I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! I love it so much that I want to start it all over again, and I’m not a rereader. This was witty, had the perfect amount of spice, the tension was AH-maxing! I loved all the family being involved.
Seeking: a second grade teacher / writer with glasses 👀

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the teaching element. A few of the details were a bit difficult to believe, but it was still a great romance.

I loved this third installment in the delightful When In Rome series. The details into the writing and publishing life were especially fun and juicy!

I absolutely love this series and this book was so good! it was so easy to read with amazing banter and just such a sweet story! Jack and Emma have been rivals for years and I honestly love these two, their chemistry is undeniable and i just couldnt get enough of them together. I honestly have no complaints, these two were meant for one another, respect each other and the way these two communicate was just beautiful! I highly recommend this book and this whole series!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is the third book in the When In Rome series set in Rome, Kentucky. This is an enemies-to-lovers romance, with a slow burn and a bit of spice, but nothing super explicit. I will admit that I almost gave up on this book because the two main characters' antics in the beginning seemed so childish, but I am glad I stuck it out because it definitely had much more depth the further the story progressed. Both main characters had past trauma that was discussed, including alcoholism, a narcissistic parent, death of parents of young children, and death of a grandparent. Keep that in mind if any of those topics might trigger you. I ended up loving this book and the characters, and can't wait to go back and read the first two books of this series!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-galley.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite tropes so I have high expectations and this one did not disappoint. I loved the MCs backstories and meet-cute, how they are each other perfect career doppelgänger and how the tension has been building for a decade! I adore this series but it can be read as a standalone, but you’ll want to read them all. If you love witty banter, swoony-moments, dash of emotion and MCs that inspire the next generation during the day but follow their hearts at night. This one’s for you!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Emily describes herself as an unloveable porcupine, but she’s far from that. She is an elementary school teacher who gives her all to her students. She is a get it done girlie and the backbone of support to her siblings and her community. She always been everything to everyone she doesn’t know how to be someone for herself.

Her rival Jack just arrived back in town after a failed engagement. Jack and Emily have history, a fateful spilled coffee freshman year of college set them on opposites sides of a feud that would span a decade. They are each other’s perfect match in every way, and Jack just unknowingly bought the house right next door to Emily.

School is out for summer and more than just Emily red cowboy boots will be coming out this year. Jack and Emily have a lot more in common than being teachers, if they just could set aside their differences they would be an unstoppable team.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚: "Emily ... are we ... friends now?" "Maybe. We'll see." She pauses and a huge smile overtakes her face. "But don't worry, I still hate you."

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Archenemies to Friends to Lovers
* Spilled Coffee Starts Decade Long Feud
* Forced Proximity - New Neighbors
* MCs are Both Second Grade Teachers
* She’s Writing a Regency Romance
* Years of Email Bantering & Texts
* Secret Identity: He’s a NYT Best Selling Author
* Small Town - Rome, Kentucky
* Slow Burn with Spice
* Dual POV

♥️🔵♥️💕♥️🔵♥️💕♥️🔵

I absolutely adore this series. The small town with the lovable side characters who make the story feel complete. The cozy atmosphere of the pie shop, the flower shop, the inn, the school, and the cafe that make you feel like you’re truly there. The delectable rivals-to-lovers storyline that kept me coming back for more. And the appearance of the other couples who I love just as much as Emily and jack. This series is one of my favorite of all time, and this installment was no exception.

3.75 rounded up

This was such a fun story. I've been with this series since "When in Rome" and I've always been curious about how Emily's story would play out. Being the oldest child and always worrying/looking out for the younger siblings is A LOT. I loved that she is a teacher (highly underappreciated career) and her coworkers were such fun side characters. It was nice to revisit characters from the past few books, and I really enjoyed watching her love story unfold. This was a really fun read!

**5 Stars – A Heartfelt & Hilarious Rivals-to-Lovers Romance!**

*Beg, Borrow, or Steal* by Sarah Adams is easily my favorite book in the *When in Rome* series, and I can't stop gushing about it! This third installment is everything I didn’t know I needed: the perfect balance of witty banter, deep emotions, and swoon-worthy romance. It captivated me from start to finish and truly exceeded all my expectations.

Emily and Jack are the ultimate rivals-to-lovers duo. From the moment they meet, their chemistry is electric, and their constant back-and-forth is both hilarious and endearing. I adored watching their transformation from enemies to collaborators, and then to something much, much more. Emily, a second-grade teacher and romance writer with a soft heart, is a character you can’t help but root for. Jack, with his charming smirk, tattoos, and secret life as a bestselling mystery author, is impossible not to fall in love with. Together, they create such a dynamic relationship that I couldn't get enough of.

The tension between these two? Off the charts. The banter? *Chef’s kiss.* It gave me all the early 2000s rom-com vibes, making me laugh, blush, and even squeal with joy. There were so many moments where I felt like I was watching a scene from a movie — from their hilarious email exchanges to the slow burn of their undeniable attraction. And the sweet moments that followed were just the icing on the cake.

But this book is more than just a charming rom-com. It’s about vulnerability, growth, and the power of asking for help. Emily’s journey of self-acceptance, overcoming her fears, and learning to let others in felt deeply personal. As someone who also has a close-knit family, I related to her struggles with being the “strong one” and always carrying the weight of everyone else’s problems. Jack was the perfect counterbalance to Emily, offering tenderness, compassion, and a much-needed push when she needed it most.

I also loved how the book touched on the sibling dynamics and the deep bonds between family members. Emily’s relationship with her sisters was heartwarming, and seeing their support for each other made me appreciate the importance of community and connection. The humor, heart, and little quirky moments with Ducky the cat added a special touch that made me feel like I was part of the Walker family.

Sarah Adams’ writing in *Beg, Borrow, or Steal* is top-notch. She skillfully weaves together humor, heartache, and sizzling romance into a story that feels both real and completely magical. The pacing was perfect, and the way the characters grew together made their eventual romance feel earned and satisfying. I especially appreciated how Emily and Jack’s communication was so healthy — a refreshing change from the typical miscommunication tropes that often plague romance novels.

And let’s not forget the steam! The two chapters of spice were so well done — perfectly integrated into the story, enhancing their connection without feeling forced. It was the perfect amount of heat, and it felt like a natural progression of their relationship.

This book was pure joy from start to finish, and I can’t recommend it enough. Even if you haven’t read the first two books in the *When in Rome* series, this one can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone. But honestly, you’ll want to devour the entire series, because Sarah Adams has created a world that’s impossible to leave.

Now I’m anxiously awaiting the next book (Madison and James, please!!). If you love a rivals-to-lovers story with lots of heart, humor, and chemistry, do yourself a favor and grab *Beg, Borrow, or Steal* ASAP. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

*Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

⭐️ 5/5
🌶️ 2/5

Thank you Dell Romance (@dellromance) for the advanced copy!

This was utterly perfect! I ate this up and still wanted 1,000 pages more!

I didn’t know I was missing Jack and Emily until I finished this book. They brought so much fire and exquisite banter to the pages of the When in Rome world and I loved every second!

This enemies to lovers romance was so fun to read. From the pranks, to the snarky emails back and forth, the push and pull between Emily and Jack was positively delectable. I loved to see their feuding slowly morph into something more, their walls slowly coming down as they built mutual trust over the course of their story. They truly had my heart!

Yet again, the town of Rome, KY was PERFECTION. The townspeople continue to be one of my favorite parts of this series and I’m so glad we will get to see them one more time with Madison and James’s story next year (I AM MANIFESTING!!!!!)

I cannot recommend this series enough and look forward to whatever Sarah Adams deems worthy to share with us next!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is a delightful, heartwarming read. The characters are well-developed, and Adams' humor shines through, making this book both charming and engaging. Love the banter between Emily and Jack. A lovely story with emotional depth—4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I love Sarah Adam's books and loved this story and the character development. I’m not usually a fan of the enemies to lovers trope - but I did enjoy this one. The beginning was a bit rough but I really started to enjoy about 1/3 of the way through.

I read this before any others in the stand alone series, and there are probably spoilers but I’m intrigued enough to go back and read the rest!

Thank you to Random House-Ballentine, Sarah Adams and NetGalley for this ARC.

This had the best kind of message in that it's okay to ask for help. That asking for help isn't weakness, it's a strength all on its own. A heartwarming and hopeful romance where the two leads communicate with each other. Quite refreshing!

Beg, Borrow or Steal, otherwise known as the third book of the When In Rome series is a teachers enemies to lovers. Emily is introducing us to the nuances
of her small town of Rome, Kentucky, in a hot spot gossip location, the salon. During this time, the tea is spilled that not only did her arch-nemesis wedding fall apart but internally acknowledging she’s still caught up that he never said goodbye before leaving with his would-be bride. From the beginning, it’s clear that Emily has a lot of big opinions that can be a little too loud for the town, but I absolutely love them.

The character development is phenomenal and really gives you the opportunity to connect with them. Emily is the eldest sister of four, and after losing her parents really young, took on a rather compassionate parental role. This overall compassion from Emily can be seen through the entire story. Meanwhile, Jackson has somethings about life to learn such as letting people in. They started as enemies, downgrading to rivals and ending upon lovers, who doesn’t love tension that’s been building up across a decade since they met in college. Some awkward and humbling moments drew these together outside their regular orbit and it left beautifully raw moments in their wake. Grief and fear were discussed with an elegance that catches in your throat as you read the lines.

i also just absolutely loved their professions, teachers in the daytime, authors in the night.

Pub Date January 7 2025

ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group— Ballentine, Dell Romance and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

What a sweet addition to the "When in Rome" series! Rivals since college - Emily and Jack banter in the best way when he moves back to teach in Emily's little hometown. When they decide to work together on a project, they find that they actually make a good pair! If you have read the other books in this series, you get the joy of peeking into the lives of the other characters.

Before the book begins readers can read about the content warnings that do make this book a little heavier than the first two installments. The subject matter is handled beautifully and really just aids in character development, but could be a concern for some readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is the third installment in the When in Rome series. I’ve heavily enjoyed all of Sarah Adams’ writing so far, but I was a bit wary starting this book. My first impressions of this book couldn’t have been more wrong! I felt really enthralled with this book after the first 1/3 or so, as in the beginning the enemies aspect threw me off. The banter the main characters had together seemed a bit more sharp than I’m used to from Adams, but they more than make it up to each other. Rome, Kentucky never leaves me disappointed, and if you love Sarah Adams, this book won’t disappoint you either!

I’d recommend this to readers who’ve read the first two books in this series, and general lovers of romance. Thank you so very much to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for allowing me to read this e-arc!

Any time I get to go back to Rome, Kentucky I have a fantastic time. This book was adorable. I fell in love with Emily and her silk pajamas because in a lot of ways I am Emily. The banter was quick and fun, and this book didn’t take itself too seriously while delivering some excellent character development.

Thank you to Dell Romance and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.

This book is the third in the When in Rome series, this was an enemies to lovers adorable book. The banter between these two was pure chef’s kiss. It added so much spice to their story, and watching their dynamic evolve was just everything.

“I care for you always. I want you, always. The good, the bad, and the in between. I. Want. 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.”

I think this is the best so far from the When In Rome series! @authorSarahAdams, these just keep getting better and better!

I really loved the characters in the first two books. And I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book as much as the first two because I hadn’t yet felt connected to Emily. But I couldn’t have been more wrong! Sarah Adams nails the enemies to lovers trope with this release. Such smart banter, hysterically funny scenarios, and deeply honest vulnerability make the relationship between Emily and Jackson so real, I was hooked!

If the trend continues, I am over the moon excited for what I anticipate to be James and Maddie’s story next in line. I’m definitely not ready to leave Rome!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I love all things Sarah Adams. This trip to Rome, Kentucky took a hot minute to get into, as I wasn’t a huge fan of the enemies buildup in the beginning. They were flat out mean and it was a departure from Sarah’s typical sunshine. But after the first 1/3, the magic was back and I fell in love with Emily and Jack. Can’t wait for the last book