When in Rome by Sarah Adams

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
___________________________________________________________________________
Story Notes

I cannot tell you how much it pains me to write this bad review for a Sarah Adams book. I have just adored her previous books and loved the characters she created. That said, this book is........not a Sarah Adams book. Where is the sweet and swoony romance mixed with the minor cursing that the characters were embarrassed they uttered out loud? Where is the angsty tension that is so incredibly beautiful in its restraint from giving in before true commitment is made? I feel like I just read a run of the mill steam-fest story with enough bad language to make a sailor blush. Like, I truly feel like I need to go read some inspirational romance books to wash the bad taste of this story out of my figurative mouth. And it wasn't like the story didn't have a TON of potential. A lot of the story was hilarious and fun to read but then, BAM!! Here came the garbage to rudely interrupt the glorious plot lines. And, I have two questions: why is there a pie making scene on the cover when this scene is nowhere to be be found in the book? And, if Amelia is such a marvelous singer/songwriter, why is there only one tiny mention of her actually writing and singing anything? That's very odd and disappointing to me. I sincerely hope that this is not going to be the direction that Sarah's books will be taking from here on out. If so, this will officially be my last story of hers to read. Excuse me while I go find my copy of The Match and return to my love of sweet romance again.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Sarah via NetGalley. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: September 20, 2022

Definitely a small town charmer. This screams Hallmark movie—A-lister needs to escape her chaotic life and her car breaks down in the front yard of the only single hottie in town? Lots of angsty tension in this one that kept me glued to the pages. It’s light and fun and charming—a perfect weekend or vacation read! Lots of HEA happy feels!

This was a simple, straightforward story that was pleasant to read and absolutely adorable.

Rae Rose is a famous pop singer. But behind the “princess of pop” facade, Amelia Rose is tired. Tired of being perfect, of being “on” all the time, of losing the relationship with her mother that she valued more than anything as a child. So she takes a cue from Audrey Hepburn and heads off to Rome… Rome, Kentucky. Her car breaks down on the lawn of a sweet man named Noah Walker, a Rome native who doesn’t want to deal with her celebrity problems - but he just can’t help himself.

This book was just so cute. Amelia was such a fun main character, and I was genuinely rooting for her the entire time. She almost reminded me of Taylor Swift at times in a way I can’t really explain, but was also so relatable and so much fun to read. And Noah. I love that man. Their relationship was just purely sweet in a way that made me unconsciously smile while I was reading.

Every character in this book was also just so much fun. Noah’s sisters were probably my favorite characters, they were so vibrant and brought so much life to the book. And honestly? The community in Rome made me miss the tight knit community I grew up in in a way that I hadn’t in a while.

Overall, this was just a fun, light read that made me feel good and physically smile at my phone while I was reading it. This was my second read by Sarah Adams, and she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for sweet, clean, cute romance.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and to Random House for sending me an advance copy of this book for review!

(3.5 rounded up) This book was delightful! In addition to being a retelling of Roman Holiday, it’s like what would happen if you plopped Taylor Swift into Stars Hollow and she fell in love with grumpy young Luke. I love a small town vibe with nosy neighbors and protective friendships and this reminds me so much of the first season when Christopher shows up in town and everyone gossips about him. It’s a really quick read but a really slow burn! Sarah was really good at building that sexual tension but the fact that it was closed door disappointed me. The build up was SO good to not have the reward 😂 This book was funny too- I was actually surprised how often I laughed out loud. I loved Amelia’s arc of finding herself, setting boundaries, and being brave. Calling this a grumpy sunshine isn’t totally accurate because Noah honestly comes off as a cinnamon roll (or apple pie) right away. He’s great and I loved his tenderness and lack of shame over who he is and what he loves. The premise for her staying with him in the beginning is flimsy at best but that’s okay- it led to a really fun story.

Sometimes, I just feel like I need a sweet, lighthearted romance to break up the more serious books and/or life. When I read the description of When in Rome, I definitely felt like it would fit the bill. And it most certainly did!

First and foremost, because I typically review books that are either Christian or otherwise clean/language free, I have to start by saying that this one does not fit my usual reads. There is quite a bit of language, particularly when we're seeing Noah's POV. While there's a lot, the language is still fairly mild--- which is to say they don't use the f-word (though Noah does stop and correct himself as one of his sister's has a swear jar), etc. While I certainly do prefer books that don't have any language at all, I can usually get past it and enjoy the story if the story draws me in enough. This one did. As far as whether it would be considered clean romance wise--- I go back and forth on that. I would say it's best qualified as a closed door romance. We aren't given any graphic details and it's more of a fade to black moment. That said, it does push that line a bit more than many other closed door romances I've read... and even the kisses are quite steamy! As such, I'm sure it'll be a bit much for readers who are looking for a squeaky clean read, but still mild for many others.

All that out of the way, I found that I really enjoyed this story. There was a lot of humor, to include a wonderful meet-cute that literally had me laughing out loud. The romance was a bit of a slow burn... but as I said previously, still quite steamy (or at least compared to what I typically read anyway). There were a few times where I felt like things were a bit repetitive, but overall, it was very well written. I loved the town and the quirky characters we meet there, and found myself not ready to leave Rome. This is a new to me author, but one that I'll certainly be looking for more from in the future.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @randomhouse for my e-arc!.

Holy freaking moly! I LOVED this book, I LOVED this book, I LOVED this book! That’s it, go preorder it now and thank me later. All romance fans NEED this book in their lives. It will bring you so much happiness to be in the small town of Rome, Kentucky!

But seriously, this will be one of my favorite romances this year. Noah is a deliciously grumpy pie shop owner, and Amelia is a goofy, down-to-earth pop star. Ugh these two 🥹 forced proximity, opposites attract, and celebrity romance at its finest.

I LOVED EVERYTHING:
- Noah’s sweet soul and his family values 🥰 His sisters were the absolute best.
- The nosiness and fierce loyalty of the small town.
- Amelia’s obsession with pancakes.
- Their meet cute will have you laughing from the start!
- Amelia’s goofiness and nicknames for Noah
- Both Noah & Amelia overcoming their fears/worries
- The slow burn and tension 🔥 they were so playful and witty 😍

This one will give you all the feels. I laughed, I cried, I got angry (at a certain side character - I don’t want to spoil anything). It’s the type of book that you want to jump in the pages and be friends with all the fabulous characters.

Sarah Adams, most recently of The Cheat Sheet, is back with this sweet romance. Rae (Amelia) Rose is overwhelmed with her carrier and pays homage to her hero Audrey Hepburn by going to Rome...Kentucky. There she meets Noah, owner of the local pie shop and really son to the entire town. With a supporting cast of characters that is a hoot to get to know (honestly, come for Amelia and Noah but stay for Mabel), this novel somehow ups the chemistry and sexiness while staying fairly closed door. A five star read for me, I hope to read more from Sarah Adams!

This was my second book by Sarah Adams. I had previously read The Cheat Sheet, and though I enjoyed it, that story didn't live up to the hype online, in my opinion. However, I enjoyed Sarah's writing style and wanted to read more by her. When I first saw and requested this book, I mistakenly thought this book would actually take place in Rome. I decided to go into this book partially blind to see if that changed my opinion of the story. It wasn't long before I realized this book takes place in Rome, Kentucky. I absolutely loved the story. I loved reading about Noah and Amelia, and all the other characters. I want so much more of this small town, and I can't wait to read more in this series!

So I selected this ARC because I went to school in Kentucky so will pretty much read anything set in the state. I have also heard a lot of amazing things about Sarah Adams so I wanted to give her a try.

I am really glad I did because I enjoyed this one a lot. I don't typically gravitate toward the celebrity trope but I think this was done really well., Amelia was likable and I really enjoyed watching her find herself. Noah is the perfect grumpy LI and I wanted as much of him as I could get!

I do love a good small town romance and this town was one of the best that I have read about. The characters were funny and I enjoyed Noah's sisters a lot; I hope they get their own stories!

I definitely recommend and will be reading more from this author.

Thank you Penguin Random House International for my e-ARC.

Amelia was falling apart and her car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it was so dark. Until some man knock on her window to offer a help, she feels like she’s going to die. Because she was in a dark place that she didn’t know where, and there is a man outside her car. When everything is okay and she finally get to know Noah (the man who helps her) she extends her stay at his house to take a break from everything that was going on in her life. I feel bad for Amelia because she feels that she doesn’t have anyone. She told Noah that people only like her when she was easy. And then her mother used to be her best friend but now she only likes her for money. When she was staying in a small town she really likes it, everyone treats her like a normal person, everyone help her when there is a paparazzi and everyone loves her especially Noah’s sisters. She’s loving the town.

Noah saw a girl inside the car in front of his house. The car was smoking and he knows that it’s dangerous so he wants to help but this girl doesn’t want any help because she was so scared that maybe this man was a killer. But Noah just wants to help. Until he recognizes who really is she. It was Rae Rose the famous pop singer. He owns a pie shop. It was a family shop, who past through generations. Noah was a sweet man even though he’s always grumpy. He’s one of the person who help Amelia escape the paparazzi. Noah was a loving person especially to his sisters.

I’ve been in romance reading slump (well, I don’t know if this is a thing 😂) since I’ve been reading ACOTAR series, when I try to start reading romance arcs I ended up didn’t liking it. I’ve been pushing myself to finish it. But when I finished reading ACOTAR series and finally read When in Rome, this book bring me back to reading romance. Overall, this book was good. It was really a great read.

"He’s a little grumpy, there’s an edge to him that says careful, I might bite, but then his eyes whisper, but I’ll be gentle."

This is the cutest little romcom for fall with all the cozy vibes. If you like GILMORE GIRLS, this one is for you. It takes place in the small town of Rome, Kentucky - and it gives all the Stars Hollow vibes.

This is a grumpy x sunshine romance 🌦and they are LITERALLY LUKE AND LORELAI. Amelia, a pop star on a break from her career, runs away to Rome because of her love of Audrey Hepburn and Roman Holiday. Noah is this gruff and grumpy man who is afraid of relationships because of his last one. Turns out Noah’s a total cinnamon roll - he owns a pie shop!!! - and smiles only for her. The entire time I read I pictured Noah as Luke at his diner and Lorelai running in to get coffee and baked goods.

Also, if you don’t like steam, this is a perfect book for you. It is closed door but still has tons of tension and will they won’t they vibes.

Overall, if you want a cutie book that will warm you heart and feel cozy af, read this book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥🔥 (closed door and fade to black sex scenes)
Trigger Warning: brief mentions of Alzheimer's, cheating, and death of a parent

Amelia "Rae" Rose is one of the biggest pop stars in the country. She should have everything she wants, but instead she feels like she's drowning and alone. So she decides to turn to the Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday for inspiration and takes off to the small town of Rome, Kentucky. It's there that her car breaks down in the front yard of Noah Walker- the town's handsome, broody pie maker. Noah's had his heart broken by a city girl before, and he's determined to keep Amelia at arm's length while she's in town. But it's hard to do that when she's staying in his guest room, befriending his sisters, and wearing his clothes. Soon it becomes hard for Amelia and Noah to deny their attraction to one another. But what will happen when she leaves to go on tour, and Noah is still in Rome without her?

Sarah Adams has done it again! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022, and it did not disappoint. I loved how this had similarities to another favorite of mine- In the Weeds by B.K. Borison: small town, grumpy/sunshine, cozy vibes, and a burned out celebrity. It's very much it's own story, though. Amelia and Noah were so good together. There was the perfect amount of tension as they tried, and failed, to fight their feelings. Noah was so wholesome and adorable while still being sexy and irresistible. And Amelia was such a lovable heroine who I couldn't help but root for. It's pretty easy to figure out the conflicts in the end, but that didn't make this any less enjoyable. I actually loved how it all played out and was so glad there wasn't miscommunication and unnecessary drama. I am looking forward to heading back to Rome to see Noah's sisters- and hopefully his friend James- fall in love next!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much. This is my first book from Sarah, but I will be checking all her novels out. I loved her writing style and character development. If you love the trope grumpy/sunshine story and rom com/ romance, you will really enjoy this book.


Thank you Netgalley for my ARC

Such a cute book! Loved the characters, the plot and the slow burn…holy cow! Also, I honestly can’t tell you the last time I laughed to a book like that. The humor wasn’t awkward and it felt natural. Overall, I gave this a 4.5/5 star. Only reason it wasn’t 5 stars was because I felt it needed just a little more spice and it would have been perfection! Can’t wait to read more from Sarah Adams!

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to do an ARC review!

DNF @ 37%

This was just too wholesome, sugar sweet, for me. Normally, that's not something I struggle with, but this just felt like a hallmark movie and since I kept sort of hoping there was left to go, I got to a point where I knew the story wasn't for me.

Wow, I LOVED this book so much. Sarah Adam’s has grown into one of my favorite authors and she really never disappoints. Like, EVER! Anytime I am in a book funk, she pulls me out.

This was such a cute, small town, fun read! And extremely fast paced! The writing is done beautifully, and the characters were done so perfectly. Ugh, the characters!!! I loved Noah SO much! He’s broody but with the biggest heart! I totally melted for him. And Amelia was extremely hilarious, she made me laugh so much. I just adored her! You just wanted to give her the biggest hug. Even the side characters were amazing, Noah’s sisters, and the whole town! I just really loved this book and literally every detail was so so good. Noah’s and Amelia’s banter was so sweet, obsessed with them. Definitely Enjoyed this one!

I would definitely recommend this one to everyone who loves a small town, enemies to lovers, romcom, slow banter romance! 5 stars from me all the way!

Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine, Dell, and Sarah Adams for the early reading copy of When in Rome, receipt of which does not impact my review.

When in Rome is a top-tier romantic comedy and I loved reading it! Pop star Rae Rose (aka Amelia) needs to escape and is inspired by her hero, Audrey Hepburn, and impulsively drives to Rome…Kentucky. After a series of mishaps and mischief, she ends up meeting and staying in the spare bedroom at Noah Walker’s house. Noah is the grump to her sunshine and their banter is impeccable and had me laughing out loud while reading. Their chemistry is so fierce, and though this is a closed-door romance (things are implied but not described) it was very well done.

I definitely recommend this to romance / rom com fans (as long as they are ok without on-the-page spice) who love forced proximity/roommate, opposites attract, and grumpy sunshine books set in the perfect small town setting.

Another absolute delightful read by Sarah Adams! This is my sixth by the author and another win! Sarah writes characters that are charming, heartwarming, relatable, and that you genuinely want to befriend. I love a good grumpy/sunshine story and celebrity/normal person trope and both of these added so much to the character's personalities and understanding of what they are bringing to the relationship. I know the male character, Noah, is an owner of a pie shop, but this book had me craving pancakes!! I am so excited for this series to continue with Noah's sisters!

This wasn’t my favorite from Sarah. It was a fun concept but I felt the dialogue and cute little descriptions were over worked.

Thank you for the publisher for providing a free copy for review.

After reading The Cheat Sheet earlier this year, I was so excited to read this book. I enjoyed that book so much I think my ecpectations going into When in Rome were way too high and I just didn't enjoy it as much as I expected.

In a way this book checks all the boxes I like about a rom-com type of a book: takes place in a small town, grumpy and sunshine, city gal wanting to escape her life for a bit meets cute local guy and immediately gets attracted to him, but somehow the developent of the story just didn't do it for me. I just couldn't get into it, I couldn't connect to the characters and I didn't quite understand their attraction to each other either. I read through it and I really do feel like it would make a TV show I would watch if I could see more of the other townies and supporting characters as well, but as a romance book it was not doing it for me sadly.

I would however recommend you to give it a try, you might like it, I have realised I am very picky with my romance books, who knows you might end up enjoying it.