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!

DNF. I found this book difficult to get into. It wasn't hooking me, and the musical terminology bogged things down for me. The story and characters were failing to hold my attention. It might be an instance of I'm just not in the right mood, but for now, I'm DNF-ing the book.

This was a pretty good read. I did feel like by the end of the book, I still knew very little about the female protagonist, so I wasn't all that satisfied with it. Like the author dangled a lot of carrots about her past, but then didn't follow up. There was also a lot of world-building type stuff around the music industry which I don't enjoy. I usually love Julie Soto but this was a bit of a miss for me.

I love reading books that are based around music or instruments. I believe this is the first book I’ve read by the author, it will not be the last.

I loved the tension between the characters throughout the whole book. I enjoyed reading about their love story and how it came about. I loved how different the characters were, but how they came together.

The spice caught me a bit off guard in the best way. I always love a third act break up so that was a plus. I can’t wait to read more of this author’s books.

Slight enemies to lovers vibes, with really good tension between Gwen and Xander! I also really love when a book gives you a glimpse into the future of the couple like this one did!

Whew lord, this was a spice filled sonata! Not Another Love Song has quickly become one of my favorite romance novels. Gwen and Xander's love story is filled with angst, longing, and chemistry that feels as taut as a violin string. Their relationship doesn't just feel like it's sexy because they fall for each other's bodies, their minds are just as entangled, leaving the reader entranced.

Once you've read the cello and concert scenes you'll know exactly what I'm saying here. 10/10.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i did not like this one, not only did it read like fanfic, i heard that about this book before even getting the arc and thought i could power through. i was wrong but it was still well-written and had a good plot with fully imagined characters.

Another great love story by Julie Soto. She has a gift for creating realistic characters who are complicated and passionate. She will always be a must read author for me.

My best friend adores this author and this book, so I thought I would like it too.
I did not. Not really. It was... an uneven book for me.

Some moments I was hooked. Some moments I was rolling my eyes. Some moments I didn't even want to keep reading the book.

I like the beginning, I liked the tension between them, but then it just felt like Xander liked Gwen because of the way she played cello or violin. It was like he loved the playing but not the player. He loved the way she was making him feel, but he didn't actually love the person. I don't really know how to explain it, but the romance just felt off. I assume that part of the reason for that is because this was fanfic before and Soto had to make a lot of cuts from the original story, so the actual build up of the relationship went on the chopping block and we missed what made us see Xander actually fall for Gwen and not for her cello.

Also, the whole Gwen getting in the middle of Xander and his family's relationship, just irked me the wrong way. I hate it when characters or people really assume what's best for you because it's what THEY would want, without taking into consideration your own situation.

Anyway, yeah. I kind of binged maybe the first 75-100 pages and the painfully read the rest.
Maybe I'll like another one of Soto's story, because I don't think the writing itself is bad. I just think this should have been edited differently.

Wow I actually didnt expect to like this as much as I did. When I saw it was a lot about music and instruments I figured I wouldn't connect well or be able to fully understand the story but I was so wrong. Super easy to follow along even with no musically knowledge so don’t let that stray you away. This was so cute and I especially loved the cameos of the characters from "forget me not". From sweet romance that had me giggling and kicking my feet to the drama and tension that had staying well into the night reading.

I absolutely adored this book! It had such a different and intriguing premise, that I could not put it down. Who knew I would be so interested in two musicians in a symphony setting? The romance was filled with chemistry and tension, there were secrets, angst, swoon and spice. And i love a book set in NYC!! Julie Soto is a go to author for me and she did not disappoint!

This was a slow start but picked up for me about halfway in. Rivals to lovers, he falls first and rom com vibes were great. I hate a third act breakup tho ugh!

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...

I couldn't stop reading this book. It was amazing. I loved learning about the. classical music scene as well as the rock music scene. I loved how the two intertwined. I loved the chemistry between the two characters, but I also loved how the main character didn't feel sorry for herself with all of the adversity that they faced. I loved how the characters were three dimensional and how you were drawn into the story from the first page. I think we all can identify with impostor syndrome, and have been around people that don't necessarily have our best interests at heart. I loved the enemies to lovers trope and how it was described when Gwen got lost in her music and playing. Some of the characters I couldn't tell apart (the connections aspect) but by the end of the book you were in love with everyone. The drama and romance was spicy and I am here for it!

When I say I devoured this book I mean it. Pump it into my veins and let it live inside of me. This is one of the most delicious books I have ever read. The pining, the tension, literal perfection! Julie Soto can do no wrong and if you do not read this book you are not living.

Julie Soto creates a world where love collides with music and romance in the best way. It captures industry pressure, family drama, and the capability of pursuing your dreams while also pursuing love.

This was my first Julie Soto read. While I loved her writing the overall storyline wasn’t for me. I will definitely read more of her books.

How do you take music and two characters that sgoupdnt work together yet make the perfect blend of sizzling hot romance. Julie had me at spice. Music. Chemistry. Did not disappoint!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is an contemporary romance featuring two rival string players in an orchestra.

I myself am part of an orchestra, the link: Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra. We exclusively perform music from video games! I sit on the Board of Directors, sing in the choir, arrange music, and occasionally play my clarinet. My partner is our music director and conductor, as well as a standout arranger. I knew I needed to pick up this book after I learned the two MCs were part of a pops orchestra together.

Overall, I had a fun time reading this; I ended up inhaling the whole thing in one day (via borrowing the audiobook from my local library). This book is set in NYC, and I generally enjoyed the author's prose, though at times the plot felt a bit meandering.

If you like steam, this may be the book for you. Musicians are often passionate, and that passion really shines in this book. The "cello scene" is the one everyone is talking about, but there are a good number of steamy scenes in this book.

I think my main criticism is that I had to suspend my disbelief a lot. Gwen comes across as very naive, which doesn't track to me if she's also competent enough to be offered concertmaster. Both MCs are noted to be some form of musical prodigy, but cello and violin are very different (they even have different fingerings) so a scene where Gwen mentioned she tried cello once when she was younger and then has to play it for a wedding gig had me side-eyeing a bit. These weren't dealbreakers for me, but I feel like if I was an actual string player it would have been really annoying.

I also think they jumped to the "l" word too quickly. Both note that they've never felt like this for another person before, but since they're both in their mid- to late-20s, some of their actions and reasonings felt a little on the younger side. I also balked a bit at how Xander treated Gwen; some of the things he says to her in relation to her playing are really Not Great, though when we have his POV chapters it's played off like he's jealous of her and thus is biting back.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book however, it written in third person compared to forget me not was written in first person. And it was mainly in Gwen’s point of view. I would have loved more chapters of Alex’s point of view. Just a personal preference.

Alex is smitten with Gwen from the start and I just eat that up every time. Gwen was a little naive and kinda blindly loyal to those who don’t deserve it but she’s young so that is to be expected. I did like the subtle twist at the end.