I encourage this book be read on a kindle if possible. There are alot of musical terms in this book that I had to look up and that’s just easier with a kindle then pulling out my phone and googling. Now me not knowing the musical terms didn’t affect my enjoyment or understanding of the plot. However, if the authors is going to go through the trouble of researching and correctly using these terms I want to know what they mean. I am a glossary type reader so the inclusion of one would have also been great.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. Not Another Love Song is a slower burn than Soto’s pervious novel and I enjoyed that. It really let me appreciate how music was used to portray the characters interactions. It’s a fresh way to show romance. It wasn’t just “oh look there at it again” like regular spice. I also that I totally got into the feel of the music despite not being musical inclined.

I think this book is fresh. The dual POV isn’t every next chapter is the other main character and I liked that. It kept me hanging on for next chance for the MMC had to express himself. This books isn’t like the other 20 romances I’ve read this year. It’s 100 percent a book you don’t want to skip over.

I didn’t think that Julie Soto could out-do herself but (and i’m being so bold here) this is so much better than her first book. I remember that i was SO irked reading Forget Me Not because of the miscommunication trope and this book has it too, but it’s not so much ignorance rather than forces that interfere and make it impossible for them to communicate. I am SUCH a sucker to smut that isn’t on the overly vulgar side and she knows just how to do it. Her characters are always so insanely complex and multi-faceted. Normally one can kind of guess what direction the character is heading with their growth and something this can be disappointing, but I didn’t expect the growth from these characters in the way it happened. AND ALSO, her description of music??? she made it so understandable that now i want to go see a symphony and pick up an instrument myself. BEAUTIFULLY done miss julie soto. i love love love it !!! THE CELLO SCENE!!!!
my review: ate (literally. so much.) and left no crumbs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This was really cute, and had enough of a plot behind it that I was invested in more than just the love story. I don't know a lot about music but I really felt immersed in this world. I would randomly remember while reading that this was originally a Reylo fanfic, and had some fun trying to guess who the background characters were based on. The one part that dragged for me a but was Gwen's career aspirations, which were constantly alluded to but never really spelled out. I was told she never envisioned herself as first chair so many times, but I didn't actually feel like her actions supported those statements. Other than that, a fun love story with a side of heartwarming friendships!

I genuinely loved it. I’m not much of a music person. I don’t know anything about instruments or Mozart or the politics of symphonies, but that didn’t matter. The author did a great job of giving plenty of clues about all of that so that you can understand what the characters are thinking and feeling and why it matters.

I really enjoyed the author’s first novel. This one is right up there with it.

Julie Soto is an author to watch.

I must admit I had no idea what this book was about. I went into it completely blind and boy did I have a grand ole time. I never knew reading a romance book centered around an orchestra could so be so enjoyable. I enjoyed the music aspect so much more than I thought i would and it just fits so well with the characters.

OH!!?! Prepare to be SICK of me talking about this book...Calling it now that this will be my top romance of 2024... this was incredible! One thing about me, I love a FanFiction, especially of the Dramione variety, so naturally I have been a fan of Julie Soto longer than I even realized. Like so many of her works before this, I was hooked from the first page. From their first on page interaction, I had high hopes for Gwen and Alex, that chemistry was off the charts immediately. I don't think I could have predicted how beautiful their love was going to be. I cried, I laughed, I smiled and kicked my feet, I was BLUSHING!!!! Perhaps an even bigger shining star for me was the way this new found love between Gwen and Alex served as a catalyst for some powerful self-growth and realization within Gwen and Alex themselves, but also Mabel and Ava. I am already looking forward to rereading this. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this absolutely stunning masterpiece of a book ahead of its release. I am now its biggest fan!

Absolutely loved this book! Orchestra rivals, enemies-to-lovers romance in which the main characters fall for each other based on their musical talents first. I will definitely be buying this when it comes out in July!

Not Another Love Song is the first Julie Soto book I've read & it will absolutely not be the last! A truly Fantastic story that I just couldn't put down. Please do yourself a favor & run, don't walk to read Not Another Love Song. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book on #NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Alex & Gwen have such an amazing relationship in this story after they've both taken two such different paths to get where their paths cross when the timing is finally right. Such passion & chemistry are written into the story between these two as well as a little drama & an ending that'll make your heart swoon.

God Julie Soto can WRITE. Like I'm just gonna say Reylo isn't my thing - I'm not a fan of b the new Star Wars, grumpy/sunshine is rarely done to my taste and one of my biggest gripes is "He's the biggest man in the world and she is just soooo petite" and even with this being Reylo, it was just. So frikkin good. I literally read most of this at work because I couldn't put it down. I'm so grateful an ARC was available because it was just the book I needed to read.

I devoured Forget Me Not the day the book delivered and when I had a chance to read this? SIGN ME UP.

The way Julie makes me want to learn violin is crazy. She made it so easy to feel the emotions the musicians would feel in their passion perfectly. So many moments of butterflies in my own stomach as if I was Gwen hearing them in reality.

Not being super familiar with music myself some of the descriptions went a bit over my head but I got them well enough to want to be able to share this book with everyone I know.

I love Julie’s writing all the way from AO3 and just need more stories!!

Ya… you’re going to want to pick this up. 4.5 stars rounded up and miss Soto DID IT AGAIN.

She was already an autobuy author for me but this book solidified that even more if possible. When you read a lot of romcoms as I do, some of them start the blur together a little. That is NOT the case with Not Another Love Song. There is a scene in here that is imprinted onto my prefrontal cortex. When you get to that scene, I’ll buy you dinner and let’s chat.

It’s clear that Soto knows how to write a romance, but what she also knows how to do, is deliver a completely fresh story in the romance genre which can often feel like a ceaseless rotation of tropes and conventions. I’ve read rivals to lovers but I’ve never read rivals to lovers quite like this… a la rival musicians style. But truly the music aspect of this book, the research clearly put into it, made this story TRANSCENDENT. This is a story about music through love and this is a story about love through music. And I don’t care if that doesn’t make sense to you yet.


Why did I hold my full five star after consuming this skin tingling read in a matter of hours? Mostly due to the last 25%. I have some QUALMS. Most are spoilery but also I just couldn’t read any more chilli pepper scenes. I don’t think anyone else will have a problem with that though…I just get bored.

Piece of advice - read her debut Forget Me Not before you read this. The cameos are divine.

Another piece of advice - have not a doubt that violins and cellos are the sluttiest things to ever exist. I’ll never look at those instruments the same.

Thank you NetGalley for this earc <3

There are few books that make me feel like I need to finish it quickly because the plot has me hooked. Not Another Love Song joins that list. The dynamics between our two main characters is so good and the tension that is between them both in their respective chairs at the Pops and away from the stage had me closing the book to compose myself. I would love to hear the perspective of someone who is a strings player on the scenes in this book, but it brought out a desire to want to try string instruments. I loved the main characters, but I also have a fond spot for Mabel who many times made me nearly cry. The feelings between Gwen and Xander felt like many things I have felt before and I could not put it down. Thank you Netgalley and Forever publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book!!!!! I loved every bit of it. I especially liked that although we got a dual pov, it was to better understand what was going on in Alex’s head instead of being specific to a particular scene.

A modern/fresh romance novel for lovers of Ali Hazelwood & Emily Henry, that’s perfect for fans of the YA classic “If I Stay”.

I read this is one sitting, it felt like I was drinking it in. The perfect he-falls-first character.

I admit as soon as I saw this title on NetGalley, I was super excited to read it. Julie Soto is fast becoming a favorite author. The story of Gwen and Xander sucked me in. I read it in just over a day. Her style of writing paints a movie in the mind. And I love the quirky side character like
Mei(here’s hoping we get her book) and Mabel. But there were also parts I struggled with. My knowledge of music is extremely limited and all of the music references went right over my head. Also Gwen was kind of an immature hot head. Something’s she said and did came across more like a 16 yr old than an extremely accomplished 22 yr old. Still overall loved it and can’t wait for Julie’s next book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the best book that I read so far in 2024. The writing is engaging and read as more polished compared to this author’s debut novel. (which I also loved). There is great dialogue with lots of showing rather than telling, which makes it an easy read with no lulls or skimming necessary. You learn a lot about music but in a way that’s accessible for people without a musical background. There is good character development with all threads and relationships with secondary characters well fleshed out and any conflicts/questions resolved by the end. The level of angst was perfect and I couldn’t put it down for the last 30%. This author is definitely a new favorite for me and I can’t wait to see what comes next from her in 2025!

3.5 * the chemistry and the tension was so good until it fizzled out. in that sense, it was reminiscent of the author’s debut forget me not; as that one also stalled in its third act. i just wasn’t fully sold on the ending and i died from cringe at a certain pop culture reference. still an enjoyable reading experience and will probably keep an eye out for future releases from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Books, and Julie Soto for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THIS BOOK HAS EVERYTHING: REIMAGINED REYLO FANFIC, MUSICAL DRAMA, FOUND FAMILY, YEARNING, SPICE, A MMC I’M FERAL FOR.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

If you aren’t already familiar with Julie Soto from Forget Me Not or her incredible fanfic, you need to start now. I recommend all romance readers pick up Not Another Love Song when it drops on July 16th.

I am OBSESSED with Alex and Gwen - the chemistry that they have together, the longing and yearning, and the way that they understand each other in ways perhaps no one else does. The tension of moving from enemies to lovers was an absolute delight, and I was actually giggling and kicking my feet while reading this - something Julie’s writing frequently causes in me.

I’m not going to lie, I loved the Reylo of it all - I read a lot of contemporary romance versions of Reylo, and this is one of my favorites. It didn’t overplay the size difference, they had convincing tension, both sexually and confrontationally, and I loved the rich backstories of the characters.

I am an absolute sucker for a he falls first and a he falls harder, and I loved the way that Alex/Xander absolutely worshipped Gwen while her still being her own person and collaborator, not just a muse.

4.75 This was the second Julie Soto book I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was written very well and really sucked me in! A lot of the characters from her last book make an appearance, which I thought was such a fun addition. You do not have to read the previous book to read this one however. There was just the right amount of tension, I loved their story, and the music element was something unique that I enjoyed. I can't wait for her next book!

3.5/5! A very cute book! I really liked Gwen as a character, and specifically enjoyed reading about her trials with deciding what she wants in her life, career, and love. The romance was sexy and sweet, but I wish we had more insight into Alex in order to feel more connected and committed to his character. The third act breakup felt somewhat rushed in the reasoning for the breakup itself and the reunion, particularly given the lack of communication.