I'm so incredibly thankful that I could read this book early! This might be my favorite book by Sarah Adams thus far! I have enjoyed this interconnected universe that Sarah Adams has created and that love for this universe grew after reading 'Beg, Borrow, or Steal'. I absolutely adored Jack and Emily and their realistic chemistry! I love how Sarah Adams can blend serious, realistic themes with humor and romance! I feel that it adds more substance to a book that one could label as just a "rom-com".

Sarah Adams has created a family and community of characters that are so easy to love. The When in Rome series is so fun, each new story adds to the special place in our hearts for this town. Watching Emily and Jack cross that thin line between love and hate, rivalry and partnership was good good fun. The idea that maybe all those years of bickering and rivalry were really just them deeply relating to each other was wonderful to explore with them and their loved ones. I love that the years of competition have been redirected into such a wonderful foundation for the love and support they have given themselves room to cultivate. I can't wait for the final installment.

5 STARS!

"Beg, Borrow or Steal" is my absolute favorite Sarah Adams novel, and they are all fantastic, so that's saying something. My god, this book is SO GOOD. It is a total delight, the perfect balance of sweet, soft, and serious. Emily and Jack FOREVER. What a wonderful couple, two perfect characters who acknowledge their flaws and work towards changing them. Sarah Adams does banter extraordinarily well, and this is no exception. The way Adams peels back Jack and Emily's layers to show how deep and how long their feelings for one another went... I was like a little kid kicking my heels on my bed while reading this story. I never, EVER wanted this book to end. The "When in Rome" series is incredible, and if this is the last installment, Adams ended it on the perfect, best note she could have. Absolutely fantastic stuff here all around. Wonderful pacing, it's not too long, super easy to read (even as a standalone!), terrific character arcs for relatable people, spectacular secondary characters, and a brilliant commentary on familial trauma, finding a new found family, and finding your real true place in life. You're going to want to read this as soon as possible. Sarah Adams, you never cease to amaze me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I loved the "Stars Hollow" vibe of the town in this book. The MMC was not really my "vibe" so I had hard time feeling the attraction level. I did however love the banter between the two main characters. The grumpy sunshine and enemies to lovers was well done. Sarah Adams has a magic way of writing that just brings a smile to my face with every one of her books.

4.5⭐️

I am the biggest fan of Sarah and the When in Rome series, and this book was just absolutely delightful! The tension, banter, and pining between Jack and Emily were so amazing and had me grinning at my kindle through the entire book!!

As a girlie with sharp edges who can be hard to love, man did I feel seen with this story. I feel like Sarah wrote Emily just for me and I felt so connected to her 🫶🏻

If you haven’t read this series yet, I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you to Sarah, Dell Romance, & NetGalley for an early copy of this one!

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rome, Kentucky strikes again and deng it Sarah Adams, why is your writing so fabulous?! Lots of banter. The motorcycle scene (that I cannot condone in real life, but j’adore in fiction). A super easy read for when you need one that will leave you with a smile!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I absolutely loved Beg, Borrow, or Steal. This book is the perfect blend of heartwarming romance and humor. The found family dynamic is so well done, and every character has a great personality. The banter between them had me grinning throughout, and the slow-burn romance kept me hooked from start to finish.

Sarah Adams has truly crafted something special here. There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud, and others that touched me on a deeper level. One of the chapters for me was when Emily describes struggling to get out of bed, a feeling I could deeply relate to. After a difficult 2024, where I had my own struggles with getting through the day, moments like these feel so validating. The thoughtful and respectful way mental health is addressed in this book makes such a difference, and I really appreciate that Sarah Adams included this layer of authenticity in her writing.

I’ll definitely be picking up more of her work in the future! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishing team for providing me with this ARC—I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.

If Sarah Adams writes it, I'm buying it and immediately shouting about it from the rooftops!

Emily is a people pleaser type A perfectionist, drop everything for whatever her siblings need sister. She's the teacher where anyone can walk into her classroom and be astounded with the classroom management style. But she's more than just that, she's an aspiring write who just sent her romance manuscript to her tight knit principal. Needing some help, she has no choice but to ask rival Jack to help her.

Jack left Rome, Kentucky to marry his fiancee but never said goodbye to Emily. He's now back, moving in next door to Emily and getting his job back. He's the most recent talk of the town, with everyone shunning him based on what the town sweetheart wants. Jack can't help his feelings for Emily though, vowing to help her with her dream of becoming an author. Especially because he is holding onto a writing secret of his own.

Sarah Adams spoke to my heart in Beg, Borrow, or Steal. The amount of highlights I made while reading this book was unheard of and the amount of almost tears I shed... priceless. This novel is a love letter to those who put their heart out on the line to protect everyone but then forget about themselves in the aftermath. It's shedding light on how compassionate and caring teachers truly are. It's a novel that is now a comfort read for me.

In her acknowledgments, Sarah Adams hoped this book brought the reader joy. I can shout it from the roof tops that YES it did. I love getting lost in another cozy Rome novel, with this lovely family. This story follows the eldest sister, Emily. In true eldest daughter fashion, Emily is the one who is always keeping it together. She holds in all of her feelings and puts on a smile, when deep down she is hurting. Her sister left town, her other sister is in love, her brother is married. All Emily has is her nemesis surprisingly coming back to town, conveniently right next door. Your classic enemies to lovers, I was absolutely giddy over Emily and Jacks rivalry, banter, and despite all of that, th love that you watch grow. Jack is truly a special book boyfriend, and Emily is a strong and funny MC. Next up I hope we get to hear about Maddie (and James’?) love story :):):)

I love this series, and I didn't realize I needed a rivals to lover book. I needed a light hearted rom-com, which Sarah Adams always provides. Bring back rom-coms!!

Wow it feels lovely to be back in Rome, Kentucky. 🥹 This is the third instalment in the When in Rome series. It is an interconnected series but can be read as a standalone 💖

The story centers around Jack and Emma who have been rivals since their first not-so-meet-cute in college. I feel like this is a true rivals to lovers trope, done SO SO WELL!! Reunited in the same town after Jack spent time away, their chemistry was unmatched and the banter between the two of them was perfection.

Sarah packed this book full of depth and while she touched on some emotional topics, it was well matched and balanced with the more lighthearted and swoonworthy sections.

I could not get enough of this book - I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet and giggled at these two. I felt it was reminiscent of early 2000s rom-com movies and as an older sister myself, I found Emily and her struggles extremely relatable which made her character and story a joy to read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out now, will forever recommend

**Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC and the chance to read and review. All opinions expressed are my own**

I love this series! Such a fun story about Emily and Jack. I love the way Jack is there for Emily and pursues her even though she is trying to push him away. I adored that they were teachers. They have a shared mission to get back Emily’s book that she accidentally send to the principal meanwhile Jack is dealing with family drama and keeping a big secret. I received the ARC for NetGalley for my review.

I really enjoyed this! I was worried because it had shades of insta-love in the initial chapters, but the romance itself was very well-paced. I'm definitely going to read the other books in this series now––this was my first Sarah Adams book, and I'm super intrigued! Thank you to the publisher for access to this galley!

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book! I would highly recommend it!

I can't NOT read everything that Sarah writes! Beg, Borrow or Steal is no exception!
I think many of us can agree that we needed to know more about Emily...her character seemed to be painted differently in other books in the series. THIS DID NOT DISAPPOINT!! The storyline was well-written and dare I say, I like Emily the most out of the 3 sisters! Even though this is a true ETL plot, Sarah Adams takes us on a game of cat and mouse that plays with our emotions in the best way possible.

I loved reading this book but feel like the title could have been more reflective of the storyline.
The characters were written so life-like that I felt like there were cameras in my home as I identified with the main characters and found myself laughing whenever she said something that sounded like it came from my mouth. Cheers for a prickly female character that still gets her happily ever after! I strongly identified with her response to rejection by closing herself off and have only recently identified that trait in myself so reading about it was affirming and a comfort that everything will be okay. The competitiveness between the characters was humorous and believable; seemed like it really could have happened. I love reading Sarah Adams books because her style is so relatable and never forced. Looking forward to the next one!

How is Sarah Adams so perfect at writing relationships!? Emily and Jack are just perfect for each other. They have the best banter and chemistry. I found myself kicking my feet and giggling many times. I also love getting a continuation of Noah and Anna’s stories.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dell romance for this ARC!

This was a fun book. I love Sarah Adams. I first discovered her during The Cheat Sheet and had a really great time. However, the When in Rome series hasn’t been my favorite but out of all of the books this definitely has been the most enjoyable of that series. The dynamic of the siblings is great to read. And the banter between Emily and Jack was hilarious.

As expected, Sarah Adams has done it again! Beg, Borrow or Steal is everything I love about the When in Rome series—charming small town, heartfelt, and full of laugh-out-loud moments.

Emily and Jack’s banter was the highlight for me. Their back-and-forth had just the right mix of tension and humor, making every interaction so fun to read. And while the teacher rivalry was more off-page (thanks to summer break), their history through college and teaching still brought plenty of tension and energy to the story.

The small-town vibes were as cozy as ever, and I loved the touching moments with the Walker siblings. A highlight for me was Jack and Mabel’s hilarious conversation during his stay at the inn—it had me giggling nonstop! Those little moments are what make this series feel so special.

If you’re looking for a book that will leave you smiling, swooning, and completely invested in these characters, this is it. I adored every page! That said, I do wish we had gotten more of Emily and Jack’s text and email exchanges (both sent and unsent—I loved those!). There were also moments when the small-town charm slowed the timeline down just a bit, though it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. And while I was happy with the ending, I found myself wanting more closure when it came to Emily’s book and Jack’s relationship with his mother.

If I had one small gripe, it would be the title—I think it’s super cute, but it didn’t quite fit the story the way I expected. That said, the book itself was just as charming and fun as I hoped!

Overall, this was another winner from Sarah Adams, and I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next!

Easily my favorite book in Sarah Adams’ “When in Rome” series! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this story, two second grade teachers (and authors) fall in love after overcoming their tumultuous past. It is told in alternating past and present timelines. (And there are emails!!!)

The author tackles topics of grief, perfectionism, narcissism, depression, and more. Each topic is handled with care and compassion while adding a lot of depth to this cute rom com.

The small town, found family vibes are so strong in this book. And the sexual tension between Jack and Emily was UNREAL!!

This will be very easy to recommend. It has Sarah Adams’ usual charm and witty banter, while simultaneously feeling new and different from her other books. It can be read as a standalone (important characters/ plots from previous books are briefly explained). And, the spice scenes are mentioned in the beginning, so readers can choose whether they want the book to be open or closed door.