The cello scene 🤭🤭🤭 being ON the cover???? 5 stars alone for that innovation. Besides that, I loved that this was an emotional love story and that we came along on Gwen and Alex's journey to escape the toxic relationships around them and forge a new path. I was rooting for them the whole time and could relate to many of their dilemmas. Julie Soto is an insta buy for me after Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Story

Everyone else can stop trying this is the MY FAVORITE romance book I have read this year and boy howdy it’s gonna be hard to top 😤

Okay so I read Forget Me Not via audio a few months ago and I thought to myself “why tf aren’t we talking about this more???” and so when silly lil Julie Soto opened downloads for this ARC on APRIL FOOL’S DAY I ran my ass to NetGalley to get it.

I had trouble breathing for a large portion of this novel. I laughed out loud (I know people say that to be funny or exaggerate or whatever but I ACTUALLY did), I gasped in shock, and there was one scene that was so hot I had to put down my pint of Ben and Jerry’s and go walk around for a while afterwards.

Apparently I’m into smutty Reylo fanfics now oops. Adam Driver types always wear Henleys and it always works. I was not expecting to add an auto-buy author to my list but godDAMMIT Julie Soto is firmly on it now 🫡

Go preorder it now I am SOOOO serious!!!! Idc that I read it for free…I have already purchased a pre-order copy because of this week’s damn BN sale 🎻 I would bake Julie Soto a bunch of cookies and make her a million iced vanilla lattes if I ever get to meet her and have her sign books for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Forever Grand Central publishing for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a (maybe too) honest review.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

This was a really fun easy read. I got in my head a bit from the note at the beginning saying it started as Reylo fanfic.

The chemistry between Gwen and Xander was okay. Sometimes it felt like they had a ton and other times like they didn’t have any at all. Overall great read.

I truly loved Gwen and Alex, and how their story unfolded. The scene that inspired the cover was absolute perfection, one of my favorite things I've read in months. I love a rivals-to-lovers story, and the YEARNING in this one was so good. I loved their tension.
What makes this book shine is Julie's way of truly capturing a setting. As others have attested, I know only so much about the lives of classical musicians. She truly helps us understand what these characters' lives are like and why they are so passionate about what they do. The way she writes about music is lovely, which makes this book stand out in a sea of romances that don't delve into their characters' lives and motivations in the same way.
I think this could have been a five-star book for me, but it was just missing something. I liked the glimpses of Alex's POV, but I wanted to understand his backstory and motivations a little more. The third act conflict also felt rushed.
Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The tension was sizzling hot and the banter was so good. I was kicking my feet and squealing while reading this book. I had a great time reading it and as a mood reader, this is the most important thing. To make it more of an immersive experience, I played the songs mentioned during different scenes. 10/10 recommend. I’m hoping the stories in this world will continue so we can see where they are in the future!

The only thoughts I have for this book are loud screeching sounds and keyboard smashes. OBSESSED. The TENSION. The YEARNING. The PASSION. The MUSIC. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book and I need to hold it in my hands and read it again and again. I truly mean it when I say that I devoured this book and could not put it down. Had to stay up until 2 am to finish it and immediately wanted to reread it when I was done. Gwen and Xander 4ever. I will read anything that Julie Soto writes.

There's something about the way that Soto writes that makes it impossible to put her books down.

I really love when authors cameo characters from previous books in new works. It makes me happy.

This was a great second book from Soto and I can't wait to see what else she writes.

This story was so well written and offered a unique plot with realistic characters. The author really goes into detail when describing the classical music scene as well as the music itself, which I know must have took time and effort to pull off. I have read a lot of romance novels, and the characters and tropes can become so redundant, which is why I appreciated this story so much.

I'm at a loss for words to express my feelings about this story. Having the opportunity to read it not once, but twice, feels incredibly fulfilling. A few years back, I stumbled upon a little online community where I came across a fanfic called "The Food of Love." That story lingered in my mind, and now, I've had the chance to experience it all over again, as if for the first time. "Not Another Love Song" exceeded all my expectations and then some. The characters felt fresh and authentic, which is rare for me when it comes to contemporary romance. I found myself utterly engrossed—I couldn't put it down. One thing's for certain: I'll eagerly devour anything Julie Soto writes.

Wow, this book was amazing. The longing and sexual tension is so palpable throughout the plot. The cello scene!? Come on now. I’ll never be able to look at a cello the same way again. I also enjoyed this story because it was (in my eyes, at least), a unique take on a romance story that I previously had never thought about before, and I’ve attended many concert hall performances. The banter and jokes were also on point. Julie Soto does a great job of making Xander and Gwen to be both complex characters on their own and weaves a beautiful love story intertwining the two.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early! As someone who grew up in orchestra, I really enjoyed the music aspect of this book.

The writing was beautiful and I could practically hear the music described on the page.

A enemies to lovers trope with LOTS of chemistry. I felt the plot slowed a bit for me at times but really enjoyed the book.

I am so happy I received my copy of "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto. I love her first novel, "FORGET ME NOT," and I can't wait to see Gwen and Xander's story. Truly enemies to lovers with spicy. Thank you, Forever (Grand Central Publishing).

A moment of silence for the stunning cover. When I already thought Forget Me Not was beautiful, Not Another Love Song blew it out of the park. So romantic!

Anyways, Not Another Love Song is based in busting New York City about two musical prodigies - a violinist, Gwen Jackson, and rock star cellist Xander Thorne who happen to both be playing for the Manhattan Pops. When Gwen has the opportunity to become part of the spotlight, the broody cellist takes notice and tension builds from there.

Right off the bat, (I LOVED Forget Me Not, what a fantastic debut from the author), so seeing not only the cover of Julie's second novel but having the novel based on music had me excited! In this novel, the writing was definitely a bit more lyrical which I appreciated. Kudos to Julie always writing a delectable love scene. Oh Xander.. Also the added bonus of cameos from the characters of Forget Me Not - was a sweet treat!

However, I could not feel the emotional connection between the two. It's a me thing and I don't like insta-love... and to me this novel does fall under the trope. Don't get me wrong - the tension was there but there lacked an emotional depth that made their relationship a bit surface level. Their overwhelming attraction and obsession with each other was a bit too much. Coming from someone who has played a musical instrument, I enjoyed the musical terminology but for someone who may have no background - I could see how difficult it would be for someone to follow.

Read if you like;
- Dual POV (mainly in Gwen's POV)
- Insta-love
- Musical elements/terminology (if you're not well verse in it, might be a distraction!!)
- Third person
- Spiiiiicay love scenes

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

There is so much passion in Xander and Gwen’s story that words don’t truly cover it. Everything about this was perfect, and every part of them and their bleeding hearts need to be protected at all costs. Julie truly delivered beyond compare, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Easy 5 ⭐️ This was one of those books that I know is going to stay with me for a while. I never thought I’d be swooning over a cellist, yet here I am.

This was written really well. All of the characters have distinct personalities with identifiable traits. I enjoyed how the relationship between Alex and Gwen was built slowly and genuinely. It was a refreshing romance from many of the others I’ve been reading lately; the problems they faced felt real, the disagreements felt valid, and their relationship felt authentic. And the spice and chemistry were definitely there. I loved this and can’t wait to read more from this author.

Just absolutely beautiful, infinity stars. Julie Soto does it again.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for an honest review!

Do I know anything about music? No. Did this book make me feel things about violin and cello compositions that would have never occurred to me otherwise? Absolutely.

Xander Thorne felt like a different kind of grumpy MMC. He felt less grumpy and just straight up intense. I love how he pushed Gwen and could see everything she could be. Their relationship was so full of love and honesty 🥹

I also really loved the sense of family that’s built. We have a lot of reconnections and honest communication that ends up happening. I cried during the Christmas scene at Mabel’s house 😭

I’m anxiously awaiting Julie Soto’s next book!!!

“‘It’s simple really, he said. ‘It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.’”

Here’s the thing about Julie Soto. I absolutely love her. And admire her. I knew from the first chapter I would fall in love with the characters in this story and I absolutely did. They were raw and vulnerable and flawed. I have never been one to feel passionately about music but man did this story change that for me.

Julie’s writing is beautiful. Her knowledge of music and ability to intertwine that with an amazing love story is truly magnificent. Alex (Xander) and Gwen are two people I will not soon forget. I wouldn’t call this enemies to lovers, but it definitely walked that line and I was here for it.

I loved Gwen’s found family contested with Alex’s separation from his family and I love how all those aspects of both their lives found a way to weave themselves together. The conflict was captivating and kept me flipping from page to page without being frustrating or infuriating as sometimes romance novel conflicts can be. I was as so immersed in this story it was hard to come out of the fog.

I don’t know what else to say other than give her the five stars, read this book and get ready for 2025 because I will read anything Julie writes from here on out. Her stories are love potions and I am hooked.

Beautiful, fu****g beautiful is what this masterpiece of a book is. First, the lyrical writing, the prose! Julie Soto did her thing. She must of done extensive research on Violin and Cello players, because the music lingo felt legit. Thank you for amplifying my love of string instruments 🎻. Second, the love story between Xander (Alex) and Gwen told through orchestral music, was something I didn’t know I badly needed. It was sweet, tender, emotional, and SEXY as hell. And not in a sexy because it’s spicy kind of way, even though the spice was good 👌🏼. But in a “let me make love to you on stage every night” kind of way…are you kidding me Xander? New book boyfriend level unlocked! My only complaint about this book is that it ended, I wish it would have gone on forever…I wasn’t ready to leave Gwen and Xanders world, I was fully immersed. I found myself being able to hear their compositions in my head, even though im not a musician. I could envision them playing on stage, the studio, rehearsals. Honestly this book made me forget I was reading 😊. I also really enjoyed most of the side characters, and loved the Ama and Elliot cameos. I have a feeling the next book will be about Dom (Xanders band member) and Mar (Ama’s best fiend)…and I’m not mad at it. All in all this book was amazing, and dare I say my favorite romance of the year so far 🫶🏼. It was just different, it read differently and it hit differently. Everything that the main characters went through I felt…their insecurities, their longing, their attraction, the way they supported and encouraged each other. If you want to read a book about rivals (sort of) to lovers, with good chemistry/tension that leads to a steamy two people one chair one cello scene 🥵, a book about love through music and music through love, read this! You won’t be disappointed. Thank you Net Galley and Forever for the advance reader copy, I’ll be doing a second (and third and fourth) read right away. I can’t wait for the audiobook, so I can devour the book in that format too. ♾️⭐️

WOW! This book. 4.5 stars. I loved it. Set in NYC, this is a romance between a violinist and rock cellist in the Manhattan Pops, a popular music orchestra. This was a unique romance novel in a sea of super similar contemporary romance novels, of which I read many of. My friend asked me what the tropes were and surprisingly I couldn’t just rattle off several, as I often can.

Scenes in this book were sensual and erotic in the very best way. The cello scene—I’m blushing just thinking about it, and spicy books DON’T make me blush!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! If you have a love for stringed instruments, I would say drop everything and read immediately.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an eARC!

Julie Soto hit it out of the park again. I think I love this one even more than Forget Me Not. I love music and have played instruments for many years, so Gwen and Xander easily stole my heart with their passion for their music.

I'm not big on spicy scenes, so the first half of the book was my favorite. There were a lot of spicy scenes in the second half, but I was able to skim through them without feeling like the story lost too much momentum.

The supporting characters were wonderful and I love how everything was resolved. But Gwen and Xander were so magnetic, especially together. They just shone off the page. I really felt their fears and anxieties and dreams and it was so uplifting watching them take charge of their careers and lives.

I flew through the book in two days with a huge smile on my face the entire time. I will absolutely be reading whatever Julie Soto writes next.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for providing an early copy for review.