The beginning of the book can hook you from the start, but as the story starts to progress, there are many plot lines that just seem unrealistic. These plot lines could happen, but the way that they are brought into the book just don’t make sense. The main characters on their own can be likable, but the dialogue and the way they interact aren’t very convincing. There is also a side character that is unbearable.
Overall, the writing is pretty good, but the story needed to be meshed together a bit better. The effort made to make so many plot lines could’ve been better used to showcase the tension and romance between the two characters.

The Lines We Cross

| contemporary romance | forbidden romance | professor x student | strangers to lovers | grump x grump | music | surprise pregnancy | scandal | suspense romance | spicy | kylo-ren coded |

This book started amazingly. It had many of my favorite things in a romance read including academia, strangers to lovers, and a taboo relationship. I loved the format of the book and the way the author decided to split the story. There is a beginning, a middle, and an end. Essentially there are three parts.

There were so many things I loved; however, once things started to really heat up, the story lost me. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with many things that I enjoyed. However, once I was in the thick of it, there were a couple of things that I did not enjoy that overshadowed the things that I was enjoying.

To avoid any spoilers for prospective readers, I will say that there was something that happened more than once that left me feeling confused because the reason why they were happening wasn't explained or obvious to me as the reader. This event occurred more than once and made me feel like it was an unnecessary part of the plot. Some events did not feel realistic under the impression of a taboo relationship and the circumstances of our characters. There is also a side character that is very involved, and usually side characters are very lovable and inject many things into a story like humor, and companionship. Sometimes they can talk some sense into the main character during a critical moment. In this story, I found the side character to be unlikeable and overbearing from the beginning.

Needless to say, I did enjoy the romantic aspect of the story. The romance story is the reason I finished the story. I enjoyed the theme of a music student and her professor as this is something I have not read many times or seen in more mainstream stories. I also enjoyed a lot of the feelings this book put me through including the suspense of the relationship.

Overall there were an equal amount of things that I loved and hated about this story. I think it will be a great choice for readers who enjoy taboo relationships, and romantic suspense.

Happy Reading, Friends xx

This is one of those books where there were elements of it I absolutely loved which would give it a very strong place in the romance genre, however, there were other parts of it that I really had mixed feelings about and at times I felt a little bit pulled out of the story because of it.

Firstly, I loved the characters - their personalities, the way they behaved, and the layers of interaction they all had. I enjoyed the slight suspense before we were thrown into the romance too. I loved our FMC, how she was so headstrong and determined despite all of the trauma she'd been through and I loved our I-will-do-absolutely-anything-you-ask MMC who was clearly just devoted to her completely. I enjoyed their backstories, how they met and got to know each other. All these elements were structured well in the story, There was some absolutely wonderful writing in this that really pulled me in and had me feeling for the characters and being able to relate to them.

Where it started to lose its spark for me was almost around the time we hit the halfway point and too many things just start happening out of nowhere. The introduction of several new plot points, some of them that were maybe about 30% towards the end just felt a little bit much for me. The plot became very intense, which I think then started to impact the romance and how it continued to be fleshed out as well. The pacing just started to feel a bit rushed and as if we were trying to fit too many events into the narrative, also some of the things that happened to them as a couple just felt very out of left field? I'm not the biggest fan of the insta love trope personally and I reckon it would've been great to draw out the tension between the two lovers a little more.



The writing is strong and you can tell that the author has some real talent! But it just felt like she was trying to fit 10 different plot points into a book that was less than 300 pages. Without spoiling it, there was about 3 plot points that could have been removed and it still would have been a jam packed storyline. This is not a bad book by any means, and I'm sure many people will love it. But for me, it just felt like it could have been edited down way more. Or if the different plot points were important, then the book needed to be longer. It just all felt way too rushed. I would have enjoyed to see more romance happen between the leads instead of the insane twists that were included to add adventure.

When I saw this book described as a mix of Out on a Limb (one of my favourite books) and Not Another Love Song (a book I really enjoyed), I knew I had to read it.

I went into this book really excited and the first few chapters didn’t disappoint but as the story went on, I my enthusiasm died down a bit. Now, for me, the thing that really put me off was the insane drama. Don’t get me wrong, I expect a certain degree of unrealism but at one point I was just staring at my kindle wondering how things had gotten so far. The fact that I couldn’t feel the character’s connection no matter how many times I was told about it didn’t help either, I can’t put my finger on the why - maybe it was the fact that everything was a bit rushed and/or a little bit too superficial - but I just wasn’t able to connect to these characters or understand their connection and why they fell for each other.

Unfortunately, even though this had the potential to become one of my favourite books of the year, it fell a bit flat.

Thank you to Netgalley and Azala Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I normally don’t prefer professor/student romances, and I was hoping this book would change my mind. The first half seemed to check off a lot of boxes regarding tropes and setting - grumpy/moody MMC, spirited and independent FMC, both classical musicians, he falls first + falls harder. I could feel the tension and longing acutely, and that kept me hooked.

In the second half, however, the plot seemed to veer towards campy and soapy, with crazy events peppered in between mundane scenes - that consistent tension was lacking and the forces trying to keep the characters apart didn’t seem that believable. I also felt like the whole “forbidden” aspect of the professor/student dynamic was focused on too much - emphasizing how their relationship was “wrong” vs. showcasing the endurance of their love.

That said, I thought the first half of the book was compelling and the characterizations of the MCs were really vivid and clear. If you like these kinds of forbidden love romances, this might be something you’ll enjoy!

Oh my goodness. This book just kept going! From twist A to twist B to twist C, it was never ending. Wonderfully written characters, but the plot and plot points were a bit too much. No third act breakup was great but dear God, so many twists. I think if you took out one of the bad guys from this book, you still have a wonderful book. So good book, just too much going on.

When I saw this cover I was immediately curious and then I read the synopsis and the feeling that I had to read this book came over me. I can't tell you how happy I was when I received the arc! I started reading it as soon as I had the chance and devoured the book in just 2 days hihihi
The Lines We Cross is a mix of the comfort of Out On a Limb (yet another book that eliminates my problems with the subject of unplanned pregnancy) and the anguish of Julie Soto's romances. It's amazing how a book full of anguish and tension can be so comforting at the same time, the author plays with strong emotions in a way that I loved and that left me completely hooked on the reading. The characters are brilliantly complex, well-developed, but above all so human. Rowan, the FMC, is an inspiring character, so soft but firm at the same time, with such a strong personality and a fire that she tries to hide. And then Julian, so serious, rigid, that teacher everyone is afraid of, but with a whole other hidden side. These two are two bombs that trigger each other in a continuous and gradually increasing way. A couple who was everything I expected and even managed to exceed my expectations a little with their forbidden romance full of chemistry, an (almost) insta-love but one so natural, with age-gap and forced proximity... What more can you ask for in terms of tropes in a book? These two overcome everything, good and bad moments, and I loved following them through it all. The plot is a little slower than I expected, but overall, always enjoyable. I felt that the ending was a little rushed for a plot with a slower pace, which ended up spoiling the balance that the reading was achieving. It was as if the pages had suddenly run out to finish this story, one so complex that it deserved an ending of equal complexity or at least a more satisfying one. It's no big deal when you consider the plot as a whole, but I have to mention it because it did have an impact on the reading experience.
In short, I loved the writing, the emotional reading, the romance so full of chemistry and strong emotions with passionate characters and a well-constructed and engaging plot. My new comfort book that I highly recommend! I can't wait for what's to come, more than ready for Lena and Oliver's story, but above all to read more books by this author!

Plot & World 4⭐
Characters 5⭐
Enjoyment 4⭐
Writting 5⭐

Overall 4.5⭐

I love professor/student tropes, so I was excited for this one. I loved the first quarter of the book, and can genuinely say the first quarter was five stars. Then it went downhill. In my opinion, the writer should have dragged out the “forbidden attraction” much longer, because once the suspense was lost I just didn’t even want to continue. I had to convince myself to finish this,

SPOILER WARNING!!!!!

I really enjoyed the first part of the book, i feel as if there were too many wild plots in the middle of the book and that things progressed a bit too quickly for the characters. IMO i would have preferred to read more about the tension between the characters, worrying about getting caught, and the forbidden romance. (which was not very forbidden at all considering it lasted for less than a quarter of the book) i had higher hopes as far as the student/teacher trope went. i also wasn’t invested enough in the characters to care about the pregnancy. i wanted to dnf the book but i decided to read it all to give it a fair chance. overall 75% just felt too fanfictiony and not at all what i was expecting going into the book. the accidental pregnancy trope should be highlighted when promoting the book since it ends up being the main plot. i did enjoy the playlist tho,

I really wanted to love this book. It has everything I love in a student/teacher romance book, the age gap(without being creepy), the taboo nature of it, and a FMC that takes no shit. The writing is strong and you can tell that the author has some real talent! But it just felt like she was trying to fit 10 different plot points into a book that was less than 300 pages. Without spoiling it, there was about 3 plot points that could have been removed and it still would have been a jam packed storyline. This is not a bad book by any means, and I'm sure many people will love it. But for me, it just felt like it could have been edited down way more. Or if the different plot points were important, then the book needed to be longer. It just all felt way too rushed. I would have enjoyed to see more romance happen between the leads instead of the insane twists that were included to add adventure.

Thank you so much for this ARC!

I really liked Julian and Rowan's story. Their connection had been instant from the moment they met, and even though I personally don't enjoy surprise pregnancies in books, so much happened between them that sometimes I forgot Rowan was pregnant.

* Surprise Pregnancy
* Forbidden Romance
* Student/Professor
* Age Gap
* Sassy FMC

Thank you Azala Press for providing me with an ARC to this novel! I will be posting this on GoodReads and Amazon upon release.

Overall rating: 2 stars

What I loved about the book: I thought it was an easy read in the best kind of way. I was engaged and although the pacing was too fast (especially with how heavy some of the events that took place were) I did continuously want to read more. I also think the characters were intriguing and the music school setting was something I really enjoyed, as well as getting an insight into the classical music scene.

What I think could have been better; as already briefly mentioned, I think this book would have benefitted from a slower pace. A lot of the romance was centred around a very intense plot, and I missed some background or emotional connection to the characters. Some aspects of their personality could have been fleshed out more, like Julian’s hesitance towards love at first.


Overall I think this book wasn’t entirely for me, but it was a rollercoaster of a journey to be on and I think it voiced some important thoughts on trauma and voiced these well in its characters.

I really enjoyed this book. The communication between the characters was top tier. So many plots drown in miscommunication, but not this one

The challenges for Rowan and Julian got a little wild, but I was fully invested with how they were navigating forward and how they worked together.

The mentor vs mentee was well done. Overall I liked the characters dynamics and the story is well paced.

I will definitely be on the lookout for a possible next book with new characters.

Rowan and Julian’s story is one of forbidden attraction, intense chemistry, and emotional complexity. What makes this story so compelling is the deep emotional undercurrent that runs throughout. Their chemistry is electric, but it’s the emotional weight of their relationship, the push and pull of what they want versus what they know they shouldn’t have that makes the stakes feel so high. It’s a gripping, emotionally charged romance about love, longing, and the willingness to risk it all for something that feels as if it was always meant to be. A beautifully written tale of two people trying to navigate the line between duty and desire, making for a story you won’t soon forget.

Thankyou to NetGalley and Rachel Tork for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Lines We Cross is an emotional, drama-filled read that will leave readers torn between the desire for a love story to triumph and the realization that some relationships are fraught with consequences. With its compelling characters, intense romantic tension, and exploration of loss and healing, Rachel Tork has created a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever dared to love someone they shouldn’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The first quarter of the story felt promising, the characters and their dynamic interesting and the writing fluid enough to make me want to keep on turning the page. However, it quickly soured for me: the relationship felt rushed and underdeveloped, the pacing was off, there were far too many and unnecessary twists and turns (that sadly took the focus away from the romance). Also, the accidental pregnancy was thoroughly unexpected and not my cup of tea (it happens so early on in the story that I feel like it should be included in the synopsis as it ends up being the book's main focus).

I truly wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me.

(I will be posting my review on Amazon!)

This was such a deeply emotional and moving book, and I definitely did not expect to be emotionally damaged this much. There's something about this author's writing that just inhibits an intimate space between lyrical yet incredibly accessible. I see so much potential here and I am quite looking forward to reading more works from this author.

3 pages into this book and I was extremely invested. I was GUSHING and telling myself that I needed to calm down because this book was already giving me the feels and it has only been 3 pages in!! The writing was so good. There’s something about this author’s words that just puts you in your emotions. I thought this would be a 5-star read but alas, there was a trope incorporated further along in the story, and it was the trope that is the bane of my existence. HOWEVER, although I disliked every single book, I’ve read that ended up having this trope, I still adored this book. I think that in itself, just goes to show how great of a read this was.

Things to Love:
-Teacher x student (hot and spicy and full of some amazing sexual tension)
-Lyrical prose
-Flawed and authentic characters
-Hottest MMC
-Academia setting

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was such an easy, quick but emotionally damaging read that had me stressing but also pining, and in the end, I felt satisfied with the ending! Lovely read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving the opportunity to review and read the story.

I really tried to like this story but it honestly wasn’t for me.

Rowan and Julian’s story was just so dramatic. I must have missed something in the summary because an accidental pregnancy was so crazy to me. I knew it was coming after their first sexual interaction but I was dreading it.

The events like the fire and the shooting seemed so so so out of left field. It was to the point of I was trying to figure out what book I was reading.

Overall the story was not for me…

This was 3 stars for me.

I just couldn't connect with the characters and I didn't like the dynamic between the FMC and MMC. The musical aspect was interesting and the college setting was neat but the characters were just not connecting with me.

I typically don’t go for books like this, but I decided to read something different and out of my comfort zone. I am normally only a dark romance reader when I do decide to read romance. But there is just something about this book that pulls heavily from almost a slightly dark academia setting on top of a teacher/student relationship. I read it in one sitting. The story absolutely came to life for me and I enjoyed it so very much and I look forward to it coming out in January so that I may hopefully get a copy for my shelf. :)