Absolutely loved this books! For me I loved the romance and the characters, however the thing that kept me really engaged was the wider story and the individual paths the characters were on. Gwen and Alex were both battling with their own journeys and each other while feeling a constant connection to write music together. The storyline was stunning, the side characters were so well developed and the wider storyline outside of the romance was amazing.

I loved the idea behind this book so much and went into it with high expectations. Unfortunately I feel disappointed in the way the book went. I did not particularly care for either protagonist nor did I feel emotionally connected. If anything it all felt a little lack luster when it had so many opportunities and possibilities to go bigger and more grand.

Julie soto can do no wrong with her books and I was addicted to this reylo coded book. I’ll never look at the cello the same way again.

Firstly thank you to the publishers for kindly accepting my netgalley request. You were so kind and I'm entirely grateful. Overall I enjoyed this book. However my expectations were a little high and it felt slightly short. I love the first half of the book the push and pull between Xander and Gwen was everything. I love Xander moody character and the layers we get to unravel throughout this book. I like Gwen personality however I wanted a bit more depth. Julie wrote the most palpable tension during an orchestra. Who knew that could happen? The spice was a good level and didn't overwhelm the plot.

I enjoy the other characters involved this story where there is a lot of mystery and the clear friendship they have. I found the second half lacking and I can't quite put my fingers on it. Overall a great book, I can't wait to see what Julie writes next

i’ll start this off my saying that Julie Soto had me hooked right from the start! i binged this book in one sitting, i just could not put it down!

XANDER/ALEX was such a complex character which was one of the things that i loved about it. the format of this book, specifically the way we got his pov, was everything! seeing things from his perspective changed my opinion about certain things that had taken place- it was lowkey giving whiplash (but i loved it!)

GWEN was a character that was very relatable imo. i loved that she had xander begging for her attention and she still stood her ground! the dynamics that she had with different characters was truly amazing to see.

that being said, i do wish we could have seen Xander with his bandmates/friends some more because i would have loved to see how he interacted with them. one thing that was lacking is the resolution to the third act break up- for some reason it felt incomplete, perhaps because we didn’t get to see Alex’s pov during this time??

otherwise, i ate this book up! i truly cannot wait to read more of Julie Soto’s books.

Watch me start learning how to play an instrument now, only to have Xander Thorne tell me how bad I am at it.

Having started this book not knowing anything about classical music or anything related to an instrument, I can proudly say I learnt nothing because this man is extremely distracting, I can understand Gwen completely. A book about two people who are alike but also opposites find each other in the most excruciating and loving way possible. I didn’t really understand Xander’s character at first but as time went on you discover much more about him and learn there’s way much more to him than what everybody thinks, I like the character background a lot.
Gwen is literally a cutie patootie (as Jacob, her best friend and roommate) would most definitely call her, she just wants to be heard, musically, and then of course catches the eye of most talented Xander Thorne, but she thinks he hates her, she couldn’t be further from the truth.

I devoured thus book, even if sometimes I did get a bit confused with all the music terminology and different instruments, I definitely loved the characters (Jacob is bestie goals). It felt like a different refreshing read because I rarely read anything linked to instruments or music but I definitely will read some more now.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading (and loving) Forget Me Not last year, I’ve been so excited to get my hands on another book by this author. I had high hopes for this one going in and it certainly lived up to them all. It is a fast-paced story that had me hooked from the very first chapter. If you love romance and music, this is one for you.

Gwen and Xander are both musical prodigies, but each of them had different paths to success. Xander as born into musical royalty whilst Gwen had a natural ear for music that was nurtured by someone close. When Gwen performs at his friend’s wedding, she is mortified when she realises Xander has no idea who she is. Despite working alongside each other for a year at the Pops Orchestra.

When Gwen is offered the role of First Chair of the orchestra, which Xander wanted for himself, their existing hostility goes up a notch. But their respect for each other’s music is undeniable, and their onstage chemistry is off the scale. As they explore their feelings for each other, they become box office dynamite and the fragile romance that’s growing between them is in danger of being crushed.

I loved the characters in this book which is mostly told from Gwen’s POV other than some interludes from Alex’s POV. Gwen is a people pleaser at heart who I wish stood up for herself more at certain points in the book. Despite that, she is caring, vibrant and charming. I’m so glad we got to see her learn more about herself throughout the book and learn she deserves more than just to settle for something she is used to.

Alex took me time to warm up to but once I did, he was wonderful. He appears to be arrogant and grumpy but as you get to know him you learn he is caring, thoughtful and just wants what is best for him and those around him.

The romance between the pair is exceptional. The slow burn build-up was done perfectly as you could quite literally cut the tension between them with a knife. The spicier scenes in this book are some of the best I’ve ever read in romance and their chemistry is undeniable. Plus, the way that they speak to each other through their music is stunning.

At its heart, this book is a love letter to music and the effect it can have on you and those around you. It even made me miss playing my guitar. I loved that the characters use music to express their emotions when words aren’t easy or enough.

Julie Soto is an author whose books I will buying more of when they are released in the future. I love the stories she tells, her characters and the way in which she hooks her readers from the first page. Also, the little cameos of the characters from her first book were excellent.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Not Another Love Song. It is a fast-paced, heart-warming romance that has music at its centre. I would highly recommend it!

First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Not Another Love Song is an adult romance standalone in which we follow Gwen, a musical prodigy and violinist, and Xander, a famous cellist who plays in a rock band, two opposite musicians who have to collaborate in their local orchestra.

I used to be a fan of musical romances when I was a teenager, and I guess that it has not changed because I loved this book so much! I loved Julie Soto's writing style in her previous book (Forget Me Not), and it is something that I loved again in this novel. It is so easy to understand and has a way of capturing your attention that I really enjoy, and you could almost think that you are in the book with the characters. Speaking of the characters, I also loved them: Gwen is a sweetheart and I somehow identified with her a lot, and Xander is really cute in his own way, with lots of layers. I enjoyed their interactions and their romance a lot. The plot was also really well organised, and I was definitely waiting forward to read THE cello scene everyone kept talking about (it was worth it, but other scenes are as hype-worthy as this one). I liked seeing Ama and Elliot again from Forget Me Not, and their appearance was very natural.

I can not wait to read whatever Julie Soto writes next, because so far, everything is perfect!

Julie Soto's "Not Another Love Song" explores the tempestuous romance between musical prodigies Gwen Jackson and Xander Thorne. While the novel has an intriguing premise—rivals to lovers in the high-stakes world of a pops orchestra—the execution falls somewhat flat.

Gwen, a naturally talented musician, and Xander, classical music royalty, have compelling backgrounds, but their chemistry feels forced. Xander’s initial disregard for Gwen and his critique of her performance sets up a predictable, if clichéd, antagonistic relationship. Their interactions, meant to be charged with tension, often come off as more irritating than engaging.

The plot's reliance on improbable scenarios, such as the orchestra’s dubious decision to appoint Gwen as First Chair for publicity, detracts from its believability. While the novel's emotional and spicy moments, especially the cello scenes, are highlights, they aren’t enough to fully redeem the story.

Ultimately, despite Soto's engaging writing style, "Not Another Love Song" misses the mark, leaving readers wanting more depth and authenticity.

5 stars!

I was a little nervous because I feel like there was a lot of hype and early buzz about this book and Julie Soto as an author so I was really excited that this book matched the hype for me.

First off, this cover is beautiful. I absolutely love it. The scene that the cover is for????? omg. I haven't really read any contemporary romance this year (this is only my fifth) because I have found that a lot of contemporary romances bore me or they are just a little repetitive. This was very different. I was immediately compelled by Gwen and Alex (not really Xander...it took some time for him to grow on me) and I absolutely loved how they communicated through music. This whole book was just so tender and I highlighted so many quotes and perhaps also cried a little bit.

I also loved how Alex was a boy obsessed and if a man told me he couldn't stop thinking of me because his apartment smelled like me???? I would fold.

I will now be reading Forget Me Not and I'm SO excited for her romantasy debut next year.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love horny musicians! That's it, that's the summary. No, but really, I loved this. I received it as an eARC and then decided I needed a physical copy, so make of that what you will. I haven't read many musician romances and now I need all of them, thank you very much. The perfect blend of down-bad MMC and that kind of rivals (ish) to lovers tension that I love most, in a unique setting.

OMG I devoured this book and loved every second ✨💙

5⭐️ This book had me completely besotted, devouring each page so that I ended up finishing it in a day (90% in one sitting) Having enjoyed Julie Soto’s previous work (including her Dramione Fics and 2024 romance Forget Me Not) I had high hopes going into this and I was not disappointed! The premise had lots of the tropes that readers (myself included) love but still managed to feel unique in terms of plot so that it stands out from the romance crowd and felt memorable with an interesting orchestral spin on workplace rivals to lovers (I now know more about the inner workings of an orchesrra🤣)

The chemistry and sexual tension between Gwen and Xander was OFF THE CHARTS!! and this showed in the spicy scenes which were SERIOUSLY STEAMY. I can’t look at the gorgeous cover without blushing (IYKYK🤭)

Xander Thorne was the epitome of a Kylo Coded bad boy who’s a secret cinammon roll that will break all the rules for the woman he loves. He is the biggest simp for Gwen and I am here for it.

What an absolute treat of a read for any romance lover, but even more so for the A03 girlie/Reylo lovers (like me!) If you’re a fan of Ali Hazelwood and Tessa Bailey and like your romances reylo. coded them you will love this book!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Fiction for an earc-This is my honest review!

Having read and loved Soto's debut Forget Me Not, I had high expectations for her next work. I can't say those expectations were really met, but I did mostly enjoy this book too. I liked the dynamic between Alex and Gwen but at times it felt like the only thing happening in their relationship was sex. I think their relationship could have been explored a lot more in depth and that we could have gotten more interesting and fun scenes with them two instead of mostly just smut. Don't get me wrong, the spicy scenes were top notch, but I don't like when they make up 80% of the scenes of the couple being together. I liked the banter between them in the beginning and I wish it stayed throughout the book too.
The side characters were well developed and I was interested in their backstories. Lorenz and Nathan felt kind of like the same person though, so I think there could've been made a more distinct difference in their personalities.
As a main character, I did find Gwen annoying a lot of the time. She was very whiny and indecisive. I also found it a bit frustrating how she described sex in violin talk, "arpeggios and triplets". It got too much over time. I think it would have been better if we got alternating POVs instead of just a couple of very short chapters from Alex's POV.

I'm almost too embarrassed to admit this was my first Julie Soto book (though I promise you it’s definitely not the last one)!

As a huge music lover (and violin player), this book truly was a balm to my soul. Gwen and Alex’s admiration for one another (well hidden behind all the rivalry of course) was so well written, the music between their hearts a beautiful melody any romance reader would enjoy. The tension between them, the “I don't know (of) them all that well, the very particular scene that left us all a little flushed and breathless were anything a reader wants and more, and truly a “confirmation that Soto truly knows what she’s doing.

Do yourself a favor - pick this up and let it be your summer romance book we all so desperately crave.

𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐓𝐎 - 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: 
Oh, gosh, was this story really addicting! I've come to the realisation - I am perfectly happy reading a Julie Soto book in the middle of a heatwave, sitting on an inflatable object in the pool. I've done it in two successive summers and thoroughly enjoyed both books. Forget Me Not will always be a special book in my heart, the way it grabbed me is rare and special. I felt something similar while reading Not Another Love Song.A quick tidbit of information about me: my cousin is a professional cello player in a philharmonic orchestra, so quite a few fond memories of mine are related sitting in an auditorium, completely mesmerised by the sheer talent of ten fingers and an instrument. This book reminded me of the hard work instrumentalists must put into their career, how competitive and lonely it can be to be successful.I fell a bit in love with the shy and grumpy Alex, who had no idea how to express his wonderment but in tunes. I loved how desperately he did not want to have feelings towards Gwen, the girl who took the only lifeline he found for himself. How his need for her grew, how strange yet charming each encounter between the main characters felt.Gwen was a grown up, who never really experienced childhood. This made her the perfect target for conniving adults' schemes, which were hard to witness. It was necessary for her character development, for her to break out of her predefined roles. I enjoyed how the complexity of Xander made her strive to be better but at the same time brought out a caring side out of her. The chemistry was sizzling, the cello scene from the cover was especially hot.
There were several times where I giggled and kicked my feet in the air at the antics of the characters. I especially loved Mei and Mabel's characters.Julie is a master of contortionist of words and putting enchanting moments on paper, making you feel like you're in a movie.The story is not perfect, I can't really put my head around just transforming the way one plays violin and successfully tackling cello, but for the sake of music prodigies I can accept it.

I know we’re only in July, but I think this might be one of my top five romance books this year. Julie Soto has stormed the romance fiction gates and made it to the top of the hierarchy. I loved this book. Period. It was perfect. With the amount I read, I find it difficult to fall in love with a story and it stick with me afterwards.
Gwen, our heroine, is a sweetheart. She stays in her own lane, does what she loves and is content with her position in life and in the Pops orchestra. Deep down she dreams of more for her life but when she compares her current life to what it was like as a young adult, she has come so far. As a self-taught violinist, Gwen is content with what she has. On the side, her and her best friend perform at weddings to earn some extra cash, and this is where the book kicks off. Gwen, running late to perform at a wedding, stumbles in but is ready to go. That is until the awkward bride didn’t want a violinist but wanted a cello player. Desperate to please and get paid, Gwen declares herself a cello player and takes a beautiful instrument from out hero for the book: Xander Thorne. Left on the spot, Gwen makes do and plays the cello. After a tense interaction with Xander, Gwen is pleased to be done with the event.
Xander Thorne, or Alex to his friends and family is a renowned classical musician who grew up with an instrument stuck into his hands. After his mother, current first chair of the Pops Orchestra, remarried and being crushed by the pressure from his new step-father using him as a cash cow Alex stepped away from this inflicted legacy and made a name for himself with a new band and new name. After he returns to the Pops determined to get first chair after his mother leaves, Gwen storms into his life as new first chair, leaving him shaken and surprised.
Poor Xander is a grumpy boy who definitely did not see violinist Gwen coming. I love how he’s stroppy and reminds me of a slightly annoyed toddler stomping his feet but he’s also absolutely in love with her and cannot cope with his big feelings.
The tension between the two is intoxicating. You couldn’t get two characters who are more clueless to what’s going on. Gwen is secretly a Xander/Alex fan but when he’s an arse to her on a few occasions, she puts him in his place and leaves him to it. Resulting in him pining after her and wanting more. When the pair are put forward to duet, their chemistry is used as a ploy to make money and bring in a new audience to the orchestra, something Xander is accustomed to.
This romance felt intrusively intimate, and I don’t mean the love scenes. Every performance, conversation and simple exchange between the two felt like I was a third wheel imposing on their developing relationship.
I can’t wait to see what Julie Soto releases next and if it’s anything like Not Another Love Song then I’ll be there eagerly waiting.
Thank you for the eARC!

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to Harper Collins UK, and NetGalley for the ARC.
 
This has to be one of my favourite reads of 2024, and one of the best romance books I’ve read. This book is a 5 star read without a doubt! This book had my heart racing, and giggling and kicking my feet. But it also pulled on the heart strings.

The chemistry and spark between Gwen and Alex (aka. Xavier) on and off stage is incredible. The passion, the tension, the admiration - brilliant. This is probably one of the most intense enemies/rivals to lovers that I’ve read. The spice is very very spicy. Behind the persona of Xavier, is Alex, a boy who falls hard and fast for Gwen. Gwen and Alex are for sure one of my most favourite book couples. I so wish I could see them perform on stage together, because I just know it would be magical, exhilarating, and passionate.

I felt a deep sadness for Alex, that for his whole life, he was under so much pressure and was manipulated on so many occasions so that others gained off his success, but with Gwen, he found himself, and found his partner and equal, not only in life, but in music too.

I really loved the found family element of this book - the dinner at the end with Gwen, Alex, his mother, Mabel, Jacob, and Declan was so sweet with them all playing music together. This was definitely a very special element of the book.

Overall, I will be recommending this book to anyone who’ll listen, and I’ll definitely be looking out for more of this authors books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, steeped in music and love and life. I enjoyed the journey of the characters, their self realisations and their growth. A sizzling romance sure to leave you wanting more!

OMG OMG OMG

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK!!!

I love Alex and Gwen sooo much, the chemistry is palpable!! and the music session between the two of them? SOO HOTTTT!! I would recommend this book! although the ending was a bit anticlimactic for me, I don't know if I 100% enjoyed the ending, but overall, THE BOOK WAS SOOOO GOOD!!

📚BOOK REVIEW 📚

Not Another Love Song - @juliesotowrites

I would like to thank @netgalley for giving me this opportunity to read this book ahead of release.

This book was such a great read and my first of reading this author. I loved falling into the world of this orchestra. With lies, deceit, drama, music and love this book is a winner.

Gwen Jackson has had to fight for absolutely everything but music is her vice.

Xander Thorne has everything and comes from musical royalty.

But when Gwen is appointed as the First Chair in the New York Pops Orchestra, tension is built as this should have been Xanders. With a hostile environment created sparks fly as these two are forced into a world together becoming an instant hit. With fans going wild they suddenly become much more than enemies and their heated attraction becomes electric.

It's a delicate romance but one that becomes pivotal to both characters as they find themselves in each other.

I enjoyed this book. I liked how it was written and how it was separated into different acts. It gave such a good insight into the dog eat dog world of the business. The romantic journey was so lovely and if this book doesn't want to make you play cello. I'm not sure what will. I loved how they admired and respected each others talents. They brought out the best in each other. Definately worth a read.