3.75 stars★

"Give this a chance. The two of us. I'm not good with words, I'm not good at speaking things. I'm good with notes on a page. I'm good at music—and that's what I tried to tell you on that stage just now."

I've been stuck in a major reading rut, and this book is the first one in a long time that I genuinely enjoyed and managed to finish, which speaks volumes! The writing, tension, and romance progression were all top-notch. Who would've thought that string instruments had such an alluring charm? lol

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the arc. I loved this. I went in wary because some friends hadn't enjoyed it, but I had a great time. The heavy music focus won't be for everyone, but as a former musical theatre kid, I loved it. I really liked how everything came together and seeing old friendships mended and assholes kicked to the curb. It's a bit slow in the beginning, but once I got into it, I was so into it.

"Maybe she liked love songs after all. As long as she was playing then with Alex."

I haven't read any Julie Soto work before, but when so many others were excited about this book, I had to check it out. The build was slow for me at first, but ultimately I loved how Soto built the romance and tension. The chemistry between the main characters was 🔥 and the conflicts felt high stakes and real - not just characters overreacting to make sure there is a 3rd act breakup . If you have any background in music, especially a string instrument, you will also probably get even more out of this book that I likely missed.

👩‍❤️‍👨Rivals to lovers
🎼Workplace romance (orchestra)
⭐Celebrity Romance
🚪Open door
🌶️Spicyyyyy
💔 3rd Act Breakup

Personally, I also loved the subtle shade and references to the Scooter-Taylor fight. #taylorsversion

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for the eARC! Publishing tomorrow - 7/16!

If you loved "Forget Me Not," you'll love "Not Another Love Song"! I knew nothing about being a musical prodigy but was completely here for Gwen and Xander's journey.

Gwen and Xander are musical prodigies with very different backgrounds. Gwen's natural talent, nurtured by a kind shop owner, contrasts with Xander's classical music upbringing. When Gwen's offered the role of First Chair, a position Xander secretly wanted, their rivalry heats up. Despite their hostility, their onstage chemistry is undeniable, making them box office dynamite. However, a publicity stunt threatens their budding romance.

Julie Soto weaves a story that blends passion, music, and romance beautifully. The tension and character development are spot-on. Even if you're not into music, this book will captivate you.

"Not Another Love Song" is a fantastic read that earns a solid 4 stars from me!

This was SO CUTE! I had never thought of the tension that could build between the first chairs of an orchestra. And now I can never stop thinking about it becuase the story that came out of it was magnificent.

I was dying for more of Alex's POV, becuase with his inner monolouge about her I fear would have made me obsessed with him. I really enjoyed seeing him open up from cold and standoffish to caring.

I just wanted to give Gwen a hug the entire book! She truly was unaware of just how amazing she was and I, like Alex, wantes to prove to her that she was worth so much more than she gave herself credit for.

This romance was so cute and swoon worthy. I cannot wait to read more from this author and I am sto thankful to netgalley and Forever for the chance to read this as an ARC!

Two musical prodigies with wildly different upbringings meet and clash and ultimately fall head over bows for each other in this 2nd book from Julie Soto. We see the characters from Forget Me Not (which I loved too) but you don’t necessarily have to have read it (though you should).

I really enjoyed this book. I will admit to having a musical background (though not a ton of talent) so I think that did help with my appreciation of the book. Some of the scenes and descriptions, and how they all flowed together like music was just amazing. And the descriptions of how the music flowed together were also amazing.

I loved both these characters and their story arc and growth throughout the story. You see how they could be together, you see how they have to work at being together, and you see how they have to work individually to be together.

Gwen and Alex….and oof were they HOT when they did get together.

This is out 7/16! Don’t miss it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the chance to read this!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions are my own. I can't wait for this book to release on Tuesday - it is one of my favorite reads of the year!
Are you looking for a sizzling read? Look no further! Young, demure violin player Gwen plays in the Manhattan Pops orchestra along with Xander, a well-known cellist who also fronts a pop cover band. First interacting outside of the orchestra, the cellist is the grump to the violinist’s sunshine, but these two start interacting as rivals, with Xander continually criticizing Gwen’s playing. While their back stories have more in common than they first know, Gwen and Xander begin to work together on some of Xander’s original compositions. Their chemistry is off the charts, and I could not put the book down, reading it snuggled up with my cat.
I don't think there could be a sexier orchestra book! Not Another Love Song is a steamy read that doesn't skimp on substance. If you've read Soto's previous release, Forget Me Not, you'll enjoy that Ama and Elliot have cameos.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

What a sweet story. I absolutely loved reading this. Both Xander and Gwen were easy to love from the beginning and the way their relationship and storyline progressed made this impossible to put down.

There were parts that predictable (it was easy to identify the “villains” almost from the get go) but I feel like all romance books have a certain predictability to them.

This was my first Julie Soto book and I cannot wait to read more!

Some may say Julie Soto is a fantastic writer. I think she's a wizard...

Following Gwen and Xavier's story was pure magic. I feel like playing some string instrument music, and I don't even have the talent. Trust me, I tried.

The build-up and tension throughout the book is fantastic (TBH, kind of addicting)

I loved the character development and how they progressed.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...
Pich this book on July 16!!!

This book is a certified banger.

I honestly loved Forget Me Not from this author last year, and I don’t want to take anything away from that because it’s still a great book, but this one basically blows it out of the water.

The tension, the yearning, the perfectionism, the passion, the artistry!

I’ve (accidentally, on purpose) read many books that started as Reylo fanfiction, and I think this might be the best one to capture that passion that I felt between them. The feeling of being the best at something and finally finding someone who is your equal, who can challenge you when nothing and no one else can anymore. Alex comes from a line of famous violinists and Gwen is a scrappy orphan without formal training, and the way they spark off each other is amazing.

This book is sexy! The cover will have a whole new meaning for you when you read it. It has a Swayze scene in it, with a Reylo dynamic, and honestly a bit of The Star is Born as well, except if that story didn’t rip your heart out and stomp on it. This book is the way we all wished it had gone instead.

Fantastic, no notes, absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Julie Soto's Forget Me Not, so I was very excited for this release.

Overall, I really loved it and it left with a big ole smile on my face. Julie Soto is becoming an auto buy author for me and I love that Forever is picking up all these fantastic writers.
Grab this one if you enjoy:

🎻Reylo Fan Fiction
🎻Grumpy/Sunshine
🎻Rivals to Lovers
🎻Opposites Attract
🎻Found Family
🎻Symphonies
🎻Recording Studio Shenanigans 😏

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

4.5, rounded to 5.

Not Another Love Song centers around Gwen and Alex, two talented musicians in the Manhattan Pops orchestra, as they navigate working in close proximity and deal with the tension surrounding their increasing attraction toward each other.

Gwen has secretly been a fan of Alex's musical group, Thorne and Roses, for years and has quietly admired him from the fourth row of the Pops. After Gwen receives position of first chair, a placement that Alex has secretly coveted for years, Alex notices Gwen for the first time and is determined to get to know her. This grumpy-sunshine, rivals-to-friends-to-lovers novel had the perfect amount of slow burn, sexual tension, banter, and spice. I LOVED the musical setting and both of the main characters were very well-developed and impossible not to love.

Ali Hazelwood claimed that “the cello scene in this book will change your life” and WOW--was she right. This was literally one of the best and hottest scenes I've read in a romance book. This is definitely my favorite romance book I've read all year and while this is the first novel I've read from Julie Soto, but it certainly won't be the last!

Also--can we take a moment for this cover???

Thank you so much to Julie Soto, Forever, and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!! Not Another Love Song is OUT 7.16.24!

I’m still fully debating if I like Julie Soto or not I did not like forget me not because of the characters though I’ll admit I loved the writing style but now with this one while
I enjoyed the characters more idk if I’d say I loved this one!

I loved this book and the immersion into orchestra-world. But really, all you need to know is that this books makes the ELECTRONIC CELLO sexy.

I was nervous about going in to this one after reading the author's letter at the beginning of the book. I've never seen Star Wars and was worried that it would take away from the story. I don't think it took away from the book at all, but maybe it would have added something to my reading experience had I seen the movie(s)?

This one is hard for me to rate, because while it didn't blow me away and I didn't love it, it was a great read. The romance was a bit slower getting into and sometimes I don't really mind that. With this book, though, the content getting to the romance didn't grip me and keep me interested. While I don't think you'd need to be musically inclined to enjoy this one, it is heavily focused on their musical careers and that wasn't really my favorite. What really sold the book for me though, was the relationship between Alex and Gwen. The romance was top tier and the book was very hard to put down once their relationship grew.

Overall, I'm grateful for the chance to have read this book. I have Forget Me Not on my tbr shelf, and I'm excited to dive into that one soon.

My rating: 3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Pub for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

Not Another Love Song is a fabulous, fast-pace, coming of age story. Author Julie Soto beautifully balances the tension and tenderness of young love, with the high anxiety of the professional music world. Gwen and Alex/Xander have a lot to navigate both personally and professionally, with many 'who to trust' curves; and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Several steamy scenes tastefully done.

DNF @ 76%

I really wanted to like this, I really wanted to enjoy this and finish this. I didn’t want to DNF but I couldn’t force myself anymore.
Many people will enjoy this book, so I still recommend it to everyone to try. This just wasn’t for me.
Firstly, this is a ReyLo fanfiction. I didn’t know it was, I should’ve looked it up first. Personally, I really don’t like fanfictions just because I don’t want to compare the characters with their original stories. That’s all I see if I read fanfiction.. Not all fanfiction writing is horrible, but there’s a way they’re written for chapters to be posted weekly that I could feel that with this one.
I don’t mind when main characters are special but Gwen was special for no reason at all. She was handed everything without really much work and it was just unbelievable and annoying.
The romance was not fun, it really wasn’t.

The news is out ---- playing the cello is HOT and classical musicians are SEXY! After reading and loving FORGET ME NOT last year, I was so excited to read Julie's new book, NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG. This story was woven together so beautifully and it was full of intricacies and nuance. I loved seeing how all of the characters' lives intersected and getting bits and pieces of their history along the way. Julie is extraordinary at building the tension, and not just for the love scenes. I don't want to say too much more, lest I give anything away. You will fall in love with Gwen and Alex/Xander! And, if you loved Forget Me Not, keep your eyes peeled for cameos from Ama and Elliot.

What you can expect:
- dual 3rd person POV
- Violinist + Cellist
- Found Family
- Forced Proximity
- Spicy
- Growing together
- Musical prodigies
- Classical Music as foreplay

Cannot wait to see what Julie has in store for us next!! She is officially an auto-read author now.

Synopsis: Reylo fanfic but make it violins and cellos instead of lightsabers? SAY LESS.

Thoughts: 4.5 stars based on vibes alone. This was so cute you guys! The story follows Gwen, a young violinist who has the opportunity to play first chair for the New York Pops orchestra, and Alex (Xander), a rockstar cellist with his own ties to the Pops. Their rivalry quickly heats up and so does their chemistry. Did y’all know the cello is a super sexy instrument? I didn’t BUT I DO NOW. My favorite part of the books is how central the music is and how Julie makes it come alive on the page. I could come up with a few minor issues with pacing and a couple small plot points, but I honestly just had such a good time reading Gwen and Alex’s story that it doesn’t matter. If you love romance and music, go grab this book ASAP!

Read this if you like:
🎻 music
🎻 rivals to lovers
🎻 forced proximity
🎻 family drama
🎻 found family

Holy moly what a sizzling romance!

This is my first Julie Soto book and it will not be my last!
I was instantly hooked and captivated by the plot. Childhood crush now turned into forced proximity for an event.

Their whole personality dynamic was also just the creme de la creme.
Insane chemistry that gets put into action and I could not get enough of it!
Cannot recommend this book enough!