An emotionally intelligent man! Enemies-to-friends-to-lovers! A spicy scene that will live rent-free in my brain! What more could you ask for?

This was a fun and easy slow burn, with playful banter and just enough emotional baggage to get you invested. While I have a hard time believing two professional adults would behave the way Emily and Jack did at times—even if they are "nemeses"—it still made for a really fun read.

The When in Rome series is giving me Lovelight Farms vibes—we love a cozy small-town romance!

This book has been sitting on my TBR for a month because I fell into an ACOTAR hole, but it was worth the wait. And thanks to NetGalley for my very first ARC 🥺

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is book #3 in the When In Rome series by Sarah Adams. The first two books in the series were two of my top reads of 2024. The each book in the series follows the love stories of the Walker siblings, Noah, Annie, Emily, and Madison, in that order... I cannot WAIT for book 4 detailing Madisons love story.
This book follows Emily and her arch nemesis coworker turned lover, Jack. Emily is so relatable to me, as the oldest sister, a teacher, a fiercely independent woman, and dealing with anxiety and depression. Adams writes about those potentially heavy topics, as well as grief and healing in such a respectful and realistic manner.
The relationship and it's evolution between Emily and Jack is full of tension, bickering, humor and eventually sweetness and it had me totally enraptured... In fact I read the book in one single sitting. I love that the series flows from one book to the next, following along with the previous books and expanding the stories found there, however the books can also be read as stand alone stories without confusion. I highly recommend reading them in order if you can... And I do highly recommend all 3 of them out so far!
Beg, Borrow, or Steal carries themes of grief, loss and healing; anxiety and depression; enemies to lovers; forced proximity; humor; sibling relationships and found family.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell and NetGalley

Sarah Adams' books are always an automatic read for me! I love her story telling and romantic spin! "Beg, Borrow, or Steal" was the perfect lighthearted read! I loved the unlikely romance, humor and romance throughout this story and just loved it!

4/5 Stars

“Beg, Borrow, or Steal” by Sarah Adams is a charming enemies-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky. Emily, a secret romance novelist, accidentally emails a revealing message to the school principal and reluctantly teams up with her rival, Jack, to fix the mess. Their witty banter and undeniable chemistry make for an engaging read, with plenty of humor and heart. While some plot points are predictable, the small-town charm and lovable characters more than make up for it. Fans of the When in Rome series will enjoy this sweet and funny romance!
Thank you so much for the ARC! 💖

The vibes for this book were immaculate! I adored this and will definitely be recommending to everyone I know. The narration was well done which is important for audiobooks as this can make or break a book. There were moments that made me want to cry and laugh but the overall romance was adorable. 4.5 stars

I was a little disappointed that the book too place in the summer and not during the school year while they were teaching, but it wasn't a huge deal. I understand why having the story take place during the summer made it easier for Emily and Jack to be together. It was also more about their writing careers than their teaching. I read this book very quickly. I loved the romantic tension, the humor, the serious parts, and the characters. This is the first book I have read in this series. I will definitely read the first two and probably the fourth when it comes out. It was very well written. I found the romantic parts to be sweet and spicy, but a tasteful kind of spicy....not the type that makes you want to cringe. I highly recommend this book, series, and author.

You have to love a good Rom Com and Sarah Adams did not disappoint! Love the banter between the two main characters!

First off I want to say a huge thank you to Sarah Adams and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC! Sarah you did it again. Your books are pure magic in their ability to balance small town charm, laugh out loud jokes (that legitimately had me cackling), discussing deep emotional trauma and exploring how to heal and move forward from it, and giving me all the swoon worthy romance I crave. You are an incredible writer!

Now let’s talk about Emily and Jackson (aka Jack and Goldie). These two are fierce rivals and have been since college after an unfortunate coffee incident. They have never shied away from honesty with one another and in a strange way learn that’s why they respect each other so much. After Jack moves away from Rome Kentucky to be with his fiancé they both realize that maybe there’s more to this magnetic feud than they originally thought. Wink wink.

The Rome, Kentucky town dynamics are in full play and the Mabel scenes are just perfection. Her foul mouth is my favorite 😂. There may be some initial sabotage on Emily’s part after Jack moves back to Rome that involves the whole town and it makes for some fantastic banter between the pair.

Without getting into too many spoilers the dynamic between Emily and Jack is electric. (Sarah if you are reading this, that blocking scene will live rent free in my mind for a while 😍🔥!) They have both experienced trauma in their past that has caused them hide pieces of themselves from the world. Together they begin to heal that darkness within themselves and it is absolutely beautiful. I loved how it wasn’t perfect from the get go. They had some hiccups as they processed their grief (Emily’s parents/grandma/ for her lost childhood) and (Jackson’s emotionally immature parents and narcissistic father). Learning to set boundaries with those you love and be true to your self not your role self (the mask you wear to protect others) were huge themes in this book. Both are very heavy and triggering topics but Sarah handled them with care, knowledge, and compassion. It was inspiring to see how these two evolved throughout the story.

Now let’s talk romance. 😏 The chemistry between Jack and Emily is fire! Their bantering adds a whole enemy to lovers vibe that I would never get tired of. I will say that there are times when some of the things Jack says are a so perfect that I’m like excuse me Ms Adams no man says that unless they are a fantasy man. But with that said, isn’t that one of the many reasons why we love these books?! I highlighted so many lines in this book that just stole my heart, but my favorite was, “Emily, I would walk through my worst memories to get to you every single time.” Just 🤌🏻 The spice level in this book is about a 3 out of 5 for me. There are two explicit scenes. One is mostly describing what they want to do to each other. The other one is giving us the climax (pun intended) that us open door romance lovers want.

To conclude I loved this book. Practice Makes Perfect was a hard act to follow but Beg Borrow and Steal gave me all the feels and stole my heart. Plus we get more Will and Annie and Amelia and Noah! 🥳 (Tabasco pancakes?! 😂 iykyk) Thank you Sarah for another incredible book I can read again and again. You are so talented and the sweetest person in real life too!

I love everything Sarah writes! Already purchased ebook and paperback! Cant wait for her next book to come out. Thank you for this opportunity for a chance to read an advanced reader copy.

I anticipate this will be one of my favorite books of the year. This is the third book in the When in Rome series (thanks goodness we still have Maddie's book to look forward to) and, while I loved the first 2, this one was amazing! I think I just really related to Emily. And Jack might be my new favorite book boyfriend. Swipe for the synopsis.

I loved the character back stories and development. This is a rivals to lovers story that spans a decade. And they're both second grade teachers (it's summer break during the story). And we've got some forced proximity. And the slow burn steam. And the care they took with each other- even as rivals, they always respected and admired the other person's abilities. And they each had lovely growth arcs where they shared their vulnerabilities and supposered each other. And I laughed b/c Sarah Adams can write scenes that are both funny and tender. All I can say is read this one. I think it will read fine as a stand-alone if you haven't read the first two.

This book was an absolute masterpiece, earning a solid 5/5 stars. The story follows Emily Walker, an eldest sibling who struggles with feeling unlovable, and Jack Bennett, the swoon-worthy, emotionally mature man who proves her wrong. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is packed with banter, heartfelt moments, and deep emotional growth. Jack is the definition of a dream book boyfriend—attentive, selfless, and utterly in love with Emily. Emily, on the other hand, is a strong yet vulnerable heroine who just wants to be truly seen and loved. The pacing could have stretched the enemies phase longer, but overall, this book was pure perfection. The writing, the chemistry, and the emotional depth made it an unforgettable experience!

Sarah Adams is an auto-read for me and I loved getting to read the third installment of the When in Rome series!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal was such a captivating read, with a true rivals to lovers trope. The banter between Emily and Jack is fantastic—quick, playful, and full of spark—yet, as their relationship progresses, both characters reveal the scars from their pasts, shedding light on the insecurities and fears that drive their actions. Their emotional growth is genuine, and the moments where they open up to each other about their respective upbringings add a rich, poignant layer to the story. It manages to balance its slow-burn romance with moments of deep emotional vulnerability.

The best part? There are no pointless conflicts or unnecessary drama. The communication between Emily and Jack is refreshingly mature—once they start peeling back the layers of their relationship, they do so with honesty and respect. This is a romance that understands that people aren’t perfect, but they can still find their way to each other through understanding and patience.

The slow burn of their relationship is executed beautifully. There’s an undeniable pull between them from the start, and watching them navigate their feelings—fueled by competition, curiosity, and a deepening respect for one another—is a joy to read. The tension builds steadily, but in a way that feels earned rather than forced, making their eventual moments of tenderness all the more satisfying.

If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers dynamics with great banter, emotional growth, and a romance that feels both sweet and genuine, this one is definitely worth adding to your to-read list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

This is the third installment for the series When in Rome.
This is a book for all the eldest daughters that need to step-up for their siblings, Eldest daughters that hide their feelings just to protect their siblings.
I love how easily i can finish this book. I love the cameos from other Walker siblings.
Emily and Jack's banter is so cute. The way they care to each other even they think they were rival school teachers.

I'm so incredibly thankful that I could read this book early! This might be my favorite book by Sarah Adams thus far! I have enjoyed this interconnected universe that Sarah Adams has created and that love for this universe grew after reading 'Beg, Borrow, or Steal'. I absolutely adored Jack and Emily and their realistic chemistry! I love how Sarah Adams can blend serious, realistic themes with humor and romance! I feel that it adds more substance to a book that one could label as just a "rom-com".

Sarah Adams has created a family and community of characters that are so easy to love. The When in Rome series is so fun, each new story adds to the special place in our hearts for this town. Watching Emily and Jack cross that thin line between love and hate, rivalry and partnership was good good fun. The idea that maybe all those years of bickering and rivalry were really just them deeply relating to each other was wonderful to explore with them and their loved ones. I love that the years of competition have been redirected into such a wonderful foundation for the love and support they have given themselves room to cultivate. I can't wait for the final installment.

5 STARS!

"Beg, Borrow or Steal" is my absolute favorite Sarah Adams novel, and they are all fantastic, so that's saying something. My god, this book is SO GOOD. It is a total delight, the perfect balance of sweet, soft, and serious. Emily and Jack FOREVER. What a wonderful couple, two perfect characters who acknowledge their flaws and work towards changing them. Sarah Adams does banter extraordinarily well, and this is no exception. The way Adams peels back Jack and Emily's layers to show how deep and how long their feelings for one another went... I was like a little kid kicking my heels on my bed while reading this story. I never, EVER wanted this book to end. The "When in Rome" series is incredible, and if this is the last installment, Adams ended it on the perfect, best note she could have. Absolutely fantastic stuff here all around. Wonderful pacing, it's not too long, super easy to read (even as a standalone!), terrific character arcs for relatable people, spectacular secondary characters, and a brilliant commentary on familial trauma, finding a new found family, and finding your real true place in life. You're going to want to read this as soon as possible. Sarah Adams, you never cease to amaze me!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I loved the "Stars Hollow" vibe of the town in this book. The MMC was not really my "vibe" so I had hard time feeling the attraction level. I did however love the banter between the two main characters. The grumpy sunshine and enemies to lovers was well done. Sarah Adams has a magic way of writing that just brings a smile to my face with every one of her books.

4.5⭐️

I am the biggest fan of Sarah and the When in Rome series, and this book was just absolutely delightful! The tension, banter, and pining between Jack and Emily were so amazing and had me grinning at my kindle through the entire book!!

As a girlie with sharp edges who can be hard to love, man did I feel seen with this story. I feel like Sarah wrote Emily just for me and I felt so connected to her 🫶🏻

If you haven’t read this series yet, I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you to Sarah, Dell Romance, & NetGalley for an early copy of this one!

Thank you to the author, publisher and @NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rome, Kentucky strikes again and deng it Sarah Adams, why is your writing so fabulous?! Lots of banter. The motorcycle scene (that I cannot condone in real life, but j’adore in fiction). A super easy read for when you need one that will leave you with a smile!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

I absolutely loved Beg, Borrow, or Steal. This book is the perfect blend of heartwarming romance and humor. The found family dynamic is so well done, and every character has a great personality. The banter between them had me grinning throughout, and the slow-burn romance kept me hooked from start to finish.

Sarah Adams has truly crafted something special here. There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud, and others that touched me on a deeper level. One of the chapters for me was when Emily describes struggling to get out of bed, a feeling I could deeply relate to. After a difficult 2024, where I had my own struggles with getting through the day, moments like these feel so validating. The thoughtful and respectful way mental health is addressed in this book makes such a difference, and I really appreciate that Sarah Adams included this layer of authenticity in her writing.

I’ll definitely be picking up more of her work in the future! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishing team for providing me with this ARC—I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.