Soon by You: A Novel

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, Adult Fiction

328 pages, Kindle Edition

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[Stephanie (read_with_steph) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Mimi Schweid]

Give me the Jewish romance chaos my heart needs.

[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.

[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.

[bookishlycaffenaited · Rating 5 out of 5]

'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!!

[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!

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Emily (Burnt.out.Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soon by You by Dahlia Adler is a kind of opposites attract, rom-com set in a modern Jewish Orthodox community.

The strongest aspect of the novel is its portrayal of Orthodox Jewish life. Adler clearly writes with care and familiarity, and the details of Ellie’s community with its expectations, traditions, and social dynamics which feel authentic without being overwhelming. The romance is understated to the point of feeling underdeveloped. Readers looking for a strong emotional payoff or a memorable love story may come away disappointed. Instead, the book leans heavily into introspection, which works in parts but also contributes to pacing issues, there are stretches where not much seems to happen. Ellie is relatable in moments, though her single-minded focus on finding a soulmate gets repetitive, and the pacing drags in places.

That said, the novel’s message about balancing tradition with personal identity is meaningful, and the ending, while quiet, is satisfying in its own way. Overall, Soon by You has a lot going for it in terms of voice and perspective, but uneven pacing and a somewhat muted emotional arc keep it from being more impactful.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon By You was a really enjoyable read with engaging characters and a heartfelt storyline that kept me hooked from beginning to end. Dahlia Adler does a great job of creating emotional depth, and I found myself really invested in the main character’s journey.

The relationships felt genuine and well-developed, and there were plenty of moments that made me smile. The pacing was strong overall, though there were a few parts that felt slightly slower than others.
Still, I really loved this book. It had a lot of charm and left me with a warm, happy feeling at the end. It’s definitely one I’d recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley an the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[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.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so good. Like so, so good. I know very little about Modern Orthodoxy (or Judaism in general) but that didn’t stop me from looking up words and phrases and then enjoying the hell out of the love story! Both Arielle and Judah have very real fears and hang ups and insecurities, and it’s beautiful to see them learn to trust and grow together. Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC.

[Franky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0⭐

(+) :
- Genuinely shocked how sexy Dahlia Adler was able to make a rom-com about two Modern Orthodox Jews. I mean I’m not going to lie I’m also impressed that she was able to come out swinging so hard with her first adult rom-com in that regard (and the regard of it being a good time).
- I really like both of the MCs. Ari is incredibly well rounded but also has surprises about what she wants out of her life. Judah is multi-faceted and his growth as a character is full of intrigue. Under most circumstances, the insta-lust of this all could bug me, but it’s handled quite well.
- I would also say that the journey for Judah adjusting to his new perspective on his asexual journey is really interesting. Asexuality is so often seen as this black and white, but it is a spectrum and the conversations that he has about it are very grounded.
- Ari’s relationship with Liana is my favorite relationship in the book. I love their friendship and seeing just how supportive they are for each other and the love that they have. Well written female friendships make me so happy.
- I like this cover. Poor lil chuppah.
- I like this title but I’m not…totally sure I get it. I know Liana says it at one point, but I’m not sure I got it then either. It’s still nice though.

(-) :
- The conversations and dialogue in this book could have been tightened up. There were a lot of monologues and repeated topics that I wish could have been trimmed down. They made the book feel longer than it was.
- The timeline of the book was really confusing. The amount of time that would pass would be a surprise and I honestly didn’t know what time of year it was for the majority of the book between the Ari’s cousin’s wedding and Liana’s.
- I’m sad we didn’t get to see them married. But I also get it. That would be very tricky from a religious sensitivity vantage point, so I can only be so disappointed.
- Some of their disparaging relationship and life goals get kind of…hand woven away. They definitely both have to settle and they both have compromises. But in the end it feels more like Ari is setting aside what she had built up for herself in a partner and Judah has to set aside what he had built up for himself. Which…isn’t really equal.
- I was raised as a Reform Jew and even I got confused by a lot of the Hebrew in this book. I appreciated that there was some description of the wedding terms at the end but it was a really hefty block of text and I think a simple glossary of terms to be able to bookmark would be more useful.

(?) :
- This is not a question but I want to note it somewhere that I could not get the Miami Boys Choir version of Yarushalyim out of my head the entire time I was reading this book because of Judah having been in a touring Jewish boys choir.


WILL I READ THE NEXT ONE? : Yes. I really liked this book.

(HOW LONG) DO I THINK THEY’LL STAY TOGETHER? : Oh they’re in it. They’re set for life.

*Thank you to SMP & Netgalley for providing this ARC!


SIMILAR BOOKS :
- 'Lease on Love' by Falon Ballard
- 'Match Me If You Can' by Heidi Shertok
- 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang
- 'At First Spite' by Olivia Dade
- 'The Roommate' by Rosie Danan

[Emmalita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soon by You is a romance in which two people who think they are completely wrong for each other, find out they are completely right for each other. After many years of writing YA romance, Dalia Adler is bringing the questioning of self into the firmly adult romance world. I enjoyed this so much.

I am not a reader who needs to self insert into a book to enjoy it. I love reading characters whose lives are wildly different from my own, and yet we share some common experiences. Ari and Judah a members of the New York City’s Modern Orthodox Jewish community. Ari is a bit of an outsider with her job writing erotic romance. Judah is a community celebrity – a wedding singer and musician. Both of them are at that uncomfortable part of adulthood when everyone is getting married and they are not. Ari isn’t sure she wants to, and Judah hasn’t met a woman that he is attracted to. I don’t remember if it’s named specifically, but Judah is clearly somewhere on the aromantic/asexual spectrum. This is a journey I am very familiar with, and I empathized with his frustrations on not being able to form a romantic connection the ways his peers have.

When Ari and Judah are together, they are explosive, first with the fighting and then with the kissing. For Judah, Ari is his first kiss, his first everything. Even with their explosive chemistry, a relationship between them seems unlikely in part because Ari doesn’t want to get married and because they are at such oposite ends of the spectrum within their community. One of the themes of the book is choosing to be a part of a community that doesn’t fully embrace you. Ari experiences misogyny and slut shaming because she’s more interested in making out than being proper, and Judah has to come to terms with the ways he chooses not to fully embrace the rules of his community.

Soon by You is lovely, funny, and emotional. There’s a rich vein of sadness (complimentary) that thrums through the story. It’s a sadness we all encounter as we settle into adulthood. The sadness of life not going exactly the way we planned, the sadness of the loss that comes with even positive change, the grief that comes when you realize you haven’t been the person you want to be. That everyday grief drives Ari and Judah to take risks with each other, and makes it sweeter when they do decided to hold on.

One of the things I ask myself when reading a reconciliation scene in a romance is – was that a grovel, or was that an acknowledgement of privilege in hierarchical system of oppression? Yes, I am fun at parties. Judah struggles with the slut-shaming and misogyny directed at Ari (this is not unique to the culture of Modern Orthodox Judaism). He never participates in it, but that isn’t enough. He has to fully embrace that things about her that challenge the norm are the things about her that he loves.

I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

[꒰ giuly՟ ꒱ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Dahlia Adler and Netgalley for the ARC in exhange for an honest review.

What a fun, refreshing read! Immersing myself in Soon by You gave me the exact same feeling as watching a 90s rom-com, that warmth and joy at watching two people who had lost hope at ever falling in love finally finding each other. In it we follow Ari, our avoidant attachment fmc who is swimming in sea of people she knows all getting married and consequent exhausting bridesmaid gigs while believing very little both in love and in marriage, and Judah, a Modern Orthodox wedding singer who's at every single one of the above-mentioned weddings while struggling to find someone he actually feels connected to. They can't stand each other. Or can they?

The premiseis just - oh chef's kiss, Ari and Judah's banter is top tier. Inject a dose of "two characters denying they know each other vehemently while speaking at the same time"straight into my veins please. Also I 100% saw Judas as demiromantic while I was reading this and as a demi person myself I couldn't be happier, the rep was fantastic, where all my demi baddies in romance books at. And the way Dahlia Adler writes men? Shut the front door, I was actually in giggles whenever Judas had his foot in his mouth talking to Ari, especially at the beginning and their (well, mostly Ari's) plot at the wedding having him immediately flustered. We LOVE a flustered man in this house. I found their issues to be very realistic and especially saturated while immersed in a community that values marriage, and speaking of communities, as someone who knew next to nothing about Modern Orthodox Judaism, I found every tidbit of information so interesting and fascinating, and though a lot of the jokes and inside things flew straight over my head it never had a negative effect on my enjoyment.

My one complaint for this to not be a five star is a bit of repetitiveness that I banged my head against at times, the focus on marriage and Ari's feelings towards it is at the center of a lot of the conversations she has, especially with her female friends, to the point where I was kinda wishing for more than one convo that passed the Bechdel Test. I'm exaggerating a little, they're there of course, but it does become a tired plot point at times.

Overall, I'd definitely rec this to anyone who's into deceptively simple rom-coms that actually will have you do the lip wobble wobble by the end.

[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.

[Caterina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5
Spice: 🌶️.5

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Publishing for providing an ARC of this book.

The story follows Arielle, a constant bridesmaid in her family & friend’s weddings, and Judah, New York’s go-to Modern Orthodox wedding singer with a rising solo career. The two are as opposite as can be and over various weddings, they continue to bump into each other (quite literally) and what starts as arguing turns into secret feelings.

This rom-com is set within the Jewish community of New York and going into it I knew pretty much nothing about Orthodox Judaism. I found the glimpses into this faith both interesting and immersive. Adler included a glossary within to assist the reader with understanding Jewish customs and traditions which was extremely helpful and insightful.

This was my first book by Dahlia Adler and I really enjoyed the blend of humour, romance and just the identity struggle you go through in your 20-30s. Throughout the story I related to things both the characters were going through with their family dynamics, the pressures of being a single woman in her 30s and meeting their expectations within today’s life.

The humour was my favourite part of the story. Judah truly had me cackling and Liana was the ultimate BFF every girl needs. My favourite quote HAS to be “Listen to me, you romantic Chernobyl”

Overall I enjoyed the story but felt the pacing could be adjusted. The will they/wont they in the second half felt dragged out slightly and I would have liked at the end there being a reference to all the previous brides Arielle was a bridesmaid for (like in 27 Dresses). I was initially interested as it was described as ‘27 Dresses meets The Intimacy Experiment’ and I loved both of those so would have liked a bit of throw back to that kind of moment. As a whole it was a cute, short read and it was refreshing to read a romance set within a different community that I didn’t know much about.

Tropes
Opposites Attract
Jewish Representation
Romantic Comedy
Dual POV

[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!

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

While I have read quite a few books by this author, this may just be the spiciest. It's certainly one of very few rom-coms I've read featuring characters who are part of the Modern Orthodox community.

On their fabulous "progrm" _I Like to Watch_, the iconic Trixie and Katya frequently laugh about Netflix's _Heartstopper_, which has the purest most G-rated romance between teens of the modern era. They reference this constantly, and though this is NOT off limits in the touching department, it did give me a similar 'that's it?!' set of thoughts throughout. These characters hold a distinct list of cultural and personal norms relating to intimacy that some adult readers may find distinct from their own. No judgement on whomever is doing or not doing whatever, but I did find it fascinating to learn what the boundaries were and were not here. Again, this is not a juvenile romance by any means, but there is an element central to many adults' intimate lives that is just off the table here. For me, that was a fascinating element on its own.

The physical stuff aside, Arielle and Jonah are pretty intriguing characters on their own AND together. Both are navigating challenges and expectations in their own lives, but this gets even more complicated as their connection waxes, wanes, and evolves.

I enjoyed these two and their trajectory along with the benefit of reading about a community I have limited info about otherwise (so, to be clear, I'm not making any kind of commentary on that representation). This is another fun read from Adler, and I'll look forward to the next.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[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.

[Carly Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10, 5 starts. I can't express how much I loved this book!

Judah Klein is the most in-demand wedding singer in NY's Modern Orthodox community. But behind his pristine professional "NJB" facade, Judah is 32 and nowhere near finding someone to share his life with. Despite dating a constant flow of pretty, frum, great-on-paper women, Judah has yet to experience attraction to any of them. That all changes when he starts - literally - running into Arielle Becker at nearly every wedding he works. Arielle is a perpetual bridesmaid with a spitfire personality and a job as a spicy romance book editor - not exactly the type Judah should be falling for. Even as infuriating as Arielle can be in their encounters, Judah can't help being pulled to her, especially as he glimpses the big heart and insecurities behind her hard exterior. They will have to decide if they will let other people's expectations and assumptions about them bring them together, or keep them apart.

I really loved everything about this book. Judah and Arielle were both endearing and complex characters, bringing us a very real take on the Modern Orthodox world of dating. I appreciated the fierce feminism in Arielle's character - a woman who unapologetically embraces both her Jewish identity and sexuality, and stands up to those who judge her for it. An added bonus was seeing Judah's relationship with his brother Akiva evolve as he and Arielle become closer. It really was a "found family" story, my favorite! A new feel-good comfort read for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.