I devoured Forget Me Not the day the book delivered and when I had a chance to read this? SIGN ME UP.

The way Julie makes me want to learn violin is crazy. She made it so easy to feel the emotions the musicians would feel in their passion perfectly. So many moments of butterflies in my own stomach as if I was Gwen hearing them in reality.

Not being super familiar with music myself some of the descriptions went a bit over my head but I got them well enough to want to be able to share this book with everyone I know.

I love Julie’s writing all the way from AO3 and just need more stories!!

Ya… you’re going to want to pick this up. 4.5 stars rounded up and miss Soto DID IT AGAIN.

She was already an autobuy author for me but this book solidified that even more if possible. When you read a lot of romcoms as I do, some of them start the blur together a little. That is NOT the case with Not Another Love Song. There is a scene in here that is imprinted onto my prefrontal cortex. When you get to that scene, I’ll buy you dinner and let’s chat.

It’s clear that Soto knows how to write a romance, but what she also knows how to do, is deliver a completely fresh story in the romance genre which can often feel like a ceaseless rotation of tropes and conventions. I’ve read rivals to lovers but I’ve never read rivals to lovers quite like this… a la rival musicians style. But truly the music aspect of this book, the research clearly put into it, made this story TRANSCENDENT. This is a story about music through love and this is a story about love through music. And I don’t care if that doesn’t make sense to you yet.


Why did I hold my full five star after consuming this skin tingling read in a matter of hours? Mostly due to the last 25%. I have some QUALMS. Most are spoilery but also I just couldn’t read any more chilli pepper scenes. I don’t think anyone else will have a problem with that though…I just get bored.

Piece of advice - read her debut Forget Me Not before you read this. The cameos are divine.

Another piece of advice - have not a doubt that violins and cellos are the sluttiest things to ever exist. I’ll never look at those instruments the same.

Thank you NetGalley for this earc <3

There are few books that make me feel like I need to finish it quickly because the plot has me hooked. Not Another Love Song joins that list. The dynamics between our two main characters is so good and the tension that is between them both in their respective chairs at the Pops and away from the stage had me closing the book to compose myself. I would love to hear the perspective of someone who is a strings player on the scenes in this book, but it brought out a desire to want to try string instruments. I loved the main characters, but I also have a fond spot for Mabel who many times made me nearly cry. The feelings between Gwen and Xander felt like many things I have felt before and I could not put it down. Thank you Netgalley and Forever publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book!!!!! I loved every bit of it. I especially liked that although we got a dual pov, it was to better understand what was going on in Alex’s head instead of being specific to a particular scene.

A modern/fresh romance novel for lovers of Ali Hazelwood & Emily Henry, that’s perfect for fans of the YA classic “If I Stay”.

I read this is one sitting, it felt like I was drinking it in. The perfect he-falls-first character.

I admit as soon as I saw this title on NetGalley, I was super excited to read it. Julie Soto is fast becoming a favorite author. The story of Gwen and Xander sucked me in. I read it in just over a day. Her style of writing paints a movie in the mind. And I love the quirky side character like
Mei(here’s hoping we get her book) and Mabel. But there were also parts I struggled with. My knowledge of music is extremely limited and all of the music references went right over my head. Also Gwen was kind of an immature hot head. Something’s she said and did came across more like a 16 yr old than an extremely accomplished 22 yr old. Still overall loved it and can’t wait for Julie’s next book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the best book that I read so far in 2024. The writing is engaging and read as more polished compared to this author’s debut novel. (which I also loved). There is great dialogue with lots of showing rather than telling, which makes it an easy read with no lulls or skimming necessary. You learn a lot about music but in a way that’s accessible for people without a musical background. There is good character development with all threads and relationships with secondary characters well fleshed out and any conflicts/questions resolved by the end. The level of angst was perfect and I couldn’t put it down for the last 30%. This author is definitely a new favorite for me and I can’t wait to see what comes next from her in 2025!

3.5 * the chemistry and the tension was so good until it fizzled out. in that sense, it was reminiscent of the author’s debut forget me not; as that one also stalled in its third act. i just wasn’t fully sold on the ending and i died from cringe at a certain pop culture reference. still an enjoyable reading experience and will probably keep an eye out for future releases from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Books, and Julie Soto for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING: REIMAGINED REYLO FANFIC, MUSICAL DRAMA, FOUND FAMILY, YEARNING, SPICE, A MMC I’M FERAL FOR.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

If you aren’t already familiar with Julie Soto from Forget Me Not or her incredible fanfic, you need to start now. I recommend all romance readers pick up Not Another Love Song when it drops on July 16th.

I am OBSESSED with Alex and Gwen - the chemistry that they have together, the longing and yearning, and the way that they understand each other in ways perhaps no one else does. The tension of moving from enemies to lovers was an absolute delight, and I was actually giggling and kicking my feet while reading this - something Julie’s writing frequently causes in me.

I’m not going to lie, I loved the Reylo of it all - I read a lot of contemporary romance versions of Reylo, and this is one of my favorites. It didn’t overplay the size difference, they had convincing tension, both sexually and confrontationally, and I loved the rich backstories of the characters.

I am an absolute sucker for a he falls first and a he falls harder, and I loved the way that Alex/Xander absolutely worshipped Gwen while her still being her own person and collaborator, not just a muse.

4.75 This was the second Julie Soto book I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was written very well and really sucked me in! A lot of the characters from her last book make an appearance, which I thought was such a fun addition. You do not have to read the previous book to read this one however. There was just the right amount of tension, I loved their story, and the music element was something unique that I enjoyed. I can't wait for her next book!

3.5/5! A very cute book! I really liked Gwen as a character, and specifically enjoyed reading about her trials with deciding what she wants in her life, career, and love. The romance was sexy and sweet, but I wish we had more insight into Alex in order to feel more connected and committed to his character. The third act breakup felt somewhat rushed in the reasoning for the breakup itself and the reunion, particularly given the lack of communication.

Excellent enemies to lovers. And with a super spicy cello scene to boot? This is everything I wanted from an orchestra romance. The characters had interesting back stories and a chemistry that felt raw and beautiful and completely natural. I was reminded of a theme from the Red Violin - there is something just so insanely sexy about playing music with another person. And goodness, did Julie bring all that passion to life on the page. And bonus! Some Sweet cameos from forget me
Not!

Whoa! My fellow book lovers, I’m about to make an announcement: I've found the best YA romance novel of the year, with a perfect 10-star rating for its spicy, high chemistry level! Oh boy, I can practically hear the masterpieces composed by Alex & Gwen in my head! I never say no to rock songs that transform into marvelous concertos when performed with passion, intensity, and pure love pouring out from the depths of the musicians’ hearts. This lyrical romance may start with tunes like “Rarara Bad Romance,” but slowly intensifies into “Addicted to Love,” and finishes with “Eternal Flame” notes! You absolutely cannot afford to miss this novel! It even exceeded my love for the author’s previous novel, “Forget Me Not” (by the way, we have cameos of Ama and Elliot in this novel, and I have a hunch that the third novel of the series might focus on Dominic-Xander’s bandmate, Mar; Ama’s photographer best friend from the first book, which is set to release in May 2025. Fingers crossed that I got the hint right and made a good guess!)

Anyway, let’s delve into the plot and introduce the characters, explaining why I loved them so much and what makes their passionate and sentimental, yet flawed, love story so captivating and emotionally stirring.

Gwen Jackson, an aspiring violinist performing with the Manhattan Pops, manages to keep her head above water as a musical prodigy at the age of 22, despite lacking formal education and being an orphan. Her life changes when she steps foot into Mabel’s music store, owned by a gifted musician. While performing in the subway station, she crosses paths with Ava Fitzgerald, a legendary musician and board member of Manhattan Pops, who holds the first chair. Ava’s connection with Mabel helps Gwen secure a spot at her workplace.

However, Gwen’s side gig, performing at a celebrity wedding with her roommate Jacob, leads to an unexpected encounter with the legendary Thorne & Roses star, Xander Thorne, who is also a member of Manhattan Pops. Despite his tardiness and arrogance, which irritate both Ava and her partner Nathan, Xander’s arrival shakes things up.

Their initial meeting doesn’t go as planned: Xander harshly criticizes Gwen’s performance, unaware that they are part of the same orchestra until the board decides to give Gwen the first chair that Xander had demanded to replace Ava. This leads to even more harsh comments from Xander.

Although Gwen struggles with her own insecurities, she has no intention of fighting for her place or working harder to prove her talent. Unbeknownst to her, Xander's true identity, as Alex, recognizes just how special and talented she is, even more so than himself. He can't stop thinking about this mysterious prodigy who takes his breath away, pushing him to cross boundaries and stay at Manhattan Pops just to be close to her and create more music together. When they perform together, they become the epitome of magic. Can Gwen trust this arrogant boy from a wealthy and powerful background without risking her heart forever?

Overall, I found myself sighing several times by the end. I reread some of the romantic parts repeatedly; they were poetically written! I absolutely adored this book, and I’m certain it deserves more than five stars! Don’t hesitate—just dive in and read it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with this AMAZING book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

Am I attracted to cellists now?

As a lover of string quartets and an adamant Reylo shipper, this book that is basically a fanfic about Adam Driver playing a cello, really did…✨things✨ to me.

This book was easy to read (devoured in one sitting) with an interesting plot, lovable characters, tension, spice, banter, and just all around captivating. I do wish the characters were a little more developed. I would have loved to hear more about Gwen’s past, which is not something I’m normally interested in when reading a book, but her backstory seemed to be compelling so I wish I got more of that. I also wish I got more page time with the other characters like Jacob, Declan, and Mei, but that is mostly for selfish reasons, just because I enjoyed them and their dialogue so much.


Ali Hazelwood was right when she said the cello scene would change my life. I am a changed woman, in fact, I now have a cello kink (don’t question it, I’m not)

4/5⭐️

I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto and all I can say is wow!
Gwen, a self-taught violinist with amazing talent, finds herself thrown into the spotlight when she’s offered the coveted first chair position in the symphony as a publicity stunt. The catch? She must collaborate with Xander, the arrogant first chair cellist who also happens to be the frontman of her favorite band.

As Gwen and Xander reluctantly team up, they discover a surprising chemistry that transcends their initial animosity. Their relationship blossoms against the backdrop of the symphony, leading to a compelling and heartwarming story.I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The gradual development of Gwen and Xander’s relationship was beautifully executed. As a fan of the rivals-to-lovers trope, I found their dynamic particularly engaging.

The chemistry between the main characters added depth to their interactions and kept me hooked until the very end. What I loved most was the realistic portrayal of their relationship struggles.

Overall, this book was a delightful read, blending romance, music, and personal growth seamlessly. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming story with well-developed characters and a satisfying conclusion.

5 star stunner!

This book was beyond stunning. Julie Soto strikes again! This book was like if Black Swan was a RomCom about the orchestra.

The characters had so much passion for their music that it just spilled over into a whirlwind romance. The chemistry between Alex and Gwen was equal parts swoony and explosive.

I loved that they were rivals to lovers instead of enemies to lovers, it felt much more organic. Their musical talent was so extraordinary but they came from two completely different walks of life so for me their transition into lovers was captivating especially because they shared the same talent but wildly different worldviews and were forced to work it out to work together and be together.

And the cameos from Forget Me Not were so fun!

Overall this was a 5/5, must read, must binge, must buy!

This story hooked me from the start, and I just didn't want to put it down. The main characters are musicians and as their paths keep crossing in unexpected ways, I love the mysteriously deep connection that forms between them. The writer really illustrated the lifestyle of a musician - in multiple settings and levels of performance - in a way that was fun to read and gave a rich context for the characters to develop personally, professionally, and of course romantically. The side characters were entertaining as well, and it was fun to recognize certain faces that popped in from Julie Soto's previous book Forget Me Not. I smiled through both of these books, and look forward to reading more from this author!

i fell in love with soto’s first book so i KNEW i had to snag this one! i am so obsessed with this title and im convinced its going to be my top book of 2024! i cannot wait to get a physical copy!!

I have no worddddds for this!

First of all thank you endlessly to Julie and Forever and NetGalley for the ARC of this masterpiece. I’m so grateful because it’s exactly what I needed. I was feeling a bit burnt out and slumpy and this was like a shot of espresso to the SOUL!

As readers I feel like we’re constantly searching for that feeling you get when you’re reading what’s going to end up being one of your favorite books. This book was THAT GIRL 👏🏻

As a musician myself, I have to say, this book especially appealed to me. Made me want to go jam with my partner 🎶

The chemistry??? THE TENSION??? I devoured it- not a single crumb in sight. The fact that this started as Reylo fic? It’s like this was written just for me? 🙈

These characters had me blusssshhhing 🫣 It was SO refreshing to read a book where the MC is just completely gone for the FMC and just in awe of her talent and EVERYTHING.

I found these characters SO relatable. Julie is amazing at writing characters with depth. Even through the limited chapters we get of Alex’s POV we really get to know him.

I feel like I have so much more to say! I could rant about this forever.

Gwen is a self-taught violinist with amazing talent, playing a symphony. When she gets offered the job of first chair as a publicity stunt to raise money for the symphony, she realizes she’ll have to work with a rude first chair cello, who also happens to be the star of her favorite band. Gwen and Xander try to work together, and find out they have amazing chemistry.

I loved this book. So cute! I love the build up of their relationship. I’m a big fan of rivals/enemies to lovers and this one was great! The chemistry between the main characters was palpable. The third act break-up was not a miscommunication but a real relationship struggle, and I loved the resolutions at the end for all the characters.