Member Reviews

I liked it and was disappointed at the same time. The story was fine. Predictable in we knew how Angie, Ten, Nev would play into each other's lives and it felt a tad drawn out -- long -- but I get the author wanted to give the feel of time (from right before school starts to December). The problem I had was what she considered was the HEA.

I was devastated at what was going to take place off the record between our couple. For me, that's too simplistic and trashy and end. It would've been fine to leave that part of the evening out and she sing us out on a high note. Had it ended on a classier note, I would've rated this story higher.

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Not Another Love Song is not just another contemporary romance to add to the pile. It's a story about family, friendship, first love, and how those relationships don't always come easy. A mature take full of heart, emotion, drama, determination, and yes, swoons (😍). Get ready for another book boyfriend guys and gals! I adored every word of this perfect little standalone. Do not sleep on this one!

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First, I want to thank Olivia Wildenstein, Xpresso Tours and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

If you love Country Music you must read Olivia Wildenstein’s book Not Another Love Song.

This book is dedicated to all the dreamers who dare to want something out of reach.

This book cover for Not Another Love Song is beautiful. ! It was what originally sparked my interest in reading the book. It was spot on to the theme of the book.

This book had a very important message in that if you are very passionate about something with it and follow your dream. You never know when your dreams may come true.

I am a huge Country Music fan! Not to mention I can be very starstruck for my fave artist. Mix it in with a little bit of romance brewing and you have an amazing read.

Olivia’s book made me smile and at points made me laugh out loud!

There were some revealing moments that I was a little shocked by and didn’t see coming.

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Content: Mild profanity, non-graphic kissing, mention of having a hickey, and the MC discusses plans to have sex. There is no actual sexual content.
Ages 14+

This is a pretty sweet little YA romance. I would have liked to have seen a little more development of Ten and Angie's relationship as well as a lot more fleshing out of the whole Mona angle. I read it over two days and quite enjoyed myself. I loved the ending scene.

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There is nothing like a story with a little bit of country music, an aspiring song writer, romance, and family drama to make a girl swoon. Not Another Love Song is a heartwarming book that I loved from the beginning to end. Brought back so many memories of falling in love.

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This was a cute contemporary. It is perfect for fans of music. Angie is really dedicated to her music and it means everything to her. She is not completely confident in her ability but that is not always the point. She loves what she does and is driven to succeed.

Angie's mother has a new client and she can't tell Angie anything about them. However the son of her client Ten has completely gotten under her skin. He tells her he hates music and they seem to have nothing in common. This is a typical love to hate story which is my favorite trope.

I enjoyed the maturity and growth that Angie displays. My only hangup on this story was I think that the relationship progressed too fast and became very serious too quick. I did enjoy this book and am giving it 3 out of 5 stars.

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This was such a fun romance book. I buzzed through it pretty quickly. It has less music business stuff than I thought it would but I really enjoyed Angie’s story.

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Opinions: Not Another Love Song is a book I love to hate. There seems to be so many problems with it, yet I adored each and every page with all of my heart! One of the most dominant elements, which I view as both a positive and negative aspect, was the "teenage experience" represented in Not Another Love Song. Some of the events in this book were genuine and from experience, which allowed readers to relate to the characters and truly appreciate some of the underlying themes. However, Wildenstein failed to meet all of my expectations because of some very extreme partying seventeen-year-olds did. Let's face it - a majority of teens drink, and a majority of those teens do so irresponsibly. But the flagrancy of the character's illegal habits in this book made everything seem unrealistic and uncomfortable. Adding onto this, Wildenstein focused too much on the romance. Even though the title literally contains the word "love", Not Another Love Song skims over some heavy topics such as death, guilt, bullying, and self respect. Giving these elements more attention may have taken away from the adorable romance, but including them in the book without giving them any meaning just made me uncomfortable. Angie, the protagonist, getting so intoxicated that she injures herself on the way home should not be a sub-plot - we should be reading a book about this, not a book that casually contains it. I believe Wildenstein got caught up in the fun and forgot that Angie would have been arrested for underage drinking and "driving." All in all, Not Another Love Song is an infuriating book but I completely recommend it and would re-read it in a heartbeat.

My Favourite Thing: Despite everything I just said, I love Wildenstein's writing style! It is light-hearted, humorous, and engages readers easily. The chapter titles gave the book another star because they keep readers in the mood for more and make us ask questions. What could "Even Lawyers Have Pinterest Boards" have to do with this book? I was so interested to find out that I read another ten pages, and then another, and soon, I was completely finished! Wildenstein, although struggling to get on board with Gen-Z lifestyle, has a way of immersing her readers and keeping us hooked!

My Least Favourite Thing: That said, Not Another Love Song has so many small faults that I scowl once every second time I laugh with joy. Even though her writing style is magical and hilarious, I was distraught by the amount of crying the characters did and Wildenstein's way of showing it. Y-y-you don't n-n-need t-to d-do th-th-this t-to sh-sh-show that somebody is upset - personally, I would've preferred actions/thoughts to present crying because I lost engagement and found it difficult to read dialogue that is choppy and inconsistent like this.

Total Rating: PG-13+
Language: PG-12
Adult Content: PG-13+
Violence: PG-13

Recommended For and Similar Reads: Not Another Love Song is an adorable, easy-to-read romance that teenagers will gobble up! If you're looking for a light-hearted and mesmerizing read, this book is for you! Similar reads are Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye, Four Days of You and Me by Miranda Kenneally, What I Like About You by Marisa Kanter, and Leah On the Upbeat by Becky Albertalli. I strongly recommend this book because it fires up your heart in many different ways!

Disclaimer: There are statements in this review that are my OPINIONS, not facts about the book. If you do not agree with my opinions, feel free to ignore me!

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I didn’t really know what to expect from Not Another Love Song, but I thought it would be a fun and light read. And to an extent it was, but I just really didn’t like the main character, which hindered my enjoyment a lot.

Things I didn’t like:
- The main character, Angie, was super nosy and annoying. She always demanded to know very private and person things, acting like she had a right to know everyone’s business. She would demand to know the private lives of her mom’s clients, other students at her vocal classes, and even her Ten’s past before they were even friends. I understand she was left in the dark a lot, but all the things she wanted to know largely had nothing to do with her, and it just cam across extremely insensitive.
- The singing aspect of this book was pretty cringe-y. I usually don’t read books where the main character sings because I find the lyrics to be hard to read and cliche, and this book was no exception. Luckily, there weren’t that many lyrics throughout the book, but i didn’t enjoy the scenes where the main character was singing. Whether it be at her vocal class, privately in her bedroom, or in front of a crowd, I had a really hard time reading scenes where Angie would sing.
- The romance and the characters felt super underdeveloped. I felt like nobody grew as a person, and with the romance, the only difference between Angie and Ten’s relationship from beginning to end was that they kissed towards the end. Everything just felt flat.

This was a super quick read, and I did like the idea of this book, but the execution just didn’t live up to my expectations.

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There were some things about this book I really liked. I really liked the main characters. But, unfortunately, the plot felt sort of choppy and lacking in flow. I really struggled to stay interested in the plot during certain parts of the book.

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Not Another Love Song is a low angst well written YA book. I'm a sucker for a good music-infused YA romance, and this one did not disappoint! I enjoyed the fast pacing and well-developped characters. The book is more than a romance between teenagers, is the prelude to a beautiful love story but it also tells about Angi's growth path, she abandons the fantasies of her adolescence and prepares to start her adult life with her eyes open but without giving up on her dreams.

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Olivia never disappoints- whether it’s Fairies from another world, werewolves raging war in Colorado, an angel falling for her unsaved sinner, or a young girl having to navigate the treacherous path of following your dreams.

In Not Another Love Song, Angie is set on becoming the next great artist. With a chance to write a song for her idol, this is THE opportunity to put herself out into the music scene. If only her mom would agree...

As Angie struggles with rejection from her mother, and her crippling stage fright, things go from confusing to downright complicated when new student (and music-hater) Ten waltzes into her life- and into her heart.

NALS is a love story that set the bar WAY high. Angie may think she knows everything (what teenager doesn’t?) but following her journey is so humbling, while she discovers her true purpose and finds what- and who- makes her happy. The real world is filed with shades of grey, with unfinished stories and unchecked baggage, and Ten and Angie have to explore the possibility that not everything works out in the end.

NALS is undoubtedly a story that captures you by the heartstrings and refuses to let you go. I’ll forever be entangled in the lyrics of Angie and Ten’s story, and I am so happy to have been able to review an ARC! (thank you Olivia!)

* This review is my own honest opinion- if you have read any of Olivia’s works you’d see 😉

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I had a hard time with this book. I was hoping for a lighthearted and cute YA book, but for me this was not that. I found myself getting distracted or uninterested as I continued with the story. The writing, for me, was choppy and hard to follow. It didn’t have a flow that could keep me captivated or entertained. It also felt robotic at times and lacked emotions. I my heart couldn’t get invested enough in the story to enjoy it.

The characters felt really young to me because the dialogue was more like middle school children rather than seniors in high school. I was sad that the characters were a bit underdeveloped. I didn’t see much growth from start to finish. For instance, I didn’t see a buildup to the relationship with Ten and I also didn’t see a growth in Angies relationship with her mother. It just seemed like they had one talk after years of frustration and all was forgiven. Same with Ten. I just felt like they met and then after some interaction they were dating. I missed and didn’t get the in-between.

I wanted more from this, but I don’t think it delivered. I don’t think this book was intended for a reader like me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group For this ARC in exchange for my honest review

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Sometimes (okay, most of the time) what you really want to read is a romance that will suck you in and carry you away from regular life because you're so caught up in someone else's love story. This book was so perfectly, exactly what I wanted: characters I could root for, a cool setting, abundant swoons, and just enough drama to keep the tension simmering. As an added bonus, the descriptions of music making and the creative process are beautifully written, and really take you inside the creative process, even for those of us who can't carry a tune!

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Huge thank you to Olivia Wildenstein, who continues to be a source of inspiration to me with her wildly fantastic books!

NALS centers around Angie, an inspiring singer, and songwriter. When her idol, Mona Stone, holds a songwriting contest, Angie itches to enter, but her mother is not on board. As Angie battles her mother, life gets sidetracked with the arrival of a new student at her high school. Tennesee is mysterious and kind of a loner but he intrigues Angie nonetheless. Now faced with a crush, Angie must decide where her dreams lie.

With a blend of romance, family drama, and music, NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG delivers a YA that is both timeless and unforgettable. There were scenes in there that reminded me of certain moments in my high school life (I'm looking at you sitting in a movie theater with knees touching and feeling SO MANY EMOTIONS). I loved the themes of anti-bullying, coming out from your shell, not taking things at face value, etc But the biggest one for me was the theme of family. Angie is a typical teenager except for the fact that she absolutely loves her mother and shows IT. She doesn't hold grudges. She has her rebellious moments, but you can tell she cherishes her mother more than anything in the world, even if she doesn't agree with everything she says and does. It's refreshing to read a character like Angie.

Ten is basically my new book-boyfriend. He's cute and quiet and he COOKS and loves his little sister and SWOOOOOOON. Thank you, Olivia, for another boyfriend. I was up to my eyeballs in werewolves and sinner and fae so it's nice to have a nice, normal human boy for a change.

I was introduced to Olivia's writing with A Pack of Blood and Lies, some time 2018 I believe and from then, I knew she was one to follow. If you want a sweet romance with a backdrop of music, this is the book for you.

btw I'd love to hear Angie's song in real life. :D

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This book was cute and heart-warming. I enjoyed it. It's gripping, emotional, and true to real life in many ways which allows the reader to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

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I’ve had a very difficult time finding books that can hold my attention during this time of global uncertainty, but I can’t not read. I’ve picked up so many books but none of them could hold my attention, I finally decided to settle in to this one. I’ve been excited to read this book from Olivia as I knew it had a similar vibe to the first book of hers that I read and absolutely LOVED which was Ghostboy, Chameleon & the Duke of Graffiti. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve recommended that book to friends and family over the years and now I will do the same with Not Another Love Song. I read this book in a day. It’s very sweet, in a heartfelt way, not an annoying one) and definitely reminded me of what it was like to be a teenager, to have dreams, to fall in love for the first time, to be disappointed by people you had thought you knew. It’s a great story and I enjoyed all the relationships in the book. I also felt very hopeful after reading it which was a nice thing to feel right now. I think we can all use a story that uplifts the spirit and Not Another Love Song fits the bill.

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Not Another Love Song is a very sweet and joyous story. It is a coming of age story, one of hope and heartbreak and also one of strength, morals, love and friendship.

I started this before bed, thinking I was just going to read a few chapters. I should no better. I have never be able to put a book down that was written by this author. I have always read them in one sitting, lol.

As the story started out I thought it was going to be one of those high school stories that are trending, not quite a bully read but still have all that high school angst. I was pleasantly surprised that this was nothing like those books. This story is about relationships, choosing ones own path, loving those who support you, letting go of those who don't and understanding that people are not perfect. I loved the main characters and really felt their emotions. I felt like I was right there with them the entire story.

I don't want to give anything away, but I do thing it needs to be said that this is a story that will stick with you. It's a sweet read, a YA/NA and it is a safe read; one that all readers will enjoy. I received an ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review. (I also have this book on pre-order for the hardback.😉) 4.5 stars.

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This book was just what I needed. Something contemporary, sweet, and charming after diving into the world of paranormal fantasy. This was a breath of fresh air. I spent all day on the couch immersed in the world of Angie and Ten. I loved the progression Angie made from beginning to end. I really think this showcased the positive growth a young adult can make when given the opportunity to make tough choices and guided along the way.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an easy love story to fall into.

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I loved seeing the evolution of Angie's relationship with her environment.

She gradually realizes that there are other priorities than her passion in life. That family and friends are equally important. Similarly, the phase of taming between her and Ten is cute as hell. Olivia Wildenstein immerses us completely in the romance, it made me remind myself what it feels like: the first time when you like the other one but don't know what he or she thinks, when nothing is defined. She recalled the intensity of first love, those times when we feel that there are butterflies in our stomach, we smiled stupidly for a gesture or a word of the other ...It made me dream.

I swallowed the pages because they have made me feel the euphoria of the first moments in love. It's a feel-good romance and I loved it!

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