When I started this book I was ready for a cute romance, I wasn’t quite ready for the depth of some of the moments in this book, but wow did they add to my experience with it. If you are an oldest daughter who took on some parenting roles for your sibling(s) &/or you’re the child of a narcissist, be prepared for some feels because there were definitely some moments that hit the mark.
Emily is a perfectionist, she fell into the role of parent to her siblings, she’s resigned to spending her life single, she cares about her family more than anything else, oh & she HATES Jack Bennett!
Jack Bennett is charming, sexy, intelligent, & goes out of his way to get under Emily’s skin. Emily & Jack have been one upping & sabotaging each since freshmen year of college to the point that they’ve reached enemy levels of spite & hatred, yet there’s also a connection they can’t deny. Jack & Emily reach a tentative friendship, which gets stronger when Emily gets drunk & makes a big mistake, then must enlist Jack’s help to undo it before disaster strikes. The dynamic between Emily & Jack provides some intense tension right from the start! There were points in this book that had me giddy & literally kicking my feet.
The town is full of fun side characters, I didn’t realize this was a standalone untwined with the When in Rome series, but I look forward to picking up the previous books after reading this one! Basing my rating on this being a small town, cute, romance, I have no notes, it was perfect! I couldn’t even choose favorite quotes among the mass that I highlighted.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is officially my favorite in the When In Rome series. Emily just completely resonated with me. She is the backbone of her family and therefore she cannot show the vulnerability that she encourages her siblings to share. She is left behind as she encourages her family to go out and grow and explore. Jack and Emily are school teachers who secretly write great books also really hits home with me as a school teacher who loves to read great books! They are delightful as rivals to lovers and their chemistry is off the charts. I also love how the entire town of Rome stood by Emily because that’s what community and love is all about! I can’t wait for the next book, but I don’t want this series to end at all.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like Sarah Adams’ books keep highlighting things she needs to work through with her therapist. I loved the first chapter but then we go down her usual road of the FMC is perfect and quirky and cutesy and the MMC is perfect and quirky and cutesy (his retro clothing and the weird kid tattoos and the necklaces he wears). All her characters feel largely the same from book to book. Easy reads, same lather, rinse, repeat. For having a trad deal, I expect her to push herself as a writer more than she has.

This series just gets better and better with each book!! I loved getting the next Walker sister's story in emotionally closed off/takes care of everyone/romance novel enthusiast Emily!!

Emily Walker and Jackson Bennett have hated each other for a decade. There's nothing more fun than having a nemesis, and these two take it to the extremes- which makes the adorable small town of Rome, Kentucky not know what to do or whose side to take! Emily's fiercely protective of her loved ones, her town, her cat, and basically everyone she meets. Jack's a smooth charmer, a truly good guy who had to adapt to reading emotions with a manipulative parent. Emily is all confrontation all the time, and Jack won't confront anyone- except for Emily!! When circumstances bring him back to town (those circumstances including his inability to forget his nemesis), and circumstances make these two next door neighbors, they get more than they bargained for on the emotional level!

I absolutely adored this story and these two perfectly imperfectly matched people. I laughed out loud at their arguments and pranks, kicked my feet when they were talking about Emily's book, and felt all the feelings when our two main characters were going through it emotionally and grappling with their pasts and hopes for the futures. This was spectacular, and I loved how much we also got of the other Walker siblings living their happy ever afters!!

Thank you so much to Sarah Adams and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I have really enjoyed all the Rome books in the series but this one may have snuck into my favorite of all three. I am loving the plot and the characters. Set in the charming town of Rome, Kentucky (i got fooled with book 1 thinking Rome, Italy LOL), the story follows second grade teachers Emily Walker and Jack Bennett, who have been feuding as enemies for years. When Jack returns to town after calling off his wedding, their rivalry reignites, but a surprising turn of events forces them to team up in an unexpected mission. This book is filled with tension and undeniable sparks in this steamy and small town romance!

As the oldest child of six siblings and with a dad’s that’s passed away, I really connected with Emily’s character. She takes on the weight of the world and holds herself to a high standard. The way she felt safe with Jack to be vulnerable and express her emotions was really powerful. Another beautiful addition to the Rome series. I’m really excited for Madison’s story line!

Emily and Jack's story was a sweet, silly time. The very strong disdain that they have for each other proves to be a great vessel for plot progression, but it felt immature and depthless. Their romantic connection, once it starts building, also lacked nuance and depth. If you're looking for a fun and unserious read this is great for that, but the book missed the mark as something that inspired strong emotional responses or the audience's connection to the characters.

I've loved some of Sarah Adams' past work, but I have learned that her books are very hit or miss for me personally, which is totally okay! This one felt like a miss for me, but I know that this book will find its audience and be loved by a different type of reader.

I’m so sad to report that I did not enjoy this book at all. :( being inside Emily’s head had me constantly cringing and I had to put it down.

“You think you’re unlovable, but I think I’ve never known how to love until knowing you.”

“As all good and unbearable perfectionists know, if you want something done right, you mostly have to do it yourself.”

* Oh, good old Rome, Kentucky
* I can already tell that Emily is me and I am Emily
* Not the emails while they’re sitting at the same table 😅
* He’s just so likable hahaha
* Oh nooo
* Not him and the cat just so cozy at her house 😭🫶
* These siblings are just the best and I love them
* Jack is so swoony I can’t handle it
* Nooo Emily, don’t listen to her!
* We love an adult conversation about needing to process emotions 👏
* THAT JERK
* Awwww. I love them all so much

Content: moderate swearing (including some f-words), skip the spice: chapter 16, chapter 19 (a pretty heated make out), chapter 25, chapter 32, chapter 36 first few paragraphs

Here are a few more quotes that will probably convince you to read it more than any review I could write:

“I want to make up for every day of every year I spent fighting with her instead of loving her.”

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

“Life can be a little shit sometimes. But shit also makes great fertilizer.”

“Emily . . . when I told you I care for you, I mean it. It’s not that I care for some aspects of you, not that I care for you when you’re in a good mood . . . 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 just.. wow. I relate to Emily and her struggles with perfectionism and feeling like she’s too much for people, too hard to love. Those fears and feelings just went straight into my soul.

I was so happy for Emily, seeing her grow and stretch, and start to be okay with change. Watching her let herself love and care for someone outside of her family. So good.

And Jack? I LOVE him. He’s such a sweetie and so good for Emily. They’re good for each other. I loved getting to see him work through his issues with his family and learn how to love Emily.

And I just love all the Walker siblings and getting to see them together was so good. 🫶 I can’t wait for Maddie’s story!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy. A positive review wasn’t required and all opinions are my own.

Loved the slow burn and banter between the main characters! Despite Emily going out of her way to run Jack out of town, he shows up for her when she needs him. Sarah does a great job pulling in characters from previous books. Definitely add this to your TBR list!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams gave me butterflies! I couldn’t wait do dive back into the When in Rome series.

Second grade teachers Emily and Jack are long time nemesis when Jack moves back to Rome, KY and buys the fixer upper next to Emily.

The characters are so lovable you couldn’t help but cheer them on and the tension between Emily and Jack was oozing off the page. The dialogue in Beg, Borrow, or Steal had me laughing and smiling so big my cheeks hurt. I also really enjoy the side characters and town of Rome, which is almost a character in itself!

I’ll read anything Sarah Adams writes— every book just keeps getting better. Looking forward to the final trip to Rome next year!

Highly recommend picking up Beg, Borrow, or Steal— but don’t miss the first two books in the series first!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine- Dell for an advanced copy of this book!

Sarah Adams did it again: Beg, Borrow, or Steal is an amazing addition to the series. Rome and its residents are a soft place to land and this installment was no different. Emily is the epitome of eldest daughter, ultimate protector and defender. Her sheer love for her siblings was soooo palpable. This book came to me at the right time when I was in dire need of a comfort read.

Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He's the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year, with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.

Jackson Bennett is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited for—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.

Emily’s tightly wound personality contrasts perfectly with Jack’s easygoing charm, creating a dynamic filled with playful pranks, sharp banter, and romantic tension. Their battle of wits takes a turn when an accidental email threatens to reveal Emily’s secret, forcing her to team up with Jack in a hilariously unexpected alliance. As they work together, their animosity evolves into a slow-burn romance. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and they balance their witty exchanges with moments of genuine vulnerability. The small-town setting and lively side characters add extra charm, making the story even more engaging.

Emily and Jack are both such incredibly relatable characters (for those of us with jilted love lives and messy families), but I love how this doesn’t stop them from openly and maturely communicating with each other through it all. Especially Emily deserves all the love, attention, and dedication, and Jack really shows up to make sure she gets it alllll *winky face*. This is such a cute yet emotionally deep read that I really enjoyed and blew through within a day. It really does feel just like a big hug you could drown in.

I absolutely adored this book. The characters. The setting. The banter. The growth. THE ENDING!! All of it was done so perfectly. I loved how Emily and Jack treated each other with grace and kindness while also being honest and having a fun time. It’s definitely one of my favorite romances I’ve read recently and I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy on January 7th!!

3.8 Stars
One Liner: This was fun!

Emily Walker doesn’t like disruptions or changes. She also doesn’t like her nemesis, Jackson Bennett, her fellow second-grade teacher in the local school.
When Jack left Rome, Kentucky, to live with his fiancée, Emily was delighted. Her loving hometown was free of him at last. She could focus on completing her secret romance novel.
Jack returns to Rome after breaking off his engagement. He is happy to be back in the small town that charmed him even if Emily doesn’t want him around. He has his own secrets to keep and would do what he could to make Rome his home.
When Emily mistakenly sends her manuscript to their school principal instead of a literary agent, she needs Jack’s help to steal back her manuscript. Their interactions soon show that they may not have hated each other for so long!
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Emily and Jack.

My Thoughts:
This is my first book by the author. It is the third in the series and works as a standalone. One day, I’ll read the previous two.
The book starts with a short note about triggers and the chapter numbers for those who want to skip spicy scenes. A clear idea indeed!
We get the story from both POVs, though Emily’s is more than Jack’s. That’s fine since they cover the base pretty well. The first-person voices are distinct enough to not create confusion about who narrates the chapter (there are clear headers too).
The little email and SMS interactions placed between the chapters not only add to the fun but also give more insight into the characters and their past. I enjoyed reading these.
It took a while to warm to Emily but I liked her as I got to know her. Jack was easier to like (everyone in the book likes him too!). Emily’s family and her relationship with them were heartwarming and bittersweet. There’s some joint trauma there but much love too.
The book deals with some heavy themes like parental loss, parentification of a child, toxic family, narcissistic parent, etc. These influence the main characters in many ways. There are some intense moments but the book stays true to the genre and keeps things from becoming too overwhelming. I prefer it this way.
Writing is another part of the plotline. Some good insights are provided. I related to some of the emotions the characters feel when they write.
One aspect I wanted more was the teaching part. They talk a lot about teaching, students, school, etc. but we don’t get to see them in the classroom or with their students. Yeah, it’s set during the holidays. Still, I needed at least one scene. After all, they take their professions seriously!
The second half is slower than the first half, probably coz it packs more stuff. There’s a teeny epilogue but I admit I wanted more. Also, one important element has not been detailed, and I needed to see it after having to deal with such an annoying character. It should have been included in the epilogue.
To summarize, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is an entertaining enemies-to-lovers story with good banter and interesting supporting characters.
The next book will belong to Madison (the only unmarried Walker sibling). I hope she impresses me coz I’m already rooting for the guy (Team James). Excited to read it!
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine (Dell), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I liked this book. Was it the best in the series? No. I lived the love story between Emily and Jack. Something just felt like it was missing. Both characters suffered with two types of grief. I appreciate covering the topics, but Jack was just too perfect in how he went solving his and her problems. This was a very entertaining read and I can’t wait to see what else Sarah Adams has in store.

This was by far the best book in the When in Rome series. I loved the entire relationship between Emily and Jack and how it evolved over time. It started with the banter between the two during their “rivalry phase” and slowly morphed into one of the greatest loves of all time. An excellent addition to this novel was their ability to each overcome their different childhood traumas and develop into such amazing humans. I loved the emotional intelligence that was depicted throughout the novel in each of these characters. I also felt like the pacing of this book was spot on — their relationship didn’t feel too slow nor did it feel rushed — it seemed to develop very naturally. I thought the snippets of the texts & emails sprinkled between chapters was an amazing touch.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Sarah Adams book, I know I’m reading them out of order 🙈, and I was happily surprised. I was worried it was going to be too cheesy for my taste but NO, I was wrong. The cheese was just perfect!

You get to know these characters slowly, and their hate-to-love development was just *chefs kiss*. Jack was giving Miles Novak in a way 🥰 while Emily reminded me of Nora Stephens. Sarah Adams brought in family trauma and dynamics to add to the character development and you feel like you KNOW Emily and Jack. Their “hateful” bickering was the sweetest way of flirting. (their unsent emails got me🥺)

All in all, this reminded me of Emily Henry and I say that in the best way, not in a competitive way that one is better than the other, but in the way that it provoked the same feelings as an EmHen book. I related to the characters, the story development was excellent, and you are close to tears while it’s a comfort read at the same time. I am them, they are me!! I want to move to Rome! I want to go to Hank’s on Fridays! Sarah Adams said she took inspiration from Stars Hollow and you feel that small-town charm in this book.

I can’t wait to read the two previous books (When In Rome and Practice Makes Perfect) in this series now. And I hope 🤞🏼and wish that the next book is about Maddie and a certain farmer boy 👀

Forever grateful to Dell, Random House Publishing, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for a review! Thank you so much!

🔎 ARC Review

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

When in Rome #3

Publication Date: January 7th, 2025

@authorsarahadams
@dellromance
@netgalley

My Rating:
🌟 5/5

📚 Read If You Like:
Rivals to Lovers
Teachers
Writers

Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He's the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year, with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.

Jackson Bennett is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited for—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.

With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, and Jack—she hates to admit—is just the man to help her. Surprisingly, Jack agrees. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?

🔎 My review
There are 2 things that I love, Sarah Adams and Rome, KY! I love the When in Rome series and was super excited to hear of part 3 featuring our beloved Emily. Emily is super relatable once you get to know her and I loved seeing her give in to being vulnerable and expressing her feelings. I also loved the way that Jack was able to grow and learn how to express himself as well! These 2 were made for each other!

Thank you @authorsarahadams,@dellromance, and @netgalley for the ARC ❤️


#books #bookreviews #bookstagrammer #bookworm #bookstagram #bookobsessed #romance #sarahadams #dell #BegBorroworSteal #NetGalley #romekentucky #wheninrome

REVIEW: Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams

“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.”

So, apparently, I am good at starting a series in the middle instead of the beginning. Beg, Borrow, or Steal is the third book in the Rome series. I didn’t feel lost starting at the third book because there was enough context.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was such an excellent rom-com book! I was invested in the story from the beginning to the end. There were tropes of enemies to lovers and small-town romance, which I both love. Emily and Jack were enemies starting in college, with Jack accidentally spilling coffee on Emily. They would tease and prank each other even through their 2nd-grade teacher jobs at the same school. The banter was so playful and fun. There were many sweet and tender moments, but also a significant build-up to some spice.

I also enjoyed the main characters, Emily and Jack, in Beg, Borrow, or Steal. They both had detailed backstories that helped shape the characters for good and bad. They both had strong feelings towards one another, even through their “hating” one another. Jack is so sweet and selfless and even wears homemade necklaces made by his students. Emily is so used to being the provider for everyone that she doesn’t know how to help herself. It was also fun to see the use of emails to provide more background and flirting between the characters.

The only thing I struggled with was figuring out the actual conflict. When I thought it was one thing, it ended quickly. I just thought there should be a bit more to it.

I really enjoyed reading Beg, Borrow, or Steal. It hit it out of the park for a great rom-com. Now, I am excited to read the other books in the series.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

Thank you Dell and NetGalley for the eARC :)

My queen Sarah Adams has done it again!!!

So far, every book in the Rome, Kentucky series has been 5 stars from me! That is uncommon for me in series. I love this little town and the people in it so much.

Emily and Jack are both 2nd grade teachers in Rome, Kentucky. The have known (and hated) each other since Jack accidently spilled coffee on her when they were in college. Jack moves away, but then he returns at the beginning of summer and buys the house right next door to Emily. Chaos ensues, but then romance also begins to ensue eventually.

Right out of the gate, I loved how Emily was both infuriated and relieved to find that Jack has returned to Rome. It shows their dynamic perfectly and that they have both always had feelings for each other way before they admitted it!

This plot also takes forced proximity to a whole new level! What better tension can be built than making your two characters who are “nemeses” NEIGHBORS??? Not to mention the acts of service they show toward each other since they are so close during every hour of the day.

This book talks about sensitive topics such as grief and parental neglect/emotional abuse. The scenes where more emotional stuff was happening felt very real and raw.

Although there is no explicit spice in this novel, there was plenty of tension and intimacy. It is refreshing to me to have an author show connection between characters without having explicitly detailed scenes. That is something I love about Sarah Adams!

My favorite things about this book are the found family, the small town, the witty banter, and the emotional depth. I highly recommend!