I was so excited to read this book, the premises and the setting were promising. Unfortunately, I DNFed at 45%

I just wasn't into it. I didn't feel any connection to the characters. i think the characters themselves have very little connection to each other honestly.

The TW should be updated. I'm not a big fan of surprise pregnancies and it wasn't advertised in the TW, so I was not happy about that. A condom broke and the girl kept laughing about it.

Thank you NetGalley and editor for the ARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Drama and tension filled this book. I was super intrigued that this was a music professor in particular with a student. The small musical references made things kind of fun for me as a former band kid. Of course if you don’t enjoy the surprise pregnancy trope then this definitely isn’t going to be for you, but I don’t mind it. Pregnancy happens and it creates drama sometimes. That’s just life. I thought the story while dramatic, was still pretty beautiful. Watching this grumpy professor slowly break out his shell for Rowan, seeing that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, of course gives me goosebumps. There are quite a few time skips but I found them necessary so we can get the whole story without too much fluff and filler. This is meant to be a standalone so I’m glad it didn’t drag. This is the kind of book that makes me want to curl up by the fire with a glass of wine and classical music. Definitely a good vibe.

I got to read this as an arc from Net Galley. At first i was so excited for this book. It seemed right p my alley. The first 40 percent of it , i was in love. I truly thought this was going to be a 5 star read. But after that it seemed like the book lost everything that i loved i about it. There was no longer any angst even though many things were happening. I feel like in the second half many things happened but weren't dealt with in a good way and we didn't go too depth in them before something else happened. Also there was a trope in it that we didn't deal with that much. I mean yes there were mentions of it and a bit of conflict but then it felt like it was just there and not truly talked about in depth. Overall, i did love the relationship between the characters. The music aspect added to it too and the playlist for the book was one of my favorites. The pacing was fast and good, i read this in one sitting. I would recommend to check the trigger warnings first before going into it. A 3.5 star read that i would surely re read again.

This was such an engaging and addictive romance—it hooked me right from the start and didn’t let go. I’ve always loved a forbidden love story, and Julian and Rowan’s journey hit all the right notes. Their chemistry was electric, and the way the tension between them built throughout the book was masterfully done. Every stolen glance, every touch, and every moment of conflict felt so charged, keeping me completely invested in their relationship.

The book opened on such a strong note, pulling me right into the story. While the middle portion slowed down a bit, it gave space to explore the characters’ vulnerabilities and struggles, adding depth to the romance. And the ending? Absolutely worth it. It was satisfying, heartfelt, and wrapped up beautifully with an epilogue that left me grinning.

If you’re a fan of forbidden romance packed with steamy tension, emotional depth, and a swoon-worthy conclusion, this one is a must-read! It’s the perfect blend of angst, spice, and heart.

This was giving Not Another Love Song with a mix of forbidden romance and I ate it up. I really enjoyed the dynamic and the characters whilst being invested in the love story. Would recommend!

I felt disconnect between the two characters throughout the story. I understand instant love stories, but I felt this one did not have enough to back it up. One of the reasons this book stood out to me was because of the cover and how it showed a couple connected with music. However, I felt like it was such a background aspect. The two main action incidents were also each coming from nowhere. The first action plot was ok, and I brushed it off to keep reading, but the second one? It felt so random just so there can be another problem for the two characters. I still don't understand the reason for including it. I wished there were areas that were looked at again to fit the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Victory editing co-op for an early read of this book!!
This book really intrigued me from the cover art alone and as I have been getting into romance— the student professor trope really intrigued me. I thought the writing was well done, but I was not expecting the almost instant-love that occurred between our two main characters. They met for one day years ago, and it felt like our male main characters attached himself very quickly to the fmc. I think I just was expecting more buildup to the relationship or the first kiss. I wasn’t expecting the surprise pregnancy and that threw me off my game a bit too. If those are tropes for you then definitely check it out!! There’s he falls first, music, and forbidden love in this book!! The writing is well done, and I would read this author again!! I would rate it 3.5 stars if there were half ratings!

OMG! I didn't know what to expect with this book but it was an AMAZING book. Truly loved the plot, character development, and ending. I need more books like this from Rachel Tork. Rowan and Julian are a phenomenal couple. I will be getting a physical copy of this book for sure! Read this. You will stay up late at night to finish.

I wanted to first of thank Azala Press and NetGalley for an early copy of The Lines We Cross by Rachel Tork.

I loved the cover and the description of this book which is why I had chosen to read it. One of my favorite tropes is forbidden love. I feel like this trope was brushed over. By about 30-40% of the book it was pretty much done. I was really thrown off by another trope which I do not want to ruin for someone else reading it but I feel like this should have been forewarned somehow. If I had known this I probably would not have requested it and it ended up being a huge part of the story.

Overall I saw Rachel’s heart behind this book and know that it took her a while to write. I appreciated all of the characters but just felt that it lacked depth and chemistry throughout the book as far as character development and she had so many good ideas.

Overall I did enjoy this book and I look forward to her next book.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I do know that it was giving Harry Potter like vibes with the people in the front cover. When it came to the story, it was interesting to say the least, the surprise pregnancy in the book changes the whole vibe and it isn't in a bad way. It just changed the characters and their perspectives. Jake omg how we go from 0 to 100 in one chapter but somehow everyone made it safe it seems? Everything is happening so fast omg. The fire, the gun, the everything in between. So much that I didn't expect, this book is so messy but like in a good way. The wedding was cute, kinda similar to how I'm doing mine. I loved this book and the characters were very memorable, is that a sequel at the end of those awknowledgements I see? Oooohhh!

Quote: "a sunset such as this is like a beautiful song for our eyes"

Rated it four stars out of five!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Azala Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 46%

I was excited to read (and hopefully finish) The Lines We Cross, but as I read further I realised that I wasn't really enjoying the story itself. I couldn't connect with any of the main or side characters and, in fact, I didn't like some of them. All the characters are adults and they use that argument to prove a point, but then they don't stand up for themselves and they have friends standing up for them, it was a bit out of place for me? I don't even know how to explain it properly without giving away spoilers, which I don't want to do.

I didn't feel the connection they had, especially as they only saw each other once, three years ago, and then the story, despite taking place in the present day, keeps skipping days and weeks, which makes it difficult to root for a couple who only see each other ‘professionally’. The feelings started out of nowhere and went straight into a spicy scene, there was no build-up.

I knew about the surprise pregnancy trope, but it wasn't developed enough. It was like: oh, it broke- now she's pregnant, she hasn't decided what she's going to do, she hasn't even thought about it, but her friend says this and does this and she agrees.

There were too many plots going on at once, too many details for a book that doesn't even reach 300 pages (on my e-reader). It feels like the author was trying to do all these things but didn't have enough space for it and it was too dramatic.

The only good thing I can point to is the fact that the writing is captivating, which got me this far, but there was a turning point for me that I no longer cared to keep forcing myself to read and finish the book.

The Lines We Cross by Rachel Tork | ARC Review

Thank you Rachel Tork and NetGalley for this ARC! Rachel - my poor, poor heart took so many hits with this book, I was sure it was ever going to recover ❤️‍🩹

4.5⭐️//2🌶️

The Lines We Cross truly has it all: forbidden love, romantic tension, good amount of spice, and so many moments that leave you gasping. Rowan and Julian have such a strong connection, and the tension between them is burning slowly, but surely, until they become inevitable. I loved that the characters had a moment in their past, where their lives crossed, to then be apart, and I loved that during all this time apart Julian was still absolutely taken with the mysterious girl he met on the steps of the music building. The kindness he showed Rowan then, made all the difference in how she faced the anniversary of her sister's death.

Later in the book, when Rowan confesses that she no one, except for her dead sister, really understands how she thinks and how she feels, and how Julian is the one person that does. Perhaps she just needed someone to see her for who she was, not who everyone else wanted to see her as: a talented musician, the surviving half of a twin set, a somewhat estranged daughter, or as a reclusive friend. I loved how Julian was the safe landing space for Rowan, and how she was someone who he never anticipated of ever finding.

Through all the ups and downs, all the twists and turns, all the heartache and happy moments, this book guides us through an atypical love story that will surely tug at our hearts and make us feel everything Rowan and Julian went through.

Favourite scene: Ceremony in the garden 🪻🌸🌷
Favourite 🌶️ scene: Rain & hangover makes for sleepovers 🤭

I didn’t go into this book blind, which probably changed how I read it. I loved the chemistry between the characters! Rowan was such a wonderfully flawed character, and let’s be real—Julian was hot. 🔥

But then the twist happened… and everything lost its emotional power for me. The middle sections were a real slog to get through. I know a lot of readers don’t love this specific trope, but what bothered me more were the two wildly out-of-place tension scenes that just didn’t fit.

That said, I ended up liking this book much more than I thought I would! It has its flaws, but there’s still something compelling about the characters and their spark.

“He had to snuff it out.
The heat.
The want.
The need and hope and desire …
But the fact of the matter was, she was becoming his jailed, and she had absolutely no idea”

This book surprised me. I’m the type of reader that likes to go in blind especially when the book is marketed as a romance. I tend to be quite picky. When I found out that it was student professor romance I was intrigued and since the tension was there and the attraction was there too, I had a great time getting through the Rowan and Julian’s dynamics. To be fair, I maybe expected it to be a bit more of a slow burn but I don’t feel like complaining necessarily considering that it also had a certain degree of spice that made their romance hot and all over the place at the same time. The frustration, the sadness and the melancholy of what they share is unique and it’s the kind of tortured love people talk about only this time it does end with an HEA. Thankfully, otherwise I would have been extremely sad and tearful. This time around is the girl with trauma in their past and the MMC with a hero complex (again I’m not complaining cause it did have an effect on me) but who’s ready to do everything to save her and protect her. It would have been even more perfect if it’d been in a fantasy setting. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it.

“He didn’t know what to call whatever was between them. There wasn’t a word for it. At least, not one he would let himself use”

“I know that sometimes music can take us away, even from what’s really important to us. Even if we don’t want it to. It’s like a sort of madness”

I really wanted to like this book - I loved the cover and immediately wanted to read it, and the premise sounded good because I like the forbidden romance trope, but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me :(

I like the start of the book, how Julian and Rowan meet for the first time, and then the surprise of meeting again after three years. It was very insta-love, but I was fine with it as long as there was tension and longing, and from the description, I was expecting that along with a slow burn, but nope - at 30% it's all done and there was not a lot keeping me interested in their relationship tbh. I enjoyed the intimate scenes and did not find them cringy at all, but all the big feelings that the characters were experiencing... I just did not feel them, I couldn't see an emotional connection between them because there was none - there was barely any relationship development, they just suddenly got together, so I really struggled to believe their feelings. Being honest, I did not care much about any of the characters. I felt like they lacked depth, as I didn't even feel that the actually liked or had a passion for music!

There was A LOT of drama in this book - sooooo many different plots that felts underdeveloped and rushed; I wish the author had picked one and expanded on it, because so many of the things happened all of a sudden and without much build-up or fall-out. Like, big and really serious things happened, and they were brushed over like they were nothing. These characters had reeeally, reeeally bad luck and just could not catch a break!

(SPOILER): Lastly, I think the marketing of this book should include the surprise pregnancy trope, because I was not expecting that at all, and I was not very happy about it - it's not my favourite trope, but I'm fine if I know it's going to happen, but it was not mentioned anywhere, and it ended up being the main plot line of the book.

Overall, I think the idea was good, but the execution could have been better and then I would have been more invested in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Azala Press for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

The cover of this book is what made me want to read it. Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read the ARC.

We follow Rowan and Julian through a student/teacher relationship. So if that is up your alley then this book is for you. I love it when our characters meet before the story actually starts and then they have to navigate their lives together. This book really keeps you on your toes, there is something happening all the time. Just when you think they have survived everything, another challenge pops up. I have already recommended this book to my bookclub when it releases.

Mine the trigger warnings in the beginning,

ARC review - publication date: 14 January 2025

Rowan and Julian met on the anniversary or her sister’s death. They did not see each other until three years later when she starts the graduate program at Grandview University’s School of Music and Julian is replacing her advisor that is ill.

This book is for you if you like:
- Age gap
- teacher/student
- forbidden romance
- insta-love
- he falls first
- surprise pregnancy
- forced proximity
- music

The start of the book was good and it got me engaged with the story. Even of I am not an insta-love fan, I liked the connection between Rowan and Julian. There was chemistry between them and music was something that connected them.
Even if there is an age gap and he is her adviser, Rowan is a mature woman that knows what she is doing. And Julian acted mature and protective towards her when needed.

The drama and suspenseful part of the book was a bit too much. There were too many twists and complications.

But I liked the ending and the epilogue. Also, even of the relationship is complicated, there is no break up.

I received a digital copy of the book from Azala Press and Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really wanted to like this book, the main concept is something I enjoy, but some points just felt a little.. far-fetched. Saying that, I felt this could've been longer, there was a fair amount of big events, but not enough build up or time spent in those events to have an impact. I also would've like more time with the other characters - ie. both main characters families - who we only met very briefly.
That being said, it was a very quick and easy read, I just was left wishing there was more depth to it.

I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic and the story is immaculate. I rated it 5 stars.

This book was super frustrating. In theory, the idea was exciting and catchy, but it just was lagging. So many storyline’s going all over the place and it was hard to stay invested. I was just losing interest. Interesting premise though.