Where do I even start with this book? After devouring Forget Me Not last year, I had no idea how Julie was going to follow up such a perfect book and wow, she did it again. I couldn’t put down Not Another Love Song. I felt so connected to Gwen and Alex immediately. I was desperate to know more about their lives even after the book was finished.

Not Another Love Song is so much more than a romance. It is about finding yourself with the weight of everyone’s expectations. Don’t get me wrong, this books is romantic. Most of the book is in Gwen’s POV but you can feel how Alex yearns for her and lemme tell you, the spicy scenes are SPICY.

I am so grateful to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. It will absolutely be the book of the summer and everyone should preorder it NOW. You won’t be disappointed come July. Now I can’t wait for the third book (and there better be one!)

( ✩ one star )

this was the first book i read by julie soto and i’m sad to deliver the news of me not liking it. Story wise, I didn’t think there was much going on, and i didn’t understand why Xander didn’t like Gwen in the beginning. it felt like it was made up just for it to be there. it wasn’t like he found her attractive and hated himself for it (i would’ve liked that) but he never noticed her until the wedding in chapter one. + it felt like the author was really *really* trying to make this book a slow burn. the characters were clearly attracted to each other and there were like ten times they almost jumped each other’s bones like they were at the tip of that cliff but the author made them wait until the sixty percent mark which i found unnecessary. i feel like i shouldn’t have started my julie soto journey with this book because ama’s scenes in not another love song were actually making me want to read her book “forget me not.”

i don’t want all this review to be negative so i’ll say one thing that i did actually like: how Xander named the song he wrote that was inspired by gwen “not a love song.”
i just love when heroes live in denial <3

₊˚⊹♡ what to expect in not another love song:
· enemies to lovers (but with instalust)
· forced proximity
· slow burn (if you’d like to call it)

I had the best time reading this. The cello fingering scene was just as good as I remembered from the fic, and I love that it made the cover of the book.

Incoming booktok sensation!‼️
This book was *everything.* I wish I could write a love letter to Not Another Love Song. The pining. The musical talent. The love. It's truly magical. Julie Soto has done it again--this time dare I say even better! The way Gwen and Alex make playing music together read like the greatest love story ever played--onstage or in the recording studio--is a masterpiece. I felt like I was watching a movie each time--they truly made magic happen. The way Xander is obsessed with her--I'm obsessed with him. I could go on and on--thank you so much to Julie Soto and Forever Pub for making this book available to read early on NetGalley for everyone. My new favorite author and publisher! To Julie Soto--Ali Hazelwood is right--you're the next romance powerhouse! I will also "read anything you write and love every second of it." Can't wait to read your next story :)

Forget Me Not was my favorite read of 2023, so when I heard about this book coming out I was jacked. To put it plainly- it didn’t disappoint.

Soto has a way of writing characters that hooks me everytime and Xander (Alex to his friends) and Gwen are no exception. I would have finished this book in less than 24 hours if I didn’t have a toddler who ruins all my fun. Gwen and Alex are both musicians, one struggling to figure out her place in music, and one who’s a prodigy and been in the spotlight since three years old. They both have to figure out what’s important to them while navigating their true passions. Very rivals-to-lovers/enemies-to-lovers-esque. (Which I have to say is my favorite trope and she did it very well)

I thought the amount of spice and buildup in this book was PERFECT. If I had to rate with peppers I would say 3.5-4🌶️. I never thought I would be turned on by a cello but here we are. The balance between plot and romance was *chef’s kiss*
I continued to fall in love with the characters the whole book through and it gave me all of the fun butterflies. I have a background in music so I especially loved all the musical lingo woven throughout. However, it was written in a way that even if you don’t have a musical background you can easily follow along with what’s going on.

I already recommend Forget Me Not to anyone who enjoys romances and Not Another Love Song will be added to that recommendation easily. 5/5⭐️

Ugh, another beautifully written book from Julie Soto. The tension is *chef’s kiss*. The men are emotionally intelligent. The women are powerful, sensitive, and so likeable, which shockingly isn’t the case in many romances. Please never stop writing, I will always keep reading.

4.5 stars

This book honestly had no right being this hot. Who knew I could blush this much reading about fictional characters playing instruments somewhat near each other?

I loved Julie's debut, Forget me Not , and was so excited to see where she would go next. She definitely delivered with this one. It had a fun, unique setting and amazing side characters just like her first book, but her main characters felt even more fleshed out and realistic.

If anything, I struggled a bit with feeling like Gwen was basically vulnerable and primed to fall in love with the first person who would be willing to offer her any sort of commitment due to her very difficult childhood. Fortunately, no one in the history of the world has ever been as down bad as Alex. I honestly don't think I've ever read a more obsessed MMC in a contemporary romance. He was absolutely gone the second she pressed a bow to his strings, if you know what I mean. These two arguably need each other to an unhealthy degree, but it sure does make the chemistry stupid good.

I could not put this book down. It hooked me from the very first page. New York + a violinist + a cellist = my new favorite romance. You do not have to be a classical musical lover to enjoy this read. Alex and Eve were great characters. Mabel, Ava, Jacob, and Declan were loveable supporting characters. This story had me obsessed. His secret pining for her.... and THE TENSION. It was so thick it could suffocate. I laughed out loud. This spice was just enough without being too much. This was an easy 5-star romance read for me.

Thanks to net galley for the advanced copy :)

I was truly shocked at how fast I read this book, how invested I was, wild character development, insane chemistry, my love for Alex… like honestly best book of 2024 so far.
Btw I highlighted like 8 lines that I want a guy to say to me

When I saw this was available to "read now," I RAN to download it!! I loved Julie Soto's debut, Forget Me Not, and was so excited to read this one. It did not disappoint. The tension, the chemistry, the "from two worlds" of it all, the MUSIC — I really enjoyed this book. And not just for the spice, but for how these two characters were like magnets to each other. Julie also did a great job with the various characters in this book — I was rooting for some while simultaneously rooting for others to fail (or maybe get what they deserve is more accurate). The wedding scene at the beginning of the book immediately drew me in and I couldn't stop. I literally wish I could hear the music Gwen and Alex wrote together. The third act was a little tough to get through, and it surprised me in some ways. I understand why it was set up the way it was, but I think there should've been a stronger resolution between some of the characters. All in all though? Excellent book, loved reading it the whole time.

I read this in one sitting. I physically could not put it down. I am obsessed with Julie Soto and the characters she writes. The chemistry, tension, and romance is on a whole other level. This had me literally giggling and kick in me feet. These characters are so real, raw, flawed, and struggling with their own internal wars which makes them impossible to not relate to and become attached too. I loved the way music was talked about in this book. Truly incredibly romantic I will never listen to the violin or cello the same way.

Well, I devoured this book in less than 24 hours...! Absolutely loved the tension between two music rivals. I appreciated that Alex and Gwen's relationship was not rushed, there were no cringy scenes AND they didn't have any terms of endearment for each other. Their character development was great! All characters in this romance book were well written.

I have... no words for this. I downloaded this ARC and finished it in less than 8 hours. This book is SO GOOD that I am sitting here speechless. I knew Julie Soto could write, I've read Forget Me Not, I've read her FanFiction, I know she.can.write. But I didn't know she could write like THIS.

At 6% in I was completely hooked. I felt Gwen's nervousness at the wedding, I felt it. My heart was racing. I have only felt like that when I'm reading an epic battle scene in a Fantasy novel. And all she was doing was playing the cello and not the violin (of course in front of a famous cello player, but nbd). Not Another Love Song was like that for me for the ENTIRE book. I am blown away.

I loved the emotional maturity of Gwen and Alex. The healthy relationship. I enjoyed the side characters and hello! Seeing Ama and Elliott again? *Chef's kiss*

Every time I set my Kindle down, I was blown away at what I'd just read. How Julie Soto made playing music spicier and more intimate, then an actual sex scene, I do not know. But my gosh, I have never, ever in my 15+ years of reading, set a book down and went, "Whoa" I had to take a breather. It wasn't even a romantic scene, they were just making music together. My heart is racing just thinking about it. But we can talk about the spice too, that was also, really-really good. Not too much, didn't overtake the plot, and was in all the right places.

This book is not 5 stars, it's 10 stars. I was a Julie Stan before this book, but I am a DIEHARD Julie Stan now. Everyone should be reading this book.

ARC review: Okay I’m new to contemporary romance but this had everything I could have wanted…my former musician heart is so happy. Their whole story and vibe had me kicking my feet and giggling. And the spice was 🤭🤌🏼🔥(I mean…the cover is just the beginning you guys…)

4.5/5 stars!! I REALLY CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS WHY I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH, BUT I DID. I REALLY DID. IMO, NOT AS GOOD AS FORGET ME NOT, BUT STILL FANTASTIC. IT IS A GRUMPY X SUNSHINE, RIVALS TO LOVERS, MUSICIAN ROMANCE WITH FOUND FAMILY. OF COURSE, THE ONLY THING I REALLY DIDNT LOVE WAS THE POV. I LOVE FIRST POV, SO THIS BEING IN THIRD POV WAS SOMETHING TO GET USED TO. IT'S MOSTLY FMC FACING, WITH A FEW CHAPTERS FOCUSING ON THE MMC. IT DIDN'T MAKE THE STORY BAD, I'M JUST NOT USED TO IT. OTHERWISE, IT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL & UNIQUE LOVE STORY. THERE IS A TINY BIT OF SPICE, BUT I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THIS A SPICY STORY. BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY. THE MMC WAS COMPLEX BUT A GENUINELY GOOD HUMAN. THE RELATIONSHIP PROGRESSION WAS RELAXED & ALLOWED TIME TO SEE THE STORY BLOSSOM.
OVERALL, I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH THIS STORY. I'VE NEVER READ ANYTHING ELSE LIKE IT!

I was a huge fan of Forget Me Not - and this one did not disappoint. I loved the characters and their chemistry! The plot kept me engaged and I finished it in one sitting.

This book was so cute and great. The romance was perfect as was the pacing. It also made me feel a lot and I loved that. One of my most anticipated releases of the year and it did not disappoint.

I devoured Not Another Love Song! Julie Soto's writing kept me captivated...I didn't want to put the book down. I loved the concept of this story. It was fun to read a romance set in the orchestra world. I thought Gwen and Alex were fantastic main characters. I enjoyed watching them grow and choose what's best for them. Soto did a great job of creating tension between Alex and Gwen. I loved all the studio scenes with Alex and Gwen. That first scene of them recording was 🔥🔥. The side characters were pretty decent...I do wish we got to see more of Jacob and Declan. Although the ending felt a tad bit rushed, I was still impressed by Soto's work. I will be thinking about this book for a while. Thank you to Forever for the ARC.

This was such a great read! I enjoyed it so much! I was giddy & cackling! I could not put this down!

I have been looking forward to this so I was sooo happy to see it available on net galley.
It’s such a great story, I'm clueless about classical music but this did a really good job of making it relevant and not feel stuffy at all!
Excellent cameo from Ama and Elliot.

It’s going to be perfect for a summer read!