I’m always apprehensive to read books that used to be fanfiction, especially when I’m familiar with the original work. This book exceeded my hopes and expectations. I loved it. Absolutely positively loved it. The story itself is fantastic - the flow, the pacing, and the musical interludes. I love the characters, every single one (including some we’d seen before!). I love the way music bleeds into every crevice of the story, flowing through the reader the way it flows through Gwen and Xander. It’s so vividly described it’s almost personified; it’s really incredible. The spice is top notch and features one of my favorite scenes EVER. The ending is wonderfully satisfying. My only complaint is Gwen’s refusal to use Xander’s chosen name felt disrespectful to Xander. I understand why it was done but it doesn’t carry the same weight in the real world as Rey calling Kylo, Ben. But overall, an absolute triumph and I’m dying to read whatever comes next.

If I ever go to an orchestra, this story will live rent free. It was so cute, great banter, and had me laughing out loud. The way the author writes, it’s so easy to feel as if you can feel the music she is describing (and I have never played an instrument in my life). Our character Xander, a broody famous cellist. lead band member with an…interesting past. Then there is Alex. A musical genius and perfectionist, who struggles with the pressure he’s put himself under. Lastly Gwen, our FMC who had a hard start in life, and found her safe place in a violin. I loved the tension between the two. There were quite a few little twists I didn’t see coming. As someone who read a lot of spice, I’d rate it a strong 3.5 🌶️ with some excellent scenes (that will absolutely be sticking in my head. ) My only downfall is that once Gwen and the mmc got together, I wish the relationship didn’t go so fast. Which in fairness was still after 50% of the book, it was quickly lovers and soon the L word was being dropped. However even with that little side note, I still give it 4.5 stars.

It was alright. It felt very unique and original for what it was. I loved how detailed the music aspect was, you can tell the author is very well versed in the subject. I just didn’t feel super connected to the characters or their supposed chemistry so it fell a little flat for me in that area.

I'm a huge fan of Julie Soto's work on AO3 that's been written for the Harry Potter fandom, so I'm so excited to see published works where I can support her! I read Forget Me Not last year and loved it, and I loved Not Another Love Song too! I thought the tension and chemistry between Gwen and Alex was really well done, and I haven't read a romance featuring classical musicians before so I thought that was something new and different for the genre! Will definitely recommend this to customers looking for a contemporary romance

This review would be incomplete if I didn't first share my thoughts on the Author's Note at the beginning of the book. I have started to read more Author's Notes and I am so glad that I read what Julie had to say about her inspiration and journey to bring Not Another Love Song to life. I LOVED knowing this story was sparked after her visit to the New York Pops' orchestra and wondering about the dynamics that would play out between the first chair and first cellist. Well, Julie Soto did a fantastic job capturing the tension that this specific relationship can possess. I am a huge fan of Julie Soto's first book, Forget Me Not, and it was fun to read some character cameos. The concept behind Not Another Love Song is simple and straight forward, which I feel like helped the focus be more on the dynamic duo of this story. Plot was important, but the character development between Gwen and Xander was *chef's kiss.* Julie Soto did a wonderful job of gripping the reader's attention with tension and likable characters.

This was absolutely a five star read for me!

This book is great for lovers of:
Lots of TENSION and some spice
Forced proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Music

This was such a cute love story in an orchestral drama setting. As someone who grew up engaging with the arts, I constantly heard about the various dramas, especially around 1st chair, while living in my different art drama; as such, this really hit for me. It is both cute and steamy and is a great read for romance lovers.

this book was so cute!! julie soto has become one of my favorite authors after Forget Me Not & Not Another Love Song just confirmed that!!
I loved the music aspect of this book because it was so different compared to anything else i've read. i adored the two main characters and the story line!
I also really loved how this book was in the same world and universe as Forget Me Not! I GASPED when Ama and Elliott showed up in the first chapter!
The only complaint i have is that it is in third person but i quickly got over it!

So so so so so good. The original version of this story is one of my all time favorite Reylo fanfics and it was so comforting and joyful to read it now in this newer and remixed form.

The descriptions of music and the art of playing was so scrumptious and you can tell it came from someone who loves music to their very soul. It was awesome to be invited into that world.

Highly recommend.

∞/5 stars!

This could very well be the romance of the year. It was that good. Julie Soto has delivered a fresh, unique love story that will leave you wanting more. Not only will you fall in love with characters, but the artistry of music, too.

This book was so sexy. Like who knew composing music could be sexy? Gwen is a self-taught violinist. Xander is a rock star cellist. They come from very different worlds, yet they have so much chemistry on (and off) the stage. This was my first Julie Soto book and you can definitely call me a fan. Her writing was so intense, lyrical, and intimate. I felt like I was sitting right there when Gwen and Xander played their instruments. It was a beautiful composition of two people finding themselves in the world of music.

This is not a low-conflict book. There were many highs and lows. So many things are happening behind the scenes, so much drama. But I got sucked right in. It was impossible to put it down because I needed to understand the why, the how, and what would happen next. There is a third act break up, but the love song playing on their heart strings could not keep them away from each other for long. It was a lovely push and pull throughout the whole book.

To finish this review off, that cello scene absolutely rocked my world, altered my brain chemistry, changed my life. iykyk.

tropes:
🎻he falls first and HARD
🎻dark, brooding mmc
🎻rivals to lovers
🎻mutual pining
🎻spicy music making scenes

thank you netgalley and forever publishing for the arc!

Obviously, I listened to a playlist called "Classical Bangers" while reading this and patiently waited for the main characters to do some banging.

I liked it, but I didn't like it as much as the first. I couldn't connect with the characters as well, but I'm always gonna read a book when it has a look-alike Adam Driver on the cover. <3 I am definitely gonna beg for our libraries to get it and then tell everyone about it.

I fell in love with Julie Soto’s writing when reading her first book - and this novel is just as good! The connection and sexual tension between Gwen and Xander is perfectly written with the right amount of imagery. I could imagine the scenes in my head as the author describes the bond between them in musical terms. Breathtaking! This story had me engrossed and I enjoyed the reading journey so much.

Looking at the cover of this book made me rush to read it, and I was hooked from the very beginning. The cover picture depicts one of the steamiest scenes in the book, and it will live rent free in my mind forever. Who knew that string music could be so hot? Alex and Gwen's chemistry is off the charts, and I'm obsessed with them.

The descriptions of these two staring at each other while they play their instruments gave me life. I loved that we got to see little glimpses into how Alex was feeling through shorter chapters spread throughout the book. Seeing him pine for Gwen while she was pining for him added so much to the story.

The scenes of them playing music together were so beautifully written. I could feel the passion, pining, angst and tension between the two of them, and it just flowed on to the page.

There was so much emotion from this story. Both Gwen and Alex grew together and separately, and their growth helped bring them together.
Being set in NYC really made the story come to life, and it was almost like the city was a character in the story.

I can't put into words how much I loved this book. I can't wait to reread it and I can't wait to purchase it when it comes out in July.

Absolutely adored this book!! It was so swoony and romantic. The characters jumped off the page and felt so real to me. Highly recommend!!

Julie Soto does it again. I read Forget Me Not and was instantly hooked. When I saw this was available I literally booked it and requested it as fast as my fingers could let me. It took me a little while to read and I will regret not reading it sooner everyday, The tension! The Yearning! The romance! This is exactly what I want when I read a romance.

I love that she walks the line between spicy and romance. Her books make me so committed to the characters and I care about what happens to them.
I also went to Spotify as soon as I finished and listened to everything I could find. Jesu, joy of mans desiring and creep by midnight string quartet are god tier and I will never recover from this book. I will be thinking about it constantly. I already am planning on re-reading both of her books. I love you Julie Soto!!

This book was so sweet and fun!

This book was really unique and refreshing, I loved the backdrop of the Pops orchestra and the politics behind the different chairs and the competitive nature of the profession. It gave the book the best type of tension between the main characters. The pacing was perfect as was the character development. I just fell in love with both of them! Their banter and chemistry were perfect. Definitely one of my favorite romance reads of the year.

This book was simply amazing. I couldn't stop reading. I loved the chemistry between Alex and Gwen. I would definitely recommend it.

This was absolutely beautiful! I loved every second of it. It's definitely more for the "read-between-the-lines* readers. I loved the whole premise of it, the little Ama & Elliot cameo's were everything!! Our main characters are flawed and we love it about them. It's not your average love story with an HEA, you'll have to suffer for it. I started crying at about 85% and I've not stopped once till the end. I would recommend this if you want your heart to be broken and repaired in the span of just one book. 10000 tears out of 10.

Julie Soto is two for two. I had high expectations going into this book and they were all surpassed. Only Julie could make me want to pick up my flute that I stopped playing in middle school again in hopes that I would meet my soulmate.

Alex and Gwen are so complex and hot, I think I might love them more than Ama and Elliott. I know that Julie is only going to get better and I'm excited to see it!

Not Another Love Song is a steamy, rivals to lovers romance set in New York. Gwen is a violinist for the Pops Orchestra and unbeknownst to her, Xander is after the first chair position she's just been offered. I finished this book in two days because I didn't want to put down. The rivalry, the music descriptions, and the extra steamy scenes were all amazing. I love everything Julie Soto writes.

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been going through one of the worst reading slumps of my life and this is the first book I’ve thoroughly enjoyed for quite some time now so that says a lot! Overall, the writing, the tension, and romance development were all great. I honestly had very few complaints which included the fact that the mmc was quite experienced (sexually and romantically) whereas the fmc only had bad sexual experiences and no relationship experience whatsoever. I am not a big fan of this double standard trope but other than that, I had a great time with this book! I will definitely be checking out more books by this author in the future!