I mean, what can I say? I inhaled ‘Forget Me Not’ last year and Julie Soto became an automatic must-buy, must-read author.

Gwen has been playing violin ever since she got her hands on one at eleven years old, and is now part of the New York Pops orchestra. She’s also been obsessed with Xander Thorne, whom after playing with for a year, she comes face to face with when playing his friends wedding.

Xander is fascinated by Gwen and her ability to adapt between cello and violin, sight read, and riff. Their relationship develops the more they play together, and they explore what exactly they each want for their careers in this industry.

I love Gwen and her sheer motivation to be the best, even if it means going about it in less conventional ways. She is incredibly aware of her surroundings and she is loyal to a fault which is quite the Achilles heel. Xander is pigeonholed into believing he is stuck in a life based on decisions from years ago when starting out.

This book was delicious and made me kick my feet in the air constantly. I loved that the both of them grew as individuals so that they could better complement each other as a couple. It just solidified for me how talented Julie Soto is, and I loved the cameo’s from her last book showing us that she’s creating her own universe within her works.

Today I’m reviewing Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. In this contemporary romance, we follow musical prodigy violinist, Gwen Jackson. When an opportunity of a lifetime opens for her, she decides to take it. But Gwen isn’t ready for the all consuming force that is Xander Thorne, also a musical prodigy and fellow celloist, who falls first with the lovely Gwen, and is in it for keeps.

Soto is back!!!

Okay, firstly, let’s celebrate that characters from Forget Me Not make special appearances in Not Another Love Song!!! It was so fun to see Ama and Elliot in this one as I absolutely LOVED Forget Me Not.

As for Not Another Love Song, I enjoyed it. What stood out was Xander's intensity. He has interspliced chapters from his POV throughout the novel. They aren’t long, but it was nice to have his perspective, which added to understanding why he is so intense. Side note, I am always a fan of dual point of views. As for Xander’s intensity it makes perfect sense for someone who is a musical prodigy. That everything he experiences is at a level that surpasses most. Except for Gwen. She is his missing puzzle piece. And even when they don’t see eye-to-eye, he’s still in it for keeps.

A rivals-to-lovers, musical prodigies, and OMG that cello scene, romance readers get ready for another deliciously romantic ode to New York City and flooded with musical notes by two musical talents who create something more than a love song.

Julie Soto, I'm in love with your mind.

"Because Alex had traveled the entire world by the age of twenty-six, and Gwen Jackson was the first person he'd found who could actually do what he did. And possibly do it better."

Not Another Love Song is so full of life, and really embodies a love of music and the emotions they can invoke. Honestly, music felt like another main character in the book and I loved the attention to detail and the level of care and love that was shown. The characters were beautiful, and I especially felt relatable to Gwen and her downfall of being a people pleaser. I loved seeing her character grow and make choices that were solely for her. I felt slightly unsure about Xander, but quickly fell in love with his confidence. He also becomes obsessed with Gwen which I'm a sucker for. I love them I love them I love them. Their connection had so much chemistry, tension and respect for each other. I will scream about the scene on the cover for the end of time as well (!!!!!!!!)

One single thing that I didn't like was the third act breakup but it wasn't horrible and I still adored this book. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tropes- Enemies to Lovers or Rivals to Lovers

Author Julie Soto is generating a lot of buzz after the 2023 release of Forget Me Not and so I jumped at the chance to read her 2024 publication. A spicy romance, set in New York City and exploring the intense feelings of two musicians-Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne. I LOVED how they hated each other in the beginning and cheered as a passionate love story grew. A lot of contemporary romances are becoming longer and longer, but Not Another Love Song kept up a reasonable pace.

This novel made me think of high school and me wanting to be with a guy who played the guitar. I realize I should have been looking out for the fellas that played a violin or cello. HOT!





Expected Publication Date 16/07/24
Goodreads Review 19/05/24

I am trying to be good and respectful to the library and read their books first, but be still my beating heart because when I saw Forever made this available to everyone on NetGalley, I assumed was an April Fool’s joke. Thank all the cellos in the world it was not!

Gwen Jackson has been hustling playing violin (oh, are you confused about the cello on the cover?) in a contemporary orchestra, while taking side gigs at weddings to earn some extra money because – you know, New York is not cheap. And as the story begins, Gwen has arrived to play at a wedding, only to learn the bride requested a cellist, not a violinist. Desperate to keep the job, Gwen says that she can play the cello – which, technically, she has done before… just many years ago and never really learned properly. Enter Alex errrr Xander Thorne who offers his cello for the ceremony. I don’t even want to say anything more because I just want everyone to read it because BAH JULIE SOTO IS AMAZING, and in the way The Queen’s Gambit brought on a slew of chess enthusiasts, perhaps Not Another Love Song will bring on some classical music fans? Anywho, Gwen and Alex/Xander give a v steamy love story, where they fight their feelings, deal with loss and family struggles, and make beautiful music. Does Julie Soto write an unbelievable grump vs sunshine? Yes. Yes she does. And I will read anything she writes for quite possibly as long as I live. I will be an old hunched over granny reading her latest novel because how could I not when she has delivered two of my favourite books! And I love the interconnected universe!

Off to convince my husband to learn how to play cello.

Julie Soto, if I thought I loved Forget Me Not, I didn’t know what was coming with this gorgeous masterpiece. IM SORRY ITS SO SEXY???? and sweet baby Alex just BEGGING for a chance, it’s too much. Thanks Netgalley i loved this thing. Read it ASAP.

I knew the second I finished this book I was not going to be normal about it. Safe to say I was right.

Gwen was a character I felt in my soul. All she wants is some stability and to be able to play her music. Her anxiety and her fears were not only well written but relatable. And her relationship with Alex was amazing. Impeccable. Some of the best romance I've ever seen. I was a band kid in high school (marimba, 4 years) and I 100% felt the emotion behind the music and the way that the playing was described. It's painful at times, always emotional, and feels like a kind of magic. And this book really brought that back for me.

The weaving of plot and romance was flawless. I honestly have no notes for Julie Soto though I am begging on hands and knees for her next book.

Five stars. I cannot wait to buy a copy on release day.

So grateful I was able to get an eARC of this book. The amount of time I was screaming (positive) while reading cannot be overstated. The tension was truly chef’s kiss and every time Gwen and Xander looked across the orchestra at each other I died. Story format wise I found I really enjoyed how Xander’s POV was peppered in throughout the story as the Cello Suites, I certainly won’t say no to chapters with alternating POVs but I thought the amount of his perspective we did get was perfect.

I went into this knowing that I had really enjoyed Forget Me Not and Julie Soto delivered and then some, Not Another Love Song has cemented her as an autobuy author for me.

5+ stars! This book was so so good. There was so much chemistry and tension between Gwen and Alex that I ate this up. As someone who played the violin for 10+ years I could really visualize the music and them playing based on all the descriptions. I truly got lost in the story It felt like Ali Hazelwood (who I also Love) but for music nerds. I so think it may be a little tougher to picture if you don’t have a music background but still 1000% worth the read!

This book follows Gwen and Xander. They both play string instruments and they get off on the wrong foot. When things quickly heat up between them, they quickly embark on a new relationship.

This book was an easy five star for me! I loved both of the main characters and their relationship. The tension was so good and I loved the bickering between the two. There was good chemistry between the characters.

I loved the music throughout the book as well. Is there anything hotter than a musician??

I read this book in one sitting and I couldn’t put it down! I loved the characters and story so much.

I loved this book and would recommend to everyone!

Thank you so much to netgalley and Forever for the arc of this in exchange for an honest review!

Oh my god this was a DELIGHT of a book, 4.5 stars. Don't let the fact that I've waited more than a month since reading this book to finally put down a review for it fool you, this has been my favorite romance of the year so far by a long shot. These characters, their tension, THE CELLO???? The way music and musical appreciation is woven through every bit of this story deeply pleases my inner band kid (6 years of clarinet LET'S GO) and makes me very upset I never pursued that passing thought of man, I'd really like to try violin.

I think I liked this even more than I did Forget Me Not, and that takes place in my own city so I wasn't sure I wanted the NYC book to top the Sacramento book, but here we are.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto should be the 2024 read of the summer. It was perfect, 10 out of 10, no notes. It was swoony and fun. I cannot wait for anyone to read this wonderful book.

Julie, Julie, Julie.....what are you doing to us? How is your sophomore book even better than your first? Although, the little cameos were fantastic!

Grumpy Xander and Gwen. Oh how I loved them each.

The steam.
tumultuous family.
The MUSIC.

Damn, this was good. I read it in one sitting DURING my finals week. This is saying a LOT!

Utter perfection.

Julie Soto is an auto-read author for me.

Thank you Forever for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto // 5-Stars ⭐️ // releases on 07/16/24
This book surprised me so much because Julie Soto’s last book wasn’t my cup of tea (stick with me). The writing was beautiful in her first book, as was the overall story, but I didn’t enjoy how severely grumpy the MMC was. In ‘Not Another Long Song,’ however, I LOVED both characters. I didn’t know a violin and cello could be so sexy! 🥵 The relationship was technically rushed (time-wise) and moved very very quickly, but it didn’t FEEL rushed, it felt fated. I love a love story where the man falls first (and he fell so hard, after what I admit is the perfect grumpy timeline). I love a love story with someone REAL, who struggles, who has trauma, and who perseveres through it. I met Julie Soto in STL at her previous book tour and her personality and story is *chef’s kiss.* All of these things combined made this an easy 5-Star read for me!

Not Another Love Song graced me with the full gamut of emotions. I was gasping at the end, the final line sent me into a spiral of emotions. I was obsessed with Xander and Gwen, I was so sad the book was over, the line itself will live rent free in my mind forever, and I was just overwhelmed with how strongly I felt. I am a indie book lover, through and through. Julie Soto somehow appeases the trad book appreciater in me while filling my indie loving heart to its brim.

This book was so easy to read, the story was not overly suspenseful or surprising but did find a way to capture a great deal of intrigue. My attention was locked onto this book from the freaking author's note and had me laughing throughout. Soto mentions in the author's note how uncomfortable it would feel if the first cellist and first violin had tension as they stared at each other across the aisle.. and she delivered this moment. It wasn't how I expected it, but it was better. That moment was PEAK.

Xander's privileged tortured soul was presented so well, it was somehow both easy and difficult to understand him. I anticipated his moves, his motivations and frustrations, but wanted to slap him upside the head sometimes to open his dang eyes. He was not as complex and he thought himself to be, but talented nonetheless. Gwen was a bit meek, but she needed to be to offset his personality and ego. I love how she LOVED his band and we got a glimpse of that here and there which was a lot of fun.

While I don't usually 5 star a 3rd act breakup, the resolution here slapped. I mean, SLAPPED. The whole last 15 minutes of the book was perfect, just enough resolution between characters and plot lines to feel complete with a bit of openness to imagine and interpret where are they now. I was appeased as an American who needs answers now, but also sat and let my mind drift a bit as to where they are now and enjoyed the journey of my thoughts for a bit. Soto did a beautiful job presenting these characters to us to learn, so it was easy to see them off and fade into the sunset.

Beautiful. Hilarious. Captivating. Intriguing. Fun. Perfection!

4.5 ⭐️’s - if the cover says anything about this book…let it be known that it is one hell of a SEXY SMOKIN’ HOT ROMANCE 🔥🎼🥵🎻

i have never read a book that made me feel this way before! i can’t even tell you exactly what it was. it was horny. hot. a book plot i have never read before. literally a violinist and cellist? two members of an orchestra? i just could not get enough of this book. the angst was there. the tensions. the hotness. it just had everything in a romance book i could want and more.

i’m a world full of a lot of smut books (LOL) this was one was done so GOOD!!! thank you julie soto!!!

“They’ve been keeping you hidden,” he said. “Ordinary. When you’re anything but.”

Not Another Love Song is a contemporary rivals to lovers story that follows two incredibly talented orchestra musicians.

Emma and Alex have a beautiful story that details the trials and tribulations of being a professional musician in a competitive world. On top of sorting out their feelings for one another, they both have complicated pasts.

The story does include a lot of musical terminology but it doesn’t take away from Alex and Emma. While it’s considered rivals to lovers, it’s pretty much instalove. That being said, I had a wonderful time reading this story.

This book flew by - I wanted more!

Really enjoyed Gwen and Alex’s story and how they were intertwined!

I LOVED Forget Me Not last year so Julie Soto is on my radar now.

First, look at that damn cover. Amazing!! The scene its based on? EVEN BETTER! I could not get enough of Gwen and Xander's tension throughout the book. I loved that Xander didn't hide his feelings for her, either. At least, it's obvious to the reader that Gwen snatched his attention since the wedding scene. Their chemistry kept me up the two nights it took me to finish this book.

Another thing I loved was how they got to be together after they get together. I know, reading romcom a lot, you would think the two main characters are together all the time, but often times, once they're a couple, something will break them up right away. But here, we get to enjoy Gwen and Alex/Xander be a couple and I loved it so much. I love how each character helped the other grow. I'm only disappointed that I can't actually hear their beautiful duets in real life while reading the story. Sheesh, these two were basically making love on stage! (Definitely not complaining.)

It gave me butterflies and made me laugh. Would definitely recommend!

Book: 4.5
Spice: 3.5
adult contemporary romance, grumpy mmc, musical co-workers

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC. It's my first ARC and I can't wait to get a physical copy once it's out!

Who knew playing a violin could be sexually charged! The way this author writes is like foreplay. She creates unbelievably good tension between two unlikely lead characters but their connection goes beyond a physical attraction. The undeniable chemistry lights the pages of this book and you are rooting for them to both succeed together and on their own personal journey.

Though I enjoyed this author's writing style, I did get lost at the way she told the story. With music as the main theme of this book, sometimes the use of musical terminology as a double meaning or sentences that read like poetic lyrics lead me to rereading a few times to fully understand the scene or emotions the author was trying to convey. Since I am musically illiterate, it did take me some time to fully understand everything.

Though I did get jumbled up on the musical terminology, I did enjoy this story overall and I adored Gwen and Alex. If you are a reader looking for a well written story with flawed characters and a story with depth this is a book you must check out. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the ARC