Absolutely love Julie Soto and the characters and stories she writes. I know nothing about the orchestra or instruments, but this book truly captured my attention and I was so invested in the story. the pacing is perfect and while the characters have their own flaws and struggles i loved how they connected and found who they were in the end. such a fun read, i could not put it down. So ready for Julie Soto’’s next book!!

4.5/5 stars
I literally had such a fun time reading this book!! I was giggling and screaming the whole time reading!! I ended up binging it and that's when I know I am obsessed!!! <3 also I had this arc for forever now, and I am punching myself because I should have read this sooner. It was so good!! Gwen and Alex had me swooning so bad!! I had butterflies in my stomach. It kept me wanting to read more!! I can't wait for more from Julie Soto because this book surpassed my expectations in the best way possible!! The chemistry and tension between the two main characters kept me wanting to read more, and i just wanted to root for them and their happiness. One of my fav reads this year without a doubt!

If you’re in the mood for a spicy romance story, look no further. Not Another Love Song features two extremely talented young musicians (they’re in their 20s), Gwen and Xander/Alex. Gwen is a mostly self-taught violinist, not having had the advantage of expensive music teachers, and Xander/Alex is just the opposite. His parents started him on the violin when he was extremely young. Eventually he switched to the cello. Xander and Gwen both play for the Manhattan Pops, but Xander also has a rock group called Thorne and the Roses. (He’s Xander Thorne.)

Xander finally notices Gwen when she is hired to play at his friend’s wedding. It took me a while to warm up to him, as he was a bit of an a-hole re Gwen. However, once he stops being a jerk, their chemistry is off the charts. The author’s description of their musicianship was beautiful. I need to listen to more classical music!

In addition to Gwen and Xander, there are some other great characters, especially Mabel, who owns a music store in Queens and has been Gwen’s mentor. They have a very close relationship - pretty much the definition of found family. Nathan made a good villain - I didn’t like him from the get-go.

The whole situation seems extremely unrealistic - from the way Gwen quickly switches from violin to cello at that wedding, even though she hasn’t played the cello for a very long time, to the idea that the Paps would offer her first chair, and many other instances. I still enjoyed the book, however.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I tried reading this one so many times... I really liked Julie Soto's debut novel, but I just could not get into this one. I don't feel like it's fair to rate it, but I do want to give feedback, so I'm picking 3 stars. It wasn't unreadable, it just didn't capture my attention like her last one did. I would definitely still pick up one of her novels! I'm thinking maybe this setting just didn't work for me? The MMC was kind of insufferable in the beginning and I think it just made me disconnect. I'm all for enemies to lovers, but he was honestly just kind of a dick :/ I'll pick this one up again at some point, but I don't know when that will be.

This is my first Julie Soto book, but it will not be my last! In Not Another Love Song, we follow Gwen, a self-taught violinist at the cusp of a major career upgrade, and Xander, a cellist and rock star who is used to being in the spotlight.

After Gwen is offered the role of first chair in the Manhattan Pops, an intense rivalry forms, and the chemistry between them builds. As they become close and begin to compose songs together, it becomes a marketing ploy to keep the Manhattan Pops financially alive.

As a classical music lover, Julie perfectly captures how intense playing an instrument with someone can be. The amount of focus, time, and dedication that is poured into music is intense, and she somehow described it perfectly. Not Another Love Song is a wonderful workplace romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been eating up Julie Soto's writing since it was on AO3. Devoured. Left no scraps. Ali Hazelwood was right and the cello scene DID rewire my brain chemistry. I think about it MULTIPLE times/week

The tension! The drama! I loved the characters and was giggling the whole book. Can't wait to recommend.

Gwen Jackson hasn't had an easy life, but when she auditions for a violin chair in the Manhattan Pops at eighteen, she finally feels like she has some stability. She supplements her income by performing at weddings and one weekend, she just so happens to be performing at a wedding that her colleague and superstar Xander Thorne is in. Xander finally notices Gwen for the first time and is intrigued. As they compete for the illustrious first-chair of the violins, tensions flare, but especially sexual ones!

This book was SO good! This was my first Julie Soto and won't be my last. I loved how Xander was the first to fall and was down horrendous for Gwen. She really made him work for it, even when their chemistry was off the charts. I just wanted to give Gwen a hug; she's been through so much and is just trying to do the right thing and have the solid ground she has been craving after a life of so much turmoil and grief. While I know nothing about orchestral music, the way that Gwen and Xander's music played such a big role in the story was so moving. There was so much emotion and tension in this story that I never wanted to put it down!

TW: Death of a parent, death of a grandparent

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher on Netgalley but i ended up reading along while listening to the audiobook after it released.

I don't know that I would have enjoyed this book if I'd just read it on ebook. The pace was kind of slow. There are a lot of technical references to music in this book, even in the intimate scenes, and as someone who know nothing about the technical side of music I think I would got bored of it pretty quickly if it wasn't for the narrator's skillfull delivery of those scenes. That being said, I did enjoy the musical ellements were incorporated into the spicy scenes, it was different and quite poetic.

I liked the FMC, Gwen. She was a bit naive, but she's 22/23, so that's understandable. I had mixed feelings about Xander, the MMC. I was definitely attracted to him. He had his moments, but he was emotionally immature for a 25 year old who's been living on his own for 6 years, and manipulative towards Gwen. I can't stand it when the MMC tries tell the FMC what to do, while witholding information. Like he thinks she's not smart enough to make up her own mind. He does eventually grow as a character, though. I also felt like their emotional connection was kind of shallow. We didn't get to see much of their personality beyond their passion for music (and each other).

I did enjoy the love story in this. I loved the tension and the easy, playful way they were with each other after they fnally embraced their feelings for each other. I love it when the MMC is obsessed with the FMC. I also liked that they eventually helped each other to explore where they really wanted music to take them.

I think Julie Soto's writing is just not for me. This is the second one i've given 3.5 stars.

I had a good time reading this book. The tension was so fun and I loved all the music. Like excuse me the cello scene!!!! I did want more povs from Alex though.

Absolutely adored this one! This was my first by this author, Now I have to read forget me not 😍 I loved the MMC so much

As someone who played the violin growing up and dated a cellist in our school's orchestra, I felt this story with my soul. I loved being immersed in the musical world as we followed the evolution of Gwen and Xander's relationship. Things start off a bit rocky, and while Gwen is fighting for an important position in their orchestra, Xander doesn't seem to be taking anything seriously as he also highlights as the lead of a band. But even he can't turn up his nose at Gwen's talent.

Their relationship rose and fell like the arpeggios in the music they played. Music brought them together, and sometimes I wasn't sure if Xander liked Gwen for herself or for her music, but overall, I really enjoyed this story, Xander becomes obsessed in the best kind of way, being a broody man while doing the sweetest things. And he certainly knows how to turn up the heat! Whew, that man! It may have been too much music references for some, but I loved how Soto managed to weave the orchestra and performances in with the rest of the story. I was definitely smiling throughout!

Thank you Forever publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I have a deep interest in Julie Soto as an AO3 veteran and fan fiction girlie, myself. I adore seeing fan fiction reworked into original IP. I think that for most, Not Another Love Song will not be glaringly obvious Reylo content, but the initiated, it most certainly will be. That being said, Julie writes the “man obsessed” trope in a way that appeals to some base need and I will continue to recommend what she’s putting out.

4.5/5 Stars

I absolutely loved Gwen and Xander! They are phenomenally written main characters, having insecurities and flaws that make them relatable for the reader. Their individual growth and the progression of their relationship throughout the story was so well written, that you couldn’t help but want the best for both of them. It was almost poetic, in a way, to show the progression of their relationship in the form of music. It was an interesting way to portray a love story, and one that I feel like payed off as it created such a unique story that felt fresh and new.
I absolutely loved this book! I wish life hadn't got in the way because once I got back into this book, I literally couldn’t put it down. I mean, the cello scene?!!!!? Aaah! So so good! Had me kicking my feet in the air mid-chapter lol.

Read if you Enjoy:
Contemporary Romance
Rivals to Lovers
He Falls First
Found Family
Dual POV (mainly fmc)

Thank you to NetGalley & Forever for and advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

It's official - Julie Soto has joined the ranks of my all-time favorite authors. No one writes a love story like her. The longing. The tension. That. Cello. Scene.

I loved the small nods to Forget Me Not and cannot wait to read what she releases next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to do love this book but for me it fell flat. I DNF-ed at 20%. The book did not hold my attention at all.

Overall, I would say this was good or fine. Gwen, the main character, was sweet but seems so young and naive that it was hard to feel sympathy for her. I often found myself thinking "hmm she can drink?" because she acts like she's only 19 years old. Their relationship was fine but I feel like the best part of the book was the tension and the build up and once that was over I found myself to be a little bored and just trying to finish the story. And you already could predict how this was going to end. The other characters fell flat or were all over the place that I didn't truly care. 3/5

I can not handle how much I LOVED this book! Julie Soto gets better and better with every book.

I loved the romance just as much as I loved the immersion in the NYC orchestra world. This book was so infused with music and love and tension and heart, it was perfection! I loved the rivals to lovers storyline and the fact that Xander fell first and fell harder. I loved the steamy scenes and the emotion behind them. I loved the found family aspects. I loved the cameos from the FORGET ME NOT characters. I could go on and on because I loved so much about this book!

This is one that deserves to be read with instrumental music playing in the background to set the mood. Highly recommend one of Gwen's favorites - Lindsey Stirling!

READ THIS BOOK!

The best kind of stories are the ones that come to life off the page and that exactly what 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 does.

At its baseline, the themes in this aren’t groundbreaking but the characters, settings, and language Soto uses feel like something entirely new. This is the second book of hers I've read and I love that I can tell how much time goes into her research. Be it flowers or music, I'm always learning something new – and I don’t think people realize how rare that is.

From the jump, the dynamic between gwen and xander is filled with this push and pull that feels very every bit like a symphony

There’s tension, there’s emotion - it's a tangible energy between them

And their chemistry? musically, emotionally, physically – off the charts

At its core, not another love song is a story of love and belonging, and finding that validation isn’t a thing that can be gifted, but something you must find within yourself.

This book is for the band geeks, musical nerds, and reylo stans (I see you, I stand with you)

Ali Hazelwood said the cello scene was going to change lives and she was right – I’ll never look at a cello the same way again

Can I play the violin? No. Can I play the cello? No. Am I even the least bit musically inclined? Absolutely not. Did I love every second of this book? 100% yes I did.