Rivals to lovers with a dash of second chance romance? I think yes!

Sarah Adams’ books always feel like a warm hug. A warm hug that makes me feel ripped wide open and forced to confront my deepest insecurities, but a warm hug nonetheless. Emily and Jack had some of the best banter I’ve read in a while and it wasn’t just banter for the sake of it. It actually led to them learning things about each other!! These teachers turned authors were clearly meant for each other and I can’t wait to see how Maddie’s story takes us! (Hopefully right back to Rome and into James’ arms 🤞)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

When Emily Walker discovers she must not only work alongside but also live next door to an old rival, she braces herself for an unbearable experience. However, what begins as dread quickly transforms into something far more unexpected. As tensions give way to undeniable chemistry, Emily finds herself irresistibly drawn to Jack. Their sharp-witted banter and playful exchanges add depth and charm to the story, making every interaction between them a delight to read. With humor, heart, and a touch of nostalgia, Beg, Borrow, or Steal beautifully captures their journey from adversaries to something much more profound. A compelling and heartfelt read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

A bit of a late review, but this was pretty cute! I loved to see the small town and family dynamics and I can't wait for Madison and James' book!

My new favorite Sarah Adams book! I loved the lead characters enemies to lovers storyline that featured flashbacks of their past together. I love a romance novel whose characters have rooted and complicated family lives; real issues they have to deal with, without taking the book as a whole into a dark place. Sarah tows that line so well.

Maybe there’s some reason I’d be predisposed to like a book featuring a protagonist named Emily who’s an older sister who wants to be a writer, or maybe the Rome series is getting better with every book. Or maybe it’s both. Who can say?

I will say that I remember the sex in book 2 being way hotter, though.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!

I have been reading Sarah Adams for years and this is her best work yet, It's heart-wrenching yet so hopeful. For all of the Emily's out there, we see you and we love you. Jack Bennett... the man that you are. thank you for your service to women everywhere by raising the bar. Their bickering and transition from enemies to friends to something more had me swooning and cheering the whole way through the book. I don't know if I personally would classify this as a "heist" book as it was marketed as much as that being a smaller element of it. Never the less, everyone should be reading this book (really this seriously, if you haven't visited Rome, KY by now like what are you doing?)

4/5 stars for me. Cannot wait for the next one!

Rivals to lovers is honestly all I needed to know. While the FMC was not my favorite (in the beginning) I ended up understanding her headspace. Her identity was caught up in being needed and when she didn't feel needed, she felt alone. Jack was the same, he felt like he had to hide himself and he never trusted anyone else to really see him. Which in turn leads to loneliness.
I adored Jack from the beginning and throughout the whole book. I ended up loving it. The tension was palpable and it was executed beautifully when the tension finally snapped.

An emotionally intelligent man! Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers! A spicy scene that will live rent-free in my brain! What more could you ask for?

This was a fun and easy slow burn, with playful banter and just enough emotional baggage to get you invested. While I have a hard time believing two professional adults would behave the way Emily and Jack did at times—even if they are "nemeses"—it still made for a really fun read.

The When in Rome series is giving me Lovelight Farms vibes—we love a cozy small-town romance!

This book has been sitting on my TBR for a month because I fell into an ACOTAR hole, but it was worth the wait. And thanks to NetGalley for my very first ARC 🥺

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is book #3 in the When In Rome series by Sarah Adams. The first two books in the series were two of my top reads of 2024. The each book in the series follows the love stories of the Walker siblings, Noah, Annie, Emily, and Madison, in that order... I cannot WAIT for book 4 detailing Madisons love story.
This book follows Emily and her arch nemesis coworker turned lover, Jack. Emily is so relatable to me, as the oldest sister, a teacher, a fiercely independent woman, and dealing with anxiety and depression. Adams writes about those potentially heavy topics, as well as grief and healing in such a respectful and realistic manner.
The relationship and it's evolution between Emily and Jack is full of tension, bickering, humor and eventually sweetness and it had me totally enraptured... In fact I read the book in one single sitting. I love that the series flows from one book to the next, following along with the previous books and expanding the stories found there, however the books can also be read as stand alone stories without confusion. I highly recommend reading them in order if you can... And I do highly recommend all 3 of them out so far!
Beg, Borrow, or Steal carries themes of grief, loss and healing; anxiety and depression; enemies to lovers; forced proximity; humor; sibling relationships and found family.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley

Sarah Adams' books are always an automatic read for me! I love her story telling and romantic spin! "Beg, Borrow, or Steal" was the perfect lighthearted read! I loved the unlikely romance, humor and romance throughout this story and just loved it!

4/5 Stars

“Beg, Borrow, or Steal” by Sarah Adams is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky. Emily, a secret romance novelist, accidentally emails a revealing message to the school principal and reluctantly teams up with her rival, Jack, to fix the mess. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry make for an engaging read, with plenty of humor and heart. While some plot points are predictable, the small-town charm and lovable characters more than make up for it. Fans of the When in Rome series will enjoy this sweet and funny romance!
Thank you so much for the ARC! 💖

The vibes for this book were immaculate! I adored this and will definitely be recommending to everyone I know. The narration was well done which is important for audiobooks as this can make or break a book. There were moments that made me want to cry and laugh but the overall romance was adorable. 4.5 stars

I was a little disappointed that the book too place in the summer and not during the school year while they were teaching, but it wasn't a huge deal. I understand why having the story take place during the summer made it easier for Emily and Jack to be together. It was also more about their writing careers than their teaching. I read this book very quickly. I loved the romantic tension, the humor, the serious parts, and the characters. This is the first book I have read in this series. I will definitely read the first two and probably the fourth when it comes out. It was very well written. I found the romantic parts to be sweet and spicy, but a tasteful kind of spicy....not the type that makes you want to cringe. I highly recommend this book, series, and author.

You have to love a good Rom Com and Sarah Adams did not disappoint! Love the banter between the two main characters!

First off I want to say a huge thank you to Sarah Adams and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC! Sarah you did it again. Your books are pure magic in their ability to balance small town charm, laugh out loud jokes (that legitimately had me cackling), discussing deep emotional trauma and exploring how to heal and move forward from it, and giving me all the swoon worthy romance I crave. You are an incredible writer!

Now let’s talk about Emily and Jackson (aka Jack and Goldie). These two are fierce rivals and have been since college after an unfortunate coffee incident. They have never shied away from honesty with one another and in a strange way learn that’s why they respect each other so much. After Jack moves away from Rome Kentucky to be with his fiancé they both realize that maybe there’s more to this magnetic feud than they originally thought. Wink wink.

The Rome, Kentucky town dynamics are in full play and the Mabel scenes are just perfection. Her foul mouth is my favorite 😂. There may be some initial sabotage on Emily’s part after Jack moves back to Rome that involves the whole town and it makes for some fantastic banter between the pair.

Without getting into too many spoilers the dynamic between Emily and Jack is electric. (Sarah if you are reading this, that blocking scene will live rent free in my mind for a while 😍🔥!) They have both experienced trauma in their past that has caused them hide pieces of themselves from the world. Together they begin to heal that darkness within themselves and it is absolutely beautiful. I loved how it wasn’t perfect from the get go. They had some hiccups as they processed their grief (Emily’s parents/grandma/ for her lost childhood) and (Jackson’s emotionally immature parents and narcissistic father). Learning to set boundaries with those you love and be true to your self not your role self (the mask you wear to protect others) were huge themes in this book. Both are very heavy and triggering topics but Sarah handled them with care, knowledge, and compassion. It was inspiring to see how these two evolved throughout the story.

Now let’s talk romance. 😏 The chemistry between Jack and Emily is fire! Their bantering adds a whole enemy to lovers vibe that I would never get tired of. I will say that there are times when some of the things Jack says are a so perfect that I’m like excuse me Ms Adams no man says that unless they are a fantasy man. But with that said, isn’t that one of the many reasons why we love these books?! I highlighted so many lines in this book that just stole my heart, but my favorite was, “Emily, I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.” Just 🤌🏻 The spice level in this book is about a 3 out of 5 for me. There are two explicit scenes. One is mostly describing what they want to do to each other. The other one is giving us the climax (pun intended) that us open door romance lovers want.

To conclude I loved this book. Practice Makes Perfect was a hard act to follow but Beg Borrow and Steal gave me all the feels and stole my heart. Plus we get more Will and Annie and Amelia and Noah! 🥳 (Tabasco pancakes?! 😂 iykyk) Thank you Sarah for another incredible book I can read again and again. You are so talented and the sweetest person in real life too!

I love everything Sarah writes! Already purchased ebook and paperback! Cant wait for her next book to come out. Thank you for this opportunity for a chance to read an advanced reader copy.

I anticipate this will be one of my favorite books of the year. This is the third book in the When in Rome series (thanks goodness we still have Maddie's book to look forward to) and, while I loved the first 2, this one was amazing! I think I just really related to Emily. And Jack might be my new favorite book boyfriend. Swipe for the synopsis.

I loved the character back stories and development. This is a rivals to lovers story that spans a decade. And they're both second grade teachers (it's summer break during the story). And we've got some forced proximity. And the slow burn steam. And the care they took with each other- even as rivals, they always respected and admired the other person's abilities. And they each had lovely growth arcs where they shared their vulnerabilities and supposered each other. And I laughed b/c Sarah Adams can write scenes that are both funny and tender. All I can say is read this one. I think it will read fine as a stand-alone if you haven't read the first two.

This book was an absolute masterpiece, earning a solid 5/5 stars. The story follows Emily Walker, an eldest sibling who struggles with feeling unlovable, and Jack Bennett, the swoon-worthy, emotionally mature man who proves her wrong. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is packed with banter, heartfelt moments, and deep emotional growth. Jack is the definition of a dream book boyfriend—attentive, selfless, and utterly in love with Emily. Emily, on the other hand, is a strong yet vulnerable heroine who just wants to be truly seen and loved. The pacing could have stretched the enemies phase longer, but overall, this book was pure perfection. The writing, the chemistry, and the emotional depth made it an unforgettable experience!

Sarah Adams is an auto-read for me and I loved getting to read the third installment of the When in Rome series!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was such a captivating read, with a true rivals to lovers trope. The banter between Emily and Jack is fantastic—quick, playful, and full of spark—yet, as their relationship progresses, both characters reveal the scars from their pasts, shedding light on the insecurities and fears that drive their actions. Their emotional growth is genuine, and the moments where they open up to each other about their respective upbringings add a rich, poignant layer to the story. It manages to balance its slow-burn romance with moments of deep emotional vulnerability.

The best part? There are no pointless conflicts or unnecessary drama. The communication between Emily and Jack is refreshingly mature—once they start peeling back the layers of their relationship, they do so with honesty and respect. This is a romance that understands that people aren’t perfect, but they can still find their way to each other through understanding and patience.

The slow burn of their relationship is executed beautifully. There’s an undeniable pull between them from the start, and watching them navigate their feelings—fueled by competition, curiosity, and a deepening respect for one another—is a joy to read. The tension builds steadily, but in a way that feels earned rather than forced, making their eventual moments of tenderness all the more satisfying.

If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers dynamics with great banter, emotional growth, and a romance that feels both sweet and genuine, this one is definitely worth adding to your to-read list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

This is the third installment for the series When in Rome.
This is a book for all the eldest daughters that need to step-up for their siblings, Eldest daughters that hide their feelings just to protect their siblings.
I love how easily i can finish this book. I love the cameos from other Walker siblings.
Emily and Jack's banter is so cute. The way they care to each other even they think they were rival school teachers.