Wow. Idk where to start. I’m a musician so this book was everything I’ve wanted in a romance. It’s my first Julie Soto book but definitely won’t be my last. The chemistry of the main characters is off the chart. And I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of a lot of back stage/rehearsal scenes. I read this book a month ago and I’m still thinking about it. The pacing was perfect and the book was addicting, I wanted to stop everything to finish. Highly recommend

This book was such a fun read! I’ve always been fascinated by the strings. I used to love going to Severance Hall and watching the orchestra. We usually spent Christmas down there watching them perform. The string section has always been my favorite. And while my violin career was very short, I do remember taking lessons at a young age.

The concept of this book is what drew me in. We all know I love an enemies to lovers with high angst book. It was so fun to read this book & watch Xander & Gwen go from hate to love. And Xander is such a cocky bastard. Like we get it, you’re good 😂 But then he’s drawn into Gwen’s orbit.

I love Mabel in this book as well as Jacob. Honestly all the supporting characters were fun. Two people I don’t love? Nathan & Lorenz. Hard pass on both of them! I’m so glad we got to see pieces of Alex shine through & that he working things out with his mom.

Music being such an integral part of this book & watching work through the composition was fascinating. I don’t know all of the technical terms they used, but I know enough to get the gist. But overall, I really enjoyed this book!

I give this book 5 stars. I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. The cello seen!!! Need I say more!!

I enjoyed Forget Me Not by Julie Soto, but felt like it didn't entirely live up to its potential. It did give me high hopes for her next book, so I was excited to read this, and I had such a good time!

I loved that we got to see the main characters together so much. I love a romance that really zeroes in on their connection, one where you get to spend a lot of time with the couple. I thought their dynamic was really intriguing and it worked really well. Their chemistry felt palpable. However, I do feel like the book ended when the couple was still in the initial stages of their attraction, and I felt like they still needed a lot of time to get to know each other beyond their initial attraction. It's probably just personal preference, but I love seeing the steps after that, of the attraction deepening, on the page, so I did miss seeing that a little.

I loved how much the music was interwoven into the romance though. Their passion for music jumped off the page, and I loved Xander/Alex realizing she was the only one who was on his level.

Xander coaching Gwen playing his cello was so inexplicably hot, like I was OVERHEATING reading about it. Which is not something I thought I’d ever say about a strings rehearsal. Maybe if I’d had a Xander, I would have stayed in orchestra instead of quitting after four years.

Thank you for the ARC!

This book was a bit of a whirlwind experience for me; I started off vehemently against liking this book and I found it slow to begin, then once I actually got into it I really started to love it, and then it went downhill for a reason I can't quite place.

Some points I really did not like: third person point of view. Normally I'm all for it but in this case I found that it made it confusing specifically when the narration would go into flashbacks; this made it hard to keep up when the scene was taking place. I also didn't like that for the most part, Alex would start speaking abruptly (my exact note mid-reading: someone needs to put a bell on this man), it just made his dialogue incredibly awkward. He was also an asshole (excuse my french) in the beginning of the book and I was genuinely confused as to whether or not I was supposed to root for him or not. (Totally off topic but Alex playing for the white house at age 5 was entirely too ridiculous for me to wrap my head around, is this actually a thing that happens??) I also didn't like that the reconciliation at the end felt rushed. Alex and Gwen didn't seem to really talk about all the things that led to their blow-up.

Things I did like: the third-act breakup. Okay, I didn't like the breakup BUT I did like that it was a valid reason. The pair genuinely did need to talk about their different wants in life and while I am an avid hater of the third-act breakup, I liked that it made sense to the couple and didn't feel like it was added just for the drama. This actually reminded me of one more thing I didn't like about the story: the lack of communication between the characters. All I'll say about that is, if you say you're in love with each other, I just think some communication is in order, but that's just me. I also need to mention the fact that their love was so abrupt? You could definitely tell the chemistry was THERE but the way they actually got together felt incredibly abrupt to me; like one second he's an asshole, and the next he needs to have her. But back to the things I did like: the chemistry was insane (the "I need to be in your orbit" love confession, likeeeee). My note while reading was literally: that man is HUNGRYYYYY. So at least they have that going for them?

Writing this review out, I'm noticing that I have a lot of things I didn't like but as a whole this book was thoroughly entertaining. I liked the fact that there wasn't some overarching problem like a lot of books have. At least to me, this book felt like we were being taken along for the ride, which I find much more enjoyable than knowing that there is a problem just around the corner, if that makes sense. Overall, everyone in this book needs therapy and Mabel and Ava need to become a thing (I fully thought that was there big falling out even after the falling out had been revealed).

Thank you for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies from different backgrounds, who find themselves competing for center stage. Tensions between her and Xander escalate; however, despite their initial animosity, their respect for each other's talents sparks a passionate chemistry.

While the romance and chemistry between Gwen and Xander WAS evident, it felt a abrupt and unrealistic.
The stereotypical villain antagonist is what hurt this book the most, it makes the whole plot disjointed.

Wow! This book is incendiary, angsty perfection.

After reading Not Another Love Story and Julie Soto’s previous book, Forget Me Not, I’m convinced that she’s an absolute master at romantic chemistry. I found myself smiling almost every time Gwen and Alex were on page together.

Alex/Xander may very well belong in the book boyfriend Hall of Fame, and Gwen is inherently likeable, something that’s not always a given for career-minded female protagonists.

Beyond the chemistry, there is so much to love about this book:
- Great side characters (Jacob! Mabel! Ava! Ama Torres cameo!).
- A unique dual POV structure. (This also made me smile.)
- A believable enemies-to-lovers plotline (although, like so many books in this trope, the enemies to lovers part is mostly one-sided. It’s clear very early on that Xander is completely gone for Gwen).
- The music. I’m not a musician myself, but my mother was a violinist, and this book brought back many warm memories from my childhood.

(One last, small thing that has no bearing on the actual book – I really enjoyed the ‘Disclaimer’ at the beginning. It’s always nice when the author shares a little bit of their process.)

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Ahhh I loved this so much - it was my first ever Julie Soto book and I loved the characters so much. It was an easy read with the perfect amount of spice/chemistry and actual plot.

This book was so amazing! The chemistry between the two MC’s was off the charts and omg the tension!! I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for everything unfold. That cello scene was chefs kiss!! This book was literal perfection!!

Holy cow, this book was perfection! @juliesotowrites can do no wrong in my eyes!!

Gwen, a prodigy violinist in the Manhattan Pops, takes a side gig to perform in a high profile wedding. At the last minute, it is discovered that the bride meant to hire a cellist, and not wanting to disappoint anyone, Gwen transposes the violin sheet music to cello in her head as she plays.

Xander / Alex, a groomsman in the wedding, and first cellist in the Manhattan Pops, doesn’t recognize Gwen from the orchestra, and insults her musical abilities. Shortly after, Gwen is offered first violin in the Pops - the most prestigious position in the orchestra.

This romance is full of pining! Just imagine two rivals staring each other down on stage during a whole performance.. and it’s Kylie Ren / Rey vibes.

And the cello scene… the cello scene is everything. IYKYK.

I was also a huge fan of the author’s prior book, Forget Me Not, and enjoyed the Ama and Elliot cameos. After reading this, I think it’s safe to say the next book will feature Dom and Mar’s story 🥰

Five ⭐️ for me 💕💕💕

Thank you @netgalley and @readforeverpub 🫶🏻

4.5 stars

I read this book as an ARC.

This book was just a delight. The characters in this book were so tangible in this book in a way that I really like. Seeing the journey the two main characters went on didn't feel stereotypical or rely too heavily on tropes.

This is a nice, quick easy romance to read that you can't help but have a great time with.

5/5 ⭐️

MISS JULIE SOTO - you came and took my world by STORM. You are one book away from being an auto buy author if not for your covers alone (I mean, gosh LOOK AT THAT THING) but because your storytelling makes me want to WEEP (in the best way possible).

I mean the unique plotline to the chemistry between the two mains ugh you spoiled the world with this one 🤍

4.5 stars.

Gwen and Xander meet at a wedding where she’s been hired to perform. And it’s magnetic from the moment they speak. The chemistry between Gwen and Xander was addicting to read. It definitely has some actual spice, but honestly just reading about Xander’s low key obsession with listening to Gwen play music was enough to make my stomach flip. It was that well written.

I enjoyed not only the romance, but the character development. Julie Soto wrote such an amazing story, with characters that have emotional baggage that carries through into their actions now.

Also, thought this book had the perfect blend of dual narration. Primarily from Gwen’s perspective, with chapters here and there from Xander’s.

This book was hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Friends publishing for this ARC copy.

I tend to be a "Ill judge the book by the cover" romance reader. I love bright fun covers, its just how I am. So I was a little hesitant on this - so rude of me..... what a unique and lovely romance novel. It is spiccccyyyyyyy and the scenes numerous reviews mention - its true. This is a rival to lovers trope that takes it up a notch compared to usual romance novels. It is fitting that this will come out in mid July because it will heat you up with all the emotions.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! Their chemistry was on another level. He's so OBSESSED with her, I LOVE IT. And the spice was spicing!!

I really enjoyed the plot lines and the characters. The bit of found family was very sweet. Also the way Julie Soto described the music scenes was so palpable.

I wasn't a fan of Forget Me Not, but I'm so glad I picked this one up!! (I'd say this could be read as a standalone). Totally recommend for romance fans, and especially if music makes you feel something!!

Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC!

I am obsessed with this book. I’ve told all of my friends who love romance that they have to read it and recommended it on my Bookstagram account.

While I played band in high school and definitely had my share of band boy crushes, I never could have captured the sex appeal of a hot guy playing violin and cello. Make it a brooding rock cellist, and I was a goner.

Somehow Julia Soto has made the lottery scene from Ghost even more erotic and I will never look at a cello the same again.

I love the way that Julie Soto writes. In only 2 books she has been an auto buy author for me.

Meeting Gwen at the beginning of her career and Alex at the start of a new chapter makes you hope that they will blend into a beautiful song. You spend the whole novel routing for them to overcome person hang ups while trying to navigate professional issues.

This story is beautifully written melody and I can’t wait to read it again!

this was a different kind of read, it wasnt the worst, but it wasn’t the best. i did manage to get through it.

I had the best time reading this I could not put it down!! I am a big fan of the characterization in this book and this is my new favorite by Soto.

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne find themselves in a push and pull musical relationship after an accidental run in at a wedding. Gwen, self taught starting at age 11, hasn’t had the same intro to the classical music world as Xander who was a child prodigy, born to play, and now a rising rock musician. When Gwen is given first chair, a position Xander had been raised for, the tensions and troubles really begin between the two.

I was so instantly hooked on this book, the dynamic between the characters gives an adult academic rivals type vibe (in a different way). The book is very character driven. The musical setting is new and fun to me, and so enjoyable to read about. I seriously couldn’t put it down!

This book was also very hot!! I wasn’t expecting it, but I loved it. I also adored the chemistry between Alex and Gwen so much, both musically and emotionally. The musical element added an extra layer to their chemistry and I ate it up. And let me say BOY OBSESSED is one of my favorite tropes and Alex is THAT, he’s so obsessed he just doesn’t know what to do with himself!


I know this book might not be for everyone but it was for me and I will be recommending to those who like a fun tension filled romance!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the arc!