Is there anything better than a cinnamon roll hero who could probably actually bake amazing cinnamon rolls? Probably not, and Sarah Adams proves it in When In Rome.

Noah is the kind of guy you trust immediately when your car breaks down in front of his house, the kind of guy who doesn’t care that you’re a famous celebrity, the kind of guy you’re sure has a soft and sweet center under than grumpy exterior. Like Amelia, I loved watching him come to care about the real her, and not the celebrity character she played on stage and in interviews. It was a lovely story about not having to be something you’re not to have people care about you, and about realizing that mistakes in your past shouldn’t dictate how you find happiness in the future.

The chemistry? Swoony. Sarah Adams is the queen of writing sexy books and characters without actually putting any sex on the page. If you’re looking for a steamy but almost closed-door romance, look no further.

And though the romance is the central (and best!) part of the plot, there’s so much more to love in Rome, Kentucky. The supporting characters in this tiny town are fabulous, every last one of them, but especially Noah’s three sisters (I’m not saying we need a series of them finding love...okay, I’m saying it. I need to know who is good enough for Annie) and Mabel, who is like a second grandmother to him. I want to have Mabel’s sass and gumption when I grow up.

All in all, I can’t adequately express how much I loved this book. It’s sweet and emotional and flirty, but is also just a really great representation of two people coming to terms with how their lives haven’t turned out the way they wanted, the ways they’ve been hurt, and how to take back the reins to ensure their happiness instead of doing what’s safe. It’s a good reminder than it’s always better to reach for what you want, whether that’s some downtime from a demanding job or another chance at love.

I loved this book! It was a super adorable small town, celebrity romance. Noah is a big cinnamon roll, once he lets down his walls. Amelia was down to ear and just adorable. Amelia and Noah had wonderful chemistry. There was such a great community element to this book. They were like a big extended family, taking care of each other. I also loved Noah's sisters. They were nosey but lovable!

I highly recommend this book to any romance lover out there!

Amelia and Noah are a dream! Ugh, seriously.

Amelia is a famous pop star, better known as Rae Rose, who desperately needs to escape her life for her sanity. She decides to sneak away for a little break before her next tour and finds herself heading for Rome. Not the Italian beauty you’re thinking of - the closest Rome she can find… in Kentucky.

Her luck has her broken down in a stranger’s yard. In comes Noah to reluctantly save the day. He’s been burned by city girls before and doesn’t know what to expect. Next thing you know, Amelia has weaseled her way into the people of Rome’s hearts, including Noah’s. I love how Amelia is able to find herself and mend relationships in her life throughout this book. I couldn’t put this down!

Thank you to Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange of my honest review.

Sarah Adams is back again with another sweet, swoony story! Inspired by the movie Roman Holiday, pop star Amelia “Rae” Rose runs away to Rome, Kentucky, right before her international tour is set to start. She meets Noah, the grumpy pie shop owner, who has vowed to never fall in love again.

The chemistry between Amelia and Noah was so good, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling every time they bantered back and forth. All the side characters were also so loveable that if Sarah wanted to write a whole series on the townspeople of Rome, I’d read every one!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine & NetGalley for the advanced copy to review. When in Rome is out September 20, 2022.

Thank you @prhaudio @berkleyromance for copy of this book. I have been a fan of Adam's books and this one was no exception. I love the idea of this book with the center of Audrey Hepburn's movie When in Rome and how it was so well weaved into the story. Now I really need to see the movie.

The town of Rome is so special with everyone so protective of Amelia. The interaction between Noah and Amelia was so great. He was such a great grump MC.

I enjoyed the dual POV and the narration was great.

Thank you @prhinternational for the gifted copy! #partner

Short Synopsis:
Amelia Rose, known as the famous popstar Rae Rose, drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome like her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday. When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn, he makes it clear he doesn’t have any interest in entering a romantic relationship. But then Noah starts to see a different side of Amelia, and he can’t help but get close to her. She’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she will help him open his heart to more.

It took me a while to get into the story. But the more pages I flipped through, the more exciting it became. I love Amelia. She is kindhearted, fun, and goofy, yet lonely from years of being in the public eye. Noah is a broody guy who tries hard not to be a sweetheart and a gentleman to Amelia (but fails miserably). Their cat-and-mouse play throughout the novel drove me insane. I love the easy breezy conversations that make them smile and be comfortable with themselves. Their chemistry, intimate connection, and the way they could understand each other are super adorable. Although the timeframe of their romance is a bit short, the development of their relationship does not seem fast and impulsive. I also love Noah's sisters and the people from Kentucky. Their presence made it jollier and funny with the way they could not help but stick their noses in Amelia and Noah's business -- quite the busybodies, but the very protective and loving type.

If you are in for some
small town
grumpyxsunshine
slow-burn romance
Forced proximity

Then be sure to read this!

Having read all of Sarah Adams’ previous books, I know going into a new book of hers that it will make me laugh and swoon while I’m reading it! But what I didn’t expect with When In Rome was for Amelia’s experiences to resonate so much with me.

Amelia is burned out and needs a break at the beginning of the book. I can’t relate to being famous like her, but I had been struggling with burnout when I read her story, and it meant so much to me to read about a character who was dealing with the same thing. I teared up multiple times and highlighted passages like crazy so I could go back and reread them when I need them. I was excited to start this story simply because it is by Sarah Adams, but I’m also so grateful I read it because it’s exactly what I needed to read! ❤️

Noah and Amelia’s relationship is great! I loved the grumpy/sunshine vibes, and the way they were real with each other in conversation. Amelia is used to people being false around her and the need to be perfectly polite so she doesn’t get a bad image. It was delightful to see her open up and spar with Noah verbally, saying what she wanted to say! Both character arcs were done so well, and I loved watching their romance develop!

The Roman Holiday and Audrey Hepburn references were fun, and I enjoyed getting to know the side characters in this book! The small town vibe was great, and it was fun to see what the town residents would do next. I loved this book; it made me laugh and tear up and feel all the things, which is exactly what I needed when I read it!

4.5/5 stars

Content:
Strong swearing and innuendo
Closed door romance with two fade to black scenes
(My personal preference for books is mild swearing and innuendo, which is why I took a half star off of my rating.)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


I am planning on posting my review to Instagram on September 12 on my account @always_reading_a_novel
I will post to Goodreads and Amazon as well when Amazon allows reviews to be posted.

Amelia Rose needs a mental and physical break from her grueling schedule as a popstar. Channeling her favorite movie star, Audrey Hepburn, she pulls a Roman Holiday of her own...only to Rome, KY. She breaks down in front of a house whose grumpy owner reluctantly lets her stay the night. In this small town, Amelia soon learns the story of Grumpy Noah Walker and, while intrigued by him and feeling like she can let down her personal in front of him, tries to respect his desire not to allow their attraction to get the better of them since she's leaving soon and he has to stay. The more time Amelia stays in town, the harder it's going to be to leave. Is there any way for two people with starkly differently lives to make their attraction into something lasting?

It was a fun story with a lot of crackling tension between the two leads. I hope this is part of a series that covers the lives of Noah's sisters.

This was a sweet read full of all the tropes:
-grumpy/sunshine
-small town
-forced proximity
-celebrity/nobody

I enjoyed this! However, I do think it was a bit repetetive, with a very sloooooooow burn that took about 73% of the book to get to anything truly happening between our two main characters. However, I adored the banter and the element that the sisters brought to the story. I see a sequel for James in the future.

I wish we would have had a bit more happen, it felt like everything was saved up until the very end and then we had the Mom storyline, the love storyline and the evil hollywood storyline all come togehter at the end a little too quickly.

However, this was a sweet read that will keep you entertained!

Yes! Fist pump in the air! This is exactly what has been missing from my romance repertoire recently, a swoony, breath-holding, juicy rom-com. Sarah Adams has knocked it out of the park with her adorably grumpy, blonde-whiskered, pie-making, flower-loving Noah and her pancake-destroying, pop-star, Audrey Hepburn-loving, sunshiny Amelia. Their connection is magical. It hits you in the gut and could make even the most jaded believe that it’s possible to FEEL things. From page one I was ready to ride along with Amelia to Rome, Kentucky and venture with her on whatever mishaps might befall her in this quirky small town. And happening to breakdown RIGHT outside the front yard of a “Wilderness Ken” sure does help make things interesting.

What makes this book so good is the undeniable jokey chemistry between Noah and Amelia that makes their interactions so real and honest. Neither owes the other a thing so being forthcoming with just a bit of teasing and playing helps to drive them together again and again. And let’s be clear, this is mostly a behind closed doors, slow-burn romance, but the interactions between Amelia and Noah keep the reader on their toes with the thought of what MIGHT happen. The trope of proximity helps to fuel the fire between these two as they have to navigate feelings and the reality of the future all while being obsessed with thoughts of the other. Sure, I would’ve loved to see a little more steam, but every interaction is genuine and beautifully written. And let’s not forget the townspeople who are every bit as annoyingly lovable as the residents of Gilmore Girls’ Star’s Hollow, or Noah’s three sisters who could not be a more perfect foil to his grouch-like exterior. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt a bit lonely and needed an escape, and to someone that loves love in all its forms. I cannot wait to see what Sarah Adams has in store next. This is by far her best book yet! Go read it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine Dell for this eARC in e cutie an honest review.

I'll admit that I have a soft spot for anything by Sarah Adams, so take this review with a heft of salt. When in Rome has everything anyone could want in a RomCom (except for spice). It is light, fluff, and all of the small town romance your heart desires. The dialogue is natural and characters likable - as wonderfully fantastical as the premise is, the stakes feel achievable. Nothing about it felt far-fetched or took me away from the humor and mirth. Truly a perfect beach read!

Super cute and fun small town grumpy/sunshine rom com that’s a perfect beach read. I loved The Cheat Sheet so was exited to receive an ARC for this one. Yes, just like TCS, there is no spice and is fade to black, but dang it, Noah was just the most perfect man, so I let it slide 🥰

I will forever read anything by Sarah Adams. I have recently discovered her books and I am obsessively in love with her writing and characters. When in Rome was absolutely adorable. This cute story follows our main character Amelia, who's a famous pop star. Amelia decides to take a break from her singing career and ends up in Rome, Kentucky where her car brakes down. But luckily for her, it brakes down right in front of Noah's house. They end up having a cute slow burn romance. I loved everything about this book! Noah and Amelia were perfect for each other and I loved how the small town of Rome was rooting for them. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this amazing opportunity! I can’t wait to have a physical copy to my collection.

It is a rare rom-com that keeps me reading way past my bedtime but When in Rome did it to me. Amelia is adorable as the “lost” famous singer and Noah the perfect gentleman that “finds” her. I love their chemistry. Noahs family and the citizens of Rome are picture perfect- even when paparazzi descend on their little town. All in all an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Yep, here it is. Sarah Adams at her absolute finest. Gosh, I loved every minute of this sweet, grumpy/sunshine, celebrity in a small-town romance. I could NOT get enough. If you are a Sarah Adams lover (which you should be), or if you have been seeing her around and want to try out her books, When In Rome is Sarah doing what she does best.

Rae Rose is a name everyone has heard of in this contemporary romance. Her dreams came true of becoming a household name and super famous pop star. But burnout is real friends, and she finds herself running away from her responsibilities to the small, little known town of Rome, Kentucky. When her car breaks down right outside of town, she finds herself in the front yard of surly pie shop owner, Noah Walker. Noah is still hurt from his last attempt at romance and has no time for the pop star princess that has landed on his front door. Enter meddling locals, nosey family members, and a connection that they just can’t ignore. It’s glorious.

I am such a sucker for a dual POV romance. The complete opposites that are Amelia (Rae is her stage name) and Noah shine in this grumpy X sunshine love story which I think may be my new favorite trope. Getting to be in both headspaces as this story builds adds so much depth. Noah is tough on the outside but sweet on the inside. I could eat him up.

The cast of side characters Sarah creates in this one almost steals the show for me. Think three nosy, caring, and hilarious sisters. Meddling townspeople that literally make me laugh out loud. I get very Stars Hollow vibes and I’m here for ALL of it. Mabel is my spirit animal and I hope I am as feisty as she is in my old age. It’s a skill for an author to build this world with such a great story and side characters you love just as much as the main characters.

Pick this one up if you like:
-Grumpy X Sunshine
-Closed door spice that somehow still feels steamy
-Fantastic group of side characters
-Whirlwind love stories done right
-Delicious Banter
-Stars Hollow Vibes
-Sarah Adams in general. Her books are such a delight from start to finish

When life gets crazy and too overwhelming the greatest solution is to take a Roman Holiday right? To Rome, Kentucky that is. Superstar Amelia and small town baker Noah meet after Amelia finds herself broken down on his front lawn. He’s too busy to jump into any new relationships right now and she’s just looking for an escape from her whirlwind life in this small town! What starts as an innocent getaway from the fame and limelight ends up as a cute and quirky small town romance!

This book gives all the small town, Hallmark, cheesy rom com vibes! I loved every second of it! The cute banter between Noah and Amelia is perfect and their personalities match up so well! Grumpy/sunshine trope for the win!! Sarah Adams is always a hit!

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 for me!

A HUGE thank you to Random House and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this one! Everyone make sure to grab this one up on it’s pub date: September 20th, 2022!

Cute rom-com which is not what I was expecting from the title of the book. I thought of Italy and it’s Rome, Kentucky instead. But Amelia and Noah are surprisingly right for each other even though they try not to be. And who can resist the allusions to Audrey Hepburn and
Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday?

“I am trying so hard to stay away. And I’m failing.”

Omg this book was amazing! There are so many great tropes in this romance! I loved Amelia and Noah’s meet cute. It was so funny how Amelia thought Noah was a serial killer when her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and he comes to help her. The result ends up with her sleeping in his guest bedroom! The forced proximity was everything in this book! There’s even a scene where Amelia thinks of smelling his deodorant because Noah smells so good. I loved how Amelia becomes obsessed with Noah’s pancakes and tries to re-create it throughout the book. It ended up with laugh out loud moments! Noah is a cinnamon roll! He is such a good person that right away you fall for him! He cares for his sisters, runs a pie shop, and cares for people. His protective side for Amelia is just so sweet! She’s not happy in her life and he tries to bring her happiness!
Even though this is a closed door romance there are some steamy moments! There is this one scene where Amelia and Noah go pretty much skinny dipping and it evolves to more…!

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
Small town romance
Celebrity romance
Forced proximity
Cinnamon roll hero
Grumpy hero
Closed door romance

After reading the Cheat Sheet I was super excited to read another from Sarah Adams!  When in Rome was a classic grumpy/sunshine trope that had me smiling throughout.  Definitely on par for the slow burn, no-steam Adams is known for.

Pop Star "Rae Rose" (real name - Amelia) finds herself with a broken down car on the front lawn of grumpy small town bachelor, Noah, while trying to run away for a break before her 9 month music tour.  Rome Kentucky is the only "Rome" within driving distance and reminded me of a Gilmore Girls scene of Stars Hollow.  Small town vibe, friendly neighbors, and the Pie Shop Noah inherited from his grandmother.  Noah invites Amelia to stay in his guest room until her car can get fixed and the sexual tension is instantaneous.  However, boundaries are set very early on knowing Amelia has to leave eventually to start her tour and Noah's past relationship left him with some trust issues.  Cue the slooow burn!  It was frustrating at times with how very slow it burned, but the side stories of Amelia falling in love with the small town,  the beautiful relationships with Noah's sisters and the lengths in which they tried to avoid being alone with each other was very entertaining.

A super fun rom-com a la Hallmarky Vibes!

A famous singer, exhausted by her career’s demands, gets stuck in Rome, Kentucky where she finds much needed rest, community, and love.
The first time I opened this book, I put it down because I thought Rae would annoy me. I picked it up a month later and dove fight in. I was a little shocked when this took place in Kentucky because I was really excited for some Italian settings based on the title. However, the small town was adorable. I love a grumpy love interest with a heart of gold and Noah delivered. Sarah always does a great job of writing relationships that are closed door but still have a fun attraction and tension.
4.5⭐️ for me. This book delivered what I want in a fun rom com, even if it’s not a story that impacted me enough that I’ll remember the plot long term.
*thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy