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Do You Remember?: A Second Chance Romance
258 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 21, 2026
I went into Do You Remember expecting a second-chance romance, and it is that—but it’s also a lot messier, sharper, and more introspective than the blurb lets on.
What really worked for me is how much of this book lives inside Juliet’s head. On paper, her life looks solid—book deal, long-term partner, close relationships—but the way Montoya writes her, you can feel how tightly wound everything is underneath. It’s not dramatic in a loud way. It’s that quieter, more uncomfortable kind of unraveling where you realize she’s been making choices based on who she thinks she’s supposed to be, not who she actually is. That tension carries through almost every scene.
Percy, on the other hand, could have easily fallen into the “pining second-chance love interest” trope, but he doesn’t feel flat. His history with Juliet has weight to it, and you can tell that whatever happened between them wasn’t just a fleeting romance—it left a mark that shaped how he’s been moving through the world since. There’s a steadiness to him, but also this undercurrent of unfinished business that makes every interaction between them feel loaded, even when they’re just trying to act normal.
The co-best men setup is honestly one of my favorite parts because it forces them into each other’s orbit in a way that doesn’t feel contrived. They don’t get to ease into anything—they’re just suddenly there, navigating shared responsibilities, mutual friends, and all the history they never actually resolved. The proximity does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it strips away avoidance. There’s no space to pretend the past didn’t happen.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t rush the emotional payoff. The “slow burn” actually earns that label. A lot of the tension comes from what’s unsaid—half-finished conversations, moments where one of them almost pushes further and then pulls back. And when the truth about Juliet’s disappearance starts to come into focus, it’s less about shock value and more about understanding how she got to that point in the first place.
If anything, the pacing might feel too slow for some readers, especially in the middle where it leans heavily into internal conflict over external movement. But for me, that worked because it matched what the story is really about: not just rekindling a relationship, but figuring out who you are when you stop performing the life you’ve built.
This isn’t a glossy, escapist romance. It’s more about identity, regret, and the kind of love that forces you to be honest with yourself whether you’re ready or not. And by the end, the romance lands not because it’s dramatic, but because it finally feels like a choice both characters are making with their eyes open.
What really worked for me is how much of this book lives inside Juliet’s head. On paper, her life looks solid—book deal, long-term partner, close relationships—but the way Montoya writes her, you can feel how tightly wound everything is underneath. It’s not dramatic in a loud way. It’s that quieter, more uncomfortable kind of unraveling where you realize she’s been making choices based on who she thinks she’s supposed to be, not who she actually is. That tension carries through almost every scene.
Percy, on the other hand, could have easily fallen into the “pining second-chance love interest” trope, but he doesn’t feel flat. His history with Juliet has weight to it, and you can tell that whatever happened between them wasn’t just a fleeting romance—it left a mark that shaped how he’s been moving through the world since. There’s a steadiness to him, but also this undercurrent of unfinished business that makes every interaction between them feel loaded, even when they’re just trying to act normal.
The co-best men setup is honestly one of my favorite parts because it forces them into each other’s orbit in a way that doesn’t feel contrived. They don’t get to ease into anything—they’re just suddenly there, navigating shared responsibilities, mutual friends, and all the history they never actually resolved. The proximity does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it strips away avoidance. There’s no space to pretend the past didn’t happen.
What I appreciated most is that the book doesn’t rush the emotional payoff. The “slow burn” actually earns that label. A lot of the tension comes from what’s unsaid—half-finished conversations, moments where one of them almost pushes further and then pulls back. And when the truth about Juliet’s disappearance starts to come into focus, it’s less about shock value and more about understanding how she got to that point in the first place.
If anything, the pacing might feel too slow for some readers, especially in the middle where it leans heavily into internal conflict over external movement. But for me, that worked because it matched what the story is really about: not just rekindling a relationship, but figuring out who you are when you stop performing the life you’ve built.
This isn’t a glossy, escapist romance. It’s more about identity, regret, and the kind of love that forces you to be honest with yourself whether you’re ready or not. And by the end, the romance lands not because it’s dramatic, but because it finally feels like a choice both characters are making with their eyes open.
May 18, 2026
I really couldn’t put this book down. I felt like I was reading an extremely intense fanfiction (in a good way).
My biggest pet peeve was Davis. The author did a great job of making him the romantic antagonist, but I do not agree with Juliet at the end when she says “he’s a good guy he’s just damaged.” Unfortunately I don’t think good people cheat on others. Also him being nice and vulnerable to her after he gave her an ultimatum to marry him? I think his narcissist tendencies should’ve doubled down since we don’t get much of him ever being anything more than “decent”. Idk I think David needed to be more fleshed out in his story.
I like the emotional development of Juliet and Percy but i wish percy was also more fleshed out. For reading chapters in his POV, it seems like his only personalities are being new to Seattle, yearning for Juliet, and hating on Davis. These are all extremely valid given the circumstances, but I would’ve liked to have seen him have a separate arc outside of the romance. We almost got somewhere with his mother’s passing, but hopefully if this series has a book two, we get to see a more humane percy!
Overall great job Ashley! The world and imagery was extremely vivid. Being from around the Seattle area I could relate to the world. But my friends and I call it “i-5”, not just “the 5” :) thank you for this wonderful book! I can’t wait to read more!
My biggest pet peeve was Davis. The author did a great job of making him the romantic antagonist, but I do not agree with Juliet at the end when she says “he’s a good guy he’s just damaged.” Unfortunately I don’t think good people cheat on others. Also him being nice and vulnerable to her after he gave her an ultimatum to marry him? I think his narcissist tendencies should’ve doubled down since we don’t get much of him ever being anything more than “decent”. Idk I think David needed to be more fleshed out in his story.
I like the emotional development of Juliet and Percy but i wish percy was also more fleshed out. For reading chapters in his POV, it seems like his only personalities are being new to Seattle, yearning for Juliet, and hating on Davis. These are all extremely valid given the circumstances, but I would’ve liked to have seen him have a separate arc outside of the romance. We almost got somewhere with his mother’s passing, but hopefully if this series has a book two, we get to see a more humane percy!
Overall great job Ashley! The world and imagery was extremely vivid. Being from around the Seattle area I could relate to the world. But my friends and I call it “i-5”, not just “the 5” :) thank you for this wonderful book! I can’t wait to read more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2026
“She wants to run. Fine. This time, I’ll chase.”
I sped through this book SO FAST!
The most frustrating part was the horrible communication between the FMC and MMC. We start with them being young and in love and also young and dumb. Dumb because they are afraid to tell the world of their feelings for one another and because a misunderstanding leads to her running and him not following.
We pick up many years later where our FMC is in a “perfect” relationship. She has a man who is amongst the elite. He expects perfection from her and he picks her apart every chance he gets. A budding “work relationship” has her feeling more self conscious than ever as he indulges in the attention of another woman.
Meanwhile, our FMC and MMC are both headed back home for a wedding and the fates keep constantly putting them together over and over again. The tension between the two is palpable throughout the entire book. My favorite thing about Do You Remember is the story being written within the story which happens to be THEIR STORY!!!
I loved everything about this book.
I sped through this book SO FAST!
The most frustrating part was the horrible communication between the FMC and MMC. We start with them being young and in love and also young and dumb. Dumb because they are afraid to tell the world of their feelings for one another and because a misunderstanding leads to her running and him not following.
We pick up many years later where our FMC is in a “perfect” relationship. She has a man who is amongst the elite. He expects perfection from her and he picks her apart every chance he gets. A budding “work relationship” has her feeling more self conscious than ever as he indulges in the attention of another woman.
Meanwhile, our FMC and MMC are both headed back home for a wedding and the fates keep constantly putting them together over and over again. The tension between the two is palpable throughout the entire book. My favorite thing about Do You Remember is the story being written within the story which happens to be THEIR STORY!!!
I loved everything about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews