Bubbling up with Helena

• Title: The Rival
• Author: Emma Lord
• Publisher: St Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books
• Release Date: 1/21/25
• Genre: Romance
• Age Range: Young Adult
• Rating: ★★★★★
• Publisher’s Summary: 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.

If you’ve been following me and/or reading my blog, you know that I am an Emma Lord super fan. I adore Lord and her work. Every piece of her writing sparkles off the page with her signature blend of wit, emotion, and humor. The Rival is no exception.

I love that Lord has moved into the college-age YA space. Her last three young adult books have all taken place either right after high school graduation or at the beginning of college. It is such a transitional period of life often full of self-discovery, which is a space where Lord thrives.

Sadie has always felt like she needs to be the peace maker in her family, which has often led her to push down her feelings and hide pieces of who she really is. When she arrives at Maple Ride college, she is able to come into her own. She fights for a spot on the campus magazine, and she makes her mark as she tries to save it when it looks like it will lose its funding. She shows creativity and leadership in a way that those around her admire. Sadie is able to bring this newfound self-confidence into her relationships with her sisters, and they respect it as well.

Family is so important in all of Lord’s books. Both Sadie and Seb are deeply affected by their family relationships and worry about how their actions will be viewed by their family members. Seb is an only child, but he feels very close to Sadie’s family, and they are very important to him as well. Their families have a joint tradition of pancakes on Sunday mornings that Seb and Sadie continue at college, which I found so cute.

It wouldn’t be an Emma Lord novel without some food-related shenanigans. The Rival contains a Dorm Food-Off where Seb and Sadie end up making a cheesy mug pancake. Other items concocted in this competition include mini-cheeseburger pizzas and a mix of popcorn, nerds, and Sour Patch kids. I love all of the whimsical food creations that appear in Lord’s work, and these in particular made me smile. Of course, we can’t forget the sprinkle covered pancakes Sadie and Seb eat at Pancake or Leave It either.

I loved following Sadie and Seb’s journey in this book. They’ve known each other their whole lives and have a deeply entrenched dynamic. Sadie’s sister loves Seb and considers him a brother. They are set up immediately as rivals for the coveted spot on Newsbag. However, even though Sadie repeatedly says that she hates Seb, it’s clear she respects him. She knows that he is a good writer, and they share their work with each other before submitting to Newsbag. There is a sense that they make each other better. I also appreciated that they decide not to kiss while they’re competiting with one another. They want to make sure that when they get together, it will be right.

The Rival is Lord’s seventh book, and I’ve read her other six books multiple times. I’m already looking forward to my reread of The Rival, which will likely come when the book is officially released. Of course, I also can’t wait to read For the Record, her next adult novel, that will be released in August 2025. If you have never read an Emma Lord novel, do yourself a favor and pick one up. You will not regret it, but you mind end up wanting a sweet treat.