Romance is not necessarily my genre - I like a good romance book but it usually doesn't do it for me.

That being said, I had a blast with this book. It was funny, it was sexy, it had tension; everything I hope for out of a romance book. The pacing was excellent and I felt the chemistry between the leads. I liked that we got Alex's POV in snippets - Gwen was fun and we got to see what she thought Alex was thinking versus what he actually felt but his voice didn't take over.

I enjoyed this book more than Forget Me Not which I think had too much tone shift whereas this book had just the right amount. It is Reylo fanfic and parts of it feel like it, but it's not something I particularly mind and I was able to pull myself away from the knowledge enough to really enjoy the story and the characters.

4.5⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This book blew me away. Oh my gosh did I love it. The way they encapsulated the pining and tension in the beginning was amazing. It had me giggling and kicking my feet 🫶🏼. They were rivals to lovers and when she didn’t know how DOWN BAD he was for her that he went home and composed a piece for her specifically had me deceased. Ugh I’m obsessed with them. If you want a romance with tension, spice, pining, confliction, emotion and passion.. look no further cause Julie Soto has got it all right here 😍


Also that t-swift reference at the end? *chefs kiss* ❤️‍🔥

🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵

Not Another Love Song is a enemies to lovers romance about Gwen, a young violinist and Xander, a contemporary cello rock star. As they battle through the challenges and politics of their musical careers they find themselves again and again drawn to each other.

I read an advanced reader's copy and it was wildly hot. The tension and build-up is beautiful and the romance is palpable. This book is as much a love story about two people as it is about finding your most authentic sound. The world felt so real and the chemistry between Gwen and Xander was off the charts (or should I say staff).

What a wilddddd ride! Sign me up for more musical prodigy enemies to lovers romances because I had no idea that this is what was missing from my life…First Julie Soto book definitely gonna read everything else she has😭
Thank you Netgally for the eARC

So this is one of THOSE books—one of those dang books that is so amazingly beautiful that you spend forever wishing you could read it again for the first time. It is passionate, romantic, witty, and had me captivated from chapter 1. Gwen and Alex are without question one of my favorite couples I’ve ever read—ever, as in ever and ever and ever. Their partnership and connection gave me full body goosebumps and a longing for the book to go on longer as I neared the end. The supporting cast of characters added a quality and richness to the story. The pacing was absolute perfection, no notes!! Fan-freakin-tastic. Left me in a total heart-eyed daze.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto.

This one is among my favorites of the year so far! I was hooked from the beginning and didn’t want to put it down until I was done.

Gwen is a violinist with the Manhattan Pops and also takes on wedding gigs (insert fun Forget Me Not cameos here!!). While playing a wedding she lands the attention of Xander Thorne when a mix up challenges Gwen to play the cello (one of Xander’s instruments) at the wedding instead of her violin. Gwen, not fully understanding her own potential, gains public attention after being offered first chair with the Manhattan Pops when the long time first chair chooses to retire to the board. It’s through the orchestra that Xander and Gwen grow closer.

This book encompasses why the world loves Julie Soto. No one writes oblivious/pining like she does! Gwen and Xander have incredible chemistry and are made for each other. It’s not simply the chemistry when the two interact with each other but also when they play together. The writing of the scenes in which they play together are so effectively written, you can feel it as though you're there. This one is an essential add to your TBR. Whether or not you already knew that the orchestra was sexy, Not Another Love Song will really show you just how much fire there can be.

i really, really loved this one! which is amazing because i haven’t finished any books in forever, but i devoured this one in a day. i was definitely hooked from the first chapter, because there was so much great chemistry between xander and gwen!

as a music lover and former orchestra member, it was so fun to be immersed in that kind of environment again!! i could literally hear the cacophony when julie soto wrote scenes where the oboe plays and the rest of the symphony tunes. i think music was so beautifully expressed in this, although at times it felt like a bit much. i personally have never thought of arpeggios or tempos like allegro during exciting times but to each their own.

the character of xander thorne was so fun, and i loved knowing that he is ben solo inspired. gwen was an easy to root for main character, but i wished we had delved into her background a bit more. the supporting cast was so much fun and i really did have some laugh out loud moments.

all in all, this was such an enjoyable, bingeable read and i will definitely be buying a physical copy!!!

this was so incredibly romantic! i love julie soto's writing so much! i am always swooning and giggling. the characters were so easy to love and so fun to read about! i was waiting on the edge of my seat to get to the scene that was shown on the cover and let me just say the scene did not disappoint! the chemistry was off the charts! I loved this book!

I am someone who is not super musically gifted, and I have never really cared for classical music, but this book had me looking up violin soloists and orchestra performances on YouTube. I felt so immersed in the world of professional musicians and it gave me a whole new appreciation for the difficulty of playing something well. This was one of those books where I was even more interested in the subplot than the romance plot. Both were excellent and both had me struggling to put this book down. I loved the tension between the two main characters, the struggle Gwen had to make a name for herself as a musician, the “villains” of the story, and the way the characters found their way back to each other. This was definitely a unique read, and I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book was delightful! I was hooked the whole time, and I loved the characters and their backstories.

THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING!!!!! Forget Me Not was one of my favorite books of the year in 2023, and this one just made the list for 2024. It is everything a good romance should be and more. I recommend it to anyone who loves enemies to lovers, tension... whew LORD just read it as soon as you are able.

I really enjoyed this book and the premise. I thought the 2 main characters had great chemistry right from the start of the book. I felt that the musical component of the book was very well written and thought out. I felt that I was hearing the music with the characters.
My only wish was that there was a little more depth to the MMC mother, Ava. I felt like her role should have been a little bigger and I would have liked to see more from her. It was very surface level and I thought that could have added something extra to the book.

From the first few chapters, this story had my attention. The tension between the two main characters was so intense and visceral that I had a hard time putting the book down let alone breathe! Yes, this is a love story but it felt like it was primarily a love story to and for music then a love story between Gwen and Alex.

The writing had this lyrical quality to it when describing the music and the instruments and the hold it had on most of the characters. I think that was a smart approach by Soto because it help further the premise of finding love through music and finding music through love. Cheesy, I know but still effective. However, the strong references to music and it’s vocabulary did take away from the story at times.

My main critique is that Gwen as a main character fell flat for me. As I sat down to write this review, I realized that I didn’t fully know her. There wasn’t much character development on her end as there was for Alex/Xander. I think having his POV and backstory sprinkled throughout the book helped with that.

Overall I did enjoy this book and I wanted to THANK Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an eARC.

Wow! There is something about Julie Soto's writing that just oozes tension and chemistry and I love it! This gave me the vibes of an Ali Hazelwood book - except instead of scientists, the MCs are musicians.

Read this story if you enjoy:
> Tension and angst
> Enemies to lovers
> Mostly one POV (with his POV sprinkled in)
> Music! (both the MCs are musicians)
> Spicy spice

I devoured this book and was so sad when it was over. I really loved so many things about this story. The way that the tension is built with just teasing glimpses of the MMC POV (I was dying for more of his POV in the story). The complicated and layered backgrounds that the MCs had which gave them depth and also really impacted who they were in the story.

The musical setting and aspects of this book were amazing and felt very unique. I loved how the music was an integral part of the story - not just an occupation that they had - but drove so much of the storyline. The classical music mixed with rock star vibes were **chefs kiss**. And just for fun, there are little cameos of characters from Julie's previous book which makes for fun little nuggets to throw back to a previous story - without requiring any one to read her first book if they haven't.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book. It will definitely be one that I'm adding to my shelf after it's published!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

“It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.”

After reading Julie Soto’s debut Forget Me Not, I knew that I had to read her next book!

Gwen Jackson is a talented violinist and finds herself having to play the cello at a wedding. There she encounters Xander Thorne, a member of Thorne and Roses and is a cellist at the Manhattan Pops where she is also employed at. After harsh criticism, she has no desire to ever interact with him again.
Tension only flares when Gwen is given the position of first chair that Xander wanted.
As a natural people pleaser, she is determined to prove that she is worthy of this honor. Even it means letting the board take advantage of her willingness to do what is best for Pops.

Even though it wasn’t a traditional dual POV, we got glimpses of how Xander/Alex felt throughout the book. He seems so full of himself but, in reality it is his false persona. There’s an inner conflict within himself as he struggles to decide who he wants to be.
Reasons which are explained in the book as to why he has two identities.

The way that they’re able to communicate with their music was beautifully written. Their connection to one another was raw and profound. There are several intimate moments that added to their chemistry. The cello scene was not expected but definitely needed. At the end both Gwen and Alex were both able to play as their true selves.

As someone who doesn’t (can’t) play instruments, it was a bit difficult to follow along the musical terms. Thankfully I read on my kindle so I was able to look up the definitions. Which I recommend doing since it helped me understand what was going on.

I don’t think it’s necessary to read Forget Me Not, but if you do/did then you’ll love seeing the characters' cameos.

Thank You to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Julie Soto for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is a charming and heartfelt romance that hits all the right notes. As a fan of contemporary romance, I found this book to be an enjoyable and engaging read.

Soto's writing style is fresh and witty, making the story come alive with vibrant characters and realistic dialogue. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their journey from initial attraction to deep connection is well-paced and satisfying.

One of the standout aspects of the book is its relatable and well-developed characters. Each character has their own quirks and flaws, making them feel genuine and easy to root for. The romantic tension and sweet moments are balanced perfectly, keeping me hooked from start to finish.

While the plot follows some familiar romance tropes, Soto manages to infuse them with originality and charm, creating a story that feels both classic and new. There were a few predictable moments, but they didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

Overall, Not Another Love Song is a delightful read for anyone who loves a good romance. Julie Soto has crafted a story that is both heartwarming and fun, making it a perfect addition to your summer reading list.

Not Another Love Song
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Earlier this year I read Forget Me Not and I was instantly obsessed! When I saw this one (and its incredible cover) I was so excited and I knew I needed to read it.
This author is such a great writer, and she definitely delivered in the beautiful writing department!
This book follows Gwen and Xander, both of whom are talented musicians. If you are a huge music fan, especially if you play an instrument, you will probably like this book.
I thought this was a sweet book! It felt a touch slow to start but once things picked up and the tension was there I enjoyed it a lot more! I will say I think there’s a certain point where it was more spice than plot… there definitely felt like there were more scenes in this one than in her previous book.
Overall, this is a good book, and it’s getting tons of amazing reviews! However, I think I would have connected more with it if it were written in the 1st person point of view. Forget Me Not was in 1st and I had an easier time connecting with the characters and plot! I read many 3rd person point of view books without issue, but I struggled a bit with this one.
With that being said, I still recommend it! Not Another Love Song will be available on July 16th!

Read If You Like:
🎵musical prodigies
🎵grumpy + sunshine
🎵found family
🎵he falls first
🎵rivals to lovers

Have you ever read a book that just ensnares you? Has you thinking about the characters well after it’s over? Not Another Love Song was that for me.

Julie does a fantastic job of making you think you’re a literal musician who totally understands the inner workings of playing the violin and cello. I lovedddd how she described the experience of playing the intrustments.

This is an extreme slow burn of a book but MAN was the romance romancing by the end. It did have a super ROUGH 3rd act break up which we know I’m not a huge fan of, but I am a big fan of Julie so 🤷🏾‍♀️

Tropes:

🎼 rival musicians
🎼 hate to lovers
🎼 forced proximity
🎼 famous MMC

3⭐️

Unfortunately this book wasn’t it for me and would be much better suited for someone with experience and interest in classical music.

I’m addicted to this young man!

Best book I’ve read this year! I couldn’t put it down and I want more! He’s obsessed with her! And I’m obsessed with that!

Xander and Gwen meet at a wedding when she is asked to play the cello (she is a violinist!!!!) ! Can she do it? Of course she can! She’s a musical genius!

When he asked for her name and where she came from, and she hit him back with, “I sit across from you at the pops every week.” Chills!