2.5 ⭐️

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the When In Rome series and follows Emily Walker and Jack Bennett in their rivals to lovers romance.

I have read the two previous books in the series as well, but I fear just like them, BBoS will be completely erased from my memory in a month's time. I was invested and enjoyed the start, but then it got to a point where I just wanted to be done with it...

I did like the rivalry aspect of the story, which gradually became this slowburn chemistry. And even though they were rivals, their banter was sort of a familiar comfort for both of them.

Both of the mc's have a bit of emotional vulnerability, which I really wish the author spent more time on exploring. I'm aware this is a lighthearted romance, but I was craving that depth.
I enjoyed their romance enough; it was cute with bits of humor, and even though the story progress didn't do it for me in the end, I still wanted to see them have their HEA.

Sarah Adams' writing remains delightful and enjoyable. Perfectly lighthearted and sweet, and provides a comforting reading experience; however, there's just nothing groundbreaking or highly memorable for me.

Read if you like:
♡ rivals to lovers
♡ feuding teachers (and neighbors)
♡ a heist
♡ second chance
♡ secret writers

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Format: eARC
Genre: contemporary romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gah I love this series! Each book follows a different sibling in the small (fictional) town of Rome, KY.

❤️ Small town
❤️ Dual POV
❤️ Rivals to lovers
❤️ Writers
❤️ Teachers

I have to admit - enemies/rivals to lovers isn’t my favorite because it gets too immature in my opinion. So at first I really wasn’t sure about this one. However, Emily and Jack quickly grew on me!

I loved seeing this couple’s relationship grow and how Jack so fiercely loves Emily 🥹

The sibling relationships in this series are so sweet! I love getting to see my fave characters from previous books.

I think Emily will be such a relatable character for my perfectionists and eldest daughters out there. I think that’s part of the reason I love this series - you’ll find a character you strongly relate to. For me, it was Annie in book 2 (Practice Makes Perfect).

Thank you so so much to Dell Romance for my eARC! Beg, Borrow, or Steal is out 1/7!

Emily is fresh off a breakup, when Jack literally runs into her. She decided right then and there he was her nemesis. These two disliked each other for years, always competing and one upping each other. The banter was bantering in this one.

Because they were always aware of what the other was doing, they got to know each other really well over the years. So, when the rivalry slowly turned into friendship, it was very natural.

Overall, it was a good time. A very sweet, low angst read!

Read if you like:
Rivals to lovers
Both teachers
Neighbors
Small town
MMC wears glasses & drives a motorcycle

“You are not alone…I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”

Returning to Rome, Kentucky with Sarah Adams feels like coming home.

I had the pleasure of listening to this one, and it felt like I was experiencing firsthand. I loved getting an inside look at Emily, her longtime rival, Jack, and how their rivalry exists on top of a deeper sense of care and passion for one another.

I loved the animosity they held between each other because of events that had transpired between (and around) them over the years. I loved the banter that jumped off the page as Emily and Jack are constantly thrown together And I absolutely loved when the truth comes out—all of their truths—and they realize just how perfect they truly are together.

I cannot recommend this series enough. I would move to this town, if I could.

Check this out if you enjoy:
- Romcom
- Banter
- Rivals to lovers
- Childhood crush
- Second chance
- Secret identities
- Neighbors to lovers
- A heist!

I love Sarah Adams and she more than delivered in the third book of this series! This was hands down my favorite one so far and such a fun way to start 2025!

Rome, Kentucky is one of my favorite fictional towns and you will fall in love with it all over again reading this book. The two main characters are dueling second grade teachers who have been feuding since college. The emotional baggage they brought to the story was so relatable…especially Emily’s need for control! 🙃

It’s definitely an open-door romance with mild spice but you can bypass it by skipping two chapters she mentions in the beginning of the book. Although it’s a part of a series it can definitely be read as a stand-alone book.

This book is being released January 7th and I’m so thankful to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts.

I don't know where Sarah comes up with all of the wonderful banter between her characters, but it is the BEST! I manage to get so attached to her people in every. single. book! Beg, Borrow, or Steal had me literally laughing out loud multiple times, and I wish I could read it again for the first time! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This book was the perfect enemies to lovers, small town romance. I loved the relationship between the two main characters before they even realize what is going on between them. The dynamic was incredible and I was truly rooting for them. There were so many complex family dynamics that really made the story so much more interesting and complicated. I thought the pace and writing were perfectly executed and there is nothing better than a story that brings in writers to the plot and makes the world of publishing and the process of being published a key conflict and pain point. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed and recommend this book!

Practice Makes Perfect is still my all-time favorite of Sarah Adams, but I'm always happy to spend time in Rome, Kentucky with this funny crew.

I wanted yearning and I got YEARNING. I loved this book and the characters and was honestly, one of my favorite book I read in 2024.

To my fellow perfectionist eldest daughters this is a book for us.

Emily Walker & Jackson Bennett have been rivals and nemeses since college. Emily thinks she is finally free of Jackson when he moves out of state to get married, at least until he shows back up in town a few months later & buys the house next door.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is enemies-to-lovers done right. The tension between Jackson and Emily, the hijinks they get up to, the passive aggressive emails they send each other, it is all *chef's kiss*. Their chemistry sizzled on the page and felt realistic to their personalities. I appreciated the character development both Emily and Jackson demonstrated, particularly through the flashbacks written into the story. Learning more about each character's origin and motivations separately and together added so much depth to their love story. The author does an excellent job portraying the inner thoughts of an eldest daughter who is everything to everyone all the time, reflecting the fear of failure and desire to fix things for all her loved ones so well. It's safe to say I felt a bit *seen* with Emily's character.

If I have one complaint it's that I felt the author spent too much page time setting up book #4. It did not impact my final review of the story but it did slow the pacing of the last third of the novel for me. In reality I just wanted more Jackson & Emily chemistry.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is Sarah Adams's best work yet. I highly recommend this book (and the entire When in Rome series) and can't wait to read what this author publishes next.

I am so happy with this book! I have loved the prior two books in the "series", and this one did not disappoint either! I really enjoyed the banter between Emily and Jack, the two main characters, and I really liked this being told in dual POVs from each or their perspectives. I really like the enemies to lovers, forced proximity trope, and this really delivered. I thought the story itself was lighthearted and funny at times, but also had some heavy matter and the writer executed flawlessly.
I can't wait to recommend this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

This was an intricately designed story of learning how to love after grief has taken up residence in one’s heart. It was beautiful, heart-wrenching, and so powerful.

Let’s start with our FMC. I think the harsh reality of what it can be like for a woman to work in a male dominated profession was shown well through Henley. She had an easily accessible advantage that could’ve potentially let her ease through the ranks, but her determination to show that her skills were entirely earned and not given is what drove her to become one of the best. Her perseverance and resilience showcased how strong of a woman she was. It was also intriguing to see how being born into money and a big family name has its downsides. Despite all the animosity constantly surrounding her, she still remains sweet and joyful. I would say she’s now on my “favorites list” for FMCS!

Onto the MMC. Easton Chadwick. In the beginning, he gives off the stoic and “unattainable” vibes that I am always drawn to. After the book delves deeper into his backstory, you learn that he has been through the unimaginable. It becomes clear that Easton’s powerful demeanor is more of a facade that was forced by tragedy. Laura Pavlov did an amazing job of painting his sorrowful picture, which left me wanting to jump through the book and console him in any way possible. His character development was ASTOUNDING and his relationship with Henley was rocky at times, yes, but eventually blossomed into something worth yearning for.

Onto a lighter note😅, I had such love for ALL these characters. The side characters were hilarious, and of course I loved the main ones as well. And the spice??? 🥵Ugh, Easton is a wet dream wrapped in a suit. He’s a business man by day, and a pickleball champion by night😂I can’t get over how intense he can make a game of pickleball 😂 Also, if you’re reading this Laura…PLEASE tell me who is in charge of that gossip column!!! It’s killing me😭

In this sweet and funny trip back to Rome, Kentucky, Emily Walker and Jack Bennet continue on their over a decade feud. A small town can feel very small when your college arch nemesis is not only your coworker but next door neighbor!

Sarah crafted yet another hilarious, sweet and addicting novel that I couldn’t put down!

I am so so excited to recommend this book. If you love a small town, enemies to lovers romance with a reverse grump sunshine twist, this is the book for you!

Another great thing to consider?! This book hit the shelves this past Tuesday so be sure to scoop up your copy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely adored Emily and Jack's story. This book has everything from the emotional depth to the funny beats. I loved the growth between them as individuals and as a couple. I really appreciated how complex Emily was as a character and how she didn’t have it all together even though she presented it that way. I couldn’t get enough of Jack and his steadiness and ability to read Emily. I loved the glimpses into the lives of the other Walker siblings (Amelia is included in that statement). I’m obsessed with their bantering and bickering and loved how that was a thread throughout the book, no matter where their relationship stood. This was just an incredible book—Sarah Adams has done it again. This series is 10/10.

Okay - I might have already found my first 5 ⭐️ read of the year. I have loved the Rome, KY series from @authorsarahadams and the latest Walker sibling to find love is Emily. Emily and Jack became enemies the first day of college when he spilled coffee on her on the way to class and then tried to fight over the same seat. He is the opposite of the hero she is writing in her secret romance novel but she is shocked to find him back in town and not only that, he is now her neighbor. Jack is trying to fit into the town and keep his secret identity as a best-selling author. However, after some high jinx they have an alliance that might lead to more.

I really bonded with Emily as a character and at some points thought Sarah was reading my mind with thoughts I’ve felt in the past. I loved this enemies to lovers and while there’s the usual miscommunication trope-Jack and Emily approach it believably.

Now to patiently wait for the next Walker sibling in Rome to come out and in the meantime just bask in the sweet town of Rome getting some more colorful characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

🍒 Workplace Rivals to Lovers
🤍 Forced Proximity
🤠 Small Town
❤️ Healthy Communication

Full transparency: I may have messed this one up a bit. Evidently, this book is the latest installment of the ‘When in Rome’ series. I missed the memo and obviously read the third book instead of the correct order. I can absolutely attest though that you do not need to read the other books to enjoy this one.

I felt so at home in Rome, Kentucky. The small-town vibes are wonderful. I absolutely want to pick up fresh flowers at the local flower shop, have a slice of fresh baked pie while I sip on some coffee from the Hot Bean, and end the evening at Hank's with my loved ones.

The chemistry between Emily and Jack is exceptional. While these two rivals carry on with their delicious banter, they are also always rooting for the other person to do better, to be the best version of themselves. “I will continue to support your writing. To pull for you. To root for you and do everything I can to help make your dreams come true.”

I came for the passionate rivals-to-lovers trope but was transfixed by the emotional depth and complexity this story has to offer. I had such a deep connection to Emily. This unstoppable quest to help everyone so that you are always needed and never left behind. This book made me feel so raw and vulnerable, just like Emily. It felt like we were on a journey together. It was so beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Jack was clearly written by a woman. He is so thoughtful, sensitive, and compassionate. (Also, the amazing sense of style, tattoos, and cute glasses, I’m obsessed). He is so gentle with Emily; it was so special to behold. “I’ll be so careful with you, Emily.” Their emotional maturity and healthy communication were remarkable.

This book truly has such a special place in my heart. I cannot highly recommend it enough. Now, onto reading the other two!

Many thanks to Netgalley, Dell Romance, and Sarah Adams for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I cried, I laugh, I cried some more. I’ve never felt so seen by a FMC before. I love Emily and that makes me want to love myself a little more

It was delightful to be back in Rome, KY with the Walker family. Emily and Jack are such a fun couple. I loved their backstory and how these arch nemeses couldn't seem to escape one another. It was fun to see some of those flashbacks represented from past emails and the ongoing side banter through some of their text and email exchanges. I could relate to Emily's past hurts and how she built walls to protect her heart, and found myself cheering as Jack championed her just as she was and helped her to challenge her past beliefs. Sarah Adams does a wonderful job building heat and tension and the banter between these two had me laughing out loud as I read. There were a few open door scenes and I appreciated the author's note letting readers know what to skip if they preferred not to read on page intimacy. While this book could stand alone, I loved reading updates about the other Walker siblings and getting to follow up on characters we met first in other books in this series. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this copy!

“That seems selfish,” I breathe out. The curve of his mouth is a potent drug. “I love when a woman is selfish.”

jack bennett the man that you are. jack is a second grade teacher (and best selling author) who’s main source of fun is his rivalry with emily walker. that is until he gets engaged and moves away. fortunately something has him crawling back to rome, kentucky.


“I’m the oldest daughter, I’m not scared of anything.”

and emily walker the WOMAN you are. emily is a second grade teacher (and aspiring best selling author) who’s whole life has been ensuring her siblings are okay after the tragic loss of their parents.

so what happens when they become neighbors? and then friends? and then more????

6/5 stars for this book about the third walker sibling. nothing could’ve made it better besides if i was actually emily baker or maybe even jack idk. can’t believe my first reads of the year are 5 stars or more. sarah you’ve done it again! and thanks net galley for this ARC! love you!

“Everyone is dead. Dead, dead, dead. And yes, I do like to throw startling little facts like those into conversation whenever I can because shock is always more preferable to pity.”

Emily has been through it. Losing her parents, then her beloved grandmother left her feeling like she needed to be the caretaker for all her siblings. In the process she has forgotten how to look after herself. When her nemesis, Jack, moves back to town RIGHT NEXT DOOR, she is not happy at all. However, a weird shift begins and maybe they don’t have to continue to hate one another.

This is definitely the enemies to lovers trope, but it’s so well done and super cute. I loved this book and the other in the series I read. The characters are lovable and you find yourself cheering for them!