I love Sarah Adams! Every single one of her books is a must read. The Rome serious is by far my favorite and I cannot wait for book four! Definitely laughed out loud a few times reading this one.

4.5 stars!

Emily and Jack have competed in everything academic and career-wise since they met in college 13 years ago. When Jack moves back into town after calling off his engagement, Emily does her best to drive him out. But when she drunkenly sends her secret romance manuscript to her boss, she needs Jack to help her fix it.

What a GREAT book to kick off the new reading year with! I was in a reading slump all last year, and this was one of the few books I could finish without listening to the audio. It had my attention from the very beginning. Their banter and emails were hilarious and also gave us a glimpse into their relationship throughout the years. I love it when I can relate to both of the characters and this one was in a PAINFUL way. I teared up so many times throughout the book. I think this is the deepest book I've read from Sarah Adams so far.

This book also made it into a category I like to call ✨inevitable✨ , which means the characters are so meant to be, that nothing will stop them from getting together but they have to go through a lot to get there. Sarah Adams has yet to disappoint with this series and I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you so much to the publisher and Sarah Adams for this ARC. It made my year last year!

I'm a big fan of the second book in this series, and also enjoyed the first, but this one missed the mark for me. I don't think I"m the biggest fan of the rivals to lovers trope, and while I enjoyed the main characters growing closer, the original tension wasn't something I felt as much as I would have liked. While not my favorite, it was an easy read, and I'm still looking forward to Sarah Adams's next book! I'm hoping I'll be able to relate to the characters and their thought process a little bit more. Thanks for the eARC!

WOW!!! Sarah Adams outdid herself with this one. This is hands down her best book to date and I have loved all of her books. I saw so much of myself in Emily. I loved how Jack loved her despite her inability to sometimes even love herself. He loved her flaws. I found that incredibly beautiful. The email exchanges that popped up throughout the book were my favourite - the banter they had back and forth had me laughing and swooning. Cutest couple of booktok 2025!!

Visiting Rome, Kentucky always feels like a warm hug, and this book was no exception. This may truly be Sarah's best work. The banter, the slow burn, the way the main characters support and handle each other's challenges and darker moments, it's all truly lovely. Devoured this book when I meant to savor it slowly, but I could not put it down.

Superstar teacher, proud Rome, Kentucky resident and all around powerhouse, Emily Walker has been feeling a bit lost and lonely. Her siblings don’t seem to need her help anymore, her love life is at a standstill, and her nemesis and favorite snark buddy has moved away, leaving Emily at loose ends. Then she hears that not only is the decade long thorn in her side, Jack Bennett returning to his position teaching the other second grade class, but he’s bought the house right next door. The news lights a fire in Emily she hasn’t felt in months and all her energy goes into making Jack’s life as uncomfortable as possible. She even ropes the rest of the town into her hijinks. But Emily has yet again underestimated Jack and his magnetic personality. Soon he’s won over the town and has even wormed his way into Emily’s life. Jack has always been the one person Emily has never been afraid to show all aspects of her personality, the good, the bad, and the sad. When Emily finds herself in a bind at work, Jack is the only one she trusts to help with her shenanigans. The new neighbors find themselves spending more and more time together and start to realize they’re not enemies, but they just might be each other’s happily ever after.

Sarah Adams’ Rome, Kentucky series is fresh , fun, and truly special and Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the best book yet. Adams is a master with characters and character development. Emily and Jack are just amazing with deep, well formed personalities. Emily is so relatable. She feels like she’s being left behind by those she loves and that she’s no longer important to them. As a recovering control freak, she’s learning to give her loved ones the space they need to live their own lives. In the process she’s found herself adrift. I think we all feel like this at some point, lonely or like we’re not important or are being left behind. Jack is an absolute sweetheart who’s lost himself too. Dealing with a narcissistic parent has turned him into a people pleaser, someone who never shows his true feelings. It’s only with each other that they let their masks drop and their truth out. We also get to see all our favorites from the first two books in the series. Rome is the town where everyone wants to live and its residents are who you want for friends and family. Adams has written such a warm, comforting book that deals with hurts and traumas, but gives the reader hope with humor and love. Full of sexy banter, playfulness, joy, and deep connections, Beg, Borrow, or steal is pure magic!

I honestly cannot get enough of Sarah Adams! The town of Rome, Kentucky has everything a small town could need. Busy bodies, nosy neighbors, and sexy teachers!!! Sarah has such a way with writing comedy in a way that isn’t forced and feels natural. All of the dialogue in this book felt like I was taking part in it, and it was so much fun re-visiting Rome!
You don’t need to read the other books that take place in the “series”, and I like that a lot because series can make some people stress about timeline order. This book however does not need to be read after any other book. You can still enjoy the story and fall in love with the town and the character fresh and new!!!

Sarah Adam’s has done it again! Back in Rome, Kentucky, two feuding second grade teachers. Emily and Jack have to team up and it is SO SO GOOD!!! Rivals to lovers, humor, romance, the banter!

So good. Highly recommend!!

Ahhh Sarah did it again with the charming feels Rome, Kentucky. I loved the witty banter, amazing chemistry that will make you swoon and squeal, the sunshiny perspective of her writing and just very relatable characters. This book will have you plastering a mega watt smile throughout and I absolutely adored every minute of it. The personal growth and relatability of the characters is such a great addition to the story / plot with their rawness. You will love this!

It's so great being back in Rome, KY! Especially with Emily and her obnoxious neighbor AND coworker, Jack. Gosh, I love how much he infuriates her.

If you enjoyed When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect, you must add this book to your list! It's full of witty banter between two authors who love to hate each other. It's like they've never heard of enemies to lovers.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

Sarah Adams is a must read author for me and Beg, Borrow, or Steal solidified it. Her books have the perfect mix of tropes, humor, and chemistry. I think Emily and Jack just might be my new favorite When in Rome story. I loved the enemies to lovers vibes and all of their little escapades.

I do HIGHLY recommend reading this series in order.

4.5/5

Sarah Adams has a magic touch. Her stories are so immersive and additive. I guess because we already have the context for Rome, I was sucked in even faster here. And teacher rivals? My fave. Their split POVs were so good, too. Bravo, Sarah, and thanks for the ARC NetGalley and Dell Romance!

𝒜𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝐵𝑒𝑔, 𝐵𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌, 𝑜𝓇 𝒮𝓉𝑒𝒶𝓁?

@authorsarahadams has done it again. I have yet to meet a book by Sarah that I didn’t absolutely devour, and this is no exception. ✨

This book unlocked things in me I didn’t know were hiding in the first place, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same. 💅🏻

Jack Bennett is quite literally the blueprint for the perfect MMC, and Emily is the confident, fierce, secretly soft FMC that you’re sure to love. It’s rare for me to feel such a deep connection to not just one, but both characters in a book. I am obsessed with these two individually, but my love for them together is on a totally different level. 👏🏼

While this book covered some pretty heavy topics, I was also literally shaking with laughter or giggling and kicking my feet during the majority of it. 🥰 I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this giddy reading a love story.

So much of my heart lives within the pages of this book, and I am beyond grateful to have been given the privilege of getting to receive an eARC from @dellromance & @authorsarahadams. It was seriously a dream come true. 🥹

This book set the bar HIGH for 2025 and deserves all of the love it’s about to get from all of you. ✨

You can purchase a copy anywhere books are sold Tuesday, January 7th, 2025!

OH MY HOPELESS ROMANTIC CHEESY HEART!!!!!!! Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the When In Rome series written by Sarah Adams and by far my FAVORITE book in this series. I couldn't have chosen a better book to start 2025 off with and let me tell you, I just kicked off this year with a banger. This book was deeply personal and relatable for me, as an older sister but also as a middle child, this book spoke to me on so many levels. Sarah Adams has a way with words that just leave you in a choke hold, but also leaves you feeling giddy. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the type of book that tugs on your heart strings, but it also makes you go back into your personal story and reflect on your own life experiences. I'm honestly scared to post this review because my words and review will NEVER give this book the justice it deserves. This book was one of my many anticipated books of 2025 and if I could go back and give this book an infinity star rating, I totally would because it was that flawless and beautifully written. I know this book was supposed to be a cutesy romance, but honestly it was so much more than that for me. As I was reading this book, it felt like Sarah was right by my side holding my hand, telling me to be vulnerable, telling me it's okay to be myself, and telling me and her readers that it's okay to ask for help when it's needed. Being vulnerable is not a weak trait, it shows you have a big heart. I can't recommend this book enough, please please do yourself a favor and grab a copy immediately, because this book was absolutely a favorite for me.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHING GROUP-BALLANTINE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!

Rome, Kentucky is my home, it's my safe place, and it's my favorite community.

"No one needs me. And when they don't need me, they don't come around anymore either because I am a utility sponge. I am useful. And if I'm no use to someone anymore, they throw me under the sink".

"I want to hug each other when we are sad and help each other find the bright side of things when all we can see is the dark".

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other". -Audrey Hepburn

"Jack Daniel's just isn't the same without a splash of sweet tea".

"Maybe not everything will end in hurt, but we will never know if we don't try".

Emily Walker is Rome, Kentucky's Queen Bee. Emily tends to speak her mind and have it bite her in the ass too often. Emily has been teaching second grade at Rome Elementary School of over twenty-five years and absolutely loves her job. Emily is happily single because she thinks she's an unlovable porcupine that got tired of the constant rejection. After her grandma passed away, Emily became a romance author as a side hustle because she couldn't deal with the depression and the darkest days of her life when she feared her siblings didn't need her anymore because they were all dealing with their own grief. Did I mention that Emily has a cat named Ducky? Oh my goodness, I just want to hold Ducky so close to my heart and get in some kitty snuggles, because that was just so adorable. Emily is the type of woman who seems to single handedly carry the world on her shoulders way better than Superman ever could dream of doing. Emily is also tenacious, strong willed, and protective of those around her. It was so precious to reconnect with Annie and Amelia for their annual girl's night, Noah and Will were also reunited, I was just the happiest woman ever to be reunited with these characters.

Jackson Bennett is Emily's archnemesis since college when they first met and Jack spilled coffee all over Emily and then proceeded to flirt with her. Just before winter break, Jack moved to Nebraska with his fiancee, they were supposed to get married but not anymore, so Jack decides to come back to Rome, Kentucky because he felt like it was his calling and he definitely owed it to Emily. Jack is also a second grade teacher at Rome Elementary. Jackson Bennett, this man is so freaking hot, he has several tattoos, but they are all cute sticker style designed tattoos such as an adorable worm with glasses popping out of an apple. As a side hustle, Jack goes by the pen-name, AJ Ranger, a New York Times and Sunday Times best selling mystery author. The e-mails between Jack and Emily were absolutely hilarious, their banter was just the best, I couldn't stop kicking my feet in the air and giggling. Jack had a nickname for Emily and it was Goldie, ugh, it was just so stinkin cute and I couldn't stop swooning over this man. Let me be honest, at first I thought I would hate Jack by the way he was acting, but oh my gosh, this man was so hot and made me swoon like crazy.

In Beg, Borrow, or Steal we meet Madison who is another one of Emily's sisters. Madison and Emily are thirteen months apart in age, so they were the closest and the very best of friends, but Madison is getting her culinary degree in New York City, but anyway I just need the next book to be Madison and James who you will also meet in this book, so be prepared to swoon all over again. One night, Emily drunkenly sent her very explicit romance novel to the principal of Rome Elementary instead of to a publisher, Jack and Emily decide to put their differences aside and work together so the principal can't read Emily's story because of Lord that would just be embarrassing. I absolutely loved and adored watching Emily and Jack work together, they were just the cutest ever. By the end of this book, I was insanely proud of Emily for coming out of her shell and asking for help when she was too scared to do something on her own. It also felt like after this book was over, Emily was right there in my corner holding my hand and telling me to be myself and accept myself for who I am. Beg, Borrow, or Steal will forever hold a personal place in my heart for years and years to come, possibly forever. I can't express all of my love I have for this beautiful, yet heart tugging book. Jackson Bennett and Emily Walker will be my very best of friends for a long time to come.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I love the When in Rome series, and have been eagerly waiting for this book. This book had me feeling all the feels. The chemistry between the FMC and the MMC is top tier as well as the character’s growth. This book had some heavy topics but had a great balance between the heavy topics and light heartedness. I love the way that both the main characters balanced each other out and saw one another as an equal.
I hope we get a future story of Maddie and James!

✨ Genre: Contemporary Romance
✨ Stars: 3.5/5
✨ Spice: 1/5

At this point, I have read all of Sarah Adams books and have really enjoyed them, but unfortunately this one fell a bit flat to me. I absolutely loved Practice Makes Perfect and really enjoyed When in Rome, but this book just didn't hit the same. From the beginning, I was not a fan of Emily, not her character herself (at first), but the way she was written. I wasn't a fan of the fourth breaks that happened early on, so it was good it was not a frequent occurrence.

The more I read enemies-to-lovers books in the contemporary romance subgenre, the more I find myself annoyed by how often the two characters are enemies because of one small incident or miscommunication that happened years ago, and they've just stuck hating each other. I understand being embarrassed by getting coffee spilled on you, but to then declaring that person to be your enemy and hating them to the point you get their contractor to quit is a little absurd.

While reading, I found myself caring a lot more about Jackson than I did Emily until she really started opening up, which wasn't till around 40% in. Around 25% in I really had to evaluate whether or not I was going to finish this book, and honestly a lot of the reason why I continued reading was because of Jack's character. I think more incorporation of Emily's anxieties and fears about being alone and how because she felt unlovable, that's why she was so focused on making sure everything was perfect for each other earlier on would have made her character more well rounded and easier to understand her actions.

On the positive side of things, I did like how the characters progressed. The development of the romance between Emily and Jackson felt more believable than I initially thought it would, and the scene where they were blocking a part of Emily's book was phenomenal. I love the subtlety of Sarah’s writing with spicier scenes. Even though they don’t actually have sex, it still shows the intimacy that is maybe even more important than having sex itself.

Overall, this was a cute weekend read but just not for me.

Emily and Jack have been rivals since college and through teaching at the same school, but when Jack left town with his fiancé Emily thought her days of being overshadowed by the guy everyone loved were over. When he returns, as her newly single noisy neighbor, the banter and bickering gets going again!

As the oldest of the orphaned Walker siblings, Emily is used to caring for everyone and pushing her own feelings down. Her biggest fear is not being needed, and being left alone while everyone else moves on with their lives. Jack Bennett is a secretly successful mystery writer, keeping his identity a secret so as not to stir the pot with his narcissistic father who also tops the writing charts. When Jack discovers Emily has been writing a spicy Highlander romance novel in secret he offers advice (and some 🥵 scene coaching) to help her get her career as an author going. In the process they learn about each other and themselves, and realize they’re a lot more alike than either would have ever wanted to admit when they were younger.

I loved getting to go back to Rome, Kentucky and hang out with some of my favorite characters. One of the things I loved so much about the first two books was the little spats and banter with the townsfolk, and I felt like there was a lot less of that in this one, which I missed. Harriet and Mabel are some of my very favorite side characters. Their bickering (“you old kook”) is the best! 🤣

The banter is so good in this one, and the way they soften to one another is just so sweet. Even though it wasn’t my favorite of the three so far I still enjoyed it so much, and Sarah Adams is quickly becoming an auto-buy for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine, and Sarah Adams for allowing to me read a complimentary advanced copy of Beg, Borrow or Steal. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I can’t wait to meet her in person this week to pick up my purchased physical copy!

Well this was my first Sarah Adams book and it won’t be my last :) I know I know… I started reading the series with the third book, but like other people said, this book can be read as a standalone.

The story takes place in Rome, Kentucky where we meet our 2 main characters: Emily Walker and Jackson Bennett! Both teachers and both authors (without their knowledge), this is a great enemies to lovers book! The witty banter is pure perfection and the chemistry between the character is off the roof. Beg, Borrow, or Steal has an amazing flow that captures you right away!

Can’t wait to read the first two books about Noah & Annie Walker’s stories! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.

I LOVE Rome, Kentucky.
 
I have been patiently waiting for Emily’s book and it delivered. Emily Walker is your typical Type A girly who seeks routine and hates when it is disrupted, especially by her long-time nemesis. Jack Bennett has a standing feud with Emily, so you could imagine her excitement when he announced he was moving out of state with his fiancée. However, the excitement was short lived. The last thing Emily expected was for Jack to call off the wedding and move back to Rome as her neighbor. The two go back and forth trying to reach the limit of each other’s patience. During their fighting, Emily makes a grave mistake of sending her secret spicy manuscript to their school principal and she is desperate to get it back. Jack is the best man for the job, and she knows it. Surprisingly, he agrees. It’s even more surprising how these long-time enemies work together so well.
 
My thoughts: Initially, I was getting really turned away by Emily’s attitude with Jack coming back home. It’s normal to be upset over the situation, but the way she turned the town on him was too much. Once they got past the petty feud and got to the flirty bantering is when my opinion changed. Thankfully the switch happened early on in the book. Sarah has a way of making me laugh even in the high stress moments. I cannot wait to read the fourth Walker sibling book, Maddie! I really really hope she gets her happy ending with you know who 😊

Absolutely love this book! And Sarah, oh my goodness your spicy level is rising girl and I do not hate it. I appreciate how much respect went into those scenes. I have never read an enemies to lovers trope with so much sizzle and laughs. Perfection! Seriously. And above all else, thank you, THANK YOU for excluding those third act breakups, I truly love you for that.