5/5 ⭐️

Wow holy cow Julie really did the damn thing with this one. Not Another Love Song is a story of two people yearning to find their places, and they end up finding eachother. In this story you have our fmc Gwen, the orphaned violinist who was taught by sweet grouchy Mabel, grow from being this timid people pleaser to someone with a newly grown backbone. Did she frustrate me from times? yes, but i can understand her running away from goodbyes trauma issues so it was an easy to get over being annoyed.
Alex/Xander is that type A music prodigy all band kids wished they could have been growing up. He dealt with his struggles of feeling "enough" throughout his teen years until he had enough and became 'Xander Thorne' to let go and know he was the best at what he did. This man had me giggling with his words and how he expresses his love to Gwen, even though i wanted to throw hands in the beginning of the book not understanding his feelings for her until they were explained 😅😂

These two come together so beautifully, and the music they create with one another had me teary eyed multiple times. I absolutely adored this couple and the ending made me so fulfilled.

Thank you again NetGalley and Forever books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion ♡

An enemies-to-lovers romance set in an orchestra?!! I think Julie Soto wrote this SPECIFICALLY for me!!! Started this on a plane ride and COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Loved everything about this book!

I really liked Forget Me Not by Julie Soto so I was so excited to read her new book, Not Another Love Song. I loved this one even more. I connected more with the characters and felt like they had great chemistry. I think it was such an interesting take for the characters to communicate romance better through music instead of words. There were some really beautiful moments described that I think will stick long after. I’m looking forward to more from this author. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

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

I really enjoyed Julie Soto’s previous work and I was very excited to read Not Another Love Song and it did not disappoint. This was such a unique love story that was just so well done. The chemistry between Gwen and Alex jumped off the page. Highly recommend.

Forget Me Not was a favorite of 2023 but this one still managed to surpass it and cement Julie Soto as one of my favorite authors. I had little to no interest in orchestra going into this book and now I’m obsessed. Amazing story, very well researched and completely swoon worthy.

Julie Soto has done it again! As a big fan of her fan fics, I came in with big expectations for a great read and was not disappointed. She really knows how to build a world around the characters she creates. In this case, I found myself fully engrossed in the NY orchestra scene, almost like pulling the curtain was pulled back on their real lives. You feel invested in their story and are of course rooting for them! I enjoyed the bits of mystery about some characters pasts, and of course the ROMANCE! Always respectful, always so sexy! All this book needs is a companion soundtrack (suggestion: play the songs as they are mentioned to set your reading mood!) and a snuggly corner to read in. Hope you check out this book and enjoy it as much as I did. I am already waiting for Julie's next book!

It's hard to talk about how much I loved this book without talking about myself, but I'm going to try. I loved this. I loved how obviously gone Alex was for Gwen from the very beginning. I loved the found family element. And that cello scene
But man, I loved watching them fall in love. Sharing a love of something like music brings people together in a way that Giuliesotowrites was able to articulate so well. It changes you, that love, and you're never the same. So grateful l was able to pick up this ARC. Can't wait for others to read it when it comes out in July!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto was such a refreshing romance. It was really well written and story that had a unique voice.
I think this will be enjoyed by most!

"Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto offers a delightful blend of romance and music, making it a captivating read for fans of both genres. With its innovative characters and unique premise, the novel provides an engaging storyline that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end. Soto skillfully weaves together themes of love and passion against a backdrop of musical inspiration, creating a truly enjoyable reading experience. Overall, "Not Another Love Song" is a perfect choice for romance enthusiasts looking for a fun and refreshing tale!

Gwen Jackson is content with her music career. As a violinist in the Manhattan Pops orchestra, she feels at home. She is surprised when she is offered the First Chair position but happily accepts. Cellist and fellow Pops musician Xander Thorne has been wanting that position and he doesn't hide the fact that he doesn't think she deserves it. As Gwen and Xander get to know each other, it's clear that they have an undeniable chemistry, on and off the stage.

I am utterly amazed by this book! Julie Soto's writing is flawless and she tells a story that will suck you into the music world. I am not a musician and I have not had the pleasure of going to professional orchestra performances. This book has made me an orchestra fan, without ever having seen one. Soto's research for this book must have been painstaking, but it was worth it because the attention to detail in this book is astounding.

What I loved most about this book was that Soto weaved music with emotions seamlessly. The passion that Xander and Gwen had for creating moved me. I had never thought violins and cellos could be sexy, but HOT DAMN!!! There was a sensuality to their playing that had me thrumming with excitement.

I was intrigued by Xander's story. There were so many layers to his history and who he was as a person and I enjoyed how Soto peeled back those layers, little by little. I couldn't have been more happy for him to have found happiness with Gwen after all those years of being lost in other people's expectations.

This is a remarkable book that is a 2024 MUST READ!!!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
3.5 ⭐️

I'm going to start by talking about what I enjoyed the most— I really liked how the author put care in their careers and it was not just a background in the story. I don't personally know much about music or the instruments they play but you can feel that it wasn't just there for the sake of being there, it was either something the author already lived or put a lot of care in researching (in this case we know its the former because of the notes). I admire it even more because I know a lot of romance readers wouldn't care if it was there just for the background, and for this reason I think it might not please some. But it did please me.
However, as much as I enjoyed this part of the story, I felt like the first part of the book focused too much on it at left the romance a little behind for later to focus more on the romance and I feel like that shoud have been more balanced out. I felt like they deserved more development before things started happening between them, they needed to have interacted more.
Overall it was an enjoyable experience, I like Julie's writing, I liked the characters and the couple had chemistry (something I'm finding hard to find in romances lately). I feel like if the next books does not have the issues I had with this, she could become one of my favorite romance authors!

I just finished Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto maybe 20 minutes ago, and I can’t quite tell if I’m crying happy tears or not - I am very much still recovering from that ending!

I’ll start off with: this is NOT your typical romance novel, it is a gosh darn masterpiece. How Julie manages to make orchestral music sound sexy is beyond me? I am not a classical music person, I don’t listen to strings, and, quite honestly, know next to nothing about music. Yet, Julie manages to make music flow so smoothly with the plot - when she says Allegro, the pace of the words match that!

Music aside, I am so in love with both Gwen and Xander. I appreciate that both of them are individuals, with their own hopes and dreams and that Gwen doesn’t just bend herself for this hot-sexy mans she’s been dreaming about. Their love story was real, it was believable, and it makes me want to convince me boyfriend to start learning an instrument with me!

All in all, this is the perfect romance to read for the summer - for me, it’s a 4.5⭐️ and 3🌶️! Not Another Love Song publishes July 16, 2024 - thank you to Julie Soto and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this one💗

Julie Soto knows how to deliver the perfect romance, and Not Another Love Song just might by my favorite romance to date! Gwen and Xander are so  perfect together! I loved watching them go from what seemed an incompatible couple, with Xander being a bit of a grump to him being vulnerable with her and showing her his true self. They fit perfectly together... "..a cello who fell in love with a violin." xo

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Julie Soto for this read!

I knew within 40 pages that this would be a 5 star read. This story was so amazing, Gwen and Alex’s romance is hot, and passionate and beautiful. This book made me laugh, cry and everything in between. There were several times while I was reading where I would literally have to restrain myself from reading further as this book should be SAVORED. When I made it to 50% through I was devastated. I could read about these characters forever.
The YEARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alex is my new favorite book boyfriend by far. Men should take a note from Alex and start yearning again.
I loved all the side characters as well, every time Mei was on page I knew I would be laughing. I also loved bringing Ama and Elliot back!!!
I live in New York and this book really felt like a real love letter to the city and the music scene here.
I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book.

Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 very enthusiastic stars)

Julie Soto's upcoming book, "Not Another Love Song," is a captivating addition to her universe, where our favorite wedding planning duo Ama and Elliot find themselves expanding their wedding gigs to the East Coast. Enter Gwen Jackson, a Manhattan Pops violin prodigy with talent, charm, and magnetism in spades.

Little did Ama know Gwen plays the violin, NOT the cello, as the bride wanted. So, with a little help from the handsome, musical royalty, and rockstar cellist (and fellow Manhattan Pops musician) Xander Thorne, Gwen decides to improvise and play the cello, catching Xander’s attention for the first time.

The palpable chemistry between Gwen and Xander leaps off the page, as they make music together that jumps off the page and makes you feel it and hear it, even when you are just reading it. Their magnetic relationship is a joy to read, as they challenge and inspire each other to new heights, playing music outside their comfort zones and creating art together. One of my favorite things about Julie Soto is how she engages you, keeping you invested in the characters' journey from start to finish. I, for one, was shipping them from the first chapter.

Gwen and Xander quickly became one of my favorite book couples, and I truly loved experiencing their musical journey together. "Not Another Love Song" is a testament to Julie Soto's talent for crafting compelling stories and characters that readers can't help but root for.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

“I need to be in your orbit”

Contrary to its title Not Another Love Song is in fact an intense and poetic love story! Filled with angst and music this book is one that I flew through because it was such an effortless read.

Gwen Jackson has not had things easy. She lost her mom at an early age and befriends the owner of a music shop who teaches her to play the violin. Xander Thorne is a gifted musician who is born into music royalty and struggles to find fame on his own terms. When Gwen is offered First Chair of the Manhattan Orchestra, a position Xander has secretly coveted, they immediately butt heads but their hostility soon fades to deep attraction.

The chemistry between Gwen and Xander is intense! There is a definite soulmate vibe between the two throughout the entire novel that is undeniable. I, myself have never played an instrument and am not musically inclined however I can appreciate the care and attention to detail that Julie used as she crafted this beautiful story. Lots of spice in this one too so if that is something you enjoy in a romance book then this is a fantastic pick!

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and it reminded me a lot of her first book, Forget Me Not, which I loved so if you were a fan of that one, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try!

Being a sacramento girl I have a special place for Julie Soto and her first published book Forget Me Not. When Not Another Love Song ARC was offered I was so excited to have the opportunity to read it before its release. While Forget Me Not has my heart, Not Another Love Song had me hooked from the beginning. Although Xander/Alex starts as our “enemy” he quickly becomes all heart eyes for Gwen. While I’m glad that angst didn’t go on for too much of the book to turn around from “enemies to lovers” was real quick. Although Miss Soto did not disappoint in the “to lovers” department. Those first few scenes were extra spicy. *chefs kiss* this was a great read!

**4.5 STARS**

Content Warning: grief, strained parental relationship

+ Ama from Forget Me Not appears in this book! I don’t know if this is a series with standalones that can be read without starting from the beginning but it was so nice to see Ama in this book. The supporting cast in this book is great like Declan her roommate, her colleague Mei at the orchestra and Mabel who helped raise her.

+ Gwen is a hardworking violinist longing for some stability in her life because her mom and grandfather has passed, her dad is not anyone she knows and so she’s been without family. She has one person on her side, Mabel, who taught her how to play the violin and she’s more than good at it. When she meets Xander and they finally interact it’s like musical magic between them! Did Gwen have challenges to navigate in her life now that she becomes first chair in the Manhattan Pop Orchestra? Absolutely, and at times she was too trusting even when her gut told her something was wrong. I wanted her to stand up to people more often but she did it eventually.

+ Xander has always been in the limelight since he was a child. He is a virtuoso on the cello but that wasn’t always the case. His relationship with his mother is strained, and even though he is successful he’s not exactly free to make his own choices like he’s always wanted. There are hard choices he has to make but in the beginning I thought his interest in Gwen was a bit flighty too and maybe tied to the fact she was this new shiny thing that could take his place.

+ The romance is like the music that Xander and Gwen are making together, beautiful in all its complexity. The steamy scenes between them are some of the best I’ve read because it’s sexy and steamy but filled with care and love too without being too cheesy. I just felt like their romance had such a good balance of angst, sweetness, and heat. And hello, who knew a violin and cello could be so sexy – I mean the cello scene…🔥 There is so musical terminology to describe their desire and I thought it was so good.

+ Speaking of music – okay I am not an expert at anything music related. I learned piano when I was young and Beethoven is my favorite but I can’t listen to classical all day or anything but this world of the orchestra and musicians was so fascinating to me! I loved the history between Xander’s mom and Gwen’s mentor, Mabel. There’s a lot of drama going on in the classical music world, at least in this story there is!

My Final Thoughts:


I honestly wasn’t sure how I’d feel this one because I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood to read a romance with classical musicians but wow, I didn’t expect how steamy it was going to get. Strings are some of my favorite instruments to listen to in classical music and who knew a cello was such a sexy instrument! The love story between Gwen and Xander really is a grand thing as they come together with their love of creating and playing music and also to push each other in the right ways. There is angst, desire, steam, sweetness, and I was rooting for them both. Loved this one!

I am blown away by Julie Soto yet again. Gwen and Alex/Xander (...the fact that it took me writing this review to realize ALEXANDER. 🤦🏻‍♀️...) were absolutely magnetic. This story sucked me in from start to finish. It was spicy/sexy/sensual/hypnotic/addictive/captivating.... it was utter perfection. I felt like I was sitting in Carnegie Hall watching their love story be conducted. They were driven and flawed. I immediately loved Alex after wedding number 2. I adored Gwen and Jacob's friendship. Julie Soto has quickly became one of my favorite authors and I am beyond grateful for Netgalley and the publishers at Forever for the incredible opportunity to read Not Another Love Song. I can't wait until July so I can add this beauty to my shelf. I know I will definitely be reading it multiple times this year. WOW!

This is possibly my favorite book I've read this year. It was intense and romantic and healing and sexy.