This was my first Sarah Adams book and oh my goodness, I was blown away! I love her writing style. It felt perfectly balanced and kept you grounded in the story at all times. Her world building made me want to live in Rome, KY, now I feel nostalgic after finishing the book.

Emily and Jack are one of my favorite couples I’ve read in a long time. If you give me a “he’s nice to everyone but me trope”, I’m going to eat that up. Learning about their long history together and reading their email/text exchanges brought so much to the story and their love. My heart was swelling the whole time. Something about nemesis being each other's safe spaces just gets to me.

Emily was such a great character. I understood her completely and cried with her. Her chapters gave some of the most relatable lines about loneliness and isolation while also understanding that the ones you love have lives outside of you.

I’m already in love with this series and want to go back to read the first two as well as Adams’s other work.

I love Rome, KY. The Walker family is precious! Jackson and Emily were very fun and I loved their email and texts exchanges and the little sneak peak at their past
I am so excited and James and Madison and have loved their Easter eggs throughout the series, and if they're not end game, I'll be mega bummed

Five stars. I fell in love with this book so hard. Reading this beautiful story made my heart ache in the absolute best way. The banter between Jack and Emily had me smiling as I read late into the night. I could have devoured this book in one sitting if I didn’t have to eventually go to sleep. Please read this book if you want a cozy romance between two souls who were meant to be.

4.0

I remember “When in Rome”. I thought I was going to be in Rome à la “Roman Holiday” but ended up in in Kentucky of all places (We all know what happens when we assume!). It was a cute story: a little different from recent books, if not an occasional standard Hallmark romcom trope. Contrarily, aside from the cover, I have no direct recollection of book two, “Practice Makes Perfect”, but know I have read it. A male lead who is a tattooed bodyguard was a surprise, but I’m sure I enjoyed it at the time.

I think I will remember this one, despite it not being as new or different theme-wise. Enemies to lovers is as old as time. But I love how resolute and committed Emily is, not so much to her family, which she is, but to her ideals. Who wouldn’t have wanted her as a teacher in second grade and thank goodness she is there for the kids like she was at that age. As someone with ADHD, the amount she gets done and her organization blows my mind.

The extreme to which their feud goes is exciting and the banter is what makes it fun. I think I may love earlier parts more, especially when Jack has been banned by the town just because Emily wishes it. Obviously we know what’s going to happen, but it’s a fun journey, most of the time. It’s also telling how similar both Emily and Jack’s pain is even though they have completely different experiences. Emily has a big family, especially if you count the town, and Jack is an only child with basically only one parent.

I appreciated Sarah Adams’ brief “warning “at the beginning of brief but not too serious triggers and I was intrigued that she listed the chapters with the sex scenes so that people could skip them if they wanted to keep it clean but still enjoy the book. I do have to say that she pretty much missed one, even if it was interrupted. There is something at the end that I feel was waiting for but was left hanging. It seemed like it belongs to this story and not something that happens in the periphery of Madison’s story in the next book. Lots of feelings and interesting dynamics and a fun read that I couldn’t put down for long.

Thank you to Sarah Adams, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

This is the third in the When in Rome series and I have enjoyed all of them. This one centers around Emily, a second grade teacher and a fellow teacher, Jack. They have been rivals, classmates, neighbors, and more and the banter between the two of them is fun. This is more than just a romance, it deals with family drama and learning to trust others and speaking up. I have enjoyed Sarah’s writing and she has some great quotes in this. Thank you Dell for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

3.5 stars

This was a cute read. It's not perfect by any means, but I did enjoy reading it. I related a lot to Emily as the older sister and balancing the weight of responsibility, but at times found her a bit insufferable. The rivals-to-lovers antics by Emily and Jack were a bit immature. I found myself cringing a bit. Jack as a character I loved and found his struggles with a narcissistic father very real. However, I felt underwhelmed by the romance and the depth of the characters. I didn't really feel anything for them, but once the rival dynamic ended, I was rooting for them.

Overall, I recommend the book as a light-hearted and sweet romance, nothing more.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the ARC.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
384 pages
Published January 7th, 2025

Emily & Jack are feuding 2nd grade teachers turned neighbors. Jack had left Rome, Kentucky once before with his fiancé… Emily never thought he’d return & be single this time. Their chemistry filled animosity is at an all time high. Emily is need of Jack’s help after she sends an encrypting email to their principal & Jack is the only one who can help.

I was so excited to be back in Rome!!! Emily and Jack are everything I love & need. Their banter, animosity, and tension was felt through the pages. Rivals to lovers is one of my top 5 fav tropes & this was the perfect depiction of it. The dynamic between the two was addicting. I can’t wait to return to Rome again!

Thank you @netgalley @authorsarahadams & @dellromance for an eARC of this amazing book!

Read if you like:
✨Rivals to lovers
✨Small town romance
✨Forced proximity
✨Both teachers & writers

#sarahadams #begborroworsteal #romance #dellromance

though it was nice to be back in rome, kentucky, beg, borrow, or steal ultimately fell flat for me.

after a roaring start, complete with sizzling chemistry and a compelling backstory, the investment I originally felt towards jack and emily fizzled out by the third act. once the urge to skim some scenes hit, I knew my interest in their happy ending had waned, largely due to the story being spread thin by too many subplots. with so many elements and details to expand on, it all ended up feeling underdeveloped, as though we were only scratching the surface of each topic. having said that, I will always appreciate the coziness and warmth that only a small town romance can offer, something sarah adams continues to deliver. returning to a familiar setting, to familiar characters, typically makes for an seamless experience since the audience has awareness of what they are diving into.

while this installment didn't impress me, I will no doubt be returning for the next book.

thanks to sarah adams and dell for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so very much to the Dell Romance and Netgalley for the advance copy!

The way I have fallen head over heels in love with Rome, Kentucky and its inhabitants. I absolutely devoured the first two books of the series leading up to this release, and I just can't get enough. Jack Bennett and Emily Walker are teachers and coworkers who have been rivals since college. When Jack leaves town with his fiancée, the last thing Emily expects is for him to return to Rome months later as a single man and her new neighbor.

I absolutely loved this book and the dynamic between Jack and Emily. This story has all of the delicious components of snarky rivals turned more, yet I love that when each is struggling, they find an unexpected confidante in the other. After Emily's parents died when she was young, as the older sister, she's always been the strong one, taking care of her three siblings, and it's about time someone took care of her.

This has definitely shot to the top of my list as a comfort series for me, and I am so very eager for Madison's story! I have been eating up every little crumb dropped teasing that book. I adore the walker family, and the townsfolk of Rome are so entertaining. I just love it there.

𝚝 𝚛 𝚘 𝚙 𝚎 𝚜:
📚 small town
❤️ rivals to lovers
📚 he falls first
❤️ close proximity/neighbors
📚 both are teachers & writers

This book wasn't my favorite. Although it did improve, the book started pretty slow for me. It took me a long time to get into it. I wasn't in love with the main characters, or with their roles as each other's "nemesis." They did grow on me, and I liked the side characters in their small town, but I just never felt that connected to the characters or to what was happening in their lives.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! It was so fun reading about old characters and seeing their development. I read it so fast because I just couldn’t put it down. Sarah Adams could write my grocery list and I would be obsessed with it.

How she keeps topping the last Rome Kentucky book I will never know but this was a masterpiece. The banter was *chefs kiss* SO good. 10/10

Thank you, Dell and NetGalley, for the review copy! All opinions are my own.

This was Sarah's best yet <3. Loved loved loved. Jackson and Emily operate as perfectionists in very different ways, but at their core, they are truly so alike, and they understand each other so well. This is my favorite kind of enemies/rivals to lovers dynamic, where you can see how compatible they are even amid their surface level differences. In how were their worst selves with each other, they were also their most honest and vulnerable selves, and to see how they built trust and intimacy on that foundation was touching and romantic and incredibly swoony.

"I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time."
"We need each other, and that’s good."

(I'm fine. Totally fine.)

Read it one sitting. This book will have you feeling all the emotions. If you’re looking for a book full of banter, sarcasm, tension, spice, humor, heartfelt moments, small town vibes, and will make you emotional pick Beg, Borrow, or Steal up. I loved Emily and Jackson’s relationship. I truly felt myself in Emily’s character a lot. The desire to always be needed, because the loneliness is just laying dormant. So you push yourself to constantly do or help others to avoid dealing with your own emotions. Jackson’s desire to be enough. Both of their need to hide who they really are and what brings them joy. Just to please someone else even if it hurts them in the process. I just love everything Sarah writes. I will forever sing her praises. The best part of this book. Seeing all my favorite couples again in the series. It’s like a big reunion in this small town. Which just feels like a giant hug.

Oh and be sure to read the acknowledgment part. That last part has me squealing!!

Wow. I really loved this book. Sarah Adams has a talent for creating characters who have a lot of baggage but are still open to the possibilities of change. Emily and Jack both stole my heart in this story, and I loved the supporting cast of characters with their backstories as well. I usually am not into small town romances but this one felt authentic. The fact that the townfolk understood Emily and her history so well, and were so protective of her was very touching. I will highly recommend this to readers of romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dell Romance, and Sarah Adams for an ARC of her newest release! As a fan of the two previous books in this series I would like to say I was extremely hyped for Beg, Borrow, or Steal. I love a good enemies to lovers trope. The beginning of this book started off super great for me. Then, as the story progressed I got frustrated with Emily. I started to find her extremely unlikable as an FMC. I loved seeing Jacks character development and how he’s always had a thing for Emily. Their banter was hilarious. I just couldn’t get behind Emily making one bad decision after another and just got frustrated with her. Constantly getting upset with her family for moving on with their lives didn’t sit right with me. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

As a huge fan of her Cheat Sheet series, I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of Sarah Adams’s newest book: Beg, Borrow, or Steal. At the time I didn’t realize it was the third book in a series, but I can say I had no trouble following the story at all, though I definitely intend to check out the two previous books. The series is the When in Rome series, though the Rome in question is Rome Kentucky.

Sarah Adams just has a way of writing characters you can’t help but love. And that is definitely the case with Emily and Jack; neighbors, colleagues, and ‘enemies’…until they aren’t. The sparks really fly between these two, and I loved watching their feelings change. At times both lighthearted and yet emotionally compelling. With each book I read I become more and more of a fan of Adams. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Beg, Borrow, or Steal.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2X7RNWH0MUOU1/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

While I had previously read some of her books, in 2024, I became a huge Sarah Adams fan.

I was thrilled to be lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book. The Rome series is my favorite of Sarah’s and this is the third book (out of 4) in the series. All books can be read stand alone, but I think, are best enjoyed in order!

Sarah always delivers on a sweet, heartwarming love story, but this one had so much more depth. Each character was beautifully flawed, and I found myself rooting for both of them as individuals, in addition to as a couple.

It was so fun to return to Rome, Kentucky with its cast of characters, and of course, the Walker family. This time we really got to know the oldest walker sister Emily, and her long-term arch nemesis Jack.

I found this to be such a sweet love story filled with fun banter and beautiful character growth.

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, small town romance, and hurt/comfort

Spice: 🌶️

I am so glad this book is out and everyone can experience Emily and Jack for themselves.

This quotes are my FAVORITE!
<i>“And to think you consider yourself hard to love. Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done.”
“You are not alone, Emily. I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”
“And if you need to fight, you can fight with me. And if you want to make love, make it with me.”</i>

As the oldest daughter, who is always ready to help with anything anyone needs, I empathize with Emily. She wants to be that support pillar for everyone, and when they aren't there- who will be that pillar for her. Jack is her rival in every way, and when they say "There's a fine line between love and hate", these two are the perfect example of that.

I love these two characters and cannot wait for the last book of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

•Rome, Kentucky•

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by @authorsarahadams
🥧OUT NOW

An enemies to lovers story that will have you laughing the till the very end. I mean it had me laughing the whole time so it’s proven. I was literally kicking my feet at one point 🏍️

I can’t even describe the joy Emily and Jack’s story brought me. I loved seeing how their relationship went from hate to friends to lovers!! It’s the perfect romcom to spend your day with!

Thank you @authorsarahadams, @dellromance, and @netgalley for the early copy🥧💜