Hot damn! Julie Soto is two for two! I was so happy to get a chance to read Not Another Love Song early, and I’ve been raving about it to everybody. I know absolutely nothing about music or instruments, but I was fully invested in this couples dynamics. The was dual POV of Gwen and Xander really shown through in this book and was hot hot hot. The longing between our main couple is what I found most beautiful about this book. The pining was top tier . Also I loved to see some of the other characters in the Julie Soto universe pop in!

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OMG - another heartwarming story from Julie Soto. I loved Forget Me Not, and this one is just as sweet and steamy, full of all kinds of warm fuzzies!

Gwen is looking for stability and a place to call home. Xander Thorne is looking to be anywhere BUT home, stuck in the shadow of a famous mother and an overbearing stepfather. He's the moody bad boy and she's the golden girl just looking to make her mentors proud. As it turns out, they're both competing for the same spot in the orchestra they're BOTH a part of.

Rivals to lovers never misses - our two MCs are full of yearning and pining and so much sexual tension they don't know what to do with themselves, which makes for a delicious slow burn. I was so desperate for THAT moment that I couldn't put this book down. And boy was that moment worth it.

There was a lot of technical musical terminology, which mostly went over my head, but it really conveyed the movement and the passion that the characters were feeling in the moment - and when it was used as a metaphor for their feelings for each other, it was truly beautiful. I would've liked to see more from a few of the side characters, but overall, I really loved this book and the way that it all came together in the end.

Sweet and sexy - perfect for lovers of contemporary romance, rivals to lovers, slow burn tension, and all the feels you get from Hallmark movies.

When I read Soto's debut, I felt that you could see the fingerprints of fanfiction on it and was looking forward to Soto's follow up book to see her growth as a writer. The top review on goodreads says that Not Another Love Song is actually Soto's first manuscript that kept getting rejected (a review I read after reading the book - and have confirmed nothing about that statement) - and respectfully it felt like a stride backwards in quality. The pacing to this book was insane - as I read it on my ereader, I didn't have the visual cue of pages remaining and it was a shock that the book was over ( I read it in one sitting) simply because it didn't have the normal flow of a novel - it read very episodic in structure.
The spice is there, but overall story is absent.
Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing an arc for review.

Another great read from Julie Soto. Based around two ambitious musicians and their passion for their craft, I loved the musical angle of this romance and centering in a Pops orchestra world.

It was a nice escape to read and the character development provided the right amount of depth to empathize and feel with them along the way!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Forever/Grand Central for the ARC.

The tension in this book was fantastic. And yes, there is a scene that closely matches what is on the cover and it’s 🔥. I don’t think I’ve read a book before with the set up and progression before, it was super interesting. How the characters used music to help covey how they felt about each other was so interesting. Even though you’re reading it and don’t have the kusic to actually listen to, you can feel it in the writing how they are both trying to convey their emotions to each other cause they don’t know how to put it into words yet. I did feel like the third act breakup and resolution was a bit too quick. I would have liked to see a little more conversation and what comes next from it.

Julie’s books have been 2 for 2 great reads for me and I’m super excited for what she comes out with next!

“It’s about a cello that falls in love with a violin.”

🎻 workplace
😊 strangers to lovers
💕 kinda insta love

single POV
4/5 stars ⭐️
2/5 spice level 🌶️

∞⭐️ !!!

"𝙄𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙖 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙣."

When I tell you that Julie Soto is an absolute magician and an undeniable genius, I mean it with the same reverence reserved for a virtuoso performing a timeless concerto. I've read a LOT of spicy romances, but this book is everything they all wish they were and what they all aspire to be—a symphony of passion and precision that echoes through the halls of literary excellence.

The angst? The tension? The (not so) slow yet savagely sexy build up? The emotions? The feral intensity of it all? I could go on and on and on about who brilliant and perfect this book is. It’s as if the narrative is a grand orchestral piece, each note meticulously crafted to crescendo into a feral intensity that grips you like no other.

Not only that, but Julie's ingenuity strikes again. This book is clever and brilliant, down to its format, Julie redefining the entire genre in one stroke of her bow. While it is technically dual POV, most of the book is in the FMC's POV, with a few, extremely strategic, chapters in his POV. While 3rd person did throw me off a bit at the beginning, as you read the book, you easily understand why it had to be written that way (and wouldn't want it any other way!).

Tropes:
🎻 Rivals to Lovers
🎻 He falls first (& hard)
🎻 Workplace (at a NY string orchestra so it's not your regular workplace)
🎻 Musical Prodigies

Now this book is nerdy but in the best kind of way! It does get a bit technical at times, and it did take me a bit to get into it because of that. BUT MAN IS IT WORTH IT. Imagine one of those iconic classical music pieces where the gentle opening strains ease you in, only for the emotional crescendo to sweep you off your feet in a wild and sexy climax before gently returning you to reality, having just experienced an earth-shattering symphony of feelings.

This book is transformative. THE CELLO SCENE? What an absolute masterpiece. It has changed the way I look at life, not just string instruments. I never thought I'd be turned on by the sight of cello, yet here we are.

"-𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔-"

This book is horny and likely the sexiest thing I have ever read and ever will. And not just because of the smut.

I can't recommend this enough - do yourself a favor & pick is up yesterday! I am in awe of Julie Soto and cannot wait to read her next books.

Holy cow, this is a sexy book! Both characters are musicians who create together and that makes for some unique steamy scenes.

Gwen and Xander are both talented musicians but their careers have been very different. It starts as an enemies to lovers vibe with some humor.

Overall this is a hot, fun read. I learned a lot about musicians and what goes on behind the scenes. I don't play an instrument but I am a music lover and I enjoyed seeing the different roles music plays in people's lives.

I haven't read this author's previous novel but I definitely will.

Highly recommend this one!

this book felt so wildly intimate and steamy that i was embarrassed to be reading it in public but you know what, i ate it right up!!!

Switching instruments and falling in love!

Gwen Jackson has made a career playing her violin in the Manhattan Pops after starting when she was eleven. But her plans to slowly move up the roster changed when she played a cello in front of Xander Thorne who was the first chair cello for the Manhattan Pops and he had no idea who she was.

Alex Fitzgerald had been raised around music forever but he changed everything when he decided that there wasn’t anything more to learn and he reinvented himself as Xander Thorne. But Gwen getting the first chair violin was not in Xander’s plans.

If you like books about music and romance you need to read where Gwen And Xander switch instruments and fall in love with somebody that they never expected.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto was one of my favorite romance books in 2023, making Not Another Love Song one of my most anticipated reads for 2024. I was beyond estastic when I received an ARC copy of this book, and it completely lived up to my expectations.

First of all, who knew instruments could be so hot?? The cello scene??? are you joking. I’m obsessed. Xander is the perfect grumpy character. This grumpy/sunshine was too good.

I read this while I was in NYC for the weekend, which was beyond perfect timing. I felt completely immersed in the “NYC multiverse” as Julie Soto put it. I read about Gwen on the subway dying of heat while I too was on the subway dying of heat — so magical! I was having too much fun immersing myself in the book’s setting. I read this in less than 24 hours. So fast paced. Never wanted to set it down. It was fantastic!

My one complaint is how fast the third act problem was resolved. I feel like everything happened a bit too quickly and easily. I'm happy for everyone, don't get me wrong, but how did everything just come together so fast.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Not Another Love Song is based in NYC and follows Gwen, a violinist who aspires to move up the ranks within the “Pops”, and Xander, a cellist who is the frontman of a popular instrumental rock group (and is incredibly hot). Absolutely loved their story and how we got this tension-filled slow-ish burn. I enjoyed how Julie brought in characters from her last published novel, Forget Me Not. It was fun to see those characters interacting with Gwen and Xander. The main conflict is around the management of Gwen and Xander in the industry and how they have to make sacrifices in order to peruse what they each really want, both professionally and personally. They had absolutely great chemistry. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys romance novels, and especially to those that also have a music background.

I loved this book. It is my first read from Julie Soto. I loved this musical elements and the story was fantastic. I will recommend to everyone!

Steamy, fast paced and set in a world that we done ever get to see a romance in - Not Another Love Song is a fast paced ride that hooked me from the start. Enemies to lovers set in an orchestra. What would it be like if they looked across the instruments at each other and hated or loved each other? Gwen and Alex do not get along....until they do.

Personally, enemies to lovers can get out of hand in a hurry for me. This book was handled so well that I wanted them to hate each other because it was so clear what was going to come next. The anticipation was through the roof and I enjoyed it so much.

The tension, my god. I could not put this book down. This steamy story did a great job of exploring professional insecurity, ambition, and belonging. I loved the character arcs and felt like there was a strong sense of place. Soto's writing made everything so vivid; I loved each of the characters and some moments had me cackling. I enjoyed reading Alex's POV every few chapters, I think it was a good writing choice. Soto's use of music heightened the emotional depth of the story and made it feel so intimate. I'll be thinking about this story for a while.

Let’s freaking GOOOOO!

Not Another Love Song is in my top 5 for favorite books read in 2024! Julie Soto does it again. Partnering her real life experience living in NYC with her fanfic history in the A03 world comes a true masterpiece with Gwen and Alex (Reylo) style.

Gwen and Alex are musical protégés with a rivals to lovers feel. Alex aka Xander introduces Gwen to the “feeling” of music, composition, and love. The moments of their interactions leave the reader feeling a sense of longing, swaying your body to the music these two create, and as always encourages you to squeeze your legs tight with the on page chemistry Soto writes.

I highly recommend this romance book and could pinch myself for getting approved to read it as an ARC through Netgalley.

5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Rivals to lovers
Musical characters
Shady side characters
Found family

I actually was familiar with Julie Soto’s game, having read and loved her first book, Forget Me Not, earlier this year, and yet I still wasn’t prepared for how much I’d enjoy Not Another Love Song, her swoony follow-up about a pair of warring string musicians who have more in common than they initially realize. The book is equal parts romantic, intense, heartfelt, and sexy, resulting in an enemies-to-lovers story that’s near-impossible to pull yourself away from. Julie Soto is cooking with gas, as the kids say.

It takes place in the same universe as Forget Me Not, with a few scattered cameos from previous characters like wedding planner Ama, florist Elliott, and influencer Hazel Renée, the latter of whom went to high school with new leading man Xander. It’s actually their connection that leads to Xander’s first interaction with scrappy violin prodigy Gwen Jackson at a wedding, which . . . well, before we go any further, here’s the full plot description, courtesy of the publisher:

“Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musical prodigies, but each has had very different paths to success. Xander was born into classical music royalty, while Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by a kind shop owner. After Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she’s mortified when she realizes Xander has no clue who she is—despite having worked together for a year at the Pops Orchestra. But she’s more furious that he arrogantly critiques her performance.When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, something Xander had secretly coveted for years, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other's music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry off the scale. As they begin to explore their feelings for one another, suddenly they're box office dynamite and the fragile romance that's growing between them is in danger of being crushed beneath a publicity stunt...”

So yeah, to recap — Xander is an aloof, privileged, 20-foot tall superstar cellist prodigy with the broadest of all broad chests, a startling resemblance to Adam Driver, his own band, family trauma, and a spot in the Manhattan Pops; Gwen Jackson is a music prodigy as well, though growing up essentially an orphan in Queens has forced her to fight tooth and nail for everything she has. (She’s also gorgeous, duh.) It’s not until their chance meeting at a wedding that they have an actual conversation, after Gwen blows him away with her incredible musicianship and he abruptly realizes that something incredible has been hiding under his nose all along.

Or, at least it seems like he realizes that, because unlike Forget Me Not, we don’t get much from Xander’s point of view. I both liked and hated this creative choice — I desperately wanted more of his perspective, but I admit that the limit on his thoughts (or ‘Cello Suites,’ per the book) works. It makes sense for the narrative, since the few glimpses we *do* see of his POV are that much more impactful. It helps that he’s written in a way that his adoration of Gwen is plain; his character is strong enough that we don’t necessarily need a whole chapter about his yearning, even if I wanted a whole chapter (or 10) about his yearning. (Fans of the ‘he falls first’ trope, prepare to eat.) His attraction and admiration of Gwen is always all there, right on his face, and I think Soto does a really great job at getting that across to us as readers, even if Gwen can’t initially see it herself.

Oh, and speaking of Gwen! Sweet, kind, talented, oblivious Gwen. Even though she spends a good deal of time somehow blind to much of Xander’s infatuation, she’s such an excellent main character. We get a front row seat to her inner turmoil about letting someone into the life she’s so carefully and thoughtfully crafted for herself, knowing full well that he has the power to rip it to shreds if he so chooses. Falling in love requires her to take a gigantic leap of faith. Fortunately she’s layered and interesting, someone who doesn’t cower (or bow, shall we say — a little stringed instrument humor for ya), under the force of Xander’s intensity. (Said intensity translates to their chemistry, which is just . . . good lord. It’s hot, guys. Very. You might go a little feral, just be prepared.)

One little note: to be blunt, I’ve always found the ‘thinly-veiled-fanfiction-repackaged-for-the-masses’ trend in publishing pretty cringe. It’s actually why it took me so damn long to get around to reading Forget Me Not — I’d seen it endlessly praised on booktok for its Dramione/Reylo undertones (Soto is a prolific fan fiction writer, FYI), and that turned me off. Which is not to say I have anything against fan fiction itself. Absolutely not. (Obviously.) There’s just something about stylizing a main character as so intensely Adam Driver-coded (not Kylo Ren, but Adam Driver as Kylo Ren) that makes me feel . . . a little icky. (That’s a real person!) And I don’t think the cover of this book isn’t doing that aspect of the story any favors.

However! Soto is a really great writer, and that was enough to overcome any misgivings I might have had. It all boils down to the writing, right? And this is a solid romance with heart and humor and love . . . and, OK fine, yes, sex scenes that will make you turn the color of Kylo Ren’s light saber. (See? I’m warming up to the whole Reylo idea. Don’t come for me.)

Not Another Love Song comes out July 16. Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 - 5 spicy scenes

[ thank you @readforeverpub for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

Read if you like:
•rivals to lovers
•workplace romance
•he falls first
•set in nyc
•musical prodigies
•dual pov

Well my friends, Julie does it again!! I absolutely adored and loved this book.

I don’t know what it is but give me a book that has music in it and I’m 100% going to read it!

Gwen and Xander.. ugh. I loved them. The rivalry between them just added to the delicious tension between them. And that certain cello scene on the cover? Phew. 🔥🥵

I couldn’t get enough of them and never wanted this book to end! I just enjoyed their character growth, the cello and violin scenes, the commitment to the orchestra and their passions.

Overall, love reading Julie’s work and will read anything she publishes!! 🥰

Huge thanks to Julie Soto and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC! I’m finding it so difficult to even put together the words to describe how I feel about this!

Gwen is utterly convinced that Xander thinks she is a talentless mess - and over time, has this theory busted as he slowly (quickly?) loses his mind over her. They journey through performing, composing, and working together, finding their paths in the music industry, and how they interconnect.

I’m in love with the way their music brings these two together. The live texts I sent Maiza while I was reading the ~cello~ scene? Priceless. Pick this one up on release day!!

There’s something about Julie Soto’s books that I just want to consume in one sitting, it happened with Forget Me Not and it happened again with Not Another Love Song. Could I possibly say besides the fact that I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m not a instrument or music person at all, I am a swiftie and that’s all I know about music but this book CONSUMED me in a way that I’m sure everyone I’ve spoken to within the past 48 hours is sick of me talking about it. I loved every single characters (except Nate and L, they were trash). The highlight of this book is obviously Alex/Xander, I literally fell in love with another fictional character and I’m not even mad about it. I went through all the emotions with this book, I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet giggling. I just love it. JULIE SOTO DOES IT AGAINNNNN. I barely finished and made several videos on Tiktok regarding my reading experience but here's the video where I absolutely GUSH over it. https://www.tiktok.com/@cryingwhileiread/video/7391552640267586847

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC version of this book.
This was a good and exciting story but it fell short for me. I wish the characters were better developed and I would have been able to follow the story better.
I really wanted to love this book because I am a fan of the Julie Soto’s work, I give it a solid 3 ⭐️.
It was a hard read at first. Took me a while to go through the first 30% of the book. Then as the romance develops and the characters interact more, I was able to sit through and finish the book.
I love the boy falls for the girl first romance and was crazy about the MMC obsession with the FMC.