If you are looking for a YA rom-com that is heartwarming, funny, and adorable, then check out The Rivals by Emma Lord.

In this rivals-to lovers story, we follow Sadie and Seb, who went from being childhood best friends to academic rivals since childhood. Sadie thought she was rid of the competition when she got into her dream college only for Seb to show up on day 1. Now thrust back into competing for the coveted spot on the school paper, Sadie starts to realize that crushing Seb may have meant she was crushing Seb all along in a different way.

The story is both entertaining and funny with great characters. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and wish we could have explored Seb's perspective as well. Overall, this is a cute, fun read that will have you smiling and wishing you wrote for your school paper.

Happy Reading!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc and the alc.

This was another delicious and delightful novel by Emma Lord. I really enjoyed it. I loved the relationship and banter between Sadie and Seb. The only thing I didn't necessarily love about this book is that the chapters were quite long, and this caused me to lose interest in the story at times.
For the audiobook, Jesse Vilinsky did a fantastic job as always with the audiobook narration.

Thank you to Net Galley for the early copy of Yhe Rival, Emma Lord’s latest YA romance. Sadie and Seb have been friends (and rivals!) since childhood, but Sadie thinks she has escaped the rat race—-until Seb shows up at her elite college, having been removed from the wait list at the last minute. They both find themselves in a competition to win a coveted writer position on the school magazine. As Emma Lord’s books always do, there is a slight magical, fantasy element revolving around the power of food (pancakes this time!) and the circumstances of college begin to bring down the barriers between the two rivals. This was a sweet story, sometimes a little predictable or conversely, unbelievable. But as a parent of a soon to be college freshman, it was fun to delve into this collegiate world through The Rivals!

The Rival is Emma Lord’s latest YA romance, a genre she was made to write. Her voice is authentic and thoughtful and her characters grow and learn through their experiences which we really enjoy.

Sadie and Seb can’t escape their lifelong rivalry as they are once again competing for a spot on the university’s famous “zine”. (Is that what people are calling magazines these days?) Seb wasn’t supposed to be here but when he’s admitted off the waitlist, Sadie must come to terms with more Seb in her life.


What we liked most about their relationship was that it was based in friendship even if the rivalry took over. They fuelled each other’s need to succeed and achieve and they ended up being each other’s safe space. While the story was heavy on academics and the zine, the major theme was growing into your own and being your authentic self. They ended up being a cute couple we want more of!

Read if you like:
▪️Rivals to lovers
▪️Childhood friends
▪️Will they or won’t they vibes
▪️College setting
▪️Coming of age

Thank you to Wednesday books for a gifted physical copy and the e-arc of this book!

I enjoyed this one a lot, as it has some of my favorite tropes (enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract and forced proximity) in an adorable YA package. This was sweet, heartwarming and had references to Wicked I adored!

The supporting characters were amazing and interesting (I would love to taste Betty's pancakes) and the plot moved forward at a steady pace, and I found myself rooting for these students to get their funding. I loved the college setting and the journalism aspects of the story, though maybe not entirely accurate made for an interesting read nonetheless!

This one's a slow burn (and sweet, there's only a bit of kissing) but that tension and that will-they-won't-they kept me turning the pages, as I loved Seb and Sadie's chemistry and childhood friends to rivals to lovers arc.

Read if you enjoy YA romcoms with interesting family dynamics, a mental health subplot, and a satisfying slow burn!

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - November 23, 2024
Publication Date - January 21, 2025

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @dilemmalord, @stmartinspress, @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley!

The Rival has good messages about the right thing not always being the easy thing to do and I liked how there was some emphasis on social justice. I could relate to different characters in so many different ways, which made me feel more invested in the story. I also thought the sibling dynamics were pretty interesting to read about and if you went to college, you may be able to relate to some things. I love how well the main characters know each other and I found that rivals was a nice change from enemies to lovers. Even though it's a new adult book because the main characters are in college, it might appeal more to people who prefer the writing style in younger YA books. There was a lot of cat and mouse going on, which made me feel connected to the secondary characters because it felt like they were saying things I was thinking. My only question is, where can I find a Betty? Overall, this is a cute book and now I'm off to make some pancakes with sprinkles!

If you like new adult college romances with rivals and love triangles, you should try The Rival!

Get excited to read The Rival, available January 21! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

Before this, I’d read four of Emma Lord’s books and loved them all. So, although I try to go in with no expectations, I’ve come to expect a certain je ne sais quoi that makes up her stories. Early in this book, I thought the plot was fun, but I wasn’t sure if the story was going to have the same emotional punch that her other books have. I was so very wrong. So very sorry I ever doubted her. Emma Lord is a genius at writing connection and falling in love, not only with people but with life. She never misses.

I love love, so this book had me cheesing and grinning so many times. There’s nothing better than two people realizing they actually don’t hate each other. That they might actually like each other, or even more. Seb and Sadie were not for the faint of heart, but they truly understood each other in a way no one understood them.

And while the romance was a great aspect of the book, the heart of the story was about Sadie’s growth from the old Sadie to the new Sadie and figuring out if she could be her true self around everyone. It felt poignant for people who share bits and pieces of themselves with those closest to them because they’re too scared to show themselves in their full glory and be rejected. So, while this book was about a freshman in college trying to follow her dreams while also competing against her rival, I think it’s relevant for those in and out of school.

The character Betty was one of the highlights of the book and made me want pancakes so badly that I had to make my own (without the sprinkles because ew). The setting also brought back all those memories of starting college and figuring out what independence looked like and what passions called.

Overall, this is the book for you if you want to laugh as much as you want to swoon. If you want to see imperfect people and their imperfect friends take on a university. If you want to see pancakes have the power to unite.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Thank you Wednesday Books St. Martin's Press for the #gifted book e-book via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

On the outside, Sadie has a well-defined facade of a responsible, high-achieving, peace-making student who has a friendly competition going with her lifelong next door neighbor, Seb. But secretly Sadie has a snarky, comedic alter-ego that she's been hiding from everyone, AND she secretly resents Seb and couldn't be happier to have made it into her dream college and escaped Seb. Until the first day of classes, when she finds out Seb made it in too and they are in competition again for the one thing she's been working toward since childhood: writing for the school's famous zine. But now she and Seb's competition is morphing into something else, and as they learn more about the school and it's zine, they may end up having to work together to save it all.

I love Emma Lord's writing, and The Rival is no exception! She has such a way of telling a cute and funny love story that has hidden depths. Sadie's not the only one to make it to college and try to reinvent who she is along more authentic lines. So many of us leave the pigeon-holed life of high school and blossom at the chance to figure out who we really are. Her escape is multi-layered, as her role in her family has also stymied her growth and presented mental health challenges of its own (all of which are dealt with in a healthy way, as I've come to expect from Lord!) The romance is great too: while competitive Sadie and Seb have really good zingers, the slow-burn between them has me all, "Kiss already!" And I appreciated the LGBTQ+ positivity! Definitely worth the read, especially in troublesome times.

Emma Lord writes stories about people on the brink of a big transition so well, especially students finding their footing in college and life, and this novel is no exception. We meet Sadie in her first week of college, on her way to the interest meeting for the student zine she's been dreaming of since elementary school, the one with one single coveted slot for staff writer open for first-year students. She thinks she's about to remake herself, set herself free from all the restrictions she felt in high school (grades, reputation, especially her endless role as family peacekeeper). Except that just outside the meeting she collides with her past, Seb, her cutthroat rival from high school (as well as forever family friend), and that goes as well as might be expected, especially since he's carrying a smoothie. I did feel like this one was a little overdetermined in terms of plot, and a little too tightly focused on Sadie and Seb and their will-they-won't-they relationship, and I missed spending as much time with Sadie's other friends and family members (Lord also writes the sudden magic of college friendships very well). This has however excellent student organizations, a need to organize and commit "good chaos," and a really interesting dive into the delight and agony of reconsidering your place in your family. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my free earc in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within this book. This main character was Sadie.

Sadie is off to college. She wants to be a writer. All her life, she been competing against her next-door neighbor. She is hoping that he doesn't follow her to the same college.

This was a fun story to read. It had me giggling a lot throughout it. It had action, adventure, and drama throughout.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I ADORED THIS BOOK! This was what I expected from an Emma Lord new adult romance: cute and quirky, with a little cussing and some big time flirting.

What I loved about it:
1. I loved the childhood enemies to lovers, always-having-to-one-up-each-other-so-they-brought-out-the-best-in-one-another relationship Sadie and Seb had! It was so fun to watch their jabs at each other, as well as the different relationships they played amongst different groups of people (ie they acted a certain way in front of parents, in front of teachers, etc). They had this inherent system of just knowing which characters they were going to play together at any given time, not really realizing that this was because they knew the core of each other in such a deep and meaningful way.

2. I loved the campus activities! Lugging a microwave from your dorm room for a campus organizations food war, alphabet parties where you dress as something and eat food/drinks that all start with the same letter, and mysterious jelly beans you should never, ever trust were just some of the antics we saw throughout the book. These activities added to the overall college atmosphere of the book. It had me wishing I went to school with them!

3. I loved the premise of saving the campus newspaper and dealing with administrative funding issues, especially with my history at a college run radio station where we definitely had one of the least amounts of funding and were always the ones cut. It really hit close to home, and I always root for an underdog so this was perfect.

4. Finally, I loved the overarching theme that no one is ready for life after high school and that everyone is still finding themselves. Hell, it took well past college for me to find myself, so I’m glad to see this message represented.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and Emma Lord for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.

4.25 stars!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

This is such a perfect read for fans of academia romance and enemies to lovers. The books overachiever and ambitious Sadie who starts college with the joy of having left her nemesis behind only for him to get off the waitlist. Witty ,banter filled ,lovable characters and fast paced.

Oh to be in college and have a beloved pancake restaurant! I love Emma Lord and The Rival is now a contender for my top favorites of hers.

Emma Lord has once again delivered a sweet young adult romance with fun characters and a great found family feel. I enjoyed the main characters, especially the banter between them. Their romance was believable, and I rooted for them the whole time, but I think the side characters steal the show.

Betty was such a great character. Every page she was on was perfection. The pancake breakfast scenes were my favorite of the book. Not only is Betty hilarious, but there is a lot of romantic development between the leads during these scenes.

The college setting was well-written and brought the story to life. The Alphabet parties and the dorm food competitions kept me thoroughly entertained. The themes of loneliness on campus were relatable for the target audience and those of us who have felt lonely in new settings. I was very invested in the campus corruption subplot.

Perfect for fans of clean romances, sweet college couples, found family, and LGBTQIA+ representation.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Wednesday Books and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own. Jesse Vilinsky’s narration was fantastic.

I’m a big fan of Emma Lord’s YA romance. This was not my favorite of her books, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sadie thinks she’s made it by getting into the college of her choice and by beating out her high school rival, Sebastian, until he shows up on campus. He’s also going out for the same student organization/publication. Their competition continues as they compete for the one open spot.

I loved their rivalry. They’ve known each other their whole lives so their banter and barbs back and forth were hilarious. I also them working on their articles and seeing this part of journalism. I also really loved how they leaned on each other their first semester away from home. Their rivalry/friendship slowly becomes more. I loved seeing this and how they leaned into each other.

I’m always happy for more books from Emma Lord.

Sadie and Seb have known each other since birth and although they used to be best friends, a prank gone bad led to the breakdown of their friendship. Ever since they have spent the majority of their adolescence subtly attempting to sabotage each other academically.

Sadie is finally at her dream school and ready for a fresh start, but to her shock Seb is also admitted after initially being wait-listed. Sadie is not happy, especially since she will be competing against him for a spot on their college’s famous zine.

Despite their famous rivalry Sadie and Seb join forces in the midst of their competition when they realize there are bigger issues at hand. While working together Sadie and Seb are reminded that they truly know each other better than anyone else, and the feelings they have worked hard to suppress begin to resurface.

The Rival was a sweet and surprisingly emotional story about childhood friends turned rivals turned more and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I didn’t dislike this book, but it was missing that distinctive Emma Lord Charm.

It was easy to read because Lord writes chemistry well, but all the tropes felt tired and done to death. I’ve seen rivals to lovers done much better (actually by Lord herself) and this book just felt a little unnecessary. It didn’t feel like it really commited to anyone’s growth and the conflict was anticlimactic and odd.

Not my favorite Emma Lord. It makes me wonder if she’s lost her enjoyment for writing YA and that this might signal a full transition into adult romcoms.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

📚: The Rival by Emma Lord
⭐️: 2.5/5 (rounding up on #goodreads)

A YA rivals-to-romance college campus story with Sadie. After competing against her former best friend, Seb, throughout elementary, middle, and high school, she’s thrilled to land at her dream college to forge her own path. And then she, literally, runs into Seb while crossing the street.

I typically enjoy YA reads - and Emma Lord’s books - but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. The characters felt juvenile, the plot felt superficial. Honestly, the pancakes were my favorite part to read about. (IYKYK.)

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Rival is out on January 21st.

Another Emma Lord YA novel that will make you laugh, tear up and incredibly hungry! I really enjoyed The Rival! The frenemies to lovers was done so well and from the first page, you’ll be rooting for Sadie and Seb to just kiss already! I really loved the Newsbag crew and also seeing all the other fun student organizations like the Foodie Club and the Jelly Bean group. The humor in this book was fantastic and it definitely reminded me of how zany and sometimes overwhelming college life can be, especially for freshmen! I also liked the look at family dynamics and expectations for both Sadie and Seb. I highly recommend this one for fans of Lord’s other YA novels and also those who enjoy silly antics, crazy food pairings and a very cute love story! I also recommend you read this while eating a giant stack of pancakes. You’ll thank me later!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced digital readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

My biggest issue was that there really wasn't a rivalry between these two. The childhood friends to lovers aspect didn't feel satisfying and their relationship needed to be developed earlier, with more showing than telling in order to be effective. Unfortunately this is one of those cases where it felt like the tropes came first and the story came second.