4.5/5 stars

Not Another Love Song is a spicy contemporary romance between a violin player and cello player.

Gwen plays the violin for the Manhattan Pops Orchestra. Xander Thorne is the talented lead band member of Thorne and Roses.

I know very little about either of these instruments. But I was mesmerized by the musical parts of this book. All of these scenes were written so beautifully. And I found the fact that Gwen and Xander were both professional musicians to be so fascinating.

There are also supporting characters that made this book so special. I found that Mabel (Gwen's mentor), Ava (the reigning diva of the Manhattan Pops), Jacob (Gwen's roommate) and a bunch of others added so much to this book.

Overall, the cover is the absolute perfect cover for this book (you will understand after you read it). What a beautiful and very sexy story!

“They’ve been keeping you hidden,” he said. “Ordinary. When you’re anything but.”

I’m not sure what to write…sometimes I just want to write a review that says

EXCUSE ME READ THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS AWESOME

But I know that is useless to pretty much everyone, sooo

5 stars of cinnamon roll, dirty talking, music playing cuteness

“Extraordinary. Absolutely— fucking gorgeous—”
“Can’t believe you did that,” she hissed.
“— something so beautiful—”
“I could have embarrassed myself in front of all of Carnegie Hall!”
“— like we were made for each other, Gwen.”

Okay, first things first – Ama and Elliot – hi my lovelies, it was nice to see you again

“Keep going.” He shifted behind her as she moved into the next section— less wild than the first but still a whirlwind. And then he was behind her. Fitting into the space between her back and the back of the chair, sitting with his thighs on either side of her, his hands steadying himself on her hips.

Second thing: That quote above? THAT WHOLE SCENE *internally combusts*

Third Thing:

Alexander Fitzgerald.
Xander Thorne.
Alex.

"He stared at her, like he’d lost his train of thought, and she watched him lick his lips. “Can I see you? After rehearsal? Any day. Or morning.” A hand shoved through his hair. “See, I can be on time.”" (Give him praise, Gwen!)

This man was the definition of a tortured soul. I was living for all of their interactions, literally screaming during THAT SCENE. The cover scene. You’ll scream when you get to it too. Trust me. See quote above and combusting.

"He sent her a shaky smile, quickly pressing his lips together."

He was so soft for Gwen lmao. He was this grumpy, tough person to everyone, he only ever had acquaintances (or partners as he called them) but with Gwen he was this little ball of mush, buying her tacos and coffee and asking her out all cute-like. Okay, that’s enough

“If you don’t want to be with me, together with me, I can understand,” he said, and she felt her knees wobble. “But, Gwen, please make music with me. I need you in my life. I need to be in your orbit in some way, and if you don’t want me to touch you and kiss you and fuck you, then let me make love to you onstage every night because it’s the most alive I’ve felt in ten years—”

I had such hatred for Nathan and Lorenz by the time we got to the end. I mean, I knew they were manipulative, arrogant assholes, but phew, they were the worst. And Ava…I didn’t like her either. Basically, everyone in Alex’s life was shit and used him and it turned him into this egotistical monster who had no care for anyone else (obviously until Gwen, but also, like a while after Gwen too). He really had everything stacked against him (but also had everything going for him too).

“Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but—”
“Anything.” Black eyes looked down on her, and he took a shaking breath. “Everything.”

Gwen and her “I don’t like long goodbyes or love songs” also lost a lot and just wanted security and stability. I relate to that – having stability is sometimes the only thing on your mind.

“I want to be clear,” he whispered, as she focused on the rose-colored smudges around her lips. “I want you. In every way.” She swallowed, and he watched her throat move. “I want to see you. And fuck you. And play music with you.”

The spice

"He pulled back long enough to whisper against her lips, “I’m gonna fuck you until you scream tonight.”"

THE SPICE

“Take off the robe.” Gwen swallowed, feeling a chill run across her skin. Oh, yes, how silly of her to forget. They’d had sex last night. They were now people who had sex. With each other, specifically.

Okay, I’m done. This was a mess.

When I say this book is filled with sexual tension I mean it’s FILLED like to the brink. I was kicking my feet screaming for them to just kiss already damnit! I loved the development of their relationship so much and their chemistry as a couple in music and beyond was so palpable. The bit that’s where in Alex’s pov really added to the intensity of their story. Something about this book just in raptured me and I couldn’t put it down. Julie’s writing is truly just magic and hits every emotion. I found myself wishing the book was 500 pages longer and that I could know these character irl. I can’t wait to read whatever Julie writes next.

Geez talk about a romance that sucks you in and does not let go until the very last page!!

This book was an easy five stars. Gwen is a violinist with the Manhattan Pops Orchestra, where the music idol of her youth, Xander Thorne, is lead cellist. After playing at a wedding where Xander is one of the bridal party, her once-invisible status is no more. He absolutely will not leave her alone.

BUT THEN!! Gwen is offered the position of first chair, a coveted leadership role within the orchestra—one Xander was aiming for. Their orbit brings them ever closer, the chemistry and tension between them hovering unspoken. How long can they last before something gives?

I’m not kidding when I say even typing that makes me want to open the book and start reading it again 😅 IT WAS THAT GOOD. THAT ADDICTING. Easily cements Julie Soto as a favorite romance author of mine.

This book is out July 16! Definitely add it to your tbr 👀

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a free digital copy in exchange for my honest review ❤️

I picked this book up…and then just didn’t put it back down until it was finished because oh my god??? Julie Soto I did not fully understand your game (Forget Me Not was good but medium for me) but I have been converted because this was gorgeous?!?

I cannot even begin to fathom putting into words the way that this book made me feel. Gwen and Alex are musical soul mates in all senses of the phrase. The music they create together radiates through the page, it builds in different acts, it comes together and apart and back together again, until ultimately: peace. It mirrors their journey- and not only their journey together, but the journeys they each have to go on individually.

The chemistry, the TENSION, the not a want but a need to be together, even if only for music and not for love, the soft moments they give each other. This book is simply beautiful! I wish I could wipe my brain and immediately start fresh because WOW wow WOW!!

Final book shoutout goes to the scooter braun subplot!! Okay Julie out here drawing her cat eyes sharp enough to kill a man!!

Thank you SO MUCH to Julie Soto and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up

This story ate. I loved that the authors note in the beginning talked about Reylo fanfic and doing it in this musical setting was really fun. Gwen plays in Manhattan Pops orchestra and is content with being are to play the violin for a living. She plays weddings as a side gig and is reintroduced to Xander Thorne (who is also in Pops and a touring band) he hadn’t noticed her and now that he has watched her play he is smitten.

The lust is off the charts and the spice was really fun. The pining and heated glances 😍 I did knock a little bit off just because it would have been nice to see a connection through banter that wasn’t only music and sex related but I did love it.

Thanks to netgalley and forever for an eARC

I was excited to delve back into this world since reading the first related book “Forget Me Not” (related but not needed to read this one). Julie’s main male characters are always compelling and my love for Elliot sparked my excitement for this new adventure with Xander.

This was a love story to music as well as within the mail characters; if you’ve ever played and loved music, you’ll love this for that alone.

Julie has become a “must buy” author for me and I have already preordered my copy. Thank you for the opportunity to read it and review this book :)

I was a massive fan of "Forget Me Not" but I enjoyed "Not Another Love Song" even more. The tension between Alex and Gwen was so delicious and the spice was excellent. I loved reading these two falling for each other and having to get out of their own way.

9/10
Romance

This book comes out July 16! I was obsessed with this book. My kindle was attached to me until I finished it. The main characters played in an orchestra- one played cello and one played violin. I know I could not hear their music but the passion of their music and instrument shined through in the book.

If you haven’t read her first book Forget Me Not, you should. They’re interconnected stand alones so you don’t have to, but the characters from the first book make an appearance in the second book. This is great summer read!!


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I loved this book! Julie’s writing always captivated me and gets me hooked. We get tension, spice & a grumpy mmc. 😉
The cello scene 🥵 Julie knows how to write the best spice. I personally loved Gwen & Xander together.
The Ama & Elliot cameos in this book were so fun!
Personally I got a little lost when it came to the music, so I found myself skimming some parts. 😅 Aside from that and the 3rd person pov, I have no complaints.

This book was absolutely PERFECT and I don’t know how I’m supposed to move on now that I’m done. Julie Soto created a masterpiece with this book and I absolutely devoured it. Alex and Gwen were perfect, beautiful, raw, passionate and just simply enchanting. As a former first chair violinist I felt this love story in my bones. Julie created an amazing array of characters that just shined and harmonized to create one of the best books I’ve read this year. Alex and Gwen not only had so much tension but their dynamic when composing and playing together was explosive and I was gasping and screaming because it felt so intimate and real. Alex should come with a caution warning because he was EVERYTHING and it’s safe to say I would go to war for that man or do anything he said because I simply obsessed with him.

This also reminded me of the book If I stay which I absolutely loved when I was in high school (again because of my love of classical instruments) yet this felt so much more intense. I already want to re read this and I just finished it which just goes to show how addicting this story and the characters are. If you want a romance book that’s filled with tension and so much passion THIS ONE is PERFECT.

I simply LOVED this book and I will accept zero criticism on it.

I loved every second of this story. The characters are well developed and grow throughout the story. The writing is absolutely beautiful. Julie has a way of taking the artistic side of her characters and channeling that into her writing. Our MCs are AMAZING musicians and the way their music is written into the story, how Julie brings those harmonies and that music to life is absolutely beautiful. As a reader you feel so much emotion written into the music through the words written on the page.

I absolutely adored the characters’ arcs. Both Alex and Gwen grow so much throughout the story. Alex/Xander starts off ROUGH. Like “Sheldon Cooper no filter says what’s on his mind” rough. But we love a rough, tall, dark, sexy, musician don’t we? 😏 no matter what he does or says, he is the only person (ok, maybe besides Jacob and Mei) who genuinely wants what’s best for Gwen without his own agenda.

Gwen is a perfect little bean. I love her and I want to wrap her in bubble wrap and protect her from the world. She has been given an incredible gift and an amazing opportunity to go with it, but everyone she looks up to seems to have ulterior motives.

YALL THE SPICE. Let me tell you. The spice was doing exactly what it is supposed to. Classical music has never been sexy to me but IT IS NOW DEAR LORD ALMIGHTY.

If you decide to pick this book up (WHICH YOU SHOULD) I highly recommend pulling YouTube up and playing the songs this book references while the characters play them. Having the music playing in the background adds a WHOLE NEW ELEMENT to the story and gah, it tugs on those emotions.

I love Soto’s first published book “Forget Me Not,” so I expected “Not Another Love Song” to become an instant favorite. I think it will definitely have success with many romance readers, but unfortunately, it is not a new favorite for me.

The biggest issue I had with NALS was the hot and cold factor in the writing. There was very little consistency in character actions and motives which made it seem very forced. I always expect a certain level of cheesiness in romance stories- that doesn’t usually bother me. However, this book walked the line with some parts that were just cringey. (Ex: the MMC asking FMC to spread her legs- and then being inspired enough to compose a song on cello while ogling her naked…. body. I appreciate the idea of people being considered muses for their partners, but this moment gave a different vibe from the romantic spice intended. It was not giving the same appeal as the Titanic scene where he draws her naked.) I also cringed at phrases such as “lapped her neck,” “reedy sigh,” and when “her throat clicked around air.”

The injection of musical lingo and verbiage seemed well researched, but some caused a snag in reading by becoming too repetitive- “pops” and “arpeggios” to name a couple.

The rivals to lovers storyline felt very outlandish in a way that I think might have been intentional, including comical aspects such as the orchestra rock band named “Thorne and Roses.” The villain was also very contrived and overtly evil, predictable and lacking.

I did enjoy a few moments of tenderness between the main characters and the best part was a cameo of characters from the book “Forget Me Not.”

I would highly recommend this to fellow readers who enjoy works by Ali Hazelwood. I know (via social media) that they are close writing companions/friends and the writing influence seems very apparent here. ‘NALS’ is not a new favorite by Julie Soto, but I absolutely look forward to reading her next book since fantasy is another one of my preferred reading genres!

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and author Julie Soto for the opportunity to read and review an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG was a really interesting book that is going to appeal to those who want a book that is a love letter to musicians, is filled with guy falls first, and is well written. For me, I truly enjoyed the book, but had a couple of problems with pacing.

This book is truly a love letter to those who enjoy music. This book is extremely detailed in music terms and music is the centerpiece of this story. The author in her books, seems to really devote a tremendous amount of time to researching these concepts (like wedding planning in her last novel). While I am not a musician, and, therefore, this didn’t really appeal to me, I found that this was a well written love story that held my attention and kept me turning the pages.

My biggest issue with the book was the pacing at the beginning. To me, it was too slow with characterization and plot. Gwen, the FMC, was just a bit naive and people pleasing, not questioning anything. And this takes up a chunk of the beginning of the novel, along with all the music centered ideas. Together, it creates a slower pace. However, this might appeal to individuals who love music and who might feel a connection with Gwen for that reason.

Overall, this book was good and should be read by those that are music lovers, love some of the usual tropes, and like character growth in the form of coming into themselves and their own confidence!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Such a beautiful story, and honestly, how would I imagine anything else from Soto. She is masterful and the longing a romance needs. It’s written so well.

I loved the idea of it being “reylo fanfic” but it was a story all its own with those characters. They made for a phenomenal enemies to lovers story, and their tension was superb. Definitely pick this up if you want a steamy, tense romance!

CW/TW: death of parents off page (cancer); difficult parent/child relationships; long on page sex scenes;

🎻 Grumpy x sunshine
🤍 Workplace romance
🎻 Fanfic (reylo)
🤍 Haters to lovers to haters to lovers



Quotes i loved (could change by pub date)

“Um, no? Gwen, he was looking at you like I’m about to look at the Grubhub delivery guy. Ready. For. A. Meal.”

“They’ve been keeping you hidden,” he said. “Ordinary. When you’re anything but.”


“I want to be clear,” he whispered, as she focused on the rose-colored smudges around her lips. “I want you. In every way.” She swallowed, and he watched her throat move. “I want to see you. And fuck you. And play music with you.”



Gwen is a violinist who plays in the Pops in NYC but on the weekends makes some extra money with her best friend & roommate who is a pianist. The gig they are doing turns out was supposed to be piano & cello not piano & violin. She said she could play the cello to appease them but of course they had someone supposedly on their way to save the day.

Xander is a cellist and not just any old cellist. The best in their generation. Apparently he is in a band but joined the orchestra where Gwen is but never shows up & if he does he’s late and rude. Xander shows up to the wedding bringing his cello for her to borrow. Of course he’s in the wedding party & judging her because he thinks she’s going to ruin the wedding because she is not a cellist.

Gwen & Jacob end up doing a couple quick practice songs then the wedding starts and they make it through. While she is examining the audience she realizes she recognizes Xanders band mates and then feels him staring her down. Throughout the ceremony he continues to stare at her but then disappears after the ceremony so she isn’t sure where to leave the cello. Eventually she makes her way inside to leave it so they can head out with their money.

Of course we run into our main bad boy Xander in the door way looking fine and moody. He tells her she shouldn’t be playing weddings and she comes back with she usually plays across from him at the pops.

Savage girl.

The next morning she pays for a room to practice in and guess who is sitting practicing in her room? Xander. The tension with them already is wild.

Stop this book is so cute. I know nothing about music but i love it. Also Xander is such a grump.

Gwen is an amazing violinist and Xander just has to shove his foot in his mouth. She can site read just like him but she is self taught from an older age whereas he learned at 3.

He is bitter & jealous that she is self made and uneducated. While he is a child prodigy.

Mabel is also jealous. But she also has something against the pops that we don’t know yet and I hate not knowing already. (We learn more very shortly after I wrote this)

Xanders family history is fascinating and definitely adds to the story line.

Alright the tension is so high and I am only 32% in for this review. Mei was in the bathroom with them when Gwen & Xander were arguing. 😝

I can’t even explain how much I love this book. I can’t say much more or I’ll give too much away. I am blown away and I am so happy this book was available to us back on April fools day. It’s a masterpiece.

I started this at 9 pm. That was a mistake as I didn’t put it down until I finished it. At 2:30 am. I also have a 9.5 month old baby who wakes up at 7.. so that was fun!

But seriously if you made it this far please read this book. It’s by far one of the best.

I've rarely, if ever (none comes to mind), read a romance book centered around members of an orchestra, so this was definitely refreshing and fun.
This book will definitely be a fan favorite. The characters, the storyline, the music world, the drama, the tension and yearning between Gwen and Xander, the feels - all of it make for a compelling story. Soto's writing is phenomenal - she grabbed my attention from the first page, and I kept reading until I had finished all of it within a few hours.
Not A Love Song was a completely enchanting experience, like being swept along the music throughout the story. I enjoyed every moment of it, and it goes directly to my favorites shelf.

A cute romance and an interesting look into the world of classical music but it didn’t hit for me like Forget Me Not did, which is one of my favourite romances.

I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two main characters and found myself rooting for Gwen’s friend’s relationship more than hers.

But if you are looking for a music centred romance definitely give it a read.

If your looking for a spicy and emotional romance, then this is the one for you!!

The story revolves around two musical prodigies: Gwen Jackson, a self-taught violinist who disappears into the peaks and valleys of each song, and Xander Thorne, a rock star cellist with an attitude.

The sizzling chemistry and powerful connection creates the perfect romance! The writing is so well done that I was captivated from beginning to end!

As a fan of Julie Soto’s from her fan fiction days I can say that she continues to entertain with her writing in retail!

I am so excited for her to continue creating memorable characters as in this book. Elliot from For Get Me Not is truly Unforgettable (we even get a cameo from him YEAH), and these two new characters Alex and Gwen are just as engaging. PLUS …. Cello’s!!!!! Add in Julie’s gift for poetic verse in her writing and this is a Must Read for this year.

Could I say more…. Yes, BUT really just go read it  it is worth your time and money! In today’s economy that is the highest praise I can give it!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in return for my unbiased review….I will be adding this to my physical book collection and I look forward to more stories from Julie Soto!