Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams Summary: A Rivalry to Romance
Introduction
In the small town of Rome, Kentucky, everyone knows your business. For two rival second-grade teachers, that means everyone also knows about their decade-long feud.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams brings readers into this cozy, gossipy world where Emily Walker and Jack Bennett can barely share a sidewalk without bickering.
The story begins when Jack returns to town after a broken engagement and buys the crumbling house next door to Emily.
Their forced proximity reignites old tensions and uncovers buried feelings.
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TL;DR: Enemies Become Neighbors
Emily Walker and Jack Bennett have been rivals since college. Now they teach at the same school in Rome, Kentucky.
When Jack moves into the dilapidated house next door, their feud intensifies. Emily tries to get the town to shun him, but Jackās charm wins everyone over.
A panic-inducing accident with an email forces them to work together. As they spend more time together, their hostility shifts into attraction.
Both characters hide secrets: Emily writes explicit romance novels, and Jack is a bestselling mystery author under a pen name.
Their journey involves confronting childhood trauma, family pressure, and the risk of being truly vulnerable with another person.
Characters In This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Emily Walker | Second-grade teacher, secret romance author, and Jackās longtime rival. |
| Jack Bennett | Fellow second-grade teacher and secret bestselling mystery author AJ Ranger. |
| Noah Walker | Emilyās older brother who runs the family Pie Shop and is married to pop star Amelia. |
| Annie Walker | Emilyās youngest sister, a florist in love with Will Griffin. |
| Madison Walker | Emilyās middle sister, a culinary student in New York. |
| Amelia (Rae Rose) | Noahās wife and a world-famous pop star who lives in Rome. |
| Will Griffin | Annieās partner, a former bodyguard studying to be a teacher. |
| James Huxley | Noahās best friend, a local farmer with a long-standing attraction to Madison. |
| Mabel | Local innkeeper, family friend, and a fiery support to Emily and Jack. |
| Harriet | Owner of the local market who acts as a maternal figure to the Walkers. |
| Phil | Co-owner of the hardware store known for his quirky socks. |
| Zoe | Jackās former fiancĆ©e who cheated on him and disliked his glasses. |
| Fredrick Bennett | Jackās narcissistic, emotionally abusive father and famous mystery writer. |
| Diana Bennett | Jackās sweet but submissive mother. |
| Bart Killick | The conservative school principal. |
| Marissa | The schoolās crotchety vice principal who likes only Jack. |
| Jonathan | Jackās loyal publishing agent. |
| Colette Menton | A prominent romance literary agent. |
Beg, Borrow, or Steal Summary: The Full Story
SPOILER WARNING: This section reveals major plot points and the ending.
Emily Walker is a perfectionist second-grade teacher in Rome, Kentucky. She became fiercely independent after losing her parents in a mountain storm when she was eight.
Jack Bennett is her fellow teacher and longtime academic rival. In Beg, Borrow, or Steal, their rivalry begins freshman year of college when Jack spills coffee on Emily and attempts to flirt. Recovering from a recent breakup, Emily rejects him harshly.
Their competitive banter continues for a decade.
Jack returns to Rome after calling off his engagement to Zoe. He buys Old Peteās place, a rotting house next door to Emily.
Horrified, Emily schemes with locals to delay his renovations and make him feel unwelcome. Jack remains unbothered, and his genuine kindness quickly wins people back. Emily confronts him about late-night hammering and finds him shirtless. The charged moment surprises her.
Unknown to Emily, Jack is AJ Ranger, an anonymous bestselling mystery author. He uses the pen name to escape his fatherās controlling influence.
His father, Fredrick Bennett, is a famous writer who takes credit for everyone elseās work. Jack keeps this identity secret from nearly everyone in Rome.
One lonely night, Emily drinks too much wine and decides to submit her secret Regency romance manuscript to an agent.
In her tipsy state, she accidentally emails the explicit novel to Bart Killick, the conservative school principal. Panicked, she runs to Jack for help.
He cleans her scraped knees and calms her down.
They devise a plan to break into the school and delete the email from Bartās laptop. During the break-in, they hide in a cramped closet when Bart unexpectedly returns. In the dark, they share a deep, passionate kiss.
Their connection grows, but Jack knows he must tell Emily the truth about being AJ Ranger. Emily is also dealing with her own fear of being left behind. Her brother Noah announces he will join his pop star wife Amelia on a year-long tour.
This triggers Emilyās fear that her siblings no longer need her.
During a severe storm at Hankās bar, Emily confesses her fear of storms and the pressure of always being the strong older sister. Jack reveals his secret identity. Emily accepts him, and they share a tender night together.
The next morning, Emily receives a brutal rejection from a top romance agent. Humiliated, she lashes out at Jack. They fight, and he leaves. Her sister Madison arrives home from New York, feeling like a failure. Madison discovers the rejection email and encourages Emily to keep writing.
Around the same time, Jack gets advice from Mabel, the local innkeeper, about Emilyās defense mechanisms. Jack apologizes to Emily, and they reconcile.
Jack then confronts his father in Evansville. He reveals his success as AJ Ranger and declares he is done absorbing his fatherās abuse.
He returns to Rome, and Emily tells him she loves him. They make love in her truck bed under the stars. Jack decides to sell his motorcycle to protect Emily from potential grief and plans to publicly reveal his identity.
His father preempts this by outing him on Instagram and taking credit for his writing.
Emily comforts Jack through the humiliation. With his agentās help, Jack prepares a PR response renouncing his father.
In the epilogue, eleven months later, Emily has published her debut novel under the pen name Emmy Gold. She meets Jack at their favorite coffee shop table, where she has saved his seat.
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Summary by Chapter
SPOILER WARNING: This section contains detailed chapter-by-chapter plot points.
The book contains 37 chapters and an Epilogue. Below is a concise summary of each chapter for readers who want to track the storyās progression.
Chapter 1: Emily Emily Walker sits in a Rome, Kentucky, hair salon and overhears that her teaching rival, Jack Bennett, has called off his wedding and is returning to town. Shocked, she leaves with wet hair still in foils.
Chapter 2: Emily Emily goes to the Hot Bean coffee shop and finds Jack sitting at her favorite corner table. They bicker, and she reluctantly shares the table. She also learns he bought Old Peteās house next door to hers.
Chapter 3: Jack Jack recalls how a college presentation with Emily resulted in an F because they could not stop arguing. He reveals he bought the dilapidated house to establish roots. Emily learns about his renovation plans and begins scheming to drive him away.
Chapter 4: Emily Emilyās sisters, Annie and Amelia, visit her. Emily admits Jack is moving next door but claims he wonāt stay long. Mabel arrives with casserole, and Emily spreads gossip to convince the town to shun Jack and delay his renovations.
Chapter 5: Jack Jack shops at Harrietās Market, where locals warn him that the town sides with Emily. His contractor backs out. He sees Emily outside in a tank top, gets distracted, and knocks over a soup display he must purchase.
Chapter 6: Emily Emily hears Jack hammering late at night and confronts him. She uses his garden hose to spray his window. He emerges shirtless and wearing glasses, leaving Emily flustered by his physique.
Chapter 7: Jack Jack is amused by Emilyās pajamas and cowboy boots. Inside his house, he blocks her from his bedroom to hide his writing notes. They share a charged moment when she tries on his glasses.
Chapter 8: Emily Emily helps Annie harvest flowers at their parentsā old farm. A mysterious motorcyclist flirts with her, then reveals himself as Jack. He apologizes for the joke, and Emily forgives him.
Chapter 9: Jack Jack is confused when the town suddenly treats him kindly. He learns Emily told people to include him. He watches Emily hide her disappointment when Madison cancels her visit and realizes he cares about her happiness.
Chapter 10: Emily Drunk and lonely, Emily emails her explicit manuscript to a literary agent. She realizes she accidentally sent it to Principal Bart Killick. Panicked, she runs to Jack for help, and he comforts her.
Chapter 11: Jack Jack learns Emily is a writer and discovers Bart is on vacation, giving them time to delete the email. He offers to help break into Bartās laptop if Emily restores his contractor. They negotiate and agree to share the coffee shop table.
Chapter 12: Emily Emily wears her late grandmotherās vintage dress. Loud hammering leads her to Jackās house, where she sees his AJ Ranger notes. He accidentally hammers his thumb, and she patches him up at her house.
Chapter 13: Emily Emily and Jack go to the school to delete the email. They charm the vice principal into letting them into Bartās office, but the laptop is at Bartās home. Emilyās truck battery dies, so Jack gives her a ride on his motorcycle.
Chapter 14: Emily Emily is nervous on the motorcycle, but Jack helps her with the helmet. During the ride, he plays music through their coms and slides her hands down his chest. She emails him her manuscript that night.
Chapter 15: Emily Jack reads her manuscript overnight and calls it incredible. He gives her two versions of editing feedback. She chooses his brutally honest critique. He asks for consent before commenting on the sex scenes.
Chapter 16: Emily Jack gives direct feedback on her sex scene. He explains that it lacks emotional depth. They āstage-blockā a kiss scene, which becomes intensely physical until Madisonās phone call interrupts them.
Chapter 17: Jack Jackās AC breaks. Emily walks in while he is in boxer briefs. He offers to connect her with Colette Menton, a top romance agent. Emily is ecstatic when Colette agrees to read her chapters.
Chapter 18: Emily Emily and Jack break into Bartās house at night. They find the laptop but hear a key in the lock and must hide quickly.
Chapter 19: Emily They hide in a hallway closet while Bart makes food and watches TV. Sitting in Jackās lap, Emily deletes the email. They share a passionate kiss and escape when Bart goes upstairs.
Chapter 20: Jack Jack meets his exhausted mother at a coffee shop. His father had a rage fit. Jack realizes he is in love with Emily. Mabel and Harriet enter, and Jack introduces them to his mother.
Chapter 21: Emily Emily is confused that Jack has not kissed her again. At Hankās, her family announces Noah will join Amelia on tour for a year. Feeling unneeded, Emily texts Jack to join her.
Chapter 22: Jack Jack enters the crowded bar despite painful memories of his alcoholic father. He finds men drooling over Emily and feels possessive. He helps her bartend and kicks out a rude customer.
Chapter 23: Emily After closing, a storm knocks out the power. In the dark, Emily confesses her fear of storms. Jack shares a painful memory of his father. They kiss, but Jack pulls back, saying he must reveal a secret.
Chapter 24: Jack Jack tells Emily he is AJ Ranger. She is stunned but quickly smiles and says she wants him. She promises to keep his secret.
Chapter 25: Emily Jack takes Emily home and helps her undress. He brings her to climax with patience and care. Their intimacy is interrupted by a call from Noah and a notification from Colette Menton.
Chapter 26: Jack Jack reads Coletteās harsh rejection email. Emily lashes out and demands he leave. He opens the door to find Madison on the porch.
Chapter 27: Emily Madison confesses she hates New York and wants to come home. She finds the rejection email and encourages Emily to keep writing. Emily convinces Madison to return to New York and finish her culinary degree.
Chapter 28: Jack Jack checks into Mabelās inn. Mabel gives him wisdom about Emilyās defense mechanisms and tells him to go slow.
Chapter 29: Emily Emily spends time with her sisters. At a family dinner, Jack arrives and sits next to her. He quietly apologizes for pushing her.
Chapter 30: Emily Emily hides in a pantry, and her sisters join her. She admits she loves Jack. Noah comforts her and encourages her to be open to love. Jack has left for Evansville due to an emergency with his mother.
Chapter 31: Jack Jack confronts his father at dinner. He reveals he is AJ Ranger and declares he will no longer tolerate his fatherās abuse. His mother hugs him with pride. He returns to Rome and finds Emily waiting in her truck bed.
Chapter 32: Emily Emily and Jack confess their feelings and make love in her truck bed under the stars. Jack admits he stayed late at the library to make sure she walked safely to her car.
Chapter 33: Emily Madison teases Emily about Jack sleeping over. Jack tells Emily he is ready to come out from behind his pen name. She tells him she loves him.
Chapter 34: Emily Emily drops Madison at the airport. While getting gas, she learns Jackās father publicly outed him as AJ Ranger on Instagram. She rushes home, furious on Jackās behalf.
Chapter 35: Jack Jack feels humiliated as his identity spreads online. Emily comforts him, wraps him in a blanket, gives him her kitten Ducky to hold, and makes him candy salad.
Chapter 36: Emily Emily and Jack spend the day relaxing and bingeing āThe Golden Girls.ā Jack cooks breakfast while holding Ducky. He plans a PR response renouncing his father.
Chapter 37: Jack Jack prepares for his public reveal. He plans to keep teaching. They attend a surprise gathering where Annie proposes to Will Griffin, who accepts.
Epilogue Eleven months later, Emilyās debut novel is announced under her pen name Emmy Gold. She meets Jack at their favorite coffee shop table, where she has saved his seat.
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What Drives the Story
| Theme | How the book presents it |
|---|---|
| Grief and Loss | The Walker siblings live with the death of their parents and grandmother, which shapes their adult lives and relationships. |
| Vulnerability vs. Protection | Emily hides her emotions behind a perfect facade, while Jack uses a pen name and people-pleasing to avoid conflict. |
| Community and Found Family | The gossipy, tight-knit town of Rome acts as both a protective shield and a source of love for the Walkers. |
| Childhood Trauma | Emilyās loss and Jackās narcissistic father both create patterns they must confront to form a healthy relationship. |
| Creative Passion as Sanctuary | Writing romance is Emilyās emotional outlet, and writing mystery is Jackās escape from his familyās toxic dynamic. |
Story Snapshot
- Genre & Subgenre: Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance, Romantic Comedy
- Core Narrative Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Secret Identity, Forced Proximity, Dual POV
- Tone & Atmosphere: Humorous, cozy, emotionally raw, sweet with spicy undertones
- Primary Conflict: Emily and Jack must overcome their insecurities, childhood traumas, and bickering habits to trust each other.
- Pacing Style: Fast-paced, character-driven, with witty dialogue and high emotional tension.
- ISBN: 978-0593723692 (ISBN-10: 0593723694)
- Pages: 400 pages
Who Should Read Beg, Borrow, or Steal?
This book fits readers who enjoy contemporary small-town romance with a strong enemies-to-lovers arc. It offers alternating points of view, so the reader sees both charactersā inner conflicts.
The story blends humor, emotional trauma, and slow-burn romance.
Fans of Sarah Adamsās Rome, Kentucky series will recognize familiar settings and characters. The book is also suitable for readers who like teaching or academic rivalries, secret identity plots, and family-centered drama.
The pacing is quick and conversation-driven, with spicy but tender intimate scenes.
Books Like Beg, Borrow, or Steal
- Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams ā Set in the same town of Rome, Kentucky, and follows Annie Walkerās relationship with Will Griffin.
- When in Rome by Sarah Adams ā The first book in the series, detailing Ameliaās arrival in Rome and her romance with Noah Walker.
- The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams ā A friends-to-lovers sports romance with witty dialogue and slow-burn chemistry.
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry ā Rival characters in the publishing world with sharp banter and deep sibling relationships.
- Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood ā An academic rivals-to-lovers romance with a strong protagonist hiding behind an agreeable front.
