This was a we’ll read fun book with the humor and characters that Emma Lord can deliver. Sadie is in college and is working on trying to write for the school paper. She finds out her friend and next door neighbor Sebastian (Seb) is also competing for the spot. Which works out perfectly as that’s what Sadie and Seb do best.

The book kept me engaged and I enjoyed the bantering between the characters. Super cute and a good book to curl up and read. Four stars because I could have used a tad more romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook; Emma Lord always writes a good story. It was a lighthearted teen enemies to lovers story, perfect for young adults that are beginning to wonder about their place in life in college and beyond. Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook and am giving it a 4 out of 5 star review.

The Rival was a great YA frenemies trope that I had the pleasure of listening to on audio! A closed door romance with excellent banter mixed with deep caring for each other since childhood. These childhood friends/enemies are now off to college and into their same old antics, but the stakes are much higher. There is swearing throughout but the spice is low. The characters are well-developed for a YA romance and the narrator was a great match for the story. Also, he falls first (and arguably harder, which is also a fun theme to engage with). *I received a complimentary audio copy from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

emma lord's books are always so wholesome and full of friendships and low-stakes romantic drama. the inevitable miscommunication between all the characters are very understandable, mainly because they are 18. in this one, we have two academic rivals (but secretly childhood besties) trying out to get a staff writing position at their college magazine, while the college is trying to cut out funding for a bunch of student programs. the college admin drama is pretty funny (not in a hahah way) and realistic and frustrating. the audio narration was also excellent.

The Rival is a cute college romance. The story follows Sadie as she begins her first year at her dream school after vanquishing her academic rival, Seb, to get the only spot awarded to students at their high school. Unfortunately for Sadie, as she is heading to the first meeting of the school zine, she bumps into Seb who has been admitted off of the waitlist. The two quickly fall into their old patterns of trying to rile each other up as they both compete for the only staff position on the zine. The zine is encountering issues with funding, so might not last for much longer. Sadie and Seb begin to investigate where all the funding is going, bringing the whole campus together. As they are working together to figure out what's going on on campus, the two begin to recognize that they might have feelings for each other despite their history as rivals.

This was a fun, lighthearted romance. I enjoyed that it was set in college and it spoke to issues that are specific to students new to college life, which is something that I don't see in books too often. Sadie and Seb's characters complimented each other well, so their romance made a lot of sense. The book tried to act like Sadie didn't like Seb, particularly when they were in high school, but they always had this playful banter and obvious chemistry going on that made it difficult to believe that they were true rivals. Sadie could also be a bit of a frustrating character at times, especially when it came to her supposed best friend and her family. I think part of the issue might have been that the book was telling instead of showing, skipping over conversations that supposedly happened or not really diving into Sadie's issues with her family in depth. This was still an enjoyable audiobook and I thought the narrator did a good job of matching their tone to the characters and handling the pop culture references, which were a bit dated, in a way that wasn't too ridiculous. I would recommend this one to people looking for a light, goofy read or looking to read a bit more about the college experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an egalley and audio galley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I've become a fan of Lord's work. She writes sweet, clean teen romance that is relatable with characters who are developed well and real. I was happy to be approved to read this most recent title from her.
Jesse Vilinsky, the narrator, is known to me. She has narrated quite a few Lynn Painter books. Her tone, inflection, and reactions to the part she speaks is spot on as long as they are teen parts. She has an easy cadence, as well. I cannot see that I would enjoy her for more mature narrations but she fits well as a voice for teens with some angst. I was fortunate to also get the kindle version of this book so I read along for the full immersion and it was surprisingly fun.
Sadie has always battled against her rival Sebastian. Their families have been friends since they were born, neighbors all their lives, and they have spent many vacations with each other. But it's always been a sticky type of relationship. Where they love the same things and compete to get them. Sadie is finally free as she starts her freshman year of college at Blue Ridge State and Seb is stuck at another school. But suddenly, Seb is on campus as his waitlisted spot has opened up. Now Sadie must once again worry he will be after the same coveted spot she is on the school new rag. But a twist of events where the funding for their paper is being pulled has Sadie and Seb researching the reasons together and forming an alliance. This only confuses their relationship even more as they are still competing for the same spot on the paper.
Sadie and Seb are really well done developmentally. I liked that Lord didn't leave out their flaws. It made them so much more real. You definitely get the sense they are freshmen in college who are trying to find their way. And it's obvious that they are more than just the friendly rivals Sadie makes them out to be. The book is told strictly from Sadie's POV. I kind of wish we would have had Seb's POV but I do understand the book is about Sadie's growth and her coming to terms with her feelings and with what she wants to do with her life as well as showing her breaking free of her family to try and become more independent. She's always been the rock that held her sisters and parents together and without her there, things fall apart a bit.. I really felt her struggle to try and keep Seb at a distance but at the same time be drawn to him and be confused by it all. It's hard to see your enemy as your lover. Though she does confess to having these same types of confusing feelings back in high school.
Lord writes great side characters who are diverse and fun. I enjoyed watching Sadie and Seb make friends as they managed their first year of college. It would be great to get some of the side character's stories in the future.
I will say, I expected a bit more academics for this book seeing as they are freshmen in college. There is a lot of emphasis put on the time they spend doing things for the paper and I found that a bit unrealistic. I needed to feel the pressure of classes, tests, papers, and all the other things that come along with learning to navigate academia as an 18 year old.
This book was a great glance into university politics, becoming independent, and breaking away from family woes. If you're a fan of Lynn Painter's young adult works, you'll enjoy Lord's. If you're looking for a wholesome teen romance, this is a great choice!

Great audiobook from YA romance author Emma Lord. Another in the genre about a first year female student- Sadie- at a prestigious and academically challenging fictional college. This time she is a member of the journalism major and a part of the online news outlet. Her family friend- Sebastian- is competing with her on the journalism award which is semester long and has several rounds. There is also an overarching side story about the university and how they fund extracurriculars.

Sadie and Sebastian are likable characters, great build up and banter between rivals. The inner dialogue of an Emma Lord female main character is always adorable and sweet. If you enjoy a sweet YA story this is a good one. Narrator is engaging and all parts are well acted.

🗞️enemies to lovers
🗞️he falls first
🗞️dads are lifelong best friends
🗞️miscommunication
🗞️third act fight
🗞️LGBTQ representation (he is bisexual, also there are non-binary and queer friend characters)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an audiobook ARC. Book to be published 1/28/25

Well I did an immersion read as I was thankful to get both the eARC and the ALC from Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books through NetGalley so I could read it early and give my opinion and write a review.

Unfortunately, listening to the audiobook was a wrong choice as the narrator was a bit much to listen to. The voices she chose to use for the various characters. Thankfully speeding it up helped drown out the voices a bit which needed to do it get closer to my reading speed.

In addition to that this book was not the usually quirky that I’m used to by Emma Lord. The story was cheesy and read much younger than typical even for YA. The dialogue was unrealistic, especially for their age.

To be honest I would have DNF’d had it not been an ARC/ALC. while younger teens may find it enjoyable but….

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
In

Rivals are just two people who like each other but are afraid to admit it.

Sadie and Seb stood no chance. Their parents are best friends, they bought houses next door to each other, and had babies the same year. They have a shorthand for everything from inside jokes to eye rolling to physicality. And despite the smiles they wear on their faces, Sadie and Seb have been secret rivals since as far back as they can remember.

But now Sadie is living her dream: she’s won the single coveted spot at the university she had hoped to attend, she’s rooming with her best friend, and she’s left Seb in the dust.

That is until Seb shows up on campus ready to grab the one spot on the ‘zine they both adore, Newsbag.

Now they have to compete all over again. On top of that, Sadie is still trying to break free from her loving and well meaning if somewhat chaotic family and their expectations, self doubt, and her secret dream of being a comedy writer.

Oh, and maybe try to figure out why Seb doesn’t so bad after all.

There’s pancakes and banter and a more serious storyline about finding your own path and fighting the powers that be.

It’s YA, so note that when considering, and it reads very YA. Seb is a sweetheart and the story is as much about the university politics and familial woes as it is about the (slow burn closed door) romance.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillianaudio for the ALC to read and review. This one comes out January 21, 2025.

Thank you Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Rivals is a sweet YA romance that keeps you engaged the entire time. Sadie and Seb have been competitors for most of their lives but upon arriving at college their relationship begins change. Along the way their group of friends navigate campus politics on a hilarious manner, mental health, friendships and identity. A cute listen with great narration.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this ALC.
I adore Jesse Vilinsky‘s storytelling. She’s awesome.

I freaking love Emma Lord’s writing. Her characters are well developed and my gawd, the snacks she comes up with. I desperately want to try the mac and cheese with crunchy cinnamon toast crunch topping. I’ll be shipping Seb and Sadie for life.

5 ⭐ 0 🌶️ 5 🎧

Emma never ceases to make me feel all the feels. Her coming of age books bring you back to that point in your life when everything feels like it's end all be all and one little mistake can ruin your life... In The Rival we get so much enemies to lovers goodness but with an unexpected touch of childhood best friends to lovers, it comes together in the perfect rivals to lovers story.

I really enjoyed Sadie and Seb. They were both flawed in ways that made them feel like they could have been your best friends. The push and pull of their relationship was really fun to watch, especially as they took on the administration. I also really enjoyed watching their relationships with friends and family side characters grow, especially Christina and Joey.

The audio was fantastic. I can't remember if Jesse Vilinksy has done other Emma books, but her acting and narrating is phenomenal. I felt like I was in Sadie's mind and felt so much while listening.

I went into The Rival knowing nothing except for the fact that I like how lighthearted Emma Lord books can be... which is exactly what I was in the mood for. It did not disappoint! We meet Sadie and Sadie. Childhood friends (their parents are all besties), neighbours, and long time rivals for as long as they can remember.

I loved the flow and progression between Sadie and Seb, as well as their journey navigating their first year of college. It felt very natural. One thing that is a pet peeve of mine in books of this genre is when the main character isolates themselves to the point of alienating themselves from their friends, family, and love interest... however, none of that was present here which filled me with much joy! Sadie had such a strong support system even as she navigated through a new environment alongside Seb. It was quite wholesome and such a feel good and happy read!

A cute coming of age. Enemies/rivals to lovers. A sweet story. Loved the family and friendship dynamics that were included.
Great narration.

3 stars

Emma Lord has become quite the prolific YA romance writer over the past few years, and, of course, some of these projects are more compelling than others. This one is good - for the genre - but lacks the special something that well versed readers will hope can make it stand out in the crowd.

Sadie and Seb are remarkably intertwined. They're so close that they grew up with a shared backyard. As an only child, Seb has felt the ongoing pressure from his parents to perform. Sadie's parents - and really Sadie and her family as a whole - have been an incredible oasis where Seb feels free to just be himself. Sadie, of course, has a totally different relationship with her family and is just growing into appreciating them for their quirks. The pair are off pursuing their higher ed dreams now, and this space from their known surroundings allows them to grow just a bit.

As the title suggests, the two leads have been rivals for the bulk of their lives, though it does appear that Sadie has committed to this for longer than Seb, perhaps. She is, in some ways, absolutely insufferable, and while he is not perfect, I cannot figure out why he stuck it out with her (unless he just really, really wants to be part of that family, which, at their age, is fully acceptable).

This is a formulaic YA romance without surprises, and the highlight for me was much more in the relationships with ancillary characters than in the focal connection. That noted, readers who come to this looking to scratch a very particular itch will feel satisfied. The rest of us? We will be left hoping for a brighter spark in the next one. I'll be in the later camp, but to be clear, my meh feelings about this one overall do not change my lasting appreciation for what Lord has been putting together in the genre.

This was cute! It's definitely a VERY angsty teen feel and it feels like they're in high school rather than college. This might make sense though since they are still freshmen. I guess I probably acted like that too in my first year of uni, I just don't remember!

SO CUTE
The pancakes and the sprinkles?? I love when she goes to the pancake place and the woman is like, what is with you kids, this other punk just asked me the same thing. And Seb is sitting there. One of my fave scenes.

Also my fave line in this book- "You know how it is, can't stay away from things that don't like me." I was kicking my feet at this.

I love an enemies to lovers- they call this 'rivals to lovers'. It's a fun trope. I liked both characters but I found the main character to be a little whiny for my taste. Which, in all honestly, I think I just don't like the teen angst like I used to. I think for someone 15-20 this is probably a perfect amount of angst.

I would like to note that I physically gagged everytime they said the word 'Zine' (Zeen). Do people actually call magazines this? I wasn't clear if that was the name of their specific magazine or what was happening because I thought it was called news bag but then they would say 'the zine' *queue gag* lol. Anyways, I just wanted to mention that because it was cringey.

Because this is an audiobook I will rate the narrator- 3/5. Her voice just wasn't awesome which is completely preference based. I'm VERY picky with audiobook narrators. Funnily enough I liked the voice she put on for Seb better than the voice for the main character.

“The Rival” by Emma Lord is a sweet YA romantic comedy.

I read “Tweet Cute” from Emma Lord and it was very cute so I wanted to read more.

In this book we have rivals Sadie and Seb that compete for the same position at the college newspaper. They were neighbors growing up and competing against each other all throughout school.

I liked the story, but we only have Sadie’s POV so we just see Seb from her subjective perspective. It would have been interesting to find out more about him.

The audiobook is narrated by Jesse Vilinsky. This is my first time listening to a book that she narrated and I think she did a good job with all the characters. I was able to differentiate them and it was easy to follow the story.

I would recommend this book if you like YA novels in an academic setting with rivals to lovers.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Two high school rivals find themselves competing for the only open spot on the campus newspaper. Great on audio narrated by Jesse Vilinsky, this was full of snark, humor and the two leads had amazing chemistry. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Lynn Painter or Rachel Lynn Solomon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!