Possibly Emma Lord's best book to date! The Rival was everything I wanted from a YA romcom and more.
To start with, all the themes that Emma wove into it! There was LGBTQ rep without it feeling pandering or just the "gay best friend" trop that needs to die. There was family dynamic struggles, identity struggles, friendships, relationships and activism! Plus of course, Emma's signature crazy confections, this time in the form of cookies and pancakes.
The friends-to-enemies-to-lovers was also so fun. Sadie and Seb grew up next door their whole lives, the classic, their dads were best friends who married women who became best friends, and then they had kids and became neighbours. But what both of their families dont know is that Seb and Sadie kind of hate each other and all their competitions throughout high school actually had some malicious intentions behind them. You can imagine Sadie's frustration when Seb then follows her to college AND is competing for a writing position against her.
The journalism elements: this actually might have been one of my favourite parts. Sadie has a biting humour that I loved getting to see her explore, while Seb goes more for a hard hitting depth. I could keep going with this review, but honestly just go read it and enjoy.

The way Lord portrays Sadie’s internal struggles and evolving feelings for Seb feels incredibly authentic. I found myself laughing at their playful exchanges and rooting for their unexpected partnership as they tackle systemic issues together. The blend of witty banter, emotional depth, and insightful commentary on the college experience made this book a standout read for me. Lord’s skilful storytelling ensured I was engaged from start to finish, leaving me with a smile and a sense of satisfaction.

I'll read anything by Emma Lord. She never lets me down and this book was no exception!
I loved the discovering who you are in college aspect of this book and I really loved the dynamic between Sadie and Seb! It was a great rivals to lovers execution and their relationship developed in a very realistic way. Can't wait to listen to this one on audiobook as well!

I love academic rivals to lovers and this felt like the encapsulation of all my favourite parts of the genre. Even when they were in their animosity era, Sadie and Seb clearly cared about each other a lot and it was so rewarding to watch them realize how important they were to each other. With stories of this type I sometimes find the constant competition/animosity annoying and immature so I appreciated that there was something deeper tying them together (also helps that they’re teenagers lol).

Super cute rom-com for not-just-young adults! I have loved every Emma Lord book I’ve read and this college -setting version is funny, sad, authentic and a joyful read. Sadie and Seb are great adversaries and the supporting cast from roommates, club members and family are spot on.

Thank you to #netgalley, #wednesdaybooks, the publisher and the author for this ebook arc of #therival to read. Review opinions are my own.

I love the way Emma Lord writes close friendships between the romantic leads, and this is no exception. You'd think I'd get tired of it because it's a similar dynamic much of the time (especially in her most recent books) but I never do because it's SO well done and my favorite thing to read in romantic relationships anyway. Big fan of this book, and I thought it balanced the main relationship with the various side plots/side relationships well!

Every Emma Lord book is YA perfection. Her gift is writing such relatable loveable characters with fun packed plot and super cute romance. This was such pleasure to read.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Emma Lord has a way with making you feel young again.I enjoyed the tension between the characters and romance.

Emma Lord does it again! Lots of fun tropes in this one: early childhood friends to rivals to lovers, academic rivals to lovers, and a slooooooow very slow burn. The book’s college setting made me feel like I was right back on my own campus, backpack clanking behind me and a mound of books in my hands. Emma does a wonderful job of creating an immersive atmosphere in every single one of her books—and The Rivals didn’t disappoint.

I loved the back and forth banter between Seb and Sadie, and by the middle of the book I was begging for them to get together. Sadie was also so funny, and I felt her voice very refreshing and easy to read. As usual, I’ll be picking up Emma’s next book!


Thanks Wednesday Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.

This is the quintessential Emma Lord book. I loved it. It has everything: banter, quests, side quests, emotional revelations, belligerent sexual tension, unhinged snack foods. THE RIVAL is Emma Lord operating at her highest capacity.

Cuuuuuute!

I am a *complete* Emma Lord fan girl through and through, and I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of The Rival. The book does a good job of capturing the angst of being 18 and discovering yourself, apart from your family, and navigating relationships and love. I'm quite a few years out of collegez and some of the cliches may be dated, but I loved the heart of this story.

I love a good friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story, and this one had all the added fun of a nostalgic romp, taking me straight back to the college campus where I studied journalism in undergrad. I love Emma Lord's stories and how they capture the teenage experience while showing satisfying character development and emotional depth. Would definitely recommend!

Just as I expected, this book was absolutely delightful. I was wholly rooting for Seb and Sadie the entire time. I loved the family dynamics for Sadie, the coming of age angst, and of course the swoons. Emma Lord is a treasure.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Emma Lord's books are an auto-read for me and they never disappoint and always make me hungry. I really enjoy how her books have you take an inner look at yourself right along with the characters and really enjoy watching the main character come into their true selves as the book progresses on. I have always enjoyed a good enemies to lovers, and while I wouldn't say these characters were ever truly enemies, they were best friends turned academic rivals, I could definitely feel the tension between them from the start of the book to the end.

Also...now I really want pancakes.

if there’s something you should know about me is that im a sucker for academic rivals!!!

this books was so fun! i read it in less than 48hrs! it’s such a fun and quick read! and the banter!!! the slow burn!!! the communication! *chefs kiss*

and SEB HAS MY HEART! he’s the greenest flag!

will be recommending this book to all my friends!

This was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed the rivalry between these frienemies and was rooting for that first kiss! Kudos to Emma! I’ll be recommending to book club for sure!

There's just something about how Emma Lord writes that just makes me want to re-read all of her other works. The Rival, personally, is her best to date. I enjoyed Sadie and Seb's relationship and watching it progress throughout the book. If you liked Begin Again, You Have a Match, or Tweet Cute, you'll love this one. Can't wait to buy it when it comes out!

Emma Lord is the perfect go to for YA and new adult romance—charming characters, heartfelt stories, witty banter. I recommend this and her other books to teens and young adults who love a satisfying romance!

Emma Lord, the woman you are <3 As the self proclaimed leader of the Emma Lord Fan Club, being sent this ARC was an actual dream come true! And The Rival truly did not disappoint! Sadie and Seb had me laughing and giggling and screaming “JUST KISS ALREADY” Armed with so many sweet treats, The Rival is the PERFECT rivals to lovers with just enough sass and silliness that everyone will love it! Perfect for fans of Today, Tonight, Tomorrow and Love, Off the Record, The Rival is not to be missed!

I really love her books, they always something everyone in the family can read and ones you can out down. Thanks for letting me read this book.

This was my first emma lord novel and I love a slow burn college romance! This was a slow burn enemies to lovers – I personally love friends to lovers slow burn but this is a close second. I loved the genuine feeling fire between Sadie and Seb, as well as the banter/humor throughout. I think the difficult part of this novel is that I’m feeling a little too old for YA romances but it did give me so much nostalgia for college and young love! Emma writes for Buzzfeed and I found that humor and charm to be a big part of the writing that kept me most interested.

4.5 stars. I absolutely loved this story! The childhood enemies to lovers really worked with adorable banter, and the shared history so they actually knew each other better than they knew themselves. The coming of age story through getting to know yourself as they go to college was a nice premise. Another Emma Lord slam dunk!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I'm a big Emma Lord fan and this lived up to my expectations! I love how this is really a coming-of-age novel wrapped up in a rivals-to-lovers romcom. The exploits of the Newsbag team were so fun to read about and the stakes of Christina's scholarship added a good amount of depth to the story.

In this book you meet Sadie and Seb, who are next door neighbors that have competed with each other their whole lives. Enter college when they are finally separated or so Sadie thinks. Until surprise, guess who got off the the wait list…..Seb! Now him and Sadie are competing for the coveted spot writing for the college zine! Who will win the competition? Read this book to find out.

#slowburn
#enemiestodating
#friendorfoe

I always eat up an Emma Lord book and this one was no exception! Her writing flows easily and is full of humor and character. She writes fun, believable characters and I loved the college atmosphere of this one!

Rivals to lovers story. Sadie thinks she has finally escaped her lifelong rival and next door neighbor Seb. He was waited listed at the college she is attending when she runs into him in the way to the first meeting of Newsboy. Newsboy is the zine Sadie has wanted to write for since high school. It’s her dream but once again she finds she will be competing with Seb foe the coveted spot. This books follows her trials and tribulations of being away from home for the first time, managing family dynamics and competing for a position at her dream zine all while discovering that she has strong feelings for her rival. Once again Emma Lord has written a funny, smart love story. It’s a really cute book that captures what it’s like to be a first time college student. I definitely recommend this cook for fans of Emma and for YA rom com lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and st Martens press for allowing me to read this cute YA rom com in digital format prior to its release in exchange for honest review.

Emma Lord DOES NOT disappoint! I love her books. I think that college aged characters are my favorites from hers. I really liked The Rival, more than her last book.

Emma Lord continues her reign as the Queen of coming-of-age stories! I am consistently amazed by her ability to juggle large casts of characters, giving each of them well developed personalities and arcs. The rivalry and relationship between Sadie and Seb was everything, plus their banter was top notch.

I enjoyed how the Lord balanced light-hearted and comedic moments with more series issues like academic rigor, how colleges spend money, and everything that comes with entering adulthood and being away from family for the first time. There were so many topics covered, and I felt this story was very true to college experiences today. Betty was easily my favorite character and I could spend hours at a place like Pancake It or Leave It! A heartwarming and fun story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and St. Martin’s Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

College freshman Sadie is thrilled to be at her dream college with her best friend and much needed break from chaotic family. She has big plans including writing for the school news publication. Enter Seb, her life-long rival yet again pushing her to extremes by joining her college and competing for the same position!

I really enjoyed this book. Sadie and Seb had a lot of chemistry and I laughed out loud at their antics quite a few times. The book also gave us some family drama and an epic battle to do what's right.

I stick by reading everything Emma Lord writes!

Fans of Emma Lord will not be disappointed in this enemies-to-lovers romance. As with all of Lord’s books, our characters are so well fleshed out that their struggles and quirks make them incredibly relatable, with immense heart. You’ll be rooting for these two from page 1.

Sometimes you just need a good YA romance and this was it!! It was so cute and sweet. Emma is a great author overall so if you’re looking for something sweet to read, this is your book!

This was such a cute read! I loved the academic rivals/childhood best friend plot line in a college setting. I love the politics throughout the book which can happen in today’s colleges. The slow burn romance was very cute I loved it. The banter between characters was so good and made me smile and laugh multiple times. It was a great YA romance!

I loved this book. It's funny and endearing. The characters are well developed. The storyline is great. It's a classic enemies to lovers while also being unique in many ways. I love how Lord inserts fun traditions into her stories. Well worth the read: I stayed up late to finish it!

The Rival by Emma Lord is one for your trophy shelf. It’s a glorious slow burn rom-com, with added depth in the topics of finding who you really are, leaving home for the first time, and fighting for what you believe in. Plus there’s pancakes. Five stars!

#TheRival
#EmmaLord
#NetGalleyARC
#YAbooks

Emma Lord’s books are pure joy. Even when they’re tackling tough stuff, I feel happy while reading them. The Rival follows Sadie, a college freshman who is ready to redefine herself… that is, until her longtime rival shows up at her new school. Rivals to lovers at its best!

I will read anything by Emma Lord!! Once again she hit the nail on the head and created a book that will appeal to so many! I loved the story, the rivalry and the friendships in this story. It was a quick read that I know my students will enjoy. I can’t wait to purchase this for my shelf soon. Thank you netgalley and publisher for the advanced read. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I always look forward to reading Emma’s latest book, and this one did not disappoint. Her writing is witty, charming, and engaging.

The Rival is a great frenemies to lovers romance that really goes into the struggles and mixed emotions college freshmen go through as they face their first year away from family and get their first real taste of freedom. It was great read and very on par with what I have come to expect every time I crack open a book by Emma Lord.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Rival by Emma Lord. The story tackles many timely issues that people encounter as they prepare for college, including the pressures of funding, navigating college admissions, and the impact these challenges have on families and friendships. Watching Sadie grow into her own, while also discovering the meaningful relationship she's always had with Sebastian, added depth to the journey. Emma Lord beautifully captures the complexities of this stage in life, making it a relatable and engaging read.

Thank you, #netgalley and #MacmillanYoungListeners, for the ARC

What I love about Emma Lord‘s books, is that you can always count on them- I’ve never picked one up and not enjoyed it! The Rivals is no exception- it follows college students Sadie and Seb, lifelong rivals, as they compete for the same spot on there college zine. Eventually, they must team up to take on bigger issues at their college and confront their feelings for each other.
I appreciated the character development, humorous moments, and “warm fuzzies” provided by this book. As someone who works with college students, I also appreciated the light shined on the pressure faced by students. Overall, highly recommended!

Emma Lord delivers another cute YA romcom!! This one is a love story that is set in college where the two main characters compete for a writing position for the school newspaper while also uncovering corruption within their school.

I really really enjoyed this book. I loved the romantic plot and the subplot of uncovering the schools corruption/vying for the writing position. I loved reading about Seb and Sadie and their history together and then watching their relationship evolve. This book was just an adorable little read for me!!

This was such a cute YA book. I loved the setting of freshmen at uni and I thought the banter between them was so good! It was a laugh out loud kind of book for me, I have so many funny lines highlighted on my kindle.

The queen of YA has done it again! I loved the college setting in this one. It took me back to fond memories of my time there. I enjoyed the relatability of the characters and the chemistry between them. Another Emma Lord not to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After only feel okay about Emma Lord's last YA novel, I was excited for her newest one to be back in a college campus setting - and I loved it! I started as a journalist major (and then pivoted to PR), so the plot surrounding trying to make the college's zine and become a writer was everything!

I loved the childhood friends turned fierce competitors aspect of the book - someone who know you so deeply, but you are still pitted against each other time and time again. I also loved being able to explore the college campus through their eyes - and hear about some of the ridiculous student organizations.

There was also a dash of fighting against family expectations and some coming-of-age once finally away from your family - all wrapped up with a romance. It was everything and I absolutely loved it.

And now I need pancakes.

Oh I enjoyed this one. A YA rom com of two enemies to lovers (rivals) set in college. I loved the banter between Sebastian and Sadie - and related to their characters. This one was easy for me to get into, a great palette cleanser between books. Overall - I thought the story was cute and entertaining - and I do always enjoy an academic setting. Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

very cute romance with some very fun aspects about handling problems in the systems of college and with some very strong themes. 4 stars. tysm for the arc. loved sadie and seb

4.5 stars. I adored this book. Emma Lord is a must-read author for me, and she never disappoints. Lord does banter extremely well, and it's impossible not to fall in love with Sadie and Sebastian as they battle it out for a spot on Maple Ride's Newsbag. Their antics and the silly college events make for a delightful reading experience.

Emma Lord can do no wrong in my book. I loved this so much. I really think she rivals Meg Cabot in teenage emotion, but with the heart of Sarah Dessen.

She just keeps hitting it out of the ballpark for me.

Another cute rom com by Emma Lord! She has become a favorite romance writer of mine. If you are looking for sweet stories with adorable romance plots you need to read Emma Lord!

Emma Lord delivers once again! I simply adore her books. Sadie and Seb are two great characters who feel so real- they have real world problems, similar crises of identity that I think every college freshman encounters. Parts were laugh-out-loud funny (Betty the pancake lady, who was HANDS DOWN my favorite character) and it was fun to root for the various characters throughout the book. I don't want to give too much of the plot and the shenanigans away, but I will say this is definitely worth reading.
I will definitely be recommending this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

The Rival
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honestly, Emma Lord is one of the very few authors that I trust to do a YA romcom that doesn’t have too immature of characters. This falls right in with that!

Seb and Sadie have been rivals for forever when they end up at the same college, vying for the same newspaper writer position. While they compete, the school’s clubs are on the brink of shutting down due to lack of funding. They and their cowriters must work together to stop the administration.

I enjoyed this a lot! Surprisingly a lot more plot to it than I expected going in. I would have loved dual POV, but Sadie was a good voice throughout.

Wow I loved this book so much! Emma lord you just get better and better! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book! I’ll have a more detailed review closer to the release date!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Emma Lord is my favorite YA author and this book did not disappoint. Sadie thinks she is finally free of her high school academic rival until he shows up at the same college as her. This was such a cute and fun read.

Emma Lord's books are so fun! Her characters are always fresh, compelling, and all too real. I've enjoyed her YA books, and this foray into Emerging Adult was an excellent addition to her canon.

Lord's characters leap off the page. Sadie is fun and smart, masking her humorous side for a quest she doesn't really need to be undertaking. Her worries are relatable, and her banter with Seb lifts her off the page. On the flip side, Seb is sweet, funny, and driven, a really interesting foil for Sadie. They have so much in common, and even as they compete for a spot at the school paper, they also grow and change as people. I like that both characters had areas of growth, and I really loved the distinct voices.
The setting was great; the college feels real, with real college-student concerns, on-campus politics, and inter-organization relationships.

Excellent book, super fun read!

The Rival by Emma Lord is such a fun and relatable read! If you enjoy witty banter, complex friendships, and a bit of romance, this one’s for you. The story follows Tori, a high school senior who’s caught up in a fierce rivalry with her former best friend, resulting in plenty of drama and awkward moments.

What I loved most was how Emma Lord captured the ups and downs of teenage relationships—both romantic and platonic. The characters felt real, and their growth over the course of the book was really satisfying. Plus, there’s a lot of humor mixed in to keep things light, even when the stakes feel high. This is definitely a book I’d recommend to my library patrons looking for an entertaining, heartfelt read with plenty of twists and turns. Perfect for fans of coming-of-age stories and high school drama!