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.

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.