Danggggg this one was so spicy and SO GOOD. Highly recommend it! I love the way the author sets the tone right off the bat, with a no none sense vibe. I also found the setting and narrative to be very interesting, as I don't normally read about musically inclined main characters. Pick this one up, you won't regret it!

Not Another Love Song is Julie Soto's Reylo AU romance fic, and when I saw the book cover I knew I had to get my hot little hands on the arc. While I think that reconstructed fanfics sometimes suffer from lack of characterization or feel plotless, Soto knew exactly how to work Rey and Kylo Ren into Gwen and Xander Thorne while giving them a story that breathes life into them as new characters.

From the very beginning, I was hooked as Soto introduced Gwen and Xander, giving them their own quirks and idiosyncrasies to make them less Rey and Kylo Ren and more of themselves as new characters. The secondary characters did not always correspond directly to sequel trilogy characters (we do have a Finn and a Poe (together!) and Rose and General Leia Organa), but Soto chose to use them as rough outlines in creating new characters. The plot echoed the sequel trilogy (complete with some dastardly villains of the male persuasion), but I found myself less trying to make connections and more just enjoying the story.

Where Not Another Love Song really shines is how Soto builds the intimacy through the use of music between Gwen and Xander. I've gotten to the point where I skip most sex scenes because either the author isn't very good at writing them or they just hit that cringe note. Soto wove the scenes together into musical phrases and they were just so raw and emotional, I couldn't breathe at times. The beauty of being together both in an intimate session or in a performance session just brought tears to my eyes and I really felt that these two characters had lived, and grown, and yearned together where they could only be complete if they were each other.

And the ending could have been sappy, but Soto knew when it pull back the cheese and just let those delightfully full feelings of happiness exist. And it was perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the arc for review purposes.

This book makes music H.O.T. I really loved this book, even more than Julie's first book! I could feel the chemistry between Gwen and Alex practically burn off the page. Julie Soto is a master at writing romantic and sexual tension. The cello scene???? IYKYK. I really enjoyed everything about this book, the writing flowed and I flew through this book. I cannot wait to read whatever Julie writes next!

I really enjoyed Gwen and Xander love story. As a person who loves music, I enjoyed with the interweaving of music and love. The pacing of the story was nice, the banter and interactions of Gwen/Xander I really enjoyed.

I don't usually go for musician romances, but this was so immersive and swoonworthy. The pining and tension was so good! Very steamy and despite it being in 3rd person versus her first book being in 1st, I feel like the storytelling and writing was so much stronger. Very much enjoyed this one and excited to see more from this author!

Julie Soto does it again! What an absolutely fabulous love story. The music and passion were addicting!

I CAN NOT stop thinking about this book. Let's face it- it's probably my THE book of the summer. As a musician who's picking back up her own Stradivarus design, it's like coming home to your best friend. Such is this book.

🎻 Gwen is a violinist day and night- playing for the pops with hotheaded cellist Xander Thorne. She is obsessed with the notes and music. Xander is obsessed with the emotion. He's been playing forever (he's a prodigy). She's been playing for awhile....teaching herself with Mabels assistance. So when Mabel is announced as first chair principal over Xander, he loses his mind.

🎻 Yet, Xander cannot help his attraction towards Gwen. She inspires the music in his soul. When they get together, sparks fly and rosin sparks off the strings. He swears that he won't fall in love, he's Xander Throne. But he's hiding his true personality...something only Gwen can unlock.

🎻 HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK. Maybe because I am a violinist (my Roxanne is 19 years old) but I felt EVERYTHING reading this. I'm sure my mouth was wide opening reading this and thinking oh snap at that 41% mark!!!!! The chemistry, the passion, the realism of it all had me screaming to myself as I flipped kindle pages. I was obsessed with how Julie set up this dual POV spicy enemies to lovers story. Pre-order this and then come to my DMs when you hit the first cello dual scene--- you're welcome.

4.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this story so much. I did find myself sucked in much faster than the first book by this author. I am not a big fanfic person so I didn't pick up on any of the things but it didn't change my outlook of this book. I did think there were a few little parts that dragged for me in the middle which is why I took half a star off but other than that I loved the chemistry between Gwen and Alex.

Julie Soto did what she had to! This book was perfection. The chemistry! The tension! I consumed this book in less than 24 hours. I didn’t want to put it down. This is a perfect steamy read that won’t let you go until the last page.

This book is filled with delicious tension! I loved how Julie infused so much emotion and desire and heat into her descriptions of music. I mean, look at this cover! And the story outside of the romance was just as captivating. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this ARC.

"It’s simple, really. It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.”

THIS BOOK. I didn’t think I’d love it more than Forget Me Not, but I do 🤭

the characters. the plot. the tension. This book was givingggg everything I needed it to give. I could not put it down. 👏🏼

I lovedddd our MCs, Gwen and Xander. Their characters were well developed, and even though they had flaws, the character progression throughout the book was 👩🏻‍🍳💋 They had some of the best tension I’ve ever read and the romance was EVERYTHING ‼️

I’m not familiar with technical musical terminology, but I was entranced with the beautiful way that the music and instrument playing was woven into this story 🥰

brb that cello scene had me in a chokehold 🫠🥵

I think if you are a musician or know a lot about classical instruments, this book is going to be one that you don’t want to miss out on! 🫶🏼

Read if you like:
🎶 musicians
🙋🏻‍♂️ he falls first
🤺 rivals to lovers
🥵 sexual tension
🌶️ spice
🫂 found family

Julie Sotos's first book was an unexpected delight for me, so i was eager to read this one.

until i read in the forward that this stemmed from fan fiction. Specifically Kylo Ren and Rey Fan fiction.

I could not unsee it for the rest of the book and i feel like that hurt my perception of it. I wanted more from the plot the characters, the love story, and just did't get it.

i will say the spicy scenes were SPICY.

But for me, it couldn't make up for the rest of the book.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc. all opinions are my own.

I had such a great time reading Not Another Love Song! I never knew the orchestra world was one I needed to be a part of, but I loved it! The chemistry 🔥

Review: 4 Star

This book was electrifying! From the get go, I was pulled into the story and invested in the characters from the start of their unforgettable meet cute.

The chemistry and attraction between Xander and Gwen is undeniable. I love their banter between each other and how Xander falls first and falls hard. The relationship between both of them is one of respect and love coupled by loads of spice and tense moments. The tension, though!! Both came from different backgrounds, yet their feelings for each other were undeniable. There were some moments where I wanted to scream at the toxic side characters for getting in their way, that’s how invested I was in their HEA.

I do enjoy how lyrical and musical this book is with tons of musical aspects thrown in with some background on how orchestras and music production and recordings work. There were moments where I swear “Wrecking Ball” Bridgerton style was playing in my head when Xander and Gwen got together. We also had some cameo characters from Forget Me Not, Julie’s first book.

This book was surprisingly an easy read and I read it in one sitting. Some downs: I did not like the fact that there is a third act - it felt unnecessary. The other small issue I have is whyyy there is always a gap in sexual and romance experience between the FL and ML - again, this feels unnecessary.

Thank you Hachette Canada, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"I never thought I would love a story about a violin and cello falling in love. This is a great enemies to lovers story. Gwen has met her idol Xander and taken the first chair for the Manhattan Pops. The only problem, Xander is the first Cello and wants the job too.

They discover they make beautiful music together but have to figure out how to navigate everything else in life. "

This was such a fun romance read. I really enjoyed the way Julie Soto weaved the classical music world into the plot. The spicy scenes were also really well done (especially the one depicted by the cover!). The third act conflict is always the make it or break it element for me and while it worked, there was a part of it that left me unsatisfied.

This was a great love story between a violinist, Gwen, and a famous cellist, Xander. They have been on the same side orchestra with Gwen who is hiding in plain site and Xander the opposite. I really enjoyed when the two got together playing music and wished there was actual some sample musical notes in the book. I did feel there moment was very abrupt and there was no build up to it. I guess they were so moved by playing music together. I enjoyed seeing both of their character growth and the dual POV. I really wanted more Xander's POV.


Thank you @readforeverpub @netgalley for a copy of this book.

This is my first Julie Soto book and I love it! I haven’t read Forget Me not, but I’ve heard great things about it, and this book did not disappoint. I love angst in my romance books and this was satisfying. Even the secondary characters were interesting and I was vested in the subplots around them. Now I’m definitely reading Forget Me Not.

Not Another Love Song-a standalone

Published 7/16/24, Read 7/17/24

Author: Julie Soto, read Forget Me Not gave it 5*

Format: E-book 380 pgs.

Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult Fic

Tropes: enemies to lovers, music, rivals, grumpy H, H/h in their 20's,family drama

Setting: Manhattan

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley and Forever(Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC 💜! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

🌟Brief Summary: Gwen and Xander are rival musicians at Manhattan Pops Orchestra. Gwen is self taught and Xander is a musical prodigy. When Gwen plays a wedding with Xander's cello, he critiques her but doesn't remember they went to school together. Their onstage chemistry transfers off stage as they play and compose music together. Will their own aspirations get in the way of a love story?

⭐Rating ⭐: 5/5

What I Liked/Loved: the sexual chemistry was so palpable and the music just added to it. Gwen and Xander grew up differently, but ended up in the same place-the largest popular music orchestra in the United States. Even with different upbrings and family drama music was their universal language. There was a nice cameo from Ama, the h from FMN.

Things I DIDNT Like n/a

🦹🏻‍♂️Hero: Xander Thorne/Alex Fitzgerald-musical cellist prodigy, has an electric strings band Thorne and Roses. He's a bad boy, rock star. Stepfather/manager causes drama to keep Gwen and Alex apart. His mother Ava Fitzgerald was a violinist, married to Nathan Andrews who pushed Alex as a child.

🦸‍♀️ Heroine: Gwen Jackson-self taught violinist, awarded First Chair of orchestra(Xander wanted it).
Her mentor Mabel owned a music shop, wrote music with Ava. Wants Gwen to go to Julliard.

💭 POV: mostly h w/ a few chapters from H

🔥 Burn Rate: 5/5

😡/😍 Angst level: 5/5

❤️‍🔥Sexy times & Descriptive sex: 5/5

🌓Push/Pull: 5/5

☠️ OW/OM Drama: n/a

🤬 Cheating: no

⛈️Separation/ 3rd Act Breakup: yes, Alex decides to leave the Pops and go on tour

🌈Epilogue: no

🥂HEA: HFN

This. Book. Was. EVERYTHING! You'll fall for the characters immediately! The world completely fell away as I read Gwen and Alex's story, it was perfect/just what I needed to read.