This was such a cute and fun read. I loved how it wasnt just about two people falling in love, but it was also about how they healed beyond that. Old friends coming back together again and everyone just healing and growings. I will say that eyes darkening might have been a tad bit overused in some chapters. When I first realized how often it was being used I started giggling every time I heard it. I would absolutely read more by the author though. Such a lovely book.

I’ve been sitting on this book review for a good while and ruminating on what to say . I really liked this book. The romance was great. I love a good grumpy,/sunshine, opposites attract pairing and Gwen and Xander are exactly that.

Gwen is a low income violinist prodigy who manages to earn a seat in the Pops Orchestra in New York City. When the first chair comes available. She’s offered it as the youngest first chair violinist ever…

That same year, privileged Xander, another musical prodigy has shown up to be part of the Pops and was expecting to receive the first chair. He doesn’t receive it, but he doesn’t back down. Gwen and Xander have chemistry in the orchestra and out of it… and he can’t resist her even if his family is using their relationship as a publicity stunt…

Fans of Forget Me Not will feel a lot of similar storytelling and character vibe. But there are differences in this one where the characters are a bit more unrealistic with two young music prodigies falling in love and the rockstar element.

When I let myself separate the book from reality, I managed to get swept away in their romance and had a lot of fun with this book!

4.25
thank you net galley for the arc & hachette book group! (coming out july 16)

julie soto does it again and BETTER
in this book i felt like the romance took its time, it felt real, any moments of rivalry were believable and weren't cringe and what some might consider as a quick development, i thought was actually quite realistic
this book is the epitome of "when you know, you know" and is there not a lot of playing around which i appreciated
the development of the main characters' lives is really the forefront of this book and it is done in a way that is enjoyable & exciting and only betters the romance arc
at times annoying, at times little repeated words that took me out of the book, but all in all, a very solid read.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this ARC Copy!

I never though I would learn so much about the symphony world, or that I would become so invested in the world. I really enjoyed the character growth both through their relationship as well as in their worlds filled with high pressure to please. Watching these characters learn how to come into their own and then find each other was a fun ride.

What a join to have an other story from Julie. She. Is. Fast. Becoming. A. Favourite !!! Her story are a page turner so addictive that you just can’t put that book down. The storyline with the music was a wonderful plot and universe to discover. I love the she falls first he falls harder and when I mean harder I MEAN it. They were so cute. Loved it

I absolutely LOVED this book! I was apprehensive because of how much I loved Julie’s first book, but this one was just as good! Julie is an auto buy author for me now.

NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG - JULIE SOTO

4⭐

PLOT
Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies. At a wedding where Gwen is performing Xander gets mesmerized by her but doesn't know that they have been working together for a year at Pops Orchestra and Gwen is furious when he starts criticising her work. When Gwen is offered the role of 1st chair at the orchestra their hostility increases but their love and respect for music and their chemistry is undeniable but all this can crumble when a publicity stunt goes wrong.

MY THOUGHTS
The whole plot about 2 musical prodigies who are rivals falling for each other with insane chemistry at the backdrop of an orchestra was innovative and unique. For me I had zero knowledge in Violin and Cello yet I found it very entertaining and engrossed in the story.
Xander did feel arrogant and manipulative to Gwens naviety but together their chemistry was 🔥🔥🔥
Can't wait to read her next book!

Absolutely love Julie Soto and the characters and stories she writes. I know nothing about the orchestra or instruments, but this book truly captured my attention and I was so invested in the story. the pacing is perfect and while the characters have their own flaws and struggles i loved how they connected and found who they were in the end. such a fun read, i could not put it down. So ready for Julie Soto’’s next book!!

4.5/5 stars
I literally had such a fun time reading this book!! I was giggling and screaming the whole time reading!! I ended up binging it and that's when I know I am obsessed!!! <3 also I had this arc for forever now, and I am punching myself because I should have read this sooner. It was so good!! Gwen and Alex had me swooning so bad!! I had butterflies in my stomach. It kept me wanting to read more!! I can't wait for more from Julie Soto because this book surpassed my expectations in the best way possible!! The chemistry and tension between the two main characters kept me wanting to read more, and i just wanted to root for them and their happiness. One of my fav reads this year without a doubt!

If you’re in the mood for a spicy romance story, look no further. Not Another Love Song features two extremely talented young musicians (they’re in their 20s), Gwen and Xander/Alex. Gwen is a mostly self-taught violinist, not having had the advantage of expensive music teachers, and Xander/Alex is just the opposite. His parents started him on the violin when he was extremely young. Eventually he switched to the cello. Xander and Gwen both play for the Manhattan Pops, but Xander also has a rock group called Thorne and the Roses. (He’s Xander Thorne.)

Xander finally notices Gwen when she is hired to play at his friend’s wedding. It took me a while to warm up to him, as he was a bit of an a-hole re Gwen. However, once he stops being a jerk, their chemistry is off the charts. The author’s description of their musicianship was beautiful. I need to listen to more classical music!

In addition to Gwen and Xander, there are some other great characters, especially Mabel, who owns a music store in Queens and has been Gwen’s mentor. They have a very close relationship - pretty much the definition of found family. Nathan made a good villain - I didn’t like him from the get-go.

The whole situation seems extremely unrealistic - from the way Gwen quickly switches from violin to cello at that wedding, even though she hasn’t played the cello for a very long time, to the idea that the Paps would offer her first chair, and many other instances. I still enjoyed the book, however.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I tried reading this one so many times... I really liked Julie Soto's debut novel, but I just could not get into this one. I don't feel like it's fair to rate it, but I do want to give feedback, so I'm picking 3 stars. It wasn't unreadable, it just didn't capture my attention like her last one did. I would definitely still pick up one of her novels! I'm thinking maybe this setting just didn't work for me? The MMC was kind of insufferable in the beginning and I think it just made me disconnect. I'm all for enemies to lovers, but he was honestly just kind of a dick :/ I'll pick this one up again at some point, but I don't know when that will be.

This is my first Julie Soto book, but it will not be my last! In Not Another Love Song, we follow Gwen, a self-taught violinist at the cusp of a major career upgrade, and Xander, a cellist and rock star who is used to being in the spotlight.

After Gwen is offered the role of first chair in the Manhattan Pops, an intense rivalry forms, and the chemistry between them builds. As they become close and begin to compose songs together, it becomes a marketing ploy to keep the Manhattan Pops financially alive.

As a classical music lover, Julie perfectly captures how intense playing an instrument with someone can be. The amount of focus, time, and dedication that is poured into music is intense, and she somehow described it perfectly. Not Another Love Song is a wonderful workplace romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been eating up Julie Soto's writing since it was on AO3. Devoured. Left no scraps. Ali Hazelwood was right and the cello scene DID rewire my brain chemistry. I think about it MULTIPLE times/week

The tension! The drama! I loved the characters and was giggling the whole book. Can't wait to recommend.

Gwen Jackson hasn't had an easy life, but when she auditions for a violin chair in the Manhattan Pops at eighteen, she finally feels like she has some stability. She supplements her income by performing at weddings and one weekend, she just so happens to be performing at a wedding that her colleague and superstar Xander Thorne is in. Xander finally notices Gwen for the first time and is intrigued. As they compete for the illustrious first-chair of the violins, tensions flare, but especially sexual ones!

This book was SO good! This was my first Julie Soto and won't be my last. I loved how Xander was the first to fall and was down horrendous for Gwen. She really made him work for it, even when their chemistry was off the charts. I just wanted to give Gwen a hug; she's been through so much and is just trying to do the right thing and have the solid ground she has been craving after a life of so much turmoil and grief. While I know nothing about orchestral music, the way that Gwen and Xander's music played such a big role in the story was so moving. There was so much emotion and tension in this story that I never wanted to put it down!

TW: Death of a parent, death of a grandparent

3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher on Netgalley but i ended up reading along while listening to the audiobook after it released.

I don't know that I would have enjoyed this book if I'd just read it on ebook. The pace was kind of slow. There are a lot of technical references to music in this book, even in the intimate scenes, and as someone who know nothing about the technical side of music I think I would got bored of it pretty quickly if it wasn't for the narrator's skillfull delivery of those scenes. That being said, I did enjoy the musical ellements were incorporated into the spicy scenes, it was different and quite poetic.

I liked the FMC, Gwen. She was a bit naive, but she's 22/23, so that's understandable. I had mixed feelings about Xander, the MMC. I was definitely attracted to him. He had his moments, but he was emotionally immature for a 25 year old who's been living on his own for 6 years, and manipulative towards Gwen. I can't stand it when the MMC tries tell the FMC what to do, while witholding information. Like he thinks she's not smart enough to make up her own mind. He does eventually grow as a character, though. I also felt like their emotional connection was kind of shallow. We didn't get to see much of their personality beyond their passion for music (and each other).

I did enjoy the love story in this. I loved the tension and the easy, playful way they were with each other after they fnally embraced their feelings for each other. I love it when the MMC is obsessed with the FMC. I also liked that they eventually helped each other to explore where they really wanted music to take them.

I think Julie Soto's writing is just not for me. This is the second one i've given 3.5 stars.

I had a good time reading this book. The tension was so fun and I loved all the music. Like excuse me the cello scene!!!! I did want more povs from Alex though.

Absolutely adored this one! This was my first by this author, Now I have to read forget me not 😍 I loved the MMC so much

As someone who played the violin growing up and dated a cellist in our school's orchestra, I felt this story with my soul. I loved being immersed in the musical world as we followed the evolution of Gwen and Xander's relationship. Things start off a bit rocky, and while Gwen is fighting for an important position in their orchestra, Xander doesn't seem to be taking anything seriously as he also highlights as the lead of a band. But even he can't turn up his nose at Gwen's talent.

Their relationship rose and fell like the arpeggios in the music they played. Music brought them together, and sometimes I wasn't sure if Xander liked Gwen for herself or for her music, but overall, I really enjoyed this story, Xander becomes obsessed in the best kind of way, being a broody man while doing the sweetest things. And he certainly knows how to turn up the heat! Whew, that man! It may have been too much music references for some, but I loved how Soto managed to weave the orchestra and performances in with the rest of the story. I was definitely smiling throughout!

Thank you Forever publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I have a deep interest in Julie Soto as an AO3 veteran and fan fiction girlie, myself. I adore seeing fan fiction reworked into original IP. I think that for most, Not Another Love Song will not be glaringly obvious Reylo content, but the initiated, it most certainly will be. That being said, Julie writes the “man obsessed” trope in a way that appeals to some base need and I will continue to recommend what she’s putting out.