This is my favorite of Lord’s YA books! The dynamic between Sadie and Seb was fantastic. I loved the competition between them, as well as the story line about the school’s funding struggles.

Rating: 4/5
I received the eARC for my honest opinion.

This was a really cute YA romcom, you will find enemies to lovers/friends to lovers, opposites attract. I found the plot to have been written well, the pace of the book was steady, and I didn’t see it really lagging a lot in the book. The book is character driven, and I loved getting to know the characters more throughout the book and watching their growth.

The story starts off with Sadie at Maple Ridge College, she is rushing to the first Newsbag meeting, but she collides with someone and the smoothie from the other person spills all over her dress and ruins it. When she looks to see who she ran into it's no other than Seb Adams, Her biggest high school rival. He is also the same guy who for years was a big part of her life because their families are close friends and of course do everything together. She soon finds out that he is on the Newsbag staff too and he is competing for the same staff writer position and over her dead body he will win.

As I said earlier, I really liked this plot, and I loved that they were opposites that finally understood that it works better for them that way. They also help each other with understanding their own feelings about being an adult, how to really become your own person, how to navigate life, and learning how to forgive each other for past mistakes or miscommunications that occurred over the years. I found the characters to have been well developed, and I liked the fact that the readers will see their development throughout the book. I also really liked the sweet moments, the banter between the characters, the school drama and the uncovering of corruption in their school system. I loved getting to see Sadie and Seb try to fight their attraction for each other and discover if they can be more than what they’re now.

I also received the audio of this book and found Emma Lord did a fantastic job with this book. I loved that I was able to picture what the characters were doing.

Overall, this book was a cute, fast-paced book with cute tropes.

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin Press and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.

I had a nice time reading this book! I love a college romance, especially one that captures the anxiety, and glee, and everything in-between of moving from familiarity to a new place and kinda changing the way you exist.

Sadie was a great character for this book! She was a girl who felt the need to always be a peacemaker with her family and outwardly pretty put together. She had an interesting character development as the book and her relationship with Seb progressed. Lord did a great job of showing all the crazy nuisances of Sadie's college circumstances mixed with her family life that she left behind. And of course, the boy she thought she left behind but followed her instead.

Seb was not what I expected. I thought he'd dish back Sadie's snark and annoyance, but often times, he was kind and teasing. He accepted every aspect of Sadie, even when she didn't fully understand who she was. He was so cute as he ate sprinkle pancakes with her, and roped her into crazy campus shenanigans. The "it's always been you" vibes were strong with this one!

Another great thing about this book was the fun plot! I loved the entertaining side of this with all the club activities Sadie and Seb were attending. But also, the more serious side of showing what was wrong with their college administration and finances. It was a balance of humor and heart.

Overall, I enjoyed this one! I think it's another great addition to Lord's college romance collection, and I look forward to reading more.

Such a cute romance. It was everything I wanted. Sizzling chemistry and fun prose. I loved the characters. This is my second book from this author and Its cementing my belief that she's a must read author for me.

Emma Lord's The Rival is a fun and charming YA rom-com about two high school rivals who discover their competitive spirit might be something more. The witty banter and genuine chemistry between the main characters make their story engaging and entertaining. While the plot is fairly predictable, Lord's fresh voice and relatable characters make The Rival a sweet and enjoyable read for fans of the genre.

I will admit I’m no longer the target demographic for YA, but reading YA was so fundamental to my formative years and how my taste in books grew that I’ll never completely give them up. And Emma Lord is so good at what she does.

I’m not sure I’ve read a book that so accurately captured the uncertainty of starting college. The way you get swept up in all the new things and feel invincible. And the shock when you realize no one actually is. It was wonderful for that reason alone.

But Sadie and Seb. They both need to break out of their shells in different ways and I was so proud of both them when they figured out how. Their romance feels inevitable and sweet and like a natural progression of their rivalry. Which was funny and not so over the top that I couldn’t imagine them falling for each other.

I want to be so critical of the characters in this book, but as I was listening I did a little reflecting and thought back to how I was at 18 and everything tracks. 😂

Your first year in college, the change feels so dramatic and everything is elevated.

A dramatic, angsty, cute little YA read.

This is Emma Lord’s best since Tweet Cute. Sadie’s story might seem like a typical coming-of-age story, but it is so much more than that. Whether you’ve gone to college or are living vicariously through a sibling or friend, the characters and story are so topical. Mental health, identity, academic and social pressure, along with trying to navigate life on your own terms. This book has it all!

*rounded up to 4.5/5 stars*

I’m so pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this! It truly had everything I love: academic setting, frienemies to lovers, childhood best friends, writing competitions, and random food. This felt so much more than a slow burn (emphasis on slow here) YA romance; it had so much depth with how to individuate from your family when you start college and figuring out who you really want to be. The dialogue was so punchy and comedic, and that alone showed how strong of a connection Seb and Sadie shared. I loved the energy that bounced off this book every time I picked it up to feel transported onto a college campus and back in time to my freshman year. I think this is a cute, wholesome story for any age that anyone could love!

Sadie and Sebastian have known each other since birth. They were friends and playmates, until they became rivals somewhere along the way. Finally, Sadie is at Maple Ride University, having secured her high school’s only spot to her dream school, and she doesn’t have to worry about Seb anymore. She’s ready to chase her dream of writing for Maple Ride’s highly respected zine, Newsbag, and work toward a career of being a comedy writer.

Unfortunately, Seb manages to secure a spot to Maple Ride last-minute from the waitlist, and they’re back to being rivals. Worst of all, he’s going to compete with her for the one (of course, just one) position open at Newsbag.

What’s possibly even worse is that as they are thrown together at this new place, Sadie starts getting flashes of attraction and even feelings for Seb. It’s confusing enough navigating college and learning new things about herself away from her chaotic, intense family without that too.

When they find out that Maple Ride’s club system is facing unfair funding and other issues from the college administration, they have to band together to fight it. As they do so, they find that spending time together is different now. It may be that they can figure out how to be friends instead of rivals intent on crushing each other. And perhaps more.

The Rival is probably my favorite Emma Lord young adult book since Tweet Cute. I suppose that’s in part due to the journalism angle (I’m a journalist). Tweet Cute also had rivalry going on, between families. Here, however, Sadie’s and Seb’s families are best friends. We get just enough demonstration about the families’ relationship and each family’s dynamics to set the stage for Sadie’s and Seb’s soul-searching but not enough to really get to know them and have fun with them. We do, however, get plenty of time to see Sadie and Seb grow individually and together. It’s at turns fun, sweet, and cute.

I feel like I am usually honest in my ratings of books and now I feel like I am going to be more honest in my actual writing of the review. I always try to be nice. And I am going to be nice. I am not going to be mean. But I have yet to really love a book by Emma Lord. I think the books are good. They are ok. They are not great. So this might be the last one I read. I know the kids in my school will enjoy it and devour it, but it might just not be for me. It is a cute YA book for teens, but for me, my YA books need more meat.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for a gifted copy!

I find Emma Lord's writing delightful and charming and her newest YA book is no exception. Sometimes I think that I have grown out of YA books but Lord's books never fail to put me right back in that time of my life when I was even more confused but had all the possibilities in the world at my feet. There aren't, in my opinion, enough books out there about how confusing college is. How you have all the freedom in the world but are also away from everything and everyone that brought you comfort. Lord really captures what it feels to be on your own for the first time and all the scary yet wonderful things that entails.

While sometimes veering a bit too cutsey, this is mostly a very charming and satisfactory love story that's also a coming of age story for the main character, Sadie. Sadie is determined to make the university zine and break the mold of "responsible Sadie" that she has to be at home. The only thing in her way is her main rival that follows her from home to college, Seb. This is such a cute book and the romance between Sadie and Seb is delightful and very sweet. I really enjoyed this YA book and wish I had it when I was starting college!

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I like the lifelong friends to rivals to lovers pipeline we have going here. Seb doesn’t feel like he’s competing at all, though, and is so clearly into her the entire time. It sort of broke my heart every time she would categorize him as her enemy, when he was pining away and just reacting to her. It was really satisfying how they came together though. I loved how she began to view her family at the end, and how she embraced her chaos. It was really beautifully written. Also— one of my FAVORITE things in books: found family. I love the pancake restaurant owners. 🥰

*The Rival* by Emma Lord is a solid, enjoyable read, but it didn’t quite blow me away. The story follows a high school rivalry between two girls, the popular and seemingly perfect Charlotte and the more relatable, underdog protagonist, Isla. What I liked most about the book was the exploration of friendship dynamics, personal growth, and the messy, competitive nature of high school relationships. Isla’s voice is fun, relatable, and snarky in the best way.

That said, the plot felt a little predictable at times, and some of the character development was a bit rushed. I also found the rivalry between Isla and Charlotte to be more one-dimensional than I was hoping for. It was clear that they both had more depth to them, but it didn’t feel like enough time was spent digging into their motivations or backstories.

Overall, it’s a good read if you're looking for something light and quick, but it didn’t leave as much of an impact as I hoped. The book has its moments, but it wasn’t as sharp or fresh as I was expecting. Still, Emma Lord’s writing is engaging, so I’m curious to see what she does next.

The book is said to be a rivals to lovers, slow burn college romance but really, I found this to a really wonderful coming of age book following Sadie as she learns her away around college away from her very outgoing family. She is learning she doesn't have to hid herself as she did in high school. The book had a very good story line of how different students had different reactions to being at college. Finding student community, spots, academic. The pressures and the freedoms and how people handle it. I really enjoyed Sadie has she started to trust her humor and goes after her goals. While all that is going on, she is also dealing with her budding feelings for Seb. I found the Rivals to Lovers labels a little forced. I feel like they were just super close friends but what she felt was competition was really pushing each other to be better people.
It was a very young voice, very you style so some of the lingo and ideas probably went over my head but I would say this would hit for a young teen looking for a cute romance.
It was cute, idealistic and easy read and would recommend for younger readers that like romance.

I am left completely enamoured by another Emma Lord book. I just can’t get enough of her YA romance.
The academic backdrop behind Sam and Sadie, two long time frenemies and rivals, lends itself well to the competitive nature behind the two main characters. Their desires to outdo each other actually does make them strive to be better.
Sadie constantly tempered her personality to mediate the insane chaos of her family. Being away for college is exactly what she needed. We watch her organically become the person she kept hidden away. Sam is under pressure of following in his father’s footsteps, being the only child. Sam and Sadie have know each other all their lives and went from childhood friends to rivals. The rivalry continues in this book and as can be expected from Emma, the banter delivers. I really enjoyed spending time with both characters, but they are not the only ones wow grow to care for. The reader becomes rather committed to both the family left behind and the college found family.
The pacing of the novel was excellent and the major plot line realistic and well executed - budgeting at any level leaves people behind and they won’t go quietly and we get to join in for the ride. Go student activists!
My only complaint with the book, is that I was left wanting way more of Sam. There was some of his character that we get through Sadie, but I feel like I could have gotten even more out of it, if only I could have been in his head. That being said, while being able to see inside Sam’s head would have been fun, the story is still fun.
I recommend this book to all Emma Lord fans out there, to everyone that enjoys a fun rivals-to-lovers romance, and other adventures in an academic setting.
Many thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for a digital copy of the book. The opinions expressed are honestly and my own.

The Rival is about Sadie and Seb who literally grew up together. From birth to high school they were originally the best of friends then the fiercest of competitors as journalists on the school paper, playing pranks, competing for the same articles and positions, competing in life.
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Sadie thought she was free of that constant competition when she went to college only to discover that Seb was there too, both of them competing for the one spot on the acclaimed college zine publication.
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This rivals to lovers romcom is fun because these two knew each other so well, they knew exactly what buttons to push and how the other would react in almost any situation. These are college freshman so there is a bit of immaturity in them and their story, perfectly acceptable in YA romcom!
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There was so much to enjoy; the crazy campus student organizations, hidden pancake place, siblings, parents, and roommates that made it feel like a very well rounded story.
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Quick, fun and entertaining, thumbs up to this one.

A cute new release from Emma Lord to start off my 2025 reading year! I really liked the college setting, the history between the two characters and the way their relationship shifts as they both adjust to their new lives. The Rival was a cute and sweet addition to Emma Lords catalogue of young adult books and I'm excited for what she releases next!

This book was so cute! Emma Lord just keeps getting better with every book of hers I read. I'm a really big fan.

I am a huge fan of Emma Lord, and was excited to read this book.

It has many of the things I have come to enjoy about this authors work. Well written, engaging characters and good banter.

However the premise of this book, failed to hook me. I feel like I’ve read this story before. Two academic rivals who secretly lust for each other. I love enemies to lovers, but the plot of this book lacked any of the originality that I have come to expect from this author. I got about half way and then bailed due to lack of interest.

My summmary, love this author but not this book. Sweet, but lacking any substance.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.