3.8 Stars
One Liner: This was fun!

Emily Walker doesn’t like disruptions or changes. She also doesn’t like her nemesis, Jackson Bennett, her fellow second-grade teacher in the local school.
When Jack left Rome, Kentucky, to live with his fiancée, Emily was delighted. Her loving hometown was free of him at last. She could focus on completing her secret romance novel.
Jack returns to Rome after breaking off his engagement. He is happy to be back in the small town that charmed him even if Emily doesn’t want him around. He has his own secrets to keep and would do what he could to make Rome his home.
When Emily mistakenly sends her manuscript to their school principal instead of a literary agent, she needs Jack’s help to steal back her manuscript. Their interactions soon show that they may not have hated each other for so long!
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Emily and Jack.

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by the author. It is the third in the series and works as a standalone. One day, I’ll read the previous two.
The book starts with a short note about triggers and the chapter numbers for those who want to skip spicy scenes. A clear idea indeed!
We get the story from both POVs, though Emily’s is more than Jack’s. That’s fine since they cover the base pretty well. The first-person voices are distinct enough to not create confusion about who narrates the chapter (there are clear headers too).
The little email and SMS interactions placed between the chapters not only add to the fun but also give more insight into the characters and their past. I enjoyed reading these.
It took a while to warm to Emily but I liked her as I got to know her. Jack was easier to like (everyone in the book likes him too!). Emily’s family and her relationship with them were heartwarming and bittersweet. There’s some joint trauma there but much love too.
The book deals with some heavy themes like parental loss, parentification of a child, toxic family, narcissistic parent, etc. These influence the main characters in many ways. There are some intense moments but the book stays true to the genre and keeps things from becoming too overwhelming. I prefer it this way.
Writing is another part of the plotline. Some good insights are provided. I related to some of the emotions the characters feel when they write.
One aspect I wanted more was the teaching part. They talk a lot about teaching, students, school, etc. but we don’t get to see them in the classroom or with their students. Yeah, it’s set during the holidays. Still, I needed at least one scene. After all, they take their professions seriously!
The second half is slower than the first half, probably coz it packs more stuff. There’s a teeny epilogue but I admit I wanted more. Also, one important element has not been detailed, and I needed to see it after having to deal with such an annoying character. It should have been included in the epilogue.
To summarize, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story with good banter and interesting supporting characters.
The next book will belong to Madison (the only unmarried Walker sibling). I hope she impresses me coz I’m already rooting for the guy (Team James). Excited to read it!
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (Dell), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I liked this book. Was it the best in the series? No. I lived the love story between Emily and Jack. Something just felt like it was missing. Both characters suffered with two types of grief. I appreciate covering the topics, but Jack was just too perfect in how he went solving his and her problems. This was a very entertaining read and I can’t wait to see what else Sarah Adams has in store.

This was by far the best book in the When in Rome series. I loved the entire relationship between Emily and Jack and how it evolved over time. It started with the banter between the two during their “rivalry phase” and slowly morphed into one of the greatest loves of all time. An excellent addition to this novel was their ability to each overcome their different childhood traumas and develop into such amazing humans. I loved the emotional intelligence that was depicted throughout the novel in each of these characters. I also felt like the pacing of this book was spot on — their relationship didn’t feel too slow nor did it feel rushed — it seemed to develop very naturally. I thought the snippets of the texts & emails sprinkled between chapters was an amazing touch.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Sarah Adams book, I know I’m reading them out of order 🙈, and I was happily surprised. I was worried it was going to be too cheesy for my taste but NO, I was wrong. The cheese was just perfect!

You get to know these characters slowly, and their hate-to-love development was just *chefs kiss*. Jack was giving Miles Novak in a way 🥰 while Emily reminded me of Nora Stephens. Sarah Adams brought in family trauma and dynamics to add to the character development and you feel like you KNOW Emily and Jack. Their “hateful” bickering was the sweetest way of flirting. (their unsent emails got me🥺)

All in all, this reminded me of Emily Henry and I say that in the best way, not in a competitive way that one is better than the other, but in the way that it provoked the same feelings as an EmHen book. I related to the characters, the story development was excellent, and you are close to tears while it’s a comfort read at the same time. I am them, they are me!! I want to move to Rome! I want to go to Hank’s on Fridays! Sarah Adams said she took inspiration from Stars Hollow and you feel that small-town charm in this book.

I can’t wait to read the two previous books (When In Rome and Practice Makes Perfect) in this series now. And I hope 🤞🏼and wish that the next book is about Maddie and a certain farmer boy 👀

Forever grateful to Dell, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for a review! Thank you so much!

🔎 ARC Review

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

When in Rome #3

Publication Date: January 7th, 2025

@authorsarahadams
@dellromance
@netgalley

My Rating:
🌟 5/5

📚 Read If You Like:
Rivals to Lovers
Teachers
Writers

Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He's the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year, with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.

Jackson Bennett is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited for—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.

With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, and Jack—she hates to admit—is just the man to help her. Surprisingly, Jack agrees. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?

🔎 My review
There are 2 things that I love, Sarah Adams and Rome, KY! I love the When in Rome series and was super excited to hear of part 3 featuring our beloved Emily. Emily is super relatable once you get to know her and I loved seeing her give in to being vulnerable and expressing her feelings. I also loved the way that Jack was able to grow and learn how to express himself as well! These 2 were made for each other!

Thank you @authorsarahadams,@dellromance, and @netgalley for the ARC ❤️


#books #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #bookworm #bookstagram #bookobsessed #romance #sarahadams #dell #BegBorroworSteal #NetGalley #romekentucky #wheninrome

REVIEW: Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

“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.”

So, apparently, I am good at starting a series in the middle instead of the beginning. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the Rome series. I didn’t feel lost starting at the third book because there was enough context.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was such an excellent rom-com book! I was invested in the story from the beginning to the end. There were tropes of enemies to lovers and small-town romance, which I both love. Emily and Jack were enemies starting in college, with Jack accidentally spilling coffee on Emily. They would tease and prank each other even through their 2nd-grade teacher jobs at the same school. The banter was so playful and fun. There were many sweet and tender moments, but also a significant build-up to some spice.

I also enjoyed the main characters, Emily and Jack, in Beg, Borrow, or Steal. They both had detailed backstories that helped shape the characters for good and bad. They both had strong feelings towards one another, even through their “hating” one another. Jack is so sweet and selfless and even wears homemade necklaces made by his students. Emily is so used to being the provider for everyone that she doesn’t know how to help herself. It was also fun to see the use of emails to provide more background and flirting between the characters.

The only thing I struggled with was figuring out the actual conflict. When I thought it was one thing, it ended quickly. I just thought there should be a bit more to it.

I really enjoyed reading Beg, Borrow, or Steal. It hit it out of the park for a great rom-com. Now, I am excited to read the other books in the series.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the eARC :)

My queen Sarah Adams has done it again!!!

So far, every book in the Rome, Kentucky series has been 5 stars from me! That is uncommon for me in series. I love this little town and the people in it so much.

Emily and Jack are both 2nd grade teachers in Rome, Kentucky. The have known (and hated) each other since Jack accidently spilled coffee on her when they were in college. Jack moves away, but then he returns at the beginning of summer and buys the house right next door to Emily. Chaos ensues, but then romance also begins to ensue eventually.

Right out of the gate, I loved how Emily was both infuriated and relieved to find that Jack has returned to Rome. It shows their dynamic perfectly and that they have both always had feelings for each other way before they admitted it!

This plot also takes forced proximity to a whole new level! What better tension can be built than making your two characters who are “nemeses” NEIGHBORS??? Not to mention the acts of service they show toward each other since they are so close during every hour of the day.

This book talks about sensitive topics such as grief and parental neglect/emotional abuse. The scenes where more emotional stuff was happening felt very real and raw.

Although there is no explicit spice in this novel, there was plenty of tension and intimacy. It is refreshing to me to have an author show connection between characters without having explicitly detailed scenes. That is something I love about Sarah Adams!

My favorite things about this book are the found family, the small town, the witty banter, and the emotional depth. I highly recommend!

I LOVED this book. This was probably my favorite Sarah Adams book by far. The character banter in the email exchange was hilarious. The characters were also very relatable with the struggles they were going through and how they felt.

I knew I was going to love this book and from chapter ONE I was obsessed. Jack and Emily are sworn enemies. They have been fighting for years, since the first meet disaster at college, but Emily isn't so sure how she feels when Jack moves away to get married. The story starts with her finding out that he is not, in fact, married and is coming back into town. When we get to Jack's POV is where it gets good though. We get a lot of glimpses into their past relationships and sparring, which I absolutely loved, but this hero is just, one of the best. They both have their secrets and trauma from the past, but they handle each other so well.
This is one of those "boy and girl hate each other but cannot stay away from one another and the tension is so thick you can cut it with a butter knife" situations. There was always more to their relationship than they could admit and it was so fun seeing it all come out.
Thanks to Random House, Netgalley and Sarah Adams for an early copy.

It was such a treat to be transported back to Rome, Kentucky once again. I loved following Emily's story and found myself rooting for her and whatever would make her happy - even as it changed throughout the story. 10 out of 10, no notes! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

5⭐️

I am still astonished that I have never read the first book in this series, especially since I absolutely loved the second installment and now this one as well. This narrative certainly exudes Hallmark romance vibes, and I am wholeheartedly here for it.

In this third book , we follow the journey of the eldest sister, Emily, and nemesis Jack. Their relationship begins on a tumultuous note when they start college, and they never quite manage to recover from that initial encounter. Transitioning from adversaries to colleagues, their dynamic is further complicated when Jack, after experiencing a failed engagement, moves back to Rome and inadvertently becomes Emily's next-door neighbor.

As with the previous book, the characters in this story are compelling and complex. Both Emily and Jack grapple with their respective traumas while simultaneously navigating the evolution of their feelings for one another. This depth adds a rich layer to the narrative that I truly appreciate.

Moreover, I am excited to note that this book appears to lay the groundwork for another installment in the series, providing tantalizing hints regarding potential future developments. I eagerly anticipate exploring these possibilities. Eventually, I will read the first book, and I am also interested in delving into other works within this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.

Super cute!! I have been enjoying the enemies to lovers trope lately and this was a fun story in that category. I have been buying Sarah Adams's books for my library and they circulate very well. I will purchase this one too.

I am a sucker for enemies to lovers and this one did not let me down I loved the banter between Emily and Jackson and it had me laughing out loud. And oh my goodness, the closet scene was on fire! It was nice to see glimpses of the couple from the previous books as well. This book had me smiling from ear to ear the entire time. What a delightful read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am not quite sure how I keep managing to grab an ARC of a book that sounds AMAZING, only to find out that it's the third in a series. It happens to me like clockwork, and here we are again. I will say, if you haven't read the other two in this series (When In Rome and Practice Makes Perfect), you'll be okay. But I, as I'm sure many of you are as well, like to read a series to completion. So after finishing Beg, Borrow, or Steal - I will be going back to read the other two books.

First, as an educator, a romance between two rival teachers was TOO good to pass up. Emily and Jack's connection that kept drawing them back together after so much time had passed would make for the BEST teacher's lounge gossip.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the free ARC of this book!

First off, thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine and Sarah Adams for an ARC of Beg, Borrow, or Steal!

I was excited to jump back into the world of Rome, Kentucky to see another Walker siblings' story! Beg, Borrow, or Steal follows Emily Walker as she learns her decade long nemesis Jack is moving back to town after the recent end to his engagement. Now they are next door neighbors who start to realize that maybe they aren't really enemies like they thought.

I really liked this book! From the beginning you could see that even though they said they "hated" each other, they secretly cared about the other and were happy to be back in each other's lives. They had so much in common, from both being writers, to teaching, to traumatic childhoods, that I just wanted to shake them and tell them to work out their issues. Their relationship starts to change when Emily drunkenly sends a copy of her manuscript to her uptight principal and needs Jack to help her delete the email before the principal can read it. As they begin to share more about themselves to each other, you see them realize that their feelings for each other might not be hate at all.

I'm glad both Emily and Jack got a HEA and hope we get to see Madison's story next!

Honestly this was such an good book. I loved second reading it. The cats name was adorable. And the characters were so lovable. Lastly I will definitely be reading more of this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. What a uplifting happy book!! 5 STARS!

Jack and Emily have a long history of butting heads which started in College. They compete, push buttons, and just banter throughout. They both go through their own family trauma and the growth together and apart its pretty captivating.

This book made me giggle, swoon and aweee.
It has:
Enemies to lovers
hidden identity
low level spice

Perhaps by favorite Sarah Adams book yet. These characters were so lovable.

I loved how she could build these flawed characters that are only made more endearing because of those flaws. This has so much humor in it but also held a lot of depth.

It was so nice seeing characters from the previous books but Jackson and Emily are definitely top top top tier.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by @authorsarahadams was such a delightful, sunshiny read! After slogging through a fantasy novel that left me drained, this charming romcom about two feuding teachers was exactly what I needed to reset my mind.

Emily and Jack’s story was an absolute treat! I instantly fell in love with their chemistry & how they navigated their quirky, hilarious rivalry. They were both so lovable in their own ways—and watching them spar and grow closer was such a fun ride. Their banter had me grinning from ear to ear, and I loved seeing them evolve & grow.

What really made this book special, though, was the heart behind it. It wasn’t just about the humor (though it had plenty of that), but also about finding your way, embracing your mess and realizing that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

Sarah Adams has this magic way of making you feel cozy and content, like curling up with a cup of tea in your favorite blanket.

In short, Beg, Borrow or Steal was the perfect little escape, full of sweetness, humor, and the kind of feel-good vibes that leave you with a smile. I’m already looking forward to whatever Sarah Adams has in store next!

Sarah Adams is always a 5 star read for me! I did not know how she was going to top Practice Makes Perfect but she really said hold my beer. Beg, Barrow or Steal is a 5/5 star read hands down! I literally did not talk to my husband at all in the two days i devoured this book! Fantastic! She is getting better and better with each book! I love all the Walker siblings as if they are my very best friends, and I really appreciate that with each book we get more of each of their stories! There is plenty of Amelia, Annie, Madison, Noah, James, and Will and it made me giddy with excitement every time they showed up! (I did like Practice Makes Perfect a little bit more but I think thats because Will Griffin is my favorite book boyfriend of all time!!) Jack and Emily are colleagues and have been enemies since college, always crossing paths and trying to out due each other, and as faith should have it, they are now neighbors. They are also both secretly writers, although Jack is a successful published author whereas Emily is still trying to get a book deal. When Emily drunkenly sends an email by mistake, sending her romance novel to the school principal, she needs Jack’s help to get it back. Emily and Jack have such a fun connection with witty banter and amazing chemistry! I laughed out loud at so many parts! The tropes in this book are neighbors, enemies to lovers and small town romance.

Thank you NetGallery and the publisher for the ARC! I can’t wait to read this all over again when I get my copy Jan 7th!!