Between the Lines: A Novel

by Haley Cass

A steamy and emotionally resonant sapphic academic romance, from bestselling self-published author Haley Cass, where slow-burn chemistry, witty banter, and emotional vulnerability collide as two lonely professors find connection, healing, and love in unexpected places.

When Alyssa Burke relocates to a small upstate New York college for a desperately desired faculty position, she expects uncertainty, but not to be dumped before her first day even begins. Newly single, far from home, and determined to prove she belongs in the ivory tower, Alyssa throws herself into her new life.

Enter Whitney: brilliant, intimidating, impeccably composed...and newly divorced. A senior faculty member with a reputation as sharp as her wit, Whitney is everything Alyssa should avoid. But an unexpected encounter on a lonely winter night sparks a connection that neither of them can ignore.

What follows is a delicious slow-burn workplace romance, unfolding between stolen glances in hallways, whispered conversations, and the unspoken rules of academic life. As desire deepens and boundaries blur, both women must confront what they’re willing to risk for their reputations, for honesty, and for one another.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Lesbian, Queer, Fiction, Lesbian Fiction, Adult

Audible Audio

Expected publication February 16, 2027

Reviews

[ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley for this arc!!

this was super sweet! surprisingly, even though i am a huge sapphic romance fan, this was my first haley cass book. it has definitely made me super excited to get to the rest of her backlist!
i adored the characters, the setting, and the romance in this one. it felt incredibly realistic to me, which is what i think made me enjoy it so much. i felt incredibly attached to the characters and i was rooting for them the entire time. i will say, my only real criticism of this book was the length - i most certainly do not mind a long book, as long as the pages are warranted. in this case, i feel like there were a lot of instances of talking in circles, which i feel could have been cut down in order to make the book a tad more concise. otherwise, really enjoyed this!

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not even surprised anymore when a Haley Cass book is good, because they ALWAYS are. I continue to think her good book streak is going to end (simply because it’s been so many) but then she puts out another banger.

I loved the dynamic between Ice Queen Whitney and ray of sunshine Alyssa (whose real name is ironically Sunshine). There was an age gap of about 8 years between the two, but it was so well written that the pair were evenly matched.

Truly I thought there would be a dominance struggle at first based on how Whitney was, but I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that Alyssa gave off dominant vibes right back.

The two MCs were meant for each other, because although Whitney came off as harsh and untouchable Alyssa saw through all the walls and the lies and took the way Whitney acted for at least the first half of the book with a grain of salt (something I personally could not do because I’m WAY too sensitive).

Whitney took the cake on growth, easily. To be honest she was my favorite character, she was such a badass and even though she dealt with a narcissist (something I am unfortunately familiar with) I understood Whitney’s pains even more. Alyssa was such a supportive main character, there was no way the two wouldn’t work well together.

The communication skill from Whitney lacked for about 80% which I thought would’ve left me frustrated, but it was so tactfully wrote it was hard to be upset.

I felt the love between Whitney and Alyssa deep within me and it just felt so raw and real. I find it hard to find a book that can hit it perfectly.

Like any other Haley Cass book, I didn’t want this one to end. I can never get enough of her characters, and dreaded finishing this one because I knew I didn’t have any more of her books to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

[lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this *shouldve* been perfect but i’m tired of the ice queen-esque archetype in every haley cass book 🫠 like yes these two felt like real people and sure they were fine for each other but i never felt co pellets to see them together or care about their happy ending. the academia setting was the most interesting part to me as well as their respective breakups; i wish those had been fleshed out more seeing as those were the catalyst for whitney and alyssa getting together but it was almost wrapped up TOO neatly for how that would actually pan out in the real world??

overall i did enjoy it. i flew through it for being 500+ pages and the steam was steaming. bless the 2026 sapphic writers for more strap scenes in contemporary romance lately 🕺🏻🕺🏻

[Teddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haley Cass has the best interiority which leads to robust characters, as is the case here. Alyssa is Sunshine! It’s not just her name, it’s her personality over and over again- a joy to read. And then there’s Whitney. Private, raw, tender-hearted Whitney who’s had such a rough go and has so much to offer. (And her bff Claire, love!). Reading them was healing. I also liked the way Cass handled the workplace environment and Whitney’s former relationship and Alyssa’s brother- all deftly done. The only thing keeping this at 4 stars is the length- while of course I don’t mind reading more, I think some of it could be edited down, and I thought the opening banter could have been tighter. BUT don’t let that stop you because the romance is so worth it. Also, I’m very excited to see Haley Cass in bookstores, yay!

Short summary: After striving for years for a teaching position, Alyssa finally scores an interim professorship. She won’t let anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream, not even an unexpected connection with one of her colleagues. A colleague everyone else seems to steer clear of….

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[aribooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect. PERFECT. That’s the first word that came into my mind as I finished the book. Perfect charcters, perfect plot, perfect story, perfect ending. Everything was perfect. And if I could give it more than 5 stars i definitely would…
This book has everyone you need for it to be perfectly enjoyable and entertaining! A workplace romance, great banter and very fun. Colleague with benefits to lovers, enough spice for a steamy romance, age gap and opposites attract. And it being a sapphic romance with an insane chemistry between the characters. What more could you ask…

The characters…I don’t even know where to begin, because Whitney and Alyssa where such deep and beautiful characters, so well developed, and you can’t help but root for them until the very end. While they are very opposite to each other, and very different, they’re also driven by one common thing: their passion for teaching and their love for books.

Alyssa was such a sunshine, positive, brilliant and funny person. While Whitney is really the “don’t judge by the covers” type of characters. You think she’s a grumpy, very direct, intimidating and stoic person, when in fact, she’s a very strong woman, very smart and very warm to people who matters. And how I hated her ex husband omg….such an asshole, but also you can see how easy it was for the others teachers to take one side without even considering another point of view until Alyssa.

I loved that Whitney and Alyssa relationship was a slow burn (expect for the benefits part HAHAHAH) but they really had such a good chemistry, they got to know each other slowly, and slowly let themself be part of each other life. They also had a very good communication with each other since the start, which is something I deeply appreciated.

And the ending ? Loved it. It was something you knew was coming of course, but it’s great to be sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

[booksonthefloor · Rating 5 out of 5]

HALEY CASS, the woman you are! I got approved for this ARC on Friday and then basically abandoned my entire family to read it in 2 days.

Haley Cass is the queen of sapphic contemporary romance. Her books are some of the very first I read when I came out in my mid 30s and her characters are ones I come back to over and over again. Haley Cass books are special, y'all.

Between the Lines is her first foray into traditional publishing (out February 2027 from Atria Books). I had an opportunity to read the first few chapters of a very early version of this book as a serial on Haley's Patreon (the best $10 I spend every month; I would sooner cancel Netflix) before she sold it and I fell in love with Whitney and Alyssa. I was SO thrilled for her, but I hoped that a trad-pub deal would not over-edit what Haley Cass is known for: yearning at its absolute finest (like Atria editors: we WANT the yearning!). I needn't have been worried because this book was SO excellent and my love for Whitney and Alyssa only grew!

This book has alllll my favorite romance moments, but its also just a love letter to nerds who read a lot.

Congratulations, Miss Cass on your trad pub debut. It is so well deserved! This will not be theast time I talk about this book; I plan to incorporate it in my day to day conversation until its release!

#haleycass #betweenlines #eARC #atria

[Rikki Ziegelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Haley Cass and everything she writes, and this book is no exception. There is nobody that does banter quite like her. This book checks a lot of trope boxes: academia/workplace romance, one night stand, ice queen, grumpy/sunshine (literally) — you name it. But somehow it succeeds in doing all of the tropes justice!

My one little complaint, if I may, is that this book follows a very similar Haley Cass recipe: a sort of power imbalance that restricts the two protagonists from being together, but their love is all worth it in the end. We saw it with Charlotte & Sutton, we saw it with Juliet & Darcy, and now with Whitney & Alyssa. And listen, don’t get me wrong, I eat it UP. But it is a pattern I noticed.

Anyway, it’s a well deserved 5 star read, and I’m so thrilled that we will see this book sold in stores! Haley Cass is so deserving of that recognition!

Thanks NetGalley & the publishers for the ARC! :)

[sab ☻ · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you atria books and netgalley for my very first arc!

i loved this book. i’m very skeptical about romance as a genre because i find most of the tropes either corny or agonizing to read (or too straight), so i’m happy to report that none of those things were an issue for me. whitney was infuriating in a way that was perfectly balanced by alyssa’s sunshine-y talkativeness, there was no conflict towards the end that made me want to gouge my eyes out, and i actually wanted to pick up the book. so it was easily a five star read. i will definitely be recommending!

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really love Haley Cass books and this was no exception. Rounding up from 4.5. I really enjoyed the two characters and the lighter hand at the ice queen trope. I appreciated that Alyssa was fully autonomous and in charge of her experience with Whitney. She didn’t simply have Whitney steer their relationship, she was fully involved and called out the bs when she saw it. I stayed up past 1am to finish this book because I was really enjoying it. Also, as usual, the steamy scenes were so well done!

Excited that I can finally recommend a Haley Cass to my local romance book store!

[Chelsea Pitsos · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️
3 🔥

ARC REVIEW

Between the Lines
OUT: 2/16/27

WELL THIS MIGHT AS WELL BE A HALEY CASS STAN ACCOUNT. I know I’m not alone in this, but MY GOD — she is, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite author of all time.

Between the Lines was full of complex emotions, competitive personalities, and chemistry that would make any scientist jealous! It’s no secret I love the ‘misunderstood ice queen’ and Whitney was absolutely perfect. Meanwhile, Alyssa (literal Sunshine) was the exact type of balance that would melt our dear ice queen into a giant puddle!

The level of open communication between Alyssa and Whitney made this so much more of an enjoyable read. Their banter, and playful competitiveness was all apart of the buildup — with an explosive relationship from the first interaction to the last!

All I have left to say is that HALEY CASS will NEVER miss! If she writes it, I’m reading it. What a treat to be given an ARC of this one, and being able to read 2 new HC books within the last couple months was incredible!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Shefali · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

This was my first Haley Cass book and I enjoyed it! Sapphic, grumpy x sunshine, academia - I’ll eat it up every time. I found Alyssa very endearing because she was a realistic level of sunshine where she allowed herself to feel other emotions rather than constantly hiding behind happiness. And Whitney was a pretty great grump. I adored their (somewhat) slow burn romance and the support they provided each other. That being said, I do feel like this book was a little too long. It became repetitive after a while and some of the actions (rolling lips and humming) showed up way too often. There were sections that I was hoping to get more from, like when Claire visited, but it was glossed over while other parts were just rehashed. A good read overall though! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this ARC!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy of their book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars rounded down. Another sapphic romance from prolific author Haley Cass focused on two English professors navigating their careers, grief, and a new connection in a small college town. I have read a few of Cass’ other works and this one is another enjoyable read but had some flaws.

Whitney is a 38-year-old tenured professor going through a divorce with a reputation for being standoffish. Alyssa, 31, just secured an interim professorship that lets her move out of her family’s home, which is shadowed by her brother’s tragic death.

What worked:
- grumpy/sunshine pairing
- At the start, there are no unsafe power dynamics (Professor/grad student; boss/direct report)
- Solid pacing in the first half of the book
- Non binary representation in a side character
- The setting (as someone outside academia )

What didn’t work for me:
- the ending felt rushed (some pretty big plot holes tied up in less than 4 chapters)
- Whitney, a Type A personality, didn’t anticipate a major consequence of a position she was applying for
- Whitney’s ex felt one-dimensional with his only purpose to gaslight/manipulate Whitney and poison her reputation at work. While romance novels focus on the main pairing, I wished for some nuance here.

[aura]

I’ve always loved Haley’s books, i love how relatable and romantic her writing is, and this story was really up there with my favorites of her.

Whitney is my favorite to be honest, raw, difficult and strong, some might call her unlikable but i think she’s just protecting herself from more disappointment thanks to the trash of a husband she has to deal with, but her relationship with Alyssa brings the softer side of her and lets herself be vulnerable with her, allowing this beautiful and sexy romance to grow.

I loved everything about it, both characters had very unique personalities and back stories that somehow made them perfect for each other.

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz Brown | ellebeesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so lucky to receive an ARC of this book from @atriabooks & NetGalley.

My first Haley Cass book but definitely NOT my last. I didn’t want to put Between the Lines down. I couldn’t put my finger on it exactly but there was something about Alyssa that I admired and found myself relating to. And then to find out more of her history, about her family, and her motivation? She’s absolutely splendid and someone I wish I could be friends with in real life. Whitney equally had me intrigued b cause from the beginning I could tell there was more to her than what her colleagues saw and thought.

This book made my eyes water more than once and I actually cried once! So many heartwarming revelations and themes throughout this book.

[Unpopmary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

Honestly, I don't think I've ever gone into a Haley Cass book with such mixed feelings.

She's one of the authors who introduced me to sapphic fiction, and several of her books remain all-time favorites. Naturally, my expectations for Between the Lines were through the roof. At the same time, my struggle to fully connect with The Whole Truth left me a little wary that this one might not land perfectly either.

Unfortunately, that proved to be the case.

Don't get me wrong. I still enjoyed the book. It just didn't capture my heart the way Haley's stories usually do.

What never wavered was my love for Alyssa. She was pure sunshine. I adored her passion for teaching and how deeply involved she was with her students. Her grief over losing her brother Bodhi was portrayed with such tenderness, and I appreciated how the story explored the lasting ripples of his absence. Even after having her heart broken, she refused to grow cynical. Instead, she stayed open, vulnerable, and brave enough to try again, which made her incredibly easy to root for.

Whitney, on the other hand, was a much more complicated character for me. I completely understood why she had built so many walls around herself after everything she endured during her marriage, and the more I learned about her past, the more I sympathized with her. One of my favorite parts of her journey was watching her slowly rediscover the version of herself she'd buried beneath years of judgment and self-protection. Seeing her slowly reclaim those parts of herself made her healing journey incredibly satisfying to follow.

Even so, I always felt there was a slight emotional distance between Whitney and me as a reader. She always seemed to keep a small part of herself tucked away, and while that made perfect sense given her history, it prevented me from bonding with her the same way I did with Alyssa. That distance, more than anything else, kept me from becoming completely absorbed in their relationship.

I also couldn't help feeling like I'd met versions of Alyssa and Whitney before. They reminded me quite a bit of some of Haley's previous MCs, so I kept hoping for something that would make them feel a little more unique.

The romance itself surprised me in a different way. Haley is a master of slow burns, but this one shifts the focus. It is a one-night-to-forever story where the real slow burn is emotional rather than physical. Their relationship progresses faster than I expected, which is not inherently bad, just noticeably different from her usual style. Still, the banter was fantastic. Their teasing, competitiveness, and flirtation made every scene between them lively and full of chemistry.

What ultimately kept me from connecting as deeply as I wanted was the imbalance in their emotional journeys. Alyssa wore her heart on her sleeve, while Whitney's feelings remained quieter and more reserved. I never doubted Whitney loved Alyssa, but I felt Alyssa's emotions with far more intensity. Because of that, I never became as invested in their relationship as I'd hoped.

Beyond the romance, I also found myself less immersed in the overall story than I expected. Many of the plot developments felt predictable, and while I was satisfied with the ending, I never experienced those soaring emotional highs I have come to expect from Haley's work. And honestly... that was probably my biggest disappointment.

Overall, Between the Lines is a heartfelt romance about healing, rediscovering yourself after heartbreak, learning to trust again, and finding the courage to let someone in when love feels impossible. Even if this wasn't my favorite Haley Cass novel, I still think there's plenty here to love, and I have no doubt many readers will connect with these characters far more than I did.

I'll definitely keep reading whatever Haley writes next because one book that doesn't completely work for me could never erase everything I've loved about her stories over the years.

Big warm thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to read it so early!

[J. H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of “Between the Lines”, and I’m really glad I picked this one up.

I’ve had several of Haley Cass’s books sitting on my TBR for quite a while, but I just hadn’t found the time to dive into them. When I saw there was an opportunity to request an ARC for her newest release, I figured it was the perfect excuse to finally see what all the hype was about.

I’m happy to say this book exceeded my expectations.

Lately I’ve been reading almost exclusively sports romances, and I’ve found it surprisingly difficult to get invested in anything outside that niche. “Between the Lines” completely broke that streak. It reminded me why I enjoy branching out into other romance subgenres every once in a while.

“Between the Lines” follows temporary professor Alyssa Burke and tenured professor Whitney Hart as their relationship develops. The pacing really worked for me. There were multiple points where I wanted to keep reading but had to put the book down because life got in the way, which is always a good sign for me.

Alyssa and Whitney were incredibly easy to connect with. Their chemistry was undeniable from the beginning, and despite the romance moving fairly quickly, it never felt rushed or unbelievable. It felt like the kind of connection that genuinely could happen in real life. There were more than a few moments where I wanted to yell at one of them, “She loves you!”

The sex scenes were also exceptionally well written. They felt natural, emotionally grounded, and fit the relationship instead of existing just for the sake of spice. Very open door romance, and if you’re looking for plot with your smut… you won’t be disappointed.

One small criticism is that I found myself struggling to keep track of some of the supporting characters. There were quite a few names introduced, and several of them didn’t leave a strong enough impression for me to remember exactly how they fit into the story. It wasn’t enough to pull me out of the book, but it was something I noticed while reading.

I also found myself wondering about Whitney’s previous relationship with Stephen. I kept asking myself whether she truly loved him or whether compulsory heterosexuality played a role in that relationship. I appreciated that the book left room to think about those questions instead of spelling everything out.

Beyond the romance, the novel explores family, loss, and the different forms grief can take; whether grieving the death of a loved one or the end of an important relationship. Those themes added emotional depth that made the romance even more satisfying.

One funny thing I noticed while reading: because I consume a lot of sapphic media, I accidentally kept picturing Whitney as another character until her hair was described again. That’s entirely a “me” thing, but it gave me a laugh. I loved the tropes that I could pull; especially the grumpy x sunshine.

The ending tied everything together beautifully. I finished the book feeling satisfied, with the major emotional threads wrapped up in a way that felt earned rather than overly neat.

Overall, “Between the Lines” was an excellent introduction to Haley Cass’s work, and I’ll definitely be moving the rest of her books much higher up my TBR.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this since I won it through a Goodreads giveaway, but I was a little disappointed. This is my first Haley Cass book and probably my last.

As for the positives: the two main characters have a lot of chemistry and their relationship is worth rooting for. I like both of them and they feel realistic. They also both support one another and communicate well. I liked the academia setting and basic plot, as this played out like a typical office romance, with lots of tension.

I was annoyed by the rest of it though. I know it’s silly to pick through a romance novel but whatever. Some spoilers ahead.

1)The writing itself is very sloppy (to put it bluntly), with lots of phrasing issues and grammar mistakes (eg. dialogue not flowing well or mixing up the characters’ names). I thought maybe because it’s an ARC but I saw this critique on her other published books.

2)A lot of the plot happens off-page. For example, the drive to the academic conference, their pool game, their cooking competition, discussions/plans about people visiting them, both Whitney and Alyssa’s interviews (just to name a few). It’s like half the time they are talking retroactively about something that happened already to fill in the reader but not as it’s happening. Just feels lazy.

3)All the characters sound affected or stilted when they talk because there are so many SAT words thrown in. I’ve never heard someone say “prudent” so frequently in daily speech. I know they’re meant to be English professors, but come on.

4)Both of their previous relationships and the general setup feel underdeveloped, especially Alyssa’s. It’s eventually somewhat fleshed out, but barely. Whitney’s ex-husband feels unrealistically evil, although this does drive a lot of plot.

5)Them both not realizing or discussing the potential conflict of interest that would be Whitney being the department chair and the person in charge of hiring for the job Alyssa wants/planned to apply for?? How was this something that they didn’t consider or talk about until the last chapter? It’s wrapped up so quickly too.

6)Why is Alyssa running the bookclub? Maybe my college was different, but all clubs were student-run and organized and didn’t involve the professors. I could see maybe a professor being a sponsor and signing off on budgets, but being present and in charge of the club meetings? Nope, seems more like a high school occurrence. Like it’s not a class.

7)How the child character was written. One of Alyssa’s friends has an 11 (almost 12) year old daughter who talks and acts like she’s 6. I always hate when children are written developmentally younger than they are.

8)Alyssa’s name (and her brothers). It being a sunny x grumpy trope and her given name is Sunshine, hitting the nail on the head. And her brother’s name is Bohdi, a Sanskrit and traditionally Buddhist name. I thought maybe he was adopted, since his race is never stated, but no he’s white. Towards the end, Alyssa’s mom mentions being pregnant with him and naming both of them “hippie names” which is a bit yikes, considering this book is already so so white.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more Haley Cass books right now, her writing is ADDICTIVE, I read most of her other books one after the other a couple of years ago so I genuinely forgot how GOOD her writing is, how much each paragraph CLAWS me in, it’s literally addictive. I also love how it’s not JUST the steamy hot adult scenes that are just so incredibly hooking, it’s the characters lives and stories and experiences too. With these more steamy books sometimes it can be that the steamy scenes take focus and priority leaving less space for actual character development and the actual storyline, but that’s NEVER the case with a Haley Cass book, Haley manages to write obsessive steamy scenes while also having a really compelling story with beautiful characters.
Between The Lines is a sapphic workplace romance book (exquisite work of art) about Alyssa and Whitney. Whitney is a literary professor and Alyssa is her new mentee, neither know this when they hook up after meeting at a bar, Alyssa was late for their introductory meeting after her girlfriend broke up with her over the phone while Alyssa was in the car about to start her day at her dream job, and because she was late her mentor Whitney did not wait for her- therefore they did not meet. It’s incredibly awkward when Whitney realizes Alyssa is really her new mentee Sunshine.
The storyline is truly captivating, Alyssa truly lives up to her name of Sunshine, Whitney is going through a horrible time being basically in-real-life blocked by her coworkers after her soon to be ex husband (the divorce is HAPPENING) fed them all so many lies about her which they believed without a thought, together they are just magical. Whitney believes she has been broken and destroyed by her Narcissistic Evil Full Of Himself Loser ex, while Alyssa sees so much beauty and fun and joy inside of her- and Alyssa will not stand for how her new colleagues are treating Whitney. They heal from their mistreatments together, they love together, they support each other, they can be themselves around each other, they truly do HEAL each other.
The background characters are also amazing, as they are in all of Haley’s books, I love supportive women friendships and friend groups, I love seeing women build each other up and supporting each other, women being strong and independent, and that’s what Haley creates.
I am a HUGE Haley Cass fan, I love her books and how she writes and literally everything else.
For me she’s one of The Bigs, like one of the first authors that comes to mind when anyone says “sapphic books” So getting an arc of this was SUCH a huge shock and achievement for me, I could not praise her more and think she is a true genius, I am so grateful and I hope my review persuades at least one person to pick up Between The Lines.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
First, thank you to Haley Cass, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. Haley Cass is already one of my favorite romance authors, so getting an early copy of Between the Lines was honestly such a treat.
I'm from Maine, and the area Alyssa is from immediately felt familiar to me. The setting reminded me so much of a mix of some of the small coastal towns around Maine, which made it really easy for me to picture. I also love a good grumpy/sunshine romance, and the fact that Alyssa's real name is Sunshine was honestly too funny.
At first, I thought this was going to be a solid four-star read for me. I was enjoying it, liked the characters, and was into the slow-burn tension between Alyssa and Whitney. But somewhere along the way, I became really invested in these women. The character development, the tension, the little moments between them, and especially the way they slowly started to trust and support each other completely won me over.
Whitney's storyline really got to me. Without getting into spoilers, watching her become more vulnerable and start to believe that she deserved to be seen and cared for was probably my favorite part of the book. Her past relationship left some pretty deep scars, and I thought Haley Cass did a really good job showing how that can affect someone's confidence and the way they see themselves.
As a social worker, that part especially stood out to me. I've seen how people coming out of unhealthy relationships can have such a hard time recognizing their own worth, and Whitney's journey felt very real to me. There were moments toward the end where I genuinely got emotional watching her realize that she didn't always have to be waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I also really loved the support system throughout the book. The friendships and relationships outside of the romance made the story feel more complete, and I loved seeing Alyssa and Whitney become people who could actually lean on each other.
This is definitely a slow burn, but for me, the payoff was worth it. The tension builds, the characters get to know each other, and the emotional side of their relationship ended up being just as important to me as the romance itself. The book is described as an academic romance with two professors finding connection and healing, and I think that's exactly what made it work so well for me.
Five stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I laughed, I swooned, and I definitely cried. Haley Cass has once again reminded me why she's one of my favorite romance authors. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to read this early, and I already know this is going to be one of those books I keep recommending to everyone.

[Colleen Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5

Read if you like: sapphic romance, characters who truly see each other, intellectual chemistry, competitive banter, emotionally mature relationships, and spice that feels like an extension of the characters

Review:
If Haley Cass has zero fans, I must have left this world. So it's safe to say I was incredibly excited to receive my first ARC of hers. With that said, this was not an obligatory five stars. Between the Lines earned every single one.

What I love most about Haley Cass as an author is that she shows rather than tells. Her characters are developed so thoroughly that the smallest interactions tell us something about who they are and, more importantly, who they are becoming because of each other.

When Whitney publicly displays affection for Alyssa, for example, it's not simply about them being out as a couple, nor is it just about Whitney craving Alyssa. It feels like Whitney, for the first time in a long time, is embracing a version of herself that she missed, and maybe never had the chance to fully realize until now.

The same is true when Alyssa is constantly semi-interrupting Whitney. In the hands of less-developed characters, that dynamic could easily become annoying, especially with someone as strong-willed as Whitney. Instead, it becomes another way they play their competitive edges and love of language against and with each other. Cass doesn't need to tell us these two understand each other. We see it in the way they interact.

I also loved that the conflicts never became so dramatic that they created artificial hurdles for Whitney and Alyssa finding their way to each other. Their love story simply evolves as they learn more about each other and, through that relationship, more about themselves. There wasn't a moment where I was waiting for the inevitable unnecessary misunderstanding or wondering why two adults couldn't just communicate. The relationship itself gets to be the story.

And the spice? Cass writes intimacy the same way she writes everything else between these two: as character development. Their chemistry is undeniable, but the spicy scenes also reveal parts of Whitney and Alyssa that we don't get to see anywhere else. Nothing felt thrown in simply for the sake of making the book hotter. It deepened my understanding of their relationship while still being very, very effective at making the book hotter.

Another banner read by Cass. I fear this will be sitting on my annual reads shelf from here on out.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wish I were joking, but I generally jumped for joy when I received the email that my request had been approved. Haley Cass is an incredible author, and as with all her other phenomenal books, this one did not disappoint!

Despite this book being quite long (as is often the case with Cass’ books), I finished it in less than a day as her writing is moving, addictive and all-consuming. I truly fell in love with both the characters and the narrative.

Between the Lines is a workplace romance between Alyssa and Whitney. It is a novel that covers grief, healing and love. Cass creates characters with extreme depth and layers. You can tell that she invests a lot of time and love into creating characters that you feel enticed to root for. My only comment about the characters is that they felt quite similar to other couples in prior books, likely due to the grumpy/sunshine trope, which multiple other couples occupy to some level. Nonetheless, this did not stop me from still enjoying this dynamic and the protagonists.

I really loved Alyssa, who was such a sweet and lovable character. I liked how she always looked for the best in people, but was not naive. She wore her heart on her sleeve and is truly a ray of sunshine.

On the other hand, Whitney is much more reserved, yet still such a likeable character. The way she portrays herself, especially when surrounded by her coworkers, is directly linked to her past. As the novel progresses and she begins to open up, we truly get to know her on a much deeper level. We see that she is strong, caring and passionate.

Despite how different they both seem at first glance, they have a lot in common, which creates this incredible chemistry between them. I thoroughly enjoyed their witty banter and how you could really tell just how deeply they both cared for one another.

Additionally, I really enjoyed the setting of the book, especially since the characters and plot felt a little more realistic and therefore more relatable than in some of her other books. I also adored many of the side characters, especially Katie, Madison, and Davia.

Whilst this was not my favourite Haley Cass novel, likely because Those Who Wait will always hold a special place in my heart, it was still an extremely entertaining and charmingly written read that I would definitely recommend to others.

[Jamie P-Kretzschmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Top-Tier Academic Rom-Com and an Instant Comfort Reread!

Haley Cass is an absolute heavyweight in the sapphic romance space, and Between the Lines proves exactly why. If you are looking for an effortlessly fun, quick-witted rom-com with phenomenal chemistry, this is guaranteed to be your next obsession.

The book gives us a flawless execution of the "one-night-stand-to-forever" trope, set against a delightfully messy academic backdrop. We follow Alyssa, a funny and incredibly sincere interim professor, who accidentally throws a massive wrench into the carefully maintained walls of Whitney, the stoic and guarded department head. Throw in a classic workplace power imbalance, some forced proximity, and the looming shadow of an ex-husband who has completely poisoned the faculty well, and you have the perfect recipe for tension.

Highlights of the book:

Top-Tier Banter: The road trip scene featuring a competitive bet over a thriller audiobook twist is an absolute standout that brilliantly shatters their professional boundaries.

The Queen of Spice: Cass firmly cements her title here. The "open door" scenes are not only fantastic, but they serve a massive emotional purpose. For a character as heavily guarded as Whitney, physical intimacy becomes the ultimate space for vulnerability—the one place she finally allows herself to be truly "seen."

The "Wrench" Dynamic: Alyssa is a phenomenal protagonist. Watching her try to reconcile her friendly colleagues with their blind acceptance of workplace gossip adds a fantastic, grounded layer to the academic drama.

A quick note on tone: The book does touch on some incredibly heavy subjects, including the loss of a sibling and deliberate career sabotage. However, it doesn't wallow in heavy, devastating grief. These elements function more as plot drivers rather than deep emotional explorations, which brilliantly keeps the book light, highly readable, and firmly anchored in its fun rom-com roots.

Between the Lines doesn't try to reinvent the wheel—it just executes the genre flawlessly. It is exactly the kind of reliable favorite you will return to time and time again just for the "happy soft feelings" it gives you. I predict this is going to be a massive commercial hit, and I am so incredibly excited that this one will be hitting physical bookstore shelves!

A huge thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books for the e-ARC!

I’m a huge fan of Haley Cass and have loved her previous work, so I was genuinely honored to have the opportunity to read Between the Lines in exchange for an honest review. There is a lot to love here, and this remains a solid four-star romance for me. That said, compared with Cass’s previous novels, this one didn’t quite reach the incredibly high bar she has set for herself.

Where I think Between the Lines really shines is in its forbidden workplace romance setup. Alyssa and Whitney have immediate chemistry, and I found myself wanting the story to lean even further into the tension of their situation. I wanted more of Whitney’s internal struggle when Alyssa was in her office, more stolen moments, and perhaps even a few secret office encounters. There was so much potential in that element of the story, and I occasionally felt like it stopped just short of giving me the tension I was hoping for.

I absolutely loved Alyssa as a character and found her easy to root for. Whitney, however, was more difficult for me to connect with. She felt so closed off that, at times, I felt similarly distanced from her as a reader. I think giving us more insight into Whitney’s thoughts and motivations earlier in the story would have helped me understand her and root for her sooner. By the time we were given more of that context, I had already formed an opinion of her based largely on how her coworkers perceived her. For much of the book, I was honestly worried that Whitney was going to hurt or disappoint Alyssa, which made it harder for me to fully settle into their romance.

I also would have loved a little more development of the world and supporting characters. At times, particularly in the earlier chapters, the story felt somewhat insular, with characters circling back to the same concerns and sentiments rather than expanding the world around them. A little more depth in that area could have made the story feel even richer.

Despite these critiques, I still found Between the Lines to be a very enjoyable romance. The chemistry, emotional vulnerability, and slow-burn relationship kept me invested, and I think the ingredients for a truly exceptional Haley Cass romance are absolutely here. This may not have been my favorite of her books, but it is still a four-star read for me and I’ll happily continue reading anything she writes.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Atria, and Simon & Schuster for this ARC - my first ARC ever and I am so happy it to say it was for the upcoming release of my favourite author's book!

There has not been a single Haley Cass book that I did not finish, nor did not like. Cass has a way of writing that really draws you in as the reader, into the universe of these characters.

Between The Lines gave me everything I love and keeps me hooked on a story:
- a hot sapphic one-night stand
- age-gap romance
- crossing paths after said one-night stand to find they are new coworkers
- loveable ice-queen
- sapphic banter
- an amazing flash-forward in the epilogue that keeps me wanting more

Alyssa and Whitney were very well-written and loveable characters. Whitney is our ice-queen (that we absolutely love) whereas Alyssa is the one who is absolutely admirable and always knows what she wants. I truly enjoyed how their relationship develops throughout the story. We get to see so much personal growth with Whitney and professional growth with Alyssa. They compliment each other so well. I love a good story where the ice-queen thinks she isn't deserving of good things and to be loved fully, and where the other female lead shows her that she can be worthy of this.

The romance and sex itself was H-O-T. Every love-making scene was super steamy and I ate up every second of it. I also particularly like Haley's writing of these scenes, in the context of toys. I am personally not one for describing the toys as the slang used for male appendages - I find that as a Lesbian, reading a sapphic romance novel, that it tends to give me the ick and ruin the scene for me. Haley writes these scenes so well - that they seem so natural and truly complimented the relationship itself.

My only remarks would be that there were too many side characters that were mentioned, that it did tend to be difficult to keep up with - but that is a me thing. Clare, Nic, and Katie were very memorable supporting characters. Otherwise - the book is perfect.

Overall, Between the Lines was beautifully written and well executed. It was a very mature, sapphic romance novel in my eyes. I loved every minute of it and really enjoyed how it ended.

Once again, Haley Cass has done it again. Team Alyssa and Whitney forever.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
Haley Cass did it again with another 5 star read! As possibly my top sapphic contemporary author I went into this story with high expectations and they were definitely met.
I absolutely loved both Whitney and Alyssa together and as separate characters and very quickly became totally obsessed with their story. I loved how Alyssa was literally sunshine for so much of the book and perfectly balanced Whitney’s cloudy and more reserved personality. The characters in Cass’ novels are always very three dimensional to me and this is just another book where the characters were really believable as people I could see being my literature professor, or as someone I can easily visualize meeting in real life.
The relationships between Alyssa and her family really pulled my heartstrings. The way her family has a group of women who could use some extra family and love really pulled my heartstrings knowing how much love they have to give especially after experiencing loss I was very happy to see Whitney be treated well by Alyssa's parents later in the story.
Another thing that made this novel really stand out to me is the way that it deals with grief of both parental figures and siblings, while a lot of books do show mental health struggles I find that in a lot of books there is that love fixes all mindset sometimes which was not seen here. Even as the main characters grow together in the book issues were not magically fixed with both social and mental health problems in the novel.
I really loved the banter between Alyssa and Whitney, how competitive they are, and of course the chemistry between them was top tier leading to the hot spice I associate with everything Cass puts out. As I continued this book, which started out with a one night stand, I could really feel the friendship AND romantic feelings form between them as they continued their professional relationship and especially enjoyed the teasing and flirting as they tried to resist each other but obviously had such a magnetic pull to each other. This might be my new top book by Haley Cass, I loved the academia, the grumpy/sunshine trope, and the way this is a perfecting execution of the one night to forever trope. I would highly recommend this book and was so excited to get to read it!

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who reads my reviews knows I have a love/hate relationship with Haley Cass's work. My main complaint has always been that she refuses to hire an editor and proofreader. She's one of the most popular indie-published sapphic authors and doesn't seem to care one bit about the actual quality of her work that she's making money off of. She's an absolutely fantastic storyteller but not a good technical writer with punctuation and grammar issues that are so heavy, it makes it difficult to read and comprehend. For some people, clearly, this is not an issue. For me, it's THE issue.

When I saw that she signed with Atria for this newest book, I wanted to give it a try. I wanted to see what Cass's work would look like with an editor and proofreader. The results: much better but still needs at least one or two more passes. I'll explain...

The commas have been mostly wrangled. The punctuation is MUCH better. Not perfect but I only got confused while reading a few times as opposed to constantly irritated by having to reread sentences. That was the biggest change I saw. The book was still incredibly bloated with adjectives - sometimes several strung together - that if they had been cut back to an appropriate level, a few dozen pages could have been eliminated from this huge book. And for the love of god, please just use "said" instead of the, what may have been, hundreds of other adjectives. Dialogue tags should fade into the background so we don't get pulled out of the conversation. And for the love of all things holy, stop using murmured. Apparently Whitney can only murmur when speaking. Poor Whitney.

Besides the at least 100 pages of filler (insane amount of adjectives and adverbs, excessive dialog tags, getting a main character's name wrong in one, possibly two (it was convoluted and I couldn't figure it out) places), I loved the characters. No one can say that Cass can't bring the emotion. In fact, her characters and the emotion she pulls from them is what makes her a great storyteller. And I hope this book has gotten one or two more editorial passes before it's published because it has the potential to be the best book she's ever written.

I hope she's able to stick with the publishing house because it can only continue to improve her skills and get us better books to read.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read the ARC.

[Nicole (NicoleIsBooked) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa and Whitney meet at a bar on Christmas Eve. Whitney is getting divorced from her husband, and Alyssa has just moved to a new town to start her first job as a professor. Both of them are looking for connection, and they have a steamy one night stand. Whitney flees when she realizes that Alyssa works at the same college where she is also a professor.

Soon after their hookup, both women realize that they are working together in the same department, and Whitney is Alyssa's mentor. They agree to not speak about their past hookup, and they keep things professional. They only text and email about worked related questions that Alyssa has as a first year professor.

Alyssa discovers that everyone in the department doesn't like Whitney because they were friends with her ex-husband, who also worked in the department until he recently left. Alyssa has moved 6 hours from home, and she was dumped by her girlfriend over the phone. She wants to make new friends at work, but she struggles with understanding why she sees a different side to Whitney.


Alyssa and Whitney connect when they drive together to a work conference. Both of them are going through grief- Alyssa's brother has recently passed away and Whitney is dealing with the aftermath of her divorce/betrayal from her ex. At the conference, Alyssa plans a special birthday for Whitney, and they have a steamy hookup. They think it will be a one time thing, but they can't turn off their attraction and feelings for each other.


Things I loved:
- the communication that they had with each other
- Whitney's spicy list of things she wants to do with Alyssa
- discussion about trust after losing trust in a partner
- that they started as a one night stand which was rare for both of them
- Alyssa’s family and friends were great side characters,
- that Whitney was best friends with woman she dated in the past,
- the discussions of literature and they were nerds flirting with each other,
- the epilogue
- the spice was next level

Overall, this was a spicy sapphic age gap romance (8 years) between two professors, and it's filled with heart and spice. I definitely recommend this book.

[BookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read an eARC and review Between the Lines by Haley Cass.

This story follows Whitney and Alyssa. Whitney may seem intimidating, but she is also smart, quick-witted, and, of course, brilliantly gorgeous… and newly divorced. Her ex honestly made me feel a lot of emotion…anger and sadness mostly, but that experience also endeared me to Whitney in so many ways. Then we have Alyssa, relocating from a small town in Maine to upstate New York for the faculty position she has been pursuing for a long time. What happens when she leans completely into her new life?

What a read! Ok, now let’s talk about how this book has me wanting to go back to school, get my PhD, and become a professor to watch stories like this unfold! I think I have found a new favorite trope with academic/professor. There is nothing quite like reading about two brilliant, stubborn literature professors (Alyssa and Whitney) trying to maintain their composure around each other.

Both characters made me fall in love for the same reasons, but in different ways. To be truly seen is to be loved, and Whitney and Alyssa got a PhD in each other, showing up in ways they never thought they would. This story is a beautiful representation of someone choosing you and continuing to show up, even when it challenges past hurt narratives from others. This story really touched my heart, and I believe others will be able to connect to it and maybe even see themselves in it.

If you're a "wordy" reader who loves a large vocabulary and elite banter, you will be obsessed. Haley Cass did an incredible job with the storytelling, building complex characters, a deep connection, and a love story that feels so believable as they face challenges together.

The spice in this book was so yummy! There is a bit of dominance play between Whitney and Alyssa that honestly added depth to their personalities and had me fanning myself. There is just the right amount of spice and details that make even the scenes outside of the “bedroom” (maybe not always there) sexier.

I absolutely loved this book and will definitely be a trophy on my bookshelves.

[Scott Cutlip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa Burke is starting her first day as a professor (possibly temporarily, but she’s hoping for it to be a long time). She has her doctorate, but she’s been working at her family’s restaurant as she has struggled to find a teaching position. Things are starting to look up, at least until her girlfriend calls her and picks this moment to break up with her. It’s so upsetting that she ends up being late meeting her colleague, Dr. Whitney Hart.

Dr. Hart, known as Hartless to some of her colleagues, is the sapphic romance Ice Queen personified. I write that in the most complimentary of fashions. Haley Cass is extremely gifted at writing the grumpy/sunshine couples, and while I think individually she’s written better versions of each type of character, this might be my favorite combo of them.

Whitney has just filed for divorce from her husband, who was a popular professor at the same college before working elsewhere. After missing their connection, the two meet at a bar on Christmas Eve, neither of them knowing who the other is. They share an evening, and it is only before they are about to part that Whitney realizes who Ayssa is (she doesn’t go by her first name. It’s Sunshine, so that makes sense). She doesn’t tell Alyssa, though.

After their dalliance, their relationship is really a slow burn in a way that Cass seems to excel at.

My gripes are minor. Sydney, Alyssa's ex, works at her family’s restaurant and is essentially seen as a member of the family, and I don’t necessarily feel like she should have been shunned by Alyssa’s family and friends, we should have at least gotten more acknowledgement this was a spectacularly awful thing to do. Whitney’s ex is also quite a catalyst in the book, and I wish we had seen a little more about their past than we were given. I feel like that should have spent a little more time on stage and should have been seen a little more than told.

Minor quibbles aside, while not in my absolute top tier Haley Cass books, it’s close. 4.5 stars bumped to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Merle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haley Cass does it again. In "Between the Lines", Haley Cass has crafted characters and a story that are at-once likeable, at-once lovable, and are forever memorable. Cass has this incredible talent and ability to write characters that feel real. I feel like I know Alyssa and Whitney. I feel like I've been coworkers with these women. I feel like I've been friends with these women. They are easy to root for, and even easier to swoon for.

This is a classic golden retriever x black cat, ice queen x sunshine story, and Cass writes it impeccably. I didn't want to put the book down, my bed time be damned. The chemistry that Alyssa and Whitney have sizzles and pops, and I was racing through the pages in tense anticipation for it to finally explode. Their relationship was not only funny and interesting, but also soft and heartfelt.

And truthfully, that is what Haley Cass does best. These characters and their dynamics are so, so full of heart. (And may I say, also full of Hart. That's a pun. You'll get it.)

Alyssa is a new professor, and is sunshine incarnate. Whitney is the slightly older, more experienced staff mentor, who has had a falling out with the teaching staff due to some misunderstandings. Alyssa, with her belly-button piercing, shaggy hair, and ripped pants, and easy smile, is Whitney's type to a T. She is thunderstruck. And Whitney, with her pressed and fancy clothes, her perfect posture and hair, and her penchant to be authoritative both in-and-out of the bedroom, has Alyssa barely able to contain herself. What begins as insanely hot physical chemistry begins to bleed into a soft romance.

I adored these characters. Cass has a fantastic way to write couples that just click like puzzle pieces. She makes you believe that soulmates are real.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a review copy. All thoughts are my own.