Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto was a masterpiece. Gwen and Xander are both musicians with very different backgrounds. Xander, we learn, comes from a musical family while Gwen is introduced to music by a music store owner, who played a pivotal role in both of their lives. Music had a very different impact on each of their lives, for Xander the pressure of being a child prodigy who started playing as a toddler was crushing until he was able to escape and strike out on his own and the grasps of his family. Whereas for Gwen, music was an escape it provided stability and structure. While Gwen and Xander start as rivals it was great to watch their growth and development through the book. I will definitely be re-reading when the book releases in July.

Thank you to the publisher, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Soto writes the hottest contemporary romances out there y’all. The tension and the yearning bubble so deliciously and when it finally spills over and they act on it, all hell breaks loose in the hottest way possible.

This book follows Xander, a cello prodigy we are briefly introduced to in Forget Me Not, and Gwen, a violinist for the Manhattan Pops. I never thought I would describe people playing classical versions of pop songs as erotic but the way these two stare into the depths of each others’ souls when they play is so good.

As you can tell from the cover this is Reylo fanfiction and as a life long Star Wars avoider, this book made me want to watch it?!?! I once lied to a Star Wars obsessed ex-boyfriend about having seen the movies but would not watch them for him, but give me one good Reylo fanfic with a sexy cello scene and I’m ready to watch 9 movies. That’s how good it is!!!

Wow. Honestly, I couldn’t put this down. There is something about Julie Soto’s writing that is addicting. I devoured Forget Me Not and being able to dive right into Not Another Love Song was such a gift.

I, of course, loved the special appearances where we see the characters from Forget Me Not, but I also just truly love this world she has built around the Pops.

Never would I have thought a romance between a violinist and a cellist would be so engaging, but it really was.

Xander is outwardly that grumpy, aloof MMC, but really he is so soft-hearted and speaks through his music. And Gwen being so pure and at times naive, but truly showing her backbone when it really matters was so powerful.

I can’t wait for this story to be out in the world! Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This is my first Julie Soto book and it did not disappoint. I was invested in both characters right from the start. I'm not sure if I would say this is a true rivals to lovers story but it held my attention all the same. Definitely has some spice as well. Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Soto for the eARC. This will definitely not be the last book I read from her.

I loved this. It's such a beautiful story and both characters showed excellent growth. Gwen and Alex both have to figure out what they truly want and who they want to be. There were several moments that made me grin and the spice was excellent. The scene the cover is based on was one of the hottest things I've read in awhile, I will say the use of music terms outside of direct music playing was almost too much, but the author did a good job of keeping it on the right side of the line. I tended to gloss over those though.

I know the roots of this book are in Reylo, but I didn't notice much besides the cover. The story felt more original than others that have only filed the serial numbers off. Overall, highly recommend for anyone who is a fan of her work. I love her fanfiction and really enjoyed Forget Me Not. This is my favorite of her work so far.

ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY)

3.5 ish? Idk the build up to Gwen and Alex getting together kind of took too long. All the characters backstories and secretive histories carried on too long.Bad ass cello player “Thorne”/Alex was in a band ala Vitamin String Quartet and I guess was really popular with like theater kids. But still found the time to slum it with The Manhattan Pops? I just found the storyline to be implausible but I really enjoyed them together. I don’t know enough about the orchestra or symphonies to have understood a lot of the book, I think people who do know about orchestras and violins would probably find a lot to complain about. To me the second half of book just kinda seemed to loose control and scrambled to get to the finish line. While spicy scenes where not explicitly graphic Julie Soto has a way to make them feel incredibly sensual and I enjoyed it.

*aggressively googles Cello/Violin duets and tickets to the LA or NY Philharmonic*

Julie Soto has done it (again!) 😮‍💨 I had no doubts. Not Another Love Song is a MASTERPIECE. A perfect harmony of plot and romance, I couldn't put it down and would play it on repeat if it was a song. Who knew reading about "rival" string players could be so hot?? And I don't know anything about musical instruments but I think this book had more tension than violin strings. 🔥 (is this a factual thing to say, musicians pls don't come for me..)

random things:
- The "Cello Suites" POV chapters? Brilliant. 🤌🏼
- The post-taco scene will live rent free in my head for some time. (actual tacos)

Another Julie Soto banger that I sacrificed many, many hours of sleep to finish binge reading. Thank you endlessly to Forever and Netgalley for the early copy!

I absolutely loved this book! Xander and Gwen's relationship was everything, I loved how they loved each other so deeply while also creating such beautiful music together (of course I haven't heard the music they made, but the writing was beautiful so that means the music must be too!). I normally don't like when there's a third act conflict in books, but I personally felt that it was needed to tie up loose ends and it was done very well. The only thing I would have like better was if they had more of an emotional connection rather than physical when they first met, but as the book went on, their emotions ran so deep that it was worth the wait. This book now holds such a special place in my heart and I know I will be thinking about these characters for a long time. 4.5 stars!

I love me a good rivals to lovers romance and this really hit all the boxes for me! There is just something about two child prodigies with so much love and intensity (almost obsession) towards their craft that no one else who is normal understands them. They only understand each other. THIS BOOK WAS THAT! Julie Soto is such a captivating author in the way she writes and develops her characters' relationships and journey throughout the book. I loved how these characters had alllll the flaws. Sometimes I get bored of perfect and can do no wrong characters, but Julie really allows Xander and Nora to make poor decisions and mistakes that are conducive to their character growth. It made them all the more relatable and I loved every second of this book! Never thought reading about cellists and violinists would be this exciting and I am so glad this surpassed all of my expectations. Looking forward to getting a final copy in store on publication date!

Julie soto books are great for a specific audience. I tend to read a lot more clean romance but I have read some spice before. This is over anything I normally read however I loved the book and storyline. I loved the musical aspect as a I am a musician and just related to the characters a lot. If you don’t like overly spicy books this isn’t for you.

Sign me up for a NYC based story interlaces classic music, complex characters and SPICY love. I was so excited to read this book, and can say it exceeded my expectations. Julie Soto's writing is fantastic and seeing the love of Xander/Alex and Gwen bloom it is just chef's kiss!
Alex comes from a long line of outstanding musicians, and has suffered his entire life the pressure of such. Gwen found solace in music when tragedy hit her family. Together they navigate the complex feelings and traumas they both have and find in themselves what they both needed most.
I will read anything written by Julie Soto as this point, this is truly a gem!

Rating: 5 stars
Spice: 3

As soon as I started this I was obsessed! I've been yearning for a romance set in a band/pop-star setting and this, unexpectedly, delivered. The chemistry and romance was amazing. I loved how everything we discovered about Alex drove up the stakes a bit. It also felt very similar to an Ali Hazelwood book, and I adore Ali Hazelwood's books. When I started this I was sure it would end up being a 5 star read, but the pacing felt different than typical romance book. It felt less fiction and more like real life.

This was my first Julie Soto book, and it will definitely not be my last!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the arc of this book.

I would like to describe the love in this novel as gentle. Careful, kind, and then completely engulfing. I’ll miss it.

Not Another Love Song is the story of two musicians walking different paths; one on the way to stability, the other to success. Somehow, somewhere, they find themselves tangled up in one another. It gets hard to tell which road leads where, and where they actually want to end up.

It’s thought provoking, emotional, and a fun time. If you appreciate Emily Henry you’d probably get along great with Soto’s books.

I don’t think I’ve had this much fun reading – and been this engaged – since I was about fourteen and staying up all night to finish fanfics. It’s good to be back.

I LOVED this book!!!!!

I was a huge fan of Forget Me Not when it first debuted last year. I instantly fell in love with Soto's writing and her storytelling and once I saw the cover announcement for this book i WAS SHOOK!!!! I kept refreshing netgalley to see if it had posted and would pout when it didn't. UNTIL IT DID

I devoured this. It was everything. Alex/Xander Thorne was grumpy, he was weird, and he would just make comments that were so out of pocket. Gwen is like... wtf is this guys problem? Meanwhile he's falling in love. It's not as dual POV as the last book---Alex maybe gets six total chapters in the whole book? And they pretty much all revolve or circle back to Gwen.

Gwen was a simple fmc for the story. I didn't find myself going crazy for her, but her circle of friends was fun and she wasn't annoying or weird. Plus plus!

Their relationship developed pretty slowly, similar to Forget Me Not, then just heats up! HOLY SHIT y'all that CELLO scene had me on my KNEES. My jaw was LOCKED open I could not believe what I was reading. Who knew a cello could get me going like that? Like seriously. Soto knows how to write mouthwatering tension and steam. Their first spicy chapter was twenty pages long. Thank the heavens! They then just melted into a relationship/situationship, and Alex was always wanting more. Asking her to write down the shampoo and soaps she used so he could get them for her. Asking her to stay, "yes always stay." making her breakfast, getting her lattes. hello?? the man of my dreams is that you??? not to mention he's a sexy rockstar/cello/violin hottie who wears leather jackets and is ~sooo cool~. it was stereotypical but i loved it anyway. And please--the way he literally composed something because of Gwen and he couldn't get it out of his head? Then literally had her PLAY IT to see how she would do it and then using how she played it as *THE* way to play it? Come on.

Everything else about this book was so perfectly written. The secrets of her new mentors, Ava and Nathan (btw f*** Nathan with a sledgehammer---and Lorenz too). Ama and Elliot cameos---elliot, the love of my life. I loved the snippets of Ava or Mabel's or Alex's past that would come to light, revealing information to Gwen that could NOT be ignored. I loved how it mirrored her current situation, but how could she say no? It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I love how at the end they didn't compromise their happiness. They both quit and came together, accepting that they were better as a team. And I love books that end as interviews. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Julie Soto keeps blowing me away. I can't wait for her next book! Thank you so much netgalley and forever publishing for the arc <3

I was really excited for this book because I read Forget Me Not by her. Unfortunately, I was a bit let down but the book was still somewhat enjoyable. I felt that the book was dragged on after 65% of the book. Also I don't get why authors feel the need to do a third act conflict or add such insufferable characters. I also didn't fully enjoy the music element but I think that was more of me problem. Overall, I am grateful to have received this ARC and had a good time. The book cover is so pretty though. Cheff's kiss.

I really love this authors first book. I loved the dynamic of the main characters and the history in “forget me not” so I was excited to read this new book. I liked the premise of the orchestra works but I thought the story went too fast for me. ….. I really really really wanted to love this book. And maybe it was the 3rd person point of view but Xander/ Alex whatever came off kind of predatory??? And I felt like Gwen had no voice/ thoughts in that head of hers. She just did what others told her to do and maybe I don’t like that because it’s what I do but I struggled to really dive in deep to this book. Again just personal preference. It gave a touch of Ali hazelwood where he’s obsessed with her! A good quick read comfy read but not my favorite.

I’m giving this a solid 4/5 for me, mostly due to the delicious tension between Gwen and Xander. Yep that tension totally sucked me in and I completely devoured this book! I also appreciated the orchestral backdrop of the story. I haven’t seen that done very often since usually musical world books are more rock and roll based. I loved how beautifully music was woven into their story and how that tension and feeling between the characters was translated into the language they spoke best, music.
This book is a rivals to lovers where he falls hook, line and sinker first which is one of my favorite tropes to read. I will say I wish Gwen hadn’t been so naive and over trusting of those around her and had stood up for herself a bit sooner. Overall though this was an engaging, enjoyable and steamy read that will be perfect for your next summer beach read!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Forever publishing for letting me read this one early!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!!!!!!!!

I swooped up this ARC from NetGalley the other day and, oh my goodness, I’m glad I did!!! The tension between Gwyn and Alex was EVERYTHING. He is OBSESSED with her and I was eating it up!!!! Highlighting and giggling and kicking my feet but also anxious for them and the challenges they faced. I loved this one and am so excited to read more from Julie Soto!!

I really enjoyed this one! Typical grumpy x sunshine that was swoon worthy. I felt immediately connected to Alex and Gwen. I was rooting for them from the start. The tension between them was palpable. Having to play directly across from each other and them or able to take their eyes off the other. Man… don’t get me started on the “jam” session. “Let’s do it together.” 🫣 so so good.

Gwen was a strong FMC that knew what she wanted (most of the time) but was not always able to speak on it or speak up for herself. Watching her figure out how to do that was amazing.

Alex was so broody but you could tell that he for sure fell first. He couldn’t stay away. *swoon* I just wanted more in his POV but I am glad we at least got little snippets of it!

This makes me want to go watch Star Wars knowing this was Renlo fan fiction. Fun fact: I’ve never watched a single Star Wars so not even sure who Renlo is 😅 Don’t @ me

I will read anything that Julie Soto writes, and this book is one of my favourites. It kept me so hooked, I read it in one day (which is impressive considering my short tiktok attention span). There are not a lot of books that keep me hooked so much that I can't put it down. I loved the characters, the setting. I felt like I could see the story playing in my mind, and couldn't stop thinking about it once I finished.
I can't wait to own my own physical copy!