Small Town, Big Rivalry

In the quirky, close-knit town of Rome, Kentucky, second-grade teacher Emily Walker is a perfectionist with a sharp tongue and a heart full of hidden grief. Her life is a series of routines, family obligations, and a secret longing for connection. Her archnemesis since college, Jack Bennett, is charming, infuriating, and always one step ahead. Their rivalry is legendary, built on years of academic and professional competition, snarky emails, and mutual sabotage. When Jack leaves town for a new life and engagement, Emily is left with a strange sense of loss, even as she tells herself she's glad to see him go.

The Return of Jack

Jack's return to Rome is the talk of the town. His engagement has ended, and he's bought the dilapidated house next door to Emily's. The news sends Emily into a tailspin of conflicting emotions—relief, irritation, and a reluctant curiosity about Jack's heartbreak. Their old rivalry reignites instantly, but beneath the barbs, both are nursing wounds: Jack from a relationship that left him lonelier than ever, and Emily from the slow unraveling of her family's closeness after their grandmother's death.

Enemies at the Coffee Shop

Jack and Emily's first encounter back in town is a battle for Emily's sacred Saturday morning coffee shop table. Their banter is as sharp as ever, but there's a new undercurrent—an awareness of each other's vulnerabilities. Forced to share a table, they fall into old patterns of competition, but the town's gossip and their own loneliness keep drawing them together. Jack's secret—that he's a bestselling mystery author writing under a pseudonym—remains hidden, even as he finds himself drawn to Emily's authenticity.

Neighbor Wars Begin

Living next door turns their rivalry into a daily sport. Emily orchestrates a town-wide cold shoulder campaign to drive Jack away, while Jack retaliates with late-night construction and other annoyances. Yet, their pranks are laced with affection, and moments of genuine care slip through. Emily's perfectionism and need for control clash with Jack's easy charm, but both are masking deeper insecurities—her fear of abandonment, his fear of being truly known.

Family, Grief, and Loneliness

Emily's siblings are moving on: Noah is married to a pop star, Annie is thriving in her flower business, and Madison is chasing culinary dreams in New York. Emily feels left behind, her role as caretaker obsolete. Grief for her parents and grandmother, and the ache of being unneeded, drive her to start writing a secret romance novel. Jack, too, is haunted by a narcissistic father and a mother he can't save, fueling his need for control and secrecy.

The Secret Manuscript

Emily's romance novel becomes her lifeline—a place where she can control the narrative and escape her pain. She's terrified to share it, convinced it's not good enough. Jack, meanwhile, is hiding his own writing career from everyone, especially his father, whose approval is both impossible and toxic. Their parallel secrets bind them, even as they continue to spar.

Motorcycle Flirtation

A chance encounter on Jack's motorcycle—Emily not realizing it's him—leads to playful, anonymous flirtation. When the truth comes out, embarrassment gives way to a new intimacy. Apologies are exchanged, and for the first time, they glimpse the possibility of being more than enemies. Their banter softens, and the town begins to accept Jack, thanks to Emily's reluctant blessing.

Truce and Transformation

A drunken mishap leads Emily to accidentally send her explicit manuscript to their conservative principal. In a panic, she turns to Jack for help. Their late-night rescue mission, and the emotional fallout, force them to drop their defenses. Jack cares for Emily in her lowest moment, and she confides her deepest fears. Their friendship deepens, and the rivalry that once defined them becomes a source of comfort and connection.

The Manuscript Mishap

To save Emily's job, they break into the school to delete the email. The caper cements their partnership, and Jack finally reads Emily's manuscript, offering honest, constructive feedback. Their scene-blocking exercise blurs the line between fiction and reality, awakening desires and forcing Emily to confront her fear of intimacy. Jack's respect and patience begin to heal her old wounds.

Breaking and Entering

When Emily's manuscript is accidentally sent to the principal's home computer, they break into his house to retrieve it. Hiding together in a closet, their physical and emotional proximity leads to confessions and a passionate kiss. The closet becomes a metaphor for the emotional spaces they've both been hiding in—spaces they're finally ready to leave behind.

Closet Confessions

The aftermath of the closet encounter is electric. Both are shaken by the intensity of their feelings, but real life intrudes—Jack's mother needs him, and Emily's sister returns home in crisis. Their budding romance is tested by old patterns of retreat and self-protection, but the connection between them is undeniable.

Scene Blocking and Boundaries

Jack helps Emily rewrite her intimacy scenes, using their own chemistry as inspiration. Their physical relationship deepens, but so does their emotional honesty. Emily's fear of being unlovable and Jack's fear of being used for his father's fame come to the surface. They agree to take things slow, but the pull between them is irresistible.

Sisters, Secrets, and Support

Emily's sisters rally around her, offering support and tough love. Madison's return home brings old wounds and new healing, as the sisters confront their changing roles and the need to let go. Emily learns to accept help and to share her burdens, realizing that vulnerability is not weakness.

Rejection and Retreat

Emily submits her manuscript to a top agent, only to receive a harsh rejection. The blow devastates her, and she pushes Jack away, convinced she's not meant to be a writer—or to be loved. Jack, too, is forced to confront his own patterns of withdrawal and the legacy of his father's emotional abuse. Both retreat to lick their wounds, unsure if they can bridge the gap between them.

Facing the Past

Jack finally stands up to his father, refusing to let him control the narrative of his life and career. He reveals his true identity as a bestselling author, claiming his own success. Emily, with the help of her siblings, faces the truth about her high school heartbreak and the ways she's let fear dictate her choices. Both realize that healing means letting go of old stories and embracing the unknown.

Pancakes and Proposals

A family breakfast brings everyone together, with Jack seamlessly fitting into Emily's world. Annie proposes to Will, and the sisters celebrate new beginnings. Emily and Jack reconcile, each apologizing for past mistakes and promising to move forward with honesty and patience. Their love is no longer a secret, and the town embraces them as a couple.

Letting Go, Letting In

Emily and Jack finally admit their love, choosing each other fully. They support one another through public revelations, professional challenges, and the ongoing work of healing. Emily's book is eventually published under a pen name, and Jack's true identity as an author is revealed on his own terms. Together, they create a new story—one built on trust, vulnerability, and the courage to begin again.

Characters

Emily Walker

Emily is the eldest Walker sibling, a second-grade teacher known for her sharp wit, organizational prowess, and fierce loyalty. Orphaned young and raised by her grandmother, Emily has always been the family's emotional anchor, sacrificing her own needs for her siblings. Her perfectionism is both armor and prison, masking deep-seated fears of abandonment and unworthiness. Writing becomes her secret escape, a way to process grief and loneliness. Her journey is one of learning to accept help, embrace vulnerability, and believe she is worthy of love—not just as a caretaker, but as herself.

Jack Bennett

Jack is Emily's lifelong nemesis and equal, a fellow teacher with a magnetic personality and a secret life as bestselling mystery author AJ Ranger. Raised by a narcissistic father and a passive mother, Jack learned to read people and adapt, often at the expense of his own needs. His charm is a shield, his writing a sanctuary. Jack's greatest fear is being truly known and rejected, yet with Emily, he finds the courage to be honest and imperfect. His arc is about claiming his own story, standing up to his father, and choosing love over self-protection.

Madison Walker

Emily's younger sister, Madison, is impulsive, passionate, and fiercely independent. Her move to New York is both a bid for freedom and a test of her own resilience. Madison's struggles with loneliness and belonging mirror Emily's, and their relationship is a touchstone for both. Madison's return home and her support for Emily's writing are pivotal in helping Emily heal and move forward.

Annie Walker

The youngest Walker sister, Annie is nurturing, optimistic, and the emotional glue of the family. Her journey from self-doubt to self-assurance, including her unconventional proposal to Will, reflects the novel's themes of growth and self-acceptance. Annie's unwavering support for Emily is a source of comfort and inspiration.

Noah Walker

The eldest Walker sibling, Noah is calm, reliable, and quietly protective. His marriage to pop star Amelia brings both joy and upheaval to the family dynamic. Noah's own struggles with grief and change parallel Emily's, and his advice to her about taking risks is a turning point in her story.

Amelia (Rae Rose)

Amelia is Noah's wife, a world-famous singer who finds solace and belonging in Rome. Her grounded nature and genuine affection for the Walkers make her a beloved addition to the family. Amelia's own career choices and support for Emily's writing highlight the importance of following one's passion.

Will Griffin

Annie's fiancé, Will is a former bodyguard and Air Force veteran who finds purpose and love in Rome. His relationship with Annie is a model of mutual respect and growth, and his acceptance into the Walker family underscores the novel's themes of chosen family and second chances.

Mabel

Mabel is the Walkers' honorary grandmother and the town's unofficial sage. Her no-nonsense wisdom, loyalty, and humor provide guidance and comfort to Emily and Jack. Mabel's own story of learning to love and trust again serves as a blueprint for Emily's journey.

Fredrick Bennett

Jack's father, Fredrick, is a celebrated mystery writer whose emotional abuse and self-absorption have left deep scars on Jack. His inability to love unconditionally or share the spotlight is the source of much of Jack's pain. Fredrick's public outing of Jack's secret is a final act of control, but Jack's refusal to let it define him marks his true liberation.

The Town of Rome, Kentucky

Rome is more than a setting—it's a character in its own right. The town's gossip, traditions, and collective loyalty shape the lives of Emily, Jack, and their families. Rome's embrace of both rivalry and reconciliation mirrors the novel's central message: that belonging is found not in perfection, but in connection.

Plot Devices

Dual Narration and Epistolary Elements

The novel alternates between Emily and Jack's points of view, using emails, texts, and unsent drafts to provide insight into their thoughts and feelings. This structure allows readers to see the misunderstandings, longing, and growth from both sides, deepening empathy and tension.

Enemies-to-Lovers and Forced Proximity

The classic enemies-to-lovers trope is given new life through the characters' shared history and forced proximity as neighbors and colleagues. Their rivalry is both a shield and a form of intimacy, and the slow transition to friendship and love is marked by humor, sabotage, and reluctant vulnerability.

Secret Identities and Hidden Talents

Both Emily and Jack are secret writers, using their craft to process pain and imagine new possibilities. Jack's pseudonym and Emily's hidden manuscript symbolize the parts of themselves they're afraid to share. The revelation of these secrets is both a plot twist and a catalyst for healing.

Family Dynamics and Found Family

The Walker siblings' evolving relationships, shaped by loss and change, mirror the protagonists' internal journeys. The town's collective embrace and the creation of new traditions underscore the importance of chosen family and community support.

Humor and Banter as Emotional Armor

The novel's signature banter is more than comic relief—it's a defense mechanism and a bridge to deeper connection. The characters' ability to laugh, even in the face of heartbreak, is both a survival strategy and a sign of hope.

Symbolic Spaces and Objects

Recurring settings—the coffee shop table, the closet, the manuscript—serve as metaphors for the characters' emotional journeys. The table is a battleground turned sanctuary; the closet, a place of hiding and revelation; the manuscript, a testament to the courage of self-expression.

Analysis

Beg, Borrow, or Steal is a contemporary romance that transcends its genre through sharp wit, emotional honesty, and a profound understanding of grief and healing. Sarah Adams crafts a story where rivalry is a form of intimacy, and where the courage to be seen—flaws and all—is the ultimate act of love. The novel explores the ways we protect ourselves from pain, the cost of perfectionism, and the transformative power of community. By weaving together themes of family, ambition, and self-acceptance, Adams reminds us that true belonging is found not in being needed, but in being known. The book's humor, heart, and hope make it a balm for anyone who has ever felt alone, unworthy, or afraid to begin again.

Last updated: May 5, 2025