My favourite enemies to lovers romcom I have read in a long time! Emily and Jackson’s banter and chemistry is unmatched and their will-they-won’t-they relationship is layered with a secret sweetness, unwavering support and the perfect amount of spice!

Sarah Adams does it again! Beg, Borrow, or Steal is possibly my favorite book from her so far, and that’s saying a lot because I absolutely adore the Rome series and was obsessed with Annie’s story in Practice Makes Perfect (which was my top favorite before this one came along). But THIS ONE? I am OBSESSED.

I had such high hopes for this book, and the second I saw my wish being granted, I don’t think I’ve ever downloaded something so fast in my life. And let me tell you—it did NOT disappoint! I tried to pace myself while reading because I didn’t want it to end, but even slowing down my reading didn’t make it last long enough. The only complaint I have is that I can’t believe this book ends, and I NEED MORE OF THEM!! (More on their story and what happened after a certain reveal…)

Let me start by saying Jack and Emily are EVERYTHING. The chemistry between them is so on point, the enemies-to-lovers trope here is done to perfection, and the banter? Ugh, so good. I found myself giggling and laughing out loud constantly. They bicker, they tease, but you can totally feel the underlying friendship growing—and it just makes the whole story sparkle with warmth and humor.

And can we talk about Chapters 19 and 23? My heart will forever be stuck there. This book is pure rom-com gold, and please do yourself a favor and read it as soon as you can, otherwise you’re seriously missing out! I can’t wait for this book to come out so I can properly hold it in my hands and add to my collection and I already feel like rereading it 😭.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Sarah Adams for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was just totally perfect. One of my favourite romance reads so far this year! I loved being back in Rome, Kentucky, and as always with Sarah Adams, I ended up laughing, crying, and kicking my legs in excitement. No notes whatsoever; I will continue to force this series on EVERYONE!

This is my favorite from the series.

Even though I've had a feeling since WIR that Madison and James' book would be my favorite, I have a hard time seeing how it can top this one. I spent the whole book with a smile on my face. I loved everything about it, from the characters to the plot, from the found family to the deep topics covered.

It was impossible for me not to find myself in the character of Emily. I honestly think she's one of the female characters most like me. This book is for all the older sisters who find meaning in their lives only by being useful to their siblings or relatives. It's for those on whom others rely but who don’t rely on anyone. It's for those who stay, who are afraid of change.

Jack, her nemesis, well… he’s husband material in the real life. He’s blond with glasses… a man after my own heart. He's the one who doesn't make waves. Who keeps his emotions bottled up. Who can never really be himself and say what's on his mind... Except with Emily. Their bickering is what keeps him honest. The worst of their interactions brings out the best in them. And they serve the “it’s always been you” trope.

Honestly, I laughed a lot during my reading. There are some completely hilarious scenes and improbable situations that counterbalance the much more emotional moments.

I'm so glad I was able to get an advance copy of this book. Thanks to Sarah Adams and Netgalley!

Release date: January, 7th.

The best book in this whole little series! I adored it so so so much!
The only thing I can say is read this!

ೃ⁀➷ 5⭐️

Read if you like :

small town 🏡
rivals to lovers 🌸
sunshine / sunshine 🌞

I didn’t know being back in Rome, Kentucky would feel so good but GOD it did.
I stayed up late to keep reading it, i couldn’t stop, didn’t want to.
Emily was the character I felt less connected to in the two first books so I didn’t have a lot of expectations on her book. I should have known tho. I should have known that Sarah Adams’ would have made such a profound character. Emily has so much depth i actually felt bad for not noticing her struggles. She has the ‘big sister’ role even tho Noah is three years older. She takes this family’s hand and didn’t let go since she was 8.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ The Plot *ੈ✩‧₊˚
I was afraid I wouldn’t like the rival-teachers thing and to be fair I didn’t actually even liked the summary but let’s be real here, the setting of this small town and all the characters is so good I knew i would like it. And yep it didn’t disappoint.
Sarah Adams’ ideas for the plot was amazing, there’s not a single thing I didn’t like… okay maybe Jack doing a wheelie got me cringing a little. But that’s it. 😭


*ੈ✩‧₊˚The Writing *ੈ✩‧₊˚

I didn’t get bored for a SECOND, the pace wasn’t slow nor fast it was perfect. There wasn’t too much words or too little. SA has a way with words it’s frightening. She lays words on paper and without knowing it you find yourself crying in the middle of the night over some people who doesn’t even exist. Then a second after you are trying not to laugh too loud because your man is sleeping next to you and you don’t wanna explain to him how words make you laugh so hard a second and boil your eyes out the next.
What she writes best tho is the chemistry. In every damn book. That’s what i love most about her.


ੈ✩‧₊˚ The characters *ੈ✩‧₊˚
I’m gonna start with Jackson because please this man cannot exist in real life. There’s no man like him, he is so devoted, caring, such a good listener and he can read people like no one else. He’ll always face his feelings and embrace them, even when he doesn’t know what they are. Like every character in this series, there’s depth in him, a background, a scar that hasn’t heal. And he dig into his darkness to be the sunshine everyone wants. But not with Emily, never with her. He can be himself around her.
Emily has proclaim herself the big sister of the Walker’s family and she doesn’t allow herself to feel sadness, despair, heartache or grief. She feels like she has to shoulder everything and take everyone’s weight and make them all feel lighter. Until she collapses under her siblings’ burdens. She doesn’t allow herself to cry until there’s only tears left in her and she can’t control the sadness in her anymore.
Enters the room her all-time nemesis, Jack.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ More things I loved ੈ✩‧₊˚

☆ Mabel !!!! The way she talked about Emily with Jack ? That made me tear up
☆ The crumbs we got of Madison and James and let me tell you this is my most anticipated read. I feel like this gonna be a favorite. I liked James from the first second and I hoped so bad to have a book about him.
☆ When they tasted Amelia’s pancakes at the end and the place that Jack immediately found in the family. The way they were all happy ? It made my heart bursts to thousand of emotions like this was my own eyes witnessing the moment.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ Quotes ੈ✩‧₊˚

“Emily Walker. You might be able to steamroll everyone else around here into submission. But not me.
Never me. If you want something from me, you'll have to ask politely."”

I put my laptop away and give in to the part of the night I dread: cutting off my light.
When there's nothing but gaping darkness, the word alone seems to pulse around me. It's a salivating monster in every corner.

"Just how often do you picture me, Jackson?"
I guess a little of that flirtation from the road has lingered. His smile is a feral thing.
"More than either of us is comfortable with.

He gets closer to me. Tentatively.
"Tell me you're okay. I need to hear you say it."

Goldie.

"Jack..." He stops and turns his head back to me. "Why did you have a spare helmet?"
All I can see is my own refection in his visor. He waits so long to respond that I know he's looking for a lie but can't find one.
"I hoped you would ride with me some day and I wanted to be prepared."

Why do I want to bite his elbow? I'm ninety percent sure that's a weird thing to
think.

Sex for me has always been A + B = C. Meanwhile it seems Jack has been out there perfor-ming advanced algebra.

"You are not alone, Emily. I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”

"I don't want to be one of the guys. I want to be yours."

"I love you too, Emily... I don't need any-thing from you other than for you to unlock the door for me so I can come lie with you when the darkness is too heavy to crawl out of.”

"You think you're unlovable, but I think I've never known how to love until knowing you."

We're not going to be competing over a parking space because we'll ride together.

"And to think you consider yourself hard to love." I kiss her temple. "Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done."


Thank you so much Netgalley for sending an advanced copy of this treasure. Forever grateful. ✨🤍

Competitive enemies-to-lovers? Yes please.

The perfect edition to the When in Rome series. Continuing with the small-town trope in Rome, Kentucky, as the story focuses on town sweetheart and typical sunshine character, Emily Walker, as her decade long nemesis returns to town.

Second-grade teachers who have a petty rivalry for a reason unbeknownst to them, Emily and Jackson’s story is both heart-warming and hilarious. I found myself highlighting like no tomorrow whilst reading this book so prepare yourself for the quotes.

Emily Walker is the loveable town sweetheart who would do anything for anyone. She’s fiercely independent, loves her routine and is the unofficial parent to all of her siblings. Emily thrives off being needed by the people around her yet feels a deep sense of loneliness after a high-school heartbreak.

A 10-year-long feud between herself and fellow teacher, Jack Bennett, comes to an end when he moves away to get married. However, in typical small-town fashion, the gossip mill works overtime, and Emily soon learns that her nemesis has returned to town. Unmarried. But why should that matter when they hate each other so strongly?

“It’s a sensation I felt but wasn’t able to explain. A wrongness. The feeling of he was there, and I was here, and it wasn’t supposed to be that way, even if we were enemies. We were always supposed to be near each other.”

After attempting to get the town to shun Jackson, Emily comes to the realisation that continuing to hate this eccentric, tattooed, candy-necklace wearing man isn’t so feasible when he’s just moved in next door.

Sarah Adam’s has this ability to make you feel the loneliness of Emily and the responsibility she feels to care for her siblings. How can she possibly have time for anything else when she’s so busy helping others? However, Emily has been keeping a secret as she pursues her own passion of writing. Yet, she is also unaware that Jackson has a secret of his own.

As the two begrudgingly find help and support in one another, it seems the deep-rooted hatred isn’t as necessary as they first believed.

This is potentially my favourite read of 2024. The sense of belonging, resolving trauma, and found family were so well written, you could almost feel the emotions of the characters. I have not a single complaint.

Favourite Quotes:

“it turns the Christmas lights on in my heart”

“I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”

“I don’t need anything from you other than for you to unlock the door for me so I can come lie with you when the darkness is too heavy to crawl out of”

“I may have lost the safe place I needed all these years, but I have found a far more incredible one for the years ahead.”

Thank you NetGalley and Headline Eternal for the arc in exchange for an honest review. And THANK YOU for granting my request wish and providing me with the chance to read what is most likely going to become my favourite book ever.

I’m a huge fan of Sarah Adams books, I think I’ve read pretty much all of her recent series but this one just felt deeper. Maybe because I already have a connection to the characters? I do love a series!

But for me the writing in this book just went that little bit deeper. The emotions were a little bit rawer and it all just felt more real than her other books.

Emily our FMC has been the caretaker of the family, the one who puts her feelings aside to care for everyone else and her battles to take something for herself hit hard. Her need to be strong and not show weakness but of course there’s one person who can see through all of that. Her arc nemesis Jackson.

Jack and Emily’s banter is top tier, I loved the email communications, and the way old emails tie in, building on their journey from rivals to friends to…..maybe more.

The background to both characters is perfect, enough to give me an emotional attachment to both, without going too in depth to loose the main storyline.

The pace is great, highs and lows to keep you engaged.

And a sneaky sneaky hint of a possible book 4 because let me tell you, Maddison and James are building to something! And side character giving MC energy to Mabel who deserves her own book, mainly for this quote!

“Good. Life can be a little shit sometimes. But shit also makes great fertilizer.”

The tea ☕️

⚔️- enemies to lovers
🏘️ - small town romance
🤭 - banter
🤫- secret identity
❤️‍🩹 - battles with mental health/grief
🏍️ - he has a motorbike
🐈 - she has a cat
🔥- slow burn
🌶️ - 1.5/5 spice

***warning - highlight quotes may give clues to spoilers***

—- Highlights ——

“I also don’t want to talk shit about him when he’s not present. Not because I’m protecting him, but because I’d rather do it to his face where he can react. It’s more fun that way.”

“I’m incapable of doing anything but stare. Gawk. Ogle. Dear lord. Heavens to Betsy. Good gracious. I am unwell. “

“I’m on the floor and a little drunk. I didn’t mean to get drunk. I was perfectly sober before I started drinking.”

“It doesn’t matter.” The wine I drank pours itself out of my eyes. “My life is over. O.E.V.E.R.”
“I’m glad you also know the super-secret way to spell ‘over,’ ” he says

“I tickle him and he flinches with a laugh. It stops me dead in my tracks. Are Jack and I playing? Yes. We are . . . and I love it. I’m scared of it—this joyous, reckless feeling—but I love it.”

“His eyes are invisible hands—I feel them everywhere they linger.”

“Sex for me has always been A + B = C. Meanwhile it seems Jack has been out there performing advanced algebra.”

“I’m in a pair of high-waisted jeans and a red-and-white floral top with cute little pearl buttons lining the front. Very impractical for a heist. But very cute. I regret nothing.”

“I’m chasing sensations and collecting them all in my pocket for later.”

“You are not alone, Emily. I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”

“Good. Life can be a little shit sometimes. But shit also makes great fertilizer.”

“You think you’re unlovable, but I think I’ve never known how to love until knowing you.”

Firstly, can I just say how completely thrilled I was to be back in Rome, Kentucky? I am obsessed with this world.

If you thought you loved Noah.. if you thought you loved Will.. believe me when I tell you, you will be kicking your feet when you meet Jack. He is my favourite love interest from this series so far. He’s honest and thoughtful, smart, kind and caring. The banter between Emily and Jack will make you giggle and squeal. You’ll be begging these characters to just figure it out!

Now Emily. Emily is my favourite character that Sarah Adams has ever written!! She has so much depth. I related to her so deeply which I think just added so much more emotional impact to this story for me. She’s closed her heart off to love because she’s scared of being hurt. She’s the shoulder everyone cries on, the mothering kind, a natural care giver who doesn’t like to have to rely on the people around her, even her family. Until Jack opens her heart and makes her realise being vulnerable is okay if you’re with the right person. Someone who will meet you in your darkness when that’s what you need. Someone who will challenge you in every way and support all of your dreams.

I could keep going, but trust me you just have to experience it for yourself. I can guarantee you will be making notes and highlighting paragraphs on every. Single. Page. My kindle clippings for this book are off the charts.

For lovers of small town romance, workplace enemies to lovers, second chance romance, found family oh and a romantic little heist (fun!!!). Make sure to read When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect before this one to get the absolute Sarah Adams experience.

Thank you so much NetGalley for making my arc dreams come true.

Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to read a copy of this book.

This book really surprised me, was going into this book previously not reading anything from this author and I loved it.

Enemies to Lovers kinda vibes with Characters Emily and Jack. First I thought this story and relationship was so slow but thinking back this is the essence of the story seeing the relationship build and progress from enemies, friendship then to Love. It felt more real and realistic.

The story discussed some hard hitting topics and this was clearly outlined by the author at the beginning book of the chapters of potential triggers, which I really respected.

I would love to read more from this author throughly enjoyed reading this book. Thank you

A book for all the older sisters out there. The Walker family are just the most beautiful people.
The third Rome book follows eldest sister Emily. She's the protector of her siblings, the strong one who always holds it together. She's spent years of her life putting on a brave front, pushing her own feelings down in order to be the support for them, so that she isn't quite sure of her identity when life starts pulling them away.
Enter Jack - long term nemesis who has just reappeared in Rome. Jack pushes her, and challenges, and Emily can give him her blunt, angry knee-jerk responses with no guilt. But perhaps he can also handle her sadness, and her loneliness and help her find the silver lining in every cloud.

The Rome books have been my favourites from Adams, and I didn't think anything could knock Annie off the top spot. But Emily just speaks to me in a way I didn't expect.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Adams and Headline Books for granting my wish and giving me early access to Beg, Borrow, or Steal.

I love this series! And this is probably my favorite.
I found Emily to be very relatable and
Jack was an amazing person who just wanted to help Emily anyway he could.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the last one in this series.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for the opportunity to read this book early.

Effortlessly 4.5 stars—I devoured this book! Full review to come closer to the publication date, but if you're a fan of the first two books, this one is an essential read.!
Thank you to Headline for an arc in exchange for an honest review :)

4.5

This book was such a blast to read. I loved the banter, it had me quite literally snorting out loud, and the tension between Emily and Jack was palpable. The blocking scene was *muah* chef's kiss!

They defintely go out of their way to annoy each other, but I love that the book starts with Jack already coming to terms that he's head over heels for her, and we get to watch as Emily works through her own issues and slowly realises the same. They were so damn cute together! But there was still enough underlying tension to keep me on my toes. I felt terrible for what they have both gone through, but related too. Especially picking a career to be the person they wished they had when they were younger. And the eldest sister responsibilities and needing to feel needed was so real.

It had Sarah Adams' wonderful easy-to-read writing and I'm so happy to have found her again. I can't wait to (hopefully) read James and Maddie's story.

All I can say is that I LOVE THIS STORY!!! 💖 I am so grateful to @netgalley for approving my request for this e-ARC.

Emily and Jackson are definitely made for each other.
I thought Annie and Will were going to be my favourite couple in the series, but I think Emily and Jackson are now my favourite. 💖

There were so many relatable parts in this story (shame I couldn’t put the copy in my Kindle so no highlighting on this one, will have to wait til I get my physical copy next year) 😊 Edit: It was my own ignorance that I wasn't able to read this copy on my Kindle, I now have sent it to my Kindle. Definitely will go back to the parts that I really enjoyed.

I am not adding any spoilers in this review because I want everyone else to fall in love with this book as much as I did. 💖 I love how the characters were developed in the story! 💕
The story is very well written. Not a dull moment in the story.

Thank you, Sarah Adams for creating the Rome series. I am looking forward to Book 4! 💗

★★★★★

𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙛𝙤𝙧…
💓 rivals to lovers
💌 forced proximity (neighbours)
💓 soulmates
💌 secret writers
💓 small town romance

𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨…
I was so so happy to be back in Rome! I absolutely LOVE the Walker family - When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect are wonderful, and this is definitely up there with them! The found (/real) family & small town vibes just get better with every book 🙌🏼

Emily & Jackson are honestly perfect for each other 🫶🏼 Emily is a type A perfectionist (me 🙃) who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, and Jack just wants to lift a little bit of it for her 🥹

They are so well matched, that they have been nemeses / perfect rivals for over a decade - and their quips and banter are 💯 Through everything, life always seems to throw them together… until they finally realise that everything they were looking for was right in front of them 🥹 (I’ve slapped a soulmates label on these two x)

Jack is truly perfect, don’t even get me started on his glasses & retro outfits & his fun tattoos 👀🔥 Also a man who is so competent that even I-do-everything-myself Emily feels like she can turn to him in a crisis? Sign 👏🏼 me 👏🏼 up 👏🏼

All of Sarah’s books feel like the biggest hug and this is no exception 🥹 I can’t wait to head back for the 4th & final book for Maddie & James’s story 🫶🏼

“you’re not alone emily i would walk through my worst memories to get to u every single time.”

we are soooo back .and when i tell you this’s because we are back in rome,kentucky and yes while i’m writing this review i’m already nostalgic because this book… oh sarah adams you absolutely ate and left no crumbs and am i surprised? no because this series the more it continues the more’s good and this book ate and left no crumbs!! sarah adams’s one of my favorites because her books are literally the definition of a warm blanket that envelops u and captures u with the best feelings!!

i honestly don’t know who i related to more both emily and jack were written for me and i truly needed to read about them to reflect better and understand certain things better because the power of sarah’s that she can write very lighthearted,lovely,emotional and funny romcoms while at the same time let u know that u’re not alone in what are u currently dealing with and well this book’s the perfect example.

emily oh emily i am like her but only child version ☺️ she’s the sister that’s always present for her family and not only she thinks about anyone before herself,she can be a bit of everything: charming,funny,bossy and i honestly admire her because she’s such an amazing woman.

jack well firstly he’s my type.i mean glasses ? nerdy ? teacher and also a very surprising one i would say!!
he’s the definition of sunshine character that becomes less sunshine with emily but that’s just because with emily he can be simply jack with no expectations and fears and honestly he deserves the world … like can we talk about he’s so supportive and caring at the same time? can we talk about the pancake scene with amelia? bc yes.

jack and emily rivals to lovers? idiots to lovers? friends to lovers? well i think we should ask about this to mabel the queen of this town and one of my favorites ever the way she talked about emily with jack stop 🤏🏻

least but not last the family found crumbs seeing all the couples together made me feel there with them smiling so badly because i couldn’t think of anything else better for each couple and least not last can we talk about the madison and james crumbs?? no because i absolutely need their book sooo badly u have no idea!!

and remember like mabel said : “life can be a little shit sometimes.but shit also makes great fertilizer."

a big thank you to netgalley, headline and sarah adams for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange to my honest opinion

Sarah Adams has delivered yet another hit! Beg, Borrow, or Steal might just be my new favorite of all her works, which is saying something because I’m a huge fan of the Rome series, and I was completely hooked on Annie’s journey in Practice Makes Perfect. But this one? I’m officially obsessed!

I had sky-high expectations for this book, and the moment I got my hands on it, I think I downloaded it faster than anything before. And wow, did it deliver! I tried to savor every page since I didn’t want the experience to end, but even taking my time couldn’t make it last long enough. My only gripe? I can't believe it’s over—I need more of Jack and Emily's story, especially after that big reveal!

Speaking of Jack and Emily—these two are everything. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the enemies-to-lovers storyline is absolute perfection. The witty banter had me smiling and laughing out loud throughout. Their teasing and playful arguments gradually reveal an underlying connection, which adds a whole new layer of charm and warmth to the story.

And oh, Chapters 19 and 23? I’ll be thinking about those forever. This book is rom-com magic from start to finish. Do yourself a favor and read it ASAP—you’ll be missing out otherwise! I’m already counting down the days until I can hold the physical copy in my hands and add it to my bookshelf. I’m also getting that itch to reread it already!

Big thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Sarah Adams for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Sarah Adams never fails tbh and this is another example of why she’s one of my auto-buy authors. Her books are always fleshed out that I’m never left wanting more as I’ve got the perfect story in my hands!! I love Emily and Jack, I love Rome, I love the glimpses into the family and friends in the town, I love everything about this. Enemies or rivals to lovers is one of the best tropes imo as the build up and the yearning is everything I need in a book. Jack and Emily perfectly encapsulated this!! I love both of them!! There’s a few heavier topics but Sarah makes it light and I felt all the feels (aka me crying throughout). I think Emily is a character that will really resonate with a lot of people, I know she did for me. I cannot wait for this to be released to the world as I have already been raving about it. One of my fave scenes was the manuscript scene, I think I probs squealed 😭

This was so cute and I loved every second of it

I love these characters, I love this series, I love Sarah's writing - this is truly a comfort series to me, every book feels like a warm hug

I loved going back to Rome and experiencing it with some new friends, and seeing all the regulars from the previous books too

I love that the main characters already knew eachother prior to the start of the book, it made the banter, arguing and chemistry between them so so good

I really enjoyed the mini snippets of flashbacks we got with emails between each other over the years, it was such a fun way to see how their friendship developed over the years

I love how supportive they were of each other and learned how to open up to each other despite their fears

There were so many scenes in this that had me screaming: the motorbike scenes, the 'let me help you block out this scene in your book' scene, the closet(!!!), all so good

- rivals to lovers
- small town
- neighbours
- both are secretly writers

Thank you to Headline Eternal for the eARC - all opinions are my own

20% in and I’m already in love with Emily and Jack. After finishing the novel, I felt they were both part of me. They are both so relatable as well as likeable.

This is the first book I’ve read from the “When in Rome”- series and I am obsessed! It won’t be the last one from Sarah Adams. Have to buy the rest of the series asap plus the physical copy of this one. The book is so charming and sweet, I eat it up.
The way they acting out the sexy scene of her book!!! Best thing I’ve ever read. The way they bicker makes me giggling and kicking my feet.
I love the dual pov and the nemesis to lovers trope. You can absolutely read this one without knowing the first two books of the series.

Honestly Sarah Adams has done it again, I've really enjoyed being back in the small town of Rome, Kentucky.

Anything Sarah writes I will devour, this I read within 24hrs, I just couldn't put it down. This is rom com perfection.

What to expect:
Small town vibes
Childhood trauma
Strong sibling bonds
Authors
Rivals to lovers

I'm never not laughing at a Sarah Adams book but I'm also always nearly tearing up and crying at just how deeply you feel for the characters she writes. The rivals to lovers was perfection. The slow burn of their frenemy relationship, becoming something more to the both of them and having a connection like no other. The way they can be unapologetically themselves with each other, even the scary, not so good parts made my heart whole.

The banter as always was top tier reading and I was cackling away endlessly. This is an amazing book, and I'm so grateful I get to read it ahead of its release. You bet I'll be getting my hands on a physical copy as soon as it's out in the world.
I thought Will and Annie's story was my favourite but I think this one just tops it!

Get this in your tbr lists!

Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved this book and going back to Rome! I really missed all these characters and I already can’t wait to get the next book since the couple has been teased since book 1.
In this we follow Emily and Jackson, two second grade teachers who have been rivals since college. After ending his engagement, Jackson moves back to Rome where their feud starts all over again. Emily by mistake sends her romance novel to her school’s principal and decides to trust Jack to help her get it back. Will their feud still whit stand their adventure or will a new emotion grow between the two?
This books was so cute, it made me giggle, kick my feet and it was also quite inspiring as well. Personally I loved and saw myself a lot in Emily, sometimes it was bit a uncomfortable how much I related to her. Jack was wonderful from beginning to end, but I’m not surprised by this since I generally love all the male love interests in this series. Being back in Rome was delightful, especially with all the old characters floating in the background, but also being involved in the plot.
The romance was swoonworthy, but more spicy than I thought it would be. Overall a very successful sequel! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

13 years of pining and convincing themselves that they hate each other WOW count me in.

their banter was so fun to read about and i liked that they didnt fall for each other too early on into the book like 300 pages in and theyre still like hmm maybe, maybe not! their dynamic was great and i liked the writing about their trauma it was done well🙏

i love the townspeople and emily's siblings + their partners. so nice to read about them outside their books! i did hv like a slight issue with jack being engaged to someone he didnt even love and moved to another place for like huh! but overall a fun read as most sarah adams books are

thank you to netgalley and dell romance for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Love love love, sarah adams will always be my comfort author. My trip back to rome this time makes me feel like i was someone new that comes into town and decides to settle. I feel like i was enveloped in a huge hug while reading this book. I don’t know how sarah did it but i flew through the book in no time. I am obsessed with the characters and one thing about sarah adams, there will always be something you can takeaway from the book and for me, it’s this line that portrays it the best. “It's okay that time is moving and changing. Maybe it's okay if I
move and change too.”

This romance is the perfect balance of humor and heart… A delightful rivals to lovers story set in the cozy small town of Rome, Kentucky.

Emily’s tightly wound personality contrasts perfectly with Jack’s easygoing charm, creating a dynamic filled with playful pranks, sharp banter, and romantic tension. Their battle of wits takes a turn when an accidental email threatens to reveal Emily’s secret, forcing her to team up with Jack in a hilariously unexpected alliance. As they work together, their animosity evolves into a slow-burn romance. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and they balance their witty exchanges with moments of genuine vulnerability. The small-town setting and lively side characters add extra charm, making the story even more engaging.

With its laugh-out-loud moments, heartfelt romance, and irresistible characters, this book is a feel-good story that will make you smile from beginning to end.

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• rivals to lovers
• second chance
• secret writers
• forced proximity
• opposites attract
• small town

Thank you Sarah Adams, Headline Eternal and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

I did enjoy this book but it’s not my favourite out of the series. I really liked the characters but I think their struggles could have been explored more, especially how being under so much pressure to keep it together for everyone else is affecting Emily. It was great to see all the characters from the previous books again.

Je n'en reviens toujours pas d'avoir eu la chance de recevoir ce roman en ARC !! ♥
J'aime bien les romans de Sarah Adams pour leur ambiance cosy, leur vibe familiale et si généralement il y a souvent un petit truc qui me fait tiquer au niveau de la romance, ça n'a pas été le cas ici.
On est sur des tropes que j'affectionne énormément : small town romance + enemies-to-lovers, et ça fonctionne super bien !
Emily et Jack se connaissent depuis une dizaine d'années (ou quelque chose comme ça) et depuis leur première rencontre à la fac, ils n'ont cessé de se croiser, et n'ont jamais pu dépasser le stade de l'animosité. Ils enseignent tous les deux dans le même établissement, et ne cessent donc de se chamailler, de se provoquer, jusqu'à ce que Jack vienne non seulement s'installer à Rome, Kentucky (my god, je n'en pouvais plus du "Kentucky" rajouté sans cesse après "Rome" 🤣), mais en plus, il a l'outrecuidance d'acheter la maison voisine de celle d'Emily !
À partir de là, on part sur un tout autre level de guéguerre, les joutes verbales et les petites crasses ne cessent de s'enchaîner, et c'est typiquement le genre de dynamique qui me fait glousser, jusqu'à ce que, bien sûr, la relation prenne une autre tournure. Le pauvre Jack fait les frais du plan machiavélique d'Emily pour l'exclure de la ville, ça m'a fait beaucoup rire, tous les deux se comportant comme de vrais gosses. 😆

C'était vraiment une lecture feel good comme cette autrice sait si bien faire, c'est drôle et charmant, avec une évolution crédible de la relation, dans le sens où ils ne passent pas en un claquement de doigts du statut d'ennemis à celui d'amoureux. Tous deux ont un bagage et des blessures qu'ils vont devoir surmonter pour aller de l'avant. Et puis c'était cool aussi de retrouver la famille Walker.
Et puis je ne l'ai pas mentionné, mais Jack et Emily sont tous les deux écrivains (enfin elle en est à son premier roman, ce qui l'entraîne d'ailleurs dans une aventure rocambolesque, à laquelle Jack participera de bon cœur).

Ce troisième tome est donc une lecture drôle et fraîche, le genre de lecture doudou à mettre dans sa PAL en toutes circonstances !
Et sur une note plus personnelle, j'ai été très touchée par le petit mot consacré aux profs dans les remerciements, j'y ai été d'autant plus sensible que plus le temps passe et plus on s'en prend plein la tronche en tant qu'enseignant (et c'est encore pire pour les profs de maternelle comme moi) ... Merci pour ces mots, donc, Sarah ! ♥

Il sort le 7 janvier prochain, j'ai hâte de le recevoir en papier pour pouvoir l'ajouter à ma collection et le relire ! Et j'espère que cette série sortira en VF, de préférence sans attendre un an entre chaque tome ... ^^'

Beg, Borrow or Steal is the third book in the Rome, Kentucky series by Sarah Adams and I think my favourite so far. This time around we follow Emily, the oldest Walker sister, whose nemesis and fellow second-grade teacher is now her neighbour Jack. And to make matters worse after accidentally sending her romance manuscript to her school’s principal he is the best person to help her get it back.

As I previously mentioned I think this may be my favourite Sarah Adams book yet for so many reasons. I especially connected to Emily as a character and just loved the plot and story that we follow.

I loved seeing more of the characters we met in previous books, both those who live in Rome and just create the chaos that is small town life and the couples who we have previously followed in this series. It is really nice to be able to continue to see these characters relationships develop after their books have finished and that was particularly true for Annie and Will in this book who I had previously loved reading about so was really happy to see more of especially in the way that we did.

One character who I get excited to see in every Rome, Kentucky book is Mabel and this one was no exception. She both meddled and gave the wisdom that I expected and loved to see. Mabel will definitely be a character I will be sad to say bye to after the last book.

I anticipated enjoying reading about Emily’s story ahead of starting this however I didn’t expect to love it in the way that I did. Emily was a character that I really connected to both as an eldest sister and who she was outside of that. There were a few unexpected moments when reading that I was just like that is me and I love finding new books like that because of how long after reading they stick with me.

As an entirely new character I also really enjoyed learning about Jack. He was a character that I found to be interesting and I really enjoyed reading his and Emily’s interactions along with how their relationship evolved and what that meant for how they treated each other. I do think that their relationship is probably up there with my favourite romances of the year.

Something else I loved about this book was that both our characters were not only fans of books, they were both authors. This made the plot so interesting to read because I just wanted to see more of the author journey or how both having this experience would impact the story. Emily was also a romance author which was just perfect and added to my enjoyment of the story in ways that only happens when a romance features books.

I cannot wait for Madison’s book even if I wish it wasn’t the last one in the series. I have a really strong feeling from the hints we’ve gotten over the last 3 books and my history with Sarah Adams that I will love it.

Overall I couldn’t rate this book anything but 5 stars and am so glad to have read it. This might have been my ideal Rome, Kentucky book and I can’t wait for it to be released so I can get my hands on a copy, reread it and then quite likely annotate it, with how much I loved it and connected to Emily.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline Eternal for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

You know that feeling when you’ve been having an off couple of days, and then you pick up a book you’ve been dying to read, but you don’t expect much because of your mood? Then, somehow, the book turns out to be exactly what you needed to pull yourself out of that dark place? That’s what this book did for me. I finished it in less than 24 hours, and honestly, I think it’s my favorite of all the Sarah Adams books I’ve read.

I was hooked right from the start, mostly because of the tropes—rivals to lovers in a small-town setting? Yes, please! But as a frequent romance reader, I know tropes aren’t always enough. What keeps me reading are the connections, the moments that make me feel deeply, grin like an idiot, or maybe even bleed a little because I see parts of myself in a character. Sarah’s writing gave me all of that with Emily.

Emily Walker and Jack Bennett are two feuding second-grade teachers, who find themselves as unlikely allies and (gasp) neighbors. Emily’s meticulously crafted world is turned upside down when her legendary nemesis returns to their small town of Rome, Kentucky. Jack’s back after calling off his wedding and is ready to renovate his house and focus on his mystery novels. Sparks fly as their chemistry-fueled rivalry reaches new heights, and when an accidental email threatens to expose Emily’s secret life as a romance writer, Jack surprisingly agrees to help her retrieve her manuscript. What starts as an alliance soon becomes something neither of them could have predicted.

On a deeper level, this story hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Like Emily, I’ve spent years pushing people away, scared of being hurt or rejected for who I really am. Family dynamics shaped a lot of that for me—I always felt like I had to be the strong one, the “glue” that held things together. But the truth is, no one can keep that up forever. Reading about Emily’s journey, her struggles, and the way someone finally saw her, accepted her, and loved every part of her, felt incredibly cathartic. It was like a bit of closure I didn’t even know I needed.

My only complaint? The story ended too soon. One epilogue, Sarah? I need more!

A huge thank you to Headline, Sarah Adams, and NetGalley for granting my wish to read this book. It pulled me out of a dark place and reminded me that it’s okay to have those moments—and that love can heal more than we think.

a small beautiful romance from nemesis to lovers its all you need in the moment. jack and Emily are two teachers who seem to fight about everything but with time they will realize the universe picked them to be together. A beautiful story about taking risks and fighting for what you love regarding being afraid. I loved this book very much

I loved this book so much! It felt so nice to back in the small town of Rome with the Walker family.

I loved getting to know Emily more, and I found her so relatable. As the oldest daughter and the mother figure of the family, I could feel the pressure she was under, and I really enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the story.

And then there’s Jack….I think he’s a new favourite book boyfriend of mine. He was so swoonworthy, and I loved the way that he cared for Emily. I felt like there was a lot of depth to his character which I appreciated.

The banter and chemistry between these two was outstanding. There were so many incredible scenes between them where I was squealing with excitement. They were so good for each other, and I loved their email conversations throughout the book to show their history.

This was such a sweet story and probably my favourite of the series so far.

Thank you Headline Eternal and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

My review will be shared to Instagram, TikTok and Amazon on release day.

When I heard that Sarah Adams was writing a rivals to lovers rom-com, I squealed, and from the moment I read the dedication, I knew this book was going to hit hard for me.

In Beg, Borrow or Steal we get to see Emily - eldest sister, perfectionist and secret romance writer - go toe-to-toe with her college rival and fellow second grade teacher Jack, who has permanently moved into the house next door after calling off his wedding and disrupted her summer. Emily hates Jack, but when she accidentally sends her raunchy manuscript to their conservative school principal, she asks the most competent person she knows to fix it, and Jack is only too happy to help the beautiful nemesis he could not stop thinking about even while preparing to marry someone else.

As a lover of some of Sarah Adam's previous books - Practice Makes Perfect in particular - I had high hopes for this, but there was something about this one that got me right in the feels and exceeded my expectations in a delightful way. The set-up was so cute and original. The banter was top notch, without feeling far fetched and unrealistic. The main characters were such perfect mirrors of each other that it was so believable to me they'd find each other so infuriating, and yet as a reader I was screaming 'stop it you're perfect for each other' the whole time. This book is also a bit spicier than the previous in the series in my opinion, and this added a delicious layer of tension and intimacy to a lot of the Emily x Jack scenes (but don't worry, if you don't like the more intimate content, Adams has a warning at the start of the book telling you which chapters to skip and you won't miss out on the plot by doing so). I also adore the sister relationships that Adams writes; they support each other but they also admit to one another when they feel like they've been held back by their place in the family.

Both Emily and Jack have personal stuff that they are dealing with in... not the most healthy of ways, but I felt this was addressed in a positive and healing way overall, and I felt healed by the experience of reading it. Jack 'name it. I'll do it for you' Bennett has earned a place as one of my favourite fictional men, and I related so very hard to Emily, as I think a lot of other women will who have ever been made to feel abrasive or hard to love: 'everyone loves you as soon as they meet you, but most people only tolerate me'.

Returning to Rome, Kentucky was much needed for me this week; I love the Walker family, and I am absolutely obsessed with what Adams has set up for what I'm hoping will be the fourth book in this series.... I need more of this family and this town please! I grab onto every tiny piece of information we glean about Mabel in each book and I feel so invested in the whole community this series takes place in.

This made me laugh, cry, and left me happier than when I started reading. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Headline for the chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out January 7th and I highly recommend it as an antidote to the inevitable January blues.

I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page, I was hooked. Emily and Jack felt like real people, and I could see myself in both of them—Emily’s caring nature, always putting others first, and Jack’s quiet strength and gentle humor. I was rooting for them from the start.

The small-town setting felt so cozy, like a warm hug. I could picture every little scene: the town library, the local diner, and even that chilly winter night when everything finally came together for them. Their chemistry was perfect, the way they slowly went from friends to something more—it made my heart melt.

There were moments that made me laugh and others that made me feel deeply understood. This wasn’t just a love story; it was a reminder that real love comes from finding someone who truly sees you. I was smiling long after I finished the last page, and I already want to read it all over again.

Pre-read: omg i'm going to cry i just got my first ARC!! 🥹 💜

The Review:
★★★★.5
First ARC ever and I’m so grateful that this was amazing too!

Characters:
Emily: Okay, she was a little annoying, but I still loved her so much! She gave off country kindergarten teacher vibes (which is the vibe that her character was supposed to give off, but I don’t care I loved it so much). That “silk pyjama” (also is that how you spell pyjama I'm not sure at all) thing was kinda weird but I loved it at the same time?! Also, we love a girl that can write, teach, and bartend at the same time (not actually but at the same time period) 💜

Jack: also kindergarten teacher vibes but, like, city kindergarten teacher vibes?? 🧡
omg i love him so much he’s so sweet and hot but I can’t imagine tattoos sorry 😭


What was good?
vibesssss 🧡
The “rivals to lovers” trope hit hard!! I also loved how all the characters of the previous books were still in there. I love the chemistry between the two and the whole “writing” thing!
I loved how it wasn’t “rushing things with spice” then “emotional sh*t” but instead “emotional sh*t” then “physical connection”

What was bad?
I still don’t understand why the book is called “Beg, Borrow, or Steal” 😭

okay thank you, love you bye! 💜

Sarah Adams just gets better and better, and Beg, Borrow or Steal is HANDS DOWN her best book yet. I didn’t think anything could beat The Rule Book but catch me blown away. I am genuinely struggling to process how awed I am by this book, but let me try.

Beg, Borrow or Steal is beautiful. It is tragic and romantic, hilarious and heart-breaking. It encapsulates everything I love in a romance novel. Multi-dimensional characters, family (born and found, a small town community and perfectly passionate protagonists are just a few of the components that make Sarah Adams’ novels feel like home.

Beg, Borrow or Steal follows Emily and Jack, nemeses since college, two characters who are truly beloved by everybody they meet except each other. Life continually throws them into each other’s paths. Jack moves back to our dreamy Rome, Kentucky and it finally comes time for them to confront their feelings for each other. Is it really hate? That’s a pretty passionate emotion, if you ask me…

Throughout this tale, we are gifted with insight into both Emily and Jack’s backgrounds. Both have known real heartache.

We know many elements of Emily’s story from the previous books in the series, but exploring her relationship with herself and her siblings, especially as they have moved on and away, was heart-wrenching. Emily fights to discover her identity as an individual, not an older sister, and her vulnerability is as beautiful as it is sad. I wanted to reach through the book, squeeze her and tell her it would all be okay. Emily has done everything for everyone, and now it is time for her to rest. I love Emily with my whole heart. I’m glad she got her main character moment.

I can’t discuss Emily’s change without mentioning Ducky: world’s cutest cat and greatest companion. My own cats have done so much for me in my life in terms of helping me overcome depression, and Ducky’s involvement in Emily’s story is something I truly treasured while reading. Cats are also a great judge of character. Just leaving that there.

I won’t spoil Jack’s background, but he has had to fight his own battle to create an identity that encompasses who he really is. His journey shows a character willing to step out on his own, listen to his heart, and accept what he deserves. Sometimes, it takes longer than we’d like. The important part is that we do it. Jack’s experiences have led him to become a kind and caring person, who is a great comfort to those around him, but he didn’t always let himself feel outwardly. His ability to spar with Emily allowed him the chance to open up and be the truest, most honest version of himself.

What I love about Emily and Jack’s relationship is that they are outstandingly communicative. In places that you, as a reader, can feel like most characters would shut down and fall into that disastrous miscommunication trope, Emily and Jack are devastatingly honest. They both strive to say how they feel and what they want, to the best of their knowledge and ability, at all times. They may fight and they may hurt each other but they never lie, and that makes any negative communications easier to come back from. I know that their relationship moving forward from this book will be healthy and strong because they will always feel safe to be completely open, and they also have that trust that their partner will do the same.

In terms of writing, Sarah Adams is just brilliant. Her dialogue is so enthralling. It is captivating. I feel like I can hear these conversations so perfectly in my head, as if I were in the scene too. It is intelligent and witty, and each character has their own specific tone that is so perfectly distinguishable to them. Sarah Adams’ character work is just extraordinary.

The pancake scene is the perfect example of this. I cackled with laughter. I cried with genuine emotion. I felt like I was sat at that table, if not watching it on a screen.

This book contains multiple harder hitting themes, such as grief, depression, loneliness, and narcissism. Each of these themes is handled with the utmost care from Sarah Adams. There are many elements of this book that I found, unfortunately, very relatable but, rather than feeling sad or triggered, I felt seen. I felt like somebody understood me, and that I wasn’t alone. That was a great comfort for me. My heart is full, and I think this will be a book that I come back to time and time again when I need that cosy, warm feeling of reassurance that it gave me.

Beg, Borrow or Steal is a romance, but it also feels like a love letter to writing. It explores the ins and outs of the literary world, the hardships of publishing, and the real, honest hard work and effort that goes into writing a novel, from plot to pace and everything in between. I enjoyed getting these insights, and also just found myself growing more enamoured and awed by Sarah Adams as I made my way through the book. This book is genius but must have been unreliable hard to write, and yet she did it beautifully. How?!

To live during a time when Sarah Adams is able to share her gift with us is to be truly lucky. I am so grateful to Headline for providing me with this ARC. Everybody must read Beg, Borrow or Steal. EVERYBODY.

I think this one might just beat the other two for my favourite in this series. If not for the story, for the characters. I adored both Emily and Jackson and was rooting for them so hard throughout the whole book!

I love a good enemies or rivals to lovers and this really hit the spot. They spent the perfect amount of time rivalling before softening to become friends and then lovers. I thought it was a really seamless transition for something that can easily feel quite clunky sometimes.

I ADORED Emily - an eldest daughter who feels like she has to take care of everybody all whilst trying to process so much grief on her own. She’s so strong and resilient and I want to be her when I grow up! From the second Jackson stepped on the page I knew the two were going to be perfect together. His carefree and lighthearted nature complemented her flawlessly.

I love a rivals to lovers when the banter is top tier. If it makes me laugh, it’s a winner and this did exactly that. I found their fights and the way they interacted so funny and loved watching them team up under such unusual circumstances. The addition of the steamy scenes was also very welcome as a lover of spice!

Amongst the fluff and the humour, these books do touch upon more serious topics as well. A major theme throughout all of the books is grief and I think Sarah portrays the different ways that grief can manifest in people really beautifully when writing each of her characters.

These books just never miss for me!!

And again Sarah Adams proves that she is my all time fav author!! I absolutely loved being back in Rome and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to get the eArc. Emily is by far my favorite sibling, maybe it's because I'm also an older sister, but I could really relate to her personality and inner conflicts. And the banter between her and Jack was just chef's kiss, I was grinning like a damn teenager while sitting in public and reading, because I couldn't contain my emotions!

Sarah Adams writes soft like no one else. Every chapter is like a war, hug, and I would return with her to Rome as long as she'll let us. The banter Beg, Borrow, or Steal was out of this world, every line cutting and sharp. I laughed, I cried, and I finished by hugging the book to my chest. If there was a sixth star, she'd have it, along with my heart.