If Julie Soto writes it, I am READING the heck out of it!!! I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't get enough of it. The characters, the storyline, the spicy scenes, I couldn't get enough!!! I finished this so fast, and Soto always knows how to leave a reader satisfied. Might have to re-read this it was so good

Gwen and Xander might both be musical prodigies, but aside from that one similarity they are complete opposites. They respect each other’s talent, but keep butting heads when it comes to working together at the Pops Orchestra. Despite their constant disagreements, their chemistry is off the charts and before they know it they can’t help but explore a relationship. However, working together and being together very quickly ends up being complicated and they are put to the test.

Julie Soto has such a way with storytelling - her books have me fully invested from the beginning all the way through. Gwen and Xander’s chemistry was truly palpable and their banter was top notch. I’m not a musician, but I appreciated the rich descriptions of music. This was a book I could not put down and I loved every moment of it.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

REVIEW
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

Do not event get me started on how much I just DEVOURED this book.

My book club girlies were talking about how good this book was and I knew I’d need to finish it before our next hang!

& THIS WAS NOT A DISAPPOINTMENT

🎻 Gwen is a talented musician who falls for a grumpy emotionally unavailable and cocky cello player, Alex/Xander
🎻 Gwen steps in at a wedding and the coordinator mistook her for a cello player—a wedding Xander was in attendance at.
🎻 Gwen is offered first chair in the orchestra and her interactions with Xander became much more intertwined.
🤍 Their musical talents as a duet and chemistry is undeniable!

The supporting characters are so lovely— I adored Mabel! And loved the appearances from our beloved characters from Forget Me Not

This book has you wanting to find the best and most intoxicating violin/Cello duets on Spotify

Readers know it is a 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ read (in my opinion!)

BUT also a 5 star in my book too! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Julie Soto nails it again! She manages a perfect balance of angst and light-heartedness, and delivers characters we love and root for.

4.5 stars
OH THE ANGST. OH THE TENSION. I need more books like this asap please and thank you. The male main character in this book is everything to me. Broody, yet caring when it comes to our protagonist and SO SASSY. I didn't know I needed this specific trope in my life and I will be on the hunt for more books like this one.

I have always been a fan of Lindsey Stirling and had a love for listening to cello music. Violin and cello music has always been the type of music that I've played in the background to relax or wind down. It's simply been enjoyable background noise. However, this book made string instruments sexy and incredibly hot! I'm not sure I'll ever listen to music like this the same again. I know I'll for sure always have "that cello scene" front and center in my mind. Holy heck that scene was incredible and something that would be memorable for all romance reader fans. I found a playlist on Spotify for this book and it made the reading experience even better. I even found a few new string artists and songs that I will continue to listen to in the future. Gwen and Alex/Xander's story was a joy to read. I loved how Julie Soto weaved the story and connected it altogether really well in the end. The characters had enough depth to keep me invested and enough spice to make me dread putting the book down. It's a fast and fun read. I plan to go back and read Forget Me Not now. I've heard some of the characters in Not Another Love Song carried over from the author's first book. I'm definitely going to keep Julie Soto in my pile of instant reads for the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

honestly the way Julie Soto writes is so encapsulating! I loved every second of this book, it truly makes me want to pick up a violin lol. Now not sure what this was missing but to me it’s wasn’t fully a 5 star even though I loved it so much. In a way, I felt like the connection between our characters was a little rushed and didn't feel as fully fleshed out as her first book but I still really loved it.

I loved this book SO MUCH. So much might actually be an understatement. Julie Soto so beautifully captures this story between Xander/Alex and Gwen in a way that is so lyrical and moving and surprisingly, packs a real punch. At times, I had some issues with the pacing but the insane chemistry between our two main characters made it so worth it. I loved the way Julie Soto was able to weave the musical language through the book but not go overboard. Alex and Gwen had their own struggles to deal with but I love how ultimately, their love story triumphed past the people that just wanted to use them for their talent and they were able to stand their ground as well as build and rebuild relationships with the people that mattered most to them, all while falling deeply in love with each other.

Julie Soto does it again. Her characters are so fully formed and it's difficult to do anything but love them. If you love a he falls first / rivals to lovers story, this is for you!

The vibes and tension was off the charts with this one! The use of music and craft as a vehicle for the love story was perfect.
I know this has an orchestra backdrop and not dance, but it gave me the same feels of Save the Last Dance and how much I loved that movie as a teen. I need Julie Soto to release Fugue No 1 ASAP!

4.5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley, Forever & Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I ate this book up! Being a music nerd myself I loved the whole vibe of this novel.

I don’t care that it’s instalove and I don’t care that the characters continue to get unrealistic opportunities. It’s the tension for me, it’s the writing that made me not be able to put this book down.

Sometimes we just need to step away from our own realities and do that with the cello that fell in love with the violin.

Loved loved Not Another Love Song! I was not a big fan of the author's previous book but this one was so good! I loved Alex and Gwen, they were just perfectly written and felt so true to life!

A contemporary romance set in NYC in the world of professional orchestra and symphony made this novel a winner! Julie Soto expertly opens up this unique world with all of its drama and posturing, fundraising and workplace dynamics. The main characters Gwen, a violinist, and Xander, a cellist, play off each other brilliantly. Not Another Love Song is an open door, steamy enemy to lovers situation, with some family secrets and suspense. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to Forever publishing and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such a cute and fun read. I loved how it wasnt just about two people falling in love, but it was also about how they healed beyond that. Old friends coming back together again and everyone just healing and growings. I will say that eyes darkening might have been a tad bit overused in some chapters. When I first realized how often it was being used I started giggling every time I heard it. I would absolutely read more by the author though. Such a lovely book.

I’ve been sitting on this book review for a good while and ruminating on what to say . I really liked this book. The romance was great. I love a good grumpy,/sunshine, opposites attract pairing and Gwen and Xander are exactly that.

Gwen is a low income violinist prodigy who manages to earn a seat in the Pops Orchestra in New York City. When the first chair comes available. She’s offered it as the youngest first chair violinist ever…

That same year, privileged Xander, another musical prodigy has shown up to be part of the Pops and was expecting to receive the first chair. He doesn’t receive it, but he doesn’t back down. Gwen and Xander have chemistry in the orchestra and out of it… and he can’t resist her even if his family is using their relationship as a publicity stunt…

Fans of Forget Me Not will feel a lot of similar storytelling and character vibe. But there are differences in this one where the characters are a bit more unrealistic with two young music prodigies falling in love and the rockstar element.

When I let myself separate the book from reality, I managed to get swept away in their romance and had a lot of fun with this book!

4.25
thank you net galley for the arc & hachette book group! (coming out july 16)

julie soto does it again and BETTER
in this book i felt like the romance took its time, it felt real, any moments of rivalry were believable and weren't cringe and what some might consider as a quick development, i thought was actually quite realistic
this book is the epitome of "when you know, you know" and is there not a lot of playing around which i appreciated
the development of the main characters' lives is really the forefront of this book and it is done in a way that is enjoyable & exciting and only betters the romance arc
at times annoying, at times little repeated words that took me out of the book, but all in all, a very solid read.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this ARC Copy!

I never though I would learn so much about the symphony world, or that I would become so invested in the world. I really enjoyed the character growth both through their relationship as well as in their worlds filled with high pressure to please. Watching these characters learn how to come into their own and then find each other was a fun ride.

What a join to have an other story from Julie. She. Is. Fast. Becoming. A. Favourite !!! Her story are a page turner so addictive that you just can’t put that book down. The storyline with the music was a wonderful plot and universe to discover. I love the she falls first he falls harder and when I mean harder I MEAN it. They were so cute. Loved it

I absolutely LOVED this book! I was apprehensive because of how much I loved Julie’s first book, but this one was just as good! Julie is an auto buy author for me now.

NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG - JULIE SOTO

4⭐

PLOT
Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies. At a wedding where Gwen is performing Xander gets mesmerized by her but doesn't know that they have been working together for a year at Pops Orchestra and Gwen is furious when he starts criticising her work. When Gwen is offered the role of 1st chair at the orchestra their hostility increases but their love and respect for music and their chemistry is undeniable but all this can crumble when a publicity stunt goes wrong.

MY THOUGHTS
The whole plot about 2 musical prodigies who are rivals falling for each other with insane chemistry at the backdrop of an orchestra was innovative and unique. For me I had zero knowledge in Violin and Cello yet I found it very entertaining and engrossed in the story.
Xander did feel arrogant and manipulative to Gwens naviety but together their chemistry was 🔥🔥🔥
Can't wait to read her next book!