Absolutely loved this book. Although that’s no surprise as it’s written by the incomparable Julie Soto. The chemistry and tension was off the charts and I loved the music aspect. Speaking of… the cello scene was 🔥. Another 5 star read from JS. I can’t wait for many more.

Not a Love Song by Julie Soto is a captivating, emotionally charged masterpiece that effortlessly blends heartfelt vulnerability with irresistible charm.

From the very first page, Soto pulls you into a world brimming with authentic emotions and complex characters. The dialogue is sharp and witty, but never at the expense of the deeper, more poignant moments. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter building on the last, keeping you turning the pages late into the night. Every chapter is immersive, and you can’t help but feel deeply connected to the characters' struggles and triumphs.

Not a Love Song is an absolute must-read for fans of contemporary romance!

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but one is classical music royalty, the other has a less than traditional musical education. Despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra, he has no idea who she is, but when Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of their orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other's music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. Can they handle the crescendo or will they fall flat?

Julie Soto does not know what the sophomore slump is. This book is a 6-star read. The tension and chemistry between our two leads are truly a perfect harmony. God, he was so down bad for her and I think we were all here for it. The cello scene. Do you know what it takes for a contemporary romance novel to have a call to an iconic moment and people just KNOW. The romance and intimacy felt balanced. Of course, our leads had some issues they’d slowly work through BUT they felt relatable enough and came to realizations along the way that allowed them to question their choices. the tension + chemistry was incredibly palpable. I loved in the end they came to know their worth solo and as a duet.

Overall this romance was a beautiful love letter to music and I'm so so so excited for Julie's future works!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with this AMAZING book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was such an incredible story. Julie Soto is a master at building tension from the very start, so by the time the two characters are interacting more, you are absolutely dying for more of them together. I felt like both characters were really well thought out - and as a former musician, the research Julie must have done really shows. This is a book I continue to recommend to people because it feels so honest and raw and I loved the story so much.

This was the best book of 2024 and I am thoroughly obsessed with anything Julie writes. I need more. The characters were the best. This book was atmospheric in a way, the girlies who grew up in band class get what I'm sayin. I could feel the music (AND NO MUSIC WAS PLAYING, WHAT KIND OF WITCH CRAFT IS THIS) This book was something else. It had me looking up violins and lessons near me, as if i need a new hobby. Julie Soto, the legend that you are. I love you.

This book reminds me of when I played the viola and wanted to swap over to play the cello, I mean playing instruments is just fucking hot! 🥵

Holy f*ckin sh*te! One of the most captivating, beautiful, and invigorating romance I've read in a long time. NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG takes entertainment to a whole new level. Gwen and Xander's story is a perfect blend of tenderness, emotion, and scorching chemistry. It doesn’t surprised me that Julie wrote another masterpiece. I loved Forget Me Not.

The chemistry and tension of the music and the romance was so beautiful!! I was so amazed by how well it was written!!

I didn’t expect to fall in love with this book, but it hooked me from the start and left a lasting impression. Gwen and Alex captured my heart, and I’ll be thinking about them for a long time.

Julie Soto’s writing is vivid and full of life, with scenes that gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. Her portrayal of music is breathtaking, making me want to hear Gwen and Alex play their songs. Though I’m not familiar with violins and cellos, the passion they have for music is palpable and added so much depth to the story.

The characters are wonderful, and I loved the mix of Gwen’s POV with the occasional interludes from Alex’s perspective. It was the perfect touch.

Not Another Love Son by Julie Soto was a heartfelt and deeply moving story of two musicians navigating the pressures of their professional lives, the real meaning of being yourself, and how love affects the creation of art. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and plan to check out others by the author.

My first read by Julie Soto and won't be my last! I really enjoyed the musical element to the story and the connection between the characters. A top read of my 2024!

I absolutely love this book—it’s quickly become one of my new favorite romances. It was simply amazing and serves as a perfect example of why fanfic authors are incredibly talented and absolutely deserve to be traditionally published. This book has made the author an instant auto-buy for me, and I’m already looking forward to anything else they write. The chemistry between the characters was off the charts, and it made me wish I played an instrument just so I could immerse myself even deeper in the world they created. From the very first page, I was hooked, and once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Truly a fantastic read!

Read in one sitting! Loved this. I didn’t think I’d be able to get such an anticipated release on NetGalley, but apparently everyone got to read this! So happy.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is a super cute and fun read, especially if you like romance with a twist.
What I loved most about the book was how relatable the character was. She’s not perfect, she makes mistakes, and she has moments where she feels super lost—like anyone could. Plus, the way music is weaved into the story is awesome, especially if you’re into songs and lyrics that hit hard. It gave the book a nice vibe, like you’re listening to the perfect playlist while reading.
The only thing that bugged me a bit was how some of the twists felt kind of predictable, but it didn’t totally take away from the fun.

Julie Soto strikes again! This book is truly amazing. I fell in love with the characters right away! I can’t wait to read more of her traditionally published works!

Found family. He falls first. Grumpy and sunshine. Perfect story for lovers of string instruments. A gradual fall into love story. With her giving plenty of pushback in the beginning

First of all I squealed at the cameos from Ama and Elliot, they are everything. I did like Forget Me Not better than Not Another Love song. I didn’t have that urgency to pick this book up and find out what happens next like I did with Forget Me Not. There were several times I would only read a page or two and then lose interest when I am normally a binge reader.

I did really love the music aspect of this book. The way Julie Soto described the music and the emotions behind it, I could literally hear it in my head. It takes an extremely talented author to make you hear music through words.

I liked this book a lot up until the 80ish% mark when a trope that I despise popped up and I lost interest from that point. I also prefer an extremely slow burn and I didn’t feel as much tension as I hoped. But those are just my preferences so maybe someone with different preferences will like it more - it was not poorly written by any means.

Overall, a cute romance but not one of my faves and that’s okay. Also though, that cello scene the cover is based off of is literally worth buying the entire book for.

Julie Soto is only capable of writing masterpieces. I didn’t think I could love a book as much as I love Forget Me Not, but Julie Soto has me in a chokehold. You’re doing yourself a favor by reading this!

i really enjoyed the beginning of this and the characters but found myself getting a bit bored in the middle and until the end so i just ended up skimming :/

Stunning! The slow burn, the way she translates the passion and sensuality of MUSIC through a BOOK is amazing.