Julie will forever be my favourite author, for her fanfic to her published work, she’s incredible! A total autobuy author for life.

Loved this author’s first book so was really excited to read her second one. This one had. Different vibe and it took a little while for me to get into but overall I really enjoyed Alex/Xander and Gwen’s story and the chemistry between them was pretty good. The delve into the world of music and these two supremely talented people finding that connection with the other was handled well. An overall an engaging and interesting read. 3.5 🌟

I’ve mentioned before about some books are spicy and some books are SEXY and trust me when I say, oh my god, this is SEXY.

Yes it is very incredibly beautifully spicy, but the tension between these two characters is so outrageous that I did have genuine concerns over my heart giving out.

It was perfect and agonising and had me literally hyperventilating. Gwen and Xander were both so frustrating, to me, to each other, to themselves agh. The story was fun and kept me on my toes; the side characters were brilliant; all the little Ama and Elliot appearances had me giddy. It was an unhealthy but welcome time has by all (and by all, I mean just me sweating and drooling over two fictional characters).

Think that pretty much covers it.
I don’t know what else to say, but maybe don’t call me when you’ve been hospitalised over this?

I honestly devoured this book in a day, I enjoyed it so much! The chemistry between Gwen and Xander was electric and addicting, and I was completely hooked! I also really loved the musical elements and the way music was written into the story, woven in with the romance, it was so beautiful. And, both Gwen and Xander’s individual journeys were also so interesting and I was rooting for both of them! Also the mystery surrounding Xander’s family and his history with both the cello and the violin had me completely hooked. My only criticism is that the ending felt a bit too rushed. I still highly recommend this book and I will definitely grab Forget Me Not 💜

Things I enjoyed about Not Another Love Song:
🎻 the tension was absolute fire 🔥
🎻 the cello scene iykyk 🤭
🎻 Xander being so soft for Gwen 🥹
🎻 Gwen and Mabel’s relationship 🥰

This is a must read if you love;

-Rivals to lovers

-Exquisite pining and longing and banter

-XANDER THORNE grovelling

-Music-themed contemporary romance

-Beautiful and almost poetic writing

-Tension-filled romance that will have you salivating and wishing you could jump into the book to feel even an ounce of the love that is described in its pages

-Tortured, broody musical prodigy x sunshine musical prodigy fmc



This is THE SEXIEST book I’ve ever read and probably the BEST romance book of this year, with lush prose, delectable romance and a beautiful cast of characters. I’m certain that this book will be the newest romance obsession of this season, if not this whole year. A truly taunting, sexy, addictive and tension-filled book that will have readers practically begging for air because everything about this book will leave you breathless. It is BREATHTAKING. The prose is beautiful and sensual while the story itself, the vibes and undying the chemistry between the characters were all perfectly executed, balanced and masterfully entrenched onto my heart forever. This book is poised to connect with readers who love lyrical romances with a lot of passion, heat and heart. The spice was so expertly done and everything about this book is ironically like music; perfectly flowing, gorgeously heartfelt, and you can really FEEL the swoon worthy chemistry of the main protagonists. I feel that Julie Soto has heightened my love for dark, brooding and tortured mmcs (who are 6” and above) because once you meet Xander Thorne, who is just perfection and is my dream man, you will be enamoured. He is grovelling given form. My standards for romance novels have also increased by tenfold because nothing I’ve ever read has compared to this, except maybe ‘Just for the Summer’ by Abby Jimenez, which comes second in my top 5 best romance books so far this year.

I feel like it’s also worth noting that this book, for me, has the BEST type of spice because it comes across as so alluring, passionate, and almost poetic - yet it’s not so overtly subtle that it will still satiate and satisfy those strong spice cravings that I know many of us book girlies have. While reading this book, I felt like I just NEEDED air and like I needed to get SOMETHING done to me by Xander Thorne... you know? There was SO MUCH SEXUAL TENSION that I was constantly internally screaming at the characters to just fck already!!! It’s giving Kate and Anthony in S2. It’s giving Abby Jimenez’s poetic prose. It’s just GIVING. Warning: You will need air and you will not be able to breathe while reading this book because gosh, THIS BOOK. It’s all I’ve ever wanted in a contemporary romance book. Truly, and honestly. Julie Soto has become an auto-buy author for me after this masterpiece. This book is OUTSTANDING, and I devoured it. Give me anything by Julie Soto and I will gobble it up.

I’ve been thinking about how to review this book for well over a month now. I really, truly loved this book a lot, and I’ve found it hard to put in to words just quite how and what I loved about it. I’ve had a little quip stuck in my head, about how this book is like a song you get stuck in your head on repeat, it’s just been on my mind that much since finishing.

I don’t know much about music, admittedly — I would love to be able to play an instrument, any instrument really, but it doesn’t seem to be in the cards for me (anytime I’ve tried has ended up with me in severe frustration and those around me with a noise induced headache….from my yelling). While I can hear the music, I can’t see, to play it. So I just really loved escaping in to the head of musicians….and this is what this book felt like…escapism…

I was well and truly immersed for the 300 and something pages that this book is and I hardly put the book down. I’m.over both Gwen and Alex in all their complicated glory, their grief and their anger and their passion and their love. I loved them together and though they had a great, burning chemistry and I loved how the music was used as part of the romance (in more ways than one, iykyk).

I just really, really loved this.

(I think the reason for my 4 star is that I think it could’ve been a little longer and could’ve given us a bit more time in the latter half to work through the fall out and resolutions between different characters, the novel mostly had good pace but I think this is where it let itself down a little bit).

Julie Soto, you consistently wrote books that'll break my heart before smushing it back together. Utterly stunning, I need to read it again.

This was my first Julie Soto book and if they’re all as good as this one, she’s going to make my auto-buy list for sure.
I was hooked from the beginning, and the best thing about this book was the off-the-chart tension and pining. The sexual tension between them was delicious and the way Soto uses music to amplify their emotions, the way music and feelings echo each other was incredibly hot and realistic at the same time.
While the heroine’s decisions are sometimes overly naive, she IS young and uncertain about what she wants in life. I liked that they both meet halfway in the end, that if she wants to sulk because she had a fight with a friend, he’s not pushing her to tell him every inner thought she has. Even the third-act break-up was not as annoying as they usually are. Yes, Alex is broody and bossy, but if you don’t like that kind of male character, then I really don’t know why you picked up this book in the first place.

Thank you to HarperCollins for gifting me a Netgalley digital arc of Not Another Love Song in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have three words to describe this book: sultry, swoony, and stunning. Julie Soto has crafted a fantastic rivals-to-lover story within Not Another Love Song, featuring her signature stellar writing, unforgettable characters, electric intensity, and a deliciously good sense of humour. The romance is a hypnotic crescendo, with Gwen and Alex falling hard, fast into a relationship full of intense drama tones and tender melodies that will weaken you at the knees. The pacing of Not Another Love Story is a rhythmic masterpiece with the perfect balance of flow and beat that matches the burgeoning romance's tension, drama, and tenderness—keeping her readers immersed in the storytelling flow without overwhelming them with technical musical terms.

Behind every great story is an excellent cast of characters you can effortlessly picture. I think Julie Soto has a superpower in bringing complex characters with chaotic lives, plenty of baggage and big dreams to life. From the opening chapters, her characters jump off the page, pulling you into their world and showing their personalities, letting you get to know them so you can know who to like, hate, and root for.

The character journeys surrounding Alex and Gwen falling in love are heartwarming and have them battling uphill against their inner demons to allow them to open up, trust one another, and break from the toxic things in their lives so they can have their happy ever after. I loved Gwen's character from chapter one – she is a fighter, realist and undaunted by a challenging having fought for all she has achieved. She's intensely loyal, but it leaves her open to being used by some people for their gains. She wants to please those who have given her love and opportunity as the outside underdog. Xander Thorne/Alex is a highly complex character. I felt like I had a real love-hate relationship with his character, between the rockstar and his inner private self. Xander was so awful, rude, and very entitled. I enjoyed Gwen bringing him down a peg; he needed to eat a lot of humble pie. His other private side, Alex, is a 360-degree opposite. He is uncertain, sweet, and tender as his feelings open him up.

Hat's off to Julie Soto – she created another addictive romance featuring a scorching rivals-to-lovers story. I don't think I can look at classical music in the same way again. If you love romance, you must check out Julie Soto's books, as they are divine.

I picked this up at 10.30pm, in the hopes of getting through a couple of chapters before heading off to sleep. So you can imagine my surprise when I realised that I had finished the book, and it was now 2am!

Honestly, though, I loved Forget Me Not, and so when the opportunity arose to pick this up, I didn't hesitate at requesting it. I was *not* left disappointed. I loved the attention to detail that Julie included about the inner workings of an orchestra but didn't jam the book up with technical terminology that had no explanation.

I was so invested in these two from the get go, and honestly seeing Ama, Elliot and some of the others pop up from Forget Me Not was great fun. I feel like this book really took me through the emotional ringer, if I'm honest, and I loved it.

The scene with Ruby in the recording studio? I think that's going to live in my mind rent free for the next few months.

4.5 stars!

Julie Soto's "Not Another Love Song" is so good! Alex, a cellist, and Gwen, a talented violinist who’s often overlooked, have instant attraction. Their story, told from both perspectives, is set in the bustling world of the Manhattan Pops orchestra in New York City.

Alex’s grumpy charm and Gwen’s resilience make for a fun dynamic. Their journey from rivals to lovers is filled with tension, sweet moments, and cute musical scenes. Side characters like Elliot and Ama add a nice touch.

Soto's writing makes the music world come alive without getting too technical. The story flows smoothly, keeping you hooked. The conflict is just right, adding depth and showing how the characters grow
Overall, this book is a steamy and heartfelt romance that mixes love and music perfectly. Even if you’re not into music, "Not Another Love Song" will keep you engaged. Thank you NetGalley and Julie Soto for letting me read this book.

Forget Me Not was a wonderful unexpected surprise so I was looking forward to reading NALS.
Sadly this book didn’t work out for me. I was missing the romance. I felt there was too much focus on the musical aspect. Gwen and Xander playing the violin and cello and the technical aspect of being a part of an orchestra stole the story from the couple. Too much description, not enough dialogue, development and depth to Gwen and Xander which also meant, that their chemistry and connection wasn’t present for me. I wasn’t interested or invested in them or the story.
Gwen and Mable along with Jacob were a highlight but sadly this wasn’t the book wasn’t for me.

I really liked Forget Me Not, but I loved Not a Love Song. Despite being second in the series it felt fresh and authentic, and I absolutely flew through it.

Alex and Gwen had such amazing chemistry, and their story was mesmerising - told from dual POV, and through musical metaphor. Their histories unfurled with the story and added such wonderful complexity to their relationship. The New York setting, and the world of professional music made for a really interesting read, and the conflict added the perfect level of tension.

The cameos from Elliot and Ama were really fun, and I particularly loved the dynamics between Gwen, Mabel and Jacob. I was excited to read it won’t be long until Julie Soto’s next book in 2025 - I can’t wait to pick it up!

Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Another great read from Julie Soto. I finished it in one sitting. The pacing was done well, the fmc and mmc 's dynamic was everything.

““It’s simple, really,” he said. “It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.””

OMGGGGG i loved it so much

Julie Soto is officially my new auto-buy author. I loved Forget Me Not, but I am obsessed with Not Another Love Song. I couldn’t put it down! The chemistry between the two protagonists is off the charts and the romance is just perfect!

The story is set in the music world. The protagonists are two musical prodigies. Gwen Jackson started playing the violin when she was eleven years old and she went from playing it in the subway to becoming the first violin in the Manhattan Pops. Xander Thorne is the leader of the band Thornes and Roses, a rockstar with the cello and an arrogant, whose attendance at rehearsal at Manhattan Pops depends on his engagements with the band. Despite being members of the same orchestra, Gwen and Xander have never directly crossed paths until they both attend the same wedding where Gwen has a second job playing the violin and Xander is one of the guests and criticizes her performance. And when Gwen is chosen for the role of first chair that had previously been promised to Xander, their relationship takes an unexpected turn. They start playing together, creating music that feels like magic.

I know nothing about orchestra workings and instruments, but the author’s descriptions are so beautiful and lyrical that they made me wonder why I never learned to play an instrument. The characters are flawed and relatable, Gwen with her insecurities and Xander with his past, and I adored them and their journey of growth as the story develops. Their love story is passionate, romantic, and so steamy and I never wanted it to end!

Not Another Love Song is a fantastic romance novel. Sexy, engrossing, and very well-written, I can’t recommend it enough!

✨✨4.5✨✨

I picked this up intending to only read the first few chapters…… somehow I ended up reading 70% and I only stopped due to needing sleep! The writing was just so compulsively readable.

You can tell this was originally a Reylo fanfic but I don’t think it is in such a way as to spoil your reading experience if that was a problem. Yes for those who know there are obvious markers of it being a Reylo piece but it’s mainly in the characters backstories. I’m sure it’s only noticeable to people who have read a lot of fanfic 👀.

The relationship development was woven really well through out the story. You felt the genuine connection forming. It kept you hooked without feeling too slow or drawn out. Yes I did feel the third act conflict was a bit overly dramatic but I do acknowledge it forced the characters to acknowledge/realise certain things.

I will definitely be picking up whatever Julie Soto releases next. Any author who can make me regret my utter lack of musical talent has earned that 😂

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was GORGEOUS! And sexy. There's humour and depth, angst and heart. I loved how much of a grumpy, arrogant a*hole Alex was and how utterly obsessed he was with Gwen, the FMC who I adored. They had a passionate romance, chock-full of tension and tenderness and I tore through their story in one sitting. I have absolutely zero musical ability, but even I could appreciate the beauty in how the music was woven into this, and how it became a tool for Gwen and Alex to connect and express themselves to each other. THE CELLO SCENE?!

Forget Me Not was one of my favourite reads of 2023 (and the crumbs of Ama and Elliot in this were delightful). Not Another Love Song is another firm favourite for 2024 and Julie Soto is without doubt, one of my favourite romance authors EVER.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!!

I enjoyed this! I would give it 3.5 stars. I liked the premise of the book, and the first half had me giggling and kicking my feet - unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the second part that much. The pacing felt a bit strange at times and it didn't flow as well as I was expecting.

I liked the characters at the start, but I would have liked to see some more character development midway and towards the end of the book, especially in Gwen; overall, she comes across a bit naive, knowingly allowing people to use her for publicity due to her age and gender, rather than her skill, and I wanted her to develop a backbone and finally grow up and decide what she truly wanted to do for herself, but it felt like we didn't get that defining moment from her. I mostly liked Alex/Xander (who doesn't like a broody MMC?) but again, I wanted more character development, and for him to stop falling back into his old habits, which did not happen until the last 10% of the book, and off page. I did feel like it was a bit insta-love as he became immediately obsessed with her. I think Gwen and Alex had great chemistry, and I mostly enjoyed the spice, although it did feel a bit strange and cringey at times due to all the musical jargon... It did made me wish I knew more about music to understand all the terms used, and I'm probably going to be listening to violin covers of popular songs for a few days!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and was sucked into the story, but I wish there was some more character development and even some more drama and resolution.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, and Julie Soto for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

I never thought I would become so immersed in a book about an orchestra and the world of classical music but Julie Soto pulled me right in. It was great to see some of the characters from Forget-Me -Knot making small appearances, I always enjoy when authors bring their books together in small ways. I was totally captured by the love story between the 2 main characters & the added spice certainly helped. Looking forward to Julie's next book already.