Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto infinity stars/5
out July 16, 2024

Quick review:
absolutely perfect, wouldn’t change a thing, so good I’m out of my book slump 😭 This book is EVERYTHING.

Long review:
Okay, if you’re someone who knows me in real life, you know how obsessed I am with Star Wars and specifically Ben/Kylo Ren and Rey. (Spoiler I cry every time Ben Solo dies) This is absolutely relevant because THIS WAS MAGICAL thank goodness for reylo trad published books and thank goodness for Julie Soto.

I was invested from the opening author note of “thank you, and May the Force Be With You.” (I think you know why based on my disclaimer above)
Some of my favorite components: The chemistry between Gwen and Alex/Xander Thorne, the dynamics of the relationships between Eva/Mabel/Alex/Nathan, the compelling history and experience of Alex, and the lyrical writing!

I adored this book and will immediately be pre-ordering so I can read whenever I want.

A few favorite quotes:
“..Not a love song. And he believed it for a few weeks.”

“ It’s melancholy. I think it puts you exactly in the mood it intends to.”
‘’Oh, so sad, melancholy boy,’” she teased him in a deep voice.” *IMMEDIATELY GIGGLES*

And of course the ending line.

Thank you for the best April fools day gift @netgalley @readforeverpub @juliesotowrites

PS: today I learned Julie wrote one of my favorite fanfics of all time and now I’m going to go reread.

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I recognized Julie Soto's name from her popular book Forget Me Not that was all over social media last year... but I never read that book because a wedding planner/florist romance didn't appeal to me.

After reading this book I will be rectifying my mistake because I want to read every word this woman writes. Not Another Love Song pulled me in with it's unique premise about musical prodigies but I never expected it to make me FEEL so much. I fell in love with so many of the characters and at different points while reading I cried and laughed out loud.

If you love a good romance with some spice you will definitely be satisfied with this book - but be prepared to experience so much more than that. I loved the peek inside the world of performing in an orchestra and did not expect the story to have so much depth and such vivid supporting characters. Loved it!

A lyrical romance that you’ll read in one sitting!
Reylo fanfic
Enemies to Lovers
Grumpy/Sunshine
He falls first
Workplace romance
Musicians
Found family
Lots of sexual tension with a payoff
Also… If you’ve read Forget Me Not, you’ll enjoy the cameos with Ama and Elliott.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It is my most anticipated book of the year and it did NOT DISAPPOINT. I was feral from the first until the last lines because OH MY GOD was this incredible.

Not Another Love Song is a fun enemies to lovers story focusing on violinist, Gwen, and cellist Xander.
I flew threw this book in about 8 hours and it was just a thoroughly enjoyable ride from start to finish! A few highlights for me: the enemies to lovers tension was top notch, he falls first and he falls HARD, the inherent romance of two people making music together is just wonderful. It was really fun to see a few tie-ins with Forget Me Not and there's a teeny nod to Taylor Swift at the very end that absolutely made me week. So excited to continue reading anything Julie Soto puts out!

No Another Love Song? More like “Not Another Book to Obsess Over.”

This wonderful book is saturated with angst. And in the brilliant words of Julie Soto, boy was I “ Ready. For. A. Meal.” I devoured it and now I’m ready for seconds, thirds.

Here we have two of our generation’s greatest musicians duking it out in NYC’s Manhattan Pops Orchestra. Gwen is the diamond in the rough who is ready for this next chapter in her orchestral career. Alex is the rogue cellist with the sexiest alter ego. But together they make music that transcends time and space.

I’m eternally grateful to NetGalley & Julie Soto for early access to masterpiece. May Julie keep writing stories as beautiful as Fugue No. 1.

I was so excited to hear that Julie Soto has a new book this year. I absolutely loved Forget Me Not and loved Not Another Love Song just as much.

Not Another Love Song is a story about two twenty something rivals-to-lovers musicians in New York City. They are prodigy string players navigating career and personal decisions, while following in love and dealing with external conflicts.

I loved many things about this book. The depth and passion of the characters, the descriptions of the city, the details about string instruments and music (I know almost nothing about playing music but loved learning), the romance, the found family. Also, it was great to see an Elliot and Ama appearance!

Julie Soto has become a must read author for me. For anyone who enjoyed Forget Me Not, you will definitely enjoy this book as well. I highly recommend Not Another Love Song.

4.5 💫

.“It’s simple really,” he said. “It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.”

It such a intens, angesty and beautiful story, I won't be able to watch people playing cello or violin and don't think about these two, I feel corrupted.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6174558390?

Okay. Five stars! The way this book pulled at my heart strings. This book made me wish I had actually stuck to playing the cello in middle school.

The cello scene in this book everyone is talking about? YEAH ITS A MUST READ. It was so well written it made me wish I was a musician.

The way Alex and Gwen learn to play music for themselves was beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Julie Soto for an ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating 4/5 Stars

I had such a great time with this one! Really easy to binge. Loved the couple so much - anything about rivals to lovers sign me UP!!

I felt chills reading this book, because I truly felt the sexual tension between Gwen and Xander from cover to cover. This was such a wonderfully written book that had me listening to classical music and orchestral covers all night just to match the mood. There were some technical parts of violin/cello playing that flew right over my head, but somehow it still worked and added to the authenticity of the story.

Having read the fanfic version first, I can say that this book is a fresh take to the same love story that I enjoyed so many years ago. And the connection to her first book, Forget Me Not, was a cute bonus. I can't wait to see what Julie brings us in 2025!

Thank you for the ARC!

This was a love letter to orchestras, cellists, and violinists… I love the way Julie Soto dove so much into the technicalities and structure of the music itself, which truly made the connection between both main characters feel more palpable and real. This book kept me interested the entire time, and had a happily ever after. I’m missing the “rivals to lovers” part though, because from what I read, they were both obsessed with each other from the beginning and they were never really true rivals. Anyways, this was very cute and much like “Forget Me Not.” Speaking of that, we get a little glimpse of Ama and Elliott which was so precious.

I absolutely loved reading Gwen and Alex’s story. Being a musician made me love this book even more. I rarely read about and actually laugh out loud but for some reason this book had me giggling throughout (I mean come on there’s a Cotten eyed joe reference). Also loved the cameos from all the forget me not characters.I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet romcom.

I will be posting my reviews closer to publication date. But this book was so amazing. I couldn’t stop reading once I started. I didn’t think I could fall in love with two musicians like this. Julie Soto is on my automatic buy/read list.

This was so good! I loved Forget Me Not and was super excited to get to read this book so early. It’s a great love story and I’m a sucker for a romance set in NYC.

Wow! This book was so so good. I knew the author was part of the Reylo fandom, so I definitely wanted to read it.

Gwen and Alex were HOT! The way he felt about her had me fanning myself during certain parts. The angst was delicious. I wish I could hear the music in the book so badly.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall this slapped.

One it just made my heart happy to read a book set in an orchestra. I got to relive my 10th grade of being in love with a boy who played violin and cello. Two if you were a fan of If I Stay you will enjoy this cause emo emotional artists are a vibe. Three I just think her writing style downgraded, it didn’t read as polished and the ending of the book felt rushed

What does Julie Soto put in her books because I absolutely devour them!!! The chemistry between these two had me sweatingggg. The resolution after the 3rd act breakup wasn't really my favorite, which is why I dropped my rating to 4 stars, otherwise it would have been a 5 star for me.

Slayed. Obsessed. Incredible. I ate this book UP. The tension?!? The EYE CONTACT? It is immaculate. Delicious.

I am down bad for Alex, this will go into the "reread for funsies" pile, along with all my Ali Hazelwood.

I The way I yelled out loud when this Julie Soto’s newest novel became available!! I devoured her first novel which gave a short introduction to Xander and I knew I was going to love this next novel. I devoured this latest one in less than 24 hours. Never did I think a plot centered around an orchestra, the cello, and violin could be so sexy and romance filled! This story follows child violin prodigy Xander turned cello rock band member as he returns to his orchestra roots and encounters Gwen, violinist in his family run orchestra. I absolutely loved watching them fall hard and fast for eachother in this topic not often found in love stories. Can’t wait to see what Julie does next!