I really enjoyed this story! The romance and the setting were top-tier and I loved how the story played out. The side characters were just as good as the main characters. Can't wait to read more by Soto!

the artful tension between these characters is chefs kisssss!!! This is my second book by Julie Soto and definitely will not be my last

Not Another Love Song | Julie Soto
Elite classical musicians, NYC, enemies(ish) to lovers

Gwen Jackson has the skill, the talent, and now the chair. First violin at the Manhattan Pops is an esteemed position with a massive responsibility. Unfortunately, this position places her directly across from brilliant cellist Xander Thorne: cocky, irritating, super-famous, and devastatingly attractive. What if everything she’d dreamed of isn’t actually what she wanted? And what if the one person she can’t stand is actually everything she needs? And what happens when she finds out she’s not much more than a talented puppet in someone else’s agenda?

First of all, the tension between these two is off the charts! I love the push and pull between them, even before they get together. This compelling momentum is an absolute essential for any five-star read [that is, according to my personal interpretation of star ratings]. Alex is down SO bad, but he comes to the table accustomed to the double-life and all its inner workings. He’s had practice at playing the game, while she is only exposed to the surface-level.

Julie Soto knows how to crank up the heat and I’m totally here for it. The artful tension is pulled so tight and inevitably crescendos into a masterfully crafted story of not only romantic relationships, but also the discipline and performed execution of skill entwined with ambition, fame, and life at a crossroads.

5/5 stars!
Big thanks to Forever, NetGalley and Julie Soto for the ARC for review!

This was a great book! I loved this one a lot more than Forget Me Not! I loved the musical aspects that were included.
However the spice felt odd and I have no other way of describing it!

DNF'd at 25%

I tried to look past Xander's rudeness towards Gwen, because that's the whole point of the whole 'rivals-to-lovers' trope. However, it got to a point where it became unbearable and I found him to be annoying rather than endearing. The rivals to lovers trope can be sexy, but here, it just did not work for me.

Julie Soto does it again!!

He falls first - A MAN IN HUNGER - need I say more?

Gwen - a natural musical talent - found love and support in her music teacher after she lost her family. She meets Xander Thorne while performing at his friend’s wedding.

Xander - cello prodigy and lead of Thorne and Roses - had no idea that she sat across from him at the Pops orchestra.

Will he ever be able to get her out of his head after he heard her play?

Julie Soto does it again! I love the development of these characters and their passion. It’s tangible and I wanted more, more, more!

Easy 5⭐️ — this is my first Julie Soto book and I am absolutely obsessed. I loved this book from start to finish and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book!

The execution of this storyline was basically flawless and I cannot wait to continue to read her other books!
Gwen and Xander’s (Alex) story was so beautifully written, the chemistry was perfect and they are musicians?! Spice while playing instruments… uhm… The cello scene was SO good! All of the intimacy scenes were to die for and so well done. I truly loved the tension & plot twists this story has as well.

Tropes:
Grumpy/sunshine
Celebrity musician
Tension
3🌶️

This book was such a lovely surprise. It's my first book by Julie Soto and she instantly became an autobuy author. This book has everything I could want in a romance: tons of tension and chemistry, realistic and relatable angst, vivid descriptions, and an original premise about two talented musicians who communicate best through their music. I was transported in Gwen and Alex/Xander's story. It's a book a would definitely re-read.

I am prob going to get a lot of hate for dnfing this one, but I couldn't do it anymore. I got to 64% and never wanted to pick it up. I hated all of the characters. There literally was not one that I liked. They were cringy and seemed very immature to me. Plus xander seems to have mommy issues. I think I am just not a serious romance type of girl. I would rather read a romcom, and this was not funny.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is one of my favorite reads so far of this year! So much romance, pining and sweet moments. Music is the love language between these two artists and is a theme throughout the entire story.

Gwen is a violinist who plays for the Manhattan Pops orchestra… and weddings in her spare time. Xander Thorne is a famous cellist who is the lead band member of Thornes and Roses as well as first cello for the Manhattan Pops.

One impromptu wedding forces Gwen to set down her violin and play the cello in front of the infamous Xander Throne. While out of her comfort zone, Gwen shines and spurs on a set of events that will change her life forever.

Julie Soto is such a fantastic storyteller. I would LOVE to see this as a movie one day. Although this is standalone, I really enjoyed getting glimpses of the characters from Forget Me Not. That was a nice little surprise. 🥰

5 stars for Not Another Love Song!! Highly recommend!!!

Happy reading!!

I really enjoyed the story and the plot, but I wish there has been more vulnerable communication between the two main characters. They seemed to just jump into things without talking about anything. It seemed a little bit unrealistic. I did really enjoy reading the book and absolutely loved the female main character!

ot Another Love song by @juliesotowrites was such a great read! I loved the tension between Xander and Gwen. I have to admit much like with Gwen, it took me a bit to warm up to Xander.But once the arrogance disappears a little he is a pretty good guy. If you like characters who challenge each other and aloof male leads this is for you!

Overall it was just okay. Slow start and then it picked up towards the second half. I appreciated the use of music and the arts, setting and the characters overall. But it just wasn't something memorable or that I'd come back to.

Why did I sleep on this book for so long??

This book needs to be injected into my veins.

The chemistry between Gwen and Alex was off the charts. Especially when the action of playing made their senses so heighten; it was off the charts.

It was sweet how Gwen had had a crush on Xander Thorne as a fan but actually got to fall in love with Alex.

This story was different than most romances I have read. I have never played an instrument and usually I would rather read than listen to music. But that didn't matter, the story was still relatable. An overbearing parent, trying to discover yourself while also falling in love. All of it. And of course I always enjoy a HEA.

This book was such an easy read for me. I ATE this book up! The tension between the two characters at the beginning was no joke. My inner music band kid childhood helped me feel connected. The passion they had about their music was everything!

“Everything” I understood the effect music had on them. Gwen and Xander are truly the definition of soulmates and seeing their relationship unfold through music was breathtaking.

The level of spice was perfect for the book itself. The tension built everything up which made it even better for the characters when they ended getting what they wanted if you know what I mean 🤭 The cello scene 😏😉.

The main characters had to overcome their own flaws and their own problems and problems together to end up happily together.

his is hands down, the very best romance book I have read so far this year. I don’t know what Julie Soto puts in her books, but my brain and heart cannot get enough of it.

Alex is the kind of hero that I am putty for. He is serious and reserved and gruff. He seems genuinely confused by his feelings initially, but he’s straightforward about figuring them out. He doesn’t play games, he says what he means, and he’s not afraid to put himself out there.

Gwen is the sunshine to his grump, a consummate professional who just landed her dream job. She thinks Alex is conceited, entitled, and the very definition of unprofessional.

The chemistry between them is off the charts from the beginning.

This book made me wonder things like, do I have a cello kink? And, should I be spending more time at the orchestra?

Some boxes this one checked

- Found family
- Electric tension
- Chemistry that has them questioning how it’s so good between them
- That scene in Ghost with the erotic pottery but make it erotic cello playing
- Scenes that made me squeal, and grin like an idiot, and kick my feet

Not Another Love Song is the kind of book that makes people fall in love with reading.

I loved everything about this book. The spice and built up was perfect. I have never read a romance book related to playing music and it exceeded my expectations. This is my second Julie Soto book and I will be reading more. I read this in 2 days and could not put it down. Be prepared to forgo all responsibilities while you read this book, because you will not want to stop.

Not Another Love Song is a love story that has two people from two opposite ends that see and feel music in third dimension. Xander as a burnout out child prodigy whom sprouts from a family with a musical legacy, and Gwen a prodigy too that discovers her musical abilities from loss of family. Their attraction fuels them and elevates their music into another level, in which composes and translates their feelings for each other into a living medium whom is completely immersed into not another love song.