Gosh, I just love Sarah Adam’s lovely world of Rome, Kentucky. This was a great time, the chemistry is on point and the leads were fantastic for each other. Can’t wait for the next installment!

I’m obsessed with this series. I love a good enemies to lovers and I loved being back in the world of Rome, Kentucky. Emily and Jack fight to overcome their expectations of themselves while trying (not really) not to fall in love. This is a book for the romance book lovers and those who love books about writers.

I absolutely cried while watching Emily find her own path rather than trying to make things perfect so she can hold her family together. Jack was so patient with her despite having his own family issues weighing him down. This is for the dreamers, the people pleasers, and the ones who aren’t afraid to fight for their dreams.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the book for review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was the first book I got approved to read on Net Galley, and I’m appreciative of the opportunity to review this book from one of my favorite authors! I’ve enjoyed the Rome Kentucky series from Adams and reading about the journey of each of these characters. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is centered on Emily Walker and Jack Bennett, both elementary school teachers who have been rivals since college. Jack returns after ending his engagement to his ex-fiancee Zoe. Emily is surprised not only that he is back in Rome, but also that he is her next door neighbor. Throughout the novel, we see their strong chemistry and banter not only in the present day scenes but also in the flashbacks.

I enjoyed reading about the growth of both characters over the course of the novel and their support for each other as they each go through their respective journeys as authors, as individuals, and eventually as a couple.

Emily is a new author of a romance novel. One evening she accidentally sends her manuscript to the principal of her school rather than a literary agent. She looks to Jack for help about getting her manuscript back. He agrees to help her to try to get the manuscript back.

The eldest Walker sibling, Emily is processing a lot of change in her life. He brother Noah and sister-in-law Amelia (When in Rome) are about to leave for Amelia’s concert tour; her youngest sister Annie (Practice Makes Perfect) has moved in with her boyfriend Will; her sister Maddie is trying to navigate NYC and culinary school, realizing that she isn’t as happy as she thought she would be. Emily is a protective oldest sister who is also a perfectionist.

Jack is a successful mystery author, writing under a pseudonym. He does not disclose his identity since his father is also a successful author and has narcissistic behavior.

Jack’s vulnerability and self-awareness is present throughout the novel. He knows there are things to work on and he is ready to work on them.

Structuring the dual POV allows the reader to understand better both characters’ experiences. As Emily and Jack begin to admit their feelings to one another, they also both acknowledge that growth is not linear and that they always will be honest with one another.

‘I always tell you the truth. That’s our thing right? For good or bad, it’s nothing but the truth.’

Having also read the two preceding novels, Mabel is one of my favorite characters in the series. She not only is there for the Walker siblings, but also for their partners. Her advice is direct and comes from a place of support. She also brings comedic moments to the series. She helps the Walker Siblings partners feel that they too belong in Rome and are part of the community.

I’ve both read the ebook and listened to the audiobook of this series. The performances in the audiobook for Beg, Borrow, or Steal from Brittany Pressley and Nelson Hobbs are well done. This was the first audiobook I listened to with Nelson Hobbs as a narrator, and I thought he did a great job showing Jacks’ vulnerability. Brittany Pressley also showed Emily’s growth over the course of the novel. I enjoyed the duet structure of the audiobook in the emails and text message chapters as well.

I look forward to the fourth novel In Your Dreams - already pre-ordered!

Published on 6 July, my reviews will be available on Instagram, Amazon, BookBub, and Goodreads (both at Cait’s Reading Nook). I’ll be publishing in July a more detailed review of the Rome, Kentucky series on my Substack at Cait’s Reading Nook.

Reviews for the Rome, Kentucky series will be published as part of a series of upcoming episodes with my co-host on The RomCom Roundtable where we review the book as well as the Audrey Hepburn film that inspired the novel. Our podcast is available on Spotify and Apple at The RomCom Roundtable. The podcast review of Beg, Borrow, or Steal, will accompany a review of How to Steal A Million (1966), starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole.

Emily and Jack are rivals, everywhere Emily turns, Jack is there too. From their first introduction she has been at her wits ends with him. It seemed like she was ready for some type of peace when he moved away, but not long after he was back. Rome, Kentucky is a small town, and that means there was no escaping him, especially when it turns out that he's her new neighbor. Their rivalry continues, but slowly becomes a sort of friendship, and eventually tiptoes the line of more.
I loved Emily and Jack's story. The banter, the rivalry, the slow burn. I was surprised just how easily I fell into it. I love an enemies to lovers, but an enemies turned friends turned lovers might just be my favorite. There was a depth to their story that I didn't expect and it made it so easy to fall in love with the characters. Jack and how he fell for Emily and was patient with her as she worked through her emotions. Emily as she realized how much more there was to Jack. I will revisit this story for a long time and wish I could visit Rome, Kentucky myself and get roped into their newest drama.

I am typically a big fan of Sarah Adams (especially The Rule Book), but unfortunately this book wasn’t for me, and that’s okay! I was looking for a little more emotional depth and felt like I needed the characters’ love story to be more fleshed out. To do enemies-to-lovers well, there needs to be a bit more character development; in this book, I felt like the two leads went from hating to loving each other rather quickly. The story does have Sarah’s trademark warmth and witty banter, but I felt like it was disjointed a bit from the two characters. I will wait for Sarah’s next release and give that a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This delightful rom-com was just what I needed to kick off summer! The characters were easy to root for and it was a quick read for me. This one is perfect for any road trip or day lounging by the pool!

This book was a perfect continuation of the Series. Sarah Adams does it again!! Her characters held so much depth. Our character Emily was relatable from the start as an older sister and her experiences and thoughts were those that I have personally shared before. She was a character with so much dimension by the end of the story I felt I knew her just as much as Adams herself. Jack, our love interest was a man with a lot of depth as well and I enjoyed seeing them together. This story is perfect, as the characters can stand alone aside from the romance.

Thank you to @Netgalley for the ARC of Beg, Borrow or Steal by Sarah Adams. All opinions are my own. Yes, I read this before publish date but then our whole family of five got sick. I’m catching up! #OldButNewReview ! I remember at the time thinking that all I wanted to write in a review was “I LOVE THIS BOOK”.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the When in Rome series. When in Rome (book 1) stars Amelia and Noah, Practice Makes Perfect (book 2) follows Noah’s little sister Annie with Will, and this one lets us get to know Emily, Noah and Annie’s sister, who always seemed a bit cantankerous to me. How will Adams write an enjoyable book centered around her? Well, she did, and I LOVE THIS BOOK.

Emily’s archnemesis and sparring partner, Jack, moves back to Rome and buys the house next door to her. They are constantly shooting barbs, which I love, and it is charged. I LOVE THIS BOOK.

The sisters watch Pillow Talk, which inspired the photo next to my favorite movie poster. There is one sibling left, Madison, and we get clues as to who her love interest may be. Her book, In Your Dreams, the fourth, is due to be published January 6, 2026! I’M SURE I WILL LOVE THIS BOOK.

I read this via ebook but I did check out the audiobook. It is 11 hours 15 minutes at 1x and the narrators are Brittany Pressley and Nelson Hobbs who are of course, great.

5/5 stars
Open door but the author tells you upfront which chapters to skip if you don’t want to go there.
Location: Rome, Kentucky

I really enjoyed the dual POV’s throughout the entire story. I loved seeing the banter and fighting that they both had with each other in the beginning. There were many laugh-out-loud moments. It had lots of banter + a great mix of silly, emotional, vulnerable & flirty scenes. This is book 3 in the When In Rome series. It can also be read standalone.

Betg Borrow, and Steal* is everything I love about a good rom-com: laugh-out-loud banter, slow-burn tension, and just the right amount of heart. Sarah Adams delivers a playful enemies-to-lovers romance filled with quirky small-town charm and surprising emotional depth.

Emily is the definition of buttoned-up and type-A, but underneath her sharp edges is a vulnerable woman trying to protect her dreams—and her secret life as a romance author. Jack, on the other hand, is chaotic good wrapped in charisma. Their long-standing rivalry simmers with witty comebacks and unexpected tension that practically leaps off the page.

What makes this story shine is the way their love story unfolds not just with steam and sass, but with real vulnerability. The characters grow both individually and together as they learn to let their guards down. And the backdrop of a charming Southern town, complete with nosy neighbors and meddling coworkers, adds to the fun.

I LOVED this one! I didn't realize it was book 3 in an interconnected series. I can't wait to read the other 2 books!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is the third installment of the When in Rome series and I must warn you that unlike the other books, runs the reader through a gamut of emotions. The buildup of the characters Emily and Jack is really well done and will have you feeling like you can relate and are totally invested. Emily gave me all the feels and had me thinking that Jack was literally made for her. You will want to sit through the entire read without putting it down and find yourself teary in multiple chapters. I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am happily leaving this review.

This is the third in Adams' series that takes place in Rome, Kentucky, but you can easily read this rom-com as a stand alone. Very sweet story and I will be reading others in the series.

This was a solidly cute rom com. I was able to follow it easily even though I haven't read the other books in the series. The banter and small town vibes were fun. The characters were likable and their relationship was cute and it was fun to see it develop. It's a mostly happy story that's light on the plot and easy to read.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

As usual, I enjoyed this book by Sarah Adams. She is an auto-read author of mine. I prefer to read closed-door romances, but I appreciate that she let us know which chapters to skip to avoid it. I love the citizens of Rome, KY, and that they are in all the books, but you can read them as stand-alone as well. I look forward to reading more from Sarah Adams.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was actually my first book set in the town of Rome, Kentucky, and while I recognize that I may have missed some things with the siblings, it didn't feel like it took away from the root of the book - these two people who were always able to be honest with each other and step in in the dark days. It was sweet and honest and thoughtful. There is talk of grief but it didn't feel overwhelming if that is something you typically need to be aware of.

I was so happy to be back in Rome again! I absolutely loved Emily and Jacks story. Emily is secretly writing her first romance novel and accidentally emails it to the wrong person. She reluctantly has to ask Jack, who happens to be her arch nemesis for help. Jack is back in Rome after a breakup ready to continue writing his new novel when the girl who he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about needs his help. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance that combines witty banter with emotional depth. Sarah Adams crafts a compelling narrative that explores themes of personal growth, vulnerability, and the complexities of relationships. The chemistry between Emily and Jack is palpable, and their journey from rivals to partners is both entertaining and heartwarming. The small-town setting adds a cozy charm, and the supporting characters enrich the story, making it a satisfying read for fans of contemporary romance.

I love this series by Adams, with Book #2 topping my list of fave romcoms. This one was slightly less believable for me, as I felt the two leads went from rivals to _not_ quite quickly. But as always I love the small town setting, I love her dialogue, and this was a lot of breezy fun.

I am loving books by Sarah Adams right now and this did not disappoint. She is so great at getting you to love her characters and putting them into not completely ridiculous but still supper fun and funny situations that you can't help but laugh at. I also love that characters from her previous works can be found in her new titles. It's so fun to revisit characters you fell in love with before and to see how they are fairing after their own story has been told. Can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!