Sarah Adams is one of my favourite authors. This book had some twists I didn’t see coming! Absolutely loved every second of if. Highly recommend and I will be buying the physical copy asap!

This was my introduction to Sarah Adams and it won't be my last!

Romance is not my prefered genre but Sarah Adams character development and plot makes this so much more. While you don't need to read the first two novels in the series, you do meet characters from these.

* Charming
* Small town romance
* Rivals to lovers.

Beg, Borrow or Steal centress around two characters who find themselves in a quirky and unexpected situation, leading to a series of humorous and touching moments. As they navigate their growing feelings for each other, the book explores themes of love, trust, and personal growth. I really enjoy the relatibility of the characters and that the male protagonist is a genuine person.

The writing is light, easy to read, and filled with charming moments. The plot has a nice balance of humor and emotion, making it an enjoyable read for anyone looking for a feel-good romance.

Emily and Jack are my new favourite couple from Rome, Kentucky. This is an enemies to lovers romance between two teachers, who end up becoming neighbours (a recipe for romance really). I absolutely love Emily and related to so much about her character. I fell in love with Jack immediately, THE MAN WEARS GLASSES. I can’t wait to get a paperback copy to annotate! I loved it so much that I couldn’t help but make a journal spread for it 😍

I was so excited to be transported back to my favourite small town of Rome, Kentucky with the Walker siblings. I have absolutely loved this series so far and this book was no exception.

I really enjoyed Emily and Jack’s love story, it had the perfect blend of enemies to lovers and forced proximity tropes. They were such a fun and cute couple to root for with their constantly banter and bickering to start off with and then the sweet and tender romance.

There were so many laugh out loud moments and the found family vibes in this series is just perfection. I desperately hope we get a fourth book about Madison next🤞🏼

TRULY MY FAVE BOOK IN THIS SERIES YET 🥹🥹
just happened to receive a final copy from Hachette today and it has made my week!

I love the connection between Jackson and Emily!
I loved Emily’s character so much, I truly related to her so much, the way she doubted herself and holds so much to herself and doesn’t let people see her down or upset. It can be hard being a sunshine girl all the time, and seeing her slowly open up to Jackson and let him in completely was so beautiful.
Jackson’s own struggles with his family and upbringing and keeping his own secrets was written so well. The dynamic between him and Emily was built so well, and ugh the scene in the cupboard *swoon*.
Every Sarah Adams book I read, is an improvement on the last, her writing has grown so much.
I adore the When in Rome characters so much and can’t wait for our final book to see James and Maddison together - finally 🙈

A big, giant 5 stars!!!
Reading this book was like getting a big, warm hug— the banter was top tier and the characters were so authentic and fleshed out with genuine problems and insecurities.

My first Sarah Adams book set in the When in Rome universe but I felt like I’d known the small town and it’s people for years.

One of my most favourite reads. Cannot recommend enough!

5! ⭐️
"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."
***
Oh my GOODNESS!
~
Beg, Borrow, or Steal follows our two main characters - Jack, and Emily. They are old rivals, who quite honestly can't stand each other. Emily is the eldest of her siblings, and after a tragic accident took their parents, she has adopted that motherly approach to always looking after her family, and ensuring they're happy.
A teacher, who secretly writes romance in her spare time, enjoys her quiet life in Rome. Until Jack moves into town after a breakup, and we see him move in, right next door.

~
Admittedly, I haven't read any of the other When In Rome books, I'm SORRY! But, this was sat in my NetGalley recommended and I couldn't resist delving into Adams' work.

Her way with words is one that I have been craving to read for so long now. The lack of effort it took me to be hooked and thinking about these characters and this little story was just wild. I can usually think about a book when reading it, but when I tell you I LITERALLY could not put this thing down, I'm not kidding.

~

I absolutely adored how Emily grew as a character. Being a serial and chronic people pleaser myself, and an eldest sibling, I could relate to Emily on so many levels. Her lack of self confidence and how that blossomed was beautiful to read.
I adored the banter and the growth between Emily and Jack, and Jack was a beautiful character himself, too. He bent over backwards for Emily, and equally made her an even better person.

You can technically read this as a stand alone from what I have seen from other reviewers, but ultimately reading the rest of the series is now on my immediate TBR!!

"You think you're unloveable, but I think I've never know how to love until knowing you." SORRY?!?!? BRB whilst I SOB.

Let me tell you that the slow burn energy this book gave was just yummy. I LOVED the pacing of this story, and watching our characters realise that actually, they could make this work, and that actually, they get on quite well!
"Suddenly, chasing this old feud doesn't seem nearly as appealing as chasing that smile."

I can't tell you how much I adore a small town romance, slow burn, and rivals to lovers, especially when each character has such a vulnerable narrative like our two main characters did.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Hachette Aus & NZ for the opportunity to read this wonderful Advanced Readers Copy.

5 stars

Anything Sarah writes, I just love. Her previous 2 books had me completely invested. This one was the same - once started, l just couldn't stop!! It's such a cute read and one that can be easily devoured in a day!!

The best way to spend a sun shiney day is amongst these pages.

It's:
Small town, Chemistry that is hot,
Rivals to lovers, Sibling love,
Sunshine vs. Sunshine,
Mental Health representation, Jack ( my new book boyfriend),
Teachers Vs. Authors,
Dual POV,
Heart & so much soul,
Swoonworthy,
Fun rom - com,
Just lovely..

"You are not alone. Emily, l would walk through my worst memories to get t o you every single time."

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 fiancee. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack's return at the start of the summer after calling off hte wedding & ending his relationship, but he's here to stay - as her colleague & her neighbour.

Jackson Bennett is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house & work on the next mystery novel under this bestselling pen name.. When he realises hes now neighbours with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he's even more excited for - thwarting Emily & 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 hussle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, & 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?

Thank you so much, @authorsarahadams, @hachetteau & @netgalley, for this early release copy in exchange for an honest review

Rome, Kentucky has my entire heart and I would never dream of asking for it back. I truly and wholeheartedly adore everyone in this town - they feel so vivid and real and ugh I want to be best friends with all of them.

Beg, Borrow and Steal has completely swept me off my feet. Emily and Jack have one of the most beautiful, poignant stories I've ever read, and whilst I struggled with Emily's character at the start, I can now say that I would do anything for that woman. They both shared tender, sweet moments, and learnt what it meant to trust someone else with not only the good parts, but the messy and dark parts as well.

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

Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. When Jack left Rome, Kentucky, with his fiancée, Emily was happy. Yet when he returns at the start of the summer, after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, Jack announces that he is not only here to stay but he will also be her neighbour. Jack is happy to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. When he discovers that Emily is his neighbour, he is determined to sabotage Emily’s plans to make his life miserable. As a result of Emily accidentally sending an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle, she has to steal back her manuscript and ask Jack to help. Soon their alliance becomes quite steamy.
This book is more than just a romance, as it explores many concepts such as grief, family dynamics, and the discovery of self-worth. Jack is such a sweet character that it was a delight to see his character overcome his painful past. Likewise, it was lovely to be a part of Emily’s journey as she overcomes her fears. Their relationship sees them both grow in self-confidence. A great read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having read book 1 and 2 in this series I was so excited to return to Rome, Kentucky with Beg, Borrow or Steal. In complete honesty I struggled a bit with the first 30% of this book, because it was peak enemies to lovers pettiness - enemies to lovers fans would be in absolute heaven with the start of this book, but Emily gave me the absolute s**ts with how immature she was towards Jack - trying to run him out of town because of a coffee he accidentally spilt 10 something years prior then "flirted with her" when she was going through a breakup - girl grow up! but once they discovered that *shocker* they actually are attracted to each other, I lapped this book up and couldn't put it down hahaha. I loved how they helped one another and kept each others secrets - it was so cute and wholesome. I really hope that we get a book 4 in this series (the book certainly felt like it was setting up for Maddie's story so here's hoping)

I loved everything about beg, borrow or steal. it holds the place of my favourite sarah adams book.

this book. it had me giggling & kicking my feet, and also tearing up because it made me feel SEEN. beg, borrow or steal follows emily and her rivalry with her workplace nemesis. at its core, this book is for the eldest daughters, the girls who don’t want to talk about their feelings, the girls who consider them a little hard to love and want to always rescue their loved ones.

for me, this book was absolutely a right book, right time kinda moment. absolutely got me out of my slump & gave me everything I was looking for in a book. it was messy & real and the communication between emily and jack was so good.

pick this up if you love:
eldest daughter narratives
a small town found family
audrey hepburn movies
workplace rivals to lovers
right where you left me by taylor swift

highly recommend this series for a sweet romance. thank you so much for the arc!

Beg, Borrow or Steal
Sarah Adams

“The villain is always the true hero in a romance.”

Omg this was EVERYTHING!
It has soul, chemistry, tension, humour, connection and it flowed so perfectly. It was sit back and kick your legs, you’re so giddy with the banter happiness. And there was so much genuine life advice woven into the storyline that you instantly felt comforted. Living in this town was a revelation, life is wonderful, bad circumstances and bad luck will always inevitably happen, but community and connection will always ensure there’s something good to strive towards.

“Good. Life can be a little shit sometimes. But shit also makes great fertilizer.” She pays the back of my hand that’s holding hers. “Grow from your experiences, don’t let them smother the light out of you.”

Two feuding second grade teachers find themselves teaming up in this rivals-to-lovers rom com. There’s chemistry fuelled animosity and petty high jinx. Emily embarks on a Campaign to run Jack out of her town, ostracised and belittled. Meanwhile Jack is stuck having to renovate his dilapidated house. And we have the Manuscript heist. 😮‍💨

‘Because even if everything around me is swirling into chaos, at least I have this: My house. My routine. My cat.’

This was absolutely incredible and my rom com lovers, get your copy!

“It doesn’t matter.” The wine I drank pours itself out of my eyes. “My life is over. O.E.V.E.R.”
“I’m glad you also know the super-secret way to spell ‘over,’”

Thanks to @authorsarahadams and @hachetteaus for my advanced copy. I truly loved every single second of this read! Beg, Borrow or Steal is released tomorrow, 7th January!

‘Reassuring me that even in unfavourable circumstances, even when it feels like all odds are against me, that with hope and care, good things find a way to thrive.’

(Review Posted 6th January 2025)

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Three out of three hits for this series (so far!). I loved this book. I love a prickly, forthright, insecure main character, and that is what Emily is. She loves deeply, she fights for those people she loves even in the little fights (helping her sister renegotiate her phone bill? my heart was stolen), and she struggles to process her own feelings. And there are perfectly plausible (and sad) reasons for her character to be this way (if you've read the other books, then you know). And she also grows and develops over the course of the story.
I loved all of her interactions with her siblings; their family dynamic is fantastic. I felt so much for Emily in all the times she felt like they were leaving her behind, how it devastated her, but she is also happy for them and proud at the same time.
Then there was Jack. I loved his characterisation as well. He felt like such a well-rounded, thought-out character. The reason behind why he is such a charmer and so good at making people like him. Why he loves sniping and bickering with Emily. How they know each other so well, but they also don't? Yeah. I loved it.
The progression of Emily and Jack's relationship felt well-paced. Any scene where he interacted with her family, or the townspeople, was perfect.
Now, just need to get my hands on Maddie and James' book. The hints of them in this book were tantalising. I can't wait!

Looking for a cute, fluffy, enemies to lovers romance that will keep you hooked and make your heart race?

If you’re a fan of Sarah Adams like I am, you already know you’re in for a treat!
Happy publishing day!! 🩷

This was one of my anticipated reads of the year, and I was already swooning just thinking about it.

Sarah has been my go-to author for cute, fluffy, closed-door romances that manage to be both lighthearted and emotionally impactful.
Her writing pulls on your heartstrings in the best way, and her characters always feel so real and lovable.
Having adored the earlier interconnected stand-alone’s, I knew this one will deliver the same humor, charm, and just wholesome moments.

The cute cover is just the cherry on top—it perfectly reflects the sweet, feel-good vibes she is known for. ✨

If you’re looking for a romance that will make you smile, laugh, and maybe shed a tear, she’s your girl.

Thank you Hachette for this opportunity!! I am so so grateful 🫶🏼

a rivals to lovers neighbours romance, yes please!! emily and jack can't stand each other. jack moves back into town after a failed engagement and shakes emilys world. they not only have to work together but be neighbours. this was a second-chance romance.

it was swoony and lighthearted read. I fear sarah can do no wrong in these short and sweet small town romances. I will also take every crumb of annie and will I can get. this was very easy to read and I must admit did get bored at some parts it was still such a fun read!! the mental health discussion was done well but I do wished it was more developed. their romance was cute and I 100% enjoyed the banter between the two.

if you love the world of Rome, kentunty or even just want a glimpse of the other couples, you'll love this one :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I think about Sarah Adams's writing, all I can see are love heart emojis, heart-shaped smiling faces and all those other cute ones that make you go, "Aww, I loved that". This book was all those things. It was a complete joy to read and experience. I love the town of Rome, Kentucky, with its quirky characters and beautiful family-orientated vibe. I love Emily and Jackson and their enemies, and I love what they got into. This book made me giggle, sigh and cry. The spice was perfect and brought so much heart and longing to this book, and the character development grew at the right pace, so it was believable and relatable.
I loved it and need more now!
What to expect:
Enemies to Lovers
Small Town
Both are teachers
Miscommunication
Forced Proximity kinda - they are neighbours
Secrets yet to be revealed
Family Dynamics

Thank you so much to Hachette and Netgalleyfor my EARC.

This book solidifies my love for Sarah Adams! After falling for her writing in The Cheat Sheet, I had high hopes, and Beg, Borrow or Steal absolutely delivered. Even as an interconnected standalone in the When in Rome series, it was pure joy from start to finish.

I adored every character—Jack and Emily completely stole my heart, and the side characters were so delightful they made me want to read the entire series. The small-town vibe was cozy and perfect, adding that extra charm. The plot was fantastic, and the characters’ backstories were beautifully woven in, making it feel perfectly executed.

Sarah Adams’ writing is everything—fun, endearing, and irresistibly engaging. This book brought me so much happiness, and it was an easy five-star read for me.

My first read of 2025, and what a way to start. This book was a solid 4.5 stars for me (and I could easily be persuaded to bump that to a 5).

Our main female character, Emily Walker, was so so relatable to me and her POV hit hard. And our main male character, Jackson Bennett was so so sweet. With the added layers of some rivalry, a small town setting and our leads both being semi secret authors - how could I not love this.

Here’s some of my favourite quotes:

“What made you start writing? The simple reason: I've always wanted to try it. The complicated reason: Because real life started hurting too much”

“”And what did you need?" he asks. How have I never asked myself that question? No one else has either.”

“"Now... I need to be okay with being alone.
Because everyone moves on eventually. But not me I'll always be right here where they left me."

“Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done."

“"Why are you being obstreperous?" “Because I live to hear what colorful vocabulary you'll use when I piss you off."”

Thank you NetGalley, Hachette Australia & Sarah Adams for an ARC of this book!

Oh my gosh what a book to start 2025 off with!!😆

Beg, Borrow or Steal follows Emily and Jack who have been rivals for nearly a decade. Starting in their college years following them to the school where they both currently teach at!

This book was GIVING exactly what I need and love! Banter that turns a bit flirty🙂‍↕️ oh and the scene blocking scene, yes maam🧎🏻‍♀️

The book is said to follow the storyline of Emily sending an email that could reveal her secret career and she now needs Jacks help to fix it.

But I believe the book is so much more than that! This book explores the relationship between two individuals who have the own struggles but are continually drawn back to their safe space, each other!✨

It follows the characters personal growth and journey to following what makes them happy and learning to accept and love themselves no matter their flaws. It shows self acceptance and vulnerability while opening yourself up to someone and letting down your walls🥹

The story follows Emily who is the oldest sibling and after their parents died she took on the responsibility of looking after all her siblings. She constantly feels the pressure to always be there for her siblings and to never put herself first. Emily can sometimes come off as quite cold as she terrified of opening herself up to people as they always seem to leave. She just wants someone to see and love her for who she is. My relatable girl🫂

cue Taylor Swift I thought I was better safe then starry eyed✨

“I don’t like to get too close to people. I always have this feeling like something will go wrong if I do—so it’s been easier to keep to myself.”

Now Jack my man, if I’m a sucker for anything it’s a man with glasses!😚

Jack grew up with a narcissistic father but that does not stop him from being determined to break the cycle and be the best person he can be! Jack is aware he has flaws but everyday he fights to be better. He is also the sweetest! He wears beaded necklaces that his students give him🥹

“Because I may be a lot of things, but I never want to be the kind of person who can’t apologize when I’m in the wrong”

Jack has also had to hide his writing career due to the large spotlight his father has. This has meant he has always had to hide himself and his successes! His never been able to scream look at me, I did it!

To see both these characters be able to let down their walls and be themselves with each other was beautiful. They accept and support each others dreams and goals and always back each other no matter what.🫂

The banter was my favourite part of the book! It had me giggling and kicking my feet! Then when it turned flirty and both characters started going, wait is this more AHH I LOVED IT!🙂‍↕️

This book was the perfect mixture of fun and exciting but also full of emotion.

This book was feeling like a 5 star but unfortunately the last 20% fell short for me. This 100% could just be personal preference but I was just hoping for more! Nonetheless this was an amazing read and I cannot wait for everyone to read it!

Tropes:
Rivals to lovers
Small town
Neighbours
He falls first
Found family
Both teachers and writers!

Thankyou Netgalley and Hachette for the ARC!! 🤭🫶🏻💌