(Note before the review: below is a copy of the review I am posting on review sites, where I am not posting a star rating. Since NetGalley requests a star rating, I’m giving it a 3.)

Thank you Azala Press and Rachel Tork for this early copy of The Lines We Cross!

Let me start by saying, I went into this book thinking it was going to be a romcom, and it is not. I feel like if you know that going in, that will 100% change your reading experience! (And since it wasn’t mine, I’m not going to rate the book, but I will share some of my thoughts and share who this book might be perfect for :) )

I can honestly say that I think there were so many good moments in this book! It genuinely felt like watching a tv show with the amount of things that happen in such a short span of time

I think this might be exactly the right fit for you if you:
- enjoy grey’s anatomy level twists. I’m talking jaw dropping plot points where you have no idea where the story is going
- love a grumpy talented professor MMC who is DOWN bad for a grumpy talented FMC who is so easy to love & learning how to be loved and cared for 🥹
- enjoy angst and heart wrenching moments!!! (this book is filled with it)
- if you don’t mind some spice! (there were a few scenes here and there)
- and if you love an epilogue that feels like the perfect ending the peaceful calm after the storm ❤️

This was a wild ride from beginning to end but I actually really enjoyed it. The cover was what initially sucked me in but once I started reading I was very quickly invested in these two characters. Very dramatic but a great love story.

This book made good use of the forbidden love trope and the instant attraction between the two characters worked. I liked the dual POV because it was good to see each of their reactions to each other. I liked how early on we see the attraction manifest itself too, like it wasn't easy to control.

The setting was cool. As someone who knows nothing about wind instruments and music school, it was immersive. I think it added to the melancholy of the overall feeling. We know going in that something sad has happened to Row and the academic setting really worked with this.

I'd recommend this book to people who love academic settings, fans of forbidden love, and those whose romance tastes are on the heavier side.

Edit: Come back because after thinking about it, I do think maybe the surprise should have been included in TW. I couldn't decide whether to add this bit because I didn't want to ruin others' reading experience but then some people don't want to read this kind of surprise.

While <i>The Lines We Cross</i> offers a promising premise, I found that the story didn’t quite live up to its potential. The central romance between Rowan and Julian felt poorly developed, and I struggled to see the depth of their connection. Their love story seemed more told than shown — I couldn’t fully understand how or why they were in love, and without the narrative insisting on it, I wouldn’t have seen the chemistry between them.

Additionally, the story leaned heavily into excessive drama. There always seemed to be some over-the-top event or twist happening, which, rather than pulling me deeper into the narrative, had the opposite effect. It disrupted the flow of the story and made it difficult to stay invested in the characters’ relationship.

You might enjoy this book if you like the following tropes: love at first sight, forbidden romance, age gap, and a protective male main character. Without giving away too much of the plot, the story also includes a surprise trope that can be polarizing and may alienate some readers.
However, if you prefer slow-burn romances with deep character development and organic relationship growth, this book might not fully meet your expectations. The romance between Rowan and Julian is more of an instant connection that lacks the emotional buildup needed to make their love story feel believable.

Ultimately, The Lines We Cross offers plenty of drama and unexpected twists, but those looking for a more grounded romance might find it difficult to stay fully invested.

<i>I would like to thank Azala Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

In the past i read 'These Fates that Bind Us' and loved it so when Rachel Tork released a romance i was so excited. This book was extremely emotional and i was unable to put it down.

♡ The blurb and this beautiful book cover made me intrigued and excited to request and read this book on NetGalley.
♡ I enjoyed reading the first half of this book. I loved how Julian and Rowan explored their vulnerabilities and faced the struggles life threw in their way. I liked how those emotional and intense scenes played out. The romance between the main characters was filled with soo much tension, angst, love and it had some really sweet dialogues and promises 🤍
♡ However the last 30% of the book disappointed me a little, after the climax and then the plot's resolution, when their life was smooth and steady, scenes started to feel unnecessary and forced (except that marriage ceremony, it was sweet ☺️). I quickly read the first 70% of the book but reading that last 30% was very difficult for me. :///
♡ Overall the plot and its pacing was smooth, the romance and bickering between Julian and Rowan was easily likeable and that music aspect was beautifully presented 🎶 🤎🎶 I liked this book. 😊💖💌✨🎵

I love a good forbidden romance and the first half of this delivered. It takes place in a grad school setting so the teacher/student relationship is fine. However, I feel like the relationship escalated very quickly and I am very much a slow burn girlie. It was handled correctly here for me but there is also a trope in this book that not all people like so I suggest checking CWs before picking it up. With that being said, the spice in this is perfect. Julian is so devoted to Rowan, I loved how protective he was. I also really enjoyed the music aspect. I recommend this one if you want a forbidden, very emotionally charged romance and don’t mind insta-love.

Many thanks to Azala Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was instantly hooked by this book! I loved the mystery surrounding our main characters when they first meet, and the forbidden element when they meet for the second time and are forced to interact. The book started moving pretty quickly, and while I was a little nervous, I decided to roll with it and see where the book took me.

This is where things went wrong for me. Too much happening at once. Too many horrific problems for our main characters to the point it was almost ridiculous. Like 3 books melded into one, that’s how many issues there were. If one of the issues had been kept, and just written to a deeper extent, I think I would have enjoyed it more, but this book just did way too much. I was overwhelmed and almost frustrated by the end, and when I look back on my reading experience, I don’t know how much I enjoyed the last 40-50%.

While I think this book may be a fit for some readers looking for a quick read with lots of turmoil, it was unfortunately not a fit for me.

Alright, let's dive into "The Lines We Cross" by Rachel Tork! 📚✨

Summary
On the anniversary of her sister’s death, Rowan Evans meets a stranger who offers her a tissue and watches the sunset with her. Fast forward three years, Rowan is now a graduate student at Grandview University’s School of Music. Her plans are shaken when her advisor falls ill and is replaced by Dr. Julian Lynch, a musical prodigy from Scotland. Rowan almost doesn’t recognize him as the man from that day on the steps. As they spend more time together, their forbidden attraction grows, leading to a night that changes everything. 🌟💔

Character Sketches
Rowan Evans: A talented and fiery music student, grieving the loss of her sister. She’s defiant and tests Julian’s restraint at every turn. 🎻🔥

Dr. Julian Lynch: A 34-year-old musical prodigy from Scotland, now Rowan’s advisor. He’s determined to keep things professional but struggles with his growing feelings for Rowan. 🎼💔

Genre
This book falls under the romance genre, with a focus on forbidden love and the complexities of a professor-student relationship. It’s a fast-paced read with a picturesque college campus setting. 🌸📖

Rating
I’d give this book a 3.4 out of 5. It’s a solid read for those who enjoy romance with a bit of spice and tension. 🌟📚

Overall, "The Lines We Cross" is an emotional and beautifully written romance that will keep you hooked from start to finish. If you’re a fan of forbidden love stories, this one’s for you! 💖📖

Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Azala Press for the E-ARC!

The Lines We Cross by Rachel Tork is a captivating story of love, loss, and forbidden attraction. From the moment Rowan and Julian reconnect, their intense chemistry kept me hooked. Rowan, grappling with her sister’s death, is both vulnerable and fierce, while Julian’s internal conflict as a teacher trying to maintain professional boundaries is equally compelling.

Tork’s writing beautifully captures their slow-burning, tension-filled relationship. The tension between them feels real and earned, with every interaction raising the stakes. The music program at Grandview University adds an enriching layer, highlighting Rowan’s passion for music and personal growth.

The story’s emotional depth and the consequences of their choices make The Lines We Cross a powerful, heartbreaking romance. It’s a slow burn that leads to a dramatic, unforgettable culmination. If you're looking for a romance with real emotional stakes and an irresistible, forbidden connection, this book is a must-read.

I had a very fun time reading The Lines We Cross, it quickly piqued my interest, the characters are likeable and well written, and the tropes in this book are some of my favourites.

Rachel Tork has a beautiful descriptive writing style, the first half of the book I enjoyed immensely - the grumpy x sunshine, student x teacher aspects were done really well and I quite liked all the detail that goes into the side characters too.

However after the 40% mark I felt that the events didn't quite make sense, were rushed, and didn't fit together smoothly.

The romance and attraction between Rowan and Julian did feel a bit fast, and their connection wasn't quite as deep as I thought it would be. They both accepted the relationship very fast, without really knowing each other and then around 50% in I didn't feel as invested in them anymore, the relationship felt rushed and I did think that the book ended up being longer than it should have been.

Overall, a brilliant idea and loveable characters, I just think the execution of the book could have been thought out a bit more.

On the anniversary of her sister’s death, a stranger offers Rowan Evans a tissue and watches the sunset with her until the stars appear. Three years later, Rowan meets him again but almost doesn’t recognise Dr Julian Lynch, her new advisor in the graduate program at Grandview University’s School of Music. Thirty-four-year-old Julian is a musical protégé hailing from Scotland. As they spend time together, their attraction grows, leading to significant tension between them. Yet, their forbidden attraction escalates on a snowy night in December, leaving them to consider what their future might hold.
While this professor/student romance leaps straight into love at first sight or serious attraction, it is made believable by their first meeting. I quite enjoyed the first half of the book, finding it to delve into the characters with some detail. However, the second half seemed to be a bit chaotic, impacting the romance that has begun to flourish between Rowan and Julian.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was so entertaining, kept me on my toes not knowing what was going to happen next. It is very different to any books I have read so far and I thought the plot was very unique!

This book was in my top 10 of 2024. I was hooked from the very beginning. Which says A LOT! I personally struggle with enjoying books in the 3rd person but this author somehow made it incredibly enjoyable!! Rowan and Julian will forever have a place in my heart! Their love is forbidden, the tension, yearning, and spice had me CLUTCHING my kindle. Truly loved every second of it.

I love a good forbidden romance and this book was just the thing to satisfy that itch. The tropes were troping and the plot was plotting and it was QUITE a spectacular read! I really enjoyed the characters and their chemistry.

Age gap, teacher-student, forbidden love. Rowan and Julian’s love story is no normal romance. They’ve met once before but now Julian is Rowan’s graduate advisor at her music school. The banter between them is electric as Rowan pushes against Julian’s hard exterior. I loved the characters connections to each other and how they compliment each other. Although they had a bunch of trials to fight through before they got their happily ever after. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I love books set in the world of academia, but as a professor, this one definitely towed “the lines we cross.” Rowan is Julian’s graduate student. The author was very careful addressing this issue and the power dynamics that can occur with a relationship, which was the only reason I was comfortable reading it. They met prior to ever having the professor/student dynamic, although very brief, it had a strong impact on both of them. Fast forward a few years, and Julian is now Rowan’s professor. I really appreciated that Rowan came with built-in friends. It made understanding the book much easier since they could’ve been even more new characters at the start of school. I did like the tension and chemistry that was built between Rowan and Julian and how they had very clear communication. But wow! There were so many major events that occurred in this book! Rowan couldn’t catch a break! I think pairing the events back and moving slower on the relationship front would’ve allowed for more depth to the characters. They were often responding to trauma and surprises, so I didn’t feel they were as strong as they could’ve been. Overall, I enjoyed reading this and the plot kept me reading, but I felt it could’ve used some more refinement. 3.5⭐️, 2🌶

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc, while I requested the book cause of the forbidden love trope: professor and student, this book is really slow to the start and I had a hard time wanting to continue. At the start of the book he’s a complete ass to her to try and push her away, but they end up just pushing each other’s buttons until the other snaps. Also the professor’s friend is just cringy, lusting after students

❣️he falls first
❣️musical produgy
❣️professor/student relationship

I found this to be a fast and engaging read. The first third was near perfection so much angst and pinning. That's exactly what I was looking for in the professor/student trope. After that things went off the rails. There was a lot of trauma. I read and appreciated the author's note about wanting to explore a romance under the pressure of trauma. I think it could have been achieved with just one traumatic event and more time for character development. Thankfully I was hooked enough on the relationship that I never wanted to quit the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Azala Romance for this eARC.

There really needs to be a heads up for the surprise pregnancy trope, because absolutely NO thank you. There's nothing that kills my enjoyment of a book more.

Tapped out fast after that - DNF