While I didn't find anything particularly captivating in the story itself, the dialogue is crisp as autumn but, somehow, without diverting into pretentiousness.

Emma Lord’s The Rival is a fun, heartfelt dive into college journalism, full of classic tropes that bring the story to life! Following a driven protagonist who finds herself competing against her annoyingly charming rival, this book gives us a delightful mix of enemies/rivals-to-lovers, forced proximity, and slow-burn romance. The competitive energy on the college zine adds a unique twist, keeping the tension high and the banter even sharper.

The chemistry between the leads strikes a perfect balance between rivalry and vulnerability, making their journey from adversaries to something more genuine and satisfying; great relatable themes of ambition, friendship, and self-discovery. Perfect for fans of campus love stories with a touch of romance and all the tropey goodness!

This was such a cute YA book. I loved the setting of freshmen at uni and I thought the banter between them was so good! It was a laugh out loud kind of book for me, I have so many funny lines highlighted on my kindle.

Sadie and Seb are the endgame that everyone (especially their parents) always hopes for but they surely don't!
These two push each others buttons in all the right ways to make each other crazy---maybe even crazy for each other!
Sadie has always felt that Seb is out to steal her glory, so she does everything in her power to be sure that she can one up him. Having secured the one spot at the college of her dreams alongside her best friend, Sadie is ready for the rest of her life post-high school to begin. That is until she literally runs into Seb. Thus begins the typical will they--won't they that we all expect and love from Emma Lord.

When will I learn that an Emma Lord book requires treats and snacks?
Life is looking up for Sadie. She's shed her high school self and conflicts and is ready to take college on. Except she's running late on her first day of trying out for the infamous school zine and runs into the last person on earth she expected or wanted to show up on campus, her neighbor/nemesis/family friend, Seb. And worst of all? She has to compete with him. AGAIN.
This coming of age story and romance is exactly what I would expect out of Emma's pen. There is fantastic banter and a couple of MCs that you want to root for in all the ways. I really liked how Emma played with the families of Sadie and Seb, how distinctly different they showed their love and support but that it was there either way. Sadie is such a ball of hopes and dreams. The friendship between Cristina and Sadie shines so brightly and feels relatable in that growing up with and next to each other sort of way.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really wanted to love The Rival by Emma Lord. The framework was there but a lot fell through the cracks for me. I didn't understand the level of hatred between the two main characters, which really only seemed to be one-sided and unjustified. The big problem didn't seem to be that big of a problem, and I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters. Mostly a miss for me - I did enjoy the glimpses of side characters, like the best friend and siblings and wish we had seen more of the wacky family antics.

Rivals to lovers story. Sadie thinks she has finally escaped her lifelong rival and next door neighbor Seb. He was waited listed at the college she is attending when she runs into him in the way to the first meeting of Newsboy. Newsboy is the zine Sadie has wanted to write for since high school. It’s her dream but once again she finds she will be competing with Seb foe the coveted spot. This books follows her trials and tribulations of being away from home for the first time, managing family dynamics and competing for a position at her dream zine all while discovering that she has strong feelings for her rival. Once again Emma Lord has written a funny, smart love story. It’s a really cute book that captures what it’s like to be a first time college student. I definitely recommend this cook for fans of Emma and for YA rom com lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and st Martens press for allowing me to read this cute YA rom com in digital format prior to its release in exchange for honest review.

Emma Lord DOES NOT disappoint! I love her books. I think that college aged characters are my favorites from hers. I really liked The Rival, more than her last book.

3.5/5
Such an adorable romcom with the classic cliches and lovable characters! I love Emma Lord’s storytelling and how she develops her characters. The plot was fun and, though predictable, I had such a fun time reading this! Tweet Cute is still my favorite but this is also a pretty close second to me. Sadie and Seb were so good together and I loved that epilogue so much. There were a few things that felt rushed but I liked how the book touched on student life and the common struggles faced by college students as they’re adjusting to new environments!

This sadly felt very young and I had a hard time connecting with Sadie. I didn’t feel chemistry between her and Seb (awful nickname, for what it’s worth) and the family subplot was annoying (why was the younger sister so upset??). Overall, I didn’t feel the charm of Lord’s earlier books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a YA modern romance. I loved Sadie and Seb and was cheering for them and the slow burn romance. I didn't like the cursing and all the f bombs. Emma Lords books haven't always been filled with bad language.

Emma Lord continues her reign as the Queen of coming-of-age stories! I am consistently amazed by her ability to juggle large casts of characters, giving each of them well developed personalities and arcs. The rivalry and relationship between Sadie and Seb was everything, plus their banter was top notch.

I enjoyed how the Lord balanced light-hearted and comedic moments with more series issues like academic rigor, how colleges spend money, and everything that comes with entering adulthood and being away from family for the first time. There were so many topics covered, and I felt this story was very true to college experiences today. Betty was easily my favorite character and I could spend hours at a place like Pancake It or Leave It! A heartwarming and fun story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Lord. Does. It. Again.

It being a sweet and swoony, emotionally deep, unique, and character-driven YA story. I really enjoyed this one. Solid 4 ⭐️!

📖 The Details:
The Rival By Emma Lord
Enemies to Friends to Lovers | College Setting | Journalist Characters

⏱️ Quick Summary:
Sadie and Seb have always been childhood neighbors and rivals - but Sadie is finally getting a chance to be her own person and try out for the school zine at college. Until Seb shows up as a last minute freshman and also wants to work for the zine.

💁‍♀️ My Take:
On the surface, this is a light and sweet YA story of two kids who think they hate each other but are definitely going to fall in love. But then there's so much more. Throw in some interesting side characters, dramatic family dynamics, and a plot to save student-run orgs across campus - "good chaos" ensues. Plus pancakes. Lots of pancakes. I loved the development of the characters, while still acknowledging that they're 18 years old and learning how to do life. The main storyline (other than Sadie and Seb) about the zine/student-run orgs funding vs. athletics funding was interesting and probably relevant to a lot of real-life college campuses - worth thinking about! Would recommend for sure!

College freshman Sadie is thrilled to be at her dream college with her best friend and much needed break from chaotic family. She has big plans including writing for the school news publication. Enter Seb, her life-long rival yet again pushing her to extremes by joining her college and competing for the same position!

I really enjoyed this book. Sadie and Seb had a lot of chemistry and I laughed out loud at their antics quite a few times. The book also gave us some family drama and an epic battle to do what's right.

I stick by reading everything Emma Lord writes!

Super cute storyline with a few surprising twists. I felt like Seb’s queer storyline wasn’t fully developed and just mentioned occasionally though, and I’d love to have seen that a little more despite understanding why it wasn’t. Overall, a very easy and fun read!

Emma Lord reigns as the queen of sweet YA romcoms! She has created another adorable enemies-to-lovers and opposites-attract love story set in college, where rivals compete for the college newspaper's staff writing position while uncovering administrative secrets. The plot is well-executed, and Sebastian and Sadie are lovable characters from the start, despite their differences. Their palpable attraction and forced proximity since childhood make reading their story a delight.

The story begins on Sadie's first day at Maple Ridge College, as she rushes across campus to her first meeting at the Newsbag to meet the editorial staff. However, disaster strikes when she collides with someone carrying a large smoothie, staining her entire dress. That someone turns out to be Seb Adams, her high school nemesis and biggest rival – the same boy she's had to endure for years because their families are best friends who do everything together, including Sunday confetti-sprinkled pancake breakfasts.

By choosing Maple Ridge, Sadie thought she could escape her loud, expressive, extensive family dramas and leave her arch-nemesis behind, who was supposed to attend a different university for an engineering program. But fate has other plans – Seb is no longer waitlisted at Maple Ridge. Not only is he attending the same college, but he's also competing with her for the staff writer position at the Newsbag.

Sadie curses her luck as she faces competing with him on three assignments. With his charm, Seb already begins attracting large social circles, just like in high school. Meanwhile, Sadie harbors a dream of comedy writing, having secretly written columns under a pseudonym throughout high school alongside her position as school newspaper editor. She must channel her inner sarcastic voice to focus on her tasks, but her complex love-hate feelings for Seb break her concentration. To complicate matters further, they discover corruption in the school system and must reveal the truth, potentially risking their futures for the greater good of all students. Can they trust each other enough to team up? Of course! But can they trust each other with their hearts? Well, that's a trickier question!

Overall: This is an entertaining, incredibly cute, and heartwarming read you shouldn't miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this sweet romance's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Fans of Emma Lord will not be disappointed in this enemies-to-lovers romance. As with all of Lord’s books, our characters are so well fleshed out that their struggles and quirks make them incredibly relatable, with immense heart. You’ll be rooting for these two from page 1.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a sweet YA rom-com with about as much spice as a bell pepper. Don’t let that deter you from this slow burn, nostalgic coming of age story. Seb and Sadie are adorable and I had a smile on my face as I read about their shenanigans. I love a slow burn but this did read a little toooo slow at times. The story kept me entertained but I can see how it might seem a little too young for others.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc.
Publish date: Jan. 21, 2025

Sometimes you just need a good YA romance and this was it!! It was so cute and sweet. Emma is a great author overall so if you’re looking for something sweet to read, this is your book!

This was such a cute read! I loved the academic rivals/childhood best friend plot line in a college setting. I love the politics throughout the book which can happen in today’s colleges. The slow burn romance was very cute I loved it. The banter between characters was so good and made me smile and laugh multiple times. It was a great YA romance!