Rounded up from 4.5 stars. Let me just start by saying that the banter and dialogue in this are HILARIOUS! I was chuckling while reading. This book had me all in my feels remembering how I felt first going off to college. I loved seeing Sadie grow into her own skin and gain confidence. I do wish we got a little bit more of Seb’s character growth in this. I did like the rivals turned lovers plot line. I liked the shared history and sense of family that they have. I loved the relationships they built with their schoolmates and Sadie’s sisters. I just wanted a little more out of the main plot line and the rivalry and I felt like the ending drug on just a smidge too long for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I tolerated this one...mostly. I liked the strong female characters but eventually Sadie became pretty insufferable. She's a teenager who has such severe anxiety she definitely should have been in therapy. I also really really got an ick feeling from her relationship with Seb. They were raised like siblings or close cousins and somehow, after a couple weeks, are now in love. This after years of apparently hating each other.

“I think no matter what we are to each other, our lives are Bette reign each other in them than without.”

The Rival by Emma Lord
Release date:January 21, 2024
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Age rating:14+
Spice:none

Thank you Emma Lord and Netgalley for this arc! I had a fun time reading this one. It did take me a minute to get into it but once it got to a certain point I literally couldn’t put it down. The plot was interesting and fun. I found Sadie relatable and loved reading about her trying to figure out how to be herself. Her rivalry with Seb was very entertaining. Their banter and bickering made me laugh so much. I loved watching their relationship go from rivals to friends to lovers. Im happy it was an actual rivals to lovers and not just a ‘this person is kind of annoying to I love them’ if that makes sense. At times I was just screaming at them to hurry kiss because the chemistry was just so good. The way they totally understood each other was just so sweet. I found myself giggling several times. Really enjoyed the college atmosphere and everything with the newspaper it was really fun. If you’re looking for a cute romcom that’s actual rivals to lovers I’d recommend this one!

Sadie is ready to breakout on her college campus as the newest writer on Newsbag, until she discovers her lifelong nemesis has followed her to campus and plans to compete for the same spot.

Emma Lord always does such a great job of focusing on identify in her YA books. This is no different, but I was missing the family element. I feel like most of her books have a really strong family element and while Sadie and Seb's families were mentioned and even made some appearances, they were not as central to the story. Overall, I liked it and think I have some students who would enjoy it as well!

This was a surprisingly delightful read! I’m usually wary of books trying to have explicitly funny characters or characters that try to make jokes because so much of the time it falls flat but this was such a fun, cute, and genuinely funny read. The only downsides were that the end dragged a bit and it lost some of its fun tone near the end when it just right after fight after fight. But it found its way back and ultimately I had a good time. Definitely one to read if you’re into YA romance.

Sadie and Seb have been high school rivals and Sadie thought she was free to pursue her secret dream at college. But a couple days in, she runs into Seb and realizes they're competing for the same spot to write for the well known school paper. Free of their very enmeshed families, Sadie begins to realize that competing with Seb wasn't really compelled by hate and made her better.

This was an okay coming of age story, but it just wasn't for me. The Over The Top college experience and jumping into bureaucratic college funding policies just wasn't relatable to my college experience. The banter was okay but I couldn't fully relate to Sadie hiding so completely who she was that even her sisters didn't recognize her wit. The feeling of being too much for people is common, but rather than showing Sadie's family in all their glory, the reader is told that her family is a lot with a few chapters that include them to back it up.

I'm not the target market for this story but I didn't feel nostalgic like I have in Lord's previous stories. I'd skip this one.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC.

Much like every other Emma Lord book I’ve read, The Rival is another captivating coming-of-age story of a young woman working on figuring out who she is and who she wants to become. Sadie is an incoming college freshman with a plan - leave her lifelong Rival Seb behind and join the college zine, Newsbag. So when she runs smackdab into someone on the way to the first meeting, she’s stunned to see Seb standing in front of her and his smoothie down her front, happy as all get-out to see her and explains that he got in off the waitlist. Now she’s forced to resume their animosity in the face of having to compete with him again, this time for a place at Newsbag. She’s also disappointed, as she saw college as an opportunity to figure out who she really is and what she wants, and the constant reminder of her past self makes that more challenging. As Sadie and Seb spend more time together because of the zine and rediscover the tight bond they once shared, before they became rivals, secrets drive them apart while their shared history and close family ties (along with an undeniable chemistry) bring them back together, and they have to come to terms with who they want to be, and whether they fit into each other’s futures. Exciting, earnest, and endearing, The Rival is perfect for any age reader, and asks the question if its ever too late to figure out who you are and who you want by your side as you become who you are meant to be.

THE RIVAL is another swoony YA romance from the queen, Emma Lord! It always feels so exciting holding Emma's newest release in my hands. Her books never fail to put a smile on my face!

Sadie and Seb have been lifelong rivals. Sadie gets the only coveted spot to her dream college -- so color her surprised when Seb makes it off the waitlist and she has to compete with him once again. This time, Sadie and Seb are competing for a spot on the school's famous zine.

I could relate to Sadie as a fellow middle child who was often the one trying to keep the peace. The family dynamics added another layer to both Sadie and Seb, in much different ways.

There are so many loveable side characters. I also loved the competition antics and how, along the way, Sadie and Seb supported each other.

THE RIVAL is another home-run from Emma Lord, with her usual witty writing!

Title: The Rival
By: Emma Lord
Pub. Date: January 21, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary
*VERY CLEAN READ* (only kissing)

Summary:
Sadie’s dream is to be a member of her college newspaper staff, Newsbag. She is brimming with excitement to leave home and fully embrace the writer she aspires to become, only to have her dreams come crashing down when she unexpectedly collides with her greatest adversary Seb, the one boy who has been a constant thorn in her side for as long as she can remember. Apparently, he is no longer waitlisted at Maple Ridge, but now he is also vying for her coveted spot on the Newsbag team. What is Sadie supposed to do? Stay enemies, giving him the silent treatment or keep her enemies closer?

Review:
The Rival is another light, heartfelt, and effortlessly enjoyable read. Although this isn’t my favorite Emma Lord novel, she has crafted relatable characters who evolve from rivals into something more, all through her distinctive and engaging young adult style. I found myself struggling with the challenge of reviewing this novel, particularly due to the somewhat jarring transitions between the characters' thoughts, and overly sentimental cheesy dreams, which felt a bit out of place, momentarily disrupting the flow for me. I wish I could give it half stars, but since I can’t, I am rounding up to four stars.

Thank you to Emma Lord, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#TheRival
#EmmaLord
#StMartinsPress
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Seb and Sadie have been feuding for years. As children of best friends, with families so intertwined they spend Sunday breakfast together, Sadie is thrilled to finally have a break from her frenemy when she starts college. Until Seb shows up and they continue their angsty “will they/won’t they” rivalry in a different setting. Emma Lord touches on the struggles high level college athletes face while incorporating university sponsored club life. She gives us a well rounded story that leaves readers with a sense of satisfaction at its conclusion.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Lord can't be stopped. She again writes a funny and heartwarming story with characters I'm angry I can't be friends with. I loved the freshman year college setting -- a time of excitement and uncertainty. It was the perfect backdrop for two people who have competed their entire lives only to realize that maybe there's more to their relationship...

I thought this book was funny and sweet and I loved the banter- It definitely took me back to my college days! I loved the quirky characters - they were witty and full of YA drama and shenanigans.

These characters are young and make mistakes and are trying to figure out who they want to be. We see some good character growth as Sadie questions her abilities - we see her navigate feelings of self doubt. She has some decisions to make!

✨What to Expect:
💖Romantic Comedy
💜YA Romance
❤️‍🔥Rivals to Lovers
🔥Slow Burn
🏫College Setting
🤣Banter
💙Coming of Age
🚫No Spice (Kissing Only)
🥞Pancakes

This was such a good story to start of reading in the beginning of the year! I felt like the story and the experience of first starting of college and entering the world was represented with so many good topics, such as competition, learning the ropes of college and what it can do childhood friends and how to really navigate those relationships. I also think that the topic of missing the familiarity was so important. I think that these topics really cover a big deal in the story in connection to the romance and why certain actions were done.

Overall, I loved the diving into those topics that really bring back flashback to what college life is like and entering adulthood. I think Emma Lord did an amazing job at laying out this sweet story!

If you are looking for a YA rom-com that is heartwarming, funny, and adorable, then check out The Rivals by Emma Lord.

In this rivals-to lovers story, we follow Sadie and Seb, who went from being childhood best friends to academic rivals since childhood. Sadie thought she was rid of the competition when she got into her dream college only for Seb to show up on day 1. Now thrust back into competing for the coveted spot on the school paper, Sadie starts to realize that crushing Seb may have meant she was crushing Seb all along in a different way.

The story is both entertaining and funny with great characters. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and wish we could have explored Seb's perspective as well. Overall, this is a cute, fun read that will have you smiling and wishing you wrote for your school paper.

Happy Reading!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc and the alc.

This was another delicious and delightful novel by Emma Lord. I really enjoyed it. I loved the relationship and banter between Sadie and Seb. The only thing I didn't necessarily love about this book is that the chapters were quite long, and this caused me to lose interest in the story at times.
For the audiobook, Jesse Vilinsky did a fantastic job as always with the audiobook narration.

Thank you to Net Galley for the early copy of Yhe Rival, Emma Lord’s latest YA romance. Sadie and Seb have been friends (and rivals!) since childhood, but Sadie thinks she has escaped the rat race—-until Seb shows up at her elite college, having been removed from the wait list at the last minute. They both find themselves in a competition to win a coveted writer position on the school magazine. As Emma Lord’s books always do, there is a slight magical, fantasy element revolving around the power of food (pancakes this time!) and the circumstances of college begin to bring down the barriers between the two rivals. This was a sweet story, sometimes a little predictable or conversely, unbelievable. But as a parent of a soon to be college freshman, it was fun to delve into this collegiate world through The Rivals!

The Rival is Emma Lord’s latest YA romance, a genre she was made to write. Her voice is authentic and thoughtful and her characters grow and learn through their experiences which we really enjoy.

Sadie and Seb can’t escape their lifelong rivalry as they are once again competing for a spot on the university’s famous “zine”. (Is that what people are calling magazines these days?) Seb wasn’t supposed to be here but when he’s admitted off the waitlist, Sadie must come to terms with more Seb in her life.


What we liked most about their relationship was that it was based in friendship even if the rivalry took over. They fuelled each other’s need to succeed and achieve and they ended up being each other’s safe space. While the story was heavy on academics and the zine, the major theme was growing into your own and being your authentic self. They ended up being a cute couple we want more of!

Read if you like:
▪️Rivals to lovers
▪️Childhood friends
▪️Will they or won’t they vibes
▪️College setting
▪️Coming of age

Thank you to Wednesday books for a gifted physical copy and the e-arc of this book!

I enjoyed this one a lot, as it has some of my favorite tropes (enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract and forced proximity) in an adorable YA package. This was sweet, heartwarming and had references to Wicked I adored!

The supporting characters were amazing and interesting (I would love to taste Betty's pancakes) and the plot moved forward at a steady pace, and I found myself rooting for these students to get their funding. I loved the college setting and the journalism aspects of the story, though maybe not entirely accurate made for an interesting read nonetheless!

This one's a slow burn (and sweet, there's only a bit of kissing) but that tension and that will-they-won't-they kept me turning the pages, as I loved Seb and Sadie's chemistry and childhood friends to rivals to lovers arc.

Read if you enjoy YA romcoms with interesting family dynamics, a mental health subplot, and a satisfying slow burn!

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - November 23, 2024
Publication Date - January 21, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @dilemmalord, @stmartinspress, @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley!

The Rival has good messages about the right thing not always being the easy thing to do and I liked how there was some emphasis on social justice. I could relate to different characters in so many different ways, which made me feel more invested in the story. I also thought the sibling dynamics were pretty interesting to read about and if you went to college, you may be able to relate to some things. I love how well the main characters know each other and I found that rivals was a nice change from enemies to lovers. Even though it's a new adult book because the main characters are in college, it might appeal more to people who prefer the writing style in younger YA books. There was a lot of cat and mouse going on, which made me feel connected to the secondary characters because it felt like they were saying things I was thinking. My only question is, where can I find a Betty? Overall, this is a cute book and now I'm off to make some pancakes with sprinkles!

If you like new adult college romances with rivals and love triangles, you should try The Rival!

Get excited to read The Rival, available January 21! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

Before this, I’d read four of Emma Lord’s books and loved them all. So, although I try to go in with no expectations, I’ve come to expect a certain je ne sais quoi that makes up her stories. Early in this book, I thought the plot was fun, but I wasn’t sure if the story was going to have the same emotional punch that her other books have. I was so very wrong. So very sorry I ever doubted her. Emma Lord is a genius at writing connection and falling in love, not only with people but with life. She never misses.

I love love, so this book had me cheesing and grinning so many times. There’s nothing better than two people realizing they actually don’t hate each other. That they might actually like each other, or even more. Seb and Sadie were not for the faint of heart, but they truly understood each other in a way no one understood them.

And while the romance was a great aspect of the book, the heart of the story was about Sadie’s growth from the old Sadie to the new Sadie and figuring out if she could be her true self around everyone. It felt poignant for people who share bits and pieces of themselves with those closest to them because they’re too scared to show themselves in their full glory and be rejected. So, while this book was about a freshman in college trying to follow her dreams while also competing against her rival, I think it’s relevant for those in and out of school.

The character Betty was one of the highlights of the book and made me want pancakes so badly that I had to make my own (without the sprinkles because ew). The setting also brought back all those memories of starting college and figuring out what independence looked like and what passions called.

Overall, this is the book for you if you want to laugh as much as you want to swoon. If you want to see imperfect people and their imperfect friends take on a university. If you want to see pancakes have the power to unite.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars