I absolutely adored this so so much.

The tension between the main characters was everything!!!!! I was squealing into my pillow and kicking me feet throughout the whole book.

Idiots in love is one of my fave tropes & I feel like Julie Soto really gave me that in this.

God, I was so excited for this. Forget Me Not was one of my top reads last year, and I wanted so badly for this one to live up to it, but sadly for me it did not.

If felt like this book simply did not know what it wanted to be. I LOVED all the music nerdy, and I am always down for a Reylo romance, but there was just too much going on here and after a pretty strong start it kind of devolved into chaos with too many different threads.

This book was cute, sweet, spicy, and had all the vibes you want out of a romance. As a former string player I appreciate the premise of the tension between violin and hello, looking at each other around the conductor . Was this book realistic? Meh. Could I pick up a cello and figure it out? Yea sure with some massive brain work. Could I do it well enough to switch out for an actual performance?? No. It definitely requires a disconnect from reality if you have musical background. The machinations of the conductor and the agent were effectively evil enough, I loved the scooter reference. The perfectly placed contractual lawyer was a little convenient.
Overall I enjoyed it while reading because I didn’t pick it apart, but will probably instantly forget nearly all of it.

Thank you to netgalley for the earc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not Another Love Song is a compelling rivals-to-lovers romance between two string players, Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne, both musical prodigies who have taken different paths to success. Julie Soto’s writing is descriptive, vivid, and emotionally resonant. Her portrayal of music is particularly captivating. Additionally, the cameo from Ama and Elliot (from Forget Me Not) was a delightful surprise.

While I found the characters engaging, Gwen’s people-pleasing nature was somewhat frustrating, as she often failed to stand up for herself throughout the book. Xander’s arrogance and early criticisms of Gwen were also not particularly endearing. However, I appreciated how both Gwen and Xander experienced significant character growth, overcoming their individual hardships and ultimately coming back together stronger as a couple. The third-act breakup felt somewhat clichéd, though it was mercifully brief.

Overall, I rated this book four stars and look forward to reading more of Julie Soto’s work.

I really enjoyed this one!! It was hard putting it down. I love me a grumpy x sunshine trope and this one nailed it. Julie Soto wrote this story so beautifully. It was super information when describing how an orchestra is structured. I was invested in all the characters. And the spicy scenes were so good! Definitely recommend this one 🎻

This was my first Julie Soto book and it will not be my last. This was emotional and hilarious. Plus the spice was spicing. I loved it so much. And it was about a cellist?! Like damn I didn't expect the spice based off the cover. But phew

5⭐️
Who knew classical musicians could be so freaking sexy?! Because I didn’t, but Julie Soto has convinced me! I read Forget Me Not last year and was simply obsessed with all of the tension and romance that was being served, so I knew that I would 100% be reading her next book. And EXCUSE ME because this was literally show stopping-ly good!!! Like I’m literally sad that it’s over because the tension, the rivalry, and the spice were that freaking fantastic. While I have had zero interest in classic music or musicians, this book had me frothing at the mouth for the chemistry that Xander and Gwen had while playing. Like the Cello scene in Xander’s apartment was one of the hottest things I’ve read. We also have characters that have their own complexities and actual problems that aren’t related to miscommunication or some dumb actions by either of the characters. This one just hit the nail on the head for what a perfect contemporary romance should be. Now I need more Julie Soto books in my life and I will be VERY patiently waiting for her next release in 2025😇 (jk…GIVE IT TO ME NOW).

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC of Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. This is such a captivating story of rivals turned lovers between a cellist and a violinist, where the tension is palpable! It took me a while to get into it initially because of the musical references that I wasn't very familiar with, but around a quarter of the way through, the story really grabbed my attention. The interactions between Gwen and Xander had me hooked! Julie Soto portrayed the intense sexual tension and longing between the characters so convincingly, especially in the cello scene! It was truly jaw-dropping – she nailed it! So steamy!

I was obsessed with this book the entire time I was reading it. I loved The Auction and Forget Me Not, but this book had something different about it. It was witty and brilliant and packed full of tension. I’m pretty sure my heart stopped at one point during the cello scene. My one tiny complaint is that it followed the typical romance book formula so that I always knew when there was about to conflict and when it would be resolved. However, this did not make me love the book any less. At this point, I will read anything that Julie Soto creates. 4.75/5⭐.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely loved it! The story is set in NYC and the main characters are both vying for the elite position of first chair of a pop orchestra. The author built amazing chemistry and tension between the two leads, and I liked the musical backdrop. Very different from Forget Me Not (which I also loved), but several of the characters made cameos which was fun- I will definitely continue to read this author!

This one is out 7/16/24- add it to your cart!

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰, 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱.
{𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗜𝗧}🎶❤️

Not Another Love Song gives us two very passionate people who express themselves with music rather than words. Gwen just wants stability through her job so she doesn't suffer as she did in her past. As soon as Gwen is in a pickle where she has to pick up an instrument that isn't her go-to, all bets are off as soon as Xander hears her for the first time. 🎻✨ AGHHH

Xander is a grumpy musician who is in a band but also in the same orchestra as Gwen, and they couldn't be more different. Gwen needs the job, and Xander appears he doesn't care. Little do they know that once they start playing music together, they don't create just another love song but something even better. 💕🎼

This book is perfect for readers who love tension, have a thing for musicians (even classical ones), and adore a good "don't stop playing" scene (if you know what I mean 😉).

XANDER THORNE IS A MAN, PERIOD. Just had to put it out there. 💯🔥

5⭐️!!!

Tropes:
🎻Rivals to Lovers
🎻Grumpy x Sunshine
🎻He Falls First
🎻Dual POV (3rd person)

Thank you, Julie Soto, Netgalley & Forever Publishing, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!! AND YES, that Cello Scene did change my life. 💫

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.post-reading vibes⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
Julie Soto did it again! made something that i never thought would be sexy into something HOT, EMOTIONAL AND MESMERIZING 💞

4.5 stars

I LOVED this book. Julie Soto writes such unique, fun romances. I'm sure there are a ton of other romances out there between musicians who perform together in an orchestra, but there's something about her writing that made this feel so refreshing and new - I could not put this down.

The musical setting for this book created the perfect backdrop for tension filled moments between our main characters, Gwen and Alex, and also a bunch of creative ways to work out said tension together lmao. The way the spice was done felt like art and like they were legit making music together. It was beautiful.

I was in choir and have never played an instrument, so my background in music only slightly helped me while reading this lol. I'll admit that there were a lot of terms/concepts that kinda went over my head, though I think I got the gist of it with the way the author described it all. Despite not always understanding what they were talking about, I was still glued in.

Gwen and Alex's connection was definitely on soulmate level. I loved how they didn't even need to use words sometimes and yet they knew exactly what the other was asking. This was incredibly impressive when they were playing music together - it's like they were one person just doing the thing they loved the most. I loved how deeply Alex believed in Gwen and challenged her to be the musician that he knew she could be. It was really fun to watch her blossom the way she did.

Also, the cameos from the characters from Forget Me Not were such a fun treat! I liked how it didn't feel fan service-y and how like they were integrated as a real part of the story (although I'm a slut for cameos so I would have loved it even if it was fan service-y lmao).

My only complaint was that I wish we'd gotten more of Alex's POV (I think I had a similar issue when I read Forget Me Not). What we did get was very little and it felt like a tease, but not in a way I like lol. I feel like I didn't really get to know him as much as we got to know Gwen. Don't get me wrong, we got a lot, but he didn't feel as fleshed out as Gwen's character.

Regardless, this was an easy almost 5 star read and I know it's going to be a hit. Can't wait to read what Julie Soto does next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

i ate this up!! this book was magically beautiful. I found Xander and Gwen's relationship to be funny at first with their banter and then i was completely swooning over them before i knew it. Xander falls SO hard for Gwen, i absolutely loved it. Whenever we have a "he falls first" situation, i'm obsessed. i loved their natural chemistry and how they build each other up too. these two were hottt. Other than the romance in this story, i really loved the way that the author incorporated the music element throughout the book. whether it was giving the reader an understanding of the first chair system, the different instruments, or incorporating them playing with intimate scenes; it just brought this book to another level. You also have a big family dynamc/found family situation that becomes very interesting and has you on the edge of your seat. I was fully invested into these characters, their lives, and their futures in such a short time. round of applause to julie!!! standing ovation!!!

I really wanted to love Not Another Love Song, as Forget Me Not was one of the best romances I read in 2023, but unfortunately it just did not work for me. I do believe that it would have been improved with consistent dual POV narration, as Alex's feelings/actions towards Gwen really didn't make sense to me - especially at the beginning. Also, the STARING!!! It was too much.

The sensual violin-cello romance of my DREAMS! Not Another Love Song is the perfect combination of classical roots and a contemporary setting and plot; Julie Soto made the choice to have neither Gwen nor Xander super tied down by the conventional classical music world; both of them play for a pops orchestra rather than a more traditional ensemble, and Xander is cellist in an electric strings band that sounds somewhat similar to 2CELLOS (is Xander Thorne the Hauser of this world? Possibly). They're creatives who push boundaries, and it serves their romance really well because they play with the music, and it's the music that's the bedrock of their relationship: there's flirting via sheet music, their first duet in public is rife with sexual tension (in their world, it's basically an invitation to slow dance), and a large portion of the book is centered around one composition in progress that encapsulates Alex and Gwen's relationship.

So, this story was originally published as Reylo fanfiction and you do see the influence; Gwen is a scrappy underdog heroine— an orphan, slightly naive and insecure, but of course Xander and other characters see *something great* in her even when she can't. She isn't a pushover though, and by the end she stands her ground at a critical juncture in her and Xander's relationship. Xander a bit of an asshole to Gwen despite almost IMMEDIATELY falling for her, and it understandably takes her some time to warm up to him. Like, she's starstruck to an extent and obviously physically attracted (and not just because he's biiiiig like any Kylo Ren-inspired hero has to be— I don't make the rules sorry), but she quickly understands he's.... quite flawed so he doesn't stay on that pedestal for long. He's the one with the family baggage, mommy issues, and difficulties stemming from being a young prodigy, as well as a history of being taken advantage of by the adults and mentors around him. And that's something that carries over into the plot of this story— both Gwen and Xander are relatively young (they're both in their twenties), and still in the process of finding out who they are as individuals and artists as well as a couple, and they both struggle to figure out who they can trust professionally (ex: there's a very accurate Scooter Braun reference somewhere in this book) and personally.

The sex:

I mean look, what you see happening on the cover? That's exactly what we get in the book ("You have to be gentle with her neck"???? I SCREAMED because, you know, cello neck.... her neck....). And it's hotter because Xander does his utmost to remind Gwen of it via his composition in some very public forums afterwards... multiple times. It's sensual, and shockingly romantic real fast. AND there is also a very hot sex-while-someone's-on-the-phone moment.

Overall:

As far as contemporary romances go, Julie Soto is doing the utmost to make classical music sexy again— and the love story itself is enhanced by that in such a novel way, and I can't recommend this book enough, preferably with your favorite rendition of Vitali's Chaconne in G Minor playing background.

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

Rating: 4.25/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Publication Date: July 16th

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I HAD SO MUCH FUN, 4.5

Fifty pages in I knew this was a book I would go back to reread in the future. It was a simple and cozy romance that fans of Ali Hazelwood would enjoy.

This review is my own and features no one else’s opinions but mine.

I absorbed this book like air. Seated and finishing in one day. I absolutely marveled at the music references, the beauty of the orchestra and the soul of these characters.

The spice was immaculate and kept me feeling hot under the collar. I loved the way the love story shaped throughout the book through music. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Cannot wait to read more of Julie’s work. It absolutely impressed me.

Not Another Love Song is the full package and my favorite read of the year thus far. I wish I could read it again for the first time to experience the heart thump-thumps and sighs all over again.

I was so excited for this one because I really enjoyed Forget Me Not, but I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be. Although this book kept me thoroughly entertained, the chemistry and dynamic between Gwen and Xander was very off putting. Xander was extremely rude towards Gwen throughout most of the book that I simply couldn't believe how someone could be attracted to the constant dismissiveness and condescending attitude. The fmc didn't feel special and it was hard to connect with her for most of the book because it felt like she was escaping every time or just going with the flow instead of standing up for herself.

What I really liked was the orchestra setting because the uniqueness of their professions brought out very special scenes between them, like THE cello scene. Hot.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the free copy of this book!

my first julie soto and it did not disappoint!

gwen & xander have some of the best depth, development and relatability i’ve gotten to experience in romance lately! julie soto wrote their story with so much beautiful poetic intention and truly crafted an ode to music through their love.

what i enjoyed most is gwen and xander’s shared passion for their paths in music and won’t let anyone stop them from playing. they both come from very different beginnings that asked a lot of their younger selves but getting to see their stories culminate and develop into true artistry together was so stunning especially with how the writing incorporated familiar musical elements!

the dedication to their craft rivaled only the dedication they hold towards each other which was a whirlwind of banter, tenderness, tension (!!!) and genuine care to impact the others’ happiness. it was so evident how strongly they wanted ~needed~ to be together just from small glimpses across the room and i was blushing so hard at the CELLO CHAPTER HELLOOOO!! their chemistry?! put that in the first chair and you’ll have yourself a most glorious symphony :p

thanks so much to netgalley and forever publishing for the e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!