Absolutely loved The Rival! Emma Lord is one of my autobuy authors and I have been so pleased with each and every book of hers!
One of the funniest, complex YA romances of hers with themes of family struggles, lgbtq rep, rivaling, friendship and developing relationship that felt so natural and honest.

This was such a cute young adult romance! I loved the rivals to lovers trope and how it played into the story. The college setting was a nice change of pace for me and I really enjoyed it.

Emma Lord is starting to be a bit hit or miss for me. I am not the intended audience, so that may play a part in it. This was cute, but it felt like it ran too long and wasn't anything special.

The Rival is adorable, fun, and full of heart, capturing the intensity of competition and the unexpected friendships that can come from it. The story follows two ambitious teens vying for the same coveted position, leading to plenty of banter, tension, and emotional growth. I loved how their dynamic evolved, shifting from rivalry to something much deeper, with great moments of self-discovery along the way.

That said, the story dragged a little in the middle, making it feel longer than necessary. While the characters are lovable and well-developed, a tighter pace would have made it even better.

Overall, it’s a charming, feel-good read with a mix of romance, ambition, and personal growth.

There are very few things in this world that I love more than a YA rivals-to-lovers story written by Emma Lord, and that's coming from someone who doesn't normally enjoy rivals-to-lovers. But from the moment I read Tweet Cute, I was hooked by Emma's creative and lighthearted banter, which made the characters feel like real people. She adds a layer of depth to these teenagers and decorates their personalities with humor and a love of sweet treats.

I had a tough time putting this book down once I began reading. I was desperate to find out how these two worked through their differences. Their romantic (and platonic) chemistry was there from the very beginning, but they also had quite a fraught history of pranks gone wrong and the more intense sabotage that followed.

The academic element was especially interesting to me. As someone who didn't attend a university, I'm always intrigued by school "politics" and operations. It was fun to see how the need for clubs and other social activities united the entire cast of characters. The moments with the jelly beans, the ABC party, and the giant "sporting" event were all so fun and unique.

I've read plenty of YA romances, especially enemies-to-lovers, and never read anything quite like this. It was so much fun, had me laughing aloud, and made me wish it would never end!

No one does YA romance and banter like Emma Lord. The collegiate setting of this book really added to the nostalgic quality it had for me. The characters were diverse with great representation that didn't feel like it was Lord checking a box. As usual, the development centers around the FMC's growth throughout the story, which I think works for her.

It read like a breath of fresh air

What a great story. I love Sadie and was rooting through the entire book for her. Deb was also a great character and I was rooting for him also. Christina was a great roommate to Sadie. I love the characters interactions. They were so relatable. The scenes were so well drawn I was right there every step of the story!

This was a great read that was unputdownable!

I want the thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Preas for this advanced reader copy. This is my honest opinion.

First: I love Emma Lord, & I really liked this book but please can we stop with the YA books set in college? It was cute & I enjoyed reading it but there was nothing about it that would have changed if it was placed in a private or boarding school.

A cute rom-com that follows Sadie and Sebastian "Seb" as they start their college lives as academic rivals (who are obviously in love with each other) and both try out for the school magazine. Overall, this book was a typical YA book where both characters are still trying to find out who they are, how to go about moving towards their future career, how to reveal their true feelings and true selves to their families, and tackle their feelings towards each other.

I DNF'd this book after about 13%. The enemies-to-lovers felt more like misunderstood-this-whole-time.

I love Emma lord! This book is another hit from Emma. A perfect YA story that is just too cute!

Seb and Sadie have been competing since they were little. Seb shows up at the college Sadie thought he wasn't getting into. It starts off running and their banter and competing doesn't newsbag the schools zine is light and funny.

College is hard and Sadie will learn some challenges along the way. This story involves families, friends and lovers. It's a sweet and heartwarming tale that feel just perfect for spring!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this arc i thoroughly enjoyed it!

Like always, if Emma Lord is writing it, I'll be there. This time with both the physical book and audio, for me to make sure I don't miss a moment!

The stand out treats of this book: Pancakes and cookies. Although there was a easy-to-make dorm food challenge as well that brought up a lot of interesting snacks!

Seb and Sadie have always known each other. Their families live next door to each other, and with parents who are best friends, they couldn't avoid each other. But when friendly pranks turn serious, it creates an academic rivalry that spurred them to even greater heights at school. When Sadie won the scholarship to Maple Ride, she thought this was finally her chance to thrive away from Seb.

Until she runs into him - literally, with a smoothie spill to cement the collision - when she's looking for the building that houses the school's magazine offices for "The Newsbag". It's been Sadie's dream for as long as she can remember, and when they learn that there's only one spot open, Sadie knows she'll pull out all the stops to take Seb down.

But being at college isn't everything she expected. Her best friend Christina is running herself into the ground with cross country practices. Sadie finds herself missing her family, but also feeling like she needs to keep her distance to finally be "the real Sadie" for once. And Seb... turns into maybe an ally, at least someone who knows what it's like to miss her family and feel adrift in their new school.

I loved the connection between Seb and Sadie, even when they thought they were competing ruthlessly. Their growth is great, finally getting to come into their own and not act how they feel they're expected to. The news articles they come up with keep them invested in the school, making Maple Ride come alive and not just be a background setting.

As for the audio, I thought Jessie Valinsky did a great job conveying how tightly wound Sadie could be, how much pressure she was putting on herself. A great listen or read, however you choose to pick this one up.

I love Emma Lord's characters. This is a sweet enemies-to-lovers romance between two former friends turned enemies.

Sadie and Seb are college freshmen, competing for a spot on the campus literary program, each have very valid reasons to need that spot but have grown apart too far to be in one another's confidence. Sadie and Seb both learn to be better friends to each other, their other friends, and to not make assumptions about what anyone else may be going through. There is a narrative in there somewhere about a campus scandal and their determination to bring it to light, but as with all Emma Lord tales the crux is the relationship between the characters and what they learn about themselves.

Emma Lord is such an incredible YA writer. The stories she creates are always so full of charm and sincere characters. I love a good rivals-to-lovers and this one didn't disappoint!

I love Emma Lord's books and this one did not disappoint. The writing was fresh, the characters were realistic and relatable, and the story was cute and fun. This is a definite buy for my HS library.

This one did not work for me, but because I am not fond of the enemies/rivals to lovers and miss communication tropes, although it really seemed very one sided from Sadie’s side. But good for her for finding herself.

4.5 Stars

Just like all of Emma Lord's books, this one hit the heart in the most perfect and cozy way. Emma adds depth to her stories with the perfect enemies-to-friends-to-lovers tropes, and The Rival is just as amazing as her previous stories.

Taking the plot to a college campus, full of young adults trying to figure out their place in the world while managing expectations and their own desires and feeling untethered for the first time was perfect for fans of YA, but wanting something a bit more high stakes. And the fact that our main characters really are the epitome of do we love each other, because our hate feels an awful lot like feelings? was *chef's kiss*.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and it is the perfect spring break read!

Lifelong academic rivals, Sadie and Seb, have spent years locked in a battle of wits and will. Sadie thinks she’s finally free of him in college—ready to reinvent herself—until he unexpectedly makes it off the waitlist and shows up on campus. Their competitive fire reignites as they both set their sights on the same coveted spot at the school’s zine, Newsbag, trading sharp banter and well-aimed zingers along the way.

But soon, their rivalry takes a backseat to a bigger issue: student-run organizations like Newsbag are struggling to stay funded while sports programs seem to have an endless cash flow. Suddenly, the two aren’t just competing for a position—they’re fighting to ensure the zine survives at all. Forced to work together, Sadie begins to realize that Seb is the one person who truly sees her, beyond the image she’s carefully curated for her boisterous family. He understands her humor, her love of writing, and the parts of herself she’s hidden for years.

The novel repeatedly underscores the pressures both Sadie and Seb face from their families—Sadie, expected to be the peacemaker, and Seb, expected to be the perfect student. And if you don’t catch this theme the first time, don’t worry—you’ll be reminded at least 50 more. Their so-called "rivalry" is also hammered home constantly, despite it being glaringly obvious to everyone (except them) that their animosity is fueled by something much deeper. When the story shifts focus to their slow-burn realization of feelings, Sadie’s personal growth, and the struggles of student-led organizations, it becomes far more engaging. Unfortunately, the forced antagonism and family dynamics start to feel repetitive and frustrating.

That said, the book shines in its side characters—like the lovable lesbian café owners, the Newsbag team, and Sadie’s roommate, Christina (to whom Sadie is, frankly, a terrible friend for much of the novel). While her self-actualization is central to the story, her selfishness makes it hard to root for her at times.

There are plenty of sweet and enjoyable moments here, but they’re sometimes weighed down by repetition and overused tropes. YA readers may find comfort in its exploration of parental expectations and the journey of self-discovery in college, but a little more nuance would have made this story truly stand out.

I loved this book. All of Emma Lord’s novels are delightful but I especially enjoyed The Rival. I liked the setting, with it being at college, as well as the main characters rivalry and chemistry. The Rival was a fun read, very sweet, and utterly charming.

A cute and easy YA read. These life long friends and enemies go off to college, with quirky characters and college activities. Fun, quick read!