A whopping 5 stars and beyond for this lovely reylo fanfic that evolved into a musical knockout.

I don’t know much about playing any sort of instrument, especially anything pertaining to classical music, but Julie made everything so accessible and easy to digest that I was able to dive into these characters. And THESE CHARACTERS?!? Amazing. Gwen 🤩 Alex 😍 Xander 😏 Mabel 🥹

And can we talk about the cover?! Gorgeous! And the fact that it references a certain scene in the book? SUPERB!

I think it’s safe to say that Julie Soto is an auto-buy author for me now.

CW/TW: death of loved ones, cancer, toxic relationship, gaslighting

Wow, Julie Soto is definitely an author I am keeping on my reading list, because I have absolutely adored this book. After reading Forget Me Not, I was curious to see if this book would live up to the excitement I had, and I'm glad it did.
This book was simply addicting. It's the kind of book I could easily devour in an evening (which I totally did. The romance between Gwen and Alex was really interesting to play out through also their love of music, but it did feel a little like they went from rival to lovers really fast. Still, I was really rooting for them, and really loved them together.
One of the things that i did question was more in the dynamic of the orchestra, and the whole story of Gwen becoming the first chair so quickly and how realistic that is, and how she doesn't seem to really see the red flags surrounding that. I don't know much about the music world, but there is a part of me that found it a little weird that it didn't seem to raise more eyebrows .
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a really fun read, and I'm really looking forward to reading more from Julie Soto. Definitely an author I'll keep my eyes out for.

I absolutely ADORED this book so much, and it has turned out to be one of my favorite reads of 2024 so far! I adore Gwyn and Xander, and their chemistry is one of the absolute best parts of this book. Their love for each other depicted through their music was so well done and made me tear up at times because it was written so beautifully (like fully started crying during some of the musical scenes)!!
I also LOVED the setting of this book because both of the characters play instruments in an orchestra in NYC, and it was so much fun reading about them composing and then playing on a big stage. Julie truly hit the mark on literally every aspect of this book.
also... Xander being both a hugely famous rock cello player and a sweet man who makes her coffee every morning and writes music about her? Sign me upppp, I wish I could read it again. Please go read this book when it comes out!!!

4.5 stars rounded up. I’ve heard so much hype for this book and for me, it definitely lived up to that hype.

I’m a sucker for a man who’s down bad for his lady right away when it’s done well, and Alex is that man here. He’s emotionally stunted and really kind of sucks at expressing those feelings. It’s funny and endearing because it’s never intended to be mean, he just constantly puts his foot in his mouth when he engages in the way that makes sense to him.

Gwen is struggling to figure out her place and what she truly wants for her future. I’m over a decade older than her character and still don’t know so, girl, I get it. Meanwhile, trying to understand where Alex is coming from all of a sudden and adding navigating the dichotomy of his two lives and all the ways they intertwine with hers adds so many layers to the story.

Both in the time while they’re figuring things out and once they have (until it all falls apart)…it’s all hot. The ‘cello scene’ that is a particularly hyped moment in the bookstagram world—hello cover inspo—delivers. It’s hyped for a reason. The book is spicy-spicy, but never feels overly gratuitous. I feel like Julie Soto found a really good balance and most often the spice is advancing some point of the plot.

I don’t know much about classical music (my fourth grade cello playing days are very, very distantly in my past) but it was easy to get swept up into this world. I have no clue how accurate or likely any of these scenarios in the professional world are, and I like that I don’t have any frame of reference to overthink it. I could just enjoy it as the story flower. (I do know Lorenz is the Scooter Braun of this fictional world and therefore, he sucks.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the eARC/Forever and Gallery Bookshop for the print ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not sure what to say about this book except that it was beautiful in a way no other book ever has been. I could feel the music as they played, hear the crescendos and the applause as if I was at Carnegie hall in real life. And the tension/ spice was gripping. I wanted everything about this book, minus the excessive number of “I love yous”. I don’t have a passion for music but the next time there’s an orchestra concert near me, I’d love to go and experience this feeling I feel now.

I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is gorgeous! just absolutely gorgeous. I think it's safe to say that i am a very big fan of Julie Soto now and to be honest i never thought i would be a person who ever read a book with cellos in it but here we are....

Great characters, great plot, great tension and romance.....swoon!

Julie Soto has once again stolen my heart!! This book hooked me from the very beginning and kept me engaged the entire time! I swear her writing was tailor made for me, the tension, the angst, the in depth characters that you can feel straight from the pages. I absolutely devoured this book and am already wanting more and more from her! The connection between these characters was electric, when you truly feel like characters are meant to be together the love story truly does hit different! Prepare to be sick of me when this book releases on July 16 because I will be shouting my love for it from the rooftops!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

What a beautiful music-focused romance! I was a band kid (I KNOW ITS EMBARRASSING I DON’T CARE) and adored glimpsing back into what it was like to be in an orchestra and make music as part of a whole, something I deeply miss every day! It was one of the few times I’ve had an author use words to describe music, and actually felt like they did it justice, since I often find that music is something that can’t be translated into words.

It was fun spice, interesting to explore the question of individual career versus commitment to an ensemble, and always fun to discuss the ethics of forcing musical child prodigies into performance. (JK, I think it’s just fun for the music nerds out there like me.)

I kept trying to figure out how in the HELL are we going to wrap this up with what’s left?! And do not worry, Julie Soto figures it out perfectly, with no one having to sacrifice everything, but still learning to let go and take scary leaps.

Everyone go read this book and then also go see your local live symphony!

Emojis to Describe This Book: 🎻🎶😘🥂🫶🏻

I enjoyed reading this one. I might even prefer it to Forget Me Not but I did like seeing previous characters make an appearance.

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

This was an engaging read and got me out of a book slump! The story moved quickly and I was easily swept away. I enjoyed the unique setting of the orchestra and musical enemies to lovers trope. Definitely on the spicier side 🌶️

First, when I discovered this book was about two musicians, I knew I had to read it. I am a lover of music and this book has music and romance. I could not put this book down. It is simply a wonderful read. I enjoyed every page and couldn't wait to pick up my Kindle and dive into this book. The characters Gwen and Xander/Alex have my heart. Gwen is a violinist, and Xander is a cellist. Xander is also in a band, Thorne and Roses. Throughout the book, Gwen is perfecting her craft as a violinist. Xander is a moody cellist who quickly finds interest in how Gwen plays her violin. Gwen realizes that Xander loves to critique her and her performances, but these two will be inseparable. In the end, this book is written beautifully and I as a reader, wanted the very best for Gwen and Xander. This book is perfect for fans of grumpy x sunshine fans and rivals to lovers. I will be recommending this book to romance lovers out there. This is my first book by the author, and I am impressed by how her characters kept my attention. I did not grow bored with their story. I wanted to know every detail about these two characters..A big thank you to Net Galley, Julie Soto, and Forever Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars and more!

Julie Soto can never do no wrong. I absolutely DEVOURED Not Another Love Song. This is one of my new favorite reads for the year! From the beginning intro scene I was already hooked.
I grew up with a musical background but I think even with someone that has no knowledge of violin, cello, or the likes of the music world can easily follow along. Julie's writing of this story flowed like a musical composition. I felt every high and every low throughout the storyline progression. The descriptions feel very lyrical and their love story was just as romantic. The spice was a literal work of ART 🥵 My jaw was on the floor.
Gwen and Xander are like two peas in a pod yet also opposite sides of the same coin. The characters were really well developed, and I loved the complexity of Xander's in particular.

I devoured this book and I already can’t wait to read it again. Julie creates tension between the main characters that is unmatched. The chair scene lives rent free in my mind!!
One of my favorite things authors do is intertwine books even when they are technically standalones. I loved the little glimpses of the couple from Forget Me Not that we got in this book.

I’m so thankful I received an ARC of this book. Thank you to Julie, NetGalley, and Forever Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity. Julie knocked it out of the park (or should I say concert hall??) on this one!

Not Another Love Song follows two talented musicians, Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne, both prodigies in their own right. Gwen approaches music methodically, studying and practicing in her free time, while Xander is a natural, sight-reading on the spot and rocking the classical world. Their paths cross when Gwen is offered the coveted First Chair violinist spot in the same orchestra where Xander plays, a position he had hoped for. Forced to work together, they soon find themselves drawn to each other both romantically and as collaborators.

Guys, why did I wait so long to read a Julie Soto book? I know she’s a well-known Dramione author, and The Auction has been on my Kindle forever, so I was bound to read her eventually. I’m not exaggerating when I say I ATE this up! It was that good! I can't even explain the feelings I had while reading it—it gave me butterflies in my stomach lol. I kept imagining Adam Driver too, since the author mentioned this was formerly Reylo fanfiction. The forced proximity and pining were delicious, and the spice was sensual as well. That one cello scene 🥵 lol. This man becomes such a simp for her that he even gets jealous of her gay roommate.

I found Soto’s writing style to be similar to Ali Hazelwood and Abby Jimenez, so if you enjoy those authors, you’ll probably like this one. I originally thought this was a standalone, but there are character cameos from Forget Me Not. However, it doesn’t hinder the story at all.

not another love song by julie soto
♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ.♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ.♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ.

release date: 7/16/24
3.5-4⭐️!!
whew😮‍💨 the way i learned so much about orchestral music and stringed instruments in this book. in this story, we follow Gwen Jackson, a talented violinist who has quite literally worked her way from the bottom up. Gwen has always looked up to Ava Fitzgerald, an icon in the orchestra industry and hopes that one day she can be just as successful. as Gwen is focusing on building her career, she is offered a job of a lifetime to play center stage. Things take a turn when Xander Thorne, a famous cello player, joins the same orchestra as her and is wanting to play the exact position Gwen has been offered. the two end up going head to head all the while trying to deny the attraction they have towards each other 🫢

tropes:
⤷ slow burn
⤷ enemies to lovers
⤷ musicians falling in love
⤷ underdog fmc
⤷ grumpy x sunshine

my review 𝄞₊ ⊹‧₊˚♪𝄞࿐
okay i need to start off with saying that i absolutely love how the author was able to write out these intense scenes whenever the 2 MCs were playing together. i felt like i was actually hearing their melodies play while reading those scenes because of how well written they were!
like i did not know how intimate stringed instruments can be 🤭 the way Gwen & Xander would play their own instruments while communicating with each through their music???? ✨immaculate✨ and the tension?! GIMME GIMME🙏🏼 i do feel like the book could have been shortened by a tad and i also felt like the plot wasn't carrying much depth. in general, i do feel like the characters fell flat to me and i wish there was more of an emotional impact with them. i did enjoy seeing characters from the author's first book pop up here and there in this story!! in all honesty, coming from someone who doesn't read much rockstar/musician romances, i did enjoy this book! happy reading lovelies🎻🖤

thank you to Netgalley & Forever Publishing for the E-arc in exchange for my honest review! ☻

4.75/5

the possibility that i come back to this app and change this rating to a five is very, very high!!!

after reading forget me not, i went out of my way to find this ARC. julie soto’s writing is just so good, its simple in the best way. her stories are amazing and cute and have depth but nothing seems overbearing. you read her romances and just have the best time falling in love with the characters while they fall in love with each other!

i wish i could say that this book showed me cello’s were hot but that happened when i watched smooth criminal be performed on glee… this is the same vibe though. i was obsessed with alex and gwen!!!! they had such good tension and the progression of their romance was beautiful. boy obsessed has seemed to be a very prevalent trope in new romances are i am so happy, seeing a man just completely enamored with someone is so good!!!!! he literally went back to a job he didn’t like, for good reasons, just because he wanted to play music with her!!!! i’m going to thinking about alex for a long time… gwen was also such a good character. seeing her gain confidence and success was so rewarding. she’s not even real but i am rooting for her career!!! i love all the side characters as well, mabel is the best pseudo grandma/trainer and i love her, ava’s “redemption” was so good, and jacob was the best!!

can’t wait to see if we get any more books that follow this group of characters!!! the mentions of ama and elliot were also so good!!!!

*thank you netgalley for the ARC*

How am I supposed to use words to write a review when the author stole them all away from me??
This book.. this book touched my soul. I have never felt such angst and tension in my reading life.. I silently screamed through half of this novel. Honestly I just didn’t want it to end. Julie Soto is one of my favorite authors.

THIS BOOK ALTERED MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY! I enjoyed Julie Soto's last release, but there is something about this book that scratched an itch I didn't know I had. I am not musically gifted, nor do I really know much about music so I was expecting to kind of gloss over the musical aspects of this book, but man was I wrong! From the very first page, I am immediately engrossed in the world of pop orchestras. Soto provided such a lovely explanation that was extremely easy to digest as someone who does not have a ton of knowledge. Julie Soto's writing was so engaging and kept me hooked from the very beginning all the way to the end! I absolutely loved every aspect of this book, absolutely no notes!!

While preforming at a wedding, Gwen butts heads with the enigmatic Xander Thorne. She's bound and determined to stay away from the grumpy yet gifted rock star while he seems drawn to her as they continue to meet up.

Wow. This book was just so good! I was hooked from beginning to end. Here's what I loved:

Gwen and Xander. These two were opposites yet cut from the same cloth. They both have musical genius that ignites when they are together. I loved seeing how Gwen navigated Xander's grumpiness. They were so meant to be!

The music. I loved seeing these two make music. I don't know much about the violin or the cello but they were brought to life in this story.

The angst and the spice. Both were top tier in this one! Soto writes some good spice scenes, let me tell you! I was hooked. Beyond that, she really knows how to draw on your heartstrings. I found myself crying along with Gwen most of the time.

All in all, I really liked this spicy musical romance!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

"Not Another Love Song" was my first Julie Soto's read. In this book, we follow Gwen Jackson — a very talented violinist who doesn't seem to see how talented she is — and Xander Thorne — a famous celloist who does see how good she is. From that point on, the story unfolds with as many rom-coms classic characteristics as you can think about: rivals to lovers; she falls first, he falls harder; third act break up (sadly) and the whole shebang.

The problem is... it wasn't good.

Gwen, our main character, doesn't have a lot of personality for herself. She's a people pleaser (as FMC's usually are) and full of dreams, but she doesn't really got a personality. Her people pleaser trait is always on full sail (something that Xander comments a few times), and something that she wouldn't notice about herself, which is not a problem. The problem was: the person who she should trust more than anyone gave her an advice, the person I could understand if she was manipulated by, because there was a hell lot of gratefulness that should've been taken into consideration; instead, she decided to trust on the people that didn't give her anything but... a job? Like, she brushed away the advise of the woman who was like a mother to her, and took into consideration what a third party said, even though it didn't align in anything with what she wanted for her own life. It didn't add up. Why was she doing it? Why was she listening to those people? I still have no idea.

Than we've got Xander, and I might say this: I know falling in love is pretty much a narcissistic movement (hi, Freud!), but holy shit. There was literally a point in which he said that he basically fell in love with her (or liked her, whatever), because she was musically his equal — right after he complained about how he never had girlfriends, but sexual partners because they only wanted to fuck his music, not him. This was precisely the point in which the book started to become really bad for me. I believe that, to some point, Julie wrote a love story, but I'm confused if Xander wanted Gwen or if he wanted to date himself, and since we're not Sue Sylvester, he had to work with the second best thing — which was sad, because I loved their moments together, their music talk and their banter; the chemestry was there, but if someone asked me "$2 or a date with Xander Thorne?" you could BET I'd get my money and go home.

And yet, despite everything I told about Xander, I think this book would've worked a lot more for me if it were on his POV instead of Gwen. There was story there, there was a flaw, there were family issues and a whole lot of secrets that we only could see through Gwen's lens — and it wasn't nice, it wasn't fine, it just looked like she was constantly putting puzzle pieces back together all the time and forgetting about them right after, just for it to be brought back in the future when I wasn't interested in them anymore. Xander Thorne was a conflict machine that would've made an amazing first chair in this book, but it was also left behing.

Thank you Julie Soto and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book for an honest review.