I really enjoyed the book. It had me INVOLVED. I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up way too late finishing it. The spice was good. There were some issues for me, sometimes the musical descriptions were a bit much for someone that loves music but doesn’t know shit about the technicalities. I liked how Alex was obsessed with Gwen and her music but looking back the relationship seemed surface. All music and sex, no depth. They barely talk to each other, ever. While you’re reading, you’re so engrossed, it doesn’t even matter but after I finished, I felt like I got Twilight’d. Very enjoyable ready though and good vibes. I’d recommend giving it a go.

4.25 stars!
This was so good I want to reread it immediately. Julie Soto has a way with words and characters and everything she touches turns completely bingeable. The way this utilizes music to carry the story is perfect and the characters felt so real and their chemistry was on fire. The only slight criticism I have was this story could’ve used a stronger external plot to carry it forward but even without that I still couldn’t put it down.

First and foremost as a former orchestra kid I loved reading about the orchestra. I wasn’t ever good by any means but we all dreamed about the possibility of playing in a fancy orchestra right?? And my high school teacher even had his own band semi similar to Thorne and Roses! But Julie knows how the write a good book! And this time it was written through the use music which was beautiful. Gwen and Alex were so complicated but their love for music and for each other were simple, it was everything around them that made things so complicated. I would also do anything to hear the music they made together. ANYTHING.

I loved so much about this book. Gwen and Xander first and foremost were magic. How they played together, how easy it was, how they challenged each other. They also had FUN. And that was something that was missing from Gwen’s love of music. I also LOVED Mabel. LOVED. I was also a huge fan of Ava. I was happy to see her story come full circle at the end. The last two chapters made my heart so HAPPY, and the epilogue was perfection.

I’m gonna be honest it KILLS me that this was in third person. And it’s not because it wasn’t written well, because it was! And while I could still FEEL the story through Gwen, I wish it was in first person so I could have felt MORE. I DO like how Julie writes a sneaky dual POV though. She did it with Forget Me Not and I was happy to see it here again! I would have loved more of Xander though. I was DESPERATE to be inside his mind. His little chapters were not nearly enough for me!

I also thought there were too many villains. It all made sense for the story do not get me wrong, but I was frustrated that they had SO MUCH working against them. And of course everyone got what they deserved and I was grateful for that.

And lastly!! I LOVED seeing Ama and Elliot so much 🥹 they are my favorites and I was so happy to see them. And maybe a VERY LITTLE sneaky peek at who is next in the Julie-verse?!

Thank you SO MUCH to Forever for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto might be my favorite romance ever. Gwen and Alex both have incredible depth of character and their rivals-to-lovers chemistry sizzles off the page. This book is SEXY. I loved every minute of the story, especially chapter 10. Iykyk. I found Julie Soto after my book club read her first novel, Forget Me Not. And I texted them immediately saying they needed to read this one next. This book has cemented Julie Soto as an autobuy author for me.

"Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto is a delightful rollercoaster of emotions, weaving a tapestry of love, music, and self-discovery. Soto's writing sparkles with wit and charm, effortlessly drawing readers into the lives of her relatable characters. From the first page, you're swept away on a journey of heartbreak, healing, and ultimately, hope.

At its core, "Not Another Love Song" is a celebration of the transformative power of music. Soto beautifully captures the way melodies can mend broken hearts and ignite passions. Through her protagonist's journey as a budding musician, she explores the cathartic nature of creativity and the profound connections it fosters.

With its irresistible blend of romance, humor, and heart, "Not Another Love Song" is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of love—and the music that accompanies it. Soto's debut is a triumph, leaving us eagerly awaiting her next symphony of words.

I enjoyed this like I knew I would! (But let’s be real this is essentially reylo fanfic confirmed so of course I devoured this in 2 days😅)
Right from their first meeting these two had me in a chokehold!! Seeing Xander (who is also Alex) pine after her and consistently fuck it up bc he doesn’t know how to say “hey You’re amazing and I’m obsessed with you” without being rude and misunderstood made the angst that much better.

THE CELLO SCENE!!!🥵 well technically there are many in this book but once you read YOU’LL KNOW. Oh my god one of the best scenes that had me blushing and definitely one you just can’t forget ever reading!! Anytime these two played together the tension and admiration of each other was so evident and Julie’s words make you feel every moment of it.

Gwen is a talented violinist and so driven who deserves so much more than she’s gotten out of life and seems to be standing in her own way a lot of the times.
Xander is a grumpy cellist, musical prodigy/legacy and so so complicated who seems to be the only one that helps Gwen realize she has so much more potential and is settling based on the fear of one day losing it just as she’s lost a lot in her life already. Though they clash due to different life circumstances they seem understand each other’s musical minds in a way no one ever has.

I loved Julie Soto’s debut Forget Me Not and I’m so glad to have gotten for this one bc the wait was killing me and boy she delivereddd. I loved seeing some of those characters appear a few times in this book making me want to reread again lol

Julie you’ve done it again and I will read anything you write.
This book will pull at your heartstrings,have you not wanting to put it down and listening to Yo-Yo Ma wishing these characters and the music they create together were real 😭

Got an ARC and finished it in one night. Julie Soto is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. I loved Forget Me Not but this one did NOT disappoint. A bit more angst and so so good.

Also: the. Cello. Scene. 🥵

5⭐️! I didn’t know the cello and violin could be so HOT 🥵 but hot D A M N! I flew through this book it was SUCH a good read. Beautiful, haunting, intense, hilarious. It was everything! You MUST pick this up when it comes out.

If Julie Soto writes it… I’ll be reading the kindle edition, own the paperback, and will probably purchase any limited editions. That’s how much I trust her writing, especially after this gem of a steamy, gorgeous romance.

Hot dang! Her words, the premise, the setting… This book is a 5-Star read that I will likely re-read before it’s even released.

WHAT I LOVED MOST:
Reylo vibes. Enough said. *purrrrr*

The setting. I can’t listen to orchestral music now without thinking of certain scenes.

The cameo. The SACRAMENTO GAME in the HOUSE!

The banter and burn and SPICE. It’s DELISH! Witty, LOL type funny, sooo sizzly.


FAVORITE QUOTES:
“Made for each other. Pockets in her heart that had been carved out by two different cancers and were still left vacant by Mabel and Jacob. She moved her lips over him again, begging him to fill those voids.”

“I don’t have a cat,” Gwen said glumly, stabbing at her ice with the straw. “You should get one. This aesthetic you’ve got going on is really starting to say Cat Lady.”

“It felt like yearning and hope and decaying dreams all in one piece. She felt as if the tears escaping her eyes were just like the melody pushing past her fingertips, no longer needing her anymore. They told their own story.”


I would absolutely recommend this book and any and all Julie Soto books forever more. If the cover doesn’t convince you, just TRUST. You need this book in your life.

Thank you Julie Soto and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I’ve already pre-ordered the paperback 😛

Such a fun romance! Set in NYC in the professional orchestra scene, this has all the dramatic musician vibes, a lot of steam and chemistry, and a fascinating cast of supporting characters.

Although billed as an enemies-to-lovers, it doesn’t have any actual anger, feuding, or the back and forth one would expect from that. It has plenty of angst, but the characters are just in a mild miscommunication the first part of the book.

I loved this book and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

"Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne, two musical prodigies, embark on a captivating journey in 'Not Another love Song.' While Xander was born into classical music royalty, Gwen's talent was nurtured by a kind shop owner. Their paths collide when Gwen, mortified after Xander fails to recognize her despite working together, finds herself both furious at his arrogant critique and drawn to him.

This book masterfully weaves a tale of yearning, with complex characters that evoke deep emotions and garner reader empathy. The tension between Gwen and Xander is palpable, leaving readers holding their breath with every interaction. Soto skillfully navigates this tension, leading to beautifully poetic and spicy scenes, even finding a way to make a cello provocative.

Despite the angst, the book maintains a lightness through banter and levity, offering a perfect balance of depth and joy. Witnessing Xander thaw for Gwen is a heartwarming experience, leaving readers with a sense of fulfillment and love.

In conclusion, 'Not Another Love Song' is a captivating read that will leave readers with a full heart and a newfound appreciation for the power of music and love. Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing the eARC."

Obsessed is an understatement. This love story was beautifully written. The pacing was perfect. I could not put this down. I loved that we got Gwen’s perspective primarily and then a few chapters in between from Alex’s perspective.

I really related to Gwen & Alex with their constant feeling of needing their work to be “perfect.” The insecurities that Gwen felt were so relatable and real. I loved that their friends and family/found family picked up on their perfectionism and consistently expressed how they were perfect just the way they were.

The music - granted that we cannot hear anything or pull up the exact song they were playing - I could FEEL it. As someone who spent years in a choir & playing instruments, I loved how descriptive the text was, like I could follow along on the page. I didn’t realize quite how sexy music could be again until I read this book. ALL of the feels. Such a beautiful story, I want even more of Alex & Gwen.

I also loved how Ama and Elliot from “Forget Me Not” were included in this. I’m so glad I read FMN first. The crossover of love stories was so cute. I am hoping that the story we are getting in 2025 relates to a particular band member & a particular photographer from the wedding…but I could be wrong and also will devour any love story from Julie Soto!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

Is it too late to start learning violin at 32? Asking for a friend.

This was super entertaining. Violinists and cellists are near and dear to my heart, so it was really fun to read a book focused on those two professions. I was much happier this time around with JS's formatting. Forget Me Not was a little jarring with the FMC's POV in the current timeline and the MMC's POV in the past, so this was a much smoother read.

I really liked Alex, though I feel like he was whipped real fast and so they weren't "enemies" for very long. But it was still nice to see somewhat of a progression to his character throughout the book. For the most part, I thought both main characters were a pretty good match but their relationship seemed a little fast?

Wasn't so invested with Gwen; I feel like she was ignoring a lot of red flags once she was first chair, and that's always really frustrating to read, and because of all that, I'm not sure how I feel about the third act breakup, though I guess the way it was done made it easier for them to come back together because it was basically both of them admitting they were idiots for different reasons, so it felt a bit better after that.

So overall really enjoyable because I love the subject matter and then of course my personality for the foreseeable future is going to be Lindsey Stirling/Tina Guo music ❤️

4.5 ⭐️

I am already planning on re reading this book because I LOVED IT. The start was a bit slow and it took a bit of time to get into it but once it grabs your attention it gets so good. I was sweating and salivating over the chemistry and banter between Xander and Gwen. I was also very interested and invested in the musical aspect, even though I usually tend to get bored but that wasn't the case with this one. Highly recommend

As a former band kid, this book really hit home for me. It’s beautifully written, hits all of the romantic comedy marks, and had an amazing ending. Alex is my new favorite book boyfriend.

I could not put this book down! I read the original story Food of Love and I was so happy to see how this beautiful story was rewritten and made to an original novel. Definitely in my top books for 2024. The Spice was excellent! Thank you Julie!

Wow. Idk where to start. I’m a musician so this book was everything I’ve wanted in a romance. It’s my first Julie Soto book but definitely won’t be my last. The chemistry of the main characters is off the chart. And I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy of a lot of back stage/rehearsal scenes. I read this book a month ago and I’m still thinking about it. The pacing was perfect and the book was addicting, I wanted to stop everything to finish. Highly recommend

This book was such a fun read! I’ve always been fascinated by the strings. I used to love going to Severance Hall and watching the orchestra. We usually spent Christmas down there watching them perform. The string section has always been my favorite. And while my violin career was very short, I do remember taking lessons at a young age.

The concept of this book is what drew me in. We all know I love an enemies to lovers with high angst book. It was so fun to read this book & watch Xander & Gwen go from hate to love. And Xander is such a cocky bastard. Like we get it, you’re good 😂 But then he’s drawn into Gwen’s orbit.

I love Mabel in this book as well as Jacob. Honestly all the supporting characters were fun. Two people I don’t love? Nathan & Lorenz. Hard pass on both of them! I’m so glad we got to see pieces of Alex shine through & that he working things out with his mom.

Music being such an integral part of this book & watching work through the composition was fascinating. I don’t know all of the technical terms they used, but I know enough to get the gist. But overall, I really enjoyed this book!

I give this book 5 stars. I was hooked right from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. The cello seen!!! Need I say more!!

I enjoyed Forget Me Not by Julie Soto, but felt like it didn't entirely live up to its potential. It did give me high hopes for her next book, so I was excited to read this, and I had such a good time!

I loved that we got to see the main characters together so much. I love a romance that really zeroes in on their connection, one where you get to spend a lot of time with the couple. I thought their dynamic was really intriguing and it worked really well. Their chemistry felt palpable. However, I do feel like the book ended when the couple was still in the initial stages of their attraction, and I felt like they still needed a lot of time to get to know each other beyond their initial attraction. It's probably just personal preference, but I love seeing the steps after that, of the attraction deepening, on the page, so I did miss seeing that a little.

I loved how much the music was interwoven into the romance though. Their passion for music jumped off the page, and I loved Xander/Alex realizing she was the only one who was on his level.