I mostly enjoyed this book. However a lot of it seemed so unrealistic. I’m not a music person but this doesn’t seem like it was completely well researched. I just don’t know how I feel about it still. I wanted to love it but I just didn’t.

Although I’m not musically talented, I’ve always been drawn to music and I absolutely ate this up. Gwen’s long time passion was fun to read about and I appreciated the detail the author put into the bits about music. The only thing I didn’t love about Gwen was that it felt like she was setting herself up for failure through most of this book, which was frustrating at points but still entertaining.
Xander took me a minute to warm up to, but I ended up enjoying his character despite the fact that he was kind of a music snob.
I liked how slow of a burn this was and I think this level of spice is my own personal sweet spot, not too much and not too little.
Overall I enjoyed this and I like that Julie Soto involves weddings in the two books of hers I’ve read now.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

I enjoyed this book so much! It was really fantastically written. The characters were compellingly written, and honestly, I was worried the Reylo would be too obvious, but the characters were super well-written and fleshed out. I got sucked up into their world quite quickly.

This romance, while fairly quick, was very fun and felt very grounded in the characters. I usually struggle with how third-act breakups are written, but I thought this one was very well done. The characters felt drawn to their obligations and had to struggle to find what they really wanted to get back together.

I thought Gwen and Alex's communication was very well-written, as was their communication with their mentors throughout the book. Family dynamics, both biological and chosen, were prevalent throughout this book and were written very realistically, making them complicated and important to the characters' growth.

I also found the smut very well written in this book; it was very emotional for the characters and didn't feel gratuitous.

I almost wish there was more to the story because the ending was a bit abrupt.

4.5 stars - rounded up! This book completely surpassed my expectations. I've read such amazing reviews about Julie Soto's previous book, Forget Me Not, so I was eager to check out her newest release when I spotted it on NetGalley. Apparently, it's based on the author's Reylo (Kylo Ren X Rey Skywalker) fanfic. While I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan, the premise intrigued me, and I ended up loving it. The yearning, the tension, the complex family dynamics, not to mention the incredible orchestral covers referenced throughout — the whole story was simply fantastic.

If I were to nitpick (and this is a very minor gripe), Alex's character (based on Kylo Ren) occasionally veered a tad too much into moody and entitled territory, which is similar to his Star Wars persona but may not translate perfectly into a real-world context. That said, I still ate it up! This is VERY spicy but you could skip past the spicy scenes altogether and the story would still be great. I'm definitely planning to pick up Forget Me Not later this year. Huge thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing an eArc of Not Another Love Song. Pub day is July 16th!

5/5 - WOW. This book was…everything. I quite literally could not put it down. I was in a bit of a reading slump, and @juliesotowrites brought me back and reminded me how powerful a well written, poignant and perfectly passionate love story can be! This is a top favorite book of the year so far, and has a sure spot on my all time favorites shelf!

I loved everything about this story - two classical music prodigies in their twenties, from (mostly) very different backgrounds, navigating the competitive world of music in NYC. The way these two connect emotionally, musically and physically is out of this world.

The passionate build up was so well done - tension, angst, lust, fierce competition. When I say the chemistry between Alex and Gwen is palpable, I meant it. And the lyrical, no, MUSICAL way Soto writes their connection was truly magnificent. You feel EVERYTHING.

Soto is a beautiful writer, and while this is heavily a love story it’s also about independence, growing up, finding yourself in the world, grief, complicated family dynamics, and big dreams. The dialogue is fabulous, the musical references sparkle and I simply fell in love with these characters, their journey and this world. The character cameos from Forget Me Not were also a treat!

Thank you to @netgalley, Forever and Julie Soto for an ARC of this story in exchange for my honest review. Out July 16th so grab the pre-order now!

I felt like Gwen was really naive and the fact that she got first chair after such a short amount of time at Pop's is so unrealistic. I also didn't like Alex/Xander he was so manipulative and always putting Gwen down telling her that she sucked at playing. There was so much insta-love too!!

This book was so unbelievably good. As an orchestra nerd, a reylo with a Kylo saber tattoo, and a musical theatre person… this was everything to me. Their romance was top tier, the writing was impeccable; and the vibes were so good. It felt like the author recreated my dream romance story from the deepest abyss of my mind. Obsessed!

I am in love with this book.

This is the first book I have ever read from Julie Soto but I’ve heard so many great things about her writing and I’m so glad to see that they weren’t wrong! This story had me in tears at some parts simply because I found it to be so beautiful. Great pacing with fantastic characters and character development and I am honestly feeling a little sad that it’s over. I’m not ready to say goodbye to these characters. I will definitely be reading every book that Julie releases from now on. Adding her to my favorite authors list.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves music and romance. 5/5 ⭐️

This was one of my most anticipated reads after loving Forget Me Not last year, and Not Another Love Story did not disappoint! I loved the tension between the characters & felt the rivalry between the two. Love the banter & connection these two had & the setting being an orchestra was really enjoyable.

This is the second book I've read by Julie Soto and I hav not been disappointed! A spicy romance novel about a violinist and a cellist?! Yesssss please. I feel like maybe we could have done without the third act break up, but other then that this book was a masterpiece.

A musical masterpiece of romance and rivalry. 🎵

You'll Love This If You're Into:
* rivals to lovers
* grumpy x sunshine
* A little dash of smutty fun
* vivid and emotionally charged writing
* Underdog FMCs

Characters: ★★★★★

Plot Progression: ★★★★★

Writing Style: ★★★★★
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Memorability: ★★★★★

Overall: ★★★★★

Thoughts: UNFORGETTABLE

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is an absolute gem that had me hooked from the first page. Julie Soto has a remarkable talent for creating vibrant, palpable worlds, and she didn’t disappoint with this one. I’ve never read a book about professional classical musicians before that I have actually enjoyed.

I felt like I was right there with Gwen and Xander, hearing the music play and feeling the tension build.

Gwen and Xander were perfectly crafted characters to me. Gwen, with her insecurities and people-pleasing nature, was so relatable. She’s the self-taught violinist who doesn’t see her own brilliance, and her journey of self-discovery and standing up for herself was fun to explore. Xander, on the other hand, appears arrogant and confident, but, as the story unfold, his true passion and vulnerability shine through. The chemistry between them was electric, and the romance was torturous...the cover really is a good hint at what is inside the pages.

The musical backdrop was not just a setting but a character in itself. Soto’s descriptions of music were so vivid that I could almost hear the symphonies. The way music was used to convey sexual tension and emotional depth was breathtaking. As a classically trained musician, I often find books about or with music in them cringey. But this felt like the author did much more research or had more knowledge than the first page of Google could tell her, and I appreciated that. Every musical thought seemed so reasonable and intentional, and I really enjoyed those moments in the book.

I especially appreciated the author’s note at the end, which gave insight into the inspiration behind the story. It added a personal touch that made me appreciate the book even more.

This book is a binge-worthy, emotionally charged read that you won’t want to put down.

If you love romance, music, and characters you can’t help but root for, take care of yourself and grab Not Another Love Song ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with this amazing book's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

4.5/5

This book was incredible! The FMC, Gwen, and MC, Xander, play in the Pops Orchestra together and the tension and buildup between the two was some of the best I’ve read in a while. And even when the tension inevitably breaks, it continues, especially the first time they play together on stage. That scene had some of the most electric chemistry written. I loved all the musical metaphors (despite knowing nothing about being an orchestra). This was just such a good time. Do yourself a favor and pick this up on the most epic* pub day of July 16, 2024! Thanks to @netgalley and @foreverpub for the arc!
.
(*epic due to two of my other most anticipated releases - Business Casual by B.K. Borison and The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce)

I think this book had a great start for me personally, but I struggled with it from about 40% on. I was honestly feeling a 4-4.5 star at the beginning! Mainly, I felt that the characters' motivations were fuzzy and not as clear as I would've wanted. Even finishing the book, I couldn't tell you what Gwen's hopes and dreams were. Were the Julliard? Pops? Composing? Solo work? I really would've loved a clear dream of hers because then I would've understood her journey more.

And I felt Alex to be rather claustrophobic. He was a little too persistent for me, especially taking into account how little the couple spoke to each other in the beginning.

But I genuinely thought the beginning was great - I bought the enemies to lovers, I loved the fast pace of it. But then some...very unrealistic things happen here and well I just feel like it went off the rails.

Happy I read it because it's the first book I've read in over a month and I'm feeling compelled to keep reading so that's good!!

This was such an amazing book! This was my first book by Julie. She did not disappoint. I can’t put my thoughts into words. The tension between the FL and ML was spicy! I never thought that music could be played in such a lovely way *wink* I could just feel the emotions throughout the entirety of the book and I enjoyed that very much!

🎶 Not Another Love Song ARC Review 🎶

Thank you so much to Julie Soto and Hachette Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Not Another Love Song is a standalone contemporary romance and set in the same world as Forget Me Not. Gwen has been playing the violin since she was a child and is now a professional musician. When she’s accidentally booked for a wedding as a cellist, she finds herself agreeing to play an instrument she’s not familiar with. To make things worse, cello superstar Xander is there to witness everything

I absolutely loved this book! Gwen was a fantastic character and I enjoyed her growth so much in this book. Xander was absolutely perfect - he was moody, broody and yet absolutely amazing - definitely book boyfriend material! I really enjoyed going back to this world of characters - the cameos of characters from Forget Me Not were so good!

This was a fantastic five star read! Absolutely loved everything about it! This book does have some darker themes, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book was a little bit of a slow burn but the spice was fantastic once it got there, so overall three flames for spice

If you’re a fan of contemporary romance with strong characters with grumpy sunshine vibes, absolutely pick this one up!

Julie does it again!!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about musicians, much less a book about a pair of musicians falling in love. That’s not to say they don’t exist! More like…I just never have but now I have and I enjoyed every minute!

I loved the tension between Alex and Gwen. Angst! I will ALWAYS love angst!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for this free review copy!

A stunning sophomore novel, Julie Soto captures the dynamic of romance through the language of music in a gorgeous and poetic way. I loved the enemies to lovers tension, the magnetic pull between the main characters, and the phenomenal arc of the story. Auto buy author honestly.

This book was so transfixing I finished it in roughly 16 hours--including a night's sleep. Alexander and Gwen were really phenomenal opposite sides of the same coin, and who could have been a better underlying character than Mabel? I really loved how it all came together.

Julie Soto really knocked it out of the park. I loved the cello interludes. And chapter ten. WOW.

Whew this book!! So so good and a steamy love story! Love Julie Soto books and this one did not disappoint. Totally kept me reading and definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Julie Soto!

Very unique and fun to read!

Swoon-worthy and easily able to sweep me off into the melody this book created. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I think the music element was very intriguing, and it helped the book feel more captivating. Gwen was an interesting MC, and I found it easy to follow her journey. Though I did prefer seeing Xander's growth the most. Overall, the thing that captivated me the most was the music, and the idea that music is this freeing and powerful thing. I almost felt like I could hear the music through the text which was mesmerizing to experience.

I wasn't a super huge fan of the weird pop-ups of Xander's POV. I didn't hate it, but it was a little to random and sporadic for my liking. I did feel like the last 75 pages were a little rushed, but overall, I thought the pacing was pretty solid. I'm not sure how I felt about the whole general plot, but I think the romantic plot was quiet beautiful and well-written.

Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this. I thought the musical elements of this book made it very whimsical and made it stand out from other romances I've read. The romance was enjoyable and the spice was also a nice touch without being too overbearing to the plot. Definitely would recommend this one!

Big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Soto for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and feelings. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5