Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This delightful rom-com was just what I needed to kick off summer! The characters were easy to root for and it was a quick read for me. This one is perfect for any road trip or day lounging by the pool!

This book was a perfect continuation of the Series. Sarah Adams does it again!! Her characters held so much depth. Our character Emily was relatable from the start as an older sister and her experiences and thoughts were those that I have personally shared before. She was a character with so much dimension by the end of the story I felt I knew her just as much as Adams herself. Jack, our love interest was a man with a lot of depth as well and I enjoyed seeing them together. This story is perfect, as the characters can stand alone aside from the romance.

Thank you to @Netgalley for the ARC of Beg, Borrow or Steal by Sarah Adams. All opinions are my own. Yes, I read this before publish date but then our whole family of five got sick. I’m catching up! #OldButNewReview ! I remember at the time thinking that all I wanted to write in a review was “I LOVE THIS BOOK”.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the When in Rome series. When in Rome (book 1) stars Amelia and Noah, Practice Makes Perfect (book 2) follows Noah’s little sister Annie with Will, and this one lets us get to know Emily, Noah and Annie’s sister, who always seemed a bit cantankerous to me. How will Adams write an enjoyable book centered around her? Well, she did, and I LOVE THIS BOOK.

Emily’s archnemesis and sparring partner, Jack, moves back to Rome and buys the house next door to her. They are constantly shooting barbs, which I love, and it is charged. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

The sisters watch Pillow Talk, which inspired the photo next to my favorite movie poster. There is one sibling left, Madison, and we get clues as to who her love interest may be. Her book, In Your Dreams, the fourth, is due to be published January 6, 2026! I’M SURE I WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.

I read this via ebook but I did check out the audiobook. It is 11 hours 15 minutes at 1x and the narrators are Brittany Pressley and Nelson Hobbs who are of course, great.

5/5 stars
Open door but the author tells you upfront which chapters to skip if you don’t want to go there.
Location: Rome, Kentucky

I really enjoyed the dual POV’s throughout the entire story. I loved seeing the banter and fighting that they both had with each other in the beginning. There were many laugh-out-loud moments. It had lots of banter + a great mix of silly, emotional, vulnerable & flirty scenes. This is book 3 in the When In Rome series. It can also be read standalone.

Betg Borrow, and Steal* is everything I love about a good rom-com: laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn tension, and just the right amount of heart. Sarah Adams delivers a playful enemies-to-lovers romance filled with quirky small-town charm and surprising emotional depth.

Emily is the definition of buttoned-up and type-A, but underneath her sharp edges is a vulnerable woman trying to protect her dreams—and her secret life as a romance author. Jack, on the other hand, is chaotic good wrapped in charisma. Their long-standing rivalry simmers with witty comebacks and unexpected tension that practically leaps off the page.

What makes this story shine is the way their love story unfolds not just with steam and sass, but with real vulnerability. The characters grow both individually and together as they learn to let their guards down. And the backdrop of a charming Southern town, complete with nosy neighbors and meddling coworkers, adds to the fun.

I LOVED this one! I didn't realize it was book 3 in an interconnected series. I can't wait to read the other 2 books!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is the third installment of the When in Rome series and I must warn you that unlike the other books, runs the reader through a gamut of emotions. The buildup of the characters Emily and Jack is really well done and will have you feeling like you can relate and are totally invested. Emily gave me all the feels and had me thinking that Jack was literally made for her. You will want to sit through the entire read without putting it down and find yourself teary in multiple chapters. I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am happily leaving this review.

This is the third in Adams' series that takes place in Rome, Kentucky, but you can easily read this rom-com as a stand alone. Very sweet story and I will be reading others in the series.

This was a solidly cute rom com. I was able to follow it easily even though I haven't read the other books in the series. The banter and small town vibes were fun. The characters were likable and their relationship was cute and it was fun to see it develop. It's a mostly happy story that's light on the plot and easy to read.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

As usual, I enjoyed this book by Sarah Adams. She is an auto-read author of mine. I prefer to read closed-door romances, but I appreciate that she let us know which chapters to skip to avoid it. I love the citizens of Rome, KY, and that they are in all the books, but you can read them as stand-alone as well. I look forward to reading more from Sarah Adams.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was actually my first book set in the town of Rome, Kentucky, and while I recognize that I may have missed some things with the siblings, it didn't feel like it took away from the root of the book - these two people who were always able to be honest with each other and step in in the dark days. It was sweet and honest and thoughtful. There is talk of grief but it didn't feel overwhelming if that is something you typically need to be aware of.

I was so happy to be back in Rome again! I absolutely loved Emily and Jacks story. Emily is secretly writing her first romance novel and accidentally emails it to the wrong person. She reluctantly has to ask Jack, who happens to be her arch nemesis for help. Jack is back in Rome after a breakup ready to continue writing his new novel when the girl who he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about needs his help. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that combines witty banter with emotional depth. Sarah Adams crafts a compelling narrative that explores themes of personal growth, vulnerability, and the complexities of relationships. The chemistry between Emily and Jack is palpable, and their journey from rivals to partners is both entertaining and heartwarming. The small-town setting adds a cozy charm, and the supporting characters enrich the story, making it a satisfying read for fans of contemporary romance.

I love this series by Adams, with Book #2 topping my list of fave romcoms. This one was slightly less believable for me, as I felt the two leads went from rivals to _not_ quite quickly. But as always I love the small town setting, I love her dialogue, and this was a lot of breezy fun.

I am loving books by Sarah Adams right now and this did not disappoint. She is so great at getting you to love her characters and putting them into not completely ridiculous but still supper fun and funny situations that you can't help but laugh at. I also love that characters from her previous works can be found in her new titles. It's so fun to revisit characters you fell in love with before and to see how they are fairing after their own story has been told. Can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

Beg, Borrow, Steal by Sarah Adams is a charming and heartwarming read that blends humor, romance, and vulnerability beautifully. The characters are relatable and endearing, making it easy to get emotionally invested in their journey. Adams’ writing sparkles with witty dialogue and heartfelt moments that keep the story engaging from start to finish. The chemistry between the leads is undeniable and adds a delightful spark to the narrative. Overall, it's a feel-good novel that leaves you smiling long after the final page.

Be still my heart. My heart that belongs in Rome, KY. Neighbors to lovers might be a new favorite trope. Both spirited and intense, Emily and Jack have the best banter, the best come-backs, and the best shenanigans. And when they finally have their revelations that they are truly meant for each other?! Goodness, it was everything, their relationship morphed into trust and love and all the downs. I really enjoy this town, the townspeople, the Walker siblings and am looking forward to Madison’s story!

SARAH ADAMS. I LOVE YOU. I have been looking forward to this book for forever, and it exceeded my expectations tenfold. the characters written by Sarah Adams are truly one and a million. They are so real, raw, and relatable in so many ways. I empathized so much for Emily in this book because I am her. I saw so many beautiful and destructive qualities in her that I see in myself, so watching her development hit incredibly close to home. Jack was the perfect golden retriever male main character. he was bubbly and charming and kind, but had so much depth to him, which I appreciated. This book had the perfect balance between fun fluffy romance, and more serious, resonating themes. The banter was next level incredible; I was literally giggling and kicking my feel so hard the entire time. I also absolutely loved the little glimpses of the past couples, and the (hopefully) future couple in Madison and James. I am completely in love with the little town of Rome, Kentucky and all the people that reside in it, and these books will forever hold a special place in my heart. 4.5 stars!! Full review posted on Amazon and Instagram :)

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

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


First off I loved the banter is this, secondly…
He wears glasses… thirdly …. Rivals to lovers.. what more do you need. It has a mix of banter, emotional, and vulnerability.
It’s not my favorite one in the series but it’s close to being my favorite one.

Sarah Adams does a great job writing fun reads. This enemies-to-lovers will definitely be appreciated by fans of her “When in Rome” series.