3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this in exchange for my honest review.
We’re going back to Rome! After reading the first two books from the When in Rome series I was so excited to follow Emily & Jackson in Beg, Borrow, or Steal. I love an enemies to lovers plot & this one delivered! Rivals in every way, I did feel like it was almost *too* perfect at times. Our main characters shared the same career goals and aspirations, struggled with parental trauma that could’ve been explored a bit more, and were stubborn as heck until finally admitting they’re meant for one another. I loved this quick & happy read — perfect for anyone looking to end their year on a sweet note.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

Out of this series, I would say that this book was probably my favorite! I loved the dynamic between the two main characters. If you love ‘enemies to lovers’ you will enjoy their relationship. I also liked how the book went back to other characters from the previous books in the series- so you do need to read those first!

Anytime Sarah writes a book where I get to visit the wonderful, comfortable world of Rome, Kentucky I am going to dive in as soon as possible! AHHHH 🥹🤩 Emily & Jack!!! As someone who is a rule follower and values efficiency and intentionally Emily is my girl! As a true rivals to lovers should, the banter is 10/10 🫠 JACKSON WHEWWWW 🥵 where is this man in real life? “I. Want. You. Sharp edges, hot tempered, fiercely protective, gooey hearted …all of it” that man knows when to call Emily out but also when to be sweet and exactly when to push her buttons. Truly an emotional intelligent man.

The themes of broken childhoods and families is explored in a tender way that feels healing. Also, of course Mabel, drops some good wisdom in this book.

The found family built in the first three books of this series is beautiful. If you loved the stories of Amelia and Annie, you’ll love the continuation of their stories in this book. While I think there is only one more book, I never want this series to end. If you love a small town romance, what are you waiting for? Dive into Rome, Kentucky now! Though I recommend starting with When in Rome, the first book. Luckily you have time to read the first two before this book comes out on January 7th!

Review will be posted on @lsreadingviews on instagram

This story was amazing!! I think Emily and Jack have stole my heart I love them so much Enemies to lovers is 🤌🏼. My love for this small town the nosey neighbors, the chatty gossip, and the love they have for each other is everything and more. The plot was slow midway and then picked right back up I’m glad Jack stood his ground and I’m happy Emily took accountability of her emotions. I hope we get Madisons book next because the alluding tension had me intrigued.

This was AMAZINGGGGG!!! I loved every second of this, there was truly nothing that I would want changed or added to this book. I truly think this is Sarah’s best work yet and I CANNOT wait to read Madison and James’ story!!

An FMC who speaks her mind, can be too much for people and is navigating her own grief journey? I found Emily relatable from the very first page.

I enjoyed being back in Rome, Kentucky with the Walker siblings and I really enjoyed reading about Emily and Jack. Bonus points for the Annie and Will content — they remain my favorite couple and I am here for any crumb Sarah is willing to give.

I’m excited to read Maddie’s story next!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

Another swoony, sweet read from Sarah Adams! Even though this one is not closed door like the others in her When in Rome books, readers who are OK with the other books in her series will probably be fine with the level of spice here. (Adams also includes a note as to which chapters to skip if readers want to keep it completely closed door.) I love the sweetness of Adams’ romcoms, the emotional intimacy between her characters, and the additional sibling dynamics in this series especially. Jackson and Emily are another couple I was rooting for from the start, and I love that this one is based on one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies, How to Steal a Million. Many thanks to Netgalley for this ARC!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eARC. I was so excited to return to Rome, Kentucky but even more excited when I found out this had nemesis to lovers troupe which is my absolute favorite. Emily and Jackson have had their paths cross over and over again since college where a misunderstanding led to the beginning of their feud. They are now both second grade teachers in Rome and after Jackson left he is now back for good. The banter between these two is amazing and it had me laughing. Both have some past trauma they need to figure out and be open to letting others in. An adorable romance that is definitely my favorite in the series. I loved seeing how everyone else from the previous books are doing. This is one I would definitely read again!

All the stars for Emily and Jack!! 🤩 Enemies to lovers is my favorite genre, and Sarah Adams does it so well!! I love the banter and bickering; the tension is 👨‍🍳 💋; the spicy scenes are done so well!! I loved going back to Rome, KY, too!

This book was absolutely adorable. I loved the enemies to lovers relationship and the way the two of them had the push-pull between them. I haven't read Sarah Adams' other books in the Rome, Kentucky series, but I definitely plan to go back and read them, as I fell in love with all of the characters, especially Emily's siblings. I definitely look forward to reading more in this series.

I loved the beginning of Beg, Borrow or Steal. The middle started to drag a little bit and I also wished the whole heist aspect was a little more drawn out. I felt like the tension between Emily and Jack was believable. I loved the setting and I can’t wait to read the next book. Overall, this was a solid 3 star read for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ugh my heart! Another absolute win by the ever-wonderful Sarah Adams. Once again, you are transported to the small town of Rome, Kentucky and within the first few pages of the book, immediately feel at home with the characters, the town, and the warm story.

One of the best parts of this fun, enemies to lovers, witty, banter-filled rom-com? When there are issues between the characters? They. Actually. Communicate. And the connections (not just between the two love interests, but also the familial and friend connections as well) all feel so genuine and heartfelt that you’ll immediately wish you could interact with this circle of characters in real life.

I loved this read and officially have the reading blues now that’s it over (so guess it’s time to dive into another swoon-worthy Adams read!).

Thank you to Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing | Dell, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

This was a fun, light hearted rom com! Jack and Emily’s relationship was very sweet and although I wouldn’t consider them enemies, there is definitely some rivalry going on in the beginning of the book. I really enjoyed having the characters from the prior books in the series appear in this one. The family dynamic throughout these books is very strong and adds a lot to the story overall!

I wasn’t as big of a fan of Emily and Jack’s book as I was with Noah and Amelia. Emily came off extremely immature multiple times throughout the book which felt a bit hard to believe with her age. At some points the story gave off more YA vibes than adult vibes. I really enjoyed Jack’s character and his backstory with his writing and struggles with his father. Emily and Jack both being writers was very sweet, however I wish it had gone a little bit deeper into this plot line (such as having them write together, him giving her tips, showing Jack’s writing process etc.)

Overall it was a fun story and a good continuation of the series!

Loved Emily and Jackson’s story! I’ve never read any of the previous books, so there are some slight spoilers. But I do think it can be read as a standalone. Emily just wants to be needed by her siblings and as they are all starting their lives/finding their footing, she feels alone. Jackson realizes he was moving towards a terrible decision before he breaks his engagement and returns to Rome, Kentucky. I just loved their banter and interactions as their relationship progressed. 4.5 stars!

This book has my heart !! Jack and emily were 2 emotionally damaged individuals that were able to lean on each other for comfort and stability ! Emily being the oldest daughter and the glue that kept them together while also keeping her emotions to herself is so on brand for oldest children!! And Jack coming from and emotionally abusive household and basically gauging conversations that way is accurate and their enemy’s to lovers story line !!

I have so many wonderful things to say about this book. Simply put, Sarah Adams does not wrong for me, but I was truly unsure that this book could rival Practice Makes Perfect for me. I was truly so wrong!

Emily is such a strong, independent woman with a wonderful heart of gold, but seeing her grow into somebody that could still be all of that while still being sad, angry, and confused was so wonderful. I think we forget sometimes that we can be both, and Emily is the perfect FMC to show you that you can. The world needs more Emilys.

And, don’t even get me started about Jack!? I mean come on, you’re telling me his is only fictional. He was there when Emily needed him, and strong for her, but also learned how to give her the space that she needed.

They balanced each other out so incredibly well. I am also the biggest sucker for emails/texts in books and this one nailed it!! Also that BANTER, ugh sign me up!



“You don’t owe any man anything - and if he doesn’t know from the first second of talking to you that he’s the luckiest son of a bitch in the world for getting any attention from you at all, he deserves to be run over with a truck.”

“Life can be a little shit sometimes. But shit also makes great fertilizer.”

(I definitely needed the above reminders, and I’m sure others do too)

Welcome back to Rome,Kentucky. Where the local residents make those of Stars Hallow seem aloof and indifferent in comparison
Seriously - they are a billionty percent invested in the Walker siblings, and continue to show it in the most unhinged ways

Emily feels like she’s always being left behind.
Family that’s passed on
A high school ex boyfriend who hid his future plans
Siblings making their own lives - finding loves and chasing dreams
Then at the end of the school year, even her fellow teacher/arch nemesis left without so much as a good bye, good riddance.

But summer has barely begun and Jack is back. Minus a former finance and (annoyingly) buying the house right next door to renovate

This should be the worst summer ever but … it’s not

They’re both working through baggage - her abandonment issues and his narcissist parent related trauma - they uncover secrets about each other, learning there’s more that brings them together than pushes them apart

While this is enemies (to friends) to lovers, I saw them more as people who just really got in to antagonizing each other - starting off on the wrong foot back in college, things kind of built up. Their current primary complaints including that she was frustrated how easily he made friends with everyone while looking stunningly attractive and him feeling inadequate because of how she made being an excellent and engaging teacher look effortless

I am here for it, because there isn’t some egregious flaw on the part of either one to overcome before you can cheer for them to get together
And I absolutely was cheering for them to get together basically the entire time.

There was some secondhand embarrassment of an mis-sent email nearly did me in, and I wished he hadn’t kept his secret as long as he did, but that’s a ‘me-issue’ and other than that?
No notes - Loved it
Great addition to the series!

Thanks to Dell and NetGalley for the arc

I wanted SO badly to LOVE this book...but I regret to write that Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams fell mostly flat for me. I loved Sarah Adams' other books from Rome, Kentucky, and when I received the ARC notification I squeeeeeeeeled in delight!

I did enjoy the text and emails conversations between Jack and Emily, but the rest of the "banter" was just missing for me or felt unrealistic. I didn't like how they kept talking about hating each other but it seems like they both never did and both knew it? It was like an enemies to lovers trope but with miscommunication meshed in? I felt mostly confused about how they were confused?

I did enjoy the references to being an author and writing and thought that part was fun! That may be heading into spoiler territory so I won't say more. But there were some gems and fun parts! I'm not abandoning Sarah Adams' work because this was a miss for me, that's for sure!

I Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Releases 1/7!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was my first book by this author and it was hilarious and so sweet!! I also love how the couple became friends first before lovers.

Jack is the blueprint for which all men should follow if I’m being honest. He is probably the best book boyfriend I’ve read about in awhile!!

This book also hit me right in the feels because a lot of what Emily and Jack felt was all too real and things I’ve experienced in my personal life as well. Being the oldest daughter (and oldest in general) I think we carry so much on our shoulders that should never be ours to carry and sometimes it’s hard to let go of that habit.

Tender, heart warming, funny, and all around a really good romance novel. One of the best I’ve read in awhile if I’m being honest!! I’m so grateful I got an early copy to read!

The amount of headspace Sarah Adams' books take up on a daily basis should probably be embarrassing, but I will not be ashamed. I have yet to find a book of hers I did not enjoy wholeheartedly. I love the When in Rome series, and Jack is now my absolute favorite book boyfriend. Their romance is so sweet, and the ensemble cast and tie- ins with the first two books is absolute top tier. She can write fun rom-coms with great banter that delve into deep topics such as grief and depression without making the reader feel bogged with empathy. I enjoyed this book so much I went back and re-read the first two immediately and read this again. If you want a comfort book, look no further.

Thank you, Sarah Adams, for writing books that bring joy.