As a fan of the When in Rome series, I was excited to receive an ARC for Beg, Borrow, or Steal and be reunited with the Walker siblings and their little town called Rome. For the record, you don't need to read the other books as this one can be read as a standalone. An enemies to lovers trope with a dual point of view, it's a beautiful story that tackles grief from the death of family members in a very authentic way. Emily's character totally resonated with me as I'm the 2nd of 4 siblings too, was a teacher, and have also had to deal with the same grief. I found the her role in the sibling line up and how her personality matched how she dealt with life was super relatable. Jack's character was also super layered and complex. I found him to be so sweet, charismatic, but also able to work through his own issues. Their banter and interactions were fun and enjoyable to witness especially given you can totally picture all the stuff happening while they are living in a small town. Loved the banter and how their secrets intersected. This is one of those stories that continues to have twists and surprises all the way to the end which makes just ache for the next installment to come sooner.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Tropes: enemies to lovers, small town, forced proximity

Sarah Adams takes us back to Rome, KY to tell Emily’s story. Emily is the eldest of the Walker sisters and the family’s rock. Until everyone leaves her. If she wasn’t already lonely enough, it turns out her new next door neighbor is her arch nemesis, Jack, and she just doesn’t know what to do with that other than attempt to make his life miserable.

Both characters are dynamic, secretly a bit messy, and so so sassy. Emily and Jack have spent the last 10 years competing with and hating each other. And Emily has spent the last year reeling from her two younger sisters seemingly moving on with their lives while she remains in their childhood home. Their paths cross now more than ever, but can they find a way to be civil to one another?

Another great Sarah Adams read😍😍 I know that when I start a Sarah Adams it’s going to feel a little like coming home and snuggling up with a cozy blanket.

I’ve loved each of these books in this series but I think this one is my favorite. There’s just something about enemies-to-lovers that just works for me. The banter, the tension, the oh maybe I didn’t really hate you. It just worked here with Jack and Emily. I loved their vulnerability but also their honesty with each other. They were a breath of fresh air and I didn’t want to put this one down.

Of course, you can’t forget about the town in this series! I love how much they rallied behind Emily and all their antics!

This one is out January 7th and you should absolutely be picking this one up. It is book 3 and can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the other two first! Thank you netgalley, the publisher and the author for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Sarah Adams delivers! I love her Audrey Hepburn film inspirations in each book in this series and my god--the emails! She made me squeal in delight reading this!

5/5 stars

Trigger Warnings: gaslighting, emotional abuse, toxic relationships, death of a parent and grief.

I was so excited when I got the approval for this book! Sarah Adams is one of my favorite authors and her books keep getting better and better.

You don't have to read the 'When in Rome' series in order but I highly recommend it.

Emily and Jack are truly amazing main characters. They are both relatable, filled with depth and have lots of growth throughout the book. Sarah writes mental health so well and I felt understood by these characters. Her books contain grief and heartbreak but she handles it with such grace.

I loved the childhood friends/enemies to lovers aspect of this book. The teacher profession and secret writer was such a fun aspect to read about. So many scenes had me laughing out loud and I could picture what was happening. Rome is an incredible small town and it is definitely another character in this series.

I am so so excited for the next book in this series and I have a good feeling which two characters are going to be our main characters.

Thank you Netgalley, Dell Romance and Sarah for this arc!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Sarah Adams
Publication date: January 7, 2025
5/5 stars

I loved this book! Emily and Jack have been rivals through college and now are working side by side as elementary school teachers. When Jack calls off his wedding and becomes Emily neighbor, they both get more than they bargained for.

I was so excited to receive an ARC and it didn’t disappoint. I loved the banter throughout the story and the character development. This book is deeper than the other books in the When in Rome Series and goes into heavier topics, but it is also uplifting in true Sarah Adams’ fashion. I appreciated the author’s note at the beginning of the book for closed door modification, but I felt like two more chapters should have been included (easy to skip though without missing out on plot).

I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for Maddie’s story! Thank you to Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I’ve seen good things about the author. So when I got the ARC from NetGalley, I figured I’d start here and see if I feel like diving in further. Plus, the FMC is a control freak perfectionist older sister? OK, now you’re speaking my language.

It’s “enemies” to lovers, which isn’t one of my favorite tropes. Mostly because it means a lot of immature bitching at each other and stupid games and it’s generally annoying. But that part was alright - still not great, and went on too long, but ok.

And in general, it was very good. Not amazing, not drop-everything-and-read-all-her-stuff great… but I’ll queue it all up, for sure. Solid 3.5 rom com.

This is my favorite series by Sarah Adams.
Thank you to Sarah Adams, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Plot:
Emily Walker is an organized, routine oriented, second grade teacher starting her summer break. Everything is going as planned until she notices that someone took her Saturday corner table at the cafe. Jack Bennett is back in town after breaking off his engagement in Nebraska. Him and Emily are enemies since college and she is not happy to see him. To make matters worse, she discovers that he plans to stay in town, continue teaching at her school, and worst of all, move in to the house next door to her.
Their summer is now filled with pranks, shenanigans, and other challenges that slowly make them ask the question: are we really enemies or is there something more?

My Thoughts:
I've read a few enemies-to-lovers tropes and thought I was getting sick of it. I was wrong. This book was great. The slow build-up was perfect. I do not agree with Annie that you should just jump into the steam. I was pleasantly surprised that this installation wasn't closed door romance like the others. For those who that worries, it's alright. It's still not super descriptive and is just perfect to still make you swoon. It seems like there was hinting at a fourth book, and that would be amazing! We still have one more Walker sibling that needs to find their person.

These characters had great development throughout the book and I appreciated that it wasn't just
a "walls are down, we're in love now" type of read. I enjoyed watching both characters work through their own problems-either together or on their own-and I loved how they slowly gained each other's trust.

Can't wait for the next book!

5 Stars Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in Sarah Adams’ When in Rome series and is hands down my favorite in the series so far!

Emily Walker has been feuding with Jack Bennett since their first day of college over a decade ago and continued as they taught at the same elementary school. Their feud is about to reach a new level when Jack moves in next door to Emily. After breaking off his engagement, Jack moves to Emily’s small town of Rome, Kentucky. Jack constantly disrupts Emily’s carefully crafted world with his charm and antagonism. So like any mature adult would, Emily sets out to sabotage Jack’s move to Rome and Jack is only too happy to engage in this petty warfare. The close proximity leads Emily and Jack to find that they are more similar than they realized, including shared secret literary side hustles. Jack is a published mystery novelist using a pen name and Emily has just finished her first novel. When Emily accidentally sends her manuscript to their principal instead of a literary agent, she’ll need Jack’s help to steal it back and an unexpected alliance is formed. Could this be the end of their rivalry and the start of a romantic plot twist?

Beg, Borrow, or Steal has been one of my most anticipated 2025 releases and it did not disappoint! It was honestly the perfect read! The banter and petty antics, the slow burn and building tension between the characters, and the vulnerability Emily and Jack share with each other were sooooo good. Everything from the plot, to the pacing, to the character development was spot on. I’m already ready for a re-read!

Thank you Sarah Adams and Dell for the ARC! Beg, Borrow, or Steal releases January 7th!

Sarah Adams ability to make you laugh out loud and swoon during every page is unmatched. We always look forward to Sarah’s novels and Beg, Borrow, or Steal did not disappoint. It’ll be the book we think about at least once a day!

This is my Gaborone Sarah Adams book so far, for sure. While I’ve found her books a little TOO sweet and the characters a tinge unbelievable, Jack and Emily had enough flaws to make them realistic. I loved their backstory and banter. Was it all a little too predictable? Yes. Did they end up super cheesy in the end? Also yes. Entertaining, though, and I’m sure Ms. Adams’ fans will gobble this one up.

“I’m the oldest daughter, I’m not scared of anything.”
5/5 ⭐️
Every type A, oldest daughter, teacher needs to read this book. When Emily Walker realizes her life long enemy Jack Bennett is back in town, she does everything in her power to get him to leave. Nothing like small town to make a person feel welcome. Or in his case, not welcome. But when their hate turns to like, the chemistry between these two is fire 🔥 The shenanigans to see two get into had me cracking up.

I have never related to a book more. From the feelings and guilt of parental loss, to the loss of identity when summer hits as a teacher to the pressure of being an oldest daughter and feeling like you have to old everything together. Sarah Adams does an amazing job creating such a realistic character and her journey in finding herself in relation to her family, her career, her passion and love life. Emily felt like a work bestie and sister. I found myself rooting for her along the way.

While this can be read as a standalone, Rome, Kentucky is such a charming town and I never want to leave. Having not read any of this series before, I’m excited to jump back to the other Walker siblings to see their characters bloom. It would have been helpful to have read them first as it gives some spoilers of the end game for Noah and Annie but understanding of this book was not hindered by that.

Thank you Random House Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Thank you to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook.
Thank you to Dell Romance for the advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book three in the When in Rome series. I haven't read the first two books yet, and I don't like to read books out of order, but such is life. I had no trouble reading this book out of order, though. If anything, it makes me want to go back and read the first two books ASAP.

This book is about Emily and Jack. two co-worker teachers who have loved to needle each other since college. Jack moved away with his fiancée a few months ago and never said goodbye to her. For some reason, that bothers her more than she would like.

Emily doesn't know how to react when Jack moves back to town without his fiancée-- AND, in the house right next to her. When she accidentally emails her manuscript, Jack helps her to get it back, and in the process they become closer.

I mainly listened to the audiobook, and it narrated in dual POV by Brittany Pressley and Nelson Hobbs. They are both so good, but especially Brittany. Her narration had me laughing more than once. I definitely recommend the audiobook.

”you are not alone, emily. i would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.”₊ ⊹

my thoughts ┊this was so cute!

the first two books in this series have been sweet, but ultimately nothing too special for me. this book, however, is definitely the best in the series!

i really related to emily, as a fellow oldest daughter who is struggling with no longer having people needing to lean on her, so her journey and development was really fulfilling! and jack, ugh. i loved his character so much; the banter between the two of them and the reluctant friendship they build up initially was just soo good.

definitely enjoyed and highly recommend!

This is one of those books that just grips you from the first page, I knew from the get go I was going to love it. I was so happy to go back to Rome and visit old friends and meet some new ones. It's funny, it's sad, it's emotional, it's adversaries to lovers so the banter is bantering. Absolutely loved it and I cannot wait for the next one :)

emily & jack are so cute! the way they were subconsciously pretending they hated each other when really they cared.. had me 🤭 this book feels like a warm hug, sarah's writing has a way of doing that 🫂 as always, this was adorable but had some emotional depth which made the characters and their relationship seem more real. rivals to friends to lovers / neighbors .. i loved it. there's something special about the small town of rome, kentucky.. i love each of the couples & the side characters and i was so happy to be back in this world.

"i would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time." 🥺

thank you so much random house & netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was my FIRST Sarah Adams book and I was NOT disappointed. I have heard the hype about When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect, so I was very excited to read this one even though I hadn't stepped foot into this territory.

Emily and Jackson (Jack)'s banter is unmatched. I was able to lose myself in their world and feel their feelings surrounding one another. While both characters share they are one another's "nemesis," it was also very apparent that they were passionate about each other. They loved seeing each other fired up, riding on the high of feeling open and vulnerable to one another even when it was just fighting about mundane things. As readers, we watch their, sometimes unwanted, love for each other grow and it was refreshing to see two people grow closer without a damaging, third act conflict.

As individual characters, Emily and Jack had such depth to them that I feel like I personally know them and/or see parts of myself in them. Sarah Adams discusses sensitive topics such as grief, anxiety, and dealing with difficult parents, and does it in a way that makes the readers believe that IT"S OKAY to struggle sometimes. Jack and Emily are empathetic, kind-hearted, passionate, and loving characters and it was written beautifully. I haven't even mentioned Emily's family and the city of Rome and they played a HUGE part in creating the cozy, tender setting of the book.

All in all, I loved this book. I can't wait to rave about it once it has been published on Instagram, Goodreads, and Snapchat. Five stars, no questions asked, will be recommended to everyone who wants to indulge themselves in an easy read.

Emily and Jack ❤️

Who doesn’t love a good small town romance?
(I mean… I’m sure someone doesn’t but well they’re wrong)

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this as I haven’t read the first two books in the series but I did see a lot of people talking about this book. I figured I’d give it a try and then was sold when I saw small town romance.

As the child who isn’t actually the oldest but takes on the role of oldest child… I get it girl. I get it. And the mental health representation just added so much to the story.

Thank you so so much for approving me for this book. It's made me so happy to be able to read this book in advance because I absolutely love the Rome, Kentucky series by Sarah Adams.
I love a good rivals to lovers and this book did not disappoint (Sarah Adams never disappoints though). I loved the pacing of this book and just everything about it. this whole book was just wow. i loved it so so much.
i was so excited to read about emily’s story after sarah adams announced it and i was not disappointed in jackson bennett. i love them so much.
i loved being able to read about emily changing & how she was dealing with it especially when she was still dealing with recent events in her life. i saw myself in emily through the book & for that, it made me like her even more. being able to relate to a character is the best feeling, even if it is a bit sad.
and jack bennett, i need him in my life. the way he was with emily, being so caring, sweet and tender with her about everything was so nice. not only that, but the descriptions we got about his looks & how he dresses (especially the necklaces) reminded me of harry styles, minus the glasses. jack is one of the best book boyfriends.
i loved emily & jacks bickering & banter. i loved the emails / texts at the end of some of the chapters. i also loved that we got to see messages from when they were in college & just starting to teach. i love it really tied everything together. emily & jack had me giggling & kicking my feet.
one thing i love about this series is the sibling dynamic that sarah adams puts into these books. the sibling moments are one of my favorites. i loved that we got to see noah & amelia from the first book & them being happy. & i especially loved seeing annie & will (they’re my favorite) from the second book & them being EXTREMELY happy at the end. i can’t wait to read about madison’s story in the forth & final book in the rome, kentucky series.
every book by sarah adams feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a snowy winter day while drinking a cup of tea. her books give me that sort of comfort that i love so much. i just love her books so much (as you can see by this long review tehehe)
thank you again for this arc & i can’t wait for this book to be released in january. it was amazing <3

This was one heck of a way to return to Rome, Kentucky. This may just be my new favorite book of the series. The banter and humor in this book was nothing short of perfection. Sarah Adams knows how to write amazing characters.

Emily and Jack are perfect together. Their chemistry was written so well. I cannot get over their story.

Jackson, oh Jackson. This glasses wearing, swoony man. I refuse to believe that he is fictional. Everything about him just had me in a puddle.


Thank you so much to Dell Romance for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.