me and emily are like this 🤞. and jack is eerily sorta just like my high school nemesis-turned-crush. the one who i swore i hated (while seemingly e v e r y o n e loved) and who the universe kept putting, incidentally, parallel to me for years. our story hadn’t ended nearly as warm and tender as this one, but that’s here nor there. “Beg, Borrow, or Steal” had me so so giddy and squealing out loud. ..a little embarrassing, but seriously it was unavoidable. sometimes though, sometimes i felt split open whilst reading. the exact thoughts, feelings, experiences, i’ve endured were on the page like a mirror. it’s a relatable yet fun romance and i just became enamored with the whole book. now that it’s over, i’m in a puddle on the floor- read. this. i’m certain you’ll be thinking of this book and the feeling it evokes for a long while, because so will i. thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Sarah Adams for providing this eARC!

p.s. i can't wait for maddie and jamesie to give in to one another

4.5 stars

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams delivers the perfect blend of laughter, swoons, and that cozy small-town vibe we all dream about. This third book in the When in Rome series works as a standalone, though I loved catching up with familiar faces from the first two books. The story kicks off with Jack, who cancels his wedding and moves back to Rome, Kentucky, only to find himself living next door to his old college rival and fellow second-grade teacher, Emily.

Emily is determined to make Jack’s return as uncomfortable as possible—using every connection in town to sabotage his home renovations in an attempt to get him to leave. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is full of sharp banter and irresistible tension. The slow-burn romance, combined with their witty rivalry, had me laughing and rooting for them every step of the way. The turning point comes when Emily accidentally sends the spicy novel she’s been writing to her conservative principal. After Jack helps Emily break into her principal’s house to delete the evidence of her accidental email, she finally shares her manuscript with him. Jack begins helping her with her writing, and his advice—particularly when it comes to scene blocking—was hands down the sexiest part of the book.

Despite this being the longest book in the series, I felt like it ended too abruptly. I would've liked to see more of the follow-up on Jack's announcement and his rebuttal against his father.

Sarah Adams’ writing is effortlessly charming, and the chemistry between Jack and Emily is undeniable. Not to mention, the small town of Rome, Kentucky is so warm and inviting it makes me wish I could move there and become friends with these characters in real life.

Some of my favorite quotes/lines from the book:

♥️ I was just lonely and so my creative mind concocted a ridiculous narrative where Emily seems to mean something to me. - Jack

️‍🔥 "Absolutely not. I value my life too much to put it in your hands like that." His head tilts. "My hands are very capable Emily."

♥️ "Just how often do you picture me, Jackson?" "More than either of us is comfortable with."

♥️ "I'll be so careful with you, Emily."

️‍🔥 "What if your scene was all about her instead? What what if the primary focus was her pleasure?" "That seems selfish." "I love it when a woman is selfish."

♥️ "You're not alone, Emily. I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time."

♥️ "And to think. you consider yourself hard to love. Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done."

😂 "Oh god - you're never going to be able to be mean to me again, are you?"

This book follows two rivalry teachers, Emily Walker and her arch nemesis Jack Bennett. He is the exact opposite of Emily and her characters in the romanxe novels she writes. At the end of the school year she is shocked to learn Jack called off his engagement and moved permanently to Rome, KY.

Jack is happy to finally settle down but finds many obstacles in his path such as rehabbing his home, and stopped Emily's plans to get rid of him. A mistakenly set manuscript to their principle leads these nemesis to form an unexpected alliance.

This book was another great novel by Sarah Adams. It covered two amazing characters at their core who were struggling with inner and familial problems. You won't want to miss this one.

This book is for the eldest daughters who are constantly seeking out perfection in each part of their lives while continuing to fight the chronic need to hide their truest emotions as a way to protect their vulnerability from the world.

Sarah Adams, you literary genius – you did it again.

I have read several books about older daughters, and I can truly say that Emily Walker is the one that has made me feel the most seen. It may be that I too am still learning to grieve the loss of my grandfather (in comparison to Emily, who not only is processing losing her grandmother but still grieving her parents too), but something about Emily’s story and growth just felt so raw and real. All of Sarah’s characters are written with such intention and care that makes them feel so relatable, and she nailed it once again with both of her main characters in this book.

From the constant fear that someone may be able to look past the barriers she had built up, just to be scared away from what they find and the inability to face her emotional responses head on in order to not appear “weak” – Emily is not only someone I see myself in but understand her responses and reactions to certain events throughout the book. In comparison, Jack also had his own mental trauma to sort through, as he felt that he had to hide his true identity in order to protect himself from the inevitable collateral that would come if people truly knew his secrets. He also had a father who never seemed to be able to take ownership of his narcoleptic actions towards his family, which lead to resentment and heartache – affecting all of his relationships moving forward.

SHORT SUMMARY: When Jack and Emily initially met, sparks flew between the two (as in Emily breathed fire towards Jack as result of his poor timing of attempting to flirt). Their feuding and rivalry began at that moment, and 10 years down the road, these two are still butting heads with one another. But after Jack ended his engagement and moved back to Rome, Kentucky, it seems like Emily is finding new feelings emerging whenever he’s around. Why is it that she feels so comfortable opening up her true self to him? They’ve always told each other the truth before, even while as academic and professional rivals – but can she trust herself to open up her heart to him? And as for Jack, can he truly Emily with his biggest secret, or will he lose his chance to prove himself worthy of keeping her heart?

I can’t say this loudly nor strongly enough: this book is a 5-star, must-read and one of my favorite romances/series of ALL TIME. So take this as your sign to add it to your TBR immediately!!

(Review also posted on Goodreads as of 1/8/25 and will be shared on Instagram @laurynsbookshelf at a later date)

I loved this book so freaking much! I lost sleep reading this book; it was that good! I loved the characters. I loved the depth of them. This really reminded me of The Temporary Roomie with the enemies to lovers and pranks that they did on each other, which I was here for. Honestly, this is probably right up there with The Temporary Roomie for being my favorite book by Sarah Adams. Also this book was HOT. I wasn't expecting that at all, especially since I didn't really love the last one in this series, but this one was so good. If you love Sarah Adams, then this is a must read!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Spice: 🫑 (0.5)
Tropes: nemesis to lovers; co-workers; neighbors; small town romance

As a romance reader, you may have read a story with the premise of “Beg, Borrow, or Steal” before. But I know you’ll still love it because Sarah Adams does a beautiful job of creating a delightful story and I was chomping at the bit for more.

Emily is a second grade teacher in Rome, Kentucky and is driven by her desire to be helpful and supportive to everyone. Well…everyone except Jack, the other second grade teacher in town. They have not so secret animosity towards each other, and now Jack is back (and living next door!) after ending his engagement.

When Emily is in a pickle, she is hesitant to ask for help, but she knows that Jack will assist no matter what. I loved how this adventure brought them together finally and allowed them to reveal their true selves.

I “beg” you to “borrow” this book immediately! (But don’t “steal” it, or Emily and Jack will be sad)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for access to this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This quickly became my new favorite book by Sarah Adams. It was so real and relatable. Also, Emily and Jack were so mature! It was so refreshing to read a book with mature characters. Yes, there was bickering, but their relationship is so healthy! The way they handled certain topics with grace and humility was perfect. Also, I loved getting a glimpse of the other Walker siblings and what they were up to! Pure perfection! I can’t wait to read Maddie’s story!

"Beg, Borrow, or Steal" by Sarah Adams sets up an enticing rivals-to-lovers romance between two feuding second-grade teachers, Emily Walker and Jackson Bennett. When Jack returns to town as Emily’s new neighbor and colleague after calling off his engagement, their chemistry-fueled animosity is reignited. But when Emily accidentally sends a revealing email about her secret side hustle as a romance writer, she must team up with Jack to steal back her manuscript. What follows is a chaotic summer filled with unexpected alliances and rivalry-turned-romance.

Despite its promising premise, this book fell short for me. While the synopsis highlighted their careers as second-grade teachers, the story entirely skipped over their professional lives, as it takes place during summer vacation. I was disappointed that there were no school shenanigans and pining students against each other which could have added charm and depth. Instead, the focus shifted to their personal ambitions as writers, which lacked the vibrancy I was hoping for.

The plot itself felt scattered, with random side quests and filler content that didn’t contribute much to the story. The rivals-to-lovers arc, which I was excited about, fizzled out quickly and lacked the tension and buildup that makes the trope so satisfying. The writing often felt underdeveloped, and the struggles and resolutions wrapped up too conveniently, leaving me wanting more depth and emotional weight.

Overall, this was a forgettable read. While I appreciate Sarah Adams’ effort to craft relatable characters, the execution didn’t land for me. If you’re looking for a light, summer romance, this might work, but it’s not a standout in the genre. I’d give it 2 stars at most, though even that feels generous.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is another excellent book in the When In Rome series. I loved this book for the main characters, for the world Adams has created, and for the adventures the MCs have. I highly recommend reading all of the books in order just so you get to know their world, but you can read them as standalones.

I absolutely devoured this book! I loved Sarah Adams and couldn't wait for this next book. It was cozy, heartwarming, and just downright adorable. There was a ton more spice throughout the book, but it still made the book work. I loved the trope being childhood friends to lovers. I can't wait to see what's next!

I absolutely love Sarah Adams books and Beg Borrow or Steal is one of my new favorites from her When in Rome series!

This is a rivals to lovers contemporary romance novel full of banter, wit and all the characters we have known to love from Rome Kentucky. I was so giddy reading this book and always love a dual point of view in a romance novel 🙌

There's just something special about Emily and Jack ❤️ I enjoyed reading about their past traumas and how they worked through it together and with the people they trust!

What I also really enjoy about these books and Sarah's writing is how she makes you fall in love with not just her main characters but all the side characters as well.

It's cheesy, it's light and heartwarming , it's an easy page turner and includes a swoon worthy MMC 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review

this book had me completely in my feels. I found Emily so relatable, as I am also an eldest daughter who as trouble letting people in. I just loved the fact that she didn't really have to change anything about herself to be loved, she just had to find someone who would love her in the way she needed and deserved to be loved.

I also really admire the courage both Jack and Emily had when it came to writing, and how they really helped each other become more confident in sharing their work with the world.

Sarah Adams never fails to make me laugh and cry over fictional characters. And I cannot wait to read about the final Walker sibling finding love.

This is Sarah Adams's best work so far! Funny and heart warming, Beg, Borrow and Steal will have readers laughing and crying at the same time as they fall for both Jackson and Emily. Sarah has a knack for making characters feel like real people and fleshing out Rome KY to the point where a reader will want to move there.

I adored the characters in this book and just loved this story of enemies to lovers who teach together. The banter was fun and yet another story set in Rome, Kentucky that had me thinking Stars Hollow. There is a bit of spice but the author provides the chapters to skip if you don’t want to read it. I love all of these characters and look forward to hopefully more stories set in Rome. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy of this wonderful little love story

Just when I thought I couldn't love anyone else in Rome, Kentucky, Sarah Adams threw in Jackson Bennett and the nemesis chemistry between him and Emily Walker is delicious! I adored the first two books and FMCs but this one is definitely my favorite of the three. It is a quick, cute and fun read. Solid 4 stars for the glasses, motorcycle scene and pen names. Definitely recommend if you enjoy enemies to lovers or just need a quick escape to a cute town full of cute lovers.

Starting the year off with a bang! Another successful trip back to Rome, KY and I can wait to go back one!

Sarah Adams has filled this little town with amazing characters and given them all such heartfelt, fun, unique stories. The main characters have great depth and are relatable. The side characters are fun and I always want more of everyone. Do yourself a favor and grab this book, you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really wanted to like this book, i think the plot oversold the story. I couldn't help but feel it was underdeveloped. It was a lighthearted & cozy read but nothing really stuck out to me once i finished it

Sarah literally never misses. The banter was top tier and this book just makes your heart expand with all the things

When in Rome was one of the first ARCs I ever read, so these characters will always have a special place in my heart. But these two would have a special place in my heart anyway, because they are so wonderful 😭

Emily is so loyal and loving and stoic - her entire life is oriented around making sure nobody else ever has to feel the way she does. She holds everything inside and projects only love and capability. Except toward Jack - who, for reasons that bewilder him and probably everyone else - she feels comfortable being volatile toward.

And Jack, who has spent his entire life spinning in place for his father to either look at him with kindness or not at all, is a ray of sunshine and earnestness. He sees Emily’s sharp edges and he LOVES them because they are real.

Their banter is so good, the way they reflect and refract off each other is marvelous. I love them and I would die for them.

OMG! I just read Beg, Borrow, or Steal and it is SO GOOD! I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down. One minute I was grinning like a fool, the next I was laughing 0ut loud and then I was crying.....and the pattern kept repeating! All of Sarah Adams's books are incredible, but I think this is her best so far. And if you thought the scene in The Cheat Sheet in which Bree tells Nathan that it is only fair that she see him naked was fire, just wait for the scene-blocking chapter.....

These characters were both incredible people who were both hurting. They were perfect for each other. I have loved all of the Rome, Kentucky books. Rome, Kentucky is a real place and since I live in southern Indiana, I would visit there in a heart beat if I thought that the world Sarah built was real. All of the main characters have been incredible, but so have the supporting characters. I would love to hang out with Mabel and hang out at Hank's.

I don't give a lot of 5 stars because they don't seem as special that way. A really good book for me is a 4....a book I won't be able to stop thinking about for several days is a 5. It will be several days before I will be able to stop thinking about these characters and this story. Thank you, Sarah!