Oh hey it’s meeeeeee I’m reading this for work! Aaaaaaand there's a character limit on reviews here are some more words

I was so excited to read this!
Such a stunning read about a love that feels like music, “rivals” to lovers, and the beauty of found family.

It had “If I Stay” vibes of the cello player and the rockstar except Alex/Xander is both. And for some reason it is one of my favorite movies that I used to watch constantly 😂 I just really love the cello. And always wish I played cello or violin, but alas I only play the piano (which is pathetic considering these two musical prodigies play multiple instruments for a living).

I loved that this book was in the same universe as Forget Me Not and loved getting to briefly see those characters again.
My favorite thing was the invisible string tying Alex and Gwen together throughout their whole lives. I loved the music they composed together, it felt like I could hear it (and really wish I could!!!).
The tension between Gwen and Alex was intense. Their whole relationship from start to finish was INTENSE and I loved it.
The banter, the jokes, the best friends - chef’s kiss.

I don’t have a ton to say for once 😅. I just loved it a lot and thought it was beautiful.

4.5 stars. I’m listening to classical music for the rest of the year (or the rest of my life) just so I can envision Xander and Gwen playing together. I didn’t know if I would connect with this book since I’m not a musician but baby, I connected. I WAS CRYING AT THE END. I am in love with Xander and his quiet, broody personality. Julie knows how to write the most perfect grumpy male characters! I really enjoyed all of the side characters and I loved the little glimpses of Ama and Elliot from Forget Me Not.

It took me a couple of chapters to really get into the story and I wish we had more chapters with Xander’s inner dialogue.

Overall, Julie is an auto buy author for me.

Thank you Forever for the advanced copy! xo

Ahh, what to say about this book? Finished it in one go because I couldn't put it down! Being familiar with the author from previous works, I was anxious that this might not live up to her prior stuff and I am so happy I was wrong. This is so strong, the characters are so well fleshed out, the spice was perfection. All of it, just perfect!

A big thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Arc review, honest opinion: 4.5 ⭐️
I really really loved this book! I actually read it in only 2 sittings lolol.
Anyway- really loved the writing style, the attention to detail, and how lyrical the descriptions were (pun intended).
Lovely romance, a sprinkle of angst, and some good exploration into finding what YOUR dreams really are and how to achieve them.

10/5⭐️ I LOOOOVED this book! I suspect this will be my favorite book of the year. I’ll be reading it again when the audiobook is released on July 16th. The romance was incredible and you can feel the emotional connection between the characters. I cannot wait to listen to the audiobook! Highly recommend, especially if you loved Julie Soto’s debut Forget Me Not. Thank you @netgalley for this ARC. This was a wonderful romance read 💘
📗🎧Release Day: July 16, 2024

Julie Soto does it again!!

"Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto captivates readers with its engaging narrative and lush details. Soto intricately weaves a story that not only draws readers in but immerses them in a world where characters come to life.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters. Soto's attention to detail ensures that each character feels fully fleshed out, allowing readers to form deep connections with them. From their quirks to their motivations, every aspect is carefully crafted, making it easy for readers to envision them vividly.

Moreover, Soto cleverly incorporates return cameos of characters from previous books, adding depth and continuity to the story. These familiar faces not only evoke nostalgia but also enrich the narrative, providing a sense of interconnectedness within Soto's literary universe.

Overall, "Not Another Love Song" is a captivating read that combines rich storytelling with well-drawn characters and clever nods to previous works. Soto's ability to create a compelling narrative with intricate details ensures that readers will be thoroughly entertained from beginning to end.

I absolutely loved Not Another Love Song and have no notes/feeback. It was the perfect book, with great pacing and I am a sucker for a good Reylo retelling but this felt so fresh and new with them being musicians. Julie Soto is now an auto buy author for me.

I will be absolutely obsessed with this one for a loooong time. Julie Soto is a master of the contemporary romance genre, and this book is a shining example of her masterful writing chops. This book features a swoon-worthy romance accompanied by all the witty banter, compelling characters, and intriguing settings one could want. I blew through this one and truly did not want to put it down. Not only is the romance captivating, but the musical world that this novel takes place in is such an alluring one. The role of music in this book is stunning, romantic, and utterly sexy (iykyk). It takes their interactions to a whole other level and helps the characters explore deeper parts of themselves and the world around them. Soto uses this element as the perfect vehicle for love and healing and writes a symphony of her own on these pages.

My rule is this: If Julie Soto writes it, I will become obsessed with it, and this book is certainly no exception.

E-ARC provided by Forever, thank you so much!

I happened across this on NetGalley as a read now, and jumped having seen the hype for Julie Soto’s first book, and being very interested! Her intertwined universes and command of her subject was lovely! Having come from a strings background she really took the time to research her subject and I found that very refreshing.

Gwen and her roommate Jacob are performing at a wedding when Gwen sees Xander. He doesn’t even recognize her, even though they’ve been in the same orchestra for years. Even worse-he is rude about her cello playing abilities. Gwen is offered first chair as a violinist, and Xander is furious. Can they learn to work together?

Y’all if Julie Soto writes it, I WILL read it! My favorite trope: enemies to lovers! Her books are the perfect amount of sweet and spicy. Perfection!

Thanks to Net Galley, Forever Publishing, and Julie Soto for the ARC! Pub date 7/16/24

In Not Another Love Song we are introduced to Gwen, a violinist who’s on the Manhattan Pops orchestra, and does side gigs at weddings for extra cash. When she runs into Xander Thorn (aka Alex) at a wedding she’s working, something clicks between the two of them and they find themselves drawn towards each other, especially since he also is a part of Manhattan Pops. Their chemistry is unmatched and their musical talents draw them together, even as they fight against their feelings. As we learn about where they have been in their lives, we get to see how they’re overcoming obstacles in order to be together and make a new path for their futures for the better. One of the unique things about the story is that you feel a part of the music and even though I’m not familiar with musical terms I never felt left out. The way that Julie Soto incorporates musical terminology in this story makes it feel that much more passionate and impressionable. I read this book in five hours in one sitting and I can’t wait for Julie Soto‘s next book. Fans of Ali Hazelwood or Lana Ferguson will devour this book like I did.

I LOVE JULIE SOTO. My little orchestra nerd heart was so happy the whole time I read this book. I loved every single second of this. *chefs kiss*

GWEN AND ALEX WILL NOW FOREVER LIVE RENT FREE IN MY HEAD!!!

I never thought Julie could keep me enamored from start to finish with another one of her books like she did with Forget Me Not (Sacramento born and bred, so it’s a hard one to top), but wow she DID!!!!

The cameos were great, the T.S. references were ITTTTTTT!!!, and the homage to orchestras, classical instruments turned with a modern take???? Worth losing sleep over (it is currently 2:01 a.m. as I write this).

The star of the show though? Alex and Gwen’s stories of struggling to belong, growth, found family, and love. For themselves, for their passions/music/careers, for those around them, and for each other.

I pray Julie’s next book is Book 3 set in the same world that both Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song are (I have a couple hunches [see: hopes] as to which couple it could potentially follow).

Thank you Julie Soto for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book wins the award of best adaptation of reylo fanfiction into something tradpub’d yet. (love that we didn’t suffer through pages of height/size comparisons of the FMC/MMC too.)

This book checked a lot of boxes for me. Complicated family relationships are at the heart of this book, and while the romance is a major part, it goes hand and hand with the characters finding themselves and understanding their pasts. I genuinely liked each of our main characters and felt for them as they each navigated situations of manipulation and misplaced trust. I really felt like our main couple were together for a reason, and had to fight their circumstances, rather than each other (which is the ideal setup for a healthy enemies to lovers resolution). this book was genuinely romantic, and I felt that the characters were a good match that I could root for. lots of chemistry of many types.

Music is another major focus of this, and given that I spent a lot of my life playing violin, it was a part I payed attention to. Some of it rang true, other parts didn’t. Certain moments just didn’t make sense (someone who played would notice being a half-step off without needing “an ear” for it), and the composition that the players engaged in felt either exaggerated or under-emphasized as a skill for the characters (that’s no joke to just compose and play live at a concert?) but does any of this really matter in a romance novel to anyone but me? perhaps not. some of the orchestra drama parts and the relationships with violin teachers did really ring true, and those were also the more plot-critical parts anyways. as to my thoughts on how plausible the (shall we say) choreography of certain scenes is? I’m not thinking that hard

altogether a really lovely read that alternately tugged on the heartstrings and made my heart flutter. sweet, heartfelt, and engaging. 4.5

I plan to feature this book on my Instagram and will update here with the link when I do.

Not Another Love Song just confirmed that I will read anything and everything Julie Soto writes.

Xander and Gwen are likeable characters and made me want to play my violin again. Really enjoyed how the storyline moves fast and issues are resolved quickly and don’t drag out.

I read this book in one sitting and loved it! The author mentioned that it was both inspired by seeing a symphony concert and a Raylo fan fic and I could see that, but she also put her own spin on the characters and the challenges they faced. Spicy, but also with good character development and a satisfying but not completely cliche ending.

Julie Soto is always an auto buy for me. I loved her debut novel, Forget Me Not. Julie knows how to write romance. The chemistry between Gwen and Xander are off the charts. Their story is just so beautifully written. Who knew music could be so sexy. I could not put this book down. Another 5 star read for me from Ms Soto!

Julie Soto has done it again. I started this today and RIPPED through it. First, the good. I loved the characters, their differences, the story, the description for the musicality of life and their compositions (wink), and the call back to Forget Me Not. The bad, nothing much to report. My only drawback for this was pacing, as I felt some of the resolution was very swift and some of the feelings a bit jarring. However, that might just be due to the mainly Gwen POV as opposed to a back and forth. Thank you to Julie for opening this up to all readers for a day and to Netgalley for the opportunity to ARC read.

ugh all the TENSION and the YEARNING, I’m a big, big fan of Julie’s writing and loved all the cameos from Forget Me Not 🥲 Gwen and Alex were such a fun, explosive pair and I was hooked from start to finish.