“Maybe we’ve always been friends in a weird unconventional sort of way.”

“Beg, Borrow, or Steal” takes us back to Rome, Kentucky and tells the story of Emily and Jack, two feuding second grade teachers (that became neighbors).

As an eldest daughter, I related to Emily a lot and felt a lot of empathy for her. She is very strong, tenacious, protective and has a big heart.

Jack became my favorite after the way he uplifted Emily.

This book made me go through a whole range of emotions, from happy to sad and angry, while making me fall in love with the characters that are relatable.

The story is beautifully written, with mature characters that have depth and a bit of spice that was important to the story. I liked the way Emily and Jack went from rivals to friends to lovers.
I read (almost) all of Sarah’s books and this one became my favorite.

Please be aware that it includes themes of grief and mild accompanying depression, as well as the portrayal of a narcissistic parent.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from the Headline Eternal and NetGalley for which I am grateful. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sarah Adams does it again!

Her books are like warm sunshine, they're the book equivalent of a hug, or the comfort of a hot chocolate on a cold winter night. They never fail to make me happy. It's always such a joy to read her stories, and the writing always effortlessly flows so well and easily bingable every time.

I've fallen in love with Rome, Kentucky, with it's Stars Hollow vibes with eccentric characters, funny conversations and it's adorably close-knit community. It ticks all the boxes. I want to live here!

I loved the relationship between Emily and Jack, the banter and sass mixing with the growing friendship and eventually relationship was done so well. I was rooting for them from page 1. The comfort, respect and care they gave one another but still being competitive and sniping, ugh I'm such a sucker for rivals to lovers!

Their individual journeys were wonderfully written and I was hooked on both storylines. Although, as a writer and aspiring author myself, Emily's moreso! I absolutely love books about writing books, they give me such motivation and inspire me to open up my own novel and make myself edit it. (Which I was supposed to be doing but decided to read this instead, and I regret nothing!)

I always love interconnected series as well, the little crumbs for future books (which I can't wait for!) and updates from the previous makes you feel part of it :)

Overall, I loved it. You can't go wrong with Sarah's books, which never fail to make me smile. I always recommend them to anyone who wants a cute, heartwarming read.

I can't wait for Maddie's story!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Emily and Jack have been enemies for over a decade after Jack accidentally spills coffee over Emily in college. Now they both teach second grade at the same school. After Jack comes back to Rome with a failed engagement under his belt both Emily and Jack realize that they don't avtually hate each other that much.

I enjoyed being in emily's mind. It felt like i was inside a real person's mind. She is complex and has a hard time wit with accepting love, even feels envy of her siblings at times. I loved that we could see those moments, we al have hardships and emotions are more complex that we might think. That was the problem with Jack that he was too perfect he did in fact feel like a male character written by a female author for the female gaze. He felt too perfect and too sweet and that fight felt out of character it was as if the author realized he was too good and needed to do something to make him more relatable. Besides this i enjoyed the banter and i am a sucker for messages and emails in books.
Overall i really enjoyed it although Emily should go back to therapy and a discussion of that would have been nice to see.

I’ve been a huge fan of Sarah’s ever since I read The Match so I had high expectations for this book and ooooh how she delivered!!!

I loved this book so much!😍 Emily and Jack’s dynamic? PERFECT! their chemistry? Outstanding! I had so much fun following them along, seeing them bickering and eventually getting vulnerable and opening up to each other.

Emily’s struggles hit close to home and I just wanted to give her a massive hug. Similarly, Jack’s childhood and family dynamic were anything but easy. The way they supported each other through it all was heartwarming; Jack was Emily’s greatest supporter and seeing him not only encourage her but also do whatever he could to make her dream of becoming a published writer come true was heartwarming. Same goes for Emily, who became Jack’s family, his safe place, where he feels loved and able to be his true self. They were such a perfect match.

Also I need to mention seeing all the Walker siblings and the people from Rome. I love how close all the siblings and their partners (especially the girls) are and it was lovely to see Emily be more vulnerable with them. I also loved the way they welcomed Jack with open arms and made him feel like he belonged.

Another 5-star read from Sarah Adams. If you like the sound of a really sweet rivals to lovers romance with hilarious banter and small town vibes, make sure to check this one out!!

I have enjoyed all of Sarah Adams novels so I was delighted to receive an early copy of this one. The third in the Rome series, this book is the best so far. I loved the journey the characters went on together - I am always a sucker for enemies to lovers and this novel did it SO well, The longing, the angst, the build up and the eventual, inevitable get together is so well crafted. I loved the characters, their journey of self change and acceptance and the growth they did together. A truly excellent novel! I can't wait for the fourth.

🏍️Beg, Borrow or Steal - Sarah Adams📚

Emily and Jack have disliked each other since college. Their dislike for each other fuelled a rivalry that lasted a lifetime atleast until Jack’s failed engagement brings him back to Rome.

Beg, Borrow or Steal is 3rd in the When in Rome series of connected standalones. As a big fan of Sarah Adams other books it was lovely to dip back into the small town of Rome and catch up with other characters from previous books.

I loved the storyline of Emily & Jack being authors as it allowed the reader to understand what goes on behind the scenes to make our favourite novels.

At times the pacing felt a little off and the rivalry definitely felt more like disgruntlement but once the book got going I enjoyed it more.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I can’t wait for book 4 as the set up already has the anticipation building!

Big thankyou to Netgalley, Sarah and her publisher Headline for my e-ARC.

Título: Beg, Borrow or Steal
(When in Rome series #3)
Calificación: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 ♥♡

AAAAAAAH!! ¡¿Puede un libro ser más perfecto, conmovedor, tierno y esencialmente espectacular?!

Esta serie -oh, dios mío esta serie- me tiene fascinada en cada sentido de la palabra.

Amo cómo desde donde todo comenzó (When in Rome) la autora convirtió a estos personajes en auténticas obras de arte.

El sentido de familia, de superación, de sanación y amor... es hermoso 🥹✨

Entretenido, dulce, complejo y adictivo. Que llevo toda la noche leyendo y no lo he podido soltar hasta terminarlo!!

Conocer a los hermanos Walker hace mi vida feliz. Adoré a Annie y Emily (aunque Amelia, baby, you're my number one) y poder aprender tanto de ellas. De Noah, Will y Jack...

Y me muero pero QUE PODRÍAMOS TENER OTRO LIBRO?! PERDÓN?!

'y ya puedo oler los personajes principales en este 🤭'

Agradezco de corazón a Netgalley y a la autora por esta gran e increíble oportunidad de leer este e-Arc que tanto había deseado 🩷

After reading When in Rome and Practice makes Perfect, expectations were high. I’m not sure they have been met…

Don’t get me wrong, I still liked the book. Academic nemesis, who have always competed with each other, finally figuring out they don’t really hate each other.

But for me, the first two books were perfect, especially the second one. The banter, the chemistry and the story line were perfect.

For this one, it felt a little flat. The first couple of chapters I honestly found Emily a little petty. After getting into her reasons for her behaviour I honestly wouldn’t have accepted it as easily as Jack did.

Would recommend the book, also because of the cameos of the characters out of the first two books!

Omg omg omg!
This was a 6 stars read!!
I need a Jack (with glasses) in my life 🥹💌

I was sure that this book would be my favourite book of 2024 since Sarah Adams had announced it and in fact I loved it so much 🥹 I’m just saying that I filled my Kindle with notes and highlights on EVERY SINGLE page. 😅
•
I loved every single interaction between the two MC. Jack and Emily are two cuties, I loved the fact that they were teachers and secret writers, as well as crazy neighbours and enemies/rivals. Emily was just so relatable and an amazing FMC! I loved her so much. She’s an icon.
Every time Jack talked or did literally anything my heart melted, he is so sweet and cute with his lil glasses and every scene of him is so hot and perfect.
I need a Jack - with glasses, a motorcycle, who is a teacher but is also a secret writer and who fix the house with his carpenter’s belt on - in my life! 😫
•
It was undoubtedly a six-star reading! 😍
Thanks to NJetgalley Dell Romance, Headline and Sarah Adams .
Beg, Borrow, or Steal comes out everywhere on January 7, 2025. Let me tell you that you all absolutely have to read about these two cutie pies! Go and pre-order it. 😌

Review of Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

Beg, Borrow, or Steal, the third book in Sarah Adams' When in Rome series, is a heartfelt slow-burn romance featuring Emily, a second-grade teacher, and her long-time rival Jack. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is filled with humor, emotional depth, and personal growth, set against the charming backdrop of Rome, Kentucky.

The story beautifully explores their struggles with childhood trauma—Emily’s difficulty expressing emotions and Jack’s battle with living in his father’s shadow. Jack’s playful yet caring nature and Emily’s vulnerability make their relationship both relatable and endearing. Their banter and Jack’s teasing add charm, though the story emphasizes emotional healing over physical intimacy.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the journey, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the ending left something untold. It felt like there was more to their story, leaving me wishing I hadn’t reached the final page. Still, Sarah Adams delivers a touching romance that balances humor and heart perfectly. A must-read for fans of small-town, enemies-to-lovers stories!

Sarah Adams has gone and done it again! Another sweet, moving, witty and hilarious rom com as part of the When in Rome series. I flew through the first two books on holiday last year, and I had no doubt in my mind that this one would also be fantastic.

I just loved this story so much. I found both Jack and Emily very relatable as characters, they had a depth that really spoke to me, and I adored their whole enemies/rivals (but actually we secretly like each other very much) to lovers arc. The tension and banter will make you smile, laugh and kick your feet at times, TRUST ME 🥹

Also, Jack has a motorcycle. Enough said. 👀

It was lovely to see characters/couples from the other books appear multiple times throughout. I’ve grown so attached to these characters and Rome, Kentucky now, I never want this series to end! But I can’t wait to see what the next book brings. 🥰

I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, this latest installment did not disappoint!

Emily Walker and Jack Bennett, a classic "rivals through school" love story, they have their chance to reconnect when Jack comes back to Rome and slowly realize they have more in common than anticipated.

Emily comes across as a very relatable character, especially as an older sibling. Jack has a very complicated relationship with his parents that I wish we had more chance to delve into. The chemistry between these two was palpable, and it didn't feel rushed, you can pinpoint the exact moments things start changing for the two,

Overall, the ending was rather satisfying despite feeling a tad bit rushed, the reveal at the end was rather predictable but it doesn't take away from the story and the enjoyment. It was also refreshing to read a romance where the characters act their age and *mostly* communicate with each other. I need a fourth book, and I need it to be about Madison!

Thank you netgalley and headline eternal for granting my wish and giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Sarah Adams is an absolute genius. The story of Emily and Jack is definitely her best one yet on the Rome series. I just finished reading and yet, already want to re-read it.

This book is centered on Emily, our perfectionist Walker sister, who is also a second grade teacher and secret romance writer. Jack Bennett, her longtime nemesis and now, also her neighbor, is presented and he happens to also be a secret romance writer. They are no strangers to each other, since they bicker and banter all the time since college, and one night, when Emily ends up making a mistake and sending out a wrong e-mail to the principal of their school, she has no one else to run to but Jack to fix this with the help of his charms.

They balance each other out perfectly, with Emily wanting to always be on control and on top of things, and Jack being more of a people pleaser, charming and spontaneous. I couldn't get enough of this couple and I loved how the story unfolded, in a very realistic and satisfying way.

Last, but not least... one of my favorite topics of this book is how relatable Emily is, and her feeling of needing to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, to be needed by everyone around her and make everybody happy so they don't leave. I felt very seen in this book and by her character, and I loved the family union that these siblings have and the magic town that is Rome, always feels like a hug every time I step into this world. Can't wait for more books, you could never go wrong with Sarah!

Small town, found family, rivals to lovers.
This book had everything and more.
I really enjoyed the first two books in this series but I must say that this one was my favorite.
I could not put it down.
There banter was sublime and the writing was done so well.
I adore Emily and Jack is one of my new favorite book boyfriends.
Absolutely a must read!

We're back in Rome and being treated to a delightful nemeses-to-lovers romance here with Emily and Jack's story, featuring our favourite siblings from the earlier books in the series. The bickering between Emily and Jack was fun, and they were clearly enjoying it, but it was also great to see how their relationship changed through the book as they spent time together and showed their softer sides. There are heists, revenge plots, sabotage and all the good stuff, with sparks flying and chemistry in every chapter. Another fantastic book from Sarah Adams, this brings together humour and fun alongside its exploration of loneliness. Beg, Borrow, or Steal a copy of your own!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

I especially enjoed reading Annie’s book and while this was not as good, I still liked it.

The whole ex-fiancée thing was extremely confusing to me. Why would he ask her to marry her when he didn’t even love her? Let alone move to another city just because she wanted to AND then move back because of his nemesis? I would understand his reasoning to return to Rome if there had been a deeper connection between these main characters but I found nothing but two rivals only caring about themselves until the romance kicked in. In all other aspects I think Jack was very intelligent but this just makes no sense to me.

I like how most characters are extremely emotional like I really can relate 😅🥲 They are all so supportive of each other and I love this growing family 🥹

A million thanks for the ARC !!💕

4.25 stars, this was goood!!! I was so excited to see that this book was rivals to lovers, and I loved this dynamic in the book. I liked both Emily and Jack's characters, their "fights" were delightful to read and I loved how even from the start, they couldn't help smiling during their interactions. I enjoyed how they were both writers, and how Jack was so supportive as soon as he found out, without being overbearing or entitled. It was very refreshing that once they started to realised their feelings for one another, they were upfront and honest about it and what they wanted. Jack was perfectly made for Emily, and seeing them finally realise that they are each other's safe place and other half was so lovely.

I did struggle a little bit to relate to Emily at first, as she came across a bit bitter due to some of her inner thoughts regarding her siblings... But I did end up liking her and understanding why she is how she is. I do think that maybe her trauma and mental health issues could have been explored more in depth, and it would have helped to understand and relate to her better. I wish there had also been some more depth to Jack's struggles with his family; I would have liked to see a resolution to this at the end.

Overall, it was a heartfelt romance book, and I flew through it! Although I wish there was a little bit more depth in some aspects, it didn't take away much from the story and I was left with a happy feeling anyway when I was done reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Eternal, and Sarah Adams for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was such a great book and I flew through it. This was a small, cozy story in a small town that was captured really well. As was my first introduction to the works of Sarah Adams, I was super impressed. I will 100% be reading more in the future. I didn't feel that I needed to have read the previous two books in the series, although I now plan to go back and reread them.

The characterisation was fantastic. Firstly, I was absolutely enamoured with Jack. He wasn't the sort of character that I usually like, but I couldn't keep myself from wanting to learn more about him. He was so kind throughout, even when he was working through his own issues. This meant he paired perfectly with Emily, who definitely needed someone to show her that she was important. I found her to be a bit irritating sometimes, but I think this was because she was so believable! As an older sister, I could relate to many of her feelings throughout the book. The found family trope within this story was also so heartwarming. I loved seeing both Jack and Emily finding their places within the world and Rome.

The pacing was good and kept me engaged throughout. There was a good mix of story progression in the present and snippets of Jack and Emily's relationship in the past. This was an interesting spin on the enemies-to-lovers trope that really felt like they disliked each other at the start.

I would recommend this story to old and new fans of Sarah Adams alike. If you haven't read any of the When in Rome series, this could be a good place to start! Thank you NetGalley and Headline Eternal for providing this e-ARC for an honest review.

Wow! Sarah Adams has yet again knocked it out of the park with this book! I have loved every single book of hers that I have read and I don’t think that’s ever going to change! There are just so many amazing things I love about the way that Sarah writes her characters and their love stories.

Emily and Jack have the absolute perfect amount of hate to love, and I ate up this entire book. The way that these two characters morph from hate to love is just so natural and simple yet so complicated all at the same time. Watching characters learn to open up will always be one of my favourite parts of romance books but I especially loved watching Emily and Jack find security in each other and learn to lean on each other when they need to!

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book early!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Sarah Adams

• I could not be more excited to have been given an ARC of the third instalment in the When in Rome series (selfishly, moments like these are a big reason of why I started this bookstagram in the first place!). I can wholeheartedly say this is my favourite of Sarah’s books yet and all of you yet to read it have such a treat in store this January.

• We follow Emily, elementary school teacher, budding writer and the eldest sister of the Walker family. I feel like every older sister will feel incredibly seen and represented in her.
Jack is a teacher at the same school as Emily, their careers having followed parallel trajectories since college. But, tired of living in his famous author father’s shadow, he too is secretly nursing a passion for writing.

• Although technically ‘nemeses’ at the start of the book, their relationship quickly evolves into a witty back-and-forth repartee that was a pleasure to read.

• I enjoyed the double identities of Jack and Emily, and their familiar banter. I loved seeing Emily’s dream of becoming an author progress throughout the book and watching her confidence in this area wax and wane. The way Jack believed so unwaveringly in Emily’s ability and struck the balance between cheerleading and encouraging her but not pushing and prodding too hard.

• I’d recommend for anyone (like me) who loves books within books, reading about authors and enemies that aren’t really enemies but have secretly followed and admired each other’s work from afar for years. I cannot WAIT for fourth and final book, Madison and James’ story.

Thank you to NetGalley @netgalley and Penguin Random House @penguinrandomhouse @dellromance for the ARC.