Overall, I like this book a lot but not as much as I LOVED this author's first book, Forget Me Not. I loved the premise of this book and the idea behind the fan fiction aspect. The love scenes were absolutely scorching. I loved the build of the relationship between Alex and Gwen. I loved the background stories with all the other characters. Dialogue was great. It was interesting to see behind the scenes of how an orchestra works, how they practice, how they fund raise, how the first chair of strings runs the show along with the conductor. I loved the tension of two enemies turned lovers sitting across from each other at practices day in, day out. The thing that lost me with this book was that it was way too in depth about music composition. I am a person who LOVES music but doesn't play an instrument or read music. All of the details about arpeggios and marking bow work went a little too in depth to keep my interest at times, feeling almost like someone was describing algebra to me. With that said, I do really like this book and feel Gwen and Alex had amazing chemistry. Both characters had good development and growth as did several of the supporting characters. Julie Soto is definitely a must read for me!

THE WAY INHALED THIS BOOK LIKE I NEEDED IT TO LIVE. This book has such a chokehold on me and I am not sorry about it. Julie Soto knows how to write romance that feels fresh and new all while using the classic tropes we've come to know and love. Rivals to lovers, he falls first, amazing tension and spicy spice. It's so clear that Julie did her research when it came to the musical elements of her story and as a musician myself, I appreciated that so much. ALSO, the cameos from her other novel, Forget Me Not, were top-tier. Loved it. No notes.

**Review of "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto**

Julie Soto's "Not Another Love Song" is a delightful romance novel that offers a fresh take on the classic tropes of the genre. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, the story follows the journey of its charming protagonists as they navigate the complexities of love, friendship, and pursuing their dreams.

Soto's writing is engaging and filled with warmth, making it easy for readers to become invested in the lives of her characters. The chemistry between the main characters sizzles off the page, and their banter is both witty and endearing, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the story.

While the plot may follow familiar beats of the romance genre, Soto infuses it with enough unique twists and turns to keep readers guessing and entertained. The pacing is brisk, with enough momentum to keep the story moving forward without feeling rushed.

Additionally, Soto's portrayal of the cityscape adds depth to the narrative, providing a vibrant backdrop against which the characters' relationships and personal growth unfold.

Overall, "Not Another Love Song" earns a solid four stars for its engaging characters, charming romance, and well-crafted storytelling. It's a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance looking for a sweet and satisfying love story with just the right amount of heart and humor.

Thanks to Netgalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for access to this
E-ARC! So good! Loved the chemistry & the characters. Also loved the pacing. Excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

With that said; I do not like giving negative reviews, but this book did not work for me. Honestly, I didn't care for the characters or the plotline at all and the romance/spicy times were beyond cringy. The MMC gave me the ick and I just didn't care about the romance at all. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two main characters and the spicy scenes made me want to DNF, but I didn't...I just skimmed over the scenes. Seriously, they were bad. Giving this book 2 stars is extremely generous. I do own this author's other book and will try to read it, but the writing style might not be for me.

I loved all of the instruments and music references in this book! I enjoyed the inside look at life as a professional musician, both classical and rock. The characters from her first book made appearances in this one and it was fun to see their stories continue, even as background characters. This book was definitely spicy with lots of tension, so take that into consideration before picking it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

"Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto is a unique contemporary romance, the second in a series of interconnected standalone books. We follow Gwen and Xander/Alex, young and ambitious musicians with the Manhattan Pops as they navigate complex family dynamics, romance, and orchestra politics. I've never read a book with such a strong musical motif; I really enjoyed how evocative the writing about music composition and performance was. Some of the conflicts were realistic, but others seemed to stem from the youth of the main characters (early twenties). Who knew classical music could be so spicy?! This book follows Soto's "Forget Me Not" but you don't need to read that book to enjoy this one.

This was such a sexy and intimate read!

The tension between Gwen & Xander was unmatched. It was a little hard for me to relate because I do not come from a musical background, so I find that I wasn't able to fully appreciate the book for what it is... but if you are someone who is I truly believe you will eat this up!!

Who knew string instruments could be so hot
Thank you NetGalley & Julie Soto for having unlimited downloads!!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for this ARC

This is a typical romantic novel with its fair share of clichés and predictable plot twists. While the writing style is engaging and the characters are relatable, the storyline lacks originality. The protagonist, while charming, fits the mold of the typical romance novel fmc: quirky, independent, and searching for love in all the wrong places. The love interest is equally predictable, with little depth beyond being the perfect match for the protagonist. Despite its flaws, the novel does have its moments of humor and tenderness. However, readers looking for something fresh and innovative may find themselves disappointed by the lack of originality. Overall, Not Another Love Song is a decent read for those seeking a light-hearted romance, but don't expect anything groundbreaking or memorable.

This book was absolutely perfect. I'm very much not a music person, but the experience of playing violin and cello came through beautifully in the story, and Gwen and Alex's romance was gorgeous and hot hot hot. Can't wait for more freedom Julie Soto!

One of my favorite romances of all time!!! Utterly brilliant. Diabolically sexy. Gut wrenchingly romantic and insanely, UNBELIEVABLY horny. As soon as I finished this book I turned back to page one so I could start it over from the beginning. Begging every romance reader in my orbit to read this immediately 🥹👌😩🩷

wow. okay. this was gorgeous. i really enjoyed forget me not and was super excited for this but was not prepared for how much i was going to ADORE IT!!! head over heels for this book!!!
i was def worried going in because i do not know much about music/orchestra other than my brief stint at playing the violin very poorly for 2 years in elementary school? and i feared it would hinder my reading experience but NOPE NOT AT ALL. like why am i kinda pissed off i’m not a child protege violin player???

anyways this story was great!!! gorgeous beautiful amazing!! it made me feel so many emotions SOOO DEEPLY!! and so consistently!!! from the very very start of the book i was hooked and i was texting my friends and screaming about how much i was obsessed with this. at least once a chapter i felt the urge to scream or cry or giggle!! i was GRINNING at my kindle multiple times. the chemistry was off the charts!! IT WAS HOT AS HELL!! and all the different plot and familial dynamics were so interesting and added a lot to the story. genuinely had such a great time reading this (even when i wasn’t having a great time and wanted to scream and pull out my hair and i felt like my heart was about to pound out of my chest).

i will say, i did briefly debate not giving this 5 stars for twoish reasons.
1. i felt like (as much as i LOVED THEM to pieces and love them together) gwen and alex could’ve communicated more! i felt like there were a lot of conversations they could’ve had that would’ve added a lot to the story that just weren’t there??
2. third act breakup was really irritating me and in hindsight it all kinda made sense but alex did really make me a little weary with his actions/one specific action and i still don’t really love that

BUT! in the end i was smiling so big and my heart was so warm and happy and fluffy that none of it mattered. and i mean i already said it but this book truly made me feel so many feelings! so incredibly deeply! and i felt so immersed in the story that i have to give her all her stars. absolutely gorgeous. julie soto killed it.

**thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever pub for the ARC in exchange for a review!!**

I went into this book with high hopes as I loved Forget Me Not, and Julie Soto did not disappoint. Initially I was a bit apprehensive about the orchestra plot line, but was immediately swept up into the story of Gwen, Alex/Xander, and the Manhattan Pops. I love a dual POV romance, and the ratio of Gwen’s chapters to Alex’s was just right! Julie Soto’s spicy scenes are elite. She writes the exact amount and type I enjoy. I will be recommending this book to my romance book club and all of the Reylo fans I know!

THIS BOOK GETS ALL THE STARS FROM ME 😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The absolute trance this book put me in. Like getting carried away by a song. It was absolute perfection, I couldn’t put it down, and I never wanted it to end. This book is my Roman Empire and I will never shut up about it.

This is one for the musicians and music lovers. It’s about an incredible, self-taught violinist looking for her place in the professional world, and a musical prodigy, Julliard-dropout turned cello rock star looking to change his future. This book has so much heart and is, at its core a story about family, belonging and finding confidence to walk your own path.

Xander Thorne is truly a man obsessed and he had me obsessed right along with him. The rivals to lovers is perfect, Xander is down bad and Gwen can’t help but be pulled into his orbit. And the tension??! THE TENSION!! Pulled as taught as a violin string. I honestly felt the flow of this book mimicked a music piece which was just so fitting.

I loved that this story not only had me BLUSHING and squealing, it was also more than just the romance. Gwen’s story and her search for belonging reminds us of the importance and validity of found family. Xander’s story shows us you do not have to follow what is expected of you to be successful. There is so much to take away from this book, I guarantee you’ll find something to love about it.

WOW. I won’t lie, as someone who hated band in school I wasn’t sure how much I would love a story following a violinist and a cellist. I am now ashamed that I ever doubted Julie for a second because as always, it was impossible not to fall in love while reading. I loved learning and feeling through Gwen’s eyes and watching her character evolve. I absolutely adored the character development. The plot had everything I wanted, unexpected turns, laughs, spice (of course), and a story that felt like the music its main characters played. Highly, highly recommend this!!!

Thank you to Julie Soto and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I devoured this book. I had to force myself to stop once it hit 1 am and finished it as soon as I woke up.

Not Another Love Song is a Rivals-to-Lovers, workplace romance that follows Gwen and Xander through their musical journeys.

I absolutely loved this book. The tension between the main characters was exquisite, I couldn’t put my book down. The storyline was captivating and I love how Gwen and Xander had separate yet intertwined conflicts.

This is a spicy book; let me tell you, it was ART. In a couple of chapters, my jaw was completely unhinged because of how artfully music was incorporated into spice.

I’m currently looking for a copy of Forget Me Not, I desperately need more of Julie Soto’s writing.

This beautiful book hits shelves on July 16th, 2024. I strongly recommend this one to everyone, especially my musically talented romance fanatics.

As someone who played the cello for a decade and dreamed of being first chair for an orchestra, this book was everything little me dreamed of (and the scene with Ruby?!🥵) The pacing of the book was perfect - not too slow to bore me but not to quick. The romance was spot on and believable (no cheese anywhere to be found). I devoured this book in less than 2 days and cannot wait to read more of Julie Soto!

We all deserve an Xander who will remember our coffee order and SHOW us his love, rather than spewing nice pretty words (granted Alex also did that but his actions were to die for).

OMG I love this book so much! This is my first Julie Soto book but won't be the last. The chemistry, the banter, the emotional depth, you could feel it between these characters. I am not musically inclined but the details, the descriptions, the interweaving of it all - I felt it. I loved it! This was a great read and thank you so much for the ARC!

I LOVED Julie Soto's last book, Forget Me Not, about a somewhat chaotic wedding planner and her florist love interest who never talks. Somehow, despite the not talking, they both captured my heart, and their chemistry really lifted off the page.

Now, when I saw the premise of her next book was dueling musicians, I was very excited (also...the cover my god). It being a Reylo inspired story at this point is neither here nor there for me. It's clearly become a common inspiration for romances, and I've liked a lot of these, so I feel like I can't be judgmental of where people get inspiration.

Now that being said, while I have no problem with the source of the inspiration, I think it's possible that this being a Reylo inspired story may have contributed to the lack of fully realized character development, which is ultimately what led me to rate it 3 stars.

On its face, this book should have it all. The characters are young and talented and have...goals I guess? He is hot, she is also hot. However, this didn't really translate to true character development and any real chemistry for me, despite the sexy scenes. While I think fanfic can be a great inspiration, there still needs to be more on the page. We need to get beyond "She's Rey and he's Kylo" because otherwise, it is just fanfic. Unfortunately, these characters did not. I couldn't really discern what either of them wanted. Even though I was excited for the music storylines, ultimately it became incredibly chaotic because there was so much going on here (truly...a lot), and our FMC in particular was still a mystery to me by the end of the book. What does she really want? Unsure.

Ultimately, while Soto is a solid enough writer, and her work will no doubt continue to draw a lot of fans, this book didn't really quite come together for me.

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

"I love you..." "Both parts of me love you. All of me"

Gwen (fmc)
Alex/Xander (mmc)

I think Julie Soto has become one of my auto buy authors becase she's just that captivating with her writing. Forget Me Not was one of my favorite books and I'm very happy to say that this book was also really well written.

This story follows Gwen and Alex who are rivals and both musicians. From the beginning you could tell there was a spark or something between them. It was so good to see it expand through the book. Gwen is very easy like and we connect to her as we get more of her POV. I did love Alex (Xander) as well, you can tell that he's boy obsessed. This book had a lot of musical terms and revolved around it but it was easy to follow and the romance was there.

Really good book, but Forget Me No might still be my favorite.