Huge fan of "Forget Me Not" so this was one of my most anticipated new releases of the year and it did not disappoint! Gwen and Xander were both complex, and loveable characters in their own right but together they were fantastic. I love how the story handled how we bring past trauma with us into our relationships and did so in such an authentic and honest way. I was rooting for the characters so hard but each misstep and bad decision felt understandable in a way that made me love the characters even more. Finished this book in one day and immediately pre-ordered a physical copy!

Julie Soto out here making me adore her books 🥰
First with a wedding planner and florist and now she’s out here having me read about a violinist and cellist and I never thought a story could be so hot 🥵

I ate this book up, the tension was giving!! I couldn’t put this book down and I wanted more!! I really appreciated that this story was unique and different from my typical romance stories and I loved seeing the music and orchestra aspect and the feel of being in New York. I would’ve liked there to be more at the end and little more fighting and groveling with Gwen and Xander, it did feel a bit too insta lovey and wanted more chemistry build up beside music, but overall this was a fun read and I’m glad Alex found his muse and they made beautiful music together 💕

4.5⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the ARC

OMG! I almost read this entire book in one sitting since I could not bring myself to put it down. From the first moment we get to see Gwen and Xander interact with their music, I was hooked! Even as someone who does not know much about musical instruments and orchestra, I absolutely was blown away by the description of their performances and how the music was intertwined with the relationship development throughout the story. Another Reylo fanfic 10/10 for those who love a grumpy, obsessed main guy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Julie Soto for the ARC. And yes, I ran to the site when I saw this was available for request!

Wow, this was a masterpiece. The tension? The pining? The drama? The musical references? It was all just perfection. This was so different and unique and the premise was a spectacularly written twist on academic rivals to lovers. There was so much yearning, but it worked so well. I loved how Alex fell in love with Gwen for her talent, which is so often overlooked in favor of looks when it comes to romance books. I loved all of the side characters and how each and every one of them played a part in Gwen and Alex's journey. Each character was complex and dynamic and they were flawed, but this made them more relatable. The cover is absolutely GORGEOUS and basically depicts - in my opinion - the best scene in the book. The tension and yearning in this book certainly leads to some incredibly hot spicy scenes, especially their first time together. I think this was so well depicted and so in tune with both characters and how they felt during that particular moment in time, and I just cannot get over how good it is. It was so magical to be in those moments with them when they were playing - whether together or separately - and I think Julie Soto was a genius for the way in which she wrote these scenes. What a beautiful story that uses music to tell its tale!

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Soto, and Forever for the eARC of this book.

I enjoyed this book! Will definitely pick up more from Author Julie Soto. I took up playing violin during the pandemic as an adult, so it was fun to see a romantic story centered around string instruments in NYC.

Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto out July 16, 2024.

I LOVED "Forget Me Not" by Julie and so I've been eagerly awaiting the release of this book and was so excited for a chance to read an advance copy! This book did not disappoint. It was so enjoyable- I had been in a reading rut and I devoured this book. I made myself take a break just so I could savor it a little longer. And the cello seen.....ifykyk.

This is a must read for fans of romance, especially if you liked her first book. Julie Soto has definitely become an auto buy author for me!

First, thank you for allowing me the opportunity of reading this early. I truly enjoyed this one, and happy to provide a few thoughts on the experience. Frankly, it was life altering listening to orchestral covers while reading this book. And yes, I'm starting violin lessons this week don't @ me (not joking). I thought this book was exceptionally original. Soto knows romance and she does it well.

She is surely an up an comer, with two books on her resume now. She is entering the chat with Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry. I'm ready for the next book, Madam.

My chief complaint is that this book was TOO short. I think there could have been more yearning, more stakes, more personality, more plot with an upped page count. And it got to a point where the spice felt almost like filler.

Also, where did Mei go. And why was there a Mei and Mae. My ADHD cannot handle that. And lastly, Every time I saw the name Lorenz I wanted to correct to Lorenzo. [ENTER HERMONIE: ITS LEVIOSAAA NOT LEVIOSUHH]. This is an exceptionally nit picky comment, I know. One respectfully submits these grievances for thoughts. Ms. Soto, bestie, please don't do make me do these mental gymnastics with the characters in the next book (which must be a preorder, unless one receives an ARC again *hint hint*).

Hope you enjoyed my PhD level review. By this time next week you can review me playing twinkle twinkle little star on my violin.

I don’t know if it’s the fact that I keep reading Julie Soto’s books after long travel days, but I can’t get enough. I absolutely loved “Forget Me Not,” so I had high expectations going into her sophomore novel.

I’m a huge classical music fan, though I cannot play a note or read music. It was so fascinating reading how the sausage gets made, so to say, and I wish I could hear the songs Alex and Gwen composed IRL.

I’ve been gravitating more towards books that have some other third act climax beyond the classic third act breakup, but this one PAINED me to my core. I needed more than just six chapters of Alex’s POV to sustain me (also I LOVED how his sections were Cello Suite 1-6 - such a fun interlude!).

Ultimately giving this 4.5/5 stars because I cannot in good conscience give a Reylo fanfic 5 stars.

The moon, the sun, and all of the stars ♾️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book has turned me into a crow. I will only be screeching, cawing, and coveting shiny things from now on 🐦‍⬛

Translation 1: AGHHHHHHHHHHH 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹

Translation 2: JULIE SOTO MAKES ME BELIEVE IN LOVE!!! AND MORE THAN THAT, SHE MAKES ME BELIEVE IN REGULAR ROMANCE NOVELS THAT ✨DON'T✨ HAVE FAERIES IN THEM (MY PREFERRED CUP OF TEA!!! 🧚‍♀️☕️)

I mean this book is just so cute!!! The whole thing is musical. It's immersive. It's emotional. It reads like a symphony! How did she do that??? I was so moved.

Not Another Love Song was written for musicians and artists and feelers and overachievers and romantics and New Yorkers and lovers of a good crossover episode and those who have heard of Cotton Eye Joe.

The knowledge that this started off as Reylo fanfic was just 😮‍💨🤌🏻👨🏻‍🍳 wonderful context. The love story feels authentic, even when it moves quickly, because I know these characters (they are me) and they are emotional as HELL and when they fall they fall HARD. It was beautiful. I was completely swept away. I felt that the conflicts and the pacing made sense for them specifically, even if some things weren't necessarily logically sound. Love isn't always logical. Especially in the beginning.

The characters are vibrant and warm and authentic. Even the side characters!!! Especially the side characters!!! They pulled on my heartstrings more than the main characters did sometimes!!! (NO hate for the main characters, they were FLAWLESS, I'm just a softie for found family, okay?) One of my only critiques of Forget Me Not was a lack of dimensionality in the side characters, but Julie Soto really blew it out of the water with this one! They were complicated and real and believable and I CRIED BECAUSE I LOVED SEEING THESE LITTLE SWEET GUYS HAPPY 😭😭😭😭

> Side Note: Why does this have a July release? It honestly could have popped off as a holiday book, js ✌🏻 But I'm glad it didn't!! And I sure am glad that Forget Me Not made me believe in love, and had me chomping at the bit for Julie Soto's next book, because if someone told me Christmas was mentioned in this book...🥶 I would have evaporated probably, anyway this has super cozy vibes!
>> Side-Side Note: NO this is not a Christmas book don't let me ruin it for you!!! I am a hater!!! Christmas is just mentioned and I hate when Christmas and romance combine because I'm actually just 3 small Ebenezer Scrooges in a trench coat 🥸

I'd just like to also take a moment to recommend this book to all Swifties as well. You'll get it when you get it 😉🫶🏻

Have I said enough? It feels like enough.

It's currently 4:12 AM. This is what I did to myself to finish this book tonight.

Umm read this book when it comes out in July or you WILL be hearing from my Declan 😤

I wanna put a quote from the end SO BAD 😭 I'll just suffer alone until July 🥲

Julie Soto has quickly become one of my automatic reads. I loved her first one and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one and it did not disappoint. She can write a slow burn tension that is so so good. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for a the ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201627074

I'm 100% blaming this book for my lack of sleep! It was so good that I couldn't but it down and ended up staying up wayyyy to late so I could finish it!😂 I was not only OBSESSED with the tension and chemistry between Gwen and Alex/Xander BUT I also LOVED the uniqueness of the situation/setting/professions of the characters! The fact that both MCs are classical (and a lil not) instrumentalists and get to make music, explore their pasts and futures, etc. together is SO sweet! I mean there are also SO many cameos of Ama and Elliot from Forget Me Not too which is GREAT!

No matter what words I try to use to convey how much I enjoyed this book, it will not convey the greatness and how much I actually loved this book! It was ABSOLUTELY amazing and I cannot wait to see all of the hype for this on bookstagram!

Thank you so much to Forever for an early copy of this GREAT book!💖

wow. This book pulled me in from the beginning. I loved the callbacks to the Forget Me Not book, this feels like a Julie Soto Multiverse! The tension??? To die for. The way the characters were fleshed out was so well written and I enjoyed their plot. Xaden and Gwen are literally interconnected!!!! also I really enjoyed the amount of spice in this book!!! It was written in well, and the plot stood strong throughout. Cannot wait to read more of Julie’s books.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This is officially an auto read author for me! If you want similar vibes to ‘Forget Me Not’ but with music instead of flowers, grab this one! There are also Easter eggs and character cameos from forget me not!

Overall this was super cute! I loved the music themes as a former band nerd. I liked the competitive nature between the characters. Xander, the MMC was such a tease and there was a LOT of build up. Definitely some spice and open door scenes but not a heavy focus of the book. Teasing, tension, banter, and angst are definitely the authors specialty.

This book delivers for me. There’s a great balance of drama, mystery and intrigue, as well as romance, swoon angst, will they/won’t they and, of course, spice. I loved it.

Wow! Best romance book I’ve read in a while. Absolutely phenomenal! Loved everything about the book it was such a fresh of breath air.

YEARNING. That is the theme of this book and good god was it incredible. The way Julie Soto writes just speaks to me and I find little bits of myself in each of the characters in a way that makes me so deeply invested in the story. The way the music and love story was discussed in this book was down right beautiful and tugged at my heart constantly. I love a man who is just absolutely yearning for a woman and I love a woman trying to find her path in the world. This book is definitely landing itself as one of my favorite reads for 2024

Gwen is a violinist who has had to struggle for everything in her life. Despite her natural talent, she did not have the pedigree of her peers at the Manhattan Pops. Xander is a cellist with a secret past. He is arrogant and has everything he could ever want. The two sit across from one another in the Pops, and despite their differences, sparks fly! I loved the depth of this story, I loved the supporting characters, and the main characters sizzled!

This was a fun and quick read. I loved the dynamic of the main characters. I only wished the plot had more tension as I feel the problem between the main characters was too expected and there wasn’t much going on in terms of overcoming difficulties. However I really liked Julie Soto’s writing style and she did a great job developing the main characters. Overall would be a 4.5 star read.

Julie Soto strikes again! I want to cuddle these two to bits. My new favorite thing is MMCs who fall head over heels for the FMC on the basis of (very much literally) her talent. I would describe this not such much enemies-to-lovers as rude-boy-to-simp IMO. Which should also be a trope. :)

Various thoughts:
I very much liked the interludes of his POV sprinkled throughout. Not so much a dual POV as giving the reader more insight into his past experiences and psyche.
Strong vibes of talented young people falling under the control of selfish, lame adults. I also really appreciated the dual crisis. As in, it's not just her life that's been turned upside down and he's there to help her fix it, but they are both facing the very real problem of "how did I get to this point in my career? is this what i want, or just what [insert authority figure here] wanted, so they can profit and/or live vicariously through me?"
The sprinkling of cameos from Forget Me Not makes me wonder... will Julie's next book be in the same "universe" touching on related characters? I like.

JULIE SOTO DOES NOT MISS.
I am simply obsessed. I loved Forget Me Not, it was one of my top books in 2023 and I’m pretty sure Not Another Love Song is going to be my top read for April (it’s going to be hard to beat that).
“A cello fell in love with a violin”
The romance and the spice were phenomenal. I enjoyed both characters. The banter was great. I like that we got little visits from Ama and Elliot from the first book. The way she wrote the MC’s music scenes was breathtaking. I love everything about this and HIGHLY recommend!