honestly the way Julie Soto writes is so encapsulating! I loved every second of this book, it truly makes me want to pick up a violin lol. Now not sure what this was missing but to me it’s wasn’t fully a 5 star even though I loved it so much. In a way, I felt like the connection between our characters was a little rushed and didn't feel as fully fleshed out as her first book but I still really loved it.

I loved this book SO MUCH. So much might actually be an understatement. Julie Soto so beautifully captures this story between Xander/Alex and Gwen in a way that is so lyrical and moving and surprisingly, packs a real punch. At times, I had some issues with the pacing but the insane chemistry between our two main characters made it so worth it. I loved the way Julie Soto was able to weave the musical language through the book but not go overboard. Alex and Gwen had their own struggles to deal with but I love how ultimately, their love story triumphed past the people that just wanted to use them for their talent and they were able to stand their ground as well as build and rebuild relationships with the people that mattered most to them, all while falling deeply in love with each other.

Julie Soto does it again. Her characters are so fully formed and it's difficult to do anything but love them. If you love a he falls first / rivals to lovers story, this is for you!

The vibes and tension was off the charts with this one! The use of music and craft as a vehicle for the love story was perfect.
I know this has an orchestra backdrop and not dance, but it gave me the same feels of Save the Last Dance and how much I loved that movie as a teen. I need Julie Soto to release Fugue No 1 ASAP!

4.5 Stars

Thank you Netgalley, Forever & Grand Central Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I ate this book up! Being a music nerd myself I loved the whole vibe of this novel.

I don’t care that it’s instalove and I don’t care that the characters continue to get unrealistic opportunities. It’s the tension for me, it’s the writing that made me not be able to put this book down.

Sometimes we just need to step away from our own realities and do that with the cello that fell in love with the violin.

Loved loved Not Another Love Song! I was not a big fan of the author's previous book but this one was so good! I loved Alex and Gwen, they were just perfectly written and felt so true to life!

A contemporary romance set in NYC in the world of professional orchestra and symphony made this novel a winner! Julie Soto expertly opens up this unique world with all of its drama and posturing, fundraising and workplace dynamics. The main characters Gwen, a violinist, and Xander, a cellist, play off each other brilliantly. Not Another Love Song is an open door, steamy enemy to lovers situation, with some family secrets and suspense. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to Forever publishing and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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