*4.5 stars*
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were likable, the tension was crazy, and I really enjoyed the love story between Xander and Gwen! I appreciated the inclusion of music, it added even more to the story. Julie Soto hasn’t missed yet, I can’t wait to read more from her!

Absolutely incredible. Five stars. Romantic and beautiful. I still think about this book every day. I love it.

5 Stars

Who knew playing music could be so erotic? But for real? Like I swear it wasn't only the bedroom scenes that had me feeling like I was intruding on their "moments", but every time they took the stage together.

Julie Soto is also one of my all time favorite fanfic writers, so I knew the writing in this book was going to be sublime (it was), but what I really knew to expect was to have a beautifully written emotional subplot that helped drive the story through.

Not Another Love Song is truly a romance, but also is about family, and what we allow to define us. It was moving and entirely bingeable (much like Julie's fanfic). I cannot wait to devour all of her other novels!

I've read rom coms and I've read rom coms about music. But I hadn't read a rom com about classic music before so I didn't know what to think. While I didn't love the book because at times I didn't like either the hero or the heroine. I did enjoy reading it. And it has me wanting to read more rom com and fiction book in general that include classical music.

Another fantastic book from Julie Soto! I love how the story wove in the intricacies of professional musicians while still delivering on an epic romance.

3.5 stars. I thought this was a cute and sweet romance, and I definitely entertain me enough for a good weekend Read. At some points it did feel a bit trope-y and juvenile, a bit unrealistic. I think it’s easy to tell that this was one of her earlier pieces as her writing and some for newer books seems a bit more polished and mature.

I think I liked this one more than Julie Sotos other book - however, the miscommunication trope KILLS me! So many things would be so much simpler if the characters just talked to each other. That definitely brought the rating down a bit, but otherwise, it was a pretty fast paced read and enjoyable!

once again Julie Soto has written another incredible story between two characters who are at opposite ends of the music world and building the whole enemy to lovers dynamic! another fantastic read & can’t wait to read more of Julie’s work in the future!

Oh my gosh! I devoured this! I don’t have the orchestra background, but as someone who has been surrounded with all types of music my whole life, I was drawn in. It was beautiful and emotional and sexy. The burn during the first half of the book left me 🥵 Also, main characters who wait/ask for consent…yes, please, and thank you!

The way I ate this book up should be criminal! Julie Soto is hands down one of my favorite new-to-me authors and I cannot wait to read more.

Not Another Love Song was deliciously angsty and I loved every word

This book will give you all the vibes if you love spicy as well as sweet. Music lovers will love this book as well❤️ this author is also from sacramento so I love reading her work because she puts my city in her books.

This book pleasantly surprised me! A slow burn that actually kept me engaged and wanting for more. The tension? The spice? Just chef’s kiss! Also adored the music-specific references that interested me enough to figure out the technicalities for context. Xander and Gwen are amazing MCs that make you root for them individually and as a couple. The perfect read for the fall! I leave this book with both knowledge about music and a big smile on my face. I will definitely come back for more Julie Soto!

Favorite quote: “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it for the rest of your life.”

This was a really pleasant surprise. I anticipated it would be a good read - I just didn't know quite how good.

This was a top notch enemies to lovers. I haven't seen one with musicians done in quite this way before. There was one scene that was more than a little bit steamy and it wasn't the only one - - it was just....let's just say...unique.

The characters were really relatable and very well developed. They had solid back stories that made them sympathetic characters with stories that really tugged your heart strings. Gwen and Xander were both talented but had gotten where they were via different paths. Gwen thought Xander had lived an entitled existence where things had been handed to him - - what she didn't realize was that his life was far more challenging than anyone else realized.

This story was a beautiful one about realizing what is rally important in life and letting go of what isn't. It's probably one of my favorite reads this year and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy.

I’m so glad I gave Julie Soto another chance! I enjoyed this book so much! Literally from the music competent to the conversations the characters, I couldn’t put this down! Thank you to netgalley and Julie Soto for an eARC

I realllllly liked this book about from about the 20-70% mark. And then I really liked it again the last 10%. The rest of the book I definitely liked but the beginning was hard to get going and the third act breakup (which I love a TAB) was too long. I felt like once the characters were together I could just feel it was all too good to be true. I was just waiting for the shoe to drop. And the MMC was making me worried when they finally got together. It is a fine line between love bombing and sincerity. I really think a lot of my reservations from this being a 5 star read would’ve been solved with a DUAL POV. I don’t understand why so many romance authors are moving away from dual POV. It’s mind boggling.

Anyway, I loved the orchestra rock stars getting together. I loved the spice and the intensity these two brought to their music. It was a really good read overall.

This book was perfect, I can’t look at a cello the same way. Had me giggling and kicking my feet the entire time. Everything Julie Soto writes fills me with so much joy! Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

UGH WOW. This was such a fun (and HOT HOT HOT) read! The tension between these two rivals in the beginning was visceral and delicious. Xander’s grumpiness towards Gwen, the immediate laser focus on not only her beauty, but also her talent and potential, had me giggling and blushing like crazy! Sometimes when we get a grumpy mmc, it’s a struggle to see that attraction peaking through, and almost feels like a true hate, but this was definitely not the case. You can tell he’s a smitten fool, stuck between showing her just how talented she really is and trying to reach the top himself. Xander.. or should I say, Alex.. is someone who strives for perfection and has so much pressure placed on himself, and it’s so relatable honestly. That constant need to be the best can be crushing, and it’s something you see him struggle with. And Gwen, my sweet, lovely Gwen has true, raw talent. You can see that she has a passion for music. She wants to grow, learn and immerse herself in this field, but can’t quite seem to get there because of her self-doubts. And again, that’s such a relatable feeling, to be your own worst enemy and biggest critic. When she and Xander come together, they begin to teach each other that being the best isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Their love was hot and heavy (THAT CELLO SCENE!!!), but really these two were just precious, and the moments when they allow themselves to just be Gwen and Alex is when the magic really happens.

Julie Soto proves herself once again! I will say that this one didn't quite live up to her debut novel, but it was still incredible. I loved the chemistry build up, I loved the independent woman making it on her own plot, and I REALLY loved the delicious steamy scenes that Soto has proved she's so damn good at.

In saying that, I struggled to give this one 5 stars for my own personal reasons. I simply found there was just too much orchestra/violin chat that I found myself zoning out at times and getting distracted from the story. But that is all a person opinion and totally a me issue!

I don't know why I put this book off for so long considering I finished it in two days. This book was absolutely delicious. I will probably reread this as an audiobook at some point as well. I love love loved how they both were vulnerable about very similar things but Julie approached them each very differently. Ngl I was scared another the Kylo aspect of this but aside from his size didn't really see it and having his little cello suites interspersed were the perfect bite sized morsels to make me fall for him. I'm sorry if anyone ever plays me like a cello like that you're going to have to marry me on the spot. I don't make the rules.

Overall an incredibly solid sophomore romance from Julie.

Note: the only reason we knew Mabel was Puerto Rican was her last name and an offhand comment that she was Puerto Rican. Please include us, but give us more descriptors than this *sigh*

Honestly, 5 stars especially because of Chapter 10. I actually had the opportunity to meet Julie on her tour of this book and asked her to sign Chapter 10 specifically - seriously its *chefs kiss*. Overall the story line was well thought out, Gwen and Alex's dynamic was just the best because they were so dang relatable and I just loved every minute of it. I probably read this in a day, thats how much I loved it.

I cant tell you how many times I have recommended this book to my friends or just random people in the romance section of a book store. Julie, you rock girl, cant wait for you next one!