I love rivals to lovers, there is just something about the tension that draws me in. The FM, Emily is hilarious and I adored Jackson. This is a great continuation of the series and won’t let you down.

I am always excited to get back to Rome, Kentucky and check in with the Walker family. This is the third book in the series, and I recommend reading all of them. Emily is a 2nd grade teacher in her hometown of Rome, Kentucky, and she is settling in to her summer break. She's feeling restless because she has always been the person in her family that others look to for support.

Emily is also surprised when her nemesis, Jack, returns to town. Jack and Emily have been in constant competition with each other since college, and she was happy when he moved away to live with his fiancee. She's shocked when he moves in to the house next to her after his engagement ended. Jack has come back to Rome because he wants to make a life there, and he has missed Emily. He doesn't know why (yet!), but he couldn't stop thinking about her when he didn't see her everyday. Jack is back to not only be Emily's neighbor, but he's also her co-worker because he also teaches 2nd grade.

Another similarity with Emily and Jack is that they are both secretly writers. Emily is writing her first romance novel while Jack has been publishing mystery novels under a pen name. Jack helps Emily with her writing, and it's fun to see their dynamic shift from enemies to friends.

This book is filled with so much banter and tension, and the slow burn pays off! One of my favorite scenes is when Emily and Jack act out of the scenes in her book. There's so much tension building up between them!

I gave the book 4 of out 5 stars because I wanted more of an ending. I felt like there should have been more after they got together. I really wanted to see them working together as teachers. I think that that could have been so much fun to explore.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait for the next book in the series! Thanks to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars

Another fantastic installment in the When in Rome series. This book centers around Emily Walker, a perfectionist and adorably prickly teacher and her nemesis, Jack Bennett. The two teachers have had a feud for years, but when Jack moves to Rome following a failed engagement, Emily has a hard time hating him again. Throw in secret manuscripts and some forced proximity and you have a perfect romcom.

I adored this book. The banter is excellent. The little How to Steal a Million nods are fun. Jack and Emily are fantastic, layered characters you can’t help but root for. How will I ever choose a favorite book in this series?

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off thank you to Dell Publishing and thank you to Sarah Adams for the eARC of this book I think I screamed when I saw I was approved. And now to just scream about this book and all the ways this book is now my favorite romance book possible ever.

I just have to start with saying when Sarah Adams wrote this book, she gave it her whole heart and soul IT IS SO GOOD. Her dedication perfectly lines up with the storyline and I found myself tearing up at parts not even going to lie. I felt so seen in both Emily and Jack - primarily Emily - that I just connected to the book, and it felt personal to me.

I don't want to say too much, because I definitely think it's worth the read, but I will say chapter 16 is FERAL. This book has single handedly pulled me from my months long reading is meh slump, made me super duper excited to pursue some of my own passions, and made me excited to buy this book in a physical copy and make all my romance fan friends read it because it is so good.

For me what makes it a good book is that the two main characters are so real and I could connect and relate to them SO HARD. Oh and the story is a blast. There were times I was annoyed with them but I was then like, wait I do that too.... It was so good it now goes down as one of my favorites if not THE FAVORITE romance book of mine of all time.

SO IN SHORT.... READ THIS BOOK! I don't think you'll regret it :)

Oh how this series never lets me down! Sarah Adams does the best job of delivering all the best fun and joy in a romance while never losing the depth and relatability. Emily Walker is the oldest sister, always helping and looking after everyone in town. She’s a perfectionist teacher, and trying to pursue her dream of being a Romance Author, in secret. Her family is starting to move on in their lives, and Emily is “right where you left me,” locking her feelings up as always. Emily met Jack back in college. After a disastrous flirting incident, they’ve been rivals ever since. Jack has his own family trauma, living with a narcissistic dad, and has a background of burying his feelings because they never mattered. As Emily and Jack go from coworkers to neighbors to friends to maybe something more, it’s a fun journey with lots of banter and hijinks!

For those who love:
🍎 Rivals to Lovers
🍎 Small Town Romance
🍎 Teachers
🍎 Secret Writers
🍎 Mini Heist
🍎 Oldest Sister
🍎 Family Issues
🍎 The banter!!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I’ll read anything written by Sarah Adams!! Every book that Sarah publish just gets better and better! I love the characters in Rome, Kentucky and I couldn’t wait to read about Emily and Jack when I got this ARC! And of course I absolutely love Jack Bennett! So So Hot!! 🥵👀😎as if he’s not hot enough, he also rides a motocycle?! 🤯🔥🔥
Emily and Jack are so good together. Their banter was amazing and I find myself laughing out loud with their dialogue. The rivals to lovers trope was done so well in this book.

I find myself relating to Emily in this book a lot. Emily bottled up her feelings internally and never let others see her vulnerable side. She falls in this dark hole and she felt like she can’t come out of it. She is independent and super protective of her siblings. She goes above and beyond for others but she also wished someone out there will recognize that she struggles as well and wish someone will ask if she’s alright. She feels she is too much and too tough to love. Despite all of this, Jack sees Emily and understands her. He’s like a light to her darkness.

My favorite quotes from Jack:

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

“I don’t need anything from you other than for you to unlock the door for me so I can come lie with you when the darkness is too heavy to crawl out of. And if you need to fight, you can fight with me. And if you want to make love, make it with me.”

“…I care for you always. I want you, always. The good, the bad, and the in-between. I. Want. You. Sharp edges, hot tempered, fiercely protective, gooey heart . . . all of it. All of you.

🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 I love Jack so much in this book. He made Emily feel so seen and known.😭😭

I think this is the best book so far in the Rome, Kentucky series. I love the Walker siblings and feeling kinda sad that there will only be one more book to the series. I wish I can visit Rome, Kentucky one day! 😅 OH! I would love to hug Ducky too! 🐈

Thank you to NetGalley, DellRomance, and Sarah Adams for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

*squeeeeeeeeeeeks* THIS BOOK! I'm going to be honest, I adored When in Rome and I didn't really think I would find anything else as good, BUT HOLD THE HECK ON, this one *chefs kiss*. Emily is absolutely hilarious, I adore Jackson, I love the universe of Sarah Adams brain for bringing these two little secret keepers back together to figure it all out once and for all. I am still smiling and I am writing this two days later.

Also, my partner kept track, I cried twice, laughed out loud 9 times, and shut the book and covered my mouth while gasping once.

Beg, Borrow, Steal by Sarah Adams is a laugh-out-loud, enemies-to-lovers romance set in the heartwarming small town of Rome, KY. While it shares the cozy charm of Practice Makes Perfect, this standalone story shines on its own.

When the grumpy new neighbor moves in next door, sparks (and plenty of insults) fly. Their chemistry is electric, their banter sharp, and as walls come down, the tension slowly gives way to something deeper and irresistible.

Adams delivers everything you want in a romance—humor, heart, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with. Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC—Sarah Adams continues to deliver!

I loved this one, just not as much as the others in this series. I always have kinda a hard time with enemies to lovers because in some cases, like the one, I felt like there wasn’t enough yearning like there was just a switch slip and they wanted each other. I am here for the yearning. Other than that I loved Emily, very eldest daughter coded.

A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book from the Rome, Kentucky series, however I would consider it a stand alone novel as you can read this without having read the first two. This book follows the heartwarming story of two elementary teachers, Emily and Jack, as they realize their true feelings for each other after 10+ years of being sworn enemies. As luck would have it, Jack returns to Rome, single after ending an engagement, and buys a home right next door to his enemy, Emily. Their hilarious meetings about town and neighborly quarrels suck you into the book and have you on the edge of your seat waiting for them to realize how perfect they are for each other. If you are a fan of Lucy Score, Megan Quinn and Christina Lauren, you have to check out Sarah Adams!

First I'd like to thank the author, publisher (Dell) and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review. I love Sarah Adams, and I have loved every book she's written. This one was no exception! I had so much fun returning to Rome, Kentucky this time to explore Emily's story with her nemesis Jack. I'm so happy that Sarah has started exploring open door romance, and feel like she handles it very tastefully. This book was fun, despite me getting a bit annoyed with Emily a few times, and anyone who is a fan of Sarah or the Rome KY books will absolutely love this! 4/5 stars!

Leave it to me to discover a 'new to me' author on the third book of a series. Despite starting on the penultimate book of the series (aka there's only one more book coming for the series), you won't find yourself lost if you choose to start with this one. It tells the story of Emily Walker, school teacher by day and romance novelist by night. Her nemesis, Jack Bennett left four months before the end of the school term to move to Nebraska with his fiancee... only to return at the beginning of the summer much to Emily's disappointment. While determined to keep him from moving into the house next door (and taking residence at her favorite table at the local coffee shop), Emily soon finds that maybe they aren't enemies after all.

I absolutely loved the Gilmore Girls meets Hart of Dixie feel that this book had. There were heartwarming moments and laugh out loud moments especially in the early part of Jack's return to Rome, (Kentucky) that made me enjoy the book even more with the turn of each page. I definitely plan on going back and reading the first two books of the series.

I just started reading Sarah Adams books. She’s such an incredible writer and this book did not disappoint. I love that the story was about writers and how they fell in love.

Thank you @dellromance, @authorsarahadams, and @netgalley for the ARC of Beg, Borrow, or Steal! I audibly cheered when I got the email letting me know I was approved to read this one. 😝 I’ve been anticipating the third book in the Rome, KY series and been so excited to read Emily and Jack’s story. 💘

Sarah Adams has come to be one of my favorite romance authors. 💕 I first read When In Rome in July 2023 and once I read that I continued on to read Practice Makes Perfect (second book in the Rome, KY), The Cheat Sheet, and Sarah’s other backlist titles. Totally binged and loved them all. This one could totally be a stand alone, but definitely read the first two for the best reading experience. 📚

Now, to Emily and Jack. 🥰🥰🥰 Emily Walker (Noah from When in Rome and Annie from Practice Makes Perfect’s sister) is beautiful, bold, the typical Type A big sister in her family, a teacher at the local elementary, and a secret aspiring romance novelist. She’s had a rivalry with Jackson (Jack) Bennett since college and he continues to get under her skin. Jack is the son of a famous mystery author and went on to become an elementary school teacher, at Emily’s school. He’s also a highly successful mystery writer under a pen name and nobody knows his secret. He moves away from town to get married to his fiancée, but then returns to Rome, KY when he calls off the wedding…and moves in right next door to Emily.

This was truly chef’s kiss and Emily and Jack are my new favorite couple in Rome, KY. Their chemistry and banter is truly A++. I absolutely loved the secret writers storyline and the fact that they were neighbors (forced proximity at its best). I don’t want to give too much away, but like most of Sarah’s novels, I loved the personal growth each of the main characters had made, with Bennett and the boundaries he had to make with his family and with Emily and her confidence in herself and letting others in. All the stars, I loved this one so much. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sarah Adams stan account here. I adored this book! I related deeply to Annie's story in Practice Makes Perfect but there is just something about an eldest daughter experience. The main characters were so cute, it was a dang delight to be back home in Rome, Kentucky, and I loved the inclusion of emails to help shed light on the history between the main characters. (Also did I mention I read this in one sitting on a 4 hour flight? Just perfection.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the eARC of this book which releases in January 2025. Further reviews to come on @alexaisreading__ on Instagram.

Sarah Adams has become an auto-read/buy author for me, and her books have grown so much in the time I've been following her. I would say this is definitely her most mature writing to date, and I loved the balance of humor with big, hard life stuff. I also loved that she took a woman, who by those around her, could be deemed unlikeable -eye roll at the desperate need to make women likeable all the damn time- and make her worthy of time and effort, and in the end, a solid romance. The slow burn and chemistry was A+!

✨ "One book or twenty - it doesn't matter. You put words on paper & created a world that readers aren't going to realize they even needed until they read it & it fills something up in them." If there was ever a line from a book that describes how I feel about Sarah Adams creating Rome KY, it's this one. I didn't think anyone could top my love of Will Griffin, but Jack absolutely did. The story gave us not only an enjoyable FMC & MMC, but also let us have glimpses into the daily lives of our favorite citizens of Rome. Jack & Emily are independent characters who thrive as adversaries, while also bringing an intensity and chemistry as lovers that you won't expect. This one shows us their individual journeys and their journey as a couple, while also showing how they fit into the community of Rome. From the beginning scenes, I was hooked.

I blazed through this book, only stopping before the last three chapters. Why? I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to say "See you later" to the wonderful people of Rome, KY.

Thanks to #netgalley & #RandomHouse for the advanced digital copy. It made my year & I can't wait for the rest of the world to join me in Rome. 💜

In the best way possible, Sarah Adams is the best to read when you're tired and stressed, because her books are a comfort don't take a lot of focus. I like how we keep checking in with the Walker siblings, but it isn't a big deal that I don't remember everything from the previous two books.

Ever since her parents died, Emily is used to being the strong person on whom people relied. That includes tacking the rivalry she's had with a rival teacher since their college days. When Jackson moves away, Emily rejoiced figuring it was done. Until he moves into the house next door.

It did get a bit tiring to suspend my disbelief and think "Oh, of course that worked," but again, Sarah Adams.

Thanks, NetGalley!

This book was perfect. My favorite Sarah Adams book to date. The banter, the tension, the vulnerability…perfection. The characters had so much depth and balanced each other beautifully. One of my top reads of the year.

Sarah Adam’s has quickly become a must read author, so I was SO excited to receive an advanced copy of her newest book due out January 7, 2025!

This is the third book in the “When in Rome” series and this time we are treated to Emily’s love story! I love the small town vibes of Rome, Kentucky and the Walker siblings are always a lot of fun!

This rivals to lovers romance was the perfect balance of humor and heartfelt emotions. The chemistry between Emily and Jack oozed off the pages and had my heart fluttering. Jack was a truly swoon worthy male main character. I just loved everything about him! There’s a mild amount of spice in this book but nothing super open door about it!

I also really enjoyed getting more of Noah/Amelia and Annie/Will’s stories from the first two books. Can’t wait to hopefully read the rest of Maddie’s story when the final book in this series comes out!

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine-Dell for the ARC of this book! ❤️