I wanted yearning and I got YEARNING. I loved this book and the characters and was honestly, one of my favorite book I read in 2024.

To my fellow perfectionist eldest daughters this is a book for us.

Emily Walker & Jackson Bennett have been rivals and nemeses since college. Emily thinks she is finally free of Jackson when he moves out of state to get married, at least until he shows back up in town a few months later & buys the house next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is enemies-to-lovers done right. The tension between Jackson and Emily, the hijinks they get up to, the passive aggressive emails they send each other, it is all *chef's kiss*. Their chemistry sizzled on the page and felt realistic to their personalities. I appreciated the character development both Emily and Jackson demonstrated, particularly through the flashbacks written into the story. Learning more about each character's origin and motivations separately and together added so much depth to their love story. The author does an excellent job portraying the inner thoughts of an eldest daughter who is everything to everyone all the time, reflecting the fear of failure and desire to fix things for all her loved ones so well. It's safe to say I felt a bit *seen* with Emily's character.

If I have one complaint it's that I felt the author spent too much page time setting up book #4. It did not impact my final review of the story but it did slow the pacing of the last third of the novel for me. In reality I just wanted more Jackson & Emily chemistry.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is Sarah Adams's best work yet. I highly recommend this book (and the entire When in Rome series) and can't wait to read what this author publishes next.

I am so happy with this book! I have loved the prior two books in the "series", and this one did not disappoint either! I really enjoyed the banter between Emily and Jack, the two main characters, and I really liked this being told in dual POVs from each or their perspectives. I really like the enemies to lovers, forced proximity trope, and this really delivered. I thought the story itself was lighthearted and funny at times, but also had some heavy matter and the writer executed flawlessly.
I can't wait to recommend this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

This was an intricately designed story of learning how to love after grief has taken up residence in one’s heart. It was beautiful, heart-wrenching, and so powerful.

Let’s start with our FMC. I think the harsh reality of what it can be like for a woman to work in a male dominated profession was shown well through Henley. She had an easily accessible advantage that could’ve potentially let her ease through the ranks, but her determination to show that her skills were entirely earned and not given is what drove her to become one of the best. Her perseverance and resilience showcased how strong of a woman she was. It was also intriguing to see how being born into money and a big family name has its downsides. Despite all the animosity constantly surrounding her, she still remains sweet and joyful. I would say she’s now on my “favorites list” for FMCS!

Onto the MMC. Easton Chadwick. In the beginning, he gives off the stoic and “unattainable” vibes that I am always drawn to. After the book delves deeper into his backstory, you learn that he has been through the unimaginable. It becomes clear that Easton’s powerful demeanor is more of a facade that was forced by tragedy. Laura Pavlov did an amazing job of painting his sorrowful picture, which left me wanting to jump through the book and console him in any way possible. His character development was ASTOUNDING and his relationship with Henley was rocky at times, yes, but eventually blossomed into something worth yearning for.

Onto a lighter note😅, I had such love for ALL these characters. The side characters were hilarious, and of course I loved the main ones as well. And the spice??? 🥵Ugh, Easton is a wet dream wrapped in a suit. He’s a business man by day, and a pickleball champion by night😂I can’t get over how intense he can make a game of pickleball 😂 Also, if you’re reading this Laura…PLEASE tell me who is in charge of that gossip column!!! It’s killing me😭

In this sweet and funny trip back to Rome, Kentucky, Emily Walker and Jack Bennet continue on their over a decade feud. A small town can feel very small when your college arch nemesis is not only your coworker but next door neighbor!

Sarah crafted yet another hilarious, sweet and addicting novel that I couldn’t put down!

I am so so excited to recommend this book. If you love a small town, enemies to lovers romance with a reverse grump sunshine twist, this is the book for you!

Another great thing to consider?! This book hit the shelves this past Tuesday so be sure to scoop up your copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely adored Emily and Jack's story. This book has everything from the emotional depth to the funny beats. I loved the growth between them as individuals and as a couple. I really appreciated how complex Emily was as a character and how she didn’t have it all together even though she presented it that way. I couldn’t get enough of Jack and his steadiness and ability to read Emily. I loved the glimpses into the lives of the other Walker siblings (Amelia is included in that statement). I’m obsessed with their bantering and bickering and loved how that was a thread throughout the book, no matter where their relationship stood. This was just an incredible book—Sarah Adams has done it again. This series is 10/10.

Okay - I might have already found my first 5 ⭐️ read of the year. I have loved the Rome, KY series from @authorsarahadams and the latest Walker sibling to find love is Emily. Emily and Jack became enemies the first day of college when he spilled coffee on her on the way to class and then tried to fight over the same seat. He is the opposite of the hero she is writing in her secret romance novel but she is shocked to find him back in town and not only that, he is now her neighbor. Jack is trying to fit into the town and keep his secret identity as a best-selling author. However, after some high jinx they have an alliance that might lead to more.

I really bonded with Emily as a character and at some points thought Sarah was reading my mind with thoughts I’ve felt in the past. I loved this enemies to lovers and while there’s the usual miscommunication trope-Jack and Emily approach it believably.

Now to patiently wait for the next Walker sibling in Rome to come out and in the meantime just bask in the sweet town of Rome getting some more colorful characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

🍒 Workplace Rivals to Lovers
🤍 Forced Proximity
🤠 Small Town
❤️ Healthy Communication

Full transparency: I may have messed this one up a bit. Evidently, this book is the latest installment of the ‘When in Rome’ series. I missed the memo and obviously read the third book instead of the correct order. I can absolutely attest though that you do not need to read the other books to enjoy this one.

I felt so at home in Rome, Kentucky. The small-town vibes are wonderful. I absolutely want to pick up fresh flowers at the local flower shop, have a slice of fresh baked pie while I sip on some coffee from the Hot Bean, and end the evening at Hank's with my loved ones.

The chemistry between Emily and Jack is exceptional. While these two rivals carry on with their delicious banter, they are also always rooting for the other person to do better, to be the best version of themselves. “I will continue to support your writing. To pull for you. To root for you and do everything I can to help make your dreams come true.”

I came for the passionate rivals-to-lovers trope but was transfixed by the emotional depth and complexity this story has to offer. I had such a deep connection to Emily. This unstoppable quest to help everyone so that you are always needed and never left behind. This book made me feel so raw and vulnerable, just like Emily. It felt like we were on a journey together. It was so beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Jack was clearly written by a woman. He is so thoughtful, sensitive, and compassionate. (Also, the amazing sense of style, tattoos, and cute glasses, I’m obsessed). He is so gentle with Emily; it was so special to behold. “I’ll be so careful with you, Emily.” Their emotional maturity and healthy communication were remarkable.

This book truly has such a special place in my heart. I cannot highly recommend it enough. Now, onto reading the other two!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Dell Romance, and Sarah Adams for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I cried, I laugh, I cried some more. I’ve never felt so seen by a FMC before. I love Emily and that makes me want to love myself a little more

It was delightful to be back in Rome, KY with the Walker family. Emily and Jack are such a fun couple. I loved their backstory and how these arch nemeses couldn't seem to escape one another. It was fun to see some of those flashbacks represented from past emails and the ongoing side banter through some of their text and email exchanges. I could relate to Emily's past hurts and how she built walls to protect her heart, and found myself cheering as Jack championed her just as she was and helped her to challenge her past beliefs. Sarah Adams does a wonderful job building heat and tension and the banter between these two had me laughing out loud as I read. There were a few open door scenes and I appreciated the author's note letting readers know what to skip if they preferred not to read on page intimacy. While this book could stand alone, I loved reading updates about the other Walker siblings and getting to follow up on characters we met first in other books in this series. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this copy!

“That seems selfish,” I breathe out. The curve of his mouth is a potent drug. “I love when a woman is selfish.”

jack bennett the man that you are. jack is a second grade teacher (and best selling author) who’s main source of fun is his rivalry with emily walker. that is until he gets engaged and moves away. fortunately something has him crawling back to rome, kentucky.


“I’m the oldest daughter, I’m not scared of anything.”

and emily walker the WOMAN you are. emily is a second grade teacher (and aspiring best selling author) who’s whole life has been ensuring her siblings are okay after the tragic loss of their parents.

so what happens when they become neighbors? and then friends? and then more????

6/5 stars for this book about the third walker sibling. nothing could’ve made it better besides if i was actually emily baker or maybe even jack idk. can’t believe my first reads of the year are 5 stars or more. sarah you’ve done it again! and thanks net galley for this ARC! love you!

“Everyone is dead. Dead, dead, dead. And yes, I do like to throw startling little facts like those into conversation whenever I can because shock is always more preferable to pity.”

Emily has been through it. Losing her parents, then her beloved grandmother left her feeling like she needed to be the caretaker for all her siblings. In the process she has forgotten how to look after herself. When her nemesis, Jack, moves back to town RIGHT NEXT DOOR, she is not happy at all. However, a weird shift begins and maybe they don’t have to continue to hate one another.

This is definitely the enemies to lovers trope, but it’s so well done and super cute. I loved this book and the other in the series I read. The characters are lovable and you find yourself cheering for them!

I loved every second of this! Every book that Sarah writes gets better and better. She has seriously become a comfort author for me. 💘

Such a cute and quick rom com!

This book surprised me in all the best ways. It’s not just a romance—though the romance is top-notch—it’s got depth and heart that pull you in right from the start. The plot had so much going on, and I was hooked immediately.

Emily and Jack were amazing. I felt such a strong connection to Emily; she just felt so real and relatable. Plus, it was great catching up with familiar characters from earlier stories. I thoroughly loved being back in Rome, Kentucky again.

Sarah Adams’ writing is so good—light and fun without ever feeling over-the-top or cheesy. The pacing was spot on. Not a single moment felt slow or unnecessary. Plus, the way the book handles heavier topics like grief, mental health, and family struggles was so thoughtful and well-done. It added depth without ever feeling overwhelming.

This story came through with fresh, unique twists. It felt new and exciting, and I really loved it. If you're into romances that feel real but still leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling, this one's for you!

I was beyond charmed by this book. Every line of banter was like a shot of adrenaline straight to my heart. I love these characters, I love this town, and I can’t wait to keep reading for of it.m!

This is my 4th or 5th Sarah Adams book and they are equally as cute and cozy as the last one. She has a way of making the characters have cute and cozy meet cute and enemies to lovers.

Overall a quick read and enough spice without being a straight smut book. They characters also don't have a major falling out right after they consummate the relationship which I like. All romances have a mess up and then they get back together but this one wasn't as messy as most which makes it more cozy

thank you to netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

"Beg, Borrow, or Steal" is one of the loveliest enemies to lovers I've read in awhile. Sarah Adam's slow burn/build/evolution of the MCs relationship is pitch perfect, funny, and heart warming. Emily and Jackson (MCs) personal growth is strong without being preachy or perfunctory. This book is an excellent installment to the When In Rome series but could just as easily be enjoyed as a standalone. I look forward to recommending this!

We are back in Rome, Kentucky with Emily Walker this time and she was thrilled when her nemesis, Jack Bennett, left Rome….only for him to return as not only her work counterpart, but her neighbor too! They have known each other since college and it has been constant competition since they met. He is excited to be back in Rome and the only house available to purchase in Rome happens to be next door to Emily Walker. He figures out that she has a plan with the town to make him not feel welcome and he is determined to win everyone over. Not to mention that Emily has no idea that he is a famous author. He comes to her rescue when she accidentally sends a copy of her manuscript, that happens to be spicy, to their principal.

The palpable chemistry between Jack and Emily is crazy and them becoming next door neighbors brings it up a notch for sure. Emily’s family background helps this story make sense and I loved the cameos from the other books in this series. I loved how Jack was so nice to everyone but yet he could pick on Emily. Kinda goes along with what moms would say to their daughters in elementary school: “If he is picking on you, he probably likes you.” The text exchanges were a fun part to read and the way he wanted to be there for her and support her once they called a truce was so sweet.

As always, Sarah Adams delivers us a delightful rom-com. I love the characters of Rome, KY each book, but I think Beg, Borrow or Steal might be my favorite/ unless we give Mabel her own story! IYKYK.

I did enjoy the book, but honestly, it wasn't anything wonderful and my expectations may have been a little high. The writing style is nice and enjoyable. It’s lighthearted, and makes for a breezy read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression or feel all that memorable to me. She’s great for a fun, easy read, but sadly, that’s about it for me right now.