Emily and Jack are second-grade teachers who have been at each other’s throats since college. Emily is a perfectionist, micromanaging her way through life while secretly battling insecurities and a traumatic past relationship. She’s sworn off romance, convinced she’ll never find someone who truly needs her. Jack, her charming archnemesis with abs that deserve their own subplot, returns to Rome after a breakup. Their rivalry—filled with top-tier banter—has been his one constant, but now it’s starting to feel… different.

The story shines as Emily and Jack are forced to team up (for reasons I won’t spoil) and discover that maybe their lifelong competition masks something deeper. Can they really be friends? Nope, absolutely not. But could they be something more?

Sarah Adams has done it again. She infuses her signature humor and warmth into every page. The When in Rome series keeps getting better—and naturally, I’m now craving Madison’s story. Also, can Mabel get her own book too? Gah, I love that woman. This book helped bring me out of a reading slump I didn’t even know I was in.

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ….
❥ Small-town charm
❥ Enemies-to-lovers perfection
❥ A heroine with a secret creative side
❥ Banter so good it should be illegal
❥ Found family vibes that will warm your heart

I absolutely adore the When in Rome series, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal is now my favorite of them all!

I loved every minute of this delightfully slow burning enemies to lovers. It was very evident that even when Emily and Jack hated each other, they actually were teetering the thin line between love and hate. Their banter was always so good and I love the morph from their irritated jabs to their playful ribbing between lovers.
Emily is so relatable as the oldest girl sibling and the moment Jack asked her about what she needed my heart broke along with hers because oldest daughters really are the strongest and I knew exactly how she felt.
Jackson is SWOONWORTHY in the extreme and my new favorite MMC in the series. He’s so soft and gentle and I can totally imagine a hot teacher who wears the jewelry his students make him.
I love how well they fit together and the people they make each other. They show up for each other in exactly the way they haven’t let anyone show up for them. Their relationship is so stable and mature and exactly the kind of romance I find myself seeking to read at my age and stage in life.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was the perfect addition to this series and I loved going back to Rome, Kentucky with all the Walkers and their kooky town.

Thank you so much to Dell for providing me with this much appreciated and anticipated ARC via NetGalley!
Publication date 1/7/25

Sarah Adams has such a sweet vibe to her books. I I particularly enjoyed this one, with its aspects of learning to become vulnerable. That is hard for a lot of successful independent women, and it was nice to see that represented. The story is sweet, fun, quirky, with a lot of laugh out loud one liners. Spice level is low. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I loved this book. This was my first time reading Sarah Adams and I immediately added her other books to my TBR list. I had no idea until I finished this book that it was the 3rd in the When in Rome series. I like to go in blind so this was a fun surprise! I loved the relationships between siblings and the small-town story so I cannot wait to read the others.

Initially, Emily was off-putting, a little too aggressive for a likable main character, but the longer I read the more I related to her character. At one point Emily refers to herself as a utility sponge - essentially she's of use to you or she's not. This resonated so much to me in various roles that I hold. Though it's often not intentional, sometimes others make us feel like we are only valuable when we are helping them check a box.

Jack & Emily's dynamic was almost annoying but as the layers were peeled back their stories made so much sense. His narcissist father and Emily's tragic childhood made them into adults who guarded their own feelings and prioritized those around them. Their story was so heartwarming. I certainly hope we get to hear more of them in the future! I would love a book with Madison & James.

The When in Rome series by Sarah Adams will always be a favorite of mine. There is something about them that makes them super bingeable and lovable. Just like the first two in this series, I ate this one right up and could not put it down. This book actually reminded me of Beach Read by Emily Henry. We have college rivals, who are both writers and neighbors. Emily was so relatable: doing absolutely everything for her siblings, not wanting to show emotion, and having to be the best in everything she does. I loved Jack so much. He was fun and brought out the best in Emily has well. They are truly a match made in heaven.

Where to begin ? Sarah, the men you write need to be real. The stories you tell are phenomenal. Every book gets better and better. And I truly don’t know how that’s possible because the previous ones are simply amazing. I would read any scrap that Sarah writes. NetGalley, I don’t know what I did to deserve an ARC of this book, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Very sweet story my favorite Sarah Adams series! Enemies to lovers, small town romance. Love Emily’s story and can’t wait for Madison’s!

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

She has done it again. This woman knows how to write a swoony rom-com. To be completely honest, I don't think anything Sarah Adams would or could write would ever disappoint me. She's just that good.

I cannot get over the depiction of Emily and her being an older sister. Being the oldest sister myself, it was refreshing getting to see Emily's thoughts throughout the book. I cried at one point at some of Emily's thoughts- they were too relatable. It is so good to read a rom-com that tackles tough stuff in a way that feels genuine.

I am also one that usually skips the spicy chapters, so even with skipping these chapters, the chemistry and steam was still off the charts amazing!

Rome, KY continues to be my dream town, and I already can't wait to read the fourth book! (I hope we get to read about Maddie falling in love! Lowkey hoping it's James 😏)

Thank you NetGalley for providing me the review copy in exchange for an honest review! 💜

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.
This book was delightful. It was my favorite trip to Rome, KY so far and I’m already looking forward to the next.

I found myself wanting to slow down as I was reading because I wasn’t ready for it to end.

The emails (especially the unsent emails) and text threads made the book.

Sarah Adams put crack in this book and this series. I was so excited to be back in Rome and Emily and Jack's story did not disappoint. The banter, fighting and flirting was perfection. I was kicking my feet and sweating. The trust they built with each other was beautiful and goddamn Jack is a man DOWN BADDDDD and I loved every second of it. That man is so fine. The spice in this shocked me (for a Sarah Adams book) and my jaw was on the ground in the best way.

I love this series. Annie’s book was my favorite and I was ready for Madison’s book next. However, Emily’s book is the one I didn’t know I needed! The love to hate you relationship between Emily and Jack was my favorite part of this book.

Okkkkkkk!! I’ve waited not so patiently to be back in Rome and let me tell you… #begborroworsteal did NOT disappoint. I loved every minute of reading Emily and Jack’s banter together. They fight, they flirt, and of course they fall. I don’t want to mention anything that could spoil this amazing story, but I didn’t expect to feel so many emotions while reading this one. This book has one of my favorite third act “breakups” I’ve ever read. I always dread getting to that part of a book but this one was done so well… and the communication between characters!???? Bravo 👏🏻

Sarah Adam’s, thank you for writing this story! Thank you to #netgalley for this arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! so much that it even surprises me. After reading the first 2 books in this series I was real worried that this book was going to disappoint as well. Sarah Adams doesn't normal put a lot of spice or "smut" in her books. As someone that loves that in a book this book still scratched the itch. I can see this book taking booktok my storm with some of the added details to the male character. I hope it goes a little viral because I want others to love this book like me. There is more spice than the other two books in this series but I feel Like Sarah Adams still stayed true to the vibes of the series. I can not wait for this book to be released so I can add it to my book trophies.

This was such a good and fun read! I was up much later than intended reading, I couldn’t put it down, I loved it!

I really liked the writing style and how it was a dual pov. I thought the banter between Emily and Jack was hilarious! I really appreciated Emily’s character growth, like how she started to understand that she didn’t need to keep everything bottled up / be alone. Her relationship with her siblings really proved that she did put everything on her shoulders, but I loved how they were all there for one another.

I thought Jack’s character was so sweet. I really liked how he trusted Emily with his secret, and that him telling her didn’t lead to a third-act break up! I thought Emily handled the news really well. I loved the scene when they were hiding in the closet! I would have liked to learn more about their history, but it didn’t take away from me enjoying the book.

I wish we got to see Jack’s statement after his dad released the news, and the outcome of it all. I also with the epilogue was longer / provided more information. I was happy that there was an epilogue and the info it provided, however, I was disappointed that it was only one page and it was just text messages. Their story definitely deserved to have more of a ‘closing’.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! I can’t wait to read the others.

4⭐️

I received an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

really sweet and cute, fun vibes, and i really liked the romance and plot point. would really recommend. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This is how rivals-to-lovers is supposed to be written!

ARC Review:
I loved this book so so much. Emily is such a unique character and I love that older-sister aspect of her that carries throughout the whole story but isnt her whole personality. She is perfectly well rounded and is one of my favorite characters of all time.
Jack - a motorcycle riding second grade teacher - say less. He’s the rival we wish we all had. The tension and feud
between these two make you think any to keep reading til the very end.
One of my most anticipated books of 2025 and so glad I got to read this early.
5/5 ate this book up!

Perfection.

Undoubtedly one of my most anticipated 2025 releases and it did not disappoint in any way!

I’ve read other books in Sarah’s When in Rome series but I will say this is without a doubt the best one so far!

I’m obsessed w Jack and Emily and their witty banter in this delightful enemies to lovers small-town romance. Emily has a prickly sassy personality that hides her sensitive damaged heart while Jack is just the adorable metaphorical puppy with dorky glasses. They hide their true feelings of interest with a long-standing feud in-person and over emails. I laughed out loud and swooned so many times over these two and cheered them on until the very last minute along with the cast of eccentric but lovable small-town Kentucky townspeople!

I switched between ebook and audio and the female narrator is Brittany Presley who is always fabulous.

ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR NOWWW

Thank you to Sarah, Dell, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for the advance galley and audiobook 🫶🏼

This book is fantastic. I think enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. Their constant snarkiness is just the best. Emily and Jack as second grade teachers, swoon. I love this series and their family. The talking on feeling our feelings and letting others know that you might be struggling. This book had me laughing out loud and crying with the characters. I loved it and devoured it in one day. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

I read this absolute masterpiece of a book in one sitting. This is a love letter from Sarah to all of us over-achievers who are lonely from carrying the weight of the world. I needed Emily’s story more than I realized.

This is exactly why we love Sarah Adams' books, y'all!!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a little oasis in a desert. I loved everything about it! I absolutely love it when characters are flawed and the author isn't afraid to show their unlikability at the start, because believe it or not, I hated both Emily and Jackson at first. They quickly grew on me and by the end I couldn't put the book down and I wish I read it again.

Emily deeply resonated with me and I saw a lot of myself in her, so her journey from a closed-off, afraid of commitment and, seemingly, stuck in limbo woman, to a confident, more relaxed version of herself was incredible. Jackson, on the other hand, seemed arrogant and spoiled at first, but that version of him quickly faded and we got to know the real, emotional, Jackson.

The relationship nemesis-notreallynemesis-kindafriend-lover felt like it could actually happen somewhere IRL, so we're still keeping up the Jackson standard around here, just because of how the characters were able to recognize what worked and what didn't and were willing to learn, which doesn't happen in all romance books.

Would I read it again? Absolutely. Would I recommend it to everyone in the close vicinity? Without shame. Should you read it? YES.

And you know the drill, thank you to Dell and NetGalley for my copy! Y'all are the best <3