I always have to prepare for romcoms by trying to figure out how far removed from reality I have to be to enjoy this book. Sometimes it’s pretty easy to have fun with it and sometimes you have to forget how life really is as you read so that you don’t spend the book internally (or externally really) cringing the entire time. I thought this would be a little more down to earth but I had to readjust my expectations a little bit in so I could enjoy myself.

What I liked, the characters for the most part were characters I enjoyed reading about. I rooted for them and I enjoyed that there were a multitude of relationships beyond just the two intended lovers. They weren’t cookie cutter characters and there was character development that for the most part made sense. I maybe was annoyed with how much of a plot device Alex’s duel personas were and was annoyed with the conflict but I get it. It was hard for me to really buy into this whole character’s history and character arc which is where I had to take a moment to readjust my reality with this book.

The writing was totally fine. Nothing that really blew my socks off with prose or creativity but also not usually what I see in these kinds of books. Overall, you want a fun and easy to follow romcom and you get a fun and easy to follow romcom. It’s a great book to read quickly between the heavier stuff or read on vacation. Would absolutely (and probably will) pick up other books by Julie for when I need a little joy in my life.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I was hashtag blessed to receive an ARC from NetGalley.

I thought Julie's first book, Forget Me Not, was amazing and didn't think there was any way to top it. Thankfully I was very wrong (and there may or may not be a cameo from those characters). Not Another Love Song is the beautiful story of Gwen and Xander that I will never do justice with my words. They are not nearly as beautiful as the authors. The only thing they truly have in common is their love of music, particularly string instruments. They play together in a city orchestra where Gwen is trying to do her best and move up in the ranks. Xander is a member of a hot music group and doesn't really need to be taking up a spot in this comparatively small time orchestra.

When they find themselves making music together, the sparks fly between them and inspiration strikes musically. However, there are people on both sides who are using Gwen and Xander's talents, and their relationship, to their advantage. Xander thought he put a situation like that behind him and is adamant that it doesn't happen to Gwen, even if it could help her career.

Julie Soto has, in the span of two books, become one of those authors I will always read. If you don't feel her stories viscerally, check your pulse because you may have expired. The attraction between Gwen and Xander leaps off the page and pulls you onto an emotional rollercoaster whether you are willing to ride or not. I was so sucked in that I only got about 4 hours of sleep after staying up all night to read. Highly recommend listening the the pieces at the beginning of the chapters while you read because it heightens everything.

This is my favorite book of the year so far and will definitely be the one I'm recommending to everyone.

I didn’t know string instruments could get down like that but I sure know better now.

I absolutely ate this book up, could not put it down. All day I’d tell myself, *If you just get this thing done then you can go read another chapter,* and then I’d accidentally read five chapters… needless to say I didn’t get a lot done.

I find Julie Soto’s writing so easy and pleasurable to sink into and I loved this premise so much. Similar to her debut *Forget Me Not,* the premise was a fun and unique sandbox to play in. The dynamics of the Pops Orchestra, its many musicians, its financial obligations, its practices and concerts created so many opportunities for fun and tension. I read a lot of contemporary romance and love a unique setting/situation that differentiates a book.

There was also a lot to love in the side characters and the depth they provided to the conflict. I especially loved that Nathan and Calvin weren’t juxtaposed as good father/bad father and instead both had their issues and their impact on Alex. It felt more real.

All in all, so so fun to read. I think I liked this even better than *Forget Me Not*, partly for how much I liked the music situation and partly because I think her writing grew. There were a few issues, which I’ll get to next, but since they didn’t distract me from reading this VORACIOUSLY, I’m rounding this up to the full five stars for fun factor.

The main issue I had with this was one I had with her previous book as well, and I suspect it’s a result of the transition from fanfiction to original trad pub. I felt like I didn’t get enough of our main characters’ personalities. In fanfiction, since you’re working with characters that people already know, you don’t have to do as much characterization. Additionally, knowing that this was originally Reylo (not that that changes the fact that this is supposed to be standalone contemporary fiction), Kylo Ren and Rey don’t get a whole lot of time to chat and get to know each other in canon, so their dynamic is still somewhat undefined outside of their draw to each other via the force. I needed to know these character’s personalities better and I needed to know *why* they got along and liked each other.

It was clear they had that draw through music, which I actually really enjoyed—seeing them recognize something in the music of the other, seeing how their relationship spurred their creativity and passion, was a very cool dynamic. But I needed like, a conversation where I saw their personalities interacting with each other and could tell they matched well.

The other issue I had is that a few things got brushed over and even though I understand them not being the focus, I would’ve liked a teeny tiny bit more info! Who am I if not a nosy bitch?

Anyways, I definitely plan on continuing to read everything Julie Soto comes out with because I enjoy her writing so so much.

The Manhattan Pops orchestra is lucky enough to have 2 incredible musicians. Gwen Jackson is a self taught violinist & Xander Thorn who is a famous cellist and part time rockstar! While Gwen knows everything about Xander and may even have his poster on her wall, Xander hasn’t given her the time of day. It isn’t until Gwen is offered the first chair position that catches Xanders attention.

I know hardly anything about symphonies or classical music but damn if I didn’t want to rush out and buy tickets to a show!

The chemistry and tension between these two!!! 🥵 wow.

This book hit all the right notes 😉

Perfect if you like:
Opposites Attract
Workplace Romance
Rivals to Lovers
He Falls First
Found Family
Music Prodigies
Third Person POV

I loved this book! My only complaint: the ending felt like it was slightly rushed. I wish it was more. I would have loved to read a few more chapters for it to feel complete.

I was so excited and grateful to receive this ARC copy! Thank you Julie Soto & Grand Central Publishing!

The vibes for this book were “Nora Ephron movie but make it spicy.”

I read a lot of contemporary romance novels, but it’s been a while since one has hit me the way Not Another Love Song did. In fact, this book has now set a new bar that all the novels I read will have to reach to earn a five-star rating. There were so many points while reading when I was squealing, giggling, kicking my feet, screaming.

Here’s what you can expect when reading Not Another Love Song:

- Romantic leads who are absolutely obsessed with each other
- MMC who is a walking red flag until we get to know him
- A glimpse at what life as a professional classical musician could look like in a world that supports the performing arts
- Complex and interesting side characters
- Swoony declarations of love

It was perfect. I have no notes.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book for me to review.

Oh man how I wanted to love this one!
I enjoyed it! But didn’t love it.
The antagonists were so obvious and it took the heroine sooooo long to discover this.
I liked the couple but felt like they were in love with each other before they had any real conversations including hard truths.
Overall I enjoyed the read but wouldn’t reread.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

4.5⭐️

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGally for an honest review.

Julie Soto does it again!! What an absolutely beautiful story that had me in all my feels. Honestly just go ahead and preorder this and mark your calendar for delivery.

This is a sweet romance with a unique storyline and a hint of coming-of-age. Two musicians, in the same orchestra, but with very different career paths, collide in an unexpected way. But she has his poster on her wall and he…doesn’t know who she is 😬 There’s a touch of rivals to lovers, but neither one can deny their attraction or mutual respect for long.

I liked getting small snippets of Alex’s pov and I think we needed that to get to know his character more. The romance focused mostly on physical attraction and their musical compatibility; I would have liked to see more of them really getting to know each other. It came off as a little insta-lovey even though Gwen did make him work for it a little bit.

There were a few places where Alex was swoon-worthy and I really wanted more of that dynamic! His character took a step back, in my opinion, when the 3rd act break-up happened but Gwen was equally as frustrating.

I did really love how everything resolved at the end and how all the interwoven characters came together. Overall it was a really enjoyable read that kept me invested in the story. Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for an arc to read & review.

Rivals to lovers but make them first chairs in an orchestra? Okkkkk. I see what we’re doing here! And yep, there’s a cello scene that is very spicy.

This book is full of tension and angst. And the writing felt poetic. I was fully immersed in this world of music and that was my favorite part of the book.

I’m a big fan of Julie Soto’s debut, Forget Me Not, and loved seeing some character crossover in Not Another Love Song.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and another great book from Julie Soto.

Thank you to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the advanced copy!

Gwen is a violinist and unexpectedly performs the cello at a wedding. Her coworker Xander is in the wedding, doesn’t recognize her, and criticizes her performance. However, Gwen captures Xander’s attention and they quickly become rivals at Carnegie Hall. Their rivalry might become something special if they can manage to create beautiful music together.

First, it must be said that Julie Soto is a talented writer. I loved the way the story is written and the characters are well developed. I must admit that music is not an interest of mine, and the story is very music-heavy. I’m sure it will appeal more to those who aren’t tone deaf and have an interest in orchestral music. However, the storyline was interesting and captured my attention.

Thank you to Julie Soto and Forever Pub for my eARC and the opportunity to be an early reader and reviewer.

Gwen is a self-taught violinist who plays for the Manhattan Pops. Xander was considered a child prodigy and is now a famous cellist. He splits his time between playing with the Pops and going on tour with his band. Their rivalry commences when Gwen is offered a position within the orchestra that Xander was under the impression belonged to him. They develop feelings for each other as they work together, but can they each have what they want professionally and still be together?

Julie Soto’s other novel, Forget Me Not, was one of my favorite books in 2023, so I was very much looking forward to this one. It definitely did not disappoint me. While my musical journey ended with middle school band (outside of taking violin lessons for a few years as an adult – which I highly recommend if you’ve ever been interested!), reading about their roles in the orchestra and composing and playing music was interesting. Both Gwen and Xander had a lot of past personal and professional issues to work through, which I thought were handled well. I liked the tension between them as rival musicians and watching them slowly fall in love. My only issue with the book was that I wish the end were drawn out more. It felt rushed, tying up all loose ends too quickly. I rarely finish a book and want to reread it immediately, but that happened with this one.

Many thanks to author Julie Soto, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of Not Another Love Song in exchange for my review.

Not Another Love Song

4.5 ⭐️

Ohmygosh. This book reminded me of my love for classical music in the best way. I feel like I’m late to the Julie Soto fan club; I’m definitely going to have to go back and read her other books.

I was hooked from the opening scene when Gwen, a violinist, has to play in a wedding on a cello. Definitely not an easy thing to transpose on the fly. Throughout Gwen’s rise to the first chair role in a Pop Orchestra, she and Alex connect at every turn.

Not Another Long Song had me transported into a concert hall and wanting to learn to play the violin. So happy I got to read this one from @netgalley!

I was so excited to get my hands on the next Julie Soto book ahead of its publication this summer!! Not Another Love Song is about two musicians - one with humble beginnings, and one with a lot of support behind the fame - and how they are drawn together by music and attraction. Both working for the fictional Manhattan Pops, Gwen and Xander are thrown together as leaders in their orchestra. I thought the story was rich in detail; I loved learning about the way the Pops was instrumental in Xander's life and how their music careers had overlapping elements. Nothing felt forced - Gwen is naturally talented but not a musical prodigy with no flaws, and Xander is complicated without being broody and unreasonable. The chemistry and dialogue was awesome and there are some spicy scenes which felt natural to the plot. Soto improves upon her excellent writing in this sophomore novel, and I'm happy to say she stuck the landing.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

Reading this book made me feel the same way I did the first time I ever watched “Maestro in the Jungle” - where you just immediately get pulled into this immersive whimsical musical world and see the beauty alongside the darker parts of the industry. I cannot believe that this is a Reylo orchestra fan fiction, I am beyond obsessed with it. The relationship development was so well paced and I really only have positive things to say. This blew my expectations out of the water, I loved it!

<I>Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.</I>

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley & Julie Soto for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Rights and Wrong Series girlies KNOW that Julie can write a love story but how fun to read her work on a new platform!!! I was so entertained by this and couldn’t put it down. The coexisting breezy-ness with the tension reminded me of Ali Hazelwood and I can’t wait to read more Miss Julie!!

This book was absolutely perfect. The tension and chemistry between Alex and Gwen were insane, and I loved watching their relationship grow so much. Julie Soto did such a great job with the romance in this book! I wasn't a super big fan of Forget Me Not, but I adored this book so much. I loved the setting and the background; I haven't read too many books about professional classical musicians, so I thought this was really interesting! The descriptions of the characters and their connections to the music were great, and honestly, this book made me want to go listen to a live orchestra.

The writing in this book was phenomenal; Julie Soto's writing is so descriptive and flows so well! The plot was very engaging (I read this in under one day), and I wish it was longer than it was, even though I loved the ending, too. The side characters were amazing, and I liked getting to see characters from Forget Me Not as well. Jacob and Declan were really great side characters, and I loved Gwen and Mabel's relationship as well.

Overall, I would completely recommend this book, even if you didn't love Forget Me Not! :)

Julie Soto already was an auto-buy for me, and I feel so privileged to read this ahead of time! First, I must say that the cover is absolutely gorgeous and fits the story so perfectly, down to his caress of her neck and his fingers tapping out the notes. The prose is absorptive, and the plot carries us through seamlessly. Overall, it was a complete pleasure to read. The sexy scenes echo what I loved so much about several other recent favorites Birding with Benefits (Sarah T Dubb) and What is Love (Jen Comfort), where the characters are overtaken by lust during a scene sharing a common interest and the result is HOT HOT HOT. Yet, the writing is exquisitely sensual and melancholy in a way that is completely fitting to Alex and Gwen's story. Just for fun, I was THRILLED to see Ama and Elliot again from Forget Me Not, along with some other Easter Eggs (even TSwift ones)! There was just a hint but now I'm shipping Dominic and Mar, the wedding photographer for her next novel out 2025!

This book is for music lovers. A cellist and a violinist, where he falls first. Both come from different backgrounds, but their love of music leads them to each other. The ending was sweet. .

It took me about 50% of the book to really get into the story. Initially, I found myself looking up definitions for the all the music terminology, but when I just focused on the story, I enjoyed it much more.

In short, Gwen was orphaned and dreams of success and family. Xander(Alex) was born into a musically known family, but wants to find his own path in the music world. By chance, Xander meets Gwen at a friend's wedding, not realizing that they both work for the same Pops orchestra. The tension you feel as they later see each other at "work" is fantastic. When I see a cello and violin, I'll be thinking of Gwen and Xander and the seductive way they played music for each other.

Highlights:
*Found Family- I love how supporting both their circles were for both of our main characters.
*He falls first and hard - I love how vulnerable Alex was.
*Orchestra music references.

3.5/5

This book was soooooo cute. The way their music was used as a love connection was so insane.

This was my first book by Julie and I will be reading her future ones that is for sure.

It’s so sweet, with depth, family drama, deep connection, some spice. I felt so entranced by their story and how both o it main characters have struggled and overcome barriers to come out on top.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this in advanced in exchange for my honest opinion.

What do you get when a super star cellist and rising star vilionist come together in a rivals to lovers story by Julie Soto? You get a hot and spicy, chemistry filled page turner that you cannot put down - that's what!

The chemistry and tension between Xander and Gwen is off the charts. Damn. Not Another Love Song was so enjoyable - definitely one to read - especially if you like rivals to lovers. I was sold on Julie Soto after Forget Me Not but now there's no question she is a must buy author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.