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books_and_daydreaming's reviews
431 reviews
Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
4.25
Not Another Love Song was my first read by Julie Soto, and it won’t be the last.
Her body was humming with the way he was looking at her, like she was the answer to everything.
Rivals to lovers? Check. The best type of angst? Check. Stolen glances? Check. He falls first and hard? Check? Swoon-worthy romance? Check. Needless to say I was hooked on this story. The chemistry and tension between Gwen and Xander was immaculate. They definitely had be heart fluttering a few times.
Loved the writing style - beautiful, lyrical and poetic - and could feel the passion behind the music/orchestra elements of the story.
Overall, I loved Not Another Love Song. However, I did end up rating this lower than expected as I was hit with the ol’ third act break up. Third act break-ups can have their place but this one, I found, was unnecessary and I felt my enjoyment of the story slip when that happened and subsequent moments after.
The reconciliation and ending brought it back, and I look forward to reading more of Julie’s work.
“It’s about a cello who fell in love with a violin.”
•Rivals to lovers
•Found family
•He falls firs
•Broody MMC
•NYC setting
You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon
4.75
“Somehow you knew who I was before I did.”
What a debut! You Between the Lines has made its way into my 2am book club; a collection of books that have consumed me, embedded in me, and have me crying at, you guessed it, 2am.
I do love an academic rivals to lovers, who share a history and are coincidentally placed in each other’s lives again romance. Add in beautiful and poetic writing - I ate this up.
Leigh, my relatable queen. She’s imperfect, vulnerable and a pathological people pleaser. Honestly felt called out one too many times, but also felt a sense of serenity in that relatability, knowing I’m not alone in those feelings. Her journey and growth is one I’ll hold close. I’ve said this in a previous review that though I love the escapism of books, the ones that make me feel seen, hit different, and YBTL is one of those books 💜
Will, the tortured poet - I swoon! I was craving Will’s POV but in the best way because of the significance of the little moments in his and Leigh’s interactions, like Mr. Darcy hand flex levels - moments that had be squealing! But the payoff was so worth it for every time his feelings were revealed 🥹😍
The mental health rep was exemplary. I appreciate the depth this went into and the openness of the characters and the conversations around anxiety and depression.
Leigh and Will together ARE poetry. The push/pull, angst, yearning, pining, flirting, banter, the stolen glances, the healing, I could go on - this slow burn all leading to a stunning crescendo. No doubt these two are soulmates and their love is a cherished one, that you can’t help be slightly envious of. Two beautifully raw and flawed characters with so much depth to them - it was a joy to read their story 💜
This one is must-read for all the romance lovers.
Something restless in my belly takes over, and I feel like he sees me. I want him to see even more.
•Academic rivals to lovers
•Second chance
•Mental health rep
•Found Family
•Poetry as banter and love language