How has music become so sexy suddenly ?????? Wow this was hot! The tension was a 10/10. I never would’ve thought someone playing cello would’ve been so hot but here we are. It also did help when i imagined Adam Driver as the main guy of course. I really liked how the relationship was built and oh my god that ending i could’ve cried. The third act break up did make sense but i think it was just a tad too long but I liked how they got back together. Anyways, a word to describe this book : sexy

Alex Fitzgerald was a child prodigy on the violin. Gwen Jackson, in a difficult family situation, hung out at Mabel's music store in Queens and with Mabel's recognition of her talent and encouragement, became a professional musician at the New York Pops orchestra, which was started by Alex's grandfather, and where his mother, Ava Fitzgerald, was the first violinist. And yet Alex rebelled at the family pressure, changed his name to Xander Thorne and became part of the musical group Thorne and the Roses, where he played cello, leaving his violin--and his family--behind. And yet he comes back to the Pops, where he meets Gwen, and that's where the action(and attraction) begins. Both are extremely talented musicians, but approaching it from completely different directions. So they recognize the talent in the other, but have issues with how that talent is dealt with. And of course the chemistry between them only complicates matters further. How these differences and complications are resolved makes for a very satisfying story. All the characters enhance the end result, much like a good orchestra frames and enhances the soloists. And the descriptions of the music play as much of a role in character and plot development as does the heat that develops between Gwen and Alex. This story sings.

One friend told me that this is based off Soto’s fanfic about Kylo Ren and Jedi Rey and honestly that’s all I needed to know this was the book for me!
I ADORED this book! My favorite contemporary romance to date. It was a quick read with lots of angst, pining, heated moments, and competition.

Gwen has lost both her parents at a young age and stumbles into a music store where the owner takes pity on her and teaches her the violin. Xander is the front man of a rock and roll band where he plays the electric cello. He is a musical prodigy born into an influential musical family.
How much more Reylo can you get?!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for this e-ARC. I will be buying the physical copy the moment it becomes available!!

I devoured this book. It was mt first of Julie Soto's books and as soon as I finished it I immediately went to read her debut. The characters, the back story, the chemistry are all phenomenonal. Receiving this ARC was such a treat, and this book is a treasure.

Grumpy/Sunshine! Rivals to Lovers! Obscure (and not) music references! Julie Soto, thank you for publishing your Reylo fic! A++, 10/10 stars.

Never in my life did I think I would like a contemporary romance as much as this one. I love my books with some fantasy or dark elements that give it that ‘out of this world’ vibe but I could not for the life of me put this down. Love that this was plot driven and not just a book smothered with smut. The two characters were fleshed out well. There was rivals to lovers, found family…and maybe billionaire romance(?). (Reluctant to call it rich vs. poor)

This made me really want to go experience The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall or rewatch the anime ‘La Corda D’oro’.

I also loved that 2 antagonist were added where they held the same weight but didn’t overwhelm the story, if that makes any sense. There wasn’t a jealous female villain!! That’s another plus.

The reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars though was because the resolution felt very rushed. They just disappeared into the background, out of the MMC and FMC’s life. I wish it wasn’t so realistic where karma wasn’t delivered. It’s just a personal preference. I felt unfulfilled. I also found it odd that the Asians were the only one’s described by their race or ethnicity, like Mei (the wiry Chinese girl) and Jackie (the cute Asian girl). I already figured Mei was Asian based off her name, could have left it as is or given her a full name like Ama Torres. And with Jackie being Hazel Renee’s wife but introduced her as the cute Asian girl that was holding her hand. She felt more like she was the model’s adopted child if not for emphasizing that Hazel Renee is gay, married and will be coming in with said wife before her reveal. Mabel was described as a Puerto Rican woman but only after her character was fleshed out as her own person and Gwen’s motherly figure. Even then it was only used to describe Gwen’s first impression of her as a child. I guess being southeast asian, I’m more aware when an asian character is introduced and the characters just struck a nerve, like their defining factor is their race and that’s all that matters. Just a token. But aside from that, the inclusiveness whether it being race or sexuality was still a nice touch.

A big thank you to Netgallery and Julie Soto for an eARC!

Absolutely perfect enemies to kind of friends to lovers romance. The characters, the tension, the angst, the spice - the author absolutely nailed it. I totally got the Reylo fanfic but it in no way distracted from this story. Gwen & Xander's chemistry was off the charts from their very first scene together. I felt like Xander was exactly what Gwen needed in her life to push herself and her music to the next level. Their collabs were scorching hot & they just made complete sense as a couple. Regardless of their night & day different musical background, they were clearly perfect for each other. I never knew I could find music composing or cello practice so spicy, but hey- new kinks and all that. There were a few slow spots for me AND a third-act break up (BOO) but I enjoyed this book so much I didn't even care.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book asap! Absolutely delicious tension between these characters. I loved Julie's first book and loved this one just as much🤌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

thank you to netgalley, forever, and julie soto for this e-arc!

It has been a minute since a romance has captivated me as much as this one did. this book was my certified slump-breaker. I don’t know what crack julie soto put in this book, but I was addicted. as a classical musician and music teacher, I ATE THIS STORY UP.

this story flows effortlessly. it doesn’t lull and it is so fun! the main characters are complex and well-developed, but also young and make mistakes because of it. the tension was electric and the chemistry was PALPABLE. while I think the romance could be seen as moving rather quickly, I think it makes a LOT of sense for musicians. it is not unlikely for a classical musician to rapidly fall in love with another musician that challenges them and enraptures them with their musicianship.

I love Gwen and Xander/Alex. As a duo, but as individuals as well. Gwen is kind and a lovable character, but she’s young and she acts it at times. Xander/Alex is just down bad for sweet Gwenny and I love that for her.

my ONLY issues with this book:
- some of the music terminology was overused and it started to take me out of the story. for example: “arpeggios” was used 20 times. “legato” was also used quite a bit. I would’ve loved to see more diversity in terms when describing the music. or at least more diverse ways of saying these things. ex. “arpeggiating notes”, “arpeggiation”, “legato line”. there’s also nothing wrong with describing music with non-musical terminology.
- might get some flack for this but there was just a tad too much smut for me in this book. I’m not anti-smut, but I also don’t NEED it in a book. while I think some of these scenes progressed the story, not every one felt necessary/needed to be in full detail. I give it a 🌶️🌶️🌶️ rating personally.

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! PLEASE READ THIS WHEN ITS PUBLISHED!!

I finally have a book I can reference for what I've been saying for years: men who play the cello are hot. This cover says it all really.

I immediately fell in love with this book. The tension was incredible. Tighter than a cello string. The pining and longing was top-notch. The damage to my heart cannot be undone.

The way Soto wrote about the music and they way each character played their instrument was so visceral, I felt like I was actually hearing it. I don't know if Soto plays the violin or cello, but if not, she must have done her research. That's coming from someone who doesn't play either instrument though so take that for what you will.

Xander Thorne is the biggest simp in the world. This man had me giggling and kicking my legs throughout the entire book. He would look at her and I would combust. Me, the reader. I really don't know how Gwen was holding it together because I was a hot mess. I want to tattoo my entire body with his words from this book. This is what I mean when I say my fictional men set my expectations too high. I'll truly never recover.

Read this book at your earliest convenience and inconvenience. You too will fall in love with men who play the cello and frown a lot and *might* look like Kylo Ren. 10000/10 recommend!

You NEED to pick up this book.

When I say I am so obsessed with these characters I am not kidding. This story follows two classical musicians fighting their attraction while being forced to play alongside one another in the New York Pops orchestra. My god the banter, the TENSION, the CELLO SCENE.

I am still unwell from this book and a lot of it probably has to do with the fact that I was a band kid and this was my literal fantasy!!!

Regardless, Miss. Julie Soto knows how to do the damn thing, and wow did she ever do it.


*Thank you to Netgalley for the early review copy!

4.75 ⭐️

This is my first ARC (thank you thank you net galley) and I fear I’ve started with the very best 🥹

I could not read this fast enough. It has been a LONG LONG time that I have stayed up past 1 am reading a book (I did this two nights in a row, rip to me). I think I fell in love with this book faster than my boy Alexander fell in love with Gwen playing the cello. I LOVED the musical setting of this story and the way that their love and life of music brought these characters together on such a deep level. A lot of romances tend to feel like lust as opposed to love, but you could see my boy Xander down bad with Gwen’s soul.

Side note- these characters gave me instant Mia and Sebastian vibes. They each had their own musical struggles and were on a journey to find their happiness and build a name for themselves. I loved the rivals turned co-writers aspect of their musical career. The reader gets to see their love for each other blossom as they are writing this love song together. I also loved the whole storyline that Xander has been Gwen's idol for so long. Some of my favorite chapters were when Gwen's obsession with Thorn and Roses is seen played out when she interacts with them at various house parties.

I want to give this book infinite stars and it very nearly is for me. The one issue I had was with how spicy it was. I’ve become a pro at skipping through explicit scenes because I don’t prefer to read them, but it was still a little much for me. Having read her last book though, I was aware of this going in.

I still thought this was an insanely beautiful romance read and can’t wait to see people’s reactions to it.

4.75 stars
I think this book currently takes the crown for my favorite romance I've read so far this year. There's just something about how Julie writes that has me in absolute transports of delight until the minute I turn the final page. This book just had some top notch and complex characters who had such immaculate tension and chemistry, and I was just eating up everything about their dynamics. As someone who's never been a part of the music world, there were plenty of elements of the orchestral scene that were lost on me, but from an outsider's perspective, it did all exist in a way that made it clear that Julie put a lot of time and research into portraying those elements.

The main reason this book was just shy of 5 stars for me is because in a lot of the early chapters, the thick amounts of tension between Gwen and Xander didn't feel equal to the actual amount of interaction they'd had. I think by the time they actually banged for the first time they'd had maybe two proper conversations, and at least for me, it felt like it was relying a bit too heavily on observed cello solos as a substitute for actual interaction.

I've been procrastinating writing this review for weeks now because I was hoping some really thoughtful and eloquent review would come to me so I could say many astute and meaningful things about how much I loved this book. But ultimately it all comes back to the fact that I adored this, I had the best time reading it, and absolutely everyone needs to get a copy of this book when it comes out in July.

I need Alex injected on my veins. This has been one of the few 5-stars read I have read this year. I loved every single aspect about this b0ok and more. I need more Gwen and Alex.

If you're craving a romance with a twist, "Not Another Love Song" by Julie Soto needs to be on your radar! From the get-go, Soto hooks you with her refreshing spin on love stories.
Join Mia on her ups and downs through the maze of modern relationships and self-discovery. This book feels raw and real, which sets it apart from other contemporary romances. Soto doesn't sugarcoat the messy parts; she dives deep, making Mia's journey feel like your own.
"Not Another Love Song" is a gem in the romance genre. Soto's voice is magnetic and authentic, making this a book you won't want to put down.

Julie Soto’s “Not Another Love Song” was originally fanfic in the Rey/Kylo Star Wars world. Ms. Soto states this in the beginning, so I don’t feel like that’s a spoiler. This book deals a bit with classical music and orchestras. I do feel that Ms. Soto did her research on those fronts. However, I had some fundamental issues with the storyline. I understand the orchestra needing money (hey, everyone’s hurting) and I even understand the “we need marketing to bring in the big bucks and sponsors” angle, but … it just felt all kinds of wrong to me and more of creating conflict than a thought out plot device. I’m not a fan of insta-lust and I felt that’s what the two characters had at first - yes, they both felt music beyond just playing the notes, but the relationship needed more than just the spice (and, wowzers, what spice!) Ms. Soto put on the page for me to believe it. Also, I realize that the two main characters are young adults, but this felt more like a teen romance (cue high school). I really wanted to overall enjoy this book more than I did … music, dueling violins, professional setting, but eh … maybe if the synopsis had said “Star Wars fanfic” I wouldn’t have requested it. If you like broody main male characters, professional orchestra settings, spicy (sexy time!) scenes, and Ms. Soto’s writing - this book may be up your alley.

SO INTIMATE and oh the pining!

JULIE!! HOW?! HOW DO YOU COME UP CHARACTERS AND SCNES LIKE THIS?! I cannot, will not understand!! Alex/Xander…so dreamy!! His presence itself is intense and charged! I’m melting into a puddle… And the scene on the cover… Phew!! I’m not ok! The tension… Ugh I’m definitely not ok.. You have a way of turning regular things into something unique. First it was flower tattoos and now string instruments?! Heck I’d never be able to look at a cello normally now 🫠.

Listen I’ve been raving about Julie’s books for a while now and if you still haven’t read them, this is me re-raving about them.. JULIE’S WRITING IS MAGIC! Let her sprinkle some of that into your life too.. You won’t regret!! Reading her first book really altered my brain chemistry.

Gwen is a girl dreaming about her future as a violinist and Xander aka Alex is our stunning MMC cellist. Both are musical prodigies but with unheard and unseen emotional turmoil. Together they create music that’s deep, enchanting and breathtaking. When you read the scenes they play together, you feel it! You feel the electrifying spark, the flames, the emotions…. You feel it all through Julie’s words. I had to take breaks to soak in the emotions at some places because of the intensity of them. Xander’s emotions made me weak! He initially made me mad for a second but I immediately forgave him because he’s that sweet and is now one of my favorite MMCs. He’s gorgeous, kind, talented and irresistible! Julie is good at many things including breaking hearts and I’m ready to get mine broken over and over again cause if that’s Julie, it’s worth it!!

Thank you Readforever as always for my ARC. All thoughts are my own.

23 year old Gwen Jackson is selected as First Chair violin for the Manhattan Pops, a first in the history of the organization. Xander Thorne is the mercurial first cello of the Pops who has never noticed Gwen in their year working together - until she is offered first violin, a position he wants.

✅ Enemies to lovers
✅ workplace romance, the workplace is an Orchestra
🌶️: yes and before the halfway point. There’s a whole thing with an electric cello… you just have to read it.

Note: if you choose to read the beginning author’s note, it may give you a mental image of the lead MC that could be distracting. I recommend you let your imagination fancast Xander and read the note after.

I loved Forget Me Not. This was better. Maybe I feel that way because I love music and orchestras and string instruments, but this book was so cozy to me (which is a subjective personal feeling...not an objective trait of the book). Slightly more drama than I thought it needed, but it all tied together so well and resolved beautifully. I saw someone call it YA, but there is *spice* making this not YA. Julie does a great job describing the characters, their feelings, their conflicts, and the pacing really kept things moving.

I loved the book content but what stands out to me most now that I finished is from the acknowledgements...."This cover. I can't believe I said we'll we could do that scene, and then they let you do that scene, and now there's that scene on the cover." iykyk

Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review!
(also reviewed on Goodreads)

The way I love this book. Absolutely loved the fact that she knew and loved Xander’s band but once she started to get to know Alex she loved him too. Their relationship, once it began, was fast, hot and heavy while also being playful and always having the music be important. The fact that he came back work solely so he could be near her after they played together (in all senses) for the first time made everything better.