This is the first Sarah Adams book that I’ve read, but I’m sure that it won’t be my last.

When in Rome is a very sweet book that detailed the courting of a soul pop star and a small-town pie shop owner. When Amelia’s (stage name: Rae Rose) car breaks down in Rome, Kentucky, she starts to think her want of an adventure like that of Audrey Hepburn’s movie Roman Holiday has gone awry.

It was so easy to picture this town in my mind. I loved the townsfolk and their gossipy interactions. This was the right setting that I needed to kick off my fall season; imagining getting a bouquet of fresh flowers and then walking to get a pie to top it off.

There was a lot of time spent on building up their chemistry as well as their background stories that, as the reader, I felt the impatience of knowing as much as the characters themselves did. Even though there was so much built-up anticipation/feelings of the characters, it was a pretty quick read.

I would’ve liked to get more about the other characters as well, but know that a sequel focusing on another character in this book is coming out next - so everyone will get to revisit the town and residents of Rome.

Thank you so much to the author, Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the eARC of When in Rome!

Omg book friends, this book will be your next favorite romcom 🙌
If Sarah Adams writes it, I will read it. She is such a flawless author and makes it so easy to fall in love with each and every character she creates by bringing them to life. Anything she writes becomes an instant favorite of mine.
This book was such a delightful sweet romcom about an overwhelmed superstar who finds that a small town guy might be everything she didn’t know she needed. It was a heartwarming page turner that reminded you to live full to the fullest no matter the obstacles.
I don’t have enough words to express to you how much i loved it. Their romance and chemistry sprinkled warmth all over my body. My heart is full.

What a sweet (pun intended) book. @authorsarahadams did a fantastic job developing the characters and I felt every emotion and rooted for them big time. I almost skipped reading this one for now because so many books, so little time and I am SO glad I did not. Pie has a pretty big place in the book and honestly reading this felt like I was curled up in the couch with a slice of warm pie (I’m not picky on the flavor). Do yourself a favor and check this one out next week! Pub date is Tuesday, 9/20.

This book is unapologetically Sarah Adams. Adams is known for her quirky characters and hilarious dialogue, and this book lives up to every expectation. Grumpy meets sunshine in a small town romance about a pop star who just so happens to break down in local pie shop owner Noah Walker’s backyard.

I loved getting to see the growth of these two characters and how they pushed themselves out of their comfort zones. Rome was the cutest town and I can’t wait to revisit it in the other books. This book was like a warm hug, and gave all the Hallmark feels. Definitely recommend!

This book was so cute! The story is about Amelia a famous pop singer that gets burnt out from years of being a performer. So inspired by her fave movie Roman Holiday she goes to Rome, Kentucky.

There her car breaks down in front of someone's lawn where she meets Noah. He offers her to stay at his place while she's waiting for her car to be fixed. Then as the days go by Noah learns that Amelia has a different side to her.

When in Rome was hilarious, a slow burn romance that was light hearted, cute and had me feeling giddy throughout the entire book. Noah had me swooning over him.

Noah and Amelia are polar opposites. It was funny reading their interactions in the beginning. They had an awkward meet cute, but were instantly attracted to each other. I loved the banter between them too. If you love cute rom coms and grumpy/sunshine trope read this one. You won't be disappointed. Highly recommend!

Release date: September 20, 2022

Thank you to netgalley for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this book more - it's a famous person/normal person trope which is my absolute favorite. For me, something about this fell flat. The chemistry between the main characters felt forced and not as butterfly-inducing as I like my romances to be.

The concept was really nice and different than a lot of romance plots in a few ways, but I never felt like the two main characters were connected. It had potential, but ultimately I wouldn't recommend this one!

The main redeeming quality here was the townspeople. They were so funny and really made the story feel alive in a way the two main characters didn't.

Thanks to Dell Publishing and Net Galley for an ARC of this book that releases on Sept. 20

When in Rome by Sara Adams
•
•
•
•
If you are looking for a new book boyfriend.. stop right here because Noah is 😍🔥.

Amelia, also known as Rae Rose, a famous pop star is in need of a break. So she decides to take a solo trip right before her tour.. without telling anyone. Of course her car breaks down and it just so happens to be in front of Noah Walkers house. After having to convince Amelia that he isn’t a serial killer, she lets him help her and ends up staying the night in Noah’s guest room.

Noah is a pie shop owner in the small town of Rome. He is grumpy and uninterested in Amelia. He has been burned in the past by someone just passing through. He has his walls up and is never making that mistake again. He just needs to get Amelia’s car fixed and her out of town and out his life as fast as possible…

I loved everything about this book. It’s such a sweet, heart-warming story, with hot pie shop owners, sass and witty banter. Along with my favorite meddling sisters. I loved Noah’s sisters so much. This book gave me Gilmore girl small town vibes. By the end of this book you will be craving a slice of pie!

This is for you if you like:
* Grumpy/sunshine
* Small town romance
* Forced proximity
* Dual POV
* Closed door rom coma
* Slow burn

Thank you @netgalley and @sarah adams for this eARC! I’m just over here pretending I’m holding the physical copy!

This is available on September 20th. Make sure to snag yourself a copy.

A harried, frazzled songstress, Rae Rose, AKA Amelia, escapes to world renowned Rome, Kentucky because of her love for Audrey Hepburn. She’s in a time capsule because a hot guy doesn’t have the internet or a smart phone and his sisters have never heard of Hepburn.
This is a journey of discovery. Amelia learns about herself, her relationships, and where she wants to go from here. But will. Noah, Mr. Luddite, come a,one for the ride.
It’s a cute romance. I laughed quite a bit over several scenes. I understood Noah’s reluctance, but one has to live life and not merely exist. I’m glad Amelia woke up to things that were occurring.
When in Rome…….

Seeking an escape from her pop-star life, Amelia inspired by the film Roman Holiday escapes to Rome…Kentucky. There she bursts into the life of Noah who may be a grumpy baker, but has a tender heart. Sparks fly and hearts melt, but just like the film, this Roman holiday has an end date.

First and foremost, this book was tons of fun. It was riddled with rom-com moments, snappy banter, and antics that had me smiling from ear-to-ear. I loved watching Amelia and Noah trying to resist the attraction between them. Both had good reason for not wanting to start anything, the biggest being that Amelia’s life was not in Rome while Noah’s was rooted there. A tricky conflict, and I enjoyed the way Adams worked through it.

Aside from the sweet and swoony romance, it was the town of Rome that captured my heart. There is something about small towns that never fails to hook and reel me in. Like most small towns, this one was full of good-natured meddlers, and I adored them all. They loved Noah so much and wanted him to open his heart again to love.

Noah’s sisters were also stupendous. Their sibling love and energy was strong. The family game nights and the way his sisters handled him was quite amusing, and I enjoyed every minute of them on the page together. In my heart, I would love for Adams to give each Walker sister a book.

Overall, it was wonderful watching Amelia and Noah fall in love. Great and quirky characters combined with a fantastic small town setting resulted in a fun and fab read for me. Noah’s family ties were a thing of beauty, and I was rooting for him to put his disastrous romantic past behind him and take a chance on Amelia. All those sweet and gooey moments combined with a fantastic ending left me hoping for a return trip to Rome.

When in Rome
by Sarah Adams
5 stars

Amelia needs a break from being Rae Rose she is tired and just needs some of a break. Amelia decides to take a page from Audrey Hepburn's film Roman Holiday and finds a town called Rome in Kentucky and goes there to take a break. When Amelia breaks down on Noah's front lawn they both get faced with something they weren't expecting.

I love Sarah Adams and all her books, this one didn't disappoint. The grumpy/sunshine between Amelia and Noah is so adorable. I enjoyed Noah's grumpy little quiet nature he's so loveable. Amelia is so sweet and just a bunch of joy. They got along and their communication was the best, they shared a lot of their lives with each other. It took Noah a while to open up but when he did it got so much better. I like when couples communicate in books, there are usually a lot of miscommunications for couples but I didn't get that here. Amelia was understanding and patient with Noah, and Noah was getting there too haha.

Thank you, Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for the eARC for an honest review.

Inspired by the film “Roman Holiday,” pop star Amelia escapes to the small town of Rome, KY, where she falls for grumpy baker Noah. Can they find a way to fit into each other’s lives?

I love Sarah Adams, so I went into this book with high hopes. It didn’t disappoint. The novel is fresh and funny with likable characters, an engaging plot, and tons of chemistry. More than that, the obstacles are real, and the pacing is perfect. I loved it from start to finish.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

’ve seen this ARC floating around and I’m so glad I also had it because it was so good!! This was my first Sarah Adams and I can totally see why her books are so loved! Her writing was amazing and so perfectly descriptive, she really puts a scene in your head!

This small town of Rome, Kentucky was filled with the best characters! I loved the main characters: celebrity pop singer, Amelia, and grumpy, pie shop owner, Noah. The chapters flip flop between the two picking up right where the other leaves off! The story is spot on “want you so bad but won’t let myself have you” on both sides! I absolutely love that Noah owns and runs the generational family Pie Shop and I loved his sisters. The three of them definitely brought a little extra comfort feeing to this book! But I think the best character of all was Mabel. She felt like she was Noah’s fairy Godmother and every time she popped in she was always TOO sweet. This was a really good one, definitely look out for it next week!!

My first Sarah Adams and I am officially a huge fan! What a cute story this was! This feel-good, small town romance, where the female Mc escapes to get a break from life, reminded me so much of other recent favorites, In The Weeds and Book Lovers!

I loved the Audrey Hepburn references that inspired the setting and town of Rome, Kentucky! I thought every character both main and supporting was so well written and especially enjoyed Adam’s quick witted banter that she writes into her character dialogue! Amelia, even with celebrity status as a character was so fun, relatable, humorous and down to earth! And Noah! Noah was completely dreamy and will instantly become your next book bf crush! I loved seeing his grumpy layers fall away as he became vulnerable and open to love. Plus a man that is a pie shop owner, reader, and is “obsessed” with flowers, is my kind of male Mc!

If you’re looking for a romance with tropes that include forced proximity, grumpy sunshine, small town vibes, closed door romance, with an all around warm and fuzzy feel, then read this wonderful book!

Thank you to Netgalley for this gifted eARC copy!

Adams has written some of my favorite closed door romance so I was excited for this one. I loved the opposites attract and small town aspects of this book. I especially loved how the town rallied behind her and protected her. I also enjoyed grumpy Noah. In real life I couldn't do it but in a book I love a grumpy hero.

If you've sometimes wanted just a little more steam with the door still closed from Adams I feel like she really delivered in this one. There is a lot of chemistry and sexual tension and it really heats up but stays off page.

I personally struggled with the celebrity trope, but I think if you enjoy that trope you'll especially love this book.

I did love Noah though. He is a great family guy, a great small town community member, and quite swoon worthy.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

DNF @ 15%

Very few authors are able to pull off first-person present--most fall into the trap of choppy writing when you as the reader fail to immerse yourself in the book because let's be real...no one (for the most part) goes through their day internally narrating everything (I read book now, I type review). This book definitely falls into the second category. Despite the writing style, which I personally strongly disliked, I may have been able to push through this book if the actual content was better. Unfortunately, there were enough logic holes that a brief glance at a beta reader/editor shouldve been able to catch...it makes the entire work seem sloppy.

The largest example of the logic gap....is the landline scene. Oh what a small and unobtrusive detail....YET I STILL CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT. To summarize...Amelia (famous Princess of Pop who's trying to lay low) drives to the middle of nowhere when her car breaks down in front of hunky Noah's house. Of course she is scared of strangers as she is a famous person in an unknown area (valid), but Noah, being gentlemanly comes out to check on her. Because there's no service, Noah offers his landline to her so she can call for help. Please note, at this point the fact that there is a cord is explicitly noted as Noah says he needs to leave his front door open a crack so the cable doesn't snag. At this point, Amelia opens her window 1-2 inches (please tell me what landline is that small to fit into a 1-2iin crack?? but ok fine I can overlook this...it's not like I've seen many landlines before so maybe this mans just has a slim version) Amelia takes the landline through the window crack and then immediately rolls her window ALL THE WAY UP... ok where did the cable go in this picture???? But internally I'm like....ok maybe it's all the way up minus the 2cm or whatever for the cord. BUT THE LAST STRAW!!! When she hangs up on the phone (is this possible via hand on a landline??) she opens her door and hands the phone back to Noah. PLEASE PULL UP YOUR MENTAL IMAGE OF SAID PHONE AND ITS CORD WHERE DOES IT GO????? IS IT JUST WRAPPED AROUND HER DOOR???????

so yeah, maybe I am overreacting because this is the most minor detail in a minor scene, but the entre first 15% is just riddled with instances like this where I doubt that they had anyone proofread this book..... Wish this could've been better but alas, some books just fall short

This small town, celebrity romance follows Amelia and Noah. Weeks away from an international tour, pop star Amelia needs a break. Taking a cue from Audrey Hepburn classic Roman Holiday, she heads out to the nearest Rome to her - Rome, Kentucky. Her car ends up breaking down on Noah's front lawn and the grumpy baker offers his guest room for the night. An unexpected long wait to get her car fixed leaves Amelia staying with Noah longer than both expected. They both are guarded at the beginning, but as they spend more time together, their walls come down and they both see different sides of the other as their feelings grow. But with Amelia leaving on tour and Noah's past history with bad long distance relationships, the two might just be doomed from the beginning. This was perfection! I absolutely loved every aspect of this romance - the slow burn tension, the small town setting, the grumpy/sunshine balance, the character development, the sizzling chemistry, and especially the communication! This was a lot lower angst than I was expecting but still had great emotional depth and I felt like when these two finally get together that they'd be together for the long haul. I mentioned above that I don't love celebrity romances but since Amelia was trying to escape from her celebrity life, most of the book was not focused on her pop star status. This might just be my favorite grumpy/sunshine romance because the characters had so much more depth besides just being grumpy or sunshine. I really hope Adams writes more stories focusing on this town (maybe Noah's sisters?) because I loved the full cast of characters and this little community of Rome, Kentucky.

TW/CW: death of a parent, infidelity (in past relationship, not MCs)

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC.

Expected publication date is September 20, 2022

A rom com! Amelia's had enough of her mother, her agent, her life and so, inspired by Roman Holiday, takes off to Rome, Kentucky where she meets serious baker Noah when her car dies in front of his house. You have to buy the premise and go with it- it's going to take 2 weeks for her car to be fixed and that she has to stay at Noah's house. Once you do that, this is as much about the small town and the characters who populate it, as it is about Amelia and Noah. Tanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of the genre can guess how this romance between a runaway pop star and small town guy is going to go but it's a light fun read that should make you smile.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


This slow burn rom-com is a beautiful tribute to Audrey Hepburn's "Roman Holiday." This story is fast-paced, easy, abd endearing! It *is* a scooch on the cheesy side sometimes, but overall I found it funny & thr inner dialogues relatable.

Amelia is a famous pop star who has had enough. Taking her mental health into account, she makes a dash overnight to Rome, Kentucky (Italy being too far!) without informing her management team, in the hopes of getting some R&R. While there, she meets Noah, a pie shop owner who offers her a place to stay while she's waiting for her car to be fixed.....because of course, her car broke down in front of his house.

I'm a huge Sarah Adams fan and I will read anything she writes. I have to admit though, I was worried about this book early on, especially when it seemed our two main characters seemed to have an Instalove thing going on, already getting it on at 20% in the story. I'm pleased to say it redeemed itself the more I read, with more of the character's backstories being shared. While I did enjoy this one, I still think The Cheat Sheet is my favourite - if you'd read both, I'd love to hear which one you would choose!

When in Rome (𝐞𝐀𝐑𝐂) — 4.5 ⭐️

𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: September 20th, 2022

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Pop star, Rae Rose is struggling with the fast-paced life of a singer and is in desperate need of a break. Feeling the burn-out, she decides to escape to Rome like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, but the nearest “Rome” is in Kentucky. When arriving in the small town, her car breaks down, and of course, it’s right in front of the town’s most eligible bachelor! If only he was looking for a relationship, but alas, he is not. What will happen when Noah and Rae are forced to share a small space while she waits for her car to be fixed?

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: Um, this book was absolutely adorable! It’s one of those stories that you can read in one sitting and will make your heart very happy. The characters were likable, and I found myself rooting for each of them throughout the whole book. Also, the story makes me want to watch all the Audrey Hepburn movies. If you like Hallmark movies and the small town vibe of Gilmore Girls, this book is for you!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 —
👀 Multiple POVs
🔥 Slow Burn Romance
🏡 Small Town Setting
☀️ Grumpy vs Sunshine Trope
🥰 Feel-Good Story

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐢𝐟 —
🎤 You have an amazing singing voice
🥧 You can bake delicious desserts
💄 Audrey Hepburn is your favorite actress
🚪 You like closed-door romances
🔤 Your favorite board game is Scrabble

𝐓𝐖: infidelity, parental death, dementia

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.