#BookReview The Rival by Emma Lord @dilemmalord @WednesdayBooks @StMartinsPress #EmmaLord #TheRival #WednesdayBooks #SMPInfluencers Title: The Rival

Author: Emma Lord

Published by: Wednesday Books on Jan. 21, 2025

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult

Pages: 320

Format: Paperback

Source: St. Martin's Press

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Rivals-to-lovers gets an academic send-up in this charming and irresistible romantic comedy from Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute and Begin Again!

At long last, Sadie has vanquished her lifelong academic rival — her irritatingly charming, whip smart next door neighbor, Seb — by getting the coveted, only spot to her dream college. Or at least, so she thinks. When Seb is unexpectedly pulled off the waitlist and admitted, Sadie has to compete with him all over again, this time to get a spot on the school’s famous zine. Now not only is she dealing with the mayhem of the lovable, chaotic family she hid her writing talents from, as well as her own self doubt, but she has to come to terms with some less-than-resentful feelings for Seb that are popping up along the way.

But the longer they compete, the more Sadie and Seb notice flaws in the school’s system that are much bigger than any competition between them. Somehow the two of them have to band together even as they’re trying to crush each other, only to discover they may have met their match in more ways than one.


Review:

Engaging, charming, and fun!

The Rival is an amusing, feel-good, enemies-to-lovers romance that takes you into the lives of both Sebastian Adams, a young man who isn’t quite sure of what he wants to do in life but knows he who wants to do it with, and the driven, reliable Sadie Brighton who may finally have got into the school of her dreams and the opportunity to write for the Maple Ridge University zine with the unfortunate twist of having the one boy who has been wreaking havoc on her life since birth also there.

The writing is humorous and light. The characters are hardworking, passionate, and lively. And the plot is a push-pull tale full of tricky situations, tender moments, humorous hijinks, school-place drama, self-discovery, witty banter, friendship, expectations, chemistry, and love.

Overall, The Rival is another sweet, spirited, highly entertaining read by Lord with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a happy-ever-after ending that left me smiling, smitten, and more than satisfied.

 

This novel is available now.

Pick up a copy from your favourite retailer or from one of the following links.

         

 

 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Wednesday Books for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Emma Lord

Emma Lord (she/her) is a digital media editor and writer living in New York City, where she spends whatever time she isn't writing either running or belting show tunes in community theater. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in psychology and a minor in how to tilt your computer screen so nobody will notice you updating your fan fiction from the back row. She was raised on glitter, a whole lot of love, and copious amounts of grilled cheese. Her books include Tweet Cute, You Have a Match, and When You Get the Chance.

Photo Credit: Clinton B. Photography