I had heard great things about Julie Soto all over Goodreads and was curious when I saw her new book in the catalog. It definitely lived up to my expectations, even if the last third of the novel fell apart. Not Another Love Song is the unique romance between a violinist and cellist in a New York orchestra. I adore classical music, both the traditional pieces and modern covers. This book had great readability and I couldn't put it down. Gwen was a naive and stubborn heroine, but she was compelling to read. The hero on the other hand had enough emotional whiplash to make your head spin. It was great to read from his perspective a few times, but I wish we had gotten more than the quadrilles we were allotted.

Not Another Love Song was a fun, creative romance novel that I enjoyed the majority of my reading experiences. For all the compositions they mentioned, I would look them up on YouTube to see what the characters were playing. I got a few of the references because I was already familiar with them, like Vitamin String Quartet and Lindsey Stirling. The book opened up with an author's note that she originally got her start in writing fanfiction and that was evident through 1/4 into the novel. The pining looks, dramatic exits, and honestly the last third of the novel. By the time they consummated their relationship, the book's angst quadrupled. Xander turned into a stage 5 clinger and Gwen lost all her logical thinking. It somewhat undid all their progress they had already established before this huge step. The sloppy ending made me dock a star from an otherwise stellar book.

Not Another Love Song was an exciting romance and I've found a new author to pursue. I don't believe I'll read her freshman novel because I can't stand second chance romances. This was a fun book and it's great to see characters heavily involved in the arts. I couldn't stop thinking about the August Rush movie about a cellist and a bad boy musician. I remembering the movie as a teen, but the vibes were immaculate. If you like musician romances, this is a great pick. I promise it's Not Another Love Song.

This was my first Julie Soto book, and it definitely did not disappoint. I read the majority of this book in 24 hours because I just couldn’t put it down! Gwen and Xander were PERFECT, and the burn was so good. And the cello scene?! Loved!! I really enjoyed how Julie Soto wound the musical aspects into the story and included some of Xander’s POV throughout.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been as excited to nab an ARC as I was to scoop up Julie Soto’s Not Another Love Song (out tomorrow).

I devoured her first novel, Forget Me Not, in 36 feverish hours. I was drawn in not just by the spark between Elliot and Ama, but by how fully drawn she felt as a protagonist: fierce, stubborn, and skilled.

I wish I could say Gwen was as complex. She is feisty, but Not Another Love Song is a melody for Xander Thorne, a minor character in FMN who gets space to breathe and mess up here. It’s also (according to the author’s note) adapted from Star Wars fan fiction Soto dreamed up ruminating on the tension that would ensue if first chair and first cello hated each other.

Some of my favorite parts of the book are tied up in other properties — the parallels with Star Wars, cameos from Soto’s other characters, one-off mentions of New York institutions like SNL and the Broadway Baseball League. But the heart of the book is Xander and Gwen’s surprising chemistry. I’m sure this book will be sold as enemies to lovers, but that feels like a mislabel.

Their love is gentler than you’d expect, given the source material. It’s sweet, almost entoxicating. It soars.

5 ⭐️ /5
3 🌶️/5

Loved this book. I would describe Not Another Love Song as a love song dedicated to Gwen & Xander falling in love. Although this is a bit of a slow burn, once it heats up the spice it is on fire!

If you are looking for a contemporary romance that will give you butterflies, this is full of intense chemistry, features rivals/enemies to lovers, and includes lots of hot sexual tension, this is for you. I love how Xander is a complete mystery and we get to know his back story little by little as the book progresses. I love how intertwined the characters are.

While reading this I was reminded of From Lukov with Love from Mariana Zapata (one of my favorite books), so if you enjoy rivals forced to work together in the public eye please pick this up. Instead of the ice skating rink, the stage for Not Another Love Song is Carnegie Hall, and Xander and Gwen battle it out on the cello and violin.

Thank you to Forever publishing & NetGalley for the ARC. My thoughts/opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steam: 3 chilis
Pub date: 7/16

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever for my advanced copy.

Gwen Jackson is a talented violinist from humble beginnings, and Xander Thorne is a cello prodigy from a prestigious musical lineage. Their paths cross at the Pops Orchestra, where Gwen’s natural talent and Xander’s refined skills collide.

When Gwen secures the coveted First Chair position, Xander’s jealousy ignites, but so does respect for her talent. Their professional competition and sizzling chemistry onstage build a slow-burning romance that is thrilling. I never knew classical music could be so sexy!

Soto’s writing skillfully navigates Gwen and Xander’s journey, balancing the highs and lows of their relationship with exquisite detail. The story is told primarily from Gwen’s POV, but Soto drops a Xander POV every few chapters, showing all the pining he’s been doing for Gwen.

I love Gwen and find her so relatable. The side characters are well-developed, making their struggles and triumphs feel real. I loved the setting, the pacing, and all the behind-the-scenes drama at the Pops. The spice level is perfect and enhances the already emotional story.
This is a perfect blend of romance, rivalry, and music, and I highly recommend it!

Read if you like:
*rivals to lovers
*forced proximity
*found family
*pining
*classical music
*open door spice

W O W! I am in love with this one. Gwen and Xander have the most intense chemistry. This was one of my favorite reads of the year so far, I can't get over how quickly I flew through reading this one. If you have not read any of Julie Soto's books yet, you need to bump them up your TBR, but especially this one.

I cannot overstate how beautifully the lyricism of her prose was in this book. I'm not a musician and maybe if I was a professional it wouldn't hit the same, but it really worked for me. I loved the comparisons to music in Gwen's thoughts as she navigates the build of her relationship with Xander, but also trying to navigate what she wants out of her career and for herself.

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

WOW the chemistry between these characters!!! I couldn’t get enough of this love story — the tension and chemistry were just perfect, and I loved the way Soto wove music into the spicy scenes. They were written so poetically and beautifully, and I felt as though I could hear the music as I read! Even though both characters had their flaws, I found them easy to root for — even Alex, even when his walls were up and he was being kind of an ass. I can’t wait to reread this book!

An excellent and quick read with a grumpy sunshine trope. The plot was interesting and fun - with a very likeable FMC.

3.75 stars★

"Give this a chance. The two of us. I'm not good with words, I'm not good at speaking things. I'm good with notes on a page. I'm good at music—and that's what I tried to tell you on that stage just now."

I've been stuck in a major reading rut, and this book is the first one in a long time that I genuinely enjoyed and managed to finish, which speaks volumes! The writing, tension, and romance progression were all top-notch. Who would've thought that string instruments had such an alluring charm? lol

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the arc. I loved this. I went in wary because some friends hadn't enjoyed it, but I had a great time. The heavy music focus won't be for everyone, but as a former musical theatre kid, I loved it. I really liked how everything came together and seeing old friendships mended and assholes kicked to the curb. It's a bit slow in the beginning, but once I got into it, I was so into it.

"Maybe she liked love songs after all. As long as she was playing then with Alex."

I haven't read any Julie Soto work before, but when so many others were excited about this book, I had to check it out. The build was slow for me at first, but ultimately I loved how Soto built the romance and tension. The chemistry between the main characters was 🔥 and the conflicts felt high stakes and real - not just characters overreacting to make sure there is a 3rd act breakup . If you have any background in music, especially a string instrument, you will also probably get even more out of this book that I likely missed.

👩‍❤️‍👨Rivals to lovers
🎼Workplace romance (orchestra)
⭐Celebrity Romance
🚪Open door
🌶️Spicyyyyy
💔 3rd Act Breakup

Personally, I also loved the subtle shade and references to the Scooter-Taylor fight. #taylorsversion

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing for the eARC! Publishing tomorrow - 7/16!

If you loved "Forget Me Not," you'll love "Not Another Love Song"! I knew nothing about being a musical prodigy but was completely here for Gwen and Xander's journey.

Gwen and Xander are musical prodigies with very different backgrounds. Gwen's natural talent, nurtured by a kind shop owner, contrasts with Xander's classical music upbringing. When Gwen's offered the role of First Chair, a position Xander secretly wanted, their rivalry heats up. Despite their hostility, their onstage chemistry is undeniable, making them box office dynamite. However, a publicity stunt threatens their budding romance.

Julie Soto weaves a story that blends passion, music, and romance beautifully. The tension and character development are spot-on. Even if you're not into music, this book will captivate you.

"Not Another Love Song" is a fantastic read that earns a solid 4 stars from me!

This was SO CUTE! I had never thought of the tension that could build between the first chairs of an orchestra. And now I can never stop thinking about it becuase the story that came out of it was magnificent.

I was dying for more of Alex's POV, becuase with his inner monolouge about her I fear would have made me obsessed with him. I really enjoyed seeing him open up from cold and standoffish to caring.

I just wanted to give Gwen a hug the entire book! She truly was unaware of just how amazing she was and I, like Alex, wantes to prove to her that she was worth so much more than she gave herself credit for.

This romance was so cute and swoon worthy. I cannot wait to read more from this author and I am sto thankful to netgalley and Forever for the chance to read this as an ARC!

Two musical prodigies with wildly different upbringings meet and clash and ultimately fall head over bows for each other in this 2nd book from Julie Soto. We see the characters from Forget Me Not (which I loved too) but you don’t necessarily have to have read it (though you should).

I really enjoyed this book. I will admit to having a musical background (though not a ton of talent) so I think that did help with my appreciation of the book. Some of the scenes and descriptions, and how they all flowed together like music was just amazing. And the descriptions of how the music flowed together were also amazing.

I loved both these characters and their story arc and growth throughout the story. You see how they could be together, you see how they have to work at being together, and you see how they have to work individually to be together.

Gwen and Alex….and oof were they HOT when they did get together.

This is out 7/16! Don’t miss it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the chance to read this!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for a review copy. All opinions are my own. I can't wait for this book to release on Tuesday - it is one of my favorite reads of the year!
Are you looking for a sizzling read? Look no further! Young, demure violin player Gwen plays in the Manhattan Pops orchestra along with Xander, a well-known cellist who also fronts a pop cover band. First interacting outside of the orchestra, the cellist is the grump to the violinist’s sunshine, but these two start interacting as rivals, with Xander continually criticizing Gwen’s playing. While their back stories have more in common than they first know, Gwen and Xander begin to work together on some of Xander’s original compositions. Their chemistry is off the charts, and I could not put the book down, reading it snuggled up with my cat.
I don't think there could be a sexier orchestra book! Not Another Love Song is a steamy read that doesn't skimp on substance. If you've read Soto's previous release, Forget Me Not, you'll enjoy that Ama and Elliot have cameos.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

What a sweet story. I absolutely loved reading this. Both Xander and Gwen were easy to love from the beginning and the way their relationship and storyline progressed made this impossible to put down.

There were parts that predictable (it was easy to identify the “villains” almost from the get go) but I feel like all romance books have a certain predictability to them.

This was my first Julie Soto book and I cannot wait to read more!

Some may say Julie Soto is a fantastic writer. I think she's a wizard...

Following Gwen and Xavier's story was pure magic. I feel like playing some string instrument music, and I don't even have the talent. Trust me, I tried.

The build-up and tension throughout the book is fantastic (TBH, kind of addicting)

I loved the character development and how they progressed.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE...
Pich this book on July 16!!!

This book is a certified banger.

I honestly loved Forget Me Not from this author last year, and I don’t want to take anything away from that because it’s still a great book, but this one basically blows it out of the water.

The tension, the yearning, the perfectionism, the passion, the artistry!

I’ve (accidentally, on purpose) read many books that started as Reylo fanfiction, and I think this might be the best one to capture that passion that I felt between them. The feeling of being the best at something and finally finding someone who is your equal, who can challenge you when nothing and no one else can anymore. Alex comes from a line of famous violinists and Gwen is a scrappy orphan without formal training, and the way they spark off each other is amazing.

This book is sexy! The cover will have a whole new meaning for you when you read it. It has a Swayze scene in it, with a Reylo dynamic, and honestly a bit of The Star is Born as well, except if that story didn’t rip your heart out and stomp on it. This book is the way we all wished it had gone instead.

Fantastic, no notes, absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Julie Soto's Forget Me Not, so I was very excited for this release.

Overall, I really loved it and it left with a big ole smile on my face. Julie Soto is becoming an auto buy author for me and I love that Forever is picking up all these fantastic writers.
Grab this one if you enjoy:

🎻Reylo Fan Fiction
🎻Grumpy/Sunshine
🎻Rivals to Lovers
🎻Opposites Attract
🎻Found Family
🎻Symphonies
🎻Recording Studio Shenanigans 😏

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

4.5, rounded to 5.

Not Another Love Song centers around Gwen and Alex, two talented musicians in the Manhattan Pops orchestra, as they navigate working in close proximity and deal with the tension surrounding their increasing attraction toward each other.

Gwen has secretly been a fan of Alex's musical group, Thorne and Roses, for years and has quietly admired him from the fourth row of the Pops. After Gwen receives position of first chair, a placement that Alex has secretly coveted for years, Alex notices Gwen for the first time and is determined to get to know her. This grumpy-sunshine, rivals-to-friends-to-lovers novel had the perfect amount of slow burn, sexual tension, banter, and spice. I LOVED the musical setting and both of the main characters were very well-developed and impossible not to love.

Ali Hazelwood claimed that “the cello scene in this book will change your life” and WOW--was she right. This was literally one of the best and hottest scenes I've read in a romance book. This is definitely my favorite romance book I've read all year and while this is the first novel I've read from Julie Soto, but it certainly won't be the last!

Also--can we take a moment for this cover???

Thank you so much to Julie Soto, Forever, and to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!! Not Another Love Song is OUT 7.16.24!