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.

Sarah Adams is my most read author of 2024 (7 books) and Beg, Borrow, or Steal is my new favorite from her! Because I had read several from her backlist this year I was really able to witness how Sarah's writing has improved over the years. I felt this story was perfectly developed and engaging throughout. I loved the enemies to lovers relationship between Jack and Emily. It was just a fun all-around read. Could see this being one of my favorite 2025 romances!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine, Dell, and Sarah Adams for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is available on January 7, 2025 (I've already preordered a copy!)

Sarah Adams is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint with Beg, Steel and Borrow. We got to visit Rome, Kentucky again and enjoy Emily Walker’s story, the oldest of the Walker sisters. She is on summer vacation from her job as a second grade teacher and is ready to conquer all of her projects, including continuing to write her romance novel she has not told anyone about.

When Emily goes to her favorite coffee shop to sit in her favorite spot, she finds the last person she expects to be there, her rival. Her rival who was supposed to be multiple states away with his fiance. But instead, Jackson Bennett is sitting there on his laptop. Not only is he sitting there, in her spot at her coffee shop, but he is moving in NEXT DOOR to her.

Their feud continues until Emily needs help and doesn’t know who else to turn to. They are forced to form a partnership of sorts, but there are still many secrets still lingering between them.

The dialogue and banter in this book was perfect. I absolutely loved reading Emily’s story and watching everything unfold. I also loved being able to see the previous characters we have grown to love from Rome, Kentucky. Reminding me that I need to go back and re-read them all.

I can’t wait to read Maddie’s story next!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to receive an eArc!

4.5!

This one is a delightful rivals-to-lovers romance set in the charming small town of Rome, Kentucky. Emily, a perfectionist second-grade teacher, and Jack, her mischievous neighbor and colleague, team up to protect their secret side hustles as authors—sparking undeniable chemistry along the way.

This book shines with its humor, heartfelt moments, and tropes like he falls first, found family, and healthy communication. Sarah Adams masterfully blends witty banter with emotional depth, making Emily and Jack’s journey from enemies to lovers utterly satisfying.

A must-read for fans of small-town romance and cozy, feel-good love stories!

Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Adams, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the opportunity to receive the eARC!

I am such a fan of Sarah Adams. She is able to make characters super lovable and stories that are just so cute. I also liked that she gave an option to skip scenes to keep the story more closed door. If anything, those chapters could switch back a little sooner because the last page was important for the story to move forward. but I just loved this book.

I plan to share this book with my instagram followers on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

4.75/5 ⭐️

This was absolutely the best in the series in my opinion. Often times I find in contemporary romances that the enemies to lovers trope just results in two characters being just plain cruel to each other, but the way it was done in this book was SO good and their banter was top notch. Having read the other two books, I knew I was going to like this one, but I had no idea how much I was going to love it. These are two characters that I really enjoyed seeing grow on the page.

Read if you like:
- mental health rep
- small town romance
- rivals to lovers
- forced proximity
- pranks & shenanigans
- a lil hint of 🌶️ spice 🌶️

5 ⭐

WELCOME BACK TO ROME, KENTUCKY! Truly my comfort fiction town, and my goodness was it lovely to return to this place.

• It made me feel giddy, understood, weepy and like the heart-eyes emoji.
• Filled with top tier banter, the epitome of rivals to lovers, small town romance, a MMC with glasses (!!!!) who actually knows how to communicate, the loveliest slow burn, SO much swooning, Friday nights at Hank's and mornings at the Hot Bean (yes, that's the name of the coffee shop)
• It made me want to call my sister, re-read the other two books in the series, buy a pie and eat it in the bed of our pickup truck, hug Sarah Adams for this treasure of a book
• Search "Pie shop ambience" on YouTube for the perfectly paired reading vibe
• Listen to Take It Easy by the Eagles after finishing the last page
• If this book was a food/drink, it would be a hot cup of coffee from the Hot Bean, a casserole hand delivered from Mabel, or another batch of Amelia's less than good pancakes (this time with hot sauce!)

if sarah adams writes it, it’s a 5 star from me.
no but really, sarah adams has a way of writing that is so bingable and so easy to consume.

emily and jack as characters were amazing. i found emily so relatable in a lot of her struggles.

i am a sucker for a quirky hot nerd so jack 👌🏻 was perfection.

i laughed OUT LOUD. i cried. i swooned.
all signs on a perfect romance.

Such a sweet, fun romance!
I've been making my way through Sarah Adam's long list of romances for a bit now and I always always always love when we revisit Rome, Kentucky. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the Rome series but all of these books read stand alone enough you can jump right in with Emily and Jackson. And you should. They're fun, enemies to lovers couple with some second chance sparks that I could not get enough of. This is more spice for a Sarah Adam's book than what I'd say is normal, but it's not too intense and she does outline the chapters for those who'd prefer to keep those moments behind closed doors. Pick this story up, you'll love it!

Thank you so much NetGalley for the ARC! 4.5 ⭐️

Sarah Adams does it again! There’s definitely a reason she’s one of my favorite authors. I loved being back in Rome, KY with some of my favorite characters and getting to have more pieces of their story while also falling in love with Emily & Jack.

The banter is this book was pure gold. I love enemies/rivals to lovers, and this book was the perfect example of this trope. It was great to see the evolution of the characters, and I just love Jack so much.

I can’t wait for Maddie’s book!!!

Another perfect read from Sarah Adams! We are back in Rome, Kentucky for Emily's story, and it did not disappoint! This enemies-to-lovers, small town romance was just what I needed to end my 2024 reading year! I absolutely loved their banter, and as with all of Sarah's books I laughed out loud so many times! Since we are back in Rome, Kentucky, I really enjoyed the updates on Noah and Annie as well! I love that Jack and Emily are both teachers, in addition to be having another skill (no spoilers here!) So many of Jack's lines had me melting throughout this book! I can't wait/am so sad there will only be one more book coming out of Rome, Kentucky!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

⭐️5
🌶️1
Release date: January 7, 2025
Tropes: slow burn, rivals-to-friends-to-lovers, small town

WHY DID Y’ALL NOT PUT ME ONTO SARAH ADAMS SOONER??? This book was incredible!! I’ve been wanting to read this author for a while & after reading this, I’ll definitely be reading the rest of her books ASAP!

First of all, Jack Bennett is the perfect man. Finally, an MMC that actually knows how to communicate! The way this relationship was portrayed was so healthy & refreshing to see. Both characters really made the effort to understand each other & communicate their feelings. There was no miscommunication & no third act breakup!

It’s a slow burn (which we all know is my least favorite trope) but it was done so well here. The buildup, the tension, the banter, everything was so perfectly executed! The characters were relatable & lovable. I also really liked how at the beginning, there’s a disclaimer about which chapters contain spice so you have the option to skip over that if you want (& it’s only 2 chapters so you’re not missing much of the book). Even then, the spice isn’t too overly detailed & I actually really enjoyed it in this book.

I know this is the third book of the When in Rome series so it did spoil a little of the first 2 books but I will definitely be going back & reading those immediately & getting the physical copy of this book when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC.

I instantly fall in love with Sarah’s books the minute I read them. She creates such relatable characters with compelling stories that make you never want to leave their lives and Beg, Borrow, or Steal is no different.

We’re back in Rome, this time following Emily Walker, the oldest sister of the Walker siblings. I instantly connected with her as the oldest sister and wanting to take care of everyone, yet also silently suffering in loneliness.

Emily is a second grade teacher who is trying to chase her dream of being a writer and she’s done it. She wrote her book! But she hides that side of her in fear of it not working out and not being good enough.

And then we have Jackson Bennett.

Cue my swooning.

Jack is also a teacher, and Emily’s arch nemesis, and secretly a best selling mystery author. He moves to Rome after breaking off his engagement and is finally ready to settle down in a place he thought he finally belonged. Only it’s next door to Emily, and their 10 year feud is not going to make that easy.

As Jack and Emily navigate being neighbors, they start understanding each other, and their hatred for each other slowly starts transforming into feelings, it opens up a whole other side. Both of them have a hard time opening up to people, yet with each other they find it easy and like a breath of fresh air.

I loved getting to read about these two so much because I can see myself so much in both Jack and Emily. I felt all the giddiness with their banter, all the feels with them navigating through their own issues with each others help, and the warmth of such a loving family in the Walker siblings and the relationships we got to see blossom in the previous books.

I will read anything Sarah writes and though I’m sad it’s almost over, I can’t wait to come back to Rome, Kentucky one last time!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This book had me at enemies-to-lovers and boy did the author deliver well at this trope. The tension was delicious with banter that had me laughing. What this author does well is creating chemistry and curating a love story that feels authentic and real.

The main issue I had with this book is that Emily is a hard character to enjoy or root for. She is stuck in her ways and shellfish in her actions. She has the need to be in control and when something challenges her order, like Jack, her actions are more like a child’s tantrum. In her moments of vulnerability, she felt readable and authentic but to me, those moments were few and far between.

On the other hand, I adored Jack. He’s the kind of character that I love to read about because there’s more to him than meets the eye. I enjoyed the complexities he encountered and how he persevered through his challenges. It's one thing this author constantly gets right, writing the perfect book boyfriend for us romance readers.

For an enemies to lovers trope to work for me the banter to be fun loving and both characters have to be likeable. The first half of the book, Emily felt very malicious and childish while Jack came out playful and charming. Despite my disconnect with Emily, I enjoy Emily and Jack's connection and chemistry. It was fun to go back to this world and I am excited to read the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine, Dell for the ARC