My Dream Fictional Town: A Guest Post by Sarah Adams
Sarah Adams returns with the third red-hot volume in her addictive When in Rome series. Rival undercover authors and schoolteachers form an unlikely alliance in this enthralling forced proximity romance. Read on for an exclusive essay from Sarah on writing Beg, Borrow, or Steal.
Paperback $18.00
Beg, Borrow, or Steal: A Novel (B&N Exclusive Edition)
Beg, Borrow, or Steal: A Novel (B&N Exclusive Edition)
By Sarah Adams
In Stock Online
Paperback $18.00
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.
Two feuding second-grade teachers (and neighbors) find themselves teaming up in this new rivals-to-lovers romance set in Rome, Kentucky—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Rule Book and Practice Makes Perfect.
As a teen in the early 2000s, it’s probably no surprise that I was a massive Gilmore Girls fan. Every Tuesday at 8:00 PM, I’d park myself in front of the TV to watch my favorite fictional family talk at lightning speed and drink what seemed like an endless supply of coffee. When the show ended, it wasn’t just the loss of a weekly ritual—it felt like losing a dear friend and moving away from home.
So, it’s no shock that I eventually created my own small-town book series inspired by Gilmore Girls, with a Southern twist. While my fictional town of Rome, Kentucky, isn’t a carbon copy of Stars Hollow, I wanted to capture the same heartwarming elements that made the show so special: found family, humor, hope, and, of course, love. I wanted readers to have a cozy world to return to, where they could revisit familiar landmarks like The Pie Shop or The Market and reconnect with beloved characters—like the Walker family and the unforgettable Mabel and Harriet.
But I didn’t stop there. If I was going to build my dream fictional town, I wanted to add another layer of magic! Each book in the Rome, Kentucky series is also a loose (very loose!) retelling of my other obsession: Audrey Hepburn films. Blend these elements together, and voilà—you’ve got Rome, Kentucky.
The latest installment, Beg, Borrow, or Steal, is a nod to my all-time favorite Audrey film: How to Steal a Million. Instead of an art heist, though, my characters team up to steal back a steamy romance manuscript that accidentally falls into the wrong hands. Writing this book was a blast, especially weaving in homages to some of the film’s most iconic scenes—like hiding in a closet and a sweet moment of dressing a wound. Nearly every page of this story is infused with nostalgia. Whether you’re a die-hard Audrey Hepburn fan, you miss the tight-knit charm of Stars Hollow, or you’re craving a romance that feels like a classic 2000s rom-com, this book has a little something for everyone.
Although each Rome, Kentucky book works as a standalone, they’re even more fun when read in order: When in Rome (Roman Holiday inspired), Practice Makes Perfect (Funny Face inspired), Beg, Borrow, or Steal (How to Steal a Million inspired), and one more book that hasn’t been announced yet! I hope you’ll join me in Rome, Kentucky, this January!