This book was wonderful and so unique. Two musicians competing for first chair at an orchestra, a cellist and a violinist. I was captivated by the music components of the story and Soto’s descriptions of how the music moved the main characters. The plot was quick, engaging, and kept me turning pages.

The romance was spicy, and fun, albeit a little insta-lovey. I thoroughly enjoyed how feral the male main character was for our lead and thought his ways of wooing her were adorable.

It was fun to see the cameos of the characters from Forget Me Not as well!

Vibes:
Enemies to lovers
Musicians
Found family
Set in NYC
Career goals
Steamy

This had some of the best drama (in a good way) between the side and main characters. Its usually easy for me to spot the antagonist in contemporary romance, but in this case I struggled to see who was a bad actor and who was working on self preservation. The third act breakup felt a lot more realistic because it was driven by the side characters as much as Gwen and Xander.

The romance in this was top notch. I really loved Forget Me Not and I would say Gwen and Xander have a similar vibe without being a total rehash. There are a lot of FMN cameos too so I'd recommend reading that before Not Another Love Song.

It's so difficult to review when I have zero criticisms! I highly recommend Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song to any romance readers! Julie Soto has become an autobuy author for me; she simply does not miss.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the eARC!

For music lovers everywhere this book is for you. I’m usually not a big fan of music romances, but this one did it for me. There were some music references I didn't get, but I didn't mind. In this book, you will get some grumpy x sunshine and to top it all off he falls first, and we all love that. Gwen and Xander, musical prodigies, are at each other's necks when Gwen gets the first chair in the orchestra that Xander thinks he deserves. But when they play together they make magic, their chemistry is off the charts. Things start to get complicated when they develop feelings together. The thing I liked most about this book was the storyline. I like the way it flowed, and it was very three-dimensional. This book is a little bit of a slow burn, and oh my the spicy scenes in this book will make you blush. There is nothing like a man who is good with his hands. Overall, it was a great book!

Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own

When Gwen plays violin she can feel the music, Xander is the opposite despite being all about emotion.

Despite both playing at the Manhattan Pop, it took Xandar a year to notice Gwen. When Gwen is offered the role of first chair of the orchestra, something Xander has coveted for years, their hostility for each other rises. But despite it all, Gwen can’t ignore the sizzling chemistry between them.

Now they’re being forced to work together more closely, they can’t help explore their attraction. As the begin to compose and play songs together it’s clear that their powerful connection could put on a performance that would blow the minds of many. Too bad it might get ruined for a publicity stunt.


This book was so amazing! I loved how well written this book was. Julie Soto did it again and did not disappoint. I’d not read a book about professional classical musicians before, and it was perfect. I was transported into the story, and I could hear the music playing. I am a huge fan of rivals to lovers, and it totally worked in this book. Alex and Gwen were made for each other and once they figured that out – amazing. There was so much tension between them I could just feel it oozing off the page and I couldn’t wait for them to figure it out. When we got to the scene from the cover it was so hot. I love when covers play into the story, and this one was just extra special. There wasn’t a ton of spice, but the spice that did exist was well done and not over the top.

I’m still thinking about this book a few days later, it was just that good. This is a book that you are going to want to binge because you won’t want to put it down.

I especially loved the author’s note and how this story came to be.

Long story short, I absolutely adore this book!! Forget Me Not is one of my favorite books I've read this year, and Not Another Love Song slaps just as hard.

The musicality that is woven into every part of the story is beautiful and it felt so unique reading it. The characters have a delicious tension and passionate chemistry. The story comes together perfectly by the end.

Bonus points for one of the hottest steamy scenes ever... who knew describing intimate moments like the elements of a song could be so freaking hot, but I was fanning myself over it!!

I'm absolutely grateful to Julie Soto, Forever Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!! I cannot wait to have a physical copy in my hands!

Release day: 7/16

Tags:
-rivals to lovers
-grumpy sunshine
-workplace romance
-found family

Spice: 3/5

Third person/Dual POV

This was my first read from Julie Soto and I enjoyed it!

I'd recommend Not Another Love Song to anyone that likes a story themed with music, the fmc being the mmc's muse, found family, a NYC setting, finding the balance between stability and passion with your career path, and your classic grumpy / sunshine pairing ☀️

This story kept good pace and I had a hard time putting it down once I settled in. Super swoony that he was enraptured by her and so forward with what he wanted 💛 And Gwen was a very likable character, she was a mix of kind, professional, and awkward that balanced out her being extremely gifted 🎻

Aside from the romance I really loved the supporting characters, they were so much fun and Gwen's found family were really supportive and lovely to her.

As a woman of no musical talent, I found it a little hard to relate to the relationship and attraction revolving so much around their musical abilities, but I trust that it was enough for them to make it work 😅

This book had an extremely sweet ending and everything came together / resolved perfectly, the last chapter had me smiling the whole time 🥰

I think based on the subject matter I'd like Forget Me Not even more so I'm excited to read that next 😊

4.25✨ ahhh wtf Ms.Soto has done it again!!! Girl girl i was giggling and shit!!! Who would thunk classical instruments would be so fire bc whewww!! Loved seeing my girl Ama and Elliot small here!! Gwen and Alex were a beautiful couple. A believable one too!! Mabel is an amazing mom to Gwen through and through!! Ava ngl i was disappointed letting that man ruin some of her vital relationships but at least she got sense when it mattered!! Lorenzo and Nathan when I catch yall?!?! Ugh could not stand them!! Jacob Mei and Declan were great side characters and loved how they supported Gwen!! Overall another stunning novel by Ms.Soto and looking forward to her new novel!! She got me out of my slump fr!!

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto is a phenomenal story.
This was a super cute contemporary romance! These characters kept me hooked. The chemistry was fabulous, and the setting made this even better!
The characters are believable and well developed.
This was probably one of my fave reads this year!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for this complementary advanced readers copy.

This book had me swooning and giggling and all the things that a romance book should make you do! The tension between Gwen and Xander was *chef’s kiss* and if you liked “Forget Me Not” you will not be disappointed by this book- Ama & Elliot even show up more than once! I personally love when characters from other books by the author make “cameos” in future books- it’s a nice touch.

I loved all the nods to pop songs that you probably know and love, but I really appreciated the original compositions that come to life on the page. Personally, I am not musically talented (at all!) but I felt like I was in the audience of the Pops Orchestra.

Gwen was kind of naïve and didn’t listen to all the people that were warning her of all the things that were happening, but I feel like that was due to her upbringing and her wanting to be successful in the way that she thought was right for her. Xander made me blush, more than once. I loved seeing all the different aspects of him and why he acts the way he does.

I don’t like to be overly critical of romance novels, I rate based on the vibes. This one was so fun!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review!

This book had me hooked from the start, even as someone who doesn't give a hoot about Reylo.

I appreciated that the enemies to lovers arc felt like it had legitimate grounding for both the enemies and the lovers, which not a lot of books get right. The ways they became infatuated with each other but also respected each other as artists was very compelling. The spice in this book is also really strong. I don't often read straight M/F romance because the gendered dynamics don't sit well with me. The sex here struck the right balance of realistic and aspirational, while being centered around Gwen's pleasure.

The tension was delicious, and made for a fast and highly entertaining read!

Cello scene…. Cello scene…. Cello scene…
I would say more but my heart rate increases and I’m suddenly melting back into a puddle of goo again. 15/10, no notes.

I'm just really glad that cellos are finally getting their due as the Hottest Instrument™️

I really enjoyed Forget Me Not by this author, so I was really excited for her second novel (both of which are very straightforwardly Reylo fanfic, which you can probably tell by the drawing of Adam Driver on the cover, but like, just in case you couldn't). And I think I might have liked this one even better.

This book follows Gwen and Xander who are at times coworkers, rivals, and collaborators. They work together at the Manhattan Pops orchestra, and genuinely, I will not describe the background and family histories at play here, but if we want an oversimplified translation you can think of the Manhattan Pops as the Light Side of the Force, and um rock music as the Dark Side. You'll get it. But really really it's about two incredible musicians who are so obsessed with each other, and maybe they fall in love.

I know very little about music (perhaps, in fact, nothing) and I still found the lengthy descriptions of technique and composition to be positively riveting. Possibly because the chemistry and tension between Gwen and Xander is so intense, I was blushing during, like, extended eye contact.

The third act conflict is a little bit silly. While the actual disagreement they have is pretty valid, the way that they are separated and why really requires a suspension of disbelief, which is really my only major gripe with this novel.

4.5/5

I loved Julie Soto's first book, so I was very eager to see this one on NetGalley! It took me awhile to pick up because I'm not a musically inclined person and the concept felt foreign, but boy oh boy once I started I couldn't stop! The chemistry between Gwen and Alex is palpable and there is a cello scene that is just....woah! While the plot was a little predictable, I still really enjoyed the writing and story. Looking forward to what I'm assuming is Dom's book next?!

A nice easy read. The characters were good and so was the plot. There was a lot of musical references so musically inclined people will love it! The pace and storyline was great :)

2.5 stars but not enough to round up

This wasn't bad, but it was not for me.
It's a very slow character-developed and driven story. While I honestly think the sensuality of the need between the two was amazing, the writing for the sexual scenes hit the spot, and the personality of the two characters lacked lustre. I found Gwen's character not fleshed out and boring and found Alex/Xander, whatever his name is as it switched between too much, annoying and extremely irritating.

I just didn't find what I liked or enjoyed about romance in this and even though I thought I would love it, I did not.
However, I know many people who will love this and I will happily recommend it.

This book was a solid 4 stars! Great characters, good story, and of course that much sought after HEA. The tension was top tier as was the spice. But this book could have not had any of the spicy scenes and the tension on its own would have made this book just as good. This was my first Julie Soto book but it won't be my last!

5 stars / 5 stars

I started this book at the end of May and finished it in June, but don't be fooled by how long it took me to read this book. Life hit me hard when I was in the middle of this book, but I insisted on finishing it because I LOVED IT. Once I continued it, I devoured the living thing out of it.

I'm in awe with this book. The writing, the plot, the connections to music, everything about this book was absolutely AMAZING. When I was reading the book, I felt like I was 12 years old reading a fan fiction about a famous guy falling in love with a regular girl, who secretly is in love with him and his band. There were certain parts in the book that screamed out "FANFICTION" because of how similar the parts are. Of course the book is not like that, but I was just getting that vibe and I truly enjoyed it.

BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE FIRST EVER SCENE IN ALEX'S RECORDING ROOM?!?! THAT WAS FREAKING HOT ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
The amount of tension Alex and Gwen had in the beginning was so good it hit the right spot for me. Once they let loose and went for one another, it was a freaking home run that I could not get enough of.
Alex and Gwen was and is an amazing match made in heaven. It was instant love for sure, but it just didn't feel like it at all, which is amazing because sometimes when it's instant love, I don't feel that connection between the MCs. What I loved about the two is that they bring out the best in one another and challenge one another as well. Being with each other helped them find their true identity. Throughout the book, it really seemed like Alex had everything figured out: he was in a successful band, he was first chair cello, he comes from a well-known family despite their relationship being rocky. It was picture perfect in Gwen's eyes before she got to know them. As for Gwen, she was still trying to figure out herself. No doubt, she's talented and had no issues proving everyone wrong, but she was still trying to figure out where she belonged: doing solos along side an orchestra or being on stage with her own band. But towards the end, they both helped each other realize a lot of things. Overall, I just love love love them.

As for the whole story, this was amazing! I loved how Julie correlated music into this. I don't really know much about playing an instrument, but the way it was described in the book was beautiful. Reading those parts in the book, I can picture it so well in my head. It was truly beautiful, I could not get enough of it.

This was amazing and I can't stretch that enough. I recommend this book for anyone, everyone!! I don't care what genre you read and prefer, but this book is one you need to read.

Thank you Netgalley, Forever, and Julie Soto for this ARC. Truly one of my favorite ARCs that I've received.

Thank you net galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

This is my first book by I've read by this author. It took me a while to finish it because I didnt love the main characters. Gwen seemed very naive and helpless and Xander needed lots and lots of therapy. I did enjoy the world of music but overall I just didnt connect with their story or care that much if they found their happily ever. If it wasnt for having to right a review I probably wouldn't have finished it.

I liked it!

This was my first book by Julie Soto, and overall I really enjoyed it!

It started as fanfic?? Or so I hear! Do I need to dive into the fanfic world because I feel like SO MANY of our beloved authors write/wrote fanfic.

I love a good tall, dark, brooding MMC and Soto delivered with Alex/Xander’s personality for sure. I could related to Gwen’s want for stability for sure!

Read this if you like:
🩵Reylo fanfic turned published work
🩵she falls first, he falls harder
🩵MUSIC (I feel like I learned stuff 🤣)
🩵duel point of view
🩵 You like 🌶️ (or are okay with skipping over it)

The ending was a BIT more rushed than I prefer, but overall an enjoyable read!

Thank you to Forever for giving a copy via NetGalley!

I really enjoyed this book! The pace of the storyline was great and definitely made it hard to put the book down. I loved the characters and all of their flaws and as a former musician, you gotta love a love song ;) This was my first book by Julie Soto but I have immediately added Forget Me Not to my "want to read" list.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC of this book.