Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
Published by Dell on January 7, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this rivals-to-lovers romance by the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.
Emily Walker hates having her carefully crafted world disrupted by anyone, most of all her legendary nemesis, Jack Bennett. He's the opposite of the wonderful heroes she dreams up in her double life as a romance writer, which is why Emily was perfectly happy when Jack left Rome, Kentucky, mid-school year, with his fiancée. The last thing Emily saw coming was Jack’s return at the start of the summer after calling off the wedding and ending his relationship, but he’s here to stay—as her colleague and her neighbor.
Jackson Bennett is glad to be back, eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his bestselling pen name. But when he realizes he’s now neighbors with the one woman who has always pushed his buttons, he discovers something he’s even more excited for—thwarting Emily and her petty plans to sabotage his return.
With their chemistry-fueled animosity at an all-time high, Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret literary side hustle. She needs to steal back her manuscript, and Jack—she hates to admit—is just the man to help her. Surprisingly, Jack agrees. Will their unlikely alliance put an end to their rivalry? Or could it lead to a steamy plot twist they never saw coming?
Everything was going well for Emily until her nemesis, Jack, returned to Rome and moved in next door. If Jack thought Rome was going to welcome him with open arms, he had another think coming because Emily planned to do her best to drive him out and win this battle.
Sarah Adams quickly earned a place on my must-read author list, and this book is a perfect example of why. As if I wasn't already excited to return to the world of Rome and the Walker siblings, she crafted the most delightful rivals-to-lovers romance I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Jack and Emily had incredible chemistry, and their snipping/banter was terribly entertaining. The icing on the cake for me was their shared history. I am trash for pairings that go waaay back, and Jack and Emily had over a decade of shared moments that definitely foretold this union. I adored those looks back as much as I enjoyed their present day antics, and let me tell you, there were antics galore. Adams took the assignment of rom-com seriously because this book elicited a plethora of laughter and chuckles from me.
I also thought it was really beautiful the way they simply were with each other. Both Emily and Jack spent most of their lives playing a part. They were also putting other people's needs, wants, and feelings before their own. When they were together, they could be themselves and not feel that their wants and needs had to be put on the back burner. I just felt that they deserved that and loved that they were able to find that in each other.
As always, it was fun to be in Rome. They townsfolk are still nosey and hilarious while the Walkers proved why they hold a special place in my heart. The loss of their parents affected each of them in different ways, and it was great to see Emily have her chance to really work through that pain and move forward. There were wonderful things on the horizon for her and her siblings, and I was excited to bear witness to it all.
Overall, I had a stupendous time in Rome watching these rivals soften and accept their feelings for each other. It was touching and heartfelt, and this book will sit among my favorites by Adams.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
Published by Random House on January 14, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Fiction
Goodreads
To the world, they were a scandal. To each other, an obsession.
An epic love story set in the sparkling, savage sphere of elite figure skating about a woman determined to carve her own path on and off the ice
She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and rollercoaster relationship. Until a shocking incident at the Olympic Games brings their partnership to a sudden end.
As the ten-year anniversary of their final skate approaches, an unauthorized documentary reignites the public obsession with Shaw and Rocha, claiming to uncover the "real story" through interviews with their closest friends and fiercest rivals. Kat wants nothing to do with the documentary. But she can't stand the thought of someone else defining her legacy either. So, after a decade of silence, she's telling her story: from the childhood tragedies that created her all-consuming bond with Heath to the clash of desires that tore them apart. Sensational rumors have haunted their every step for years, but the truth may be even more shocking than the headlines.
Inspired by the powerful love and hate that fuel Emily Bronte’s classic, Wuthering Heights, The Favorites is an exhilarating dance between passion, ambition, and what it truly means to win.
I had featured this book as one of my anticipated releases and WOW! It blew me away.
I have a thing for stories about elite athletes as their drive and dedication always amaze me, but the love story between Kat and Heath gripped me from the start and never let go. This tale is told in a documentary format which I LOVED, and it spanned years and years of this duo's history. Their story was captivating and scandalous. There were points where I was brought to tears and my heart ached for them. This was an absolute emotional roller coaster and I loved every second of it.
I saw shades of Carrie Soto as I read Kat's story. Like Carrie, Kat's ambition was a negative thing and earned her a reputation in the ice dancing world. But she fought, tooth and nail, for everything she wanted and everything she had. I found myself rather sympathetic towards her. I celebrated her successes and mourned her losses, professional and personal. She had a tough life (as did Heath), and I wanted to see her triumph.
I am glad I decided to listen to the audiobook because it really worked well with the documentary format and brought the story to life. I actually have tears in my eyes as I gather my thoughts here. The ending wasn't what I expected but it was a good one, and I felt hopeful for Kat and everyone else who was part of her circle.
Let us know in the comments!
No comments:
Post a Comment