Thank you so much to Forever Pub & NetGalley for my copy of Not Another Love Song, by Julie Soto.

This was stuck on my TBR for too long, and I am so glad I picked it up as a cozy holiday week read! I grew up playing instruments/music/singing, so how I’ve gone so long without a musical romantic drama is beyond me!

This one is for the music lovers.
READ THIS IF… you were music nerd in school, love orchestral music, play/played an instrument, enjoy movies like Center Stage, love the drama & passion of artistic characters, love tension and spice

Gwen and Alex felt relatable to me. There is such a cathartic melancholic tone in this book, but I mean this in a romantic way. I don’t know if that makes sense? With music creation often comes great passion, and as someone who is familiar with that world, this atmosphere felt comforting and accurate to me.

Alex is the grumpy, brooding, cocky and established cellist, and Gwen is our timid, kind, passionate but unleashed FMC violinist. The two develop an instant feeling of rivalry, and also a pull. I loved the simmer and burn between these two. I loved seeing how they connected through the creation and experience of music. Their chemistry was off the charts. It was amazing to see how Alex was able to envision the ways Gwen could flourish musically.

I think this romance held tension, steam, amazing passion and spice, and a small flare for the drama. I can see why this vibe may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me. Reflecting, if I had to knit pick, certain personal background storylines for Gwen I think could have been better explained to Alex in the end, but this also isn’t something I feel strongly about.

This was my first Julie Soto experience, but it won’t be my last. I am also officially on the hunt for more music based romances!!!

A deeply engaging and immersive story set inn the competitive world of classical music. Rivals to lovers raised the stakes in this beautifully written contemporary romance. Overall a solid thoughtful story.

Thanks, Forever and Hachette Audio, for the arc and ALC!

I will never look at or hear a cello the same way again, which I don't know if that's a good thing or not since I go to the theatre so much.

Also, I love both Elliot and Xander, so even though I'm late to the game, I'm claiming both.

It’s honestly been a while since I last enjoyed a romance this much! This was just so much fun, and even though I’d gone into this with high expectations because of some of my friends’ reviews, it still ended up exceeding all of them.

I’ve read books, and even romance books, about musicians before, but I think this is just one of the best examples of using music within a story to its full potential. It felt like it paralleled and mirrored the romance itself so beautifully, and it added this whole extra dimension to the story as a whole. There was so much passion in how both MCs interacted with and felt about music, and it ended up bleeding into their passion for each other as well. The tension was already fantastic, but whenever music was added to the scenes, it was somehow even further heightened!

My only small issue with this book was the pacing near the end, as I always get frustrated when the third-act break-up occurs very close to the end and it feels like there isn’t a proper amount of time for a full resolution. This often negatively affects my lasting memories of the book, though this wasn’t the case at all this time! It’s been a bit since I’ve finished now, and I’ve honestly only remembered the good parts.

Overall, this book was so much fun and I cannot wait to try more from this author!

Everyone was right about the cello scene...

"It's simple, really. It's about a cello who fell in love with a violin."

This is my first Julie Soto book and I fell in love with it. Julie’s writing absolutely flows down the page and I was immersed in its vividness. The way she wrote about music had me emotional along with the characters. I was obsessed. Julie writes about music spectacularly, it was captivating without being out of reach by a non musical person.

I immediately was drawn into Gwen’s world and I ate this up so within a day. Gwen’s love for music was reinvigorating and her journey was a great reminder that you should listen to yourself. You don’t have to settle when something seems good enough. Gwen was instantly likable and well developed. She had depth and real challenges and problems to overcome. It was a pleasure to watch her growth throughout this story. And Alex/Xander...absolutely one of my top MMCs of this entire year. He fell first and was OBSESSED with Gwen and have to say, I was obsessed with him.

THE ROMANCE!! This was a TRUE rivals to lovers and it was done to perfection. The tension was so high that my own stomach was fluttering and it had my heart pounding. I could feel it from when they were just LOOKING at each other. The romance was a great balance between hot and heavy and romantic and beautiful.

Not Another Love Song was a love letter to music. This won’t be my last Julie Soto book.

Julie Soto, you have my heart! This novel was truly amazing, the relationships and connections between everyone made me feel at home within this story. There was so much growth to witness not just with the two young adults but with their peers as well. The ending felt bitter sweet in some ways, but I couldn't have imagined a better start to the rest of their lives.

This book is wonderful and so heartwarming! The writing is beautiful and the storyline heavily revolving around music was wonderful! I’ve already bought a copy to gift to a friend!

I don’t think words can express how much I loved this book. Rivals to lovers. The tension. The SPICE! As a first chair viola back in the day…I was kicking, screaming, and extremely giddy while reading this. Who knew a cello scene could be so hot. 🥵

A Sweet and Spicy Romp with a Touch of Predictability
Julie Soto's "Not Another Love Song" is a delightful escape into the world of music, fame, and second chances. The enemies-to-lovers trope is in full force, with pop star Gabriela "Gabby" Ramirez and her former best friend turned music producer, Alex, generating sparks both in the studio and out of it.

Soto's writing is engaging and her characters are relatable. Gabby's vulnerability beneath her pop-princess exterior is well-drawn, and Alex's gruff demeanor hides a heart of gold. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the steamy scenes are sure to satisfy open -door romance fans.

The novel also delves into the complexities of the music industry, exploring themes of creative control, the pressures of fame, and the struggle to stay true to oneself. Soto handles these topics with nuance, offering a realistic glimpse behind the curtain of pop stardom.

While the plot is enjoyable, it does rely on some familiar tropes that might feel predictable to seasoned romance readers. The "big misunderstanding" that drives a wedge between Gabby and Alex, while necessary for conflict, felt somewhat contrived. Additionally, the pacing lagged in the middle, and some secondary characters could have been more developed.

Despite these minor shortcomings, "Not Another Love Song" is a fun and heartwarming read. It's a perfect choice for fans of contemporary romance who enjoy a dash of enemies-to-lovers tension and a behind-the-scenes look at the music industry.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the eARC of Not Another Love Song! All opinions in this review are my own.

I have been recommending this book to everyone I can! I was lucky enough to see Julie Soto at a Forever panel last fall and it is unsurprising that her charming personality transfers to the page.

I don't know much about instruments and orchestras, but this romance between two musical prodigies was fantastic! Gwen is a violinist who plays for a pop orchestra and Xander is a rock star cellist. The tension between them is so good and Soto makes this musical world accessible. I love how although their romance is the main storyline, both characters are complex and deal with their own struggles throughout the book.

After only one book, I am now a Julie Soto fan for life and can't wait to read Forget Me Not!

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. Gwen and Alexander are musicians. They meet when she is hired to play the violin at his friend’s wedding-but when she gets there she finds out that they wanted a cello instead, and he has one that she can borrow. At first they don’t like each other; seems to be competition and they come from very different backgrounds. But things change and of course there is a mutual attraction. Lots of conflict, will they live happily every after? The musical part of this differentiated it from some of the other romances out there. It’s a cute, pretty light, story. #notanotherlovesong #juliesoto #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #bookstagram #musicalromance #lovetoread #readersofinstagram

Absolutely wonderful book! Full of characters that leave you invested and rooting for them. A romance that is instantly intriguing and keeps you hooked. Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the advanced copy!

If it wasn’t for the fact that I started this the night before I had to go to work, I’d have finished it in one sitting and somehow I still finished it in 3 days (most of which was taken up by two 8 hours shifts). Let’s just say I ate this book up. I was giggling and kicking my feet through the ENTIRE BOOK.

Ask me about an instrument… go ahead. Nope, don’t know the answer, but this? Mhm, I know her. She’s amazing. I can answer all of your questions about Xander/Alex, Gwen, girl I will even tell you about my love for Mei, Jacob and Declan!

Okay, the spice is very descriptive. The first few scenes are kind of… short and sweet? It’s very much on page, open door, but I didn’t feel the need to skip it. I also felt like it had a purpose, non-skippable if you will. It wasn’t too important that you couldn’t get the gist of it if you skimmed though. The further in you get, the more detailed it got for sure, but there are still some scenes (like one of the last ones) that go with storyline which, in my opinion, is better than random spice scenes.

Third-act “breakups” are not my favorite… actually, they’re my least favorite. However, I understand that some stories benefit from it. This seemed like a relationship that would normally end up breaking up at some point and it did come up kind of naturally. I feel like it cleared up very quickly though.

I appreciated how the last chapter was a happy ending but not an “this is it” sort of thing. It left space for the characters.

I honestly miss this book. I’ve been writing this review since finishing the book and now almost a day later and I still miss reading it. I keep thinking that I can sit down and get cozy and read some more. This is definitely a new favorite romance book for me, in my top 5 for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars & Higher.

I enjoyed this. It was a cute read. It had me feeling so many different emotions. I liked the story and characters

Julie Soto does it again! I adored her first novel and was soooo excited for this one and man it lived up if not exceeded everything I wanted for it <3

Alex/Xander and Gwen are rivals, more or less, after Gwen is offered the Manhattan Pops Orchestra’s first chair position. Only thing is, they’re both ridiculously attracted to one another and to make matters worse their chairs are directly across from each other. The sexual tension builds up throughout the orchestra season along with personal drama and the two can’t stay away…

I will say, it took me a minute to get into it but once I did I binged this thing. I couldn’t get enough of Alex and Gwen and the drama between them. I have this urge to go to the symphony now…

I read Forget Me Not last year and instantly loved it! Julie Soto is turning into an instant buy for me!

I read Forget Me Not earlier this year and really enjoyed it so obviously I was very excited to read Not Another Love Song.

This is such a delightful and wholesome romance. I really like Xander and Gwen’s chemistry, and love Gwen & Mabel’s mentor/mother-daughter relationship. I read a couple of falling for pop stars romance this year, but haven’t read one that’s about classical musicians. Light 🌶️ for those looking for steam. Would def recommend if you’re looking for a good romance to read!

4 ⭐️

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QOTD- Do you know how to play an instrument?

"Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but each has had very different paths to success. Xander was born into classical music royalty, while Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by a kind shop owner.
After Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she’s mortified when she realizes Xander has no clue who she is—despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra. But she’s more furious that he arrogantly critiques her performance.
When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other's music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. As they begin to explore their feelings for one another, suddenly they're box office dynamite and the fragile romance that's growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt..." -Goodreads

I really enjoyed this book. The story was sweet and emotional. I also really enjoyed the Ama cameos! Julie Soto is incredible 🥰
⭐⭐⭐⭐

i’d say 3.5 rounded up. it was good, they had good chemistry, LOTS of steamy scenes. but i just didn’t fully connect with any of the characters. i definitely enjoyed julie soto’s first book more but this was still an enjoyable read! it was also really nice to read a romance with characters who come from a symphony/orchestra background!

Such an enjoyable and beautiful love story! I enjoyed both the FMC & MMC so much. The musical aspect of the story was also so intriguing, I really felt like I was hearing them play and feeling what they felt when they played. This was my first Julie Soto read and will definitely not be the last!