Beg, Borrow or Steal
by Sarah Adams
I’ll admit I haven’t read the first two books in this series (mostly because I’m cheap and don’t like spending money on books unless I know I’ll love them 😂), but this one stood on its own two legs just fine. It’s the classic enemies-to-lovers setup: two second-grade teachers who’ve been feuding since college, bickering like the kids they teach. We know from page one they’ll fall in love and get their HEA, because really, that’s why we’re here, right?
My favorite aspect is her relationships with her sisters. The heroine’s relationship with her sisters was heartfelt, and her fear of not being needed added some real depth to her character. I loved watching her try to overcompensate, pouring herself into everyone else, including her new cat, Ducky. Those moments gave the book some grounding beyond the banter.
Now, about the romance. The tension between the leads was fantastic. Their banter and push-pull chemistry made for a fun ride. But when it came time actually to get together? The spice was more “moved together” and “reached the pinnacle” than anything explicit. Totally fine for a closed-door crowd, but I need some details people. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 For two characters described as being hotter than two rats fucking in a wool sock, the sex wasn’t. It was more like the rats were in your grandma’s knee-high stockings. They always say that two hot people will make an ugly kid. (This kid, in this instance, was their sex.) I wouldn’t call it “closed-door”, more like an open door, but you can hear them from the other room.
Another reason this book landed in my Kindle was because Amazon tagged it as a “top book” for one of their challenges. I am nothing if not a completionist, so here we are and yes, I did get the little bookmark thankyouverymuch. 💅🏼(this emoji doesn’t come in green and it’s a travesty)
Overall, I found the characters likable, the story relatable, and yes, I even teared up in places. (Don’t worry, it’s not a sad book; I’m just a weepy reader.) It’s not one I immediately bought the sequels to, especially since I’ve seen some reviews saying the others weren’t as strong, but I’d still call it a fun, emotional, and easy read.
What To Expect:
Enemies to lovers
Workplace romance (teaching)
Found family / strong sibling bonds
Lighthearted small-town vibe
Low/closed-door spice
👽👽👽👽/5
—HM