Obsessed! I am not a musical person but this book ensnared me immediately. I loved the tension and slow build of the back story. I thought the limited use of dual POV was very successful. A little angsty at times, but believable conflict and fantastic steam!

“It’s simple really,” he said. “It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.”🎻

Loved this beautifully written love story about two classically trained musicians “ Gwen & Alex(Zander) “ 😍whose love of music 🎶 connects them in more way then one!
This book just sucked me in from the beginning and I enjoyed it so much!!

Loved the Rival to Lovers , the angst , the spice 😮‍💨was perfect 😍( who would of the thought the cello would be such a sexy🥵 instrument 🎻 lol 😂 ) how it was set NYC , the family drama, the music references.
It was just a perfectly executed love story that had me wanting more!
Bravo 👏🏻 Just Perfecto!! 🤌🏻🩷🎶🎻🎶🎻💗

Thank you Netgalley and Julie Soto for the opportunity to read this ARC!

4.50 ⭐️

I must confess, I wasn’t a huge fan of Julie Soto’s debut—too insta-lovey for my taste. However, the beautiful cover of her latest book convinced me to give her a second chance, and I’m so glad I did! From the very first page, I was hooked. The writing was exquisite, and even as someone who knows next to nothing about music, I found myself utterly engrossed in that aspect of the story.

Reasons to pick up Not another love song:-
- Unique classical music setting
- Enemies to Lovers romance
- Electrifying romantic tension
- Well-developed and relatable main characters
- Engaging supporting characters and found family dynamics
- Some very fun cameos from Forget me Not
- That COVER (and also the fact that it’s an actual scene from the book 👀)

What I Loved:
- Main Characters: Our protagonists are still finding themselves and learning, which made them incredibly relatable. The supporting cast—Jacob, Declan, Mabel, Mei, and Ava—provided a sweet found family that I wanted to join inside the pages!
- Romantic Tension: The romance was electrifying and full of delicious tension, keeping me on the edge of my seat up until almost 40%. Julie Soto has an incredible talent for building romantic tension with very few words exchanged between the main characters.
- Music Aspect: The classical music setting was unique and integral to the story. Thornes and Roses, Alex and Gwen’s private sessions, and their performances at Carnegie Hall were some of my absolute favorite parts. These elements made the story feel vibrant and emotionally resonant.

Why It's Not a Five-Star Read for me:-
- Romantic Development: While the romance was spicy and full of tension, it lacked some of the swoony moments that would have made it perfect.
- Third Act Breakup: I’m usually not a fan of third act breakups, and in this case, it felt unnecessary and dragged the story down a bit. While I understand the need for conflict, I wish it had been handled better.

Despite a couple of minor issues, I would highly, HIGHLY recommend this book for its unique setting, the music, and romantic tension. Julie Soto’s latest will definitely keep you hooked from start to finish!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and the Author for sending me an arc for reviewing!

I loved Julie Soto’s debut novel and even though I knew this was about musicians I guess I didn’t expect it to be so focused on the technical side of music and so detailed about the subject. I feel like the main characters were not the focus of the book with the depth this went into about cellos and violins and reading music etc. I will definitely give this author another try if she writes a new book but sadly this wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto has been my most anticipated romance read of the year for so long that it feels surreal now to have actually read it. It like that feeling when you are a kid on Christmas looking around at all the shredded wrapping paper and wondering what now? This book was like Christmas morning to me and now I have an empty hole in my life because it’s over. All that to say, I really loved this book.

It follows Gwen and Alex, two musicians who are both incredibly talented and find themselves sitting across from each other as members of an orchestra. Sparks begin to fly between them when they realize how compatible they are music-wise. But emotions aren’t as easy to handle as strings when their two very different worlds start to collide.

As a former band nerd, this book played directly to my music loving soul. I loved all the scenes where they would practice and listening to classical music while reading this really amplified the overall experience. I thought the tension between the characters was perfect and the lead up to the spice was top notch. Speaking of spice, this book had me fanning my face more than once.

I loved the growth the main characters went on. They start the book kind of in a weird state of uncertainty and they don’t know what they want but the more the story unfolds, the more they find their path. This book was originally fanfiction and I think you can really see that with parts of this but that made me love it even more. I love when things are a little over the top.

I also loved the cameos of the Forget Me Not characters! I missed Ama and Elliot so getting to see them again was amazing!

I loved this so much and can’t wait to read what this author writes next. I think I still loved Forget Me Not just a little more but this one was fantastic too.

Thank you so much to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was everything. Every. Thing.
Never in my life did I think a cello could be so sexy, but boy oh BOY did Julie Soto introduce me to a whole new world.
Having been a big fan of Forget Me Not, I knew that this book was going to be amazing, too, but I didn't realize how much I would truly love it.

To start, the chemistry between Gwen and Alex was palpable from the start. I was instantly in love with them and was hoping for their HEA the whole time. The tension, the push and pull, the banter... all of it complemented the dynamic between them SO well. Sometimes, things like this can feel repetitive in romance books, a literary tool used to just push the story along rather than develop it in any real way, but this book was not the case. Everything felt intentional, and I ate up every second.

I also just really loved Gwen and Alex individually. Their characters, though different in many ways, felt so relatable to me. We may live in different worlds, but I understood their struggles and inner turmoils on a level that made them feel really personal and real. It is always a treasure when an author can weave stories that resonate deeply. Because of this, NALS will be a forever favorite.

Oh, and the spice?! Holy shit. Julie is a QUEEEEEEEEN of tension and scenes that make you blush and I will be thinking of them for a long time thank you very much.

Overall, this is an automatic favorite for me and Julie has kept her title as an auto buy author for me! Give me anything, bb, and I'll read it.

What a beautiful, angsty romance! Not Another Love Song is an addicting read. Gwen Jackson is offered the job of a lifetime, to be the youngest first chair in the Manhattan Pops orchestra, much to the criticism of fellow musician Xander Thorne. But the closer these two work together, the more their connection creates breathtaking melodies. First I loved having just small snippets of Xander throughout—I love dual pov, but having just a small handful of chapters be him was so effective and dramatic. And Xander is so broody and just so sexy. And Gwen is so relatable and easy to root for. She’s brave and watching her find herself was so satisfying. And the romance! It is a romantic, organic enemies to lovers and I loved the dialogue and the steam and just the balance of it all. Truly a five star read!

Julie Soto has a magical way of bringing emotion to life on the page. I loved reading Forget Me Not earlier this year, and in Not Another Love Song she does it masterfully again while also bringing us into the world of professional orchestra musicians. We get drawn into following two incredible string musicians as they fight for center stage, go through the emotional journey of finding love and make music together.
This book deserves a standing ovation! 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

Thank you for an early 20s FMC that wasn't...insufferable? I know poor Gwen went through a lot and maybe that's part of why she seems more mature than many other early 20s FMCs. But I loved her. And her relationships with Mabel and Jacob.

That first time in Alex's studio is officially the modern Ghost pottery equivalent.

Thank you for the opportunity to read Not Another Love Song Early. Time to listen to some cello and violin duets.

From the moment I saw this cover, I knew I would love this book! Gwen is a musical prodigy who has taken the less formal route to pursue her musical passions. Xander is a musical prodigy with a rich history of musicians in his family and a long list of musical accolades, In a not-so-meet-cute moment, Gwen runs into Xander who gives harsh feedback about her performance. While the two struggle to figure out their feelings for one another, chemistry makes it hard for them to stay away. This enemies-to-lovers romance is steamy and fun and will keep the reader locked in until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the growth of both MCs in the novel. This novel is perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, with contemporary romance, and a bit of spice. One of my favorite reads so far this year!

Wow. I have never cared about orchestral music in any form, but I do now! This is the 2nd book in a row that I have read where the sexual tension for the first half of the book was as taut as a bow string (see what I did there?! 🙌) Honestly, I feel like this sophomore release for Soto knocked it so far out of the park, her next book will likely be infinity stars. This book needs to be on your July TBR, no question. Bravo!!!

This book gets all the stars from me - I loved everything about it. There was great tension, excellent, banter, and a dynamic setting. And oh my goodness this was so sensual and swoony. I was so moved by their experiences that watching these characters fall in love was just perfection. Gwen and Alex are truly soulmates and thinking about them continues to bring a smile to my face. Not Another Love Song was phenomenal from start to finish and I can't wait to see what Julie Soto writes next.

I did not realize playing a violin and cello could be so sensual! I loved that we were able to see Ama and Elliot again. I was blown away by the sensuality and connection between Gwen and Xander. The growth that both of these characters had was awesome and so much fun to watch. Julie Soto caught my attention with Forget Me Not and will continue to hold it with Not Another Love Song. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Mandy Harris
Angel Wings Bookstore

This book stole my heart more than Forget Me Not. Gwen and Xander give so much angst and longing that when they finally come together it is a masterpiece.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.75 rounded up! This was such a delight!!!

My expectations for this one were incredibly high after how much I loved Forget Me Not and this did not disappoint! Gwen and Xander's dynamic is electric, with sparks flying every time they clash. Soto nails the tension between their rivalry and attraction. I absolutely devoured this and am already looking forward to the re-read.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the eARC and the opportunity to provide an honest review.

The MMC definitely gave off mean vibes in the beginning, which had me questioning if I’d like him. However, as the story unfolded, I understood his background, realized he was just very guarded, and ended up loving him for how he looked out for our FMC. Overall, Julie Soto made me fall in love with the characters and their story, and she even managed to make the orchestra sexy!

For some reason Julie Soto has a line directly to a part of my brain that is often in a dormant state -and that's the part that apparently likes a slightly predatory seeming hero that still seeks consent? He's an asshole but not quite? He's a little over-the-top obsessed?

It's fanfiction and it's proud which yes thank you. I only want to know.

I enjoyed this premise in particular, rivals in a pop orchestra, are you kidding me? Gold - and the respect that world is built in was also great.

I mean, this very hot cover is from a very hot scene that almost, almost doesn't make sense based on their interactions aside from panting after each other. And yes see here he's touching her neck/throat, in his apartment in their first intimate scene which is frankly "erm no" behavior that would absolutely have me grabbing my shoes and making a break for it... but here, in this book? that is very hot. Is the hero slightly creepy? Yes, but it works. Because so is she.

And so this went. We all know Alex was romantic but sometimes Gwen didn't which is a little off-putting and yet their chemistry still really worked for me and somehow this book was precisely what I needed when I needed it?


In the end though, the characters don't quite convince me they have depth. Never is it more clear than the in the villains and the conflict could've been resolved in 5 min (though I love 3rd act breakups) . Saving it despite these shortcomings is many of the scenes and sexual tension and lust that was palpable.

If this review has not convinced you to read the book, I don't blame you. I don't know what to think either!!

Julie Soto is quickly climbing the charts to become my favorite romance writer! Emily Henry might get dethroned!

Forget me Not was one of my favorite romances of last year and I may like Not Another Love Song even better. I never knew Cello could be so HOT!

Julie strikes the balance between realistic romance tropes/ trajectory of the novel and crafting such beautiful love stories without being trite or sticking to a script. I get annoyed often with “third act break ups” but Julie really seems to get it right every time in a way that makes sense for the novel as a whole!

5 stars again 💕

Julie Soto has firmly cemented herself as one of my favorite Romance authors. Before her, I was firmly a Sci-fi/ Fantasy reader. My last purely romance read was....over a decade ago. Now? If Julie's name is on it, I'm reading it.

Not Another Love Song is a lovely balance of humor, romance and steamy scenes. As we follow our rising star Gwen, we are swept right into New York and all its bits. I've never been, but it feels like I have after this book!

Gwen is a character who didn't quite appeal to me at first, but her growth from shyness to confidence finally endeared her to me. Musicians will likely have more to connect to than I, but that's true for much of the book. Most of the characters are musicians after all!

I loved Gwen and Xander's growth throughout the book. Watching them learn to accept love and use their voices to speak up for themselves was lovely, even as I kept wishing for them to hurry up about it already! For those wondering about the spice, fear not, Julie delivers and then some.

My biggest criticism of the book is that Mabel and Ava should have been a cannon pair and no one can change my mind. They felt so perfect for one another that I am dying for Julie to give us a bonus chapter of them finally realizing this too.

Anyone who is a fan of Julie Soto will find themselves loving Not another Love Song. I've already pre-ordered this one for myself and can't wait to see what Julie puts out next!

Never thought I'd read such a sexy musical romance, but here we are.

Xander is a black cat with golden retriever energy, while Gwen is a bit more doe-eyed and naive. I loved their chemistry, and how he was absolutely enamoured by her, and how they both respected each other's boundaries and were in absolute awe over one another's talent. It was a fairly wholesome romance, only strife by the toxic people they accidentally surrounded themselves with (read: naive).

I liked getting behind the scenes of music production and the different paths music can take you. I loved that neither of the MCs were classically trained, yet found ways to do what they love in a way that they love. Gwen's unstable childhood led her to seek out stable work, while Xander's childhood forced him into a box he never wanted to be put in so he seeks out ways to be free of it. Their dynamic works, and I liked how they both challenged and supported each other.

Outside of each other though, they have their own relationships and friendships and I enjoyed getting to see the found families they carved out for themselves. I'm a sucker for supportive friends, and I honestly wish we got a bit more interaction between the MCs and their friends outside of their double dates. I feel like we needed a bit more foundation there, but I did enjoy their camaraderie, especially at the end.

As a whole, I loved the musical aspect because it's a world I know and understand. The writing was addictive and easy, but it felt like the characters' goals were always a bit blurred so it was hard to root for any particular direction or win outside of the romance. That being said, the romance was full of tension and super spicy, so if that's your thing, this is the book for you.

TW: gaslighting, manipulation, sexual content; mentions death of a parent, death of a relative

Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Pacing: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Forever in exchange for an honest review.