Pure Perfection

I loved this book so much!! It’s one of those you widely grin at while reading and then close the book wishing you could immediately read it for the first time again. This book is beautiful and so achingly sweet. It’s fun and witty but also heartfelt. The signature Adams’ banter is there in spades with Noah and Amelia. It’s a laugh-out-loud romance with depth and may just be my favorite romcom of the year.

Amelia can’t make it to Rome, Italy but she can make it to Rome, Kentucky. Here she finds everything a small town has to offer, from zany townies to blanket burritos. Noah, the adorable and grumpy pie shop owner, is the local that gets stuck showing the undercover pop star the ropes. While Amelia channels her inner Audrey, Noah fights to steer clear of her and the city ways he’s seen-and been burned by-before. As they are forced to spend more and more time together, with the help of well intentioned friends, they realize love can find you even when your hiding from the rest of the world.

The book is an ode to Audrey. As a lover of all things Audrey and the film ‘When in Rome’, I really enjoyed the references and inspiration behind the story. Although I was worried it would feel forced or have an abundance of references, it has the perfect balance. It definitely has more swoon-worthy moments. Audrey would approve.

A must-read but especially if you like:

Sunshine x Grump
Closed-Door
Forced Proximity
Taylor Swift
Banter

‘Roman Holiday’ meets ‘Gilmore Girls’

*Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

I need everyone to stop what they’re doing and order this book. I was not prepared to love it so much and it was glorious! I think small town, fish out of water rom coms are now my favorite. Both MCs were so well written and the supporting characters were absolutely adorable. Apparently a sequel is already in the works (hallelujah!) and I can’t wait to read more by Adams!

COMING OUT TOMORROW - September 20th!

This book was so cute!! Picture someone reading in their living room, grinning like a total idiot and you'll see me. Like, it's just not fair - I want this. Should I drive to a random small town and park in a random guys yard? Probably not BUT apparently that's how you can find love. Loved the characters and the relationships between everyone. (Sidebar: Would love a book for James down the road!)

This was my first Sarah Adams book and I cannot wait to read more! Also, the fact that this book was closed door did nothing to take away from the romance. I could still feel the emotions/love between the characters without all the details (even though we all know I'm a fan of the details *wink wink*).

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this eARC!!

This small town romance was so sweet and adorable, I was literally in love with both main characters from the very beginning and was living for the slow burn build of their relationship. Even though Noah was trying to keep his walls high, Amelia was always able to call him out and get him to smile.

I also really loved Amelia's character journey in discovering what made her genuinely happy, because for so long she let others take that away from her and didn't know how to advocate for herself.

Also, Noah's sisters were so relatable hilarious. I loved the banter!

This is definitely worth the read!

Desperate to escape her over scheduled pop star life, Amelia Rose plans a Roman Holiday inspired getaway. Then Amelia literally and figuratively crashes into Noah’s life. She quickly falls in love with Rome, Kentucky and Noah. Yet, grumpy pie baker Noah makes ever effort to keep himself from falling for sweet Amelia whose life is far away from Rome, Kentucky.

I really enjoyed this slow burn, small town romance! I loved that the premise of this story focuses on setting boundaries and protecting your mental health.

The When in Rome characters are standouts. Noah and Amelia are such a cute grumpy/sunshine couple. Their banter made me smile and laugh. Plus, while Noah may be grumpy on the outside, he’s all heart on the inside. The meddling but good natured townspeople and Noah’s sisters round out this group of lovable characters.

If you are looking for an adorable, heartwarming romance, definitely check out When in Rome!

*Actual rating is 3.5 stars*

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute one! The premise sucked me in, as I also have quite a few escapist fantasies that involve me just leaving everything in my life behind and driving away. Amelia could be a bit annoying at times, but I loved Noah and all of the other people in the town. They were quirky and were your typical small town residents.

I only wish that there was more spice to this book, as she really built up the tension between the two. However that is my fault, as I have read the Cheat Sheet and knew that she was a fan of the “fade to black” when it came to the more intimate scenes.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and would probably read it again. It reminded me of Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez, which I loved. It could have been a bit better if the spicy scenes were included, but they weren’t for a reason and I understand that b

When in Rome was a very cute read. It was the first Netgalley read I had done in months.

It was hard to get into the first couple of chapters but once I did I was hooked and kept reading when I could. It is a four star rating.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing chance to read and review.

I was a little nervous to read this because I was anticipating it's release, but also I read the Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams and did not find myself liking it at all.

I read this in less than 24 hours. It was the perfect rom com to break me out of a small reading slump. It had me doing a whole cheesy grin thing.

While a lot of it was super cheesy, super predictable, and not a super deep plot, I loved the characters and their banter. I couldn't stop reading it.
I loved Noah, I love small town romances and grumpy men who are secretly super romantic. I had a gut feeling that this was going to have something like some kind of third act break up or something overly dramatic and not quit fitting happen to it, but nothing like that happened. The conflict that happened in the book was predictable but fitting and not over the top in the way that makes you want to roll your eyes.

It reminded me a lot of It Happened One Summer except it didn't have the same degree of smut within it. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I would keep reading Sarah Adams books if she continues to write like this.

Sarah Adams has made me swoon again!

Burnt out pop singer Amelia Rose needs to escape her life and takes a page out of her role model/best friend Audrey Hepburn’s (yes,she acknowledges that it’s sad her best friend is a dead movie star she never knew) book and escapes to Rome. Well, the closest Rome she can find. Rome, Kentucky. While trying to escape, her car breaks down in front of grumpy pie-shop owner Noah Walker’s house. The last thing Noah needs is another city girl blowing into town ruining his peaceful yet boring existence, so he is doing everything he can to keep her at arms length. But there’s something about this girl he just can’t seem to stay away from.

When I say that this book was an absolute delight, I mean it. It was so sweet and the tension was just spot on for a cozy romance read. It felt like watching a Hallmark movie, which is high praise in my book. I am dying to read the rest of the series because I need to know what happens next!

If you’re looking for a cozy romance to transition into fall with, this needs to be on your list!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this advanced copy!

When In Rome by Sarah Adams
Rating: 5 stars
Closed Door
Pub date: 9/20

When In Rome is a modern take on an Audrey Hepburn classic, The Roman Holiday. Amelia, (AKA award winning pop star, Rae Rose) is burnt out. She needs a break from the pressures of her life as a celebrity, so she takes a page out of her idol Audrey’s book and runs off to Rome. Unfortunately, the closest Rome to her home in Nashville is in Rome, Kentucky. On her way to the bed and breakfast she rented, her car breaks down in Noah’s front yard in the middle of the night. Noah offers up his guest room just until she can get her car fixed, which turns out to be a lot longer than expected. Noah makes it clear that he’s not interested in getting involved with a celebrity who can’t stick around…but how long can he resist the attraction that they’re both feeling?

This is such a great celebrity, fish out of water, insta love story and exactly the kind of heartwarming rom-com I was looking for. I loved the small town vibes, the quirky townspeople, and the grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I’m a sucker for a swoony MC with a tough exterior who only has eyes for the heroine, and Noah fits the bill! He’s been hurt before by someone who was just passing through and he’s determined to guard his heart, regardless of how hard he’s falling for Amelia. And Amelia doesn’t even realize how desperate she is to find a real home and family until she breaks down in Rome. The chemistry between these two is sizzling right from the start and I loved the slow burn and the romantic tension.

This is my first book by Sarah Adams and while I usually like my books a little smuttier, I have to say that I don’t know how she does it, but she somehow manages to write closed door romance with tons of heat.

If you’re looking for a funny, heartwarming rom-com with lots of witty banter, meddling sisters, and low angst that will have you craving pancakes and pie, then you should pick this up on 9/20 when it’s out in the world. Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sarah Adams and Random House for the gifted copy.

This was such a cute closed door romance with such a slow burn - so for all my smutty lovers, this might not be up your alley. BUT, if you can get over no smut, you will fall in love with a small town romance, a cinnamon roll hero, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, and where he falls first.

The story we see? Amelia is a pop star that has lost herself - she doesn’t know who she is anymore and is wanting to take a break. Like her childhood, she turns to her hero: Audrey Hepburn (which, truly I don’t blame her because Audrey is QUEEN). Like, for her, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the movie she watches when she has bad dreams (and for me, it’s the movie I watch when I’m sad, so the Audrey inclusion made me feel a certain way). She decides to visit Rome like Audrey did, but with her world tour starting soon - she doesn’t have time to go to Italy. Instead, she ends up in Rome, Kentucky where she meets a grumpy baker - and he car breaks down.

Enter Noah. He runs the pie shop that his grandma left for him. He has 3 sisters that he’s super close with, and he has some trauma from his life. Between their parents dying when the kids were young, to falling quickly for a stranger who was passing through town, to be cheated on and heartbroken.

With meddling townspeople, she stays with Noah while he car is getting fixed, hence the forced proximity. And my heart. It’s such a slow burn and it made me so happy.

Oh my stars. I am always down for grumpy man meets sunshine girl and they fall in love and this was no exception. Of course, Sarah Adams could probably just re-write the dictionary in a new way and I would probably read it, but still. I very much gobbled this one up!!
Amelia is also known as Rae, a big city pop star who needs a break from her constant touring and hectic schedules and press following her every move, so, taking a page from her favorite actress’s book, Audrey Hepburn, she decides to take a trip to Rome, but since Rome, Italy is too far to go without paparazzi finding out, she jumps in her car and heads for Rome, Kentucky, where her car breaks down in front of Noahs’s house. He offers to help her, as an southern gentleman should, but being a leery big city girl she doesn’t trust him until he goes in and calls Mabel, the old lady who runs the local B&B to come and vouch for him.
There’s lots of great supporting characters and loads of fun and witty banter between the main characters and I loved watching the growth!! Not only between Amelia and Noah but also Noah’s sisters as well.
This was an all around feel good story that will make a perfect Hallmark movie!
Thanks to Dell Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

When In Rome
Amelia Rose is a famous popstar who has had it with her never-ending pleasing personality and just wants a break, in the form of a trip to Rome. But since she can’t leave the country (big tour coming! Tickets available) she goes to Rome, Kentucky instead.

Rome, Kentucky is where Noah Walker is at. You ask who this person is? Well, then, he is this grumpy young man who is emotionally unavailable since he got his heartbroken so now spends his days manning the family Pie Shop and keeping a careful eye on his sisters and grandma.

This is a romance, guys. And romance we get. It’s a quick fall, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. I mean yeah the way everything unfolds to get Amelia and Noah together is highly unrealistic and sometimes borderline dumb but I ate it up because who wants reality anyway? Give me a hard and fast falling in love hallmark channel style any day over the reality in cnn.

Anyway, I truly can say that I had a wonderful time reading this and can’t wait to dig into the stories of Noah’s sisters (which I am sure are coming, there were many hints) so if you need me I’ll be lining up over here waiting.

Rae Rose is an international pop star who is in burnout. She's tired and no one around her is noticing. Her Mama taught her to turn to Audrey Hepburn when in doubt. She randomly picks Roman Holiday, decides to do as Audrey did, and goes to Rome. Italy seems a bit far to drive so she googles the closest Rome and finds one in Georgia. She finds a bed & breakfast jumps in her old car and is off. Only her old car starts making noises and then stops in some woods. A man comes out to see if she's okay.

The banter is off the hook and the flirting between Noah and Amelia (Rae Rose) is fantastic. The book stirred so many emotions in me. I was seriously crying in some scenes. I loved the characters and especially Noah's sisters. I absolutely enjoyed this book.

✨Book Review✨
When in Rome
By: Sarah Adams

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Y’all this one made me giddy! I’m usually not the biggest instalove/instant attraction fan, but this one WORKED! The connection between Noah and Amelia felt real - their chemistry was off the charts 📈

A celebrity who gets lost trying to escape her hectic life, only to end up in the small town grump’s front yard (who happens to own a pie shop) - what more could you ask for? The entire town’s cast of characters were so good and each added that special touch to the story.

Sarah Adams is my go to when I’m in need of a feel good, sweet romcom and When In Rome hit the spot! I’m pretty sure I was smiling the entire time and it was just so dang sweet. I’m also just a sucker for a good small town romance and now I think I need to take my own Roman Holiday - I’m sure all my problems will be solved after that!!

Can’t wait to read Annie and Will’s story soon!

When In Rome is hitting shelves 9/20/22 (tomorrow!). Thank you to @netgalley and Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💗

Read if you like:

🏡 small towns
🎤 celebrity romance
🌤️ grumpy x sunshine
🥧 pies (and bad pancakes)
🎥 Roman Holiday
🥰 matching pj sets
❤️‍🔥 instant attraction but make it burn slow
✨ cinnamon roll hero
2️⃣ dual pov

A burned out pop star finds herself stranded in Rome, Kentucky. When she realizes she has broken down in front of town sweetheart (and local grump) Noah’s home, it spurs an adventure that has her wondering if she can really have it all?

This book was cute and sweet. Amelia and Noah were a great grumpy (but totally cinnamon roll hero) and sunshine. Forced proximity at its finest, but be warned for steam fans - this is a closed door romance if that isn’t your thing. I thoroughly enjoyed it (3 stars is a like in my book).

I appreciated the ending wasn’t quite what you would have assumed (which was deeply appreciated). I won’t spoil it here but needless to say I appreciated the give and take of the ending to create a better life for both of them (don’t worry, HEA is implied). Also really appreciated in the beginning where she wouldn’t get out of the car cause she didn’t know him cause that is total reality and I appreciated Adams didn’t just gloss over it Hallmark movie style. This was my first Sarah adams and I’ll definitely be back for more!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an egalley of When in Rome.

This is a sweet rom-com, where Noah and Amelia meet when Amelia's car breaks down in Noah's front yard. What Noah doesn't know is that Amelia, aka Rae Rose, is on the run from her hectic life as a singer. Amelia is desperate to disconnect from her world that threatens to consume her whole. As the two share a home, they tentatively explore what a relationship would look like.

I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Content: some swearing, kissing, no on page sex

I am a big fan of Sarah Adams work. She can give you all of the feels of a great romance novel and she doesn't cheapen it with trash. I also really like the way she shifts points of view between the two main characters. It fascinates me to hear the man's point of view, even if it was actually written by a woman. Amelia and Noah are both dealing with some trauma and find it hard to trust and develop relationships. These are things that are so prevalent in the world that I think it's important to address them in literature.

It took me a bit to get into this book - it had a very similar start to Part of your World (broken down car - guy save the day, complete opposites). Since I had literally just finished that book I had to put When in Rome down for a bit so I could give it a more fair/less comparison review. Once I got into it I enjoyed the lighthearted, quick read and banter between Amelia and Noah.
This book has....
- Small town vibes
- Hallmark type romance
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Opposites attract

I enjoyed it, and would definitely recommend!

Synopsis: Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her "princess of pop" image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome.....Rome, Kentucky. When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn't have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He's too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room. As time goes on....feelings change as Amelia and Noah truly get to know each other.

(3.5/5) While the premise of this book seems a bit unrealistic (pop-star goes to a small town and meets handsome man who owns a pie shop), I think we can all relate to the desire to want to be seen and loved for who we are instead of who someone else wants us to be. While I enjoyed this book, it felt very Hallmarky (if it were set at Christmas instead of the middle of the summer, it would probably have already been picked up) and the dialogue was, at times, a bit corny. The biggest detractor for me was that I found it told me more than it showed me, but if you're looking for a quick, fun read, this is a good one.