You will love Beg, Borrow, or Steal!

Second grade teacher Emily Walker wasn’t thrilled to hear her nemesis Jack Bennett was moving back to Rome to teach second grade after ending his engagement. But Jack buying the house next door was just too much and she wanted him gone from Rome.

Jack Bennett loved teaching second grade while he was writing a best-selling mystery series under a pen name to keep his privacy because his father was also a best-selling mystery writer. But he never thought that Emily would ask him for help when she accidently emailed the romance she had written to their boss. Could their working together help them get a little closer?

I loved Beg, Borrow, or Steal so much that I bought When in Rome which is the first book in the series about Amelia and Noah!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I adored this book! It is the 3rd book in Sarah Adams’ When In Rome series of interconnected standalones. You could read this one without reading the others, but the first two are also so good that I recommend reading them all! I was so excited to return to Rome, KY and the Walker siblings.

Emily and Jack are one of my favorite book couples ever written. Emily has felt the responsibility of caring for her siblings since the death of their parents when they were children, and she’s grappling with her adult siblings’ growing independence and knowing her worth if she can’t care for someone. Jack is the son of a famous mystery writer and keeps his own identity as a best-selling mystery author a secret because of his narcissistic father. Both Emily and Jack are dealing with evolving family relationships, as well as their own self-discovery, and the way they help each other handle these difficult things is so beautiful.

Along the way to love, there is a hint of second chance (he asked her out in college and she said no), extreme rivalry with lots of tension, and forced proximity (they’re newly neighbors). There is so much to love in this book: the town’s grandmotherly figure, Mabel, who gives the best advice; Emily’s relationships with her sisters and the way they grow together; the emails between Jack and Emily after each chapter (the unsent emails BROKE me!); a manuscript heist; and the steamiest scene-blocking ever.

This was an easy 5 star read for me, with an extra special treat—a little continuation of Annie’s story (my favorite Walker sibling!). I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Sarah Adams, Dell and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
💕 Rivals to lovers
💕 Small town romance
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Elementary teacher main characters
💕 Books about authors

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! - It is not an exaggeration when I say that the notification that I received this ARC literally made me scream out loud in the middle of a conversation. Never have I ever been more honored or excited to review a book! Seriously, reviewing for Sarah Adams was a bucket list item. I shall die happy now 🥹

𝘉𝘦𝘨, 𝘉𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘭 is hands down Sarah Adams's best book, and I've loved all of them very much. But Emily's and Jack's chemistry together is just🤌💯😍🔥. Yes, it's so good that I had to use emojis (since you can't see me gesturing wildly about their many perfections).

Enemies to lovers has historically been my least favorite romantic trope. I don't think it makes sense most of the time, and it feels forced and lusty. It's important to me to believe that at the core of a relationship there's friendship. Watching Emily and Jack progress from enemies to friends to lovers was absolutely delicious. I truly understood their enmity. Their realizations of their respect for one another were shockingly tender. Their friendship was just FUN. And their love is so, so real and genuine that it feels like it must exist outside of the pages. You can sincerely feel how much love and effort Sarah Adams poured into every moment, and I am wildly grateful she worked so hard to get this couple just right!

Beg, Borrow, and Steal is perfect for lovers of:
- enemies to lovers
- banter (seriously, do NOT sleep on this)
- forced proximity
- secret identities
- rivals
- the Walker family
- series of standalone romances set in small towns
- romantic comedies

... And also anyone with a heart and the ability to read or listen a book.

I absolutely, truly, from the bottom of my heart adored this book. Thank you to Dell Romance NetGalley and Sarah Adams for this incredible opportunity!

✒️Enemies to Lovers
✒️Workplace
✒️Neighbors
✒️Small Town

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book of the When In Rome series of interconnected standalones. This was a cute and quick read. I enjoyed most of it but the fmc got on my nerves at times. She acted immature and was a little cringy. My favorite things about the story was the banter between Jackson and Emily and their texts and emails. I liked that Emily tells herself that she can’t stand Jackson but when she ends up in trouble he is the one she calls. It adds to the tension between them and really maked me not wanting to put the book down. Even though this isn’t my favorite of the series, it was still enjoyable and entertaining. I cant wait for more from this author!

I listened to the audio and Nelson Hobbs and Brittany Pressly both did an amazing job of bringing these characters to life and keeping me intrigued with the story.

This is my favorite book in this series so far. The tension. The banter. The slooow burn. I loved it so much. I love Emily so so much. And Jack. Man, I loved him from the very beginning and he only got better and better throughout the book.
I also really loved seeing the emails and texts they sent each other over the years in between chapters!

This is Sarah Adams at her finest. It’s hilarious at times and so incredibly heartfelt at other times. I’m so happy we at least have one more book in Rome, Kentucky because I’m not ready to let this town or its townspeople go yet.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal delivered everything I love about this author’s stories: humor, heart, and a romance that felt as satisfying as it was swoon-worthy. Emily and Jack’s fiery dynamic as feuding teachers turned reluctant allies made for an utterly delightful read, full of laugh-out-loud moments and genuine emotional depth.
Emily’s meticulous, slightly neurotic charm paired perfectly with Jack’s easygoing, mischievous demeanor. Their banter was sharp and endlessly entertaining, but what really sold me was the way their relationship evolved—layer by layer, from antagonistic pranks to mutual respect to something undeniably more. The chemistry was undeniable, and their slow-burn connection had me rooting for them from the start.
The small-town Rome, Kentucky, setting added a cozy, picturesque backdrop to the chaos, and Emily’s secret life as a romance writer gave the story an extra layer of fun. Watching Jack, a bestselling mystery author, support her creative ambitions while also challenging her to be vulnerable was as heartwarming as it was hilarious.
The plot moved at the perfect pace, balancing witty hijinks (like their absurd manuscript heist) with heartfelt moments of growth and introspection. By the end, I was grinning ear to ear, completely invested in both their romance and their individual journeys.
This book was an absolute joy to read—perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes, witty humor, and characters with sparkling chemistry. The author knocked it out of the park again, and I couldn’t recommend it more.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was amazing!! I love all her stories, but this one was superb. I loved the fighting/banter between Jack and Emily and their chemistry somehow worked in spite of the fighting. The layers of these characters was what pulled me in. The side characters and siblings also helped make this book so enjoyable. The swoon and romance was the cherry on top of the story. I read When in Rome and loved it and this book was even better. Sarah writes emotional stories that dig into what all of us experience. You don't have to read the first book, but I highly recommend it. Great book!!

I just love going back to Rome, Kentucky! Everything Sarah Adams writes is a homerun for me and this book is no exception. Truly been such a cute series and this third is no different. Very cutsie romance that I’d recommend to any romance lover!

With every book, Sarah Adams continues to knock it out of the ball park. As an eldest daughter myself, I was so excited for Emily's story and her and Jack's romance. Competency is hot and I want to upload all of Jack's scenes onto Tinder and let every man know that I want THAT. Jack was just what Emily needed in her carefully controlled world, and I thought the book being both a mix of plot-driven and character-driven made it very exciting and a page turner. I really didn't want it to end (I never do with a Sarah Adams romcom), but as I can relate to Emily so heavily, she has a special place in my heart. I adored these two and diving back into Rome, Kentucky and love how Adams has really made this town so real in my mind.

Can I move to Rome, Kentucky? I've grown to love the Walker family and the town's residents through Adams' prior books in this series. Book #3 highlights the oldest Walker sibling - Emily, the Type A teacher who essentially raised her siblings following the deaths of their parents. In Emily's love story, we see how grief and trauma have informed her views on relationships ... and how she can overcome that when hottie teacher Jack Bennett moves back to town. Such a fun read and I can't wait for Book #4. (There will be a book 4, right?!?)

Omg this book!!! My favorite out of the entire series for sure! Absolutely adored both the FMC and the MMC— their personalities, the banter, their own personal stories, as well as the story they wove together! Sarah Adams you never disappoint!!!

I just adore Sarah Adams and Rome, Kentucky! This family has stolen my heart and I love going back and getting to know each and every family member. I have to say, Emily might be my least favorite sibling. I understand that she always took care of her siblings and tried to be the strong one for everybody but she just came across as mean and unlovable. I had a very hard time connecting with her. And the way she treated Jack, my goodness I wanted to jump in the pages and slap her. The back and forth between her and Jack was a bit much at time. I found myself wishing they would hurry up and kiss already so we could get the meanness behind us. I loved the couple once they got together and finally put their past behind them. We did see Emily open up some and become a little vulnerable which helped her to be a more likable character.

I loved this! I love a rivals to lovers trope and this one did not disappoint. The banter these two had was great. At first Emily and Jack can't stand either. They are now neighbors and co workers. Sarah Adams has a way of connecting these characters while adding in the perfect banter and perfect slow burn. I couldn't put this down and was ablet to finish in once day! I have read many Sarah Adam's books and this one was just as great!

**Rating:** 4.75 ⭐️ | 🌶️

- Forced Proximity
- Rivals to Lovers
- Hidden Identity
- He Falls First/Harder

**My Review:**
Emily and Jack are feisty with each other and their banter is great. I found myself laughing quite a bit at their antics.

What I loved:
I loved the emails that were shared (or not) between the MCs and how that provided an understanding to their past.

What I did not love:
I quite loved this book, but I can say one thing that I did not love was Emily’s slight mean streak. I respect her wanting to protect her peace & space, but it was quickly approaching mean girl territory.

Overall I really enjoyed the book, and the continued character development of Emily’s siblings (Noah & Annie from previous books + Madison, no book…yet?). I cannot wait for the next book in Rome! (I’m hoping is Madison’s Book!!)

**Thank you to Netgalley and Dell/Random House Publishing Group for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’ll always love a good friends to lovers! Returning to Rome, we’re getting the third Walker sibling’s story, Emily. Her second grade class is out for the summer and she’s about to enjoy this break made even sweeter after her years-long nemesis Jack moves away to be with his fiancée. This is about to be a dream summer focusing on writing her secret romance novel…and it’s all put through the ringer when none other than Jack is in HER writing spot at her cafe…back in town, newly single, and not only returning to his old job as the other second grade teacher, but moving in next door to Emily. Plenty of thwarting and sabotage ensues with the animosity at an all time high, but some common ground may help them realize they might be better off as friends instead of enemies…and maybe a tad bit more.
This was another fun and cute romcom by Sarah Adams, made all the more special by my favorite trope. The character development for both Emily & Jackson made the story all the more impactful and deep. I also love that Sarah left some loose ends (so hopefully we get the fourth sibling’s story soon?)
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a rivals-to-lovers romance with sharp banter and undeniable chemistry. The two main characters initially can’t stand each other, but always find themselves drawn together, turning their rivalry into a slow-burn filled with humor and emotional depth.
Adams’ writing is fast-paced, with plenty of snappy dialogue that makes their transition from rivals to lovers feel both earned and fun without feeling like there was never any animosity between them. The book also finds a good balance of lighthearted moments with themes of trust, vulnerability, and personal growth making this a must read contemporary romance for 2025.

So this was so cute that I finished it in one day. I enjoyed this a little more than the second book of the series, Practice Makes Perfect. Emily and Jack’s banter is GREAT! There are times where I found myself thinking how unrealistic a detail is but if you’re going into this series for some escapism, then I think that it’s perfectly fine and it didn’t deter me from enjoying this book one bit. It was a little bit of a slower burn than I wanted but it still slow burned very well. And I thought the discussion surrounding grief and parents was thoughtful, as was author’s notification for it and the spicier scenes at the beginning of the book. Easy and fun to read! I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a mostly lighthearted enemies to lovers!

Thank you again to Sarah Adams, Random House Oublishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the eARC!

I absolutely LOVED this!!! Couldn’t put it down and I loved the timeline of their relationship. This is probably my favorite one from this series hands down!

A true honor to receive an electronic ARC and then get my hands on a physical ARC. Sarah Adams books hold a very special place in my heart and this book was no exception.

This book follows another Walkers sibling journey to love. This time following Emily and her nemesis Jack. I absolutely loved the fighting, bickering and banter. I thought the enemies to lovers was done beautifully in this instance.

What really stood out to me and where I connected, was the idea of how hard it is to let people in and love people after great loss due to the fear of losing them again. It’s so easy to feel like everyone is always going to leave and you are not needed and Emily’s character had me crying quite a few times.

The only reason this isn’t a five star for me is I think some of the character traits were quite a bit forced and I think there could have been more resolution with some mental health aspects and some plot aspects honestly.

My absolute favorite part of this series will always be Rome Kentucky and this book is no exception. Sarah Adams has built a beautiful and hilarious town. I cannot wait to see Madison and James epic love story that we all know MUST BE COMING since book one.

My first Sarah Adams book and definitely not my last. I love their blatant chemistry, even as they were rivals. I love how Jack and Emily both came to trust eachother and lean on eachother. This was a semi slow burn and so so so good. It was funny, emotional, and just what I needed to start off the year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own..