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

Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity to review this book! The premise sounded interesting and I was intrigued to see how the forbidden romance aspect would play out. And as a musician, this book also appealed to me.
Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to download this arc in time for the archival date so I was regretfully was unable to read it. I apologize but I may still try it out once it gets published. I would still like to encourage anyone interested to pick this book up!

While The Lines We Cross has an intriguing premise, the story didn’t quite deliver on its potential. The plotlines often felt overly dramatic, and some twists seemed unnecessary, which made it hard to stay fully immersed. The relationship between Rowan and Julian could have used more development to make their connection feel deeper and more authentic. Though there were moments of emotional intensity, the pacing and lack of buildup made it difficult to truly invest in their story. A promising idea that unfortunately fell a bit short for me.

I really enjoyed this book and i can't wait to see where the author goes in the future with their writing.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Thank you Azala Press...

Beautiful and powerful.. a new favorite romance that im sure to recommend to all my romanceloving book friends. .

The music/instrumental aspect of this book made it even more intimate and romantic. I found myself searching up videos of people actually playing because this book did such a good job of making the music feel so real, making me crave it outside of just what my head was envisioning. A beautiful love story that had me feeling a wave of different emotions.

Thank you Netgalley for the Arc.

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!!