I absolutely love Rome, Kentucky and am even more jealous than I was before reading this next installment.

This time around, we get to know the eldest Walker sister Emily and see inside her head a little bit more. We find out more about the wonderful Walker parents, and get to follow along as Emily once again encounters her nemesis, Jack Bennett. As they reunite once again, their sparring turns into something more as they realize they may be more alike than they realize.
We also get life updates on Madison, Anna-banana, and Noah (along with Amelia, Will, James, and Mabel).

This is SUCH a great next book in the series!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell. I'm voluntarily leaving a review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Romance
Spice Level: The author has set this up as a "choose your own level of spice" by telling readers the chapters that have the spice in them, but I have a caveat on that.
Language: Some swearing

BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL feels like a new branch for Sarah Adams readers. I've also thought of her as a fun, light-hearted, sweet romance writer. This book has spice.

***POTENTIAL SPOILER*** Here's my caveat: the chapters with sex are actually less provocative than the pre-spice chapter with the "play acting." I'm hoping that's not a big spoiler for you. But if you're not interested in spice, that is important information. ***END OF SPOILER***

This book has one of the best scenes I've ever seen with the characters yearning for one another. IF you're a writer, you should definitely read this to see how the characters work together.

I loved the characters in this book and the background of their lives. I would call this a second-chance romance because the couple knew each other in college, at work, and are now back together.

Spicy romance readers are going to eat up this story.

Happy reading!

It’s been a day since I finished this book and I know that these 2 characters will be with me for a long time. The book sucked me in and these two characters were relatable with their banter and their struggles. I specifically related to Emily’s character of being the older sister who needs to keep it together, being the reliable one, finding comfort and ease of being alone and getting lost in romance books.

I loved Jackson’s character and his strength to be vulnerable with Emily.

Read this book if you like:
- [ ] Dual POV
- [ ] Enemies to lovers
- [ ] Hidden Identity
- [ ] Forced proximity
- [ ] Small town romance
- [ ] Spice level: 🌶️ (skip c 16, 25, 32, 36)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing an e-Arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

A fun addition to the series. I remember liking the first two more.

Academic rivals end up in the same small town teaching second grade at the same school. Classic enemies to lovers. Emily has some major codependency issues with her siblings that she starts to realize throughout the story. Jack is a people-pleaser and has used his charms to stay in his comfort zone, but he's learned these tendencies come down to manipulating others to stay in his comfort zone.

I didn't realize until writing this review that I think the MC's psychological baggage was too close to my own, which made me like the characters less, haha! Overall worth a read.

Tropes:
•Forced Proximity
•Enemies to Lovers
•Sunny vs. Grumpy
•Second Chance

🌶️🌶️🌶️ Open Door: At least one intimate scene with the reader present, euphemistic language for act and body parts.

Sarah knocked it out of the park with this one! This was one of my most anticipated reads and it exceeded everything I was hoping for.

The tension, banter and chemistry between Emily and Jack is evident from the beginning. I love a good rivals to lovers 😈 Every time they were arguing, I wanted to scream at them just to be together already! Their slow burn was top notch 👌🏻

The characters are written with so much depth; I could feel their feelings while reading. Both Jack and Emily are working through some big life changes while navigating their new normal together. I think Sarah executed their journeys flawlessly!

It was so fun to be back in Rome, Kentucky! The whole Walker gang was back together and I definitely teared up a few times with their interactions and emotional breakthroughs 🥹 I’m obsessed with this series but Beg, Borrow and Steal is definitely my favorite so far 🫶🏻

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to Ballantine, Dell, Penguin Random House, Netgalley, and Sarah Adams for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“You think you’re unlovable, but I think I’ve never known how to love until knowing you.” 💕

“Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.” 💗

This was one of my most anticipated reads and getting this ARC was one of the highlights of my year! Beg, Borrow, or Steal is one of the best romance books that I’ve ever read. Absolutely everything about it was PERFECTION. Coming back to Rome, Kentucky again was so much fun and Sarah has written a wonderful, joyful romance full of heart again!

There are so many things that I loved about this one, but I especially enjoyed how the MCs were written with such depth and how healthy communication is emphasized. Seeing how Emily navigates her role as the big sister, as well as how she slowly discovers who she wants to be throughout the story was so incredible. Also, the way in which Jack navigates family trouble, his feelings, and his own goals was so inspiring.

When it comes to romance, Sarah creates the absolute best chemistry between the MCs. Emily and Jackson are an amazing couple and everyone deserves a love like theirs. The banter, flirting, and slow burn are flawless.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is phenomenal. An entertaining, heartwarming read that remains lighthearted while highlighting important topics, I adore this book with my whole heart. Highly recommend adding this to your TBR!

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Small town romance
- Found family
- MMC in glasses
- Teachers/Authors
- Perfectionist FMC
- Colleagues

Very enjoyable romance read. Emily is a relatable and likeable main character, and the dynamic with Jack was great. Great use of the enemies to lovers trope and the supporting characters and small-town setting were well done.

This book is charming, and just absolutely adorable!!! I fell in love with the main characters and their love story.

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I sat down with the attention of reading a few chapters and then proceeded to stay up until 1 AM and found myself 220 pages in. That’s the kind of hold Sarah Adams and Jack and Emily’s story had on me. Oldest daughters unite because this spoke to my battle weary soul.

I loved the chemistry between Jack and Emily. Good heavens it leapt off the page. I could not get enough of the banter. It’s the level of snark and I hate you but I really don’t that plays so beautifully off of each other. The slow burn and heated moments and those walls come crumbling down. I thought this was utterly romantic and filled with swoon.

BUT ALSO, the growth and love between Emily and her siblings was beautiful. Some hard conversations were had, but ALWAYS such love and support. I adore this family dynamic and the way they all lean on each other in the good and the bad. Seeing all of these characters and the shenanigans of Rome, Kentucky again were worth the wait.

(and let it be known I am begging for details about book four….)

Overall audience notes:

Contemporary Romance
Language: mild
Romance: brief open door

Sarah Adams is quickly becoming my favorite romance author. Every book she writes just gets better and better! Take this one, book three in the Rome, Kentucky series she's writing (Madison is obviously next!!). This is Emily and Jack's story. And whew. The TENSION!!!

Emily's this perfectly flawed character and Jack's the guy everyone loves with a bundle of secrets of his own. When they FINALLY let down their guard and stop bickering with each other, you see that the "hate" that was there was never really hate at all. The hijinks they get into, especially when trying to steal the principal's laptop, had me laughing. I also appreciated the very real themes of loneliness and abandonment.

The tension between these two jumps off the pages. It's so thick. Chapter 16...whew. I needed a fan!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Narrators: Nelson Hobbs and Brittany Pressley
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 1/7

Thank you so much to Dell Romance for my advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

I love Sarah Adams and it seems like every book she writes is better than the last. This third book in the Rome Kentucky series is my favorite so far!
Emily Walker is a buttoned-up second-grade teacher (who secretly writes romance novels) and is also the oldest Walker sibling. Jack Bennett is a fellow teacher, and long-time rival turned next-door neighbor.

Emily has always seen Jack as a thorn in her side, so when he moves back to town after breaking off his engagement, she’s ready for battle. But then, disaster strikes—Emily accidentally sends a super private email to their school principal that could expose her secret side hustle. Enter Jack, who somehow agrees to help her pull off a hilariously awkward heist to fix her mistake.

Their banter is gold, their chemistry is sizzling, and watching them slowly go from rivals to something much more is such a treat. The story is packed with great side characters, a charming small-town vibe, and just the right amount of emotional depth. Both Emily and Jack have personal struggles that make them feel real and relatable, and seeing them grow—not just together but as individuals—is so satisfying.

I listened to the audio, and I loved the narration! Both narrators did an incredible job of drawing me into the story and making the characters come to life.

If you’re looking for a light, feel-good romance with a lot of heart, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is perfect. It’s funny, sweet, and oh-so-romantic. Highly recommend grabbing this one for your next weekend binge!

I’ve said it before, & I’ll say it again:
Sarah Adams books are pure sunshine☀️

Beg, Borrow or Steal is the softest & kindest rivals to lovers relationship that you’ll ever read. I found myself wanting to devour this book while simultaneously needing to savor every moment between Jack & Emily.

A very easy 5⭐️ for me.
Rivals to lovers • small town • teachers • neighbors

I loveddddd Jack and Emily together. Writers on writing is one of my absolute favorite microtropes! Reading another book set in Rome Kentucky is just what the doctor ordered. I will say the first twenty percent or so I was worried that Sarah Adams is too nice to write enemies well, but Jack and Emily’s story worked out beautifully after that point. There’s a good bit of family trauma, which who can’t relate to these days? I do really enjoy that Sarah Adams has added spice to her more recent books, though I can always appreciate more heat more often!

Super cute story and love this adorable little Town and all the characters from it! Highly enjoyed the banter and history between the two main characters, and how their story and connection evolved. Highly recommend- I smile while I read and flew through it!

This is the third installment of the "when in rome" series which is my favorite series by Sarah Adams.

Let me just say that this book surpass my expectation. The pacing was great, no dull moments (which is I was surprised.). I love how every words connects and easy to read that it is so hard to stop and take a break for a bit. There are also sensitive issues here and I think that they are written with utmost care and with consideration that some readers might get triggered by those scenes.


This is no shape or form a perfect book (not everyone has the same cup of tea) but so far this is one of those books that I am looking forward to own it's physical form and reread this again.

Oh my lord. I love Sarah Adams. I love Rome, Kentucky. Jack Bennett is my MAN. A capable, competent man, obviously is gonna be a little frustrating because he’s just THAT good. Emily is such a relatable character and as she struggles and is finding her new path you feel like you’re living it. Sarah Adams does an excellent job setting the scene so much so that you can smell and taste what’s happening (don’t even get me started on chapter 16).

I wish there were a few more hi-jinx with trying to get the book back since that feels like a primary plot point. But there were enough other activities to be had to keep the story moving.

Overall absolutely love!

I loved being back in Rome, KY with the siblings. I went into this one with a bit of hesitancy because I LOVED Annie and Wills story so much - I wasn’t sure how this would add up.

Ultimately - I felt a huge pull towards Emily as a character. Some lines felt like they were ripped straight from my head. I also loved the rivalry dynamic between her and Jack.

This wasn’t a five star read simply because I felt like the switch from ‘I hate you’ to ‘I love you’ went almost too quick? There was somehow lots of build up but it still felt slightly off.

However - this was still a very enjoyable read - it made me laugh and tear up a little.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the platform to allow for me to acquire the ARC.

Emily and Jack have been rivals for years, always going for the same things both academically and out in the real world unintentionally. Once Jack moves back to Rome after breaking up with a long term girlfriend, he ends up moving in next door to Emily. Where shenanigans ensue and the two enemies learn that they were all too similar this whole time.
I love all the Rome books, and honestly I thought Practice Makes Perfect would be my favorite one. This one might be taking the cake. I love the story, the characters (new and returning), the found family, the family shenanigans, the small town vibes, the pranks, so much.
I am beyond grateful to have received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and Dell.

"Beg, Borrow, or Steal" was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, and let me say it did not disappoint. Emily and Jack had the best chemistry and banter; the tension was THERE! I have read all of Sarah Adams books and love seeing the way she has grown as a writer and the way she depicts real life situations in her books. It is amazing that the main characters learned the importance of communication and leaning on others. The Rome, Kentucky series is one of my all time favorites, and I cannot wait to read Madison's book!

Thank you to Dell Romance & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is Sarah Adams best work yet!!! Being back in the fictional town Rome, Kentucky is one of my happy places! This story felt real and raw, emotional, deeply entertaining and full of so many LOL moments.

It was so refreshing to read a story with Main Characters who were dealing with and facing so many real life situations/feelings. I really appreciated seeing how they worked through these things on their own, and also together. The banter between Jackson and Emily could set a Forrest fire!! How these two ever thought they hated each other is beyond me, because they were sooo clearly made for each other! I loved watching them go from Rivals to building up a friendship, and eventually fall into a relationship.

I also cannot complete my review without mentioning the GENUWINE PONY MOTORCYCLE scene!!!!! It was everything! I literally reread it 3 times and was cackling!! Also, their entire heist also had me LOLing the entire time.

I’m so excited for everyone to read this in January 2025!

Tropes
❤️Small town Romance
❤️Rivals to friends to Lovers
❤️Feuding Teachers, & secret writers
❤️Neighbors
❤️So much banter

Favorite Quotes
“You think you’re unlovable, but I think I’ve never known how to love until knowing you.”

“I don’t need anything from you other than for you to unlock the door for me so I can come lie with you when the darkness is too heavy to crawl out of. And if you need to fight, you can fight with me.

“You are not alone, Emily. I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”