5/5 ⭐️, 3/5 🌶️, 1.5/5 💧

🎻 Grumpy vs Sunshine
🎻 Rivals to Lovers
🎻 He Falls First
🎻 Musical Prodigies
🎻 Found Family

This was a beautiful, emotional, and captivating read. Explores two talented musical prodigies with entirely different backgrounds as they grow into their own identities. The characters navigate with their struggles of identity, expectations, perfectionism, and perceptions. The push and pull of them finding themselves and falling in love while balancing their musical talents with their careers and exploitative entertainment industry had me engaged the entire time. The way Julie is able to bring to life the characters passion (in this case music) and bring it to life while making their expertise so sexy made the book shine. I’m not super musical but I was head over heels over these musical artists. The spice was also top tier. I thought certain dynamics could have been played up just a little and the ending could have been a bit more full but overall I couldn’t put the book down, the tender moments made me cry and I absolutely loved this one.

I first read Julie’s work when she was purely a fan-fiction author. I remember loving her work and read Not Another Love Song when it wasn’t yet a traditionally published book.

Reading Not Another Love Song as it is now felt so nostalgic and welcoming. Like that feeling of cuddling up on the couch after a long day with a blanket and a good book. That’s what this story was to me. I felt like Gwen was such a relatable character who is just doing whatever it takes to make ends meet and doing the best with what she was given in life.

I really enjoyed the unique plot for this story- a love story about two musicians isn’t very common and I think Julie wrote it beautifully and setting the story in NYC is just the icing on the cake.
NYC is probably my favorite place in the United States, and I felt like Julie was able to encapsulate the NYC hustle and bustle. I, too, like Gwen, have wandered around the Upper East Side dreaming about what it would be like to live there instead of living paycheck to paycheck in the real world. Too relatable. I could also perfectly picture the Subway train routes that Julie wrote about and it felt like I was traveling with Gwen every time she took the Subway.

Overall I rate this book 4.25 ⭐️
I’m so excited for the rest of the world to experience this book and hope it feels as warm and welcoming as it did for me!

Julie Soto you wonderful human being! I wasn’t sure if Forget Me Not could be topped but she did it. Not Another Love Song was everything I want in a romance book. The characters that have well developed personalities and flaws. The tension was immaculate and while I normally hate third act breakups this one was GUT wrenching and actually had me on the verge of tears. Everything about this was 10/10. Now just have to wait a year for the next book 🥲

This was a well-written and enjoyable enemies to lovers tale. I could definitely see the Reylo origins but that added to the appeal. One of the best parts was all the details about the violin, cello and professional musician life. Very vivid and helped to ground the story.

This book was about “a cello who fell in love with a violin.”

I devoured this book. There are no words to really describe Alex and Gwen’s love story. It was fast and magnetic. It gave me Ali Hazelwood’s Check & Mate vibes.

Listening to Gwen play, Alex knew he had to have her. Whether it was to play instruments together or to physically have her. I love how passionate they were about music and about each other.

I am new to the author and it took me some time to get used to her writing style as I’m not the biggest fan of third person povs. And although I did enjoy the book, I felt like there was just something missing for me and I can’t figure out what it is.

Thank you Julie Soto and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC for my honest review.

After reading Julie’s first book I couldn’t wait to read this one. It was fascinating learning about the ins and outs of an orchestra while also getting a smoking hot love story. I adore when the guy falls first and falls fast. Very funny book as well-I laughed out loud multiple times while reading. Loved Ama and Elliot’s cameo.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and Julie Soto for this e-arc!

I RAN to NetGalley when I saw the Read Now announcement! This is my most anticipated book of the year and it did not disappoint! I was smiling and giddy while watching Xander/(Alex) & Gwen's story unfold through music. And can we just talk about the music for a minute!? I felt like I could hear the music playing through the pages - I was amazed. Brava, Julie. If you were ever looking for a book to use words to play you through a sexual encounter with string instruments - this is your book!

My ONLY downfall was around the 70% mark for the setup of the 3rd act breakup (yep...). That's all I say about this for now.

Not Another Love Song is a 6/5 stars for 70%, then I'd say a 4 star for the last 30%. I devoured this. I demand to see more of Alex & Gwen's performances on page!

This book is releasing July 16 and I highly suggest you mark your calendars or preorder it immediately.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. The chemistry between the two main characters and the music they made together made me so happy to read. I wish I could read this book again for the first time to experience it for the first time again.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is about Gwen, a violinist, and Xander, a cellist, who come from very different music backgrounds, but end up in the same orchestra as music rivals.

If you like orchestra music, you MUST read this book - because I, as someone who no musical background, found the flow and beauty of the music in it to be soo fascinating. Having that tied in with the tension between Gwen and Xander/Alex made for such an incredible story!

The way that Xander/Alex WORSHIPPED Gwen from the moment he saw her, but was too grumpy to get it across properly made for some really good scenes that had me as a reader wanting more!

I did think the third act breakup was tied up maybe a little too sloppy at the end, but still thought this book was so great!!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

NetGalley ARC: 4.5/5. I really enjoyed this! The tension between the two main characters was captivating. The 🌶️🌶️ scenes were just right and not too much! I was lost at times with the pacing. Julie soto rocked this! 🎻🎻💕

Julie Soto writes rich, emotional romance and I had high hopes for this book after loving Forget Me Not so much. Reader, it delivered and more. This story was so beautifully constructed -- it's a master class in romance -- and proves Soto is absurdly adept at what she does. The subtle lines of Gwen's inexperience to her love to the heartbreak that I felt right along with her were incredible. I can't say enough about this story. It is easily throughly excellent.

4.5

julie soto rocks! this one was really fun. loved alex, big fan of gwen, and i liked reading about them both as musicians.

#netgalley

definitely better writing than her first book but still felt juvenile at some points. also the third act conflict just didn't work for me.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Seriously, go read this book! Before you do though, make a playlist of Lindsey Stirling and other string instrument covers to blast while you read because it is a next level immersive experience. There is so much passion and love poured into this book, and it was a treat to read. This held all the best parts of a fanfic with the ease of reading and hilarious references, but also the heart and depth that comes from being set in its own world and adapted. I never knew music could be so hot.

Gwen Jackson is a self made musician who’s worked her whole life, with the help of a charitable tutor, to perfect her skill of the violin. She now plays for the Pops Manhattan Orchestra and is content with her spot, but still doesn’t quite know where she wants to go from there with her career. When she’s asked to play at a wedding for some extra money, she arrives to find out that they actually needed a cello and not violin. She borrows a cello from Xander Thorn, first seat cello player at the Pops and also for the rock band Thorns and Roses.

Xander Jackson is a Juilliard drop out and while he’s not rocking out with his band, he’s arriving late with an attitude to play for the Pops.

When Xander takes notice of Gwen’s performance, his quick to criticize her and inform her that she’s not skilled enough to play at weddings. Gwen doesn’t back down and lets him know that she’s skilled enough to sit across from him daily at the Pops as a violinist and that she is not a cello player.

Let the sparks fly!

I really enjoyed both Gwen and Xander’s journeys throughout this book. The chemistry was off the charts! I didn’t know classical music could be hot, but here we are….panting over a cello and violin player.

Julie also did a great job writing these musical scenes. Although there was no music, you could hear the music through her words. There was a ton of emotion and detail put into every scene without it getting boring.

There’s not much to say without going too much into detail other than I loved it! If you loved Forget Me Not, you’ll love Not Another Love Song.

Just like with Forget Me Not, I was instantly attached to the characters, storyline, and amazing tension Julie builds up in her books.

Gwen and Xander’s passion for music really amplified their passion for each other which really made the book EXTRA GOOD. The spice was *chef’s kiss* and the conflict had me on the edge of my seat.

Super cute! Felt like the 3rd act conflict between MCs was rushed and fell short. But still an enjoyable read!

This is the second book I've read by Julie Soto and it did not disappoint. Something about Soto's writing keeps the reader entertained. I eat it up every time. The setting of NY was great and the chemistry between the two main character's was palpable. I also enjoyed the little parts that connected to the characters in her previous novel. I think I would have liked more POV chapters from Xander, as it became a bit tedious always being in Gwen's head. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and I look forward to Soto's future work.

Beautiful story with a fantastic slow burn. It’s impossible not to root for Gwen and Xander both. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed Julie Soto’s debut, Forget Me Not, and so I jumped at the chance for an early read of Not Another Love Song (out July16th). NALS is the story of two very different musical prodigies—Gwen Jackson, an orphan from Queens who stumbled into the violin at age 11, and Xander Thorne, a famous cellist known for his classical meets rock performances and who grew up in a musical family. Although Gwen and Xander both play in the same professional orchestra, their paths don’t really cross until Gwen is forced to play the cello (which she’s only played a few times) at a wedding that Xander happens to be in. Soon Xander is offering unsolicited (and often cutting) “advice” and seeking her out to practice together even after she’s given a promotion he was also interested in. Although Gwen does her best to avoid him, their intense chemistry—both on and off the stage—cannot be denied.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The classical musician backdrop felt very fresh and different and I liked all the behind the scenes insight into the workings of a professional orchestra. Gwen and Xander were compelling characters and I liked seeing how they approached things from the different world views/experiences. That said, I do wish the book had been fully dual POV. While we do get Xander’s POV in 4-5 interstitials spread throughout the book, I think having more about his background and feelings would have enhanced the story overall. My only other (very minor) gripe is that it felt like so much happened in the last 25%-- a lot of external conflict plot points (Nathan, Lorenz, orchestra vs. solo career) that had only been hinted at (or not yet introduced) earlier suddenly became major factors.

I would definitely recommend—who knew playing the cello could be so hot?!

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.