Title: Bed, Borrow, or Steal
Author: Sarah Adams
Publisher: Dell
Pages: 384
Genre: Romance
My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🖤
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Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Jackson Bennett didn’t exactly charm Emily Walker on their first day of college—spilling coffee all over her and snagging the best seat in class didn’t help. Years later, they’re still bitter rivals. Emily was thrilled when she learned Jackson was moving away with his girlfriend to get married. But now he’s back, newly single, and living right next door. To make matters worse, he’s already claimed her favorite table at the café where she secretly works on her novel.
When Emily finally finishes her manuscript, she accidentally emails it to the principal of the school where she works—a mistake that could cost her everything. Desperate to retrieve it before he reads it, she reluctantly turns to Jackson for help. To her surprise, he agrees. But as they team up, Emily starts to wonder if there’s more to Jackson than the infuriating nemesis she’s always known.
Review
This is the third book in Sarah Adams’ When in Rome series, but you don’t necessarily need to read the books in order. That said, I think it’s better if you do. So far, I’ve read books two and three, but for some reason, I still haven’t read the first one. Looking back, I wish I had tackled them in order—it feels like I missed some context.
The last book I read (The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center) was a five-star gem. Sometimes, when you follow up a five-star read, the next book feels like a letdown. However, I still really enjoyed Beg, Borrow, or Steal. For a brief moment, I thought it might be another five-star read, but it didn’t quite hit that mark for me. While I found the story delightful and engaging, a five-star book needs to evoke deep emotion—whether it’s laughter, tears, or something else—and this one didn’t quite do that consistently. Maybe for a moment, but not throughout. Still, it was a solid, enjoyable read.
Sarah Adams’ writing style is fantastic—her books are perfect for when you want something light and easy to read. They’re hard to put down, and her knack for crafting entertaining stories shines here.
I’m a huge fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this book delivers on that front. The banter between the two main characters is so much fun, and the chemistry is evident right from the beginning. It’s clear they don’t really hate each other—they’re just pretending not to like each other while secretly caring a lot. Watching them navigate that dynamic made the book all the more enjoyable.
I also loved seeing characters from the first two books make appearances. Rome is such a charming small town where everyone knows everyone, and gossip spreads like wildfire. While I’d hate living in a place like that in real life, I love it in books—it adds a fun layer to the story.
This year, I’ve decided to focus on finishing some of the book series I’ve started, and When in Rome is on that list. Since Beg, Borrow, or Steal just came out in January 2025, I suspect there’s a fourth book in the works, which means another year of waiting. In the meantime, I plan to circle back and read the first book (When in Rome) later this year.
Overall, I’d recommend this book—and the entire series, really. I adored book two (Practice Makes Perfect), and while that one is still my favorite, Beg, Borrow, or Steal comes pretty close. If you enjoy witty romances with lovable characters and small-town charm, this series is definitely worth picking up!