A wonderful addition to this series. The heroine and hero were flawed and relatable, The short flashbacks to their past encounters provided insight to the present. I can't wait for the final title of this series.

Sarah Adams does it again! This is a great continuation of the standalone series (When in Rome). Emily and Jack are the perfect rivals-to-lovers and their banter is great! I love seeing more of Rome, KY, seeing previous characters, and continuing where her other books left off.

Sarah Sarah Sarah, you have done it again. These books just get better I swear. I loved every single second of this. What was my favorite is how mature this one was. Like it was still so cute but it felt like an adult romance which getting older I love. She’s done such a great job intertwining this series and making you fall in love with everyone. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Emily Walker is a teacher and aspiring writer who is used to doing things her way—and her way only. She's looking forward to a calm summer until she hears through the grapevine in her small town of Rome, Kentucky, that her arch-nemesis, Jack Bennett, is coming back to town, and this time, it's for good. He had left town to marry his fiancée during the school year, but now the wedding is off, and he has purchased a house right next to Emily's. This will not do. Emily must act fast to make sure he's gone for good; otherwise, she will be stuck with him for who knows how long. Jack Bennett, however, will not go quietly, and it seems Emily has met her match—equal in every way. The sleuthing, scheming, witty, and verbal sparring between the two characters as they try to claim their space in this novel is fantastic, as is the character development as they discover that maybe the reason they hate each other is actually because they have more in common than they realize. This is my first Sarah Adams book, but it certainly won’t be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for letting me get an advanced copy of this book and introducing me to this amazing author. #BegBorrowOrSteal #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of "Beg, Borrow, or Steal."

Practice Makes Perfect was one of my favorite books last year, so I was excited to return to Rome, Kentucky and revisit the Walker family. This is the 3rd book in the series, focusing on Emily, and her "nemesis" Jack. While cute, I didn't completely love this one. Parts of it worked really well and I adored Jack (as does everyone) but I felt like something was missing, and I was disappointed in certain scenes (hard to say more without spoiling) after a big lead up with no follow through.

Cute, easy read, but fell a bit flat.

I LOVE SARAH ADAMS' BOOKS. I don't know how else to say it, but there's just something about the way she writes, the chemistry, the banter, and the vulnerabilities she weaves through her characters - she is undeniably talented! Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third in the Rome series, and definitely didn't disappoint!! I completely related to Emily - trying to be the "mom" by taking care of everyone else around you, while also being afraid of being too much for any one person to handle. Jack was one of those perfect book boyfriends who makes you wish he existed in real life, and if he did, where exactly could one find him??? This book is full of heart <3 do not miss!!

Sarah Adams has done it again! Just when I think she can't possibly top the last book... She does! Beg, Borrow, or Steal is absolutely my favorite of the series so far!

Emily is a shout out to the eldest daughters and enneagram 2s everywhere. She is a 2nd grade teacher, is secretly writing a romance novel and is just simply trying to keep it all together. Oh, and let's not forget her longtime feud with Jack.

Jack has moved back to Rome, Kentucky, but is no longer engaged. He's bought the property next to his feuding buddy, and is keeping lots of secrets.

As the summer heats up, so does the tension between Emily and Jack. Maybe they don't hate each other quite as much as they thought.

2 🌶️

***

I loved this book so much! I connected with Emily's character on so many levels, and watching her journey of realizing that it's okay not to keep it together all the time and lean on other people was so lovely. I loved her story arc of pursuing her dream of writing romance, and her relationship with Jack was just icing on the cake. I couldn’t love the “enemies to lovers” of these two characters more. The shenanigans of their feud are so fun!

Thanks NetGalley and Sarah for the ARC!

Sarah Adams does it again! Her books just make me so happy! The vibes of Rome, KY are the best and I wish the town actually existed!

Jack and Emily had amazing chemistry! Like them fighting for years caused the greatest tension! It practically sizzled off of the page. I thought they were also really cute, especially how they kept denying their feelings for each other. I also loved how their relationship developed, because one half of the couple taking care of the other half is just the best way to create a bond!

I really related to Emily. I too feel like I need to be in control for everything to go smoothly, so I could understand how she got into the situations that she did. I also really liked Jack, especially with how he helped and supported Emily!

I love Sarah Adams books. This book is the 3rd in the "When In Rome" series. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the story of Emily (who is featured a bit in the previous two books) and an enemy-to-lovers romance featuring a colleague/neighbor of Emily. It is funny and heartwarming at times. I rated it three stars because it lost my attention a bit and fell flat in the last third of the book. I found myself less engaged in the outcome of the story than I did in the previous "When In Rome" books. Thank you to Dell for providing me an advanced copy of this book!

As if I thought this book couldn't get any better... Nelson Hobbs and Brittany Pressley bring Jack Bennett & Emily Walker to life flawlessly. The audio just gives you a whole new experience.

I love these two so much. The crazy antics, the emails, the bickering and banter, the boy of tension, THE WALKERS 🥹🤭😍 This book feels like your favorite early 2000s comfort movie-- It's the kind of book you could read over & over and ust never get tired of.

I love this series and was so excited to get approved for this arc! Honestly, I experienced more emotions than expected with a rom-com. Emily was complex but relatable, and Jack- I couldn't help but want someone like him and the way he noticed every detail. I think they were the definition of right people, wrong time when they were in college but their souls were always connected. Emily being the sibling who always feels like she has to take care of things is so relatable for me. Super adorable and a very easy read.

Favorite Quote- “You think you’re unlovable, but I think I’ve never known how to love until knowing you.”

I kicked off my Bookstagram journey with a review of "When in Rome," So I to say I was thrilled got my hands on the ARC for "Beg, Borrow and Steal!" would be a gross understatement. Sarah Adams just keeps leveling up with every word she scribbles. Jack and Emily? Oh, I'm head over heels! Their enemies-to-lovers saga is like a delicious slice of nostalgia that I’ll gobble up again and again. The sparks between them? Totally electric! I was kicking back and doing a little happy dance while devouring this book—it's like stepping into a rom-com from the early 2000s! I literally had to wrestle with myself to put it down because I was bursting with glee. Some scenes felt like they were straight out of a movie, complete with rain-soaked kisses. Their banter? Top-tier! And beneath that playful chatter lies a connection so real it made my heart smile. I'm ready to jet off to Rome, Kentucky, and dive headfirst into Sarah Adams' beautiful, little small town every single opportunity I get.

Eldest daughters, this one's for you.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams is a heartwarming and delightful romantic comedy that will get readers onto the emotional growth, love, and second chances of protagonists Emily Walker and Jack Bennett amid unexpected collisions while setting in the charming small town of Rome, Kentucky. Merging Emily's secret life as a romance writer and Jack's return after a broken engagement sets the stage for a delightful enemies-to-lovers tale with depth. What really works for this book is the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud banter and heartfelt moments. Relatable fear of change, placing others' needs before her own, and a beautifully rendered heroine make for a great read. But Jack is a really great book boyfriend-kind, considerate, and strong-rising above the wounds of a narcissistic parent to be the antithesis of his upbringing. The chemistry leaps off the page in witty exchanges and emotional vulnerability that just feels so real and is so satisfying.

Adams has a knack for balancing lighthearted romance with heavier topics. The book touches on grief in its many forms: the loss of loved ones, the grief over relationships that never were, and self-doubt. Both characters are compelled to face their fears, take risks, and change, a message which lives beyond the romantic plot.

The small-town setting is charming, and the cameos of those beloved characters in the When in Rome series make this a treat for longtime fans. It completely stands on its own, though, and new readers will have no problem jumping in. Another bold move by Adams-when it comes to romance scenes, she leaves the door slightly ajar, giving tastefully written intimacy that rounds out the relationship.

With its rich character development, heartfelt themes, and sparkling humor, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a masterful addition to the rom-com genre. It’s not just a story about love but a celebration of personal growth, courage, and finding joy in the unexpected. If you’re a fan of charming small-town romances with emotional depth, this book is a must-read.

Im a huge Sarah Adams fan, have read every book she’s written and I have to say this is in the top two best she’s published. The characters are witty, smart, and relatable. Their romance is fun and light hearted while also dealing with real human issues. They communicate beautifully after they finally decide to give the relationship a chance and I LOVE a book without a third act break up!

This was an absolute pleasure to read. I have read the previous books in the When In Rome series, but this one might my new favorite! (Until we get the James and Maddie book of course)

The enemies to lovers was perfect, I could spend the rest of the day talking about how much I loved reading about them realizing how they have always loved each other. And even when they were enemies, they are always wanting each other and the best for the other.

The only thing I wish we would have some more of, is those close moments between them as they go through all their moments togethers, a little more into a peak into their previous enemy relationship. The emails were a great way of doing flashbacks, but I would have loved to see them discuss between the two of them.

The ending though, with Annie! I absolutely squealed!

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Adam’s for the advanced copy read!

Such a heartwarming read🤭 I’ve been reading a lot of dark romance recently, and this was a much needed change in pace. I can absolutely see this becoming a comfort read for me because I really loved it!

“𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙤𝙨. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙢𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙡𝙮. 𝙄 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙝𝙮𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣.”

Emily is finally enjoying life now that her longtime academic turned workplace rival has moved across the country. She exudes oldest sister energy, and while I’m the youngest and can’t relate, it was an interesting perspective to read from.

“𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙩. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙙... 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣-𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣.”

Jack is what you get when you open my brain and look for all the perfect qualities. He’s got a cinnamon roll/golden retriever personality, is a biker, has a sense of style, and devilishly charming. After ending his engagement and moving back to his old job, he finally realizes how he feels about Emily.

🏍️ rivals to lovers
📖 forced proximity
🏍️ he falls first
📖 slow burn

Adams banter is unbeatable!! This book might be my favorite in the when in Rome series, the blurb doesn’t do it justice! The character development was phenomenal, the banter was delicious, the enemies to lovers was cutesy, the pacing was killing me but also perfect, the angst, I could COMBUST.

Sarah Adams's writing keeps getting stronger and stronger! I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the fourth book in this series! She's been wanting to write a romance novel? He's secretly a best-selling author?! As someone who works in education and loves to read romance, there were countless things I enjoyed while reading this title. The rivals-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites and Sarah did not miss with Beg, Borrow, or Steal! Thank you to Dell and Ballantine Publishing for granting me this ARC

You can never go wrong with Sarah Adams! Their banter was deliciously enjoyable & I really loved the layers to the characters! I would say this story was definitely character driven, and the main female character experienced a lot of growth throughout this story 💕 Overall, I was super impressed & loved it! Jack was the sweetest, but also held his own against Emily’s tactics & ultimately helped her stop pushing people away! I will always recommend Sarah Adams!

I think this is my favorite of the Rome series! And I say that as someone who adores Annie (and Will). This story was so lovely and detailed. Emily is wildly relatable, as I myself am an eldest daughter. It's no joke the amount we carry and seeing Emily come to terms and learning to allow other people to shoulder some of the burden was definitely something that I saw a lot of myself in. Of course, getting to see the characters we know and love pop up here and there is always a treat. Rome feels so real and it feels like a place I know well at this point.

The banter between Emily and Jack is so delicious. Even when they "hate" each other, you know there is underlying current of finding more there. Watching their relationship find its footing and grow into what it ends with is just chef's kiss. Sarah Adams never disappoints. A wonderfully cozy read.