A steamy romance 'anime', Not Another Love Song is a solid sophomore effort after Forget Me Not (the ordering is a tad muddled since parts of this novel have existed prior to being re-worked for traditional publishing—so technically this is kind of a 'debut' as well?); a little ridiculous, larger-than-life (hence the reference to the colorful, bombastic Japanese animation in the beginning), and hornier comparing to Forget Me Not, but with all the strengths we already come to expect coming from Julie Soto: emotive writing (and sensual/sexual when called for), purposeful and heartfelt incorporation of its symbolism (music), and the dynamic arcs experienced by its cast.

The romance is ever so slightly overshadowed by intrigues of the music industry (how to drive up sales, marketing ploys, etc.), but I find it to be equally fascinating. On the other hand, the exaggerated, cartoony portrayal of its hero and heroine could be a little off-putting, especially comparing to the more grounded counterparts in Forget Me Not (I immediately picture Gwen and Xander as manga characters with googly eyes rather than real people). But aside from the slight stylistic differences, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading Not Another Love Song—really reminds me of Nodame Cantabile, and now I'm craving some classical music!

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**