Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-arc of this book to read.

If you were a fan of Forget Me Not, well brace yourself, because you are going to love Not Another Love Song even more. I loved this book so much to the point that I am concerned I won’t like her next one the same way. But in Julie Soto we trust.

This second book takes place in NYC, with both main characters being musicians who play in the Manhattan Pops orchestra (emulating the NYC Pops who play in Carnegie Hall). Our FMC Gwen, is hired last minute to play violin with her roommate Jacob for a wedding, only to find out when she arrives that they actually needed a cellist. If you know instruments, you’ll know that you cannot simply switch to playing another simply because it’s just a little bigger in size with the same strings. With the help of a groomsman who brought his cello, and a lot of luck, Gwen plays the cello beautifully. At the wedding with very little mistakes.

The groomsman so happens to be none other than Xander Thorne, our MMC and first chair cellist of the Manhattan Pops. He’s surprised by her talent while a little frustrated and jealous, and yet when he confronts Gwen about who she was and how she was able to change instruments while insulting her, she responds to him that what’s insulting is sitting across from him for over a year and him not noticing they’ve worked together all this time.

This, of course, changes the way Xander sees her going forward, and when Gwen is promoted to first chair in violin, they are both bound to work together closer than ever before.

This book had some of the steamiest scenes I’ve ever read. I’ll never be able to look at a cello the same way again. Julie Soto’s very detailed description of notes and music revealed her own history in playing instruments during her time in NYC. I loved the history she built for both characters, how she shared the politics of being in an orchestra, and how music can ignite love and forgiveness in so many ways.

This is absolutely my favorite contemporary romance book of the year so far. And I can’t wait for her third book next year.

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Romance: 4.5/5
Spice: 2.5 🌶️
Overall: 4.75 out of 5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! It made me kick-my-feet giddy, and put a huge smile on my face. From the beginning to end, any moment I was not reading this book, I was thinking about the next time that I could.

I liked this one better than Forget Me Not, Julie Soto’s first book, somehow. It might be my top romance of the year so far. I’m obsessed with the book and Alex. This is not going to be a very coherent review 😂

👍
+ I don’t know about you but when I was a teen, I would daydream about running into my celeb crushes and them falling madly in love with me (obviously). This book felt like a book version of that, since Alex is a famous cellist in a rock band and Gwen is a fan.
+ Gwen is a violinist, Alex a cellist. Loved that this was set in the world of music, and orchestra. I always get excited reading books with violinists in them since I played for a bit myself. Also loved that they were both extremely talented. I love reading about really competent people.
+ Their chemistry was off the charts! The physical tension at the beginning was delicious, and their spicy scenes were top notch as well. I especially loved the cello scenes, iykyk. Beyond the spice, I liked that their connection, in more ways than one, happened through music.
+ This might sound weird but, I love characters that come off as rude, inconsiderate to the MC before they fully meet because of their social awkwardness while we all know, as the reader, what they really mean. I loved how Alex kept coming off as if he was trying to give Gwen shit even while he was trying to compliment her.
+ There’s also a good amount of found family in this that I really enjoyed as well. The side characters really added to the story.
+ Aside from the romance story, I also liked both of their individual growth and development through the book. Realizing what they really want out of life, what’s important to them etc.
+ The third act breakup actually kind of made sense?

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

I was so hesitant to pick this one up because I had a rough time with Soto's debut Forget Me Not, but having enjoyed her fics, I just had to try NALS. And then I didn't touch it for two months.

Not Another Love Song was a complete surprise to me, the set-up felt fresh and despite the unbalanced POV chapters. I adored this book. Soto's writing is haunting and so immersive that I truly kept having to remind myself to breathe because the tension was so delicious, especially in the first half of the book when Alex and Gwen were at each others' throats but also intoxicatingly drawn to each other. Exceptionally well done and woven story where the music and instruments felt like the third main character. Slight ding for the predictability of the "villain" but having read this in one sitting? I'll happily let it slide.

Easily one of my favorite romances this year and maybe ever!! So unique and so steamy I absolutely adored Alex and Gwen so much.

The pacing was perfect with the development of their relationship. The tension was superior. I will be shouting about this book from the rooftops for the foreseeable future.

Julie Soto does it again with a five out of five star romance!! I loved her first book but I would recommend Not Another Love Song to anyone who wants a beautiful romance with some depth. For music lovers of any genre, Soto’s writing is delightful.

This book was a disappointment for me. So many people seem to love it. I tried to make it work and well, it just didn’t for me. The last 30% was the worst, cringy and toxic and didn’t want the couple to have their HEA. I did love the concept of the book and the FMC in the beginning. I wrote a Bookstagram review post that I have linked down below.

This was the second book I read by Julie Soto and I have to say that I liked it even better than the first! There is so much music that is mentioned throughout and I only wish I could listen to the songs composed by the characters because I'm sure it would have sounded amazing. I really liked the two main characters and I was just rooting for them to be together the whole time. I went into this knowing this is a reylo fanfic and I truly enjoyed it. Gwen and Alex were truly in their own world and everyone else was just living in it. Overall, this was an enjoyable book filled with music and angst.

I really loved Forget Me Not and I was so looking forward to this book! While this was a fun and light read, it didn't hit the same notes as FMN did for me. With that said, I am definitely looking forward to what Julie comes up with next!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc!


GUYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I ate this up BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDD. Julie Soto is becoming an auto-buy author for me. The way she writes relationships and how much the men are obsessed with the women!!!!! This book follows Gwen as she becomes the First Chair at the Pops Orchestra. I appreciated her development and choosing a path that works for her. This book was so readable and had some cute and hot moments. I love the cameos of Ama and Elliot.

This book was pure joy to read. I stayed up late reading two night it’s a row because all I wanted to do was devour this book.

The romance was smart and interesting and very spicy while the book made some understated points about class and the music industry as a whole as well as the differences contained in the city of New York. The ending was well written and wrapped up the storyline nicely without being too neat. This will definitely be in contention for my favorite romance of the year and I have already recommended it on my page as seen in the link below.

Romance has been a bit of a miss for me this year, but Not Another Love Story snapped me out of my rut. I think I read this at just the right time - fresh off of finishing The Acolyte and in desperate need of some Sith Lord inspired literature. This book had no business being this hot. The mutual pining, the “I’m an ass to everyone but her”, the cello scene! I ate this up.

I loved the romance between Gwen and Xander, and I especially loved Gwen as a character. She’s so easy to root for and quite likable. She’s been through it. I loved the found family element to this story and how that’s something both characters were able to connect over.

Thank you so much to Forever and NetGalley for a review copy. Now I’m itching to go back and reread Forget Me Not! Can’t wait for Julie’s next book.

I don’t even know how to begin with how much I love this book. I love the fact that there is chemistry from the beginning, even when there is dislike between the characters. I love that he falls first, and he really pushes and pushes to make sure that they can be together. I love the behind the scenes of looking into the music world in a way that I haven’t seen it before. I love that I could not put down this book from start to finish.

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Two musical prodigies, one formally since a young age (Xander/Alex) and the other who picked it up at 11 years old (Gwen), meet and personalities clash. It doesn't help the Gwen is a big fan of the music group that Xander is in or that they have literally worked together for the Manhattan Pops and Xander never paid her any attention. She's offered first chair, which Xander thought would go to him. After all his family founded the Pops. But Xander plays the cello now and hasn't proven he is deserving of the role at all. Gwen discovers who Xander really is and she has a difficult time reconciling the two parts of the same guy until they get to know each other better. The secondary characters, Xander's mother and Gwen's violin teacher, had their own history. Uncovering their story added to the drama of the story, and the resolution of that conflict helped Gwen and Xander's story evolve. Their romance was whirlwind, and they somehow brought out the best parts of each other when they created music together and were together as a couple. Playing an instrument was a big part of my life growing up so I could relate to the characters. Plus, music plays a big part in my life so I enjoyed the story.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

I don’t know why I do this to myself, but I should trust my guts. I knew that I was not going to enjoy this book as much as other people did. But I always want to give authors a second chance to redeem themselves. I should just trust that the first book that I read from the first author will be the same for their next. And I didn’t like Julie Soto's first book, and I don’t like her second book either.

Why you ask? Julie Soto doesn’t write a full romance story. It’s literally half-written. We basically have no character interaction until the very end. How is that a romance story? There needs to be communication between the characters in order to develop their relationship or interaction. So, tell me how this book is a romance book.

Literally, Gwen and Xander never interacted at all until the middle of the book, and they are so in love. How? Literally, how. They never talked or interacted. How do they form any feelings for each other? I just can’t.

Her books are just isn’t it for me.

Whew. I need a breather after finishing this book basically in one sitting.

Two passionate musicians come together to make music and then some. I adored this book. The tension built perfectly and the sex scenes were worth the wait.

I liked that book was mostly in Gwen’s voice. Her struggles of finding herself through music were very inspirational and then we got the taste of what was going on with Xander. I loved what the author did with it.

Thank you Forever Grand Central Punlishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I want to start by saying that I LOVED Soto’s first book, Forget Me Not. But unfortunately, something about this one fell a little flat for me.

The storyline didn’t grab my attention and in some areas, it felt a bit forced. I noticed that I was forcing myself to root for the relationship and the characters. I would have liked a stronger storyline and more developed characters. Especially the relationship of the two MCs. I didn't quite believe in their love which made it difficult to continue reading.

I do think this book will find its right audience and will suggest it to specific readers that I think it may be a good match for.

Special thanks to Forever Pub and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

I loved Forget Me Not! I was very excited to read Not Another Love Song but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. I enjoyed the musical aspect of this book but I couldn’t see the chemistry between Gwen and Xander. Yes, they have a musical connection but the romance was boring and it was too insta love for me. I was skimming through 70% of it. There were a couple good spicy scenes. I think it’s time that I stay away from Reylo Fanfiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw that Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto was available to "read now" I immediately downloaded it. I had read Forget Me Not earlier this year and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT so I had to read her next book. I was not disappointed AT ALL! Gwen is a violinist for the Manhattan Pops symphony and Xander is a child musical prodigy turned famous violinist for a classical rock band. I loved these two characters and the progress they both made throughout the book and how they leaned on each other to help overcome their struggles. I also loved how it included so many great tropes including "He falls first" and "found family". Mabel was such a wonderful mentor to Gwen and I loved their relationship! Julie Soto has definitely become an auto-buy author for me! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the review copy.

I think it takes a truly talented author to make me want to read books about classical music, and Julie Soto rose to the occasion. Gwen and Xander have so much tension between them it could snap a cello string (I’m going to stop my music puns now…). They both see each other as obstacles in the way of their own success, but it’s not until they play together that they realize their partnership – both on the stage and behind the scenes – is so much more powerful as a duet than solo. I was so engrossed in this story that I read it in less than 24 hours. Not Another Love Song was a rollercoaster of romance and emotion and it’s definitely my favorite by Soto.

This is one of my favorite romance books I’ve read this year. From the first chapter, I was completely taken by Gwen, the female main character. I loved her quirkiness, and that she was written in a way that clued you in as a reader that she was going to be someone special.

And I love a good rivals to lovers, so when Xander came on the scene, it was hard not to immediately root for the two of them.

This book is sexy, poetic, and so incredibly musical. As someone with a music background, it tickled all of the right spots in my heart.

I also love the way that this book dives into different parental type figures, the relationships they have with their children, biological or otherwise, and all of the side characters as well. This story felt so full in such a cohesive and beautiful way. It takes an excellent writer to do that for a reader.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5/5

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC.