4 ⭐️
4 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for an ARC on Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto.

Wow, I knew music is powerful but boy, it's POWERFUL when someone is playing an instrument. This power duo is magic and individually, Gwen and Xander or amazing! If I were able to hear their music, it would be divine. Xander was such an asshole in the beginning! Gwen was just trying to get by. I loved how they were able to work together and fall in love. The Cello scene...WOW!

FIVE MASSIVE STARS! i loved this book so much. i thought the musical elements were so creative, unique, and beautiful. the way the music was both real and metaphorical was so cool and made for such an interesting plot. alex and gwen’s love story was everything: two insanely talented people with wildly different backgrounds and a lot of difficulties to overcome falling in the most exquisite partnership of love and collaboration. and it was enemies to lovers so HEYYYY! and he falls hard for her. like- my man was infatuated. also! insanely sexy — these scenes were angsty and HOT! i haven’t really read a book written like this before and i just enjoyed it immensely. i was rooting for gwen and alex on individual levels and as a couple, for their love and their careers and their joy. a great story for romance lovers!

To me, this book is perfect. Julie Soto can do no wrong. And the cello scene was insane. I was committed to their relationship from the beginning and loved the growth that they both showed

Absolutely loved this book! It was so well written! The characters were amazing! I just adore everything from Julie!! I can’t wait to read more from her! Highly recommend!

absolutely loved this! I was instantly hooked and wanted to read in all my spare time! I loved the characters and their chemistry - the tension, angst, and tenderness between them was so so good. ugh the pining!!!

Julie Soto never misses!
Xander is one of my top bookish boyfriends for sure. The way that Soto weaves Gwen and Xander’s love story together makes it so easy to imagine in my head.
This book is really tender and romantic! You want to root for them together but also root for them both individually as well. Their characters are so well written and I wish we got more of their story!

Thank you so much for the arc! This book was so beautiful and unique and I’m really intrigued by this author’s writing. I had heard so many great reviews about this book and I can say this book 100% lives up to its reputation.

A ton of friends read Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto last year but like a fool, I put it off! And dang am I mad I waited, because it’s so good!

I think what originally had me hesitating to pick this up was the cover and synopsis. I know nothing about musical instruments, so a romance between a violinist and a cellist didn’t immediately grab me. But I should have known better!

I loved Soto’s Forget Me Not in 2023 and I should have known her writing would make any topic amazing. There was a lot that went over my head, but I got sucked in so quickly despite that. And the passion and chemistry definitely didn’t go over my head! Gwen and Xander were 🔥🔥!

If you love a steamy romance, you need to pick this one up and see why I couldn’t stop reading! Once the spice hit, I was ALL IN on this book. The audiobook is definitely the way to go if you want the full effect of Soto’s steamy scenes. 😉 Narrators Savannah Peachwood and Oliver Clarke did great work. 🥵

And of course, I ended up learning a ton about orchestras and what makes a musical prodigy. 😆 And just how much sexual tension can build up while playing music together!

Five stars for this emotional, fun, and steamy romance!! I will definitely not sleep on reading Soto’s next book!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto!

In *Not Another Love Song*, Julie Soto weaves a captivating tale of passion, rivalry, and unexpected romance set against the backdrop of Manhattan’s vibrant music scene. The story follows Gwen Jackson, a self-taught violinist, and Xander Thorne, a rock star cellist with a sharp edge. Both members of the Manhattan Pops orchestra, they couldn't be more different in their musical backgrounds, yet their undeniable chemistry is impossible to ignore.

When Gwen is offered the coveted first chair role that Xander has long desired, the tension between them escalates. This rivalry soon transforms into a slow-burning romance that keeps readers hooked. The dynamic between the two is electric, and as they collaborate to compose music together, their bond deepens, blending their distinct musical styles into something truly magical.

Soto masterfully explores the complexities of ambition, success, and vulnerability. The tension between professional and personal desires is palpable, and the question of whether their romance can survive the pressures of the competitive world they inhabit adds depth to the story. With its rich emotional layers and well-drawn characters, *Not Another Love Song* is a heartfelt and engaging read for anyone who loves stories about love, music, and the balance between passion and career.

A special thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing the opportunity to experience this unforgettable story.

I loved this book in a way that I haven’t loved a contemporary romance in a LONG time. The balance between the romance and the plot was amazing and it’s a high I’ll be looking for something to replicate for a long time to come.

Late review because well I read a bunch of books, and then forgot to review them. WHOOPS.

I have read several of her books by now, and this one while it was good, different, was not my favorite of hers but still worth the read. Her villain's she comes up with makes you think shes experience something similar in real life to make them that displeasing to even read their name, it takes a great author to do that. This story was rivals to lovers, but make it with music. It was addicting, longing, and you do not need to wait a long time for excitement to happen, or drama. If you enjoy Star wars this one is definitely for you. It was cute!

4.5 stars
As someone who used to play the violin (then viola) for many years, dang did I love this book about two musicians down bad for each other. I loved the chemistry between Gwen and Alex, and him being boy obsessed? Oh yeah I was here for that. I was getting a smidge confused with their choices when it came to the conflict. The villains seemed pretty awful to me, and yet somehow they both kinda stood by one of them (even though they could acknowledge that neither bad guy was a good person) I don't know, I was just wondering why. I foresee that if I were to read this in the future, with all the context I got that I'd understand better! But other than that, I had such a good time with this book!

"They've been keeping you hidden," he said. "Ordinary. When you're anything but."

I am not a Star Wars girly nor am I musically knowledgeable in any way, shape or form, but let me tell you I ate this entire book up. From their "first" meeting on page to the CELLO SCENE (iykyk) to Christmas at Mabel's, I loved every second of it. The way Julie Soto used music to describe the scene and the emotions that were unfolding between characters was *chef's kiss*. I loved seeing growth between Gwen and Alex as they struggled with their own insecurities and why they love their respective instruments. Not to mention, that mini-reveal at the end about 'Mabel's brat' ahhhh. "Like all the harmonies had clicked into place." Obsessed.

This is my second book from Julie Soto and I've already marked her as one of my auto-buy authors. I can't wait for all her future releases!

rivals to lovers!!! but make it music!!! this is a trope i never knew i needed in my life, but now that i've got a taste i need moreeee. i am FERAL for this now.

on a more book-specific note, i thoroughly enjoyed this. gwen and xander were just so chef's kiss, their banter and tension and chemistry and UGH i love them so bad. i feel like they lacked a bit as individual characters but i still liked them and was rooting for them the entire time. the music aspect was so unique to any romance book i've ever read, and while it wasn't the most interesting thing in the world to me, i liked how it played into the characters' stories. i'll just say it again - musical. rivals. to. lovers. that's literally it i don't need to say anything else.

Solid contemporary romance, you can’t go wrong with Julie Soto. She knows how to give her readers what they want.

A++++! This is not another love story it’s so much more! I love Julie’s attention to detail with her knowledge of the instruments the characters played and how to perfectly incorporate that into the story. You can tell when authors add things they don’t really research and let them fall at the wayside, but I think Julie committed to this story and it really paid off. The scene where the cover photo takes place literally had me screaming my lungs out. It was so uniquely done and super HOT! Julie has a way of write a man that is down bad for the female lead that make me squeal and kick my feet. Alex’s way of convincing Gwen he could show up for things that matter had me pulling out my hair (in a good way!).

This book was super great and I will be recommending it until the end of time!

As a former musician that used to play piano I absolutely loved reading a romance novel centered around music. I relate to Gwen sooo much with how awkward I am sometimes. I didn’t think I needed a romantic music competition novel until I read this one. Can’t wait to read more from Julie Soto, couldn’t put the book down from the start which is rare for me!

This was my first book by Julie Soto, but unfortunately, it wasn’t my favorite. I struggled to connect with the story and characters, which made it a bit difficult to stay engaged. While the writing was fine, it just didn’t fully click for me. That said, fans of the author may enjoy it more.

This was a fun and quick read. It was a little spicy... who knew the orchestra could be so *romantic*