This was such a fun and unique read!

I have NEVER read a story like this about a cellist and a violinist. Two musical prodigies trying to find their way in life and meeting each other

I could truly feel the chemistry between Gwen and Xander on these pages. I was hooked from the beginning. I loved all of the connections they had to each other throughout their lives without knowing. The story played out so nicely as everything fell into place with them!

I didn’t know much about violins and cellos prior to reading, but I found myself so drawn in and wanting to learn more! The author did such a great job at writing about a niche subject in a way we could all understand and be interested in!

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Publishing), for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

-Musical prodigies.
-Violinist and cellist.
-Chemistry.

I thought there was no way Soto could top Forget Me Not but I was wrong! I am absolutely obsessed with Not Another Love Song. Musical prodigies, enemies to lovers, workplace romance amazingness. I was immediately hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t put the book down if I tried. The Cello Suite chapters were fantastic. I prefer single POV in romance most of the time, but I thought those chapters were a great way to incorporate insight for the love interest. I loved how both main characters were dealing with childhood trauma and how it added so much emotion to their relationship. I love me a grumpy love interest who only cares about you. I just honestly loved every single thing about this book and have not one complaint. One of my favorite romances this year. And that cover? To die for! I loved that scene and loved seeing it brought to life.

Highly recommend to fans of emotional romances, musical characters, enemies to lovers, tension up the yin yang, workplace romance, Forget Me Not, and spicy reads.

In both this book and her debut, I was incredibly impressed at the way the author writes the interconnection of work and self, and in this book in particular, the way that music was written into every facet of characterization and action. My personal feeling is that this is barely an enemies to lovers or its lesser identified rivals to lovers romance, but something more like like-calls-to-like, which won't sell as many books so I get why no one uses it. But really enjoyed my reading experience overall and cannot wait to see what the author chooses for her next work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the eARC.

I think I’m in the minority who absolutely loved the first half of this book, with all the tension and possibilities, but lost a bit of interest around the 60-70 % mark. I do mainly believe it’s more of a me thing though, and I’ll go into some details later in my review.

I thought the way the author incorporated the music into the book was excellently done. I’m no musician so I can’t speak of the accuracy of terms and such, but I could really feel the music as it was being played and the descriptions were truly wonderful. It also made my own appreciation for musicians skyrocket.

A writing choice that I think worked very much in the favor of the story was the use of a very limited Xander POV. I appreciated getting to spend some time in his POV and getting his history that way, but having the story told mainly from Gwen’s POV and being in the dark with some of his reasoning just worked really well. I also prefer third person POVs, which is so rare in romance books, so that was also a win for me.

The side characters were a delight. Mabel was such a favorite of mine and her interactions with Gwen were the parts of the story that touched me the most. I really thought the story was building up to a Mabel x Ava ending, so was rather disappointed when that didn’t happen though. I also loved the Ama and Elliot cameos.

I loved both main characters from the start and every interaction they had was gold. What lost me at around 60-70% though was just how very sweet (and a bit boring) everything got with Gwen and Xander as an established couple. I am finding this to be a pattern when I’m reading though, hence why I think it’s a me thing and not the book's fault. However, after this there were also some choices that I struggled with. In general, I thought some reactions and events were just a bit too much, I personally would have enjoyed the story more if the extremes were taken down a notch and had more of the vibe of the earlier part of the story. One such example was when Gwen used all her savings for a one-way flight ticket, because while framed as a desperate and romantic gesture, it just felt so out of character.

I did like Gwen gaining her confidence, the character growth for both Gwen and Xander, and the general theme of not letting others dictate your life.

In summary, the first half of the book was a crystal clear 5 star read for me, but I was disappointed by some choices in the second half of the book and so landing on a 4 star. I will definitely pick up the next book Julie Soto releases.

"Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (rounded to 5 stars)

Our story follows Gwen Jackson, a violinist prodigy hired to play at a wedding with her duet partner. After a mix-up, Gwen finds herself holding Xavier Thorne’s cello—an instrument she has only played a few times and one that belongs to the lead musician of one of her favorite bands. Surprising everyone, including herself, Gwen quickly picks up the cello, catching the eye of Xavier, a musical prodigy in his own right. Realizing they've been working together for the past year in the same orchestra, Xavier becomes determined to learn more about Gwen. But when Gwen is offered the role Xavier has spent his life waiting for, the tension between them skyrockets, blending rivalry and romance in a symphony of emotions.

Could this possibly be one of my favorite books of the year? MAYBE. "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto is a beautifully orchestrated romance that hits all the right notes. The tension between the characters is spectacularly written, drawing readers into a world where musical rivalry ignites a passionate and compelling love story. The Cello scene is hottttt.

Tropes to look forward to:
Grumpy/sunshine
Musical rivals to lovers

Thank you to Julie Soto and the Forever Romance team for gifting me this ARC.

This was magical. I loved it and now I’m sad it’s over. I only want to read her books now and I’ll be thinking about it for days. (Big dreamy smile) The romance was beautifully done and made me emotional and happy. I couldn’t put it down. The written was unique and special. The MC’s chemistry was to die for. The intimacy (sigh). And I’m just going to mess this up trying to tell you how wonderful the rest was so you’ll have to read it for yourself. But just so I’m clear, I loved everything! The side characters. The cameos of Ama and Elliot. The highs and lows and the beginning and the ending. All. Of. It!
Julie Soto, you’ve made a lasting impression on me and when I visit N.Y. you’ll be on my mind.
Thanks Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley.

I love it, it made me cry, laugh, gave me butterflies, mad, and annoyed. It made me want to listen to classical music again. I don’t want to spoiled the book, but for sure it a must read.

This is my first Julie Soto book and I was delighted! I enjoyed the romance between the two and loved the sprinkles of POV we got from Alex. The book does exactly what it sets out to do and I have no complaints. I liked Gwen and Alex's attraction, their buildup, their romance, and how they overcome the obstacles in front of them by facing their own demons.

I need to go read Forget Me Not now.

“It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin”

This was amazing, 4.75/5. Love it even more than “Forget Me Not” and I really loved that book. You felt the passion not just between the characters themselves but in the music that they brought to life. Their tensions were written amazingly . Enemies to lovers/ grumpy/sunshine are some of my favorite tropes and this does both justice

Do yourself a favor and preorder this literal masterpiece.

Thank you Julie, Forever publishing & Netgalley for the ARC!

Love, love, love!! I have been a bit of a romance binge recently - lots of Tessa Bailey and Emily Henry - and this felt so fresh in comparison! The approach to the development of the relationship felt different to anything I’ve read before. And Julie Soto perfectly interweaves the music terminology without it being so overwhelming that it’s alienating. Excellent! I’m already looking forward to my reread when my physical copy of this book arrives!

Forever eARC
The angst, the cello, the characters, the spice - whew I absolutely loved this romance. I am a sucker for any book that has a cello playing character, so between reading Forget Me Not and this aspect, I was absolutely sold on this novel. I loved how Gwen and Xander were so different and just had such delicious tension between them for a lot of the novel. The orchestra plot line was so interesting. I didn't know what all of it meant, but I was still fully engaged in the Manhattan Pops and what was happening there. I fell quickly for Gwen and how she just wanted to figure out how music could support her life. I fell for Xander because of how he slowly revealed himself one layer at a time. I just loved these two and this book - and especially that one cello scene.

Holy moly! This book is filled with angst, tension, slow burn, and spicy spice. I absolutely loved reading the love story of Gwen and Alex!

Gwen, a violinist, and Alex, a cellist, have played together in the same orchestra group in New York for the past year. Gwen assumes that Alex has no idea who she is, until they begin running into one another at random music-related events, and gigs. What she doesn’t know is that Alex has been watching her for some time, and waiting for the moment they can connect musically (or more).

The pacing of the story is fast moving and it’s an easy, bingeable read, that leaves you wanting more from this couple and their musical universe. Read this story if you like found family, slow burn, open door romance, witty banter, and complicated family dynamics.

Thank you to Net Galley, Julie Soto and Forever Pub for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Overall, I loved it. A fun read, especially if you've already read Forget Me Not!

Pros:
• musical rep! oh man, they way Soto describes music and how it feels and flows was just *chef's kiss*
• low-stakes read
• good spice
• decent characters
• tie-ins to Forget Me Not that are easter eggs but leave this book a standalone...

Cons:
• predictable villain
• predictable angst
• why tell us upfront it was reylo fanfic first? that colored my perception of the characters immediately (don't get me wrong, fanfic is great) without being able to form imagery or opinions on my own. Tell us at the end!

Thank you NetGalley and Julie Soto for an arc of this book!

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

I found my new favorite romance author. Julie Soto hit it out the park with this book and I couldn't put it down. If you are looking for an easy and fun read this is your book. It brought me out of my reading slump and I can't wait to read more from her.

Gwen Jackson, a 22-year-old aspiring violinist performing with the Manhattan Pops, navigates the world of music as a prodigy despite lacking formal education and being an orphan. Her life takes a turn when she enters Mabel’s music store, owned by a talented musician. While busking in the subway, she encounters Ava Fitzgerald, a legendary musician and Manhattan Pops board member, who holds the coveted first chair. Ava's connection with Mabel helps Gwen secure a position at the orchestra.

However, Gwen's side gig performing at a celebrity wedding with her roommate Jacob leads to an unexpected encounter with Xander Thorne, a star from Thorne & Roses and also a member of Manhattan Pops. Despite his tardiness and arrogance, which irritate both Ava and her partner Nathan, Xander's arrival shakes things up.

Their initial meeting doesn’t go smoothly: Xander harshly critiques Gwen’s performance, unaware they are colleagues until the board decides to give Gwen the first chair Xander demanded to replace Ava, leading to further tension.

Although Gwen battles her insecurities, she has no desire to fight for her position or prove her talent further. Unbeknownst to her, Xander, whose true identity is Alex, recognizes her exceptional talent, surpassing his own. He becomes captivated by this mysterious prodigy, pushing him to break boundaries and stay at Manhattan Pops to collaborate with her. Together, their performances are pure magic. Can Gwen trust this arrogant scion of wealth and power without risking her heart?

In conclusion, this book left me sighing with delight multiple times. The romantic passages were beautifully written and utterly captivating. I adored every moment and believe it deserves more than five stars. Dive into this enchanting story without hesitation!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with the digital reviewer copy of this incredible book in exchange for my honest review.

4.75⭐️

The way I cried and dreamed—y’all, I DREAMED about this book. First and foremost, thank you to Julie Soto and her publisher for offering the ARC e-book for a limited time. 💜

Now…this book…I am not a musical person at all…I have no musical talent, but the way I devoured these characters and the emotion of their music was insane! The characters were dynamic and I love that there is an opportunity (at least I hope I’m understanding this correctly) for future books with these characters.

I can’t explain why I took away 1/4 of a star because this book is unreleased and I don’t want to spoil anything. But if you’ve read my other reviews, you’ll pick up what I’m putting down.

Bravo, Julie Soto! Bravo! 👏 🎻 💜

I had a love hate relationship with this book. The beginning was very slow in my opinion. Lots of information about music and orchestras and lots of side character conversations and story set up. I think I was at 37% and the two main character had had maybe 3 interactions and said 4 sentences to eachother and I was feeling zero chemistry. But then once the romance aspect picked up it took off and I could not put it down. There was so much I loved about their chemistry and their story. The music mirroring their love was so beautiful. It had me emotional at the end which is hard to do! At times their relationship felt rushed but over all I really liked this book. The pacing was just a little off.

Review 🎻

Julie Soto has done it again and has officially become an autobuy author for me! I’m obsessed with how detailed her writing is. You truly get whisked away into these stories. There were moments in this book where I would sit and close my eyes after reading certain parts to “listen” to the music. It was magical 🥰 From the very beginning with her authors note you’re hooked! The tension leading to all the spice was soooo good! But the romance and how it’s blended into the music was pure poetry. Now the FMC Gwen loved her. Her journey was inspiring. But the MMC Xander/Alex stole my heart and ran with it! 😭 I cannot wait to read more from this author💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What You Get:
🌮Found Family
🎻Musical Prodigy
🌮Spice 🥵
🎻Rivals to Lovers
🌮Grumpy to Sunshine
🎻NYC Setting
🌮He Falls First

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This was a very sweet, entertaining romance novel. I loved the musical aspects and always love a book that teaches me about a new topic. This book gave me Ali Hazelwood vibes. I believe fans of Hazelwood will also enjoy this one. I was hoping to get more information on the backstory of our main character but otherwise this was an enjoyable read.

5🌟 idk how julie did it, but she somehow made a book about string instruments and musicians one of the most sexy and angsty books i have ever read!!!! And this is coming from someone who has never played an instrument in her life lol.

This books was complete and utter perfection and here is what to expect!
-third person, dual pov
-rivals to lovers
-workplace
-string player musicians
-he falls first
-reylo fanfic

After reading this book, I know for a fact Julie Soto is an auto buy author for me. No one writes a romance quite like her! The romance, the chemistry, the tension, the angst, the SPICE!!!! Not another love song was no different and it had me hooked from the first few chapters.

One big worry for me was that a lot of the music talk would go over my head because I’m pretty much clueless about instruments and music. But it was super easy to understand for someone how is not musically gifted lol. I actually thought the way julie incorporated music was very beautiful and poetic.

We need to discuss XANDER THORNE!!!!!!!!!!! He is that MAN!!! I actually love him and I’m not ok. And the CELLO SCENE???????? I was really not ok during that scene in the best way.

Thank you so much to Read Forever for the physical ARC and netgalley for the eARC!