I feel like if Coffee Girl and the Winston Brothers had a book baby it would be this.

Grumpy Sunshine setup
Female famous country singer
Meddling small town
Grumpy hot cinnamon roll who owns a Pie Shop
Hilarious sisters (who of course also meddle!)
Chemistry for days

Perfect quick read if you’re looking for a pick me up!

When In Rome by Sarah Adams is one of the best rom coms I've read in a long time. From the very first pages, the characters will endear themselves to you and you won't be able to stop reading. I loved the book's nod to Roman Holiday and Audrey Hepburn. So much to love in this book! Readers of this genre will adore it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I enjoyed reading this book for a fun, light hearted read where the people in the town took care of each other.

Amelia sets out to escape her life much like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and she ends up staying with Noah. She truly gets a Roman Holiday and escape from her life.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy

If angsty romance is your thing, run to pick up When in Rome! This story of a gal passing through town falling for the hometown boy will absolutely steal your heart.

"When in Rome" is a small town romance about city girl Amelia, who is trying to care for herself and rediscover her passion for music, and grumpy country guy Noah, who is a total sweetheart beneath his tough exterior. The story is emotional and touching, and the community in Rome is a delightful addition, protecting and appreciating Amelia as a person rather than a pop star, and helping Noah feel safe and free to fall in love. The romance is sweet and satisfying, like a slice of warm apple pie. This book is sure to please fans of small-town romance and the dynamic between a city girl and a country guy.

There is something about small town romances with grumpy and sunshine that I just love so much. I like the fact that it is a celebrity and a small town guy romance where the celebrity is still a normal human. Dont get me wrong sometimes those books are fun to read but I also find those MC annoying a lot of time. I also enjoyed the fact that this was just sweet, there was not too much emotion or something super traumatic which was a nice change of pace from a lot of romances these days. If I were to add anything at all I would maybe add a little spice but that is just a personal preference and totally not necessary. I think this is the perfect romance especially if you don't want to read open door.

This wasn't for me. I didn't think the characters had any chemistry and it was too insta-lovey. The dialogue was cringey and the story was boring.

The small town romance and city girl falls for grumpy country guy was the best!! Reading about Amelia’s journey and Noah’s journey they made the perfect match. I honestly had so much fun reading this book I giggled here and there. This is such a perfect summer retail so I would highly recommend adding this to your TBR for the summer!

I enjoyed this. It was cute. I loved the story. I always prefer when a celeb is with a “normal” person. And I love when lies are exposed. I thought this was cute! Clean, which isn’t my style, but enjoyable.

This book was adorable. I enjoyed the dual point of view, and the backstories of each main character.

DNF - too much language that was awkwardly placed and uncomfortably overused. The beginning of this was delightful but sadly it quickly went downhill for me with shallow characters and a lot of emphasis placed on physical appearance.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

#WheninRome #NetGalley

Cute book. I really loved the car scene where he called for a reference. That made the whole book for me. If this book would have been a little cleaner, I would have given it a 5-star. This is one of my favorite authors, but I like her regency novels better.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy for a fair review.

thank you net galley and random house for this earc. this book was so unique just because the timeframe of the whole story was only 2 weeks. but this didn't feel rushed at all and i actually really enjoyed the writing ! I believed every moment of Amelia & Noah! i loved the whole famous/not famous pairing plus grumpy sunshine will always make me love a book if it's done well and it definitely was here!! it starts with a meet cute between a small town hero & a pop star, this was a closed door/ fade to black romance. it was also pretty fast paced & i really enjoyed that! all the people in rome, kentucky were so cute & i loved the way they shipped noah & amelia the second she arrived.

Sarah Adams never fails to write the sweetest books. When in Rome is just that. Filled with some of my favorite tropes from sunshine meets grump, coexisting under one roof and ignoring the sparks that fly, and the famous girl meeting the small town boy. Very hallmark-esque, but BETTER.

Amelia is a famous pop star who is overwhelmed and tired of living a “fake” life. Following the footsteps of her idol, Audrey Hepburn, she finds herself escaping to a little town called Rome. Here she finds herself in a broken down car, resisting help from a could be serial killer, who really is the hometown pie-baking cutie. This town welcomes her with open arms, even reluctantly the brooding Noah. Amelia is kind, funny, beautiful, and he finds himself falling. However, he’s already had his heart broken by a city girl…but can he resist Amelia’s charm? Read and find out :p

My main issue with this book is that the main characters do not have a proper conversation until 40% into the book. I wanted to DNF this book several times in the beginning due to the feeling that nothing was happening.

However, after the halfway point, I was really starting to enjoy this book. The grumpy/sunshine was very cute and I loved all the characters that were introduced throughout. The ending did a great job of tying everything together.

Noah and Amelia/Rae are absolutely charming! This book was sweet, fun, gentle -- a great read. More, please.

Between a 3.5- and 4-star read. Since I'm polite (Polite. Polite. Polite), I'm upping it to 4.

I was concerned this would be a play-by-play of Roman Holiday (because I read a redo of that from another author and it didn't work for me) and glad it was simply inspired by it. I enjoyed the chemistry and thought it was a fun read. Play. Play. Play.

3.5 Stars Rounded Up.

I received a reviewer copy of When in Rome by Sarah Adams from the publisher Random House Ballatine from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Amelia Rose, better known as Rae Rose, the princess of pop, is suffering from burn out and needs a break. Seeking inspiration from her hero Audrey Hepburn, she escapes to the nearest Rome: Rome, Kentucky. Things are going well until she drives off the road and ends up in Noah Walker's front yard. Noah reluctantly allows Rae to stay with him until her car is fixed. While Rae is in town things are tense with Noah, until they start to see more to one another.

What I Loved: I really loved the small town setting and the idea of a celebrity going off the map and living with the everyday folks. This book was charming and really a delight to listened too. I loved the conflict between a mother and daughter when fame sets in, and I loved the way this storyline shook out, it actually shocked me and thought it was really well done. I loved Noah's sisters and their family relationship and how they took in Rae. I would definitely read more in this universe. Plus Audrey Hepburn references, yes!

What I didn’t like so much: I did not totally buy the chemistry between Noah and Rae, but that's a me problem.

Who Should Read It: People who love a celebrity in a small town trope. People who love stories with complex family dynamics mixed in with their romance.

Summary: A celebrity seeking escape crashes into a pie baker's yard and things will never be the same.

I think many of us can agree that especially in the last few years, books have provided even more of an escape than usual. Since the pandemic, I have been seeking out fewer "dramatic" novels and instead have thrown myself into sweet romances and cozy mysteries (a different kind of drama). This all brings me to today's book: When in Rome by Sarah Adams. If you're feeling in need of a low-key, low-stress romcom "escape" story, this one is for you!

When in Rome was just adorable. Stressed-out pop stars falls for small-town pie baker? Sign me up. I loved Amelia and Noah and how cute they were together. The grumpy/sunshine trope comes through in a big way and I'm a sucker for it. Also, as a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, I love how Amelia turned to Audrey in times of turmoil and even channeled her style. I too have often turned to Hepburn's films--Sabrina and My Fair Lady in particular--when I have needed comfort and escape.

While at times the writing fell kind of flat for me, I kept reading because I was so invested in these characters and their love story. More and more, I am finding that I LOVE a dual POV in a romance story and this was no exception. Amelia and Noah both worked through a lot in order to come together and I found it all very heart-warming. Plus! The side characters! I was SUCH a fan of them and can't wait to see more of them in upcoming books.

Steam: open-door scenes but not detailed. Satisfying, but mild.

This was the classic, cute, lighthearted romance I enjoy; small town, witty banter, grumpy/sunshine, and great communication. Although I was excited that the setting was going to be in Rome because I’ve recently traveled there, so that was a slight letdown at first, but it ended up being one of the cutest things about the book. I’d definitely recommend When in Rome when you’re looking for a cute, quick and easy, romance read!

Thank you so much to Sarah Adams, NetGalley, and Ballantine Books for an ARC of When in Rome.