This was a fun fan-fic read with great chemistry between the leads. But I found the characters a but immature/hard for me to relate to.

WOW! This cover is gorgeous and the story was perfect! I personally come from a violin background so I thought this was such a fun read. I was a bit hesitant with Xander but he really grew on me as I continued to read. Gwen, I loved seeing her grow in confidence in herself. I find myself relating to her so it was really great to see the growth. I loved every part of the book but the ending did seem a little flat to me due to the ending feeling quite rushed. Despite that, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by Julie Soto.

Love Julie Soto’s books, and great cover art! The musical references were not something I was familiar with, and the characters were a bit hard to relate to, but this is a solid book.

This was a cute easy read ! I also had no idea it would be so hot to read about violins and cellos. The journey that these two characters went through together and separate hurt and healed my heart. I really think Julie Soto may be a go to author for me. The writing and story flowed really well together and I did not want to put the book down.

I devoured Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto in one sitting and absolutely loved it! While it’s not quite enemies-to-lovers, Alex’s standoffish, rude vibe toward Gwen added a delicious tension that had me hooked. The music references were a perfect touch, and that cello scene? 🔥 Pure fire. The characters’ growth and development were beautifully done, and I was fully invested in their journey. A super sexy read with an engaging plot—I’m still thinking about it!

I featured this book in a new release video prior to publication and was very excited to read another banger by Julie Soto!! I gave Forget Me Not 5 stars so I KNOW I'm going to love this author's emotional punch mixed with electric chemistry. Plus, I played French horn for 7 years and lmao band love is eternal 😂. Will update when final review posts, but I'm expecting 5 stars!

I flew through this book! It was a great time and definitely a great follow up to Forget Me Not! Gwen and Xander put me through the wringer, but I loved the two of them together!

This book was absolutely enchanting! I loved the forced proximity that being in the orchestra together created and the added mystery of who Xander Throne really was. His rudeness actually made him endearing to me and l loved his teasing on Gwen. The tension between them was absolutely incredible, that cello/violin session they shared together was full of so much chemistry and sexual tension it was no wonder they exploded together! The musical element added such a wonderful undercurrent to the story and had me seeking out beautiful music after I finished reading! Definitely a story I would re-read.

This was one of my absolute favorite books of the YEAR!! The tension, the banter, the angst, the resolution. The romantic chemistry between Gwen and Xander was spectacular and I was rooting for them from the very beginning. The sex scenes were also HOT but did not overwhelm the overall pacing of the story, it was just right.
I love the research and knowledge on music that was spread throughout the book as well as on composition.
I look forward to the rest of Julie Sotos books. This was my first one and I was so impressed with her storytelling, wit and humor.

Did you know that Julie Soto and Ali Hazelwood are besties? I think they bonded over writing Reylo fanfics. But this is the next level, it’s not Reylo anymore, this is The Love Hypothesis fanfic. There’s even a gay best friend/roommate and an Asian bestie with a boyfriend called Jeremy.

My expectations were not high since many friends didn’t enjoy this book, but I had to give it a shot, I have a soft spot for musicians. I’m so glad I did because it was exactly what I needed. There was music induced chemistry, a grumpy hero who falls first, a likable heroine and plenty of spice.

So if you like Ali Hazelwood, there’s a good chance you’ll like Julie Soto too.

I loved this book with my entire heart. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me swoon.

The biggest thank you to NetGalley and to Forever Publishing for the eARC.

4.5🌟 this book was CRAZY (positive) in the way that it had me running laps around the room because WHEWWWW! the angst and tension and pining, just writing this review has me in need of a re-read🫦 this truly would've been a 5 star read if the third act breakup was believable... just know, MY alex would never do all that!

* thank you netgalley & forever publishing for the eARC!

What a beautiful story!
From the moment we start reading this book, it's honestly impossible to put it down. Julie Soto has such a unique and special talent with words that feel like a warm hug and hit us right in the feels.

This book is nothing like I read before, and I didn't think I could love a classical music themed book as much as I did.
The tension between Alex and Gwen made my heart beat faster. The rivals to lovers was executed to perfection! This book is so delicious, sexy, and it gave my romantic heart everything I could've hoped for, and more.

I received an ARC of this book and while I am SUPER late on this, I was highly anticipating it and it was worth the wait! I adored Forget Me Not and just knew Soto was going to knock this one outta the park too! I was excited to read a romance centered around musicians in the classical/orchestral realm and I was not disappointed. The characters were rich and well rounded, the plot has depth and some mystery to it, the romance was relatable and so poignant, and the tension was top tier! I scored Xander/Alex and the duality that came with that—his complicated past and present dueling with his expectations and family traditions with making his own way and name—it was very compelling! Then we also have the complicated and rough backstory of Gwen and her talent and dreams compounded with the force of nature that is Mabel. The backstory between Mabel, Nathan, and Ava kept you wondering, as well. But, I think what I loved the most was the love story of Gwen and Alex/Xander and how the music was a language of its own—how they connected, expressed, created, came together and were torn apart, and were innately shaped by their talent and passion. Beautifully written and super enjoyable!

What a great book! Set in New York City, Gwen and Xander embark on a music journey that eventually intertwines as they get closer to their goal. It is pretty evident they are both driven people, who will give it their all to get what they want. Having an amazing chemistry on-stage, they have to battle their feelings to each other off-stage. What I loved most about it, is the tension the readers get to witness in every interaction.

A beautiful story. Julie has a way with words that feel like a warm hug. This story was so unique. Unlike anything I’ve ever read. It was sensual, mysterious, amazing. I loved all the music references. I loved watching Gwen and Alex connect and grow. The ending made me cry. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful love story.

Really enjoyed this one from Julie Soto. Loved the music and orchestra background. The attraction was a little too quick to be an enemies to lovers but I loved the romance anyway. I will definitely read more from Soto.

as a fellow orchestra girl, I freaking loved this!!!! had so so much fun reading. and hello - this is the sexiest cover EVERRRR! these two had such great chemistry!

Thank you so much readforeverpub and @netgalley for the copy of this eARC!

This was my first Julie Sotos book and I absolutely enjoyed it and her writing was beautiful. This book is about rival musicians in an orchestraI. I enjoyed all the music references. I had no idea that a cello and violin could be so sexy! That cello scene it's gonna live rent free in my mind!

Let me start by saying Xander did not impress me at first…..but then I fell in love with Xander and Gwen intense romance. It was beautiful and romantic. I love how they brought out the best in each other. Their chemistry was everything and the spice in the book was really caliente (hot). 

Now i really want to go read Forget me not adding it to my TBR.

P.S. I love the cover is so magical

I’m actually sad to say, I was left disappointed.
Did I find this book entertaining at times? Sure, sometimes I had a good chuckle and that can be a nice thing.
Was it a good quality book? Absolutely not. If anything, I really had to suspend my disbelief just to get through it.

I was pretty excited about this book because of how many people I’ve seen say good things about it, but it was a bummer that this book basically had the same structure as Forget Me Not did. There are two main characters who hardly have any other characteristics about them other than what their occupations are, and from the beginning of both books the reader can easily tell who is going to be the antagonist.

Honestly I wish this book was perfect because I would love nothing more than to read a well researched romance on two people in an orchestra setting. As someone who has played an instrument, has sight read music, and has had to transpose music, it was incredibly irritating to see even the music portion of the book described. Sight reading and transposing are incredibly hard already, so you're telling me that Gwen can sight read and transpose at the same time all in her head, but she can't be thinking too much in her head or too much about the music because then she'll sound bad? That's just unrealistic brother.

I think what I really struggled with was the fact that there was hardly any character development whatsoever combined with how predictable everything was, and I genuinely think that has to do with this previously being a fanfic. I have no problem with people wanting to get their fanfics traditionally published, I think it's great, but I find that more often than not it doesn't transfer over well. I love fanfiction, but when it gets turned into a traditionally published book I don't want it to read like a fanfic, I want it to read like a good book. There was no development, no chemistry, while reading this book I probably would not be able to tell you what Gwen looked like at all without looking at the cover because there was no description, Gwen and Xander hardly had any personalities other than music, and nearly every scene in this book read like a fanfic. From the food fight, to Gwen just so happening to be a fan of Xander’s band, to the creepy villain agent, to the accidental like on Instagram; I would have thought that this was one of those One Direction y/n fanfics I read in middle school if only the man on the cover didn't look so much like Adam Driver. I think if I have to read about how Xander’s eyes darkened, or I have to hear about his Ray Bans, or him running his hand through his hair one more time I might just scream. The amount of times it was mentioned was wild.

Also, because I know it's nearing the end of 2024, I genuinely hope that in 2025 I will never have to see a book where the male love interest says that he turned his ex into a lesbian. Let's not do that, thanks.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for a gifted arc of this book. Sorry, this is my honest opinion.