Julie Soto has written and incredible novel with Not Another Love Song. The story and characters are dynamic and fun and so heartwarming.

The story is so well written, the writing style and plot kept me engaged and a I fell in love with so many of the characters.

3.5
I absolutely loved Julie Soto’s first book Forget Me Not so I had very high expectations for this book.
Story is about musicians Gwen and Xander who play in the same Orchestra and their relationship when Gwen gets the first chair violin position. Despite Gwen being a bit naive about what was going on around her, I enjoyed the the relationship between Gwen and Xander in the beginning/first half of the book. The second half didn’t pull me in as much. The insta love felt a bit rushed. The conflict and even the resolution felt short and unsatisfying conclusion at the end.

I fell in love with this book! It has a lot of music content which I really enjoyed learning a little more about but also the romance story was great. The only downside for me was that it was a little insta-love, whereas I usually prefer more of a slow burn.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is a delightful and steamy romance that follows the story of Gwen and Xander, two musicians who play in the Manhattan Pops orchestra. Despite their initial dislike for each other, the undeniable chemistry between them is electric and impossible to ignore. Soto does an excellent job of capturing the passion and dedication required to be a professional musician, adding depth to the narrative beyond just the romance.

The sexual tension between Gwen and Xander is off the charts, with some seriously memorable spicy scenes that will leave you fanning yourself. Their connection feels genuine, with a shared love of music that ties them together in a unique way. While the story does have a few minor flaws, like a rushed ending and a few plot points that require suspension of disbelief, the overall experience is incredibly engaging and satisfying. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers romance with a musical twist, Not Another Love Song is a must-read!

This was my first book by Julie Soto and I wasn’t sure what to think but I was grabbed by the cello. And I loved it!!! So! Much!! If you’re on the fence about this one , just read it!

I love this author. The spice is perfect, and she does such a good job at crafting a love story that I care about. I read this so fast, and Julie Soto is a master at romance.

This enemies-to-lovers orchestra-set romance between two music prodigies hit all the right notes for me.

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the copy to review.

This book was so good I couldn’t put it down I loved it so much loved the characters and the romance definitely a must read

I loved this book! So excited to read after Julie Soto's first book, and it did not disappoint. Rivals to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, force proximity, I just loved all the tropes and the romance between the main characters. 5 stars from me!

A LOVELY BOOK there is something so sensual about soto’s writing which made for a hot dynamic between our 2 leads. Gwen’s character arc felt realistic and I enjoyed watching her grow into her confidence and how Xander unleashed that from her. This is a couple that brought out the best in each other.

I have been a fan of Julie Soto for a while, and this book further affirmed how much I enjoy her writing. She has a way of writing the yearning a character has for another, that even though it can be considered ‘insta-love’ it never feels rushed. I would also like to say that I’m aware that 3rd act breakups are a popular plot device in romance books (something that I heavily dislike), but this is the one that works the best for me! It was so well done.

I also personally connect to this book on another level as someone who was a musician for many years. I think if you’re someone who has a musical background, of any kind, you’ll find an added level of enjoyment. Highly recommend this book and anything else written by Julie Soto!

Let me just scream from the rooftops that the TENSION has me on the edge of my seat! Genuinely had me foaming at the mouth because I could not get enough of these two! Being able to see the mutual dislike between Gwen and Alex grow and become somewhat friendly to finally giving into their feelings? Absolute perfection! It was something I was obsessed with and couldn't stop reading!

I really enjoyed this. It is such a great read. I love grumpy sunshine, especially when it’s rivals to lovers. I can't get enough of it!!

This book broke my heart and also put it together. This was a couple desperately in love and their whole romance was intoxicating and gorgeous. It was also a bit unhinged (in a fun romance book way!). Julie Soto can realllly write the heck out of pining and make you feel things for characters that do not actually exist. So very sweet. (P. S. these are some horny, horny musicians. my god)

Writing- 4.5 stars
Plot- 4 stars
Characters- 5 stars

I've been trying to write a proper review for days to no avail. Not only is Not Another Love Song a beautifully written romance but it also explores how difficult it is to find purpose in life.

I guarantee that this will become your next obsession. The book that makes you stay up past your bedtime because one more chapter has never hurt anyone (just your sleep schedule). The book that will make you sigh once it ends and wonder, what could be better than this?

I am still trying to find another one like this.

Not Another Love Song is the perfect romance for me. Tall, broody, mysterious, genius man obsessed with equally genius woman who is obsessed with something else. Also as a former violinist, this feels like very much my niche. The characters and their love for music is beautiful and the way they show their love for each other through the music … I felt it in my SOUL. Julie Soto is an auto buy author for me now.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced ready copy.

While this may have been my first Julie Soto book (Forget Me Not is sitting on my shelves BEGGING TO BE READ), it absolutely won’t be my last.

I loved her writing so much that it was hard to put this book down. I loved the tension and chemistry between Gwen and Xander - the spice was top notch). Tension and emotion are my favorite additions to a romance book and Julie did it SO well.

I don’t enjoy classical music and I don’t typically enjoy books that are about a musican (because I’m basically tone deaf and the thought of me playing an instrument is laughable) but I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was okay. It just seemed unrealistic with the promotion to first chair that the main character received. Then the love interest did not seem believable and rushed.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of “Not Another Love Song” by Julie Soto. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the author, Julie Soto’s previous book ‘Forget Me Not’ and was excited to pick this one up. I don’t know how to play any instruments but I still enjoyed this book a lot. It showed an intriguing glimpse of several different musical performance worlds. I liked the NYC setting and sort of getting to see behind the curtain of the orchestra life. This really felt like it could be a movie too!

The romance was intense but in a good way. Alex falls first and he falls hard. He was so completely lost for Gwen and it was so very romantic how their music entertwined with their love story. I also liked how at the beginning Gwen couldn’t see her value and her talent and she had to learn how to recognize when people were taking advantage of her talent.

The ending felt a little rushed but overall I really enjoyed the story. Julie Soto is definitely on my list of must read authors.

4/5 stars

The way this book had me kicking my feet, twirling my hair, squealing and giggling is CRIMINAL!!! I’m not the biggest romance reader, but this book sucked me in almost immediately, and I genuinely mourned it when it was over. It’s a fantastic, realistic, modern enemies-to-lovers romance that had me thinking, “I didn’t know music could BE so sexy!?”

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are brilliant musicians in New York City, but their feelings about success couldn’t be more different. Gwen is a dedicated violinist, climbing the ranks in the Manhattan Pops after being coached by a kind-hearted music teacher. Xander, the child of famous musicians, was bred to play, but turns up his nose at classical performances in favor of the limelight with his orchestral rock band. But when the two find themselves vying for the same First Chair position in the Pops, their musical rivalry—and their chemistry—make sparks fly.

It's not often that I find a contemporary romance that has believable characters with depth, a realistic plot with actual tension, juicy chemistry and non-cringy sex scenes. Usually, something is lacking—but not here. I felt like both Gwen and Xander had robust backgrounds, motivations and personalities that impacted the plot throughout. The story arc was satisfying, with a delightful ending. And some of the spice was positively swoon-worthy.

I loved the way music was interwoven in this story. Never before had I thought playing the cello could be so hot. But even the non-spicey parts were rich with musical appreciation, and I loved the glimpse into NYC artistic culture the book offered.

Oh, and did I mention this is Reylo inspired? You can absolutely see where the inspo comes in, but I didn’t feel like I was reading fanfic at any point. The characters were simply launch points for a rich, extremely fun story. What a good time.