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.

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.