Immediately need more book recs where the main characters make music together because DAMN 🥵

Knowing that this was previously a fanfic made me nervous at first. I haven’t read a ton of fanfic and didn’t know what to expect. Happy to report that I frequently forgot the story’s origins and just enjoyed it as the full novel it is now.

This was a really fun, cute, and HOT read. Any scene where they were playing together was just absolute perfection.

5⭐️ 3🌶️

I read Forget Me Not earlier this year and was surprised how much I loved it but, this was even more surprising on how much I loved this! I could not put this book now and I felt myself really feeling for Gwen near the end.

Tropes:
🎶 contemporary romance
🎶 found family
🎶 rivals to lovers
🎶 he falls first
🎶 tension 🥵
🎶 musicians

“I want to be clear. I want you in every way. I want to see you. And fuck you. And play music with you. Tell me you want even one of those things.”

“A few of them, yeah.”

Gwen and Alex “Xander” will capture your heart from the beginning. He’s a superstar cellist who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. Gwen is more of a wallflower, stand in the back and go unnoticed type of gal. She isn’t really sure what she wants but she knows she loves playing violin and is pretty good at it.

There was a lot of musical references that I didn’t know, but that didn’t deter me or make it hard to understand the book.

The character development in this story was written beautifully. They are both characters with several flaws and things they each needed to work through, which they continued to do throughout the book.

The tension was 🔥! This was probably one of the best tension filled stories that I’ve read in a long time! The tension lead up to giving us some 🌶️ that was not disappointing! The cello scene 🥵 and it wasn’t just spice okay, it was so beautifully written that it really fed into their love and romance together. They used music in a way to progress their romantic relationship that I haven’t read before.

Xander and Gwen were literal soulmates. That’s all I have on that one because you’ll need to read it to truly understand!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Julie Soto for providing this eARC. I truly loved this book and can’t wait for more of your work! ❤️

Julie Soto has officially made her way into my auto-buy list. I love her writing and storytelling so much. And her spicy scenes are top notch.

I haven't read many books with an instrumental aspect in it so this was a very fun read for me. I enjoyed the romance and both of the main characters were great. This book definitely made me want to leave how to play an instrument even though I know I don't have a musical bone in my body. Highly recommend checking this one out if you're looking for a fast paced romance!

Thank you so much to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the e-arc!

This was my first book by Julie Soto but it definitely wouldn’t be the last because I really enjoyed her writing. It was easy to read even for someone like me who has absolutely no idea about any orchestra stuff. I definitely learnt a lot about it from reading this.

I loved the characters and I also loved seeing Ama in it. I haven’t read her book yet but I am excited to get to it and any other book Julie writes in the future. The tension and chemistry between the two MCs in this were *chef’s kiss*

It wasn’t a full 5 star read for me because it took me quite a while to get into it. But I really enjoyed it when the book picked up!


I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was my first time reading a book by Julie Soto, and I am extremely happy that I picked this one up. Soto masterfully crafts a compelling narrative that is both heartwarming and engaging. The chemistry between the main characters is exceptionally well done.

Julie Soto did it again! One of the things I love most about her writing is how descriptive it is with the industry the characters are in (ie. music; Forget Me Not was wedding planning and floristry).

This story started slow at first, but then I was hooked when the pacing picked up. Gwen and Xander are the epitome of “I could feel the tension, you could cut it with a knife”. The chemistry, banter, and spice was top tier. I’ll never be able to look at the cover without remembering that scene 🥵

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing the ARC.

First off, I'm going to need a cold shower to cool off from reading this book.

Second off, wow. Just wow.

As a music nerd in my own right, watching these two musicians go head-to-head with each other was absolutely scrumptious. There was banter, there was ire, there was an intensely sexy cello scene that I had to reread a few times and then fan myself. There was an intensity to it that really kept the reader engaged throughout the entire story, something that many authors are unable to pull off. The way I absolutely devoured this book in a sitting.

This book is absolutely delicious. It is a heady, overwhelming, and all-encompassing story between two characters who have absolutely no right to be as good as they are. I cannot wait to reread this.

Thanks to Julie Soto, I will now always blush when I hear a cello. Not Another Love Song is sexy, and has just the right amount of broodiness and intensity. I loved every moment and will be adding this title to my romance recs!

3.5 stars

I’ll start with that I liked this book more than the author’s first book.

The beginning is very slow and bogged down with musical terms. It took awhile for me to get into it and for whatever romance to start between Gwen and Alex. But, oh boy, when it did…the cello scene???!!!! IYKYK It was quite a steamy read from there on, too.

Just an okay read for me, though. I actually listened to the audio after pub day. Savannah Peachwood and Oliver Clarke narrate. She is the main narrator and I thought she was excellent. I know she definitely helped me enjoy the story more.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

🎶Enemies to Lovers
🎶Grumpy/Sunshine
🎶Forced Proximity
🎶Found Family

I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book. Julie Soto has a way with words that fully immerses you in the story. Their writing is beautiful and had me in all my feels. I devoured this book in one sitting and I didn’t want it to end! The sexual tension between Gwen and Xander was off the charts and that cello scene? Holy hotness! Who knew a book about a violinist and cellist could be so sexy? This was a fun and beautiful story and I can’t wait to see what this author brings us next!

I really enjoyed Julie Soto's first book Forget Me Not, so I was certainly excited to get started on Not Another Love Song. I really enjoyed it! I think her first was maybe better, and I did like the pop up of Ama and some characters from the first book. The steamy scenes were certainly steaming, let me tell you that. I liked the story, just felt it was a bit slower than I wanted in some parts. The Xander/Alex rockstar/violin perfectionist was an interesting take that I haven't seen often so that was fun. Gwen, the main female character, seemed a bit immature, but she was only 22 so naturally her frontal lobe wasn't fully developed yet. What should I expect? No matter, I had a fun time reading it and will certainly be reading more Soto in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

4.5 🌟

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the eArc of “Not Another Love Song” by Julie Soto.

The book was such an angsty and sweet romance full of spice. There was so much built up and slow burn and the scene the cover is referring to had me kicking my feet in my bed. I loved the way music and musical appreciation was woven between those pages. The writing style was so beautifully done. The book was one of my favourite romances of 2024 so far.

It’s always fun to buddy read with @bookishinidahome but it’s even more fun when it’s a new author for us both! Julie Soto, you’ve just found yourself a forever fan! 🙌🏼

THIS BOOK, YOU GUYS I’M IN LOVE 🤯😍🥹

The beautiful way that Julie was able to weave music, romance, spice, important life lessons & messages all into one book astounds me! Getting to witness the unique perspectives of Gwen and Xander, amidst the musical ties was so beautiful & powerful.

The dynamics that played out amongst the characters was not only funny, but filled with sentiment & truth. I loved the way in which music terminology was used to describe many different things throughout the book, which felt as though it enmeshed me in the world of music while reading.

Please please please pick up a copy of this gem of a book & read it - I promise you won’t be disappointed!

I read Forget Me Not last year and loved it, so I was thrilled to get an ARC of Julie Soto’s second book, Not Another Love Song.

Gwen and Xander work together performing for the Manhattan Pops. A chance meeting at a wedding changes their dynamic and what follows is a story full of tension, pining, and some excellent spice (the cello scene 🔥🔥🔥).

While I’m not a musical person myself, I really enjoyed the way their passion for music was such a foundational part of their relationship with one another.

As a bonus, in addition to some new loveable side characters, we got a few glimpses of characters from Forget Me Not as well!

Oooh Julie Soto has given us another steamy sweet love story full of pining and a lush anchor point, this time in music rather than flowers, and I ate it up.

I loved that the chemistry between Gwen and Alex is palpable from the jump- his obsessive possessive brooding vibes honestly really did it for me.

I don’t think it’s quite as polished as Forget Me Not, but it doesn’t need to be to still be a really good time!

Julie Soto is a must buy from me. Her characters, as always, are loveable and complex, and her stories are fun and spicy. I'm excited to see where her craft takes her in the future.

This book was just FUN to read! It was smutty and music-filled and just a great time! Basically, you have two child prodigies who grew up and then he meets her and hears her play. Then he’s obsessed. He’s obsessed with playing music with her and her in general. But in the best way. It has a draw and engaging writing style that is great for those in a book slump!

I'm gobsmacked. It feels like this book has changed my brain chemistry. I actually let it marinate in my brain for a couple days before writing this review, and I feel even more strongly that this is one of the top releases of 2024. It's written in 3rd person POV, and while it's been a while since I've read anything but dual 1st Person POV, I didn't mind it. The way this story unwinds is everything. The relationship between Xander and Gwen is tender and wild at the same time. Neither of them are easy people. This is not an easy love story, but in my opinion it's all the better for that. Everything is not served up on a silver platter with a bow to the reader. I wouldn't consider this to be a book I could read while watching TV, or out in public where I felt the need to split my focus to remain situationally aware. This is the perfect book to tuck into your coziest reading spot with your snacks and beverage (or two) of choice, and delve in for the long haul. I'm glad I read it in basically two large chunks, because all the breadcrumbs along the way might have slipped past me if I didn't have the thread fresh in my mind. Discovering the author's background in playwriting and fan fiction makes perfect sense to me. This story is so sensual. Once I was a few chapters in, I turned on a playlist of Vitamin String Quartet pop covers, and it was a sensory delight I suggest you try too!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Julie Soto, and Forever (Grand Central) for the ARC opportunity!

Two talented musicians in New York whose paths cross, introductions (re-introductions?) are clumsily made, misunderstanding ensues. And then they find themselves working together, which as it turns out, they had been for awhile (ahem, Xander). 
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Gwen and Xander both have complicated, difficult backstories and that affects their relationship in a realistic way. It didn’t feel too coincidental or contrived. The story is mainly from the FMC’s perspective, but I love that the MC has a few chapters interspersed throughout the story. The cast of characters around Gwen and Xander acted as intended, moving the story along and providing that extra layer of background information and humour.
4.5 stars. Would recommend.

This is my second Julie Soto book and I absolutely loved it. I am officially a fan of her writing style. This story was just so lovely. I didn’t want to put it down. Rivals to lovers, I loved the music aspect of this book. Growing up playing piano and being in a marching band this was delightful.