When Jack Bennett abruptly left Rome, Kentucky, with his fiancée in the middle of the school year, his fellow second-grade teacher—and nemesis since college—Emily Walker couldn’t have been happier to see him go. But now it’s summer, and to Emily’s dismay, Jack is back. Not only has he called off his wedding, but he’s also moved in next door, giving Emily constant reminders of why she can’t stand him—and why he’s nothing like the dashing hero of the romance novel she secretly wrote and dreams of publishing.
Determined to turn the town against him, Emily starts scheming, only to discover that Jack has a way of charming everyone—including her. As their pranks escalate, Jack stumbles upon Emily’s love of romance and mystery novels and realizes she’s a fan of the very books he’s been writing under a pen name for years. But when Emily accidentally emails her steamy manuscript to their principal, she enlists Jack’s help in a daring scheme to steal it back.
As they join forces, their devious minds begin working toward a common goal, and their animosity starts to give way to something much sweeter. Through flashbacks to their college days, witty text exchanges, and laugh-out-loud moments, readers get to see how their decade-long rivalry began—and how one summer might be all it takes to undo it.
Sarah Adams has done it again! Her writing is endlessly charming and full of humor, heart, and just the right amount of spice. I’ve been a fan since The Cheat Sheet became my pandemic comfort read, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal might just feature my favorite characters since Nathan and Bree. Emily and Jack’s dynamic is electric, their banter is pitch-perfect, and their “enemies but secretly into each other” vibe is guaranteed to leave you grinning ear to ear.
The audiobook, narrated by the incredible duo Nelson Hobbs and Brittany Pressley, is a total delight. Their performances bring Emily and Jack to life with humor and heart, making the story even more engaging. At 11 hours and 15 minutes, it’s a binge-worthy listen you won’t want to put down.
If you love playful, heartfelt enemies-to-lovers romances, Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a must-read for your 2025 TBR!
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Audiobook: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️
Book Smart Kate 