The Rival
A Novel
by Emma Lord
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Pub Date Jan 21 2025 | Archive Date Feb 04 2025
St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books
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Description
Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again.
At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.
But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.
"If you haven’t read a novel by Emma Lord before, you’ve been missing out on something spectacular." - Paste
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781250904027 |
| PRICE | $20.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Daphne D, Bookseller
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.
Reviewer 810933
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.
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