Not Another Love Song | By Julie Soto

My thoughts

Narrative and Plot

Not Another Love Song started as a musical love story with great potential. We follow Gwen, a violinist, and as someone who dabbled in Indian classical violin for a few years as a kid, I genuinely enjoyed the musical aspect of the story.

However, after a certain point, the pacing began to meander and never really picked up again. The narrative ended up feeling passive, and it didn’t quite deliver a satisfying journey for its protagonist.

Characters and Conflict

The story begins with Gwen as the protagonist, and since she is the primary narrator, one would expect her to have a strong character arc. However, once Alex and the entire Fitzgerald family are introduced, the story gradually shifts and becomes more about them, sidelining Gwen’s journey. Even by the end, she felt more like a passive character for whom things worked out, rather than someone actively choosing her own path.

Interestingly, Alex had more of a character arc than Gwen, and his story often overshadowed hers. The romance itself felt a bit too insta-lovey, and the chemistry between the leads didn’t quite click for me. Perhaps it was the power imbalance that took me out of the story.

Mable, on the other hand turned out to be the most interesting character. I really wish we had seen more of her, but her presence was limited. The backstory involving Ava and Mable was also intriguing, and in many ways it outshined Gwen’s comparatively simple coming-of-age storyline.

Conclusion

Overall, Not Another Love Song was a one-time read for me. This love song isn’t going to make my all-time favorite playlist, but I didn’t mind listening to it once.  

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