∞⭐️ !!!

"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.

This book takes the front runner for the best contemporary romance I have read in years.

Julie Soto’s writing is immaculate. Beautiful. Riveting. Her writing style sucked me in from page one and didn’t let up until the last word on the very last page of the book. Not Another Love Song weaves together complex, intricate characters with a plot that has enough knowledge on music and orchestras to have the reader feeling like they’re in the know. Tension was rife in this book and Soto did an amazing job leaving the reader wanting more.

Gwen and Alex are two very complex characters who had me falling in love page after page. Soto also incorporated music and instruments into the relationship, twisting that complexity even further.

5 stars and more. This book is amazing and will go down as a masterpiece for me in contemporary romance.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!

i was so pleasantly surprised by this book! honestly, i hate that it took me so long to read it because i LOVED it.

ama torres is a wedding planner who just scored the gig of her career - which is all peachy keen until she ends up working with her ex as the florist. however, weirdly enough, it still seems like elliot bloom will do anything to make sure she succeeds…

let me tell you something. i don’t really know what goes into a wedding, i’ve never really wanted one, but my god does it seem stressful written out. i was exhausted reading it. but at the same time, it was a really fun plot and the secondary conflict of the rival wedding planner was interesting

these characters were just adorable to me. i don’t know that i’ve ever related more to a main male character as i did with elliot - i thought it was funny and has my exact brand of “i love you so i’ll help you but im not going to be happy about it” and it just made me giggle a lot of time. and i loooove a man who’s just so down bad for a girl. ama was fun and bright, just kind of pulling everyone into her orbit. my girl could use some MAJOR therapy and maybe elliot wouldn’t have been an ex, but you know what, i’ll let her have it. i’m just glad she came to her senses in the end. all the side characters were really cute too!

i also loved the sneaks at xander because i know he’s coming in the next book, which i’m starting immediately after this!

this book is definitely recommended by me and i’m still feeling emotional about that epilogue.

Ahhhhh I loved this book! I devoured it in 24 hours and absolutely adored Gwen and Xander’s love story. This book had everything for me: musicians falling for one another, wild chemistry, found family, and enemies to lovers, all set in my favourite city.

Gwen and Xander couldn’t be more different, though they are both musical prodigies on stringed instruments. I loved the musical elements of the story and the fact that it was set in New York City. Their chemistry was blazing hot and the spice was spicing! I also loved the element of found family, and foraging your own path. Both Mabel and Jacob were delightful secondary characters.

I appreciated how the book navigated some tough power dynamics, and spoke to the ways artists can be exploited within contracts, appearances and performances.

I really enjoyed getting to know both Gwen and Xander’s characters, and loved seeing the growth they both had throughout the story. I worried in the beginning that Gwen’s youth and naiveté would be a downfall, but I thought she went on a remarkable journey. I loved this book and look forward to reading more of Julie Soto’s novels in the future!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Not Another Love Song
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
384 pages
Releasing 7/16/24

Xander and Gwen are two up & coming musicians who get off on the wrong foot. Xander was born into a musically talented family & Gwen was a natural taught by an amazing teacher while also playing for money in the subway center. Gwen is offered first chair at her orchestra & the tension between her & Xander rises, not just emotional tension but sexual tension (🤪)

Julie Soto wrote an absolute BANGER with her newest book Not Another Love Song. If you have any type of love for music, this book is something you should read. I have 0 experience with the musical world but I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the musical background in this book. The spice in this book was PERFECT!

Read if you like:
✨He falls first
✨Rivals to lovers
✨Workplace romance
✨Found family

Thank you @netgalley @juliesotowrites @readforeverpub for an eARC copy of this amazing book!

#book #juliesoto #romance #notanotherlovesong #romancetropes #bookworm #booklover #romancebooks #romancereader

Thank you to Forever Publishing, the author, and NetGalley for an early copy of Not Another Love Song! My review opinion is my own and is being left voluntarily.

I made the decision to DNF Not Another Love Song at 30% into the book.

Why DNF?
- I feel like no effort was made to try and make me like either FMC. The MMC was mean and petulant and almost every other character talked poorly about him. There seemed to be no redeeming qualities. It was all a big turn-off. And the FMC had very little personality. For an entire third of the book, we're introduced to numerous characters and not one of them stood out to me. Also, almost everyone is mean to the FMC. It all made it hard to enjoy reading this book and I decided it just wasn't for me.

I do not share reviews or ratings for books I DNF to GoodReads, StoryGraph, etc, but NetGalley requires one, so the 30% I finished was 2⭐️.