Wow. The way I just ATE. THIS. UP!

This book was so cute! There was so much tension between the MCs, so much lusting after each other, I LOVED it.

And I loved, LOVED, how Alex was so gone for Gwen, how he chased her and made it very clear he wanted to date her or spend any kind of time with her!

I know little to nothing about music or playing an instrument, but it didn't matter at all, the way it was written still made it enjoyable to read and easy to understand.

The cello scene. Iykyk

Now, the "bad guys" are really easy to spot from the beginning, and the FMC is pretty naive, but I still really enjoyed this!

I'm definitely adding Forget Me Not to the top of my TBR and I definitely recommend this book!

Julie Soto did it again with a wonderful, lyrical romance full of tension and chemistry.

I loved this book so much. I read this as a fan fiction before and I was so excited to read this as a whole book.

It was so good. I read this in a day. I fell in love again with the story, the characters and the dialogue between the two.

I love how they seem to speak to each other with music.

Read this incredible story if you love :

✨ Romance ;
✨ Rivals to Lovers ;
✨ Tension and chemistry;
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine ;
✨ Slowburn ;
✨ Spicy ;
✨ Lyrical, Musical Romance.

This book is so wonderful and Julie Soto is now an auto-buy author for me! I told all my followers on Instagram to skip their tbr and pick this one up right away.

It’s got everything y’all!

🎻 enemies to lovers
🎻 found family
🎻 workplace romance
🎻 tension
🎻 he falls first
🎻 spice!

Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne are both musician prodigies in their own right who happen to be coworkers at the Pops Orchestra. A chance encounter at a wedding changes everything and with each new encounter, both their tension and their chemistry builds.

This is everything you would want in a romance and the incorporation of a musical tie between the two MCs, makes it that much better.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for gifting me this ARC!

I loved this book so much that I submitted my recommendation/review to Under the Covers book blog. The link to my review on UTC is below.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
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Two string players fight their attraction for each other as they compete for center stage in this spicy and emotional romance.
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What I liked:
-I loved the classical music background here. I’ve never seen a symphony perform but I want to after reading this book. Gwen and Xander are both so passionate about music and performing, I loved that about them.
-The drama between all the characters was delicious and kept me reading all the pages to get to the end. (LOVED the way everything ended)
-The romance was awesome. We have our grumpy/sunshine couple, who are both competitive and yet are drawn to each other. The tension is great, and the way all the side characters kept (snarkily) rooting for them to get together was very entertaining.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I thoroughly enjoyed Not a Love Song, which publishes today so be sure to add it to your shelves.

Violinist Gwen has been with the Manhattan Pops for years and has now been offered the opportunity of a lifetime, First Chair. The only person standing in her way? Arrogant and super famous cellist Xander Thorne who also happens to be the lead in her favourite band.

The orchestra storyline was so interesting to us. Having never read an orchestra romance, seeing the dynamics and ranks within it and seeing how Gwen had to navigate everything was new to us. Julie Soto described playing music and the music in such a way that intrigued us. And who knew there could be so much tension while playing classical instruments! And do we want to go see an orchestra now? Yes! 😂

The tension between Gwen and Xander was there from their first meeting and didn’t let up. The passion for each other and especially the music jumps from the page. We especially loved when they started playing music together. We also can’t forget to mention the cameos by Ama and Elliot from Forget Me Not - love it so much when that happens.

This book! Ahh! It was passion, tension, lust and music to our ears. We fell in love with Gwen and Xander instantly and couldn’t stop turning the pages.

Read if you like:
▪️Rivals to lovers
▪️Brooding arrogant MMCs
▪️Open door romance
▪️Music!
▪️Listening to Vitamin String Quartet 🎼 (that’s what we pictured Manhattan Pops to be - except with a full orchestra)

I'm in the minority of people who didn't enjoy forget me not...so feel free to take this with a grain of salt 🤣. I wanted to give this author another chance because everyone adored her first book, and this one had an Abby stamp of approval.

I've been playing piano for about 25 years and am classically trained. I loved the musical aspect of this book. I could feel the music coming off the page and it was awesome to be so immersed in that aspect of things.

The MCs, coworkers and rivals (but she doesn't know it) to lovers, had a chemistry that wasn't really believable. While it was there, it was hard to follow how they really connected in the first place. The musical chemistry came flying off the page, the spicy scenes were spicy, but his mood swings and her naivety, it was hard to see how they connected beyond that.

Workplace drama doesn't bother me (seeing what you can overhear by the water cooler I'm totally for!) But there was SO much conflict that didn't really feel resolved (Nathan's involvement, Lorenz, Thorne and roses, POPs, Mabel and Ava, heck even with Gwen and Zander). Because there was so many other plot lines going on with things that needed resolution, this story really didn't need a third act break on top of. Because truly, by the end there was a rush to resolve all the the things and there were so many gaps for the reader to guess through both what happened and do we feel that the characters had resolutions appropriate to their story lines and ultimately, for me, the answer was no.

This was an easy read, an extra star for the parts I did love but at the end of the day I don't think this author is for me.





Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC in exchange for my review!

This contemporary romance about two gifted musicians hit all the right notes! Gwen is a talented violinist, who was primarily trained by a local music shop owner. Xander is a prodigious musician (cellist and violinist, as well as dabbling in other instruments) who has turned his skills into a 2Cellos/Lindsey Stirling type level of fame. They both play for the same pops orchestra, and clash personally and professionally until sparks turn into more. The development of their relationship felt very natural and yet still was so fun to read. Plenty of spice, even more feelings.

Thanks to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to read and review.

Two musicians fall in love but will fame and the desire for more get in the way?

I don't even know where to start with this one. From the first page, I knew I was going to adore it. The chemistry between them was magical and so different than anything I've ever read (the tension, the cello scene?!?!) This book takes you away just like music does, you feel the highs and lows and every emotion in-between. Gwen and Alex are one of my new favorite book couples!

Thank you NetGalley, Forever Hatchette Book Group, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Could this be my favorite romance of the year so far?? I think it could!

This felt like Check & Mate, but turn up the ante on the tension and spice. I mean, come on, that cello scene will live rent free in my mind, and I ain’t mad about it. I’m sure classically trained musicians will note all the issues and talk about how unrealistic this is, but I was a choir kid and thus am blissfully ignorant in how to play any kind of string instrument.

I say this with the utmost admiration and flattery – Julie Soto started as a fanfic writer and *it shows*. Bravo, Julie, can’t wait for the encore.

Julie Soto’s Forget Me Not was one of my favorite 2023 romances. So I was excited to read Not Another Love Song. Based on how much I enjoyed this one as well, I can now say that Julie Soto is an auto buy author for me!

Musical prodigies Gwen and Xander have arrived at the Pops Orchestra on very different paths. The two clash when Gwen is offered a coveted first chair role. Despite their initial animosity, they have undeniable chemistry, on and off the stage, and growing feelings. Could a publicity stunt crush their new relationship before it really starts?

I loved how Gwen and Xander connected through music. Despite the tension that their rivalry creates, these two are made for each other. And their banter is just perfection! Get ready for the spice when Gwen and Xander finally give in to their feelings. 🥵

Fans of Forget Me Not will enjoy some glimpses of Ama and Elliot.

This emotional romance also deals with family and finding yourself. I could easily see this great read being a wonderful movie or tv series!

I LOVED this!! Alex and Gwen are two rival musicians in an orchestra, and boy is the tension and chemistry between them off the charts. I loved Gwen and Alex so much, and I was rooting for them to get together through the book. And can we talk about the spice scenes??? They were so hot!
While I did really enjoy it, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with it. Despite this I highly recommend you read this ASAP!!!

I didn't think I could love this book as much as I loved the author's debut, but I was thrilled to be proven wrong.

I stayed up way past my bedtime to devour this workplace, rivals to lovers story. I could feel tension and longing between the two main characters deep in my bones. This couple's story was a well written journey, set in the world of classical music. If you love a grumpy/sunshine where he falls first, I highly recommend this one. This sealed the deal to make this author an always buy!

Rivals to lovers
Workplace
He falls first
Found family

Am I surprised that i absolutely loved this? No because it’s written by Julie!

the tension/pining between the characters was 👩‍🍳💋

As someone who knows very little about instruments I really enjoyed everything about it and didn’t find it to be too much or confusing.

I was quite literally kicking my feet and giggling for over half the book.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the eATC in exchange for an honest review.

The tension and passion on this sweet romance was off the charts! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the musical elements and truly got swept into and lost in a world of musicians. It’s my first from Julie Soto, but now I’m so excited to read more of her work!

I cannot adequately put into words how much I loved this, this was my first book by Julie and wow. The steamy scenes absolutely delivered. The tension between the two characters just set it up for some of the best spice I've ever read. The way Xander plays Gwen's body... hellooo. And that cello scene holy guacamole. I really loved Gwen a lot and was so proud of her character growth. I will say it is a bit of fast forming relationship between the two characters, but it worked so well all at the same time. I can't explain it, haha.

I loved this one so much, the romance, the tension, the steamy scenes, the music aspect. It was all perfect.

I know absolutely nothing about music outside of listening to it on my phone when I’m in the car or grocery shopping. So how does someone who cannot read notes/sheet music, and has never picked up a musical instrument in her life become so captivated by a book that describes all of these things so vividly and beautifully? Easy peasy- throw in some great characters with amazing chemistry and tension and I’m hooked! I also loved the cameos, it was so fun to see what Ama and Elliot appear. Happy Pub day to Not Another Love Song! I’m off to snag myself a physical copy today because I need to have it! Julie Soto is now an auto-buy author for me! I cannot wait to see who headlines her next book! Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

I want to start off by saying I read this book in less than 24 hours. It was addicting and I was simply obsessed with finding out what would happen between Xander and Gwen. I love stories with musicians, especially when it comes to orchestra or choir or anything of that nature, so this book really hit home for me with our FMC and MMC being a violinist and a cellist.

Julie Soto has a way of writing a story and developing characters that you fall in love with and care about. I felt that way about Forget Me Not and I absolutely felt that way with Xander and Gwen in Not A Long Song.

Not only did Julie develop her characters in such a way that you fall in love with them, but there was also so many other areas of the story line where you felt like these characters were destined to always meet and fall in love. From Xander and Gwen having the same violin teacher over the years, to Xander’s Mom hearing Gwen play on the subway. Just so many little instances that Julie wove throughout the story to make it seem (to me, at least) that Xander and Gwen were always supposed to be end game.

I know that for the sake of the story, some of the things that happened in this book are farfetched. Like Gwen getting first chair in the violin section at such a young age with the very little experience she has. Sure, she has many years of training, but I don’t think any big orchestra would put her in that position at such a young age with not as much experience as maybe some other members, especially just to save the Orchestra since it was in dire need of funding. But, of course, for the sake of the story, something extreme like this must happen. I also felt the ending was just a bit rushed, and that some of the issues between Xander and his stepdad were just glossed over, especially by Xander’s mom.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book and ate it up. It’s worthy of, at the least, 4 stars.

Hearing her play the cello part filled in all the gaps inside himself he’d been missing. “It’s simple really,” he said. “It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin”🎻

essentially this is a story about two music prodigies in their own right (a cellist and a violinist) with a bit of a rivals to lovers arc as both characters are at odds upon properly meeting when Gwen is given a position at the orchestra that Alex feels entitled to. That is, until the music they’re composing sets the tone for their feelings to flourish into more.

I liked how this truly did feel like a love letter to music interwoven with the romance as the characters would delve into the confines of it strumming through their very essence with every intonation, movement, and all the musical terms used which heightened their connection each time they'd play. i actively felt the passion the characters did and thought it was quite beautiful.

The romance and intimacy felt pleasing enough as everything flowed naturally. Gwen and Alex had some issues they’d slowly work through which felt relatable enough (she’s too in her head, he’s a perfectionist) and came to realizations along the way that allowed them to question their choices. the tension + chemistry was incredibly palpable. I was unexpectedly blushing a lot! lol chapter 10 had a lasting impression on me and the spice was spicing 🪭 who knew composing could be simultaneously hot and mesmerizing. the cover choice was such a genius move with the cello scene 🤭

*this is a Reylo fanfic, told in third person, and is dual pov with 6 (almost like confessional intermissions) from Alex.* I should add how it was so blatantly clear the admiration he had for Gwen early on before it materialized given his arrogance and difficulty expressing himself. He truly fell fast and harder where it was a bit push and pull initially on her end and I can't fault her. There was a third act which felt impending with the characters present circumstances and surprisingly I wasn’t so mad at it and was glad for the resolution

Overall, i throughly enjoyed this story and its characters, possibly much more than this authors debut novel, so 4.5 stars it is. the depth to the storytelling here had me invested and I liked the intricacies of it. I ultimately appreciated seeing both characters understand their worth by the end and how in sync it left them--as it goes to show how conceding to external expectations and any form of validation when it comes to what we're most passionate about offers no long-term satisfaction. I’d like to think the next book will be about dom and the photographer

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

some quotes I liked:

“Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but—” “Anything.” Black eyes looked down on her, and he took a shaking breath. “Everything.”

"But, Gwen, please make music with me. I need you in my life. I need to be in your orbit in some way, and if you don't want me to ———, then let me make love to you onstage every night because it's the most alive I've felt in ten years"

“He thought back to last year, the melody that wouldn't leave him alone every time they ran into each other. The need to write it down immediately after playing with her for the first time as cherry blossoms fell over their skin.”

“A harmony in easy tempos, matching phrases and answering each other's questions. Just before they dropped into the storm, the agitation, she looked up at him for the first time. His eyes were on her fingers. His lips parted. And a flush stained his skin, spreading. She took a breath before the next section fell over them. He met her eyes. And they spun."

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is a romance between two musical prodigies, Manhattan Pops violinist Gwen Jackson and cellist Alex Fitzgerald, more popularly known as rockstar Xander Thorne of the band, Thorne and Roses. Theirs is a story of found family, power dynamics, and music as their food of love.

If you’ve been wondering what that high pitched screech in the background that you’ve been hearing over the last few weeks is, it’s probably me screaming about how much I love this book, how feral this book makes me feel, how much joy this book has brought me. I am so specifically an avid romance reader, and amongst the hundreds (and hundreds) of books that I’ve read over just the last few years, I would say that, in this moment, Not Another Love Song is my all time favorite romance book.

Alex is everything. I love him. He falls so goddamn fast and so goddamn hard. He is so soft for my girl, Gwen. The way he just sees her despite her actively trying to fade into the background. My man has it bad. He sees her for everything that she is and everything that she could be, and I absolutely adored reading his helping Gwen find her inner confidence and ability to let go and truly connect with her music.

Furthermore, reading the relationships both Gwen and Ava have to their mothers and mother figures feels like a love letter to the complex feelings that come with proving oneself to both maternal figures and to oneself. These relationships are oftentimes not easy nor straightforward, and the complicated emotions displayed between Alex and Ava and Gwen and Mabel feel so human, so true to this specific type of connection in that sometimes it takes work and communication to realize that even mothers are fallible but also redeemable.

In addition to Gwen’s Mabel, I love the found family that Gwen creates for herself. Her friendship with Jacob (and the later developing one with Declan) as a pillar in her life for endless support and love— I love them together nearly as much as I love Alex and Gwen. And Mei! Between her and Jacob, they brought so much laughter and joy for not Gwen, but for me as the reader as I found myself genuinely laughing aloud from their antics. I was also throwing up (affectionately) with every cameo involving Ama, Elliot, Hazel Renee, Jackie, and Mar and how they, alongside the Roses of Thorne & Roses, are expanding Gwen’s chosen people in her corner.

After just one book, Julie Soto landed herself on my list of auto-buy favorite authors, and Not Another Love Song has only reinforced my love for her and her writing. I can most assuredly say that I will absolutely be reading anything and everything that Julie writes and shares with the world. Thank you Forever and Netgalley for the ARC!