.”
One thing I really appreciated was getting a look into New York City’s Modern Orthodox Jewish community. I learned quite a bit, but it never felt like the story stopped to explain things. It just felt like being invited into someone else’s world for a few hours. The weddings, traditions, friendships, family dynamics, and community expectations all added so much to the story.
I also loved the side characters. They’re the kind of people who make a book world feel lived in, and by the end I found myself wanting more of their stories too.
If you enjoy opposites attract romances, wedding chaos, great banter, found family, and characters who have to stop getting in their own way long enough to admit what they want, I think this one is worth adding to your summer reading pile.
And now I need to know: what’s the last romance where you fell in love with the entire friend group right along with the main group?
Dahlia Adler’s Soon by You completely swept me away. St. Martin’s Griffin, thank you so much for the gifted copy.
I picked this one up because “always the bridesmaid” and “wedding singer” felt like a combination that was either going to be a lot of fun or a complete disaster. Thankfully, it was the first one.
Arielle Becker is beyond done with weddings. She’s tired of the dresses, the expectations, the money, and the feeling that everyone around her has life figured out except her. Then there’s Judah Klein, the wedding singer she keeps running into over and over again. He’s the guy everyone seems to love, but the more time I spent with him, the more I realized he’s carrying around his own baggage too.
These two annoyed each other so much at the beginning that I immediately knew I was going to have a good time.
What really worked for me was that neither of them felt perfect. Ari is confident one minute and questioning everything the next. Judah seems like he has his whole life mapped out, but underneath that he’s just trying to figure things out like everyone else. They both felt like actual people instead of romance-novel versions of people.
And their banter? So good. Half the time I couldn’t tell if they wanted to argue or kiss, and honestly I don’t think they knew either.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½
“The rules changed when you’d touched and kissed and tasted every inch of someone’s body, when you cooked them dinner and sung to them during a storm and held them in your arms all night.”
One thing I really appreciated was getting a look into New York City’s Modern Orthodox Jewish community. I learned quite a bit, but it never felt like the story stopped to explain things. It just felt like being invited into someone else’s world for a few hours. The weddings, traditions, friendships, family dynamics, and community expectations all added so much to the story.
I also loved the side characters. They’re the kind of people who make a book world feel lived in, and by the end I found myself wanting more of their stories too.
If you enjoy opposites attract romances, wedding chaos, great banter, found family, and characters who have to stop getting in their own way long enough to admit what they want, I think this one is worth adding to your summer reading pile.
And now I need to know: what’s the last romance where you fell in love with the entire friend group right along with the main group?
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December 3, 2025This 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.
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.
May 19, 2026
This was much different from what I expected. Always the bridesmaid, Ari is completely over the pressure surrounding romance and marriage, especially when her promiscuous reputation doesn’t fit the mold of the perfect Jewish wife. But then along comes the perfect opposites-attract situation! Judah Klein, Modern Orthodox wedding singer, golden boy, and most eligible bachelor.
For a good chunk of this story, it felt like the same conversations kept circling back around, but I absolutely loved how down bad Judah became. Seeing his composure completely unravel because of his attraction to Ari, in a way he’d never experienced before, was honestly so precious. Their chemistry was undeniably fiery, and I learned a lot from how heavily Modern Orthodox Judaism was woven into the story. It was really interesting!
I just wasn’t expecting this book to be quite so spicy or so heavily focused on the morality of their sexual desire. Which, to be fair, makes sense given Judah’s lack of experience, and it’s not like there wasn’t an emotional connection between them, because there definitely was. But the physical side of their relationship seemed to dominate so much of the romance, and that's just not my preference.
(spice level: 6 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For a good chunk of this story, it felt like the same conversations kept circling back around, but I absolutely loved how down bad Judah became. Seeing his composure completely unravel because of his attraction to Ari, in a way he’d never experienced before, was honestly so precious. Their chemistry was undeniably fiery, and I learned a lot from how heavily Modern Orthodox Judaism was woven into the story. It was really interesting!
I just wasn’t expecting this book to be quite so spicy or so heavily focused on the morality of their sexual desire. Which, to be fair, makes sense given Judah’s lack of experience, and it’s not like there wasn’t an emotional connection between them, because there definitely was. But the physical side of their relationship seemed to dominate so much of the romance, and that's just not my preference.
(spice level: 6 open-door scenes, explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 29, 2025
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.
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.
December 12, 2025
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.
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.
December 3, 2025
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.
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.
July 26, 2026
This was a lot more spicy then I was expecting. I also felt like it was a lot longer than it needed to be. It felt like quite a bit of the conflict could have been avoided if the 2 main characters just had a conversation. Especially toward the end!
What I enjoyed most about this book was the characters. The banter and the found family moments were so sweet. Each character on their own was great and enjoyable to read. Some of the dialogue did feel a little odd and clunky at times. It just felt like things people don’t actually say. It didn’t happen often, but the times it did I felt a little pulled out of the story.
I also wish there was more chemistry with the FMC and MMC beyond just physicality. There were quite a few sex scenes and I wanted a few more tender moments between the FMC and the MMC. It felt like a lot of their relationship was balanced on the physical side of things. Yes, there were some sweet moments, but I wished there were a few more just to really bring this relationship together. It was just a little too much in my opinion.
I also felt like there were quite a few good stopping points for this book, but it just kept going. It honestly was a little longer than it needed to be and really started to drag. The same things just kept being repeated to the point where I was just getting kind of bored.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me. It started off really strong, but then tapered off. I think this will be good for readers who enjoy a spicier read.
***Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press/St Martin’s Griffin for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the characters. The banter and the found family moments were so sweet. Each character on their own was great and enjoyable to read. Some of the dialogue did feel a little odd and clunky at times. It just felt like things people don’t actually say. It didn’t happen often, but the times it did I felt a little pulled out of the story.
I also wish there was more chemistry with the FMC and MMC beyond just physicality. There were quite a few sex scenes and I wanted a few more tender moments between the FMC and the MMC. It felt like a lot of their relationship was balanced on the physical side of things. Yes, there were some sweet moments, but I wished there were a few more just to really bring this relationship together. It was just a little too much in my opinion.
I also felt like there were quite a few good stopping points for this book, but it just kept going. It honestly was a little longer than it needed to be and really started to drag. The same things just kept being repeated to the point where I was just getting kind of bored.
Overall, this one just wasn’t for me. It started off really strong, but then tapered off. I think this will be good for readers who enjoy a spicier read.
***Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press/St Martin’s Griffin for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2026
(Bingo: published in the last three months. Would work for flowers on cover, contemporary, FWB, or artist/performer.)
I am OBSESSED with this book, longer review to follow, but if every contemporary romance was like this I would be so much happier. Actual insight into the characters! True conflict and growth and change! I loved the setting in a community that I am not at all familiar with, and I appreciated the appendix about Modern Orthodox wedding traditions. I read this on Kindle and was grateful for the easy access to the dictionary and Wikipedia so I could easily look things up (again, I am ignorant and I appreciate a book that makes me work to meet it, instead of overexplaining). I've read and enjoyed a few of Dahlia Adler's YA books and I'm so glad she's writing adult romance now! Can't wait for her next book!
I am OBSESSED with this book, longer review to follow, but if every contemporary romance was like this I would be so much happier. Actual insight into the characters! True conflict and growth and change! I loved the setting in a community that I am not at all familiar with, and I appreciated the appendix about Modern Orthodox wedding traditions. I read this on Kindle and was grateful for the easy access to the dictionary and Wikipedia so I could easily look things up (again, I am ignorant and I appreciate a book that makes me work to meet it, instead of overexplaining). I've read and enjoyed a few of Dahlia Adler's YA books and I'm so glad she's writing adult romance now! Can't wait for her next book!
June 2, 2026
I’m only rating this at all so you spare yourself from starting it. A great premise (waiting for two people who are seemingly incompatible realizing that they indeed are). In reality it’s about 85% sex. So if you’re into that kind of novel, I guess this would be on your “want to read” list. My copy didn’t even make the Goodwill pile.
May 19, 2026
I wanted to love this book so much. I love Jewish wedding stories, books with Jewish representation, and Jewish romances. I’d also seen so many rave reviews, so I went in really excited.
But unfortunately…something just didn’t full work for me.
And this feels like such an unpopular opinion and I’m sorry! I wanted to connect with it more than I did, but I have to be honest.
For me, too much of the relationship conflict revolved around Arielle’s sexual history and the idea that she wasn’t the kind of woman a “good Jewish boy” like Judah would marry. It felt like the story kept circling back to shame and a reputation that made Arielle feel so judged. I think the book tried to dig deeper emotionally, but ultimately, it kept going back to the same thing.
That said, I did enjoy the Jewish representation, the wedding atmosphere, and the glimpse into Modern Orthodox dating culture. Though I was surprised (spoiler alert, but also probably not surprising) how quickly Judah abandoned some of his strongly held religious convictions when it came to physical boundaries.
Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, I can understand why so many readers loved it, especially if you enjoy opposites-attract romances, wedding-centred stories, and books that explore faith, identity, and expectations within a tight-knit community.
But unfortunately…something just didn’t full work for me.
And this feels like such an unpopular opinion and I’m sorry! I wanted to connect with it more than I did, but I have to be honest.
For me, too much of the relationship conflict revolved around Arielle’s sexual history and the idea that she wasn’t the kind of woman a “good Jewish boy” like Judah would marry. It felt like the story kept circling back to shame and a reputation that made Arielle feel so judged. I think the book tried to dig deeper emotionally, but ultimately, it kept going back to the same thing.
That said, I did enjoy the Jewish representation, the wedding atmosphere, and the glimpse into Modern Orthodox dating culture. Though I was surprised (spoiler alert, but also probably not surprising) how quickly Judah abandoned some of his strongly held religious convictions when it came to physical boundaries.
Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, I can understand why so many readers loved it, especially if you enjoy opposites-attract romances, wedding-centred stories, and books that explore faith, identity, and expectations within a tight-knit community.
August 11, 2026
Rounded to 4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an ARC of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started blogging, getting me to read a romance was like pulling teeth. But over the years, I’ve discovered that I actually enjoy romances, especially rom-coms. If you’re at all familiar with my blog, you might also be aware that I particularly enjoy Jewish stories. Fortunately, this book had all of the elements that make a good read for me so it was incredibly easy to request this and do a little happy dance when I was approved. It helps that I’ve read a few of Adler’s other books and loved them.
It is set in a little Jewish segment of New York City—the Modern Orthodox Jewish community. This is a subset of the Orthodox Jewish community that tends to integrate rather than live in environments that are more isolated. There are different ideas in play although the core meaning is still the same, and I really loved seeing how mindfully their practices are. Adler has written about Jewish characters in her other books, and always manages to present great representation regardless of the differences in community. In this book, she brings the Modern Orthodox representation to the forefront, and I loved learning more about this group of Jews.
The novel incorporates two of my favorite romance tropes: opposites attract and forced proximity. Belonging to an already small group of people, this smaller sub-group is naturally in forced proximity. Most Jewish Americans find themselves playing what is fondly known as ‘Jewish geography,’ where you look at potential shared family, friends, etc. The vast majority have at least one overlapping relationship, but when you deal with someone who is famous among their community, this puts immense pressure on them and places not only their performances, but also their everyday interactions and behavior under a microscope.
Which brings us to the central dilemma of this romance: Judah is a well-known singer for weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs within this Jewish community, and Ari, the bridesmaid of the moment with a ‘bad reputation.’ As someone who depends on the community to uphold his in-demand status, Judah’s behavior is even more subject to scrutiny than Ari’s, and I want to talk a little about Ari’s ‘reputation.’ When you live within a small community (think of a very tiny town), nothing escapes notice, and any behavior outside the norm is looked down upon. Modern Orthodox people are either ‘shomer negiah’ or not, and that is translated to mean ‘guarding touch’ or not, which means they avoid physical contact between men and women outside of the family. People are allowed to make their own choice about it, but it often reads like Judah is always on and viewed as an ideal nice Jewish boy.
This puts a lot of pressure on Judah as a man who is shomer negiah, and it is made clear early on that Ari is not. I personally don’t have a problem respecting someone who is shomer negiah; in fact, I worship at a Chabad synagogue where shomer negiah is pretty much a given unless there is an emergency. Ari has a history of short-term hookups, which is not abnormal in most American men and women in their teens and twenties, but since she lives in such a small community, it leads to hardcore judgment. There are elements of slut-shaming, but putting myself in Ari’s shoes made me think about the delicate balance between exploring natural urges while upholding religious and traditional ideals. Even so, hearing an immature nickname that sounds more appropriate in a high school used amongst adults in their 20s and 30s gave me some ick.
Underneath all the witty banter and funny jokes, this is also very much about how Modern Orthodox people inhabit their roles within the community and within American society overall. I enjoyed seeing both of these characters grow over the course of the story, and the way Adler chose to make this a dual perspective novel allowed me to get a better understanding of both Judah and Ari. I was on board for the romance, but I also felt like the central problem within their relationship was not actually resolved.
I absolutely loved the side characters. Akiva, Gideon, and Liana were standouts, and I love that they offer such diverse perspectives to both Judah and Ari. Adler is also known for her queer Jewish characters, and there’s one character who is both queer and Modern Orthodox—I enjoyed seeing this character reconcile their religious beliefs with societal expectations and their queerness, and would have liked to see a bit more of this in the main characters.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read that was the only spicy, Modern Orthodox Jewish romance I’ve ever seen. I was surprised at how spicy it was, although it was very well-written spice. The humor was another thing that made this a really enjoyable read, and it made me chuckle more than a few times. At the same time, I also loved the Jewish representation and the peek into a closed community that many people don’t see. I would have liked to see the differences between Judah and Ari get more of a resolution than come across as being brushed aside. Obviously, there are a lot of terms in Hebrew, and Adler includes a glossary at the back rather than interrupt the flow of the story each time a term comes up, which I thought was a nice touch. There is a bit of circular thinking in both Judah and Ari, which got a little frustrating in the central part of the novel, but there were so many other things I could focus on. The wonderful side characters, great representation, and the witty banter between all the characters had me eating this up, and the alternating chapters between Ari and Judah kept things interesting and ensured that I never had to guess what they were thinking. So this was a read I couldn’t and didn’t want to put down, flying through it in just a couple of days.
Bottom line: A peek into the life of two Modern Orthodox young adults as they navigate their world and the dating experience, this spicy, hilarious, and relatable rom-com is one not to miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for providing me with an ARC of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
When I first started blogging, getting me to read a romance was like pulling teeth. But over the years, I’ve discovered that I actually enjoy romances, especially rom-coms. If you’re at all familiar with my blog, you might also be aware that I particularly enjoy Jewish stories. Fortunately, this book had all of the elements that make a good read for me so it was incredibly easy to request this and do a little happy dance when I was approved. It helps that I’ve read a few of Adler’s other books and loved them.
It is set in a little Jewish segment of New York City—the Modern Orthodox Jewish community. This is a subset of the Orthodox Jewish community that tends to integrate rather than live in environments that are more isolated. There are different ideas in play although the core meaning is still the same, and I really loved seeing how mindfully their practices are. Adler has written about Jewish characters in her other books, and always manages to present great representation regardless of the differences in community. In this book, she brings the Modern Orthodox representation to the forefront, and I loved learning more about this group of Jews.
The novel incorporates two of my favorite romance tropes: opposites attract and forced proximity. Belonging to an already small group of people, this smaller sub-group is naturally in forced proximity. Most Jewish Americans find themselves playing what is fondly known as ‘Jewish geography,’ where you look at potential shared family, friends, etc. The vast majority have at least one overlapping relationship, but when you deal with someone who is famous among their community, this puts immense pressure on them and places not only their performances, but also their everyday interactions and behavior under a microscope.
Which brings us to the central dilemma of this romance: Judah is a well-known singer for weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs within this Jewish community, and Ari, the bridesmaid of the moment with a ‘bad reputation.’ As someone who depends on the community to uphold his in-demand status, Judah’s behavior is even more subject to scrutiny than Ari’s, and I want to talk a little about Ari’s ‘reputation.’ When you live within a small community (think of a very tiny town), nothing escapes notice, and any behavior outside the norm is looked down upon. Modern Orthodox people are either ‘shomer negiah’ or not, and that is translated to mean ‘guarding touch’ or not, which means they avoid physical contact between men and women outside of the family. People are allowed to make their own choice about it, but it often reads like Judah is always on and viewed as an ideal nice Jewish boy.
This puts a lot of pressure on Judah as a man who is shomer negiah, and it is made clear early on that Ari is not. I personally don’t have a problem respecting someone who is shomer negiah; in fact, I worship at a Chabad synagogue where shomer negiah is pretty much a given unless there is an emergency. Ari has a history of short-term hookups, which is not abnormal in most American men and women in their teens and twenties, but since she lives in such a small community, it leads to hardcore judgment. There are elements of slut-shaming, but putting myself in Ari’s shoes made me think about the delicate balance between exploring natural urges while upholding religious and traditional ideals. Even so, hearing an immature nickname that sounds more appropriate in a high school used amongst adults in their 20s and 30s gave me some ick.
Underneath all the witty banter and funny jokes, this is also very much about how Modern Orthodox people inhabit their roles within the community and within American society overall. I enjoyed seeing both of these characters grow over the course of the story, and the way Adler chose to make this a dual perspective novel allowed me to get a better understanding of both Judah and Ari. I was on board for the romance, but I also felt like the central problem within their relationship was not actually resolved.
I absolutely loved the side characters. Akiva, Gideon, and Liana were standouts, and I love that they offer such diverse perspectives to both Judah and Ari. Adler is also known for her queer Jewish characters, and there’s one character who is both queer and Modern Orthodox—I enjoyed seeing this character reconcile their religious beliefs with societal expectations and their queerness, and would have liked to see a bit more of this in the main characters.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read that was the only spicy, Modern Orthodox Jewish romance I’ve ever seen. I was surprised at how spicy it was, although it was very well-written spice. The humor was another thing that made this a really enjoyable read, and it made me chuckle more than a few times. At the same time, I also loved the Jewish representation and the peek into a closed community that many people don’t see. I would have liked to see the differences between Judah and Ari get more of a resolution than come across as being brushed aside. Obviously, there are a lot of terms in Hebrew, and Adler includes a glossary at the back rather than interrupt the flow of the story each time a term comes up, which I thought was a nice touch. There is a bit of circular thinking in both Judah and Ari, which got a little frustrating in the central part of the novel, but there were so many other things I could focus on. The wonderful side characters, great representation, and the witty banter between all the characters had me eating this up, and the alternating chapters between Ari and Judah kept things interesting and ensured that I never had to guess what they were thinking. So this was a read I couldn’t and didn’t want to put down, flying through it in just a couple of days.
Bottom line: A peek into the life of two Modern Orthodox young adults as they navigate their world and the dating experience, this spicy, hilarious, and relatable rom-com is one not to miss.
November 13, 2025
Fun, sweet, and HOT. Dahlia Adler has always been a fantastic writer, but dare I say this is her BEST!
June 13, 2026
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!
okay so i’m having a weird pride month where some of my favorite books i’m reading are m/f. but like…. queer m/f. i actually went into this thinking it was completely straight (and being like dahlia adler whyyyyy) but it was almost immediately evident to me that the mmc is ace which was just,,,,, such a wonderful surprise. his rep was done really well and i love how it interacted with his relationship with judaism (how it made it easy for him to be shomer negiah and once he found someone he was sexually attracted to he was like hm. idk about that one chief!). i also just love a male ace character,,, i feel like we don’t get many and it’s just Fun. but yeah, great unexpected rep, along with a gay side character who had a small but interesting plotline about being gay and modern orthodox and two super side queer characters. so yay! no straight books for me!
but the reason i was willing to read this even if it was entirely straight is judaism!!!! and wow that did NOT disappoint. i’m not modern orthodox, i’m not even that observant, but it’s just so. wonderful. to see jews exist in the world and get complex, fun, sexy, messy stories. to have judaism written about in such a smart, modern, and knowledgeable way. reading this felt like drinking water after being parched bc i’ve read sooooooo many bad jewish books and this was not one of them!!!!!! this is what i want so badly!!!!!!
i loved the plot a lot. at first i was kinda annoyed at he didn’t stay shomer negiah for long because i thought it would be hot and yearny if they couldn’t touch/had very charged glimpsing touches (very p&p 2005 me thinks) but i really like the structure/way this book went. i also at first was like Wow they are Fucking a Lot in the Middle of this Book what is going to Happen later as conflict!!!, but i really liked the way it progressed, the way the horny sexiness (and it was hot!) turned into emotional intimacy and the realization that the other person is meant for them while also pursuing someone else. (so like,,, vaguely structured like heated rivalry?? for reference). i loved all of the weddings, the side characters, the jewish holidays!!!! (pesach my beloved), and the relationship. goddamn.
they were SOOOOOOOOO. like seriously. i shipped them so hard. they had amazing banter and they worked really well for each other and the speeches!!!!!!!!!!! holy shit, i was tearing up, i was yearning, i was laughing, it was everything. i really loved their starting dynamic (woman who everyone calls a whores meets Good Jewish Boy semi famous singer who’s never kissed anyone) but i love even more that their dynamic deepened and changed and grew. singing stuff was fun too + smutty editor job, honestly could have had more of both but i also understand that it wasn’t rlly the point of the book.
anyways. yeah. this is how you do a romance!!!!!!! fucking god i love romances. and i need to write a jewish one so so so so badly. guys please i need to.
so yeah! i think i enjoyed this one just a wee bit :)
okay so i’m having a weird pride month where some of my favorite books i’m reading are m/f. but like…. queer m/f. i actually went into this thinking it was completely straight (and being like dahlia adler whyyyyy) but it was almost immediately evident to me that the mmc is ace which was just,,,,, such a wonderful surprise. his rep was done really well and i love how it interacted with his relationship with judaism (how it made it easy for him to be shomer negiah and once he found someone he was sexually attracted to he was like hm. idk about that one chief!). i also just love a male ace character,,, i feel like we don’t get many and it’s just Fun. but yeah, great unexpected rep, along with a gay side character who had a small but interesting plotline about being gay and modern orthodox and two super side queer characters. so yay! no straight books for me!
but the reason i was willing to read this even if it was entirely straight is judaism!!!! and wow that did NOT disappoint. i’m not modern orthodox, i’m not even that observant, but it’s just so. wonderful. to see jews exist in the world and get complex, fun, sexy, messy stories. to have judaism written about in such a smart, modern, and knowledgeable way. reading this felt like drinking water after being parched bc i’ve read sooooooo many bad jewish books and this was not one of them!!!!!! this is what i want so badly!!!!!!
i loved the plot a lot. at first i was kinda annoyed at he didn’t stay shomer negiah for long because i thought it would be hot and yearny if they couldn’t touch/had very charged glimpsing touches (very p&p 2005 me thinks) but i really like the structure/way this book went. i also at first was like Wow they are Fucking a Lot in the Middle of this Book what is going to Happen later as conflict!!!, but i really liked the way it progressed, the way the horny sexiness (and it was hot!) turned into emotional intimacy and the realization that the other person is meant for them while also pursuing someone else. (so like,,, vaguely structured like heated rivalry?? for reference). i loved all of the weddings, the side characters, the jewish holidays!!!! (pesach my beloved), and the relationship. goddamn.
they were SOOOOOOOOO. like seriously. i shipped them so hard. they had amazing banter and they worked really well for each other and the speeches!!!!!!!!!!! holy shit, i was tearing up, i was yearning, i was laughing, it was everything. i really loved their starting dynamic (woman who everyone calls a whores meets Good Jewish Boy semi famous singer who’s never kissed anyone) but i love even more that their dynamic deepened and changed and grew. singing stuff was fun too + smutty editor job, honestly could have had more of both but i also understand that it wasn’t rlly the point of the book.
anyways. yeah. this is how you do a romance!!!!!!! fucking god i love romances. and i need to write a jewish one so so so so badly. guys please i need to.
so yeah! i think i enjoyed this one just a wee bit :)
December 4, 2025
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.
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.
March 20, 2026
Everyone loves Arielle as a bridesmaid or a good time for a night, but she can't seem to picture herself as a bride. Over her many weddings, she constantly runs into good boy Jewish wedding singer, Judah, and can't help but clash. But there's a fine line between animosity and lust, and soon the two are locking lips. At the same time, Judah's singing goes viral and his career is on the rise. With his image to protect and Arielle's self-doubt and fear of commitment, the two agree to keep things casual. Their close bond, undeniable chemistry, and ultimately jealousy would seem to suggest it's anything but...
Oh gosh, I loved this book so much. I've read other books by Adler, mostly her YA reads, and this one felt so fresh and new. It had emotional depth, interesting insights in Jewish culture and sexuality, undeniably hot leads and scenes, and a satisfying ending. I was rooting so hard for Arielle and Judah--definitely a ship. It also shows that you can have a wonderfully spicy book without "going all the way." Would definitely recommend this one, and want to try more adult novels from this author!
Thanks to to St. Martin's for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 10/10
Oh gosh, I loved this book so much. I've read other books by Adler, mostly her YA reads, and this one felt so fresh and new. It had emotional depth, interesting insights in Jewish culture and sexuality, undeniably hot leads and scenes, and a satisfying ending. I was rooting so hard for Arielle and Judah--definitely a ship. It also shows that you can have a wonderfully spicy book without "going all the way." Would definitely recommend this one, and want to try more adult novels from this author!
Thanks to to St. Martin's for my ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars - 10/10
Want to Read
May 7, 2026Give me the Jewish romance chaos my heart needs.
June 28, 2026
I continue to not be a Romance fan, but this was cute and fun!
March 13, 2026
'The rules changed when you'd touched and kissed and tasted every inch of someone's body, when you cooked them dinner and sung to them during a storm and held them in your arms all night."
Not to be dramatic, but this book changed my brain chemistry. I lost sleep over this book, literally unable to stop reading until I realized the fucking sun was coming up. I devoured this.
I don't even know how to get my thoughts together about this incredible book. First, the Jewish rep was IMMACULATE. I'm not modern Orthodox myself, but I felt so represented and seen. I really identified with Arie. I loved her wit, her sass, her confidence and vulnerability and insecurities. I love how she was unashamed to be herself, still trying to figure out what she wants in life, how to navigate a new era where everyone she loves is getting married, leaving her wondering and feeling overwhelmed. I loved how much she loved being Jewish, being part of the community, but also found freedom in her sexuality, saw the flaws in the religion (like there are in all), and proudly stood firm by it. It was so real to see how Ari saw her self-worth in her sexual prowess, so used to being someone for fun and never to settle down with that she could never consider anything else. The judgment she received for her "reputation" drove me crazy, but it was so real. She was funny, assertive, stubborn, and overall someone I saw myself in so much.
Judah Klein....... man of my dreams!!! I'm actually mad he's not real. I loved his grumpiness in the beginning, how enamoured he was by Ari, how all-consuming his love for her grew. I loved seeing how he began to learn more about himself and his wants and desires, his relationship with his faith and observance. The romance and chemistry between these two was electric. I couldn't get enough of them. The way they understood each other, brought out humour and sass, learned from each other and were so comfortable to be wholly themselves was just so beautiful!! Also, the spicy scenes were perfect. So sexy, with humour and heart and heat. I'm obsessed.
Also, the humour in this book was top-tier. I openly laughed - especially at Akiva, whom I adore. I also loved Ari's best friend. The friendships and support in this book was just so incredible. I found myself so emotional at the end (a particular scene had me losing my mind because of the cultural significance and just how romantic the moment was), and I was sad to see this beautiful book end.
A million stars, if you couldn't tell already. I loved every second, and it's an all-time favourite. Dahlia Adler, please write more adult romances, I am obsessed!!!!
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy!!
Not to be dramatic, but this book changed my brain chemistry. I lost sleep over this book, literally unable to stop reading until I realized the fucking sun was coming up. I devoured this.
I don't even know how to get my thoughts together about this incredible book. First, the Jewish rep was IMMACULATE. I'm not modern Orthodox myself, but I felt so represented and seen. I really identified with Arie. I loved her wit, her sass, her confidence and vulnerability and insecurities. I love how she was unashamed to be herself, still trying to figure out what she wants in life, how to navigate a new era where everyone she loves is getting married, leaving her wondering and feeling overwhelmed. I loved how much she loved being Jewish, being part of the community, but also found freedom in her sexuality, saw the flaws in the religion (like there are in all), and proudly stood firm by it. It was so real to see how Ari saw her self-worth in her sexual prowess, so used to being someone for fun and never to settle down with that she could never consider anything else. The judgment she received for her "reputation" drove me crazy, but it was so real. She was funny, assertive, stubborn, and overall someone I saw myself in so much.
Judah Klein....... man of my dreams!!! I'm actually mad he's not real. I loved his grumpiness in the beginning, how enamoured he was by Ari, how all-consuming his love for her grew. I loved seeing how he began to learn more about himself and his wants and desires, his relationship with his faith and observance. The romance and chemistry between these two was electric. I couldn't get enough of them. The way they understood each other, brought out humour and sass, learned from each other and were so comfortable to be wholly themselves was just so beautiful!! Also, the spicy scenes were perfect. So sexy, with humour and heart and heat. I'm obsessed.
Also, the humour in this book was top-tier. I openly laughed - especially at Akiva, whom I adore. I also loved Ari's best friend. The friendships and support in this book was just so incredible. I found myself so emotional at the end (a particular scene had me losing my mind because of the cultural significance and just how romantic the moment was), and I was sad to see this beautiful book end.
A million stars, if you couldn't tell already. I loved every second, and it's an all-time favourite. Dahlia Adler, please write more adult romances, I am obsessed!!!!
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced copy!!
July 10, 2026
Dahlia Adler’s first adult romance novel is absolute perfection. I wasn't sure what to expect since this was my first time reading her work, but she completely blew me away from the very first page!
Why You Need to Read This Book:
Incredible Character Depth: Arielle Becker and Judah Klein are such great characters with so many layers. They feel like real, living, breathing people you just want to root for.
The Ultimate Book Boyfriend: Judah will easily go down as one of my favorite MMCs (Main Male Characters) of all time. He is sweet, supportive, and utterly swoon-worthy.
The Perfect Balance: This book is honest, funny, full of heart, and whew very steamy. Adler strikes the perfect balance between deep emotional resonance and incredible romantic tension.
“Soon by You” is a masterclass in contemporary adult romance. It’s a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
I am officially obsessed and cannot wait to read Dahlia’s next book in the series! If you haven't picked this up yet, consider this your sign to add it to your TBR immediately.
Why You Need to Read This Book:
Incredible Character Depth: Arielle Becker and Judah Klein are such great characters with so many layers. They feel like real, living, breathing people you just want to root for.
The Ultimate Book Boyfriend: Judah will easily go down as one of my favorite MMCs (Main Male Characters) of all time. He is sweet, supportive, and utterly swoon-worthy.
The Perfect Balance: This book is honest, funny, full of heart, and whew very steamy. Adler strikes the perfect balance between deep emotional resonance and incredible romantic tension.
“Soon by You” is a masterclass in contemporary adult romance. It’s a story that stays with you long after you turn the final page.
I am officially obsessed and cannot wait to read Dahlia’s next book in the series! If you haven't picked this up yet, consider this your sign to add it to your TBR immediately.
Read
May 18, 2026Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Dahlia Adler for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I struggle with rating this.
My favorite things about this were getting a look into a new culture; some of the overall analysis of religion generally and how, even within the same religion, it can look different for different people; and, of course, the side characters. Specifically, I loved Akiva, Liana, and Gideon.
There were two major things I did not like in this: the slut shaming (the "Bend her like Becker" nickname drove me NUTS and would just not go away), which by the way it is not lost on me that not a single one of the people that talked about Ari felt in any way the same about the dudes she had hooked up with, so misogyny abounds here; and the relationship between Ari and Judah, even if it did go from enraging to lukewarm by the end.
First off, it would be nice to know where exactly Ari stood on getting married and/or having kids at the start or middle of the book. Because sometimes it seemed like she was absolutely not interested at all in any circumstances, sometimes it was "I want to be married because all my friends are," and sometimes it was "I just haven't found the guy, and I'm never going to."
The thing is, if it was any of them but the first one, I would be fine with it. But it seemed to me like she was REALLY on the not settling down. And that's something I am not a fan of at all in romance books when it is the FMC. Women are already pressured enough to always feel like they need to want to get married, so seeing someone go from "it's not for me and I know I'm never going to want it" to "I'll do it to keep you" is just not enjoyable to me at all.
On the other hand, there is Judah. The description of this book says he's not a hookup guy, and kind of makes it sound like it's that he hooks up with her then immediately expects them to be serious. This is....kind of the opposite of that and goes along with the slut shaming. Judah knows Ari has hooked up with a lot of guys and, because of that, he will hook up with Ari no problem, but for most of the book he has no actual interest in a relationship with her because she has an awful reputation (despite being a literal virgin) and he wants a "nice" girl.
Just, you know, not in bed.
Thankfully, Judah does at least eventually recognize that this all makes him a massive hypocrite, but it wasn't really an annoyance I got over at any point. Especially since he didn't really stand up for her until Akiva and Gideon both kind of told him off.
Honestly, the dynamic between them both for most of the book felt, to me, like they weren't characters from the same book. They didn't mesh. What they want in life doesn't mesh and, even at the end, it still doesn't really feel like it does. It feels like both of them are settling and compromising and, with the exception of a few conversations, it feels like they are making those compromises based on lust and sexual attraction rather than anything else, and that is reflected by how many spicy scenes there are.
The few conversations they had were actually pretty enjoyable. There is one in particular where Ari talks about her connection to her religion being based largely in the traditions, community, history, and culture versus Judah feeling/appearing to feeling more strongly about it than that, and how it is okay that they each take something different away from it. It, along with many conversations with the amazing side characters, were what made me willing to finish the book and see where it went. It is honestly really hard to not dnf a romance book when you don't feel like there is a HEA connection available between the main characters.
I struggle with rating this.
My favorite things about this were getting a look into a new culture; some of the overall analysis of religion generally and how, even within the same religion, it can look different for different people; and, of course, the side characters. Specifically, I loved Akiva, Liana, and Gideon.
There were two major things I did not like in this: the slut shaming (the "Bend her like Becker" nickname drove me NUTS and would just not go away), which by the way it is not lost on me that not a single one of the people that talked about Ari felt in any way the same about the dudes she had hooked up with, so misogyny abounds here; and the relationship between Ari and Judah, even if it did go from enraging to lukewarm by the end.
First off, it would be nice to know where exactly Ari stood on getting married and/or having kids at the start or middle of the book. Because sometimes it seemed like she was absolutely not interested at all in any circumstances, sometimes it was "I want to be married because all my friends are," and sometimes it was "I just haven't found the guy, and I'm never going to."
The thing is, if it was any of them but the first one, I would be fine with it. But it seemed to me like she was REALLY on the not settling down. And that's something I am not a fan of at all in romance books when it is the FMC. Women are already pressured enough to always feel like they need to want to get married, so seeing someone go from "it's not for me and I know I'm never going to want it" to "I'll do it to keep you" is just not enjoyable to me at all.
On the other hand, there is Judah. The description of this book says he's not a hookup guy, and kind of makes it sound like it's that he hooks up with her then immediately expects them to be serious. This is....kind of the opposite of that and goes along with the slut shaming. Judah knows Ari has hooked up with a lot of guys and, because of that, he will hook up with Ari no problem, but for most of the book he has no actual interest in a relationship with her because she has an awful reputation (despite being a literal virgin) and he wants a "nice" girl.
Just, you know, not in bed.
Thankfully, Judah does at least eventually recognize that this all makes him a massive hypocrite, but it wasn't really an annoyance I got over at any point. Especially since he didn't really stand up for her until Akiva and Gideon both kind of told him off.
Honestly, the dynamic between them both for most of the book felt, to me, like they weren't characters from the same book. They didn't mesh. What they want in life doesn't mesh and, even at the end, it still doesn't really feel like it does. It feels like both of them are settling and compromising and, with the exception of a few conversations, it feels like they are making those compromises based on lust and sexual attraction rather than anything else, and that is reflected by how many spicy scenes there are.
The few conversations they had were actually pretty enjoyable. There is one in particular where Ari talks about her connection to her religion being based largely in the traditions, community, history, and culture versus Judah feeling/appearing to feeling more strongly about it than that, and how it is okay that they each take something different away from it. It, along with many conversations with the amazing side characters, were what made me willing to finish the book and see where it went. It is honestly really hard to not dnf a romance book when you don't feel like there is a HEA connection available between the main characters.
November 18, 2025
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!
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!
May 19, 2026
4.5/5 stars
Soon By You is a romantic comedy set in New York City’s Modern Orthodox Jewish community.
I love that the title is a phrase used in the Jewish Orthodox world to wish Jewish singles luck in finding a match soon.
The book has dual third person POVs.
Arielle/Ari Becker (29) is a fiery bridesmaid with a reputation. Judah Klein (32) is an in demand wedding singer for Modern Orthodox Jewish weddings.
I love books that feature Jewish Rep. This book is extremely Jewish. It showcases Modern Orthodox Judaism, which is not featured enough in romance books. I loved getting this view into the Orthodox Jewish dating and wedding scenes.
The two main characters constantly cross paths at various weddings throughout the year. This is a spicy enemies to lovers/adversaries to lovers/opposites attract book. It has steamy scenes, but it also includes such fun banter. I loved Ari’s friend group. And I loved seeing everything the couple had to do to be together.
Thanks to You Had Me At HEA and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book.
Soon By You is a romantic comedy set in New York City’s Modern Orthodox Jewish community.
I love that the title is a phrase used in the Jewish Orthodox world to wish Jewish singles luck in finding a match soon.
The book has dual third person POVs.
Arielle/Ari Becker (29) is a fiery bridesmaid with a reputation. Judah Klein (32) is an in demand wedding singer for Modern Orthodox Jewish weddings.
I love books that feature Jewish Rep. This book is extremely Jewish. It showcases Modern Orthodox Judaism, which is not featured enough in romance books. I loved getting this view into the Orthodox Jewish dating and wedding scenes.
The two main characters constantly cross paths at various weddings throughout the year. This is a spicy enemies to lovers/adversaries to lovers/opposites attract book. It has steamy scenes, but it also includes such fun banter. I loved Ari’s friend group. And I loved seeing everything the couple had to do to be together.
Thanks to You Had Me At HEA and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book.
June 30, 2026
Easily my new favorite book by Dahlia Adler! I loved this opposites attract, enemies to lovers, dual POV, Orthodox Jewish romance. Mainly set in New York City, the story revolves around Judah, a Wedding Singer on the asexual spectrum looking for a 'good girl' to marry and Arielle, a more untraditional Orthodox Jew who isn't looking to settle down any time soon.
Sparks fly when the two meet (and keep meeting) on the wedding circuit and eventually things get heated. The problem lies with the way each of them want seemingly different things in life and I loved seeing how this dilemma was resolved.
The asexual rep was also excellently done and I related to both Judah's sexual frustrations and Ari's loneliness watching all her friends and sisters following the traditional path of marriage and children. Great on audio and highly recommended, especially for fans of authors like Rosie Danan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
Sparks fly when the two meet (and keep meeting) on the wedding circuit and eventually things get heated. The problem lies with the way each of them want seemingly different things in life and I loved seeing how this dilemma was resolved.
The asexual rep was also excellently done and I related to both Judah's sexual frustrations and Ari's loneliness watching all her friends and sisters following the traditional path of marriage and children. Great on audio and highly recommended, especially for fans of authors like Rosie Danan. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 17, 2026
This is the romance book of my DREAMS. I’m jealous that Dahlia Adler wrote this book and that I didn’t but I’m so glad I got to read it. This book is finally the modern orthodox romance I’ve been waiting for my entire life.
Soon By You tells the story of Arielle Becker, UWS wild girl, and Judah Klein, staid buttoned-up Jewish singer. I loved Arielle and Judah both together and apart and I found their dilemmas so realistic. Their relationship was both incredibly hot and so heartfelt with such true to life details. When I usually read books about the Orthodox community I need to actively stop myself from nitpicking the details but in this story all the details were actually right. I never in my life thought I’d see the day where a romance hero goes to minyan twice a day and learns with a chavrusa. Dahlia Adler gets a star just for that.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book.
Soon By You tells the story of Arielle Becker, UWS wild girl, and Judah Klein, staid buttoned-up Jewish singer. I loved Arielle and Judah both together and apart and I found their dilemmas so realistic. Their relationship was both incredibly hot and so heartfelt with such true to life details. When I usually read books about the Orthodox community I need to actively stop myself from nitpicking the details but in this story all the details were actually right. I never in my life thought I’d see the day where a romance hero goes to minyan twice a day and learns with a chavrusa. Dahlia Adler gets a star just for that.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book.
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