I really wanted to love Not Another Love Song, as Forget Me Not was one of the best romances I read in 2023, but unfortunately it just did not work for me. I do believe that it would have been improved with consistent dual POV narration, as Alex's feelings/actions towards Gwen really didn't make sense to me - especially at the beginning. Also, the STARING!!! It was too much.

The sensual violin-cello romance of my DREAMS! Not Another Love Song is the perfect combination of classical roots and a contemporary setting and plot; Julie Soto made the choice to have neither Gwen nor Xander super tied down by the conventional classical music world; both of them play for a pops orchestra rather than a more traditional ensemble, and Xander is cellist in an electric strings band that sounds somewhat similar to 2CELLOS (is Xander Thorne the Hauser of this world? Possibly). They're creatives who push boundaries, and it serves their romance really well because they play with the music, and it's the music that's the bedrock of their relationship: there's flirting via sheet music, their first duet in public is rife with sexual tension (in their world, it's basically an invitation to slow dance), and a large portion of the book is centered around one composition in progress that encapsulates Alex and Gwen's relationship.

So, this story was originally published as Reylo fanfiction and you do see the influence; Gwen is a scrappy underdog heroine— an orphan, slightly naive and insecure, but of course Xander and other characters see *something great* in her even when she can't. She isn't a pushover though, and by the end she stands her ground at a critical juncture in her and Xander's relationship. Xander a bit of an asshole to Gwen despite almost IMMEDIATELY falling for her, and it understandably takes her some time to warm up to him. Like, she's starstruck to an extent and obviously physically attracted (and not just because he's biiiiig like any Kylo Ren-inspired hero has to be— I don't make the rules sorry), but she quickly understands he's.... quite flawed so he doesn't stay on that pedestal for long. He's the one with the family baggage, mommy issues, and difficulties stemming from being a young prodigy, as well as a history of being taken advantage of by the adults and mentors around him. And that's something that carries over into the plot of this story— both Gwen and Xander are relatively young (they're both in their twenties), and still in the process of finding out who they are as individuals and artists as well as a couple, and they both struggle to figure out who they can trust professionally (ex: there's a very accurate Scooter Braun reference somewhere in this book) and personally.

The sex:

I mean look, what you see happening on the cover? That's exactly what we get in the book ("You have to be gentle with her neck"???? I SCREAMED because, you know, cello neck.... her neck....). And it's hotter because Xander does his utmost to remind Gwen of it via his composition in some very public forums afterwards... multiple times. It's sensual, and shockingly romantic real fast. AND there is also a very hot sex-while-someone's-on-the-phone moment.

Overall:

As far as contemporary romances go, Julie Soto is doing the utmost to make classical music sexy again— and the love story itself is enhanced by that in such a novel way, and I can't recommend this book enough, preferably with your favorite rendition of Vitali's Chaconne in G Minor playing background.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4.25/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Publication Date: July 16th

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

I HAD SO MUCH FUN, 4.5

Fifty pages in I knew this was a book I would go back to reread in the future. It was a simple and cozy romance that fans of Ali Hazelwood would enjoy.

This review is my own and features no one else’s opinions but mine.

I absorbed this book like air. Seated and finishing in one day. I absolutely marveled at the music references, the beauty of the orchestra and the soul of these characters.

The spice was immaculate and kept me feeling hot under the collar. I loved the way the love story shaped throughout the book through music. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.

Cannot wait to read more of Julie’s work. It absolutely impressed me.

Not Another Love Song is the full package and my favorite read of the year thus far. I wish I could read it again for the first time to experience the heart thump-thumps and sighs all over again.

I was so excited for this one because I really enjoyed Forget Me Not, but I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be. Although this book kept me thoroughly entertained, the chemistry and dynamic between Gwen and Xander was very off putting. Xander was extremely rude towards Gwen throughout most of the book that I simply couldn't believe how someone could be attracted to the constant dismissiveness and condescending attitude. The fmc didn't feel special and it was hard to connect with her for most of the book because it felt like she was escaping every time or just going with the flow instead of standing up for herself.

What I really liked was the orchestra setting because the uniqueness of their professions brought out very special scenes between them, like THE cello scene. Hot.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the free copy of this book!

my first julie soto and it did not disappoint!

gwen & xander have some of the best depth, development and relatability i’ve gotten to experience in romance lately! julie soto wrote their story with so much beautiful poetic intention and truly crafted an ode to music through their love.

what i enjoyed most is gwen and xander’s shared passion for their paths in music and won’t let anyone stop them from playing. they both come from very different beginnings that asked a lot of their younger selves but getting to see their stories culminate and develop into true artistry together was so stunning especially with how the writing incorporated familiar musical elements!

the dedication to their craft rivaled only the dedication they hold towards each other which was a whirlwind of banter, tenderness, tension (!!!) and genuine care to impact the others’ happiness. it was so evident how strongly they wanted ~needed~ to be together just from small glimpses across the room and i was blushing so hard at the CELLO CHAPTER HELLOOOO!! their chemistry?! put that in the first chair and you’ll have yourself a most glorious symphony :p

thanks so much to netgalley and forever publishing for the e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

As a long-time, 4th chair cellist... I enjoyed this book! The author really knew their stuff about orchestras. I feel musicians would appreciate this book with the use of music theory and terminology, literally on every page. I can see how some readers would not enjoy this book with the overuse of musical terms. Like a what-does-that-even-mean sort of scenario from a reader. I thought it was a very smutty “vanilla” romance story. Nothing really traumatic happens to the characters, no tear jerking moments which I feel would’ve made the book way better. There were so many times the scene was set for something that could’ve happened but it didn’t.

My expectations were high and the book delivered! I devoured it in less than 24 hours. I predict this will be THE romance book of the summer.

Enemies to lovers on a backdrop of the orchestra? Say less. And the spice - the most satisfying, perfectly seasoned spice. Bravo!

Oh, and don’t get me started on the “Ghost”esque cello scene...
“𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦” — 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦 — “𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬.”
🔥🥵🔥

The characters were relatable and well developed. (Did I realize this was Reylo coded? Nope. I just sat back and enjoyed the show..so to speak.)

Soto did a great job of depicting the life of a concert musician—the hours practicing, perfecting, and even the politics of the music scene. I felt like I was watching the movie version of the book as I read—I just wish I could hear the music!

The pacing was also ::chef’s kiss::
In my opinion, nothing ruins a romance novel more than pacing. The Gwen/Xander spice hit at the exact right moments. There was just enough tension and relationship development before the first spice scene. Don’t worry about having to wait too long for another scene, the spice was evenly distributed throughout the story.

My only critique: a quick kindle search tells me that Xander’s hair is referenced no less than 74 times in this novel. At one point I actually caught myself thinking that If he continues to “drag his hands through his hair,” he might be looking at a future of male pattern baldness.

Not Another Love Song hits shelves on July 16!

Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Book Group for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

My opinions are my own. Any quotes listed are from an advanced copy and may differ from the final publication.

This was a solid, steamy, fluffy romance to enjoy while listening to classical music. It’s a romance for the music geeks, those who have crushes on their fave band members, and those who love seeing shared passions in a relationship. Alex and Gwen were a such a treat - angsty without being frustrating, perfect for each other, and didn’t hesitate to express it.

This really did read like a fanfic in the best way possible. I loved the characters (and villains) in this, and think it’s such a step above Forget Me Not.

4⭐️ !!!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto was SO FUN (not surprised) and so unique to any romance book I’ve read. Absolutely LOVED that it was about two professional musicians in totally different ways. I feel like I really learned so much about the music industry!

I loved Gwen’s character and found her so authentic and human. Her imposter syndrome and anxiety around being perfect while performing felt so real. And Xander’s carefree persona created the best tension between them.

The family dynamics and rest of the plot made it such a quick and entertaining read! The spice was 🤌🏼😍

The main reason it was not 5⭐️ is because it was written in 3rd person which really threw me off. I was expecting a format like Forget Me Not with dual POV first person, but the 3rd person writing made me feel a little less connected to the characters. Still REALLY enjoyed it though 😊

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and opportunity to read early!💗

There are not a lot of books you can say only two chapters in “This is going to be one of my favorite romances of all time,” and have it be TRUE till the end.

The tension between the characters and their dreams was almost palpable, and so addicting. Their love unfolded like a beautiful *love song* and I haven’t stopped thinking of them since.

If I ever come back reincarnated into a book character, PLEASE, let it be one written by Julie Soto.

*****yes the cello scene will change your life.

I was unable to put this book down and I devoured it in a day and a half. This doesn’t happen very often, so I was expecting it to be a new favorite read, When I surfaced though, I felt dissatisfied and left wanting more.

Unfortunately these characters felt hollow and fell flat and I was ultimately left wondering who they really were. I think I would have loved this book if Soto reworked it to bridge the gap between who she knows the characters to be and how they are shown to the audience.

I would recommend this if you like atmospheric writing and want a fast paced read, as that is where this book excels.

THIS IS THE BOOK OF THE SUMMER! Also the first book I've read where the (male) musician did not give me the ick... Alex Fitzgerald is my new fave book boyfriend. But seriously, the writing was amazing, the plot was interesting and the love interests were beautifully written and developed. Julie Soto might have to go into my "auto buy" list

My god she's done it again. I fell head over heels for Elliott reading Forget Me Not and Alex dialed that up to 1000.

The tension! The passion! I devoured this book in a single sitting and then was heartbroken it was over. I want to yell about it from the rooftops. I cannot stop thinking about it. I love you, Julie Soto.

I can not expires how absolutely perfect this book was. I requested it because the cover immediately made me swoon and my friends had all raved about Julie’s books and I could not be more obsessed with this. The tension from it being a rivals to lovers, workplace romance was done perfectly and Julie is definitely an auto buy author for me going forward.

Could not put this down since I started. Loved the dual pov giving a glimpse into Xander’s thoughts and the way the tension built between them after each performance together. Have never attended any sort of orchestra musical but now I’m looking them up 👀 easily in the top 5 reads of the year!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

If you're in the mood for an easy to digest, musician focused romance, I would recommend this book! The author did a great job of balancing a real orchestral setting with fictional stakes, and I enjoyed it immensely. If you were a fan of the author's previous work, "Forget me Not", apparently there is some crossover with the characters from that book as well, which is a nice tie-in, but it is not necessary to read the previous work to enjoy and appreciate this one.

Could not get through this book. The musical lingo was much too much for me and threw me out of the story a lot.

This book was amazing, the love story was believable and honestly I was rooting for the MCs the whole time