DNFed at 40%. This book had a great start. Mainly DNFed because life got too hectic, but I would possibly get back into this book at a later date.

I have read 3 of Emma Lord's other books and have really enjoyed them. I love her YA rom-coms! So I was really excited to get this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I have to say this is my least favorite of her books I've read so far. I do enjoy books set in highschool or college so I was initially excited about the premise. However this one just never clicked for me. I couldn't really understand her family dynamics or why she didn't get along with them and was so embarrassed by them. And there was 3 huge blowup fights with people close to her in this book which just felt like more drama than I cared to read about in a YA book like this.
I'm a fan of the best friends to more trope, and I did like that Seb and Sadie have known each other their whole lives and yet had new things to learn about each other. The pancake restaurant was fun.
I think overall this just wasn't a super memorable story that will be sticking with me for a long time to come, unfortunately.

"Satan does make a killer smoothie."

Emma Lord at her YA best!!

This book truly had everything I love about Emma Lord's YA work -- smart and hilarious writing, swoon, and delicious treats! I love getting lost in her stories, and this one was a particularly enjoyable rivals-to-lovers romance with the most delectable slow burn buildup. I was rapt! It's got captivating writing, believable stakes, and the most immersive setting. I feel so grateful to live in a world where we get to devour Emma Lord's incredibly funny and romantic books. I will always want more!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the e-book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE RIVAL is out now!

I thought that this was a super sweet, YA romcom - I loved the characterization, the adorable enemies-to-lovers relationship, and the opposites-attract - I just loved it

I love Emma Lord! Her YA books are truly such a pleasure to read. The way that she can make difficult situations comical and lighter is really impressive. Each time one of he characters learns something about themselves or has a realization I feel so proud of them because I feel like I really know these people.

Anywho, read this book, it’s real good!

This had rivals to lovers in the best way, full of banter, competition, and mutual respect. I loved Sadie and Seb, they are each great on their own, but together they are even better. They brought out the best, and sometimes worst, in each other, but they were also the only people the other was truly themself around. They understood each other on a deep level and I loved every moment of them together. I also loved all the other antics and chaos that they were apart of through Newsbag and the student organizations.

Absolutely loved The Rival! Emma Lord is one of my autobuy authors and I have been so pleased with each and every book of hers!
One of the funniest, complex YA romances of hers with themes of family struggles, lgbtq rep, rivaling, friendship and developing relationship that felt so natural and honest.

This was such a cute young adult romance! I loved the rivals to lovers trope and how it played into the story. The college setting was a nice change of pace for me and I really enjoyed it.

Emma Lord is starting to be a bit hit or miss for me. I am not the intended audience, so that may play a part in it. This was cute, but it felt like it ran too long and wasn't anything special.

The Rival is adorable, fun, and full of heart, capturing the intensity of competition and the unexpected friendships that can come from it. The story follows two ambitious teens vying for the same coveted position, leading to plenty of banter, tension, and emotional growth. I loved how their dynamic evolved, shifting from rivalry to something much deeper, with great moments of self-discovery along the way.

That said, the story dragged a little in the middle, making it feel longer than necessary. While the characters are lovable and well-developed, a tighter pace would have made it even better.

Overall, it’s a charming, feel-good read with a mix of romance, ambition, and personal growth.

There are very few things in this world that I love more than a YA rivals-to-lovers story written by Emma Lord, and that's coming from someone who doesn't normally enjoy rivals-to-lovers. But from the moment I read Tweet Cute, I was hooked by Emma's creative and lighthearted banter, which made the characters feel like real people. She adds a layer of depth to these teenagers and decorates their personalities with humor and a love of sweet treats.

I had a tough time putting this book down once I began reading. I was desperate to find out how these two worked through their differences. Their romantic (and platonic) chemistry was there from the very beginning, but they also had quite a fraught history of pranks gone wrong and the more intense sabotage that followed.

The academic element was especially interesting to me. As someone who didn't attend a university, I'm always intrigued by school "politics" and operations. It was fun to see how the need for clubs and other social activities united the entire cast of characters. The moments with the jelly beans, the ABC party, and the giant "sporting" event were all so fun and unique.

I've read plenty of YA romances, especially enemies-to-lovers, and never read anything quite like this. It was so much fun, had me laughing aloud, and made me wish it would never end!

No one does YA romance and banter like Emma Lord. The collegiate setting of this book really added to the nostalgic quality it had for me. The characters were diverse with great representation that didn't feel like it was Lord checking a box. As usual, the development centers around the FMC's growth throughout the story, which I think works for her.

It read like a breath of fresh air

What a great story. I love Sadie and was rooting through the entire book for her. Deb was also a great character and I was rooting for him also. Christina was a great roommate to Sadie. I love the characters interactions. They were so relatable. The scenes were so well drawn I was right there every step of the story!

This was a great read that was unputdownable!

I want the thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Preas for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

First: I love Emma Lord, & I really liked this book but please can we stop with the YA books set in college? It was cute & I enjoyed reading it but there was nothing about it that would have changed if it was placed in a private or boarding school.

A cute rom-com that follows Sadie and Sebastian "Seb" as they start their college lives as academic rivals (who are obviously in love with each other) and both try out for the school magazine. Overall, this book was a typical YA book where both characters are still trying to find out who they are, how to go about moving towards their future career, how to reveal their true feelings and true selves to their families, and tackle their feelings towards each other.

I DNF'd this book after about 13%. The enemies-to-lovers felt more like misunderstood-this-whole-time.

I love Emma lord! This book is another hit from Emma. A perfect YA story that is just too cute!

Seb and Sadie have been competing since they were little. Seb shows up at the college Sadie thought he wasn't getting into. It starts off running and their banter and competing doesn't newsbag the schools zine is light and funny.

College is hard and Sadie will learn some challenges along the way. This story involves families, friends and lovers. It's a sweet and heartwarming tale that feel just perfect for spring!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this arc i thoroughly enjoyed it!

Like always, if Emma Lord is writing it, I'll be there. This time with both the physical book and audio, for me to make sure I don't miss a moment!

The stand out treats of this book: Pancakes and cookies. Although there was a easy-to-make dorm food challenge as well that brought up a lot of interesting snacks!

Seb and Sadie have always known each other. Their families live next door to each other, and with parents who are best friends, they couldn't avoid each other. But when friendly pranks turn serious, it creates an academic rivalry that spurred them to even greater heights at school. When Sadie won the scholarship to Maple Ride, she thought this was finally her chance to thrive away from Seb.

Until she runs into him - literally, with a smoothie spill to cement the collision - when she's looking for the building that houses the school's magazine offices for "The Newsbag". It's been Sadie's dream for as long as she can remember, and when they learn that there's only one spot open, Sadie knows she'll pull out all the stops to take Seb down.

But being at college isn't everything she expected. Her best friend Christina is running herself into the ground with cross country practices. Sadie finds herself missing her family, but also feeling like she needs to keep her distance to finally be "the real Sadie" for once. And Seb... turns into maybe an ally, at least someone who knows what it's like to miss her family and feel adrift in their new school.

I loved the connection between Seb and Sadie, even when they thought they were competing ruthlessly. Their growth is great, finally getting to come into their own and not act how they feel they're expected to. The news articles they come up with keep them invested in the school, making Maple Ride come alive and not just be a background setting.

As for the audio, I thought Jessie Valinsky did a great job conveying how tightly wound Sadie could be, how much pressure she was putting on herself. A great listen or read, however you choose to pick this one up.

I love Emma Lord's characters. This is a sweet enemies-to-lovers romance between two former friends turned enemies.

Sadie and Seb are college freshmen, competing for a spot on the campus literary program, each have very valid reasons to need that spot but have grown apart too far to be in one another's confidence. Sadie and Seb both learn to be better friends to each other, their other friends, and to not make assumptions about what anyone else may be going through. There is a narrative in there somewhere about a campus scandal and their determination to bring it to light, but as with all Emma Lord tales the crux is the relationship between the characters and what they learn about themselves.

Emma Lord is such an incredible YA writer. The stories she creates are always so full of charm and sincere characters. I love a good rivals-to-lovers and this one didn't disappoint!