When in Rome is a sweet, heartwarming closed door romance for fans of grumpy x sunshine romances and stories set in small towns (think Gilmore Girls).

I went into this book a Sarah Adams fan, and somehow came out of it an even bigger one! Sarah Adams has, once again, written an adorable romance that tugs at your heartstrings all the way up to the last page.

As her world tour is fast approaching, Amelia realizes she is burnt out on the one thing she has always loved: singing. In an attempt to clear her head and rediscover her passion, she decides to follow in the footsteps of her idol Audrey Hepburn. Roman Holiday style, Amelia takes a trip to Rome... well, kind of. Amelia finds herself in the small town of Rome, Kentucky, where she meets the grumpy pie shop owner, Noah. In the coming weeks, Amelia and Noah form a connection and find themselves helping and healing each other in ways they didn't expect. As her trip comes to an end, Amelia discovers her heart no longer belongs to the public city life she has always known, but to this town and the family she finds within it.

I had the most fun reading this book! Amelia and Noah are the cutest example of opposites attract. They had the sweetest connection that had me rooting for them from the moment they met. The setting was so perfect. It made me wish I had grown up in a small town, and it was so heartwarming to see the way everyone in the town cared for each other and made sure to protect one another. I truly adored every character in this book so much, and I cannot wait for the next book and for the chance to return to this charming small town.

Sarah Adams is so amazing at writing these wonderfully happy love stories and has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I know I will continue to read everything she puts out.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“When in Rome” by is an opposites attract, slow burn, closed door romance with a small town vibe packed full of laugh out loud moments. This one was worth every star - 5 full stars!

While many readers love a steamy read, packed full of details, Adams' does such a wonderful job of writing closed door, clean romances. Her characters and storylines are so well written that you don't even miss the steam. Amelia and Noah are characters that we all love from page 1. I found the growth of their relationship to be the most beautiful story arc.

I would give it more stars if I could. Thank you to Negalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this e-arc. I read that the author wanted people to laugh and cry with her books and Mrs. Adams let me tell you that is exactly what I did with this book. I found myself laughing out loud so many times and then I cried and then I laughed cried. I loved this book I loved this town and the community I loved how all the characters had a purpose and made to feel important. finished this book in 1 day actually hours cuz I read it btw my lunch hour and at night.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. I have many patrons in mind who would enjoy it also. The characters are likeable and feel like they are good friends. A lot was jammed into this story but never did it seem plodding or drag. It was an easy read and made me want to keep reading. I'm just sorry it is over.

thank you so much to netgalley and random house publishing group- ballantine for this ARC of When in Rome by Sarah Adams. even though i really didn’t enjoy a previous book by Adams, The Cheat Sheet, I decided to go into this book with an open mind and ended up enjoying this story for the most part.

i think unfortunately one of the biggest issues has remained a constant throughout Adams’ novels for me, and that is that even though these are marketed as adult novels and have occasionally adult themes, the characters feel can feel very childish which can often take me out of the story. additionally this was a complete insta love story which for me is unfortunately a very big turnoff. even though i understand the practical time constraint that was employed in this plot, i really wish that the story of amelia and noah falling for each other had been expanded past the mere two weeks they spent with each other. i will say i do commend Adams for not including the cliche third act breakup/makeup that accompanies so many romance novels nowadays.

overall i would say that this was a solid contemporary romance, but not my favorite. thank you again to netgalley and the editor for an advanced copy!

I read a buddy read on time!! It’s been a while- there’s just been too many good books out this summer and not enough time. This was also my first time reading @authorsarahadams and I loved her new novel When In Rome!

Amelia is a burnt out pop singer who needs a break. She gets a wild idea to take a break in Rome, but Italy is too far. So she finds Rome, Kentucky on the map and packs up beloved old car for a road trip and breaks down almost immediately. Enter the grumpy homeowner Noah to the rescue! Noah is a pie shop owner and lifelong resident of Rome. He reluctantly helps Amelia, but his 3 sisters are ready to help her with anything including a few nights of just acting like a regular person.

Noah and Amelia grow close and this is a primo example grumpy sunshine story. She’s excited for life and doing mundane things as a normal person. Noah hasn’t had much change in his life after a failed relationship and a year spent in NYC. This small town romance felt like all the best parts of Gilmore Girls centered around a delicious pie shop.

I didn’t know it was a modern take on the famous Audrey Hepburn movie, Roman Holiday, when I started but I loved how the main character used Audrey movies as a form of self care. I also love that even for a super famous person, Amelia was very sweet and not stuck up. She was very genuine. The only part I didn’t like was that the mean character in the book is named Susan! 😆 #justiceforSusans

Thank you so much to @randomhouse and Sarah Adams for my gifted ebook. When in Rome is out Sept 20!

This book was adorable! A modern take on Roman Holiday, Rae Rose is a pop princess, but she needs to escape. Drawing on her admiration for Audrey Hepburn, she pulls out a map. and picks the closest Rome she sees near Nashville- Rome, Kentucky. She ends up with a dead car in the front yard of grumpy pie shop owner, Noah. This. book is such a great grumpy=sunshine read. Small town quirkiness always grabs me and this one is no exception. I can't believe I haven't read Sarah Adams before- I'm off to look at her backlist!

This book was so cute. I am so glad I got an early copy of it. I really liked Sarah's writing style and enjoyed the pacing of the book. The ending was everything I could've hoped for and that makes me so happy. I love a good romantic comedy with heartfelt moments and sweet characters. I did think parts were cheesy, but it didn't change the vibe of the book.

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy for an honest review!

Five stars for this one.
No, ten stars.
ALL THE STARS!

I loved this book so much. I went in blind and it was not at all what I was expecting.

Rome, Kentucky?! Brilliant.

Noah and Amelia are perfection.

I love them.

This book had adorable moments and great characters but for some reason I was never really sucked in, and as a result this book took me a very long time to read. I did enjoy it overall, however! Here are some more detailed thoughts:

What I liked about this book:
Amelia. I would love to believe that pop stars are always this friendly in real life (and maybe some are). She was sweet and full of sunshine towards others. Another thing I loved was the small town setting, I can't get enough of them right now! The characters are always up in each others' business and I love it. The way the town protects their own (Noah) is wholesome too.

What I didn't like:
The conflict was resolved too quickly. It felt like Noah was so against getting involved with another big city love interest for the entire book and then all of a sudden he was all for it. Aside from the romance, I couldn't get in to the plot centering on her relationship with her mother. Forgiveness was granted too quickly!

This is my first book by Sarah Adams and while I really enjoyed it for the most part, I am not sure if her writing style is for me. However, I will for sure be trying out the second book in this series when it comes out!

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, that is.

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--but only until her car is fixed--then she's on her own.

Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose--she's Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can't help but get close to her. Soon 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'll help him open his heart to more.

Amelia can't resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.

3.5 stars! Thanks so much to Penguin Random House International for providing me an eArc in exchange of an honest review.

I always love a good grumpy x sunshine trope and you can never go wrong with small town romance trope.

While I loved some scenes in this book, I also thought that the dialogues was a bit cringey at times. I also normally wouldn’t love a whirlwind romance but it’s okay because there’s a depth to the main characters, and I think their relationship was really developed. I also loved the people in this small town, loved the way they shipped Noah with Amelia the moment she arrived in Rome, Kentucky.

It took me a while to really get into this book but when it picked up the pace, I really enjoyed it.

If you’re looking for a fast paced romance book to read, this is for you!

When in Rome is my second read from this author and she certainly didn't disappoint. This was an absolutely cute and fluffy small town romance between a pop star and a pie shop owner, perfect for fans of grumpy x sunshine trope like me.

Rae Rose, a worldwide famous celebrity is burned out and decided to take a breather from her life. Inspired by the adventures of Audrey Hepburn, she decided to visit Rome, Kentucky where her car unexpectedly broke down in Noah’s yard. And that’s when everything started. The characters were all lovable especially the main leads and I love how the other characters were being highlighted as well. Also, the banter was delightful and the chemistry is off the roof. I love how we got both characters’ POV too, their inner thoughts were too funny. And Noah, definitely swoon-worthy. Plus, his sisters are amazing! I’d love to read more about them! This book literally took me to a romantic small town adventure with an amazing plot. Overall, it was a humorous and heartwarming read and I enjoyed it very much. I highly recommend it.

Huge thanks to Penguin Random House for providing me an ARC to review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this novel.

Here's another cranky old lady review from your favorite cranky old lady reader. Romances have been very hit-or-miss for me lately, and I'm starting to realize that the ones that miss are usually the ones with protagonists under the age of 35 or 40. I've never had trouble reading books with characters who are unlike me, and in fact I've usually preferred it. But lately every romance I read with a couple in their 20s or 30s feels vapid and pointless. The insta-love (lust?) in this book was downright silly, and I didn't care if they ever got together. I didn't care about Amelia's conflicts with her mom and manager (and this whole storyline was pretty predictable in the end) and I didn't care about the guy's past (I've already forgotten his name). This might be more about my inability to relate to characters in this phase of life than it is about the quality of the book. Romance readers who are looking for something light and predictable will find that here, but if you're looking for characters that feel real and a little something deeper, don't bother with this. It was not for me.

What a charming romance!! I have loved all of Sarah Adams' books and thoroughly enjoyed When in Rome. I loved the small town setting and Noah is the perfect book boyfriend!

✨ARC Review✨

“It’s not infatuation. Not even lust. It’s the worst of all the feelings…care. Care is reckless because it doesn’t come with the seat belt that selfishness offers. Care has so much to lose, and almost always ends in heartbreak.”

Amelia, pop star, and lover of Audrey Hepburn, and the movie Roman Holiday, decides she needs her own holiday. She ventures into Rome…Rome, KY that is. Her car ends up broken down in the front yard of Noah, the hot, grumpy, small town, pie shop owner. She finds herself staying under his roof, while the rest of the town tries to play matchmaker in the background.

This is my second read from Sarah Adams, and it was delightful! I was laughing from the start, and while it’s lighthearted, it’s also packed with serious emotion. Amelia is really coming to terms with acceptance in her life, and learning to say no. Noah is vulnerable, and has been put through the ringer in the past. The subject of family is a touchy one for both of them, but for different reasons.

When In Rome takes readers on some fun adventures, but also on quite the journey of vulnerability, acceptance, friendship, and love. After everything these two go through, I am shipping hard for Amelia and Noah, and they will be living rent free in my head!

What’s On The Pages:
-grumpy x sunshine
-a pie shop owner who doesn’t like pie 😂
-city meets small town
-Audrey Hepburn / Frank Sinatra
-pancakes
-fishing
-friendly sisters

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Steam Factor 🔥/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Dell for this eARC! When In Rome is out September 20th!

Imagine coming out of your house one night and finding a pop star in a broken down car right in front of your yard. This is exactly what happens to Noah Walker, a grumpy pie shop owner in the small town of Rome, Kentucky. Amelia Rose, better known as Rae Rose, princess of pop, has driven to Rome in secret, looking for a short escape from her demanding, lonely life à la “Roman Holiday”. Noah wants nothing to do with Amelia or her fame, but the sense of duty his grandmother instilled in him forces him to offer his guest room to Amelia while her car is being repaired. But as it turns out, Amelia’s “Roman Holiday” may be just what both she and Noah needed.

I ADORED this book!! Amelia is lovable and goofy with an emotional depth that feels achingly real. Noah is absolutely dreamy and has some major Gregory Peck/Cary Grant vibes (which will always make me swoon). This is a dual POV story, which I particularly enjoy because you tend to understand both lead characters more deeply than a single POV. I also loved getting to know not only Amelia and Noah’s stories, but also those of the strong, hilarious personalities that make up the rest of Rome’s population.

The humor in “When in Rome” is top notch. When I say Sarah Adams knows how to write banter, I mean Sarah Adams KNOWS how to write banter. It’s fast-paced, witty, and energetic humor that made me laugh out loud while I was reading.

Let me also emphasize how fantastic the communication is between Amelia and Noah throughout the whole book! I cannot stand when plots are driven forward by simple miscommunications that could be solved with a single conversation, and this book had not one hint of miscommunication between Amelia and Noah. They have such a mutually respectful and caring way of interacting, and I think that’s what really tipped this book from good to great for me.

Sarah Adams writes such fun, engaging stories. This is the first book in a series, and I am ready for the next book now!

“When in Rome” will be out in just under a month, on September 20th!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

ARC REVIEW FOR WHEN IN ROME

3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House - Ballantine, Dell, and Sarah Adams for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was first introduced to Sarah Adams' writing and storytelling earlier this year when I read The Cheat Sheet. I thought it was a super cute, wholesome romance that was exciting to read, and it drew me in from start to finish. I was excited when I was approved for When in Rome because I thought this would be along the same lines, but unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me.

I love the idea of a big town character in a small town romance, and when I saw that this was enemies to lovers, I was 100% sold! The characters of Amelia and Noah are cute- their personalities and their interests definitely come through the page. What I didn't love was that they were virtually BORING and very wishy-washy. For about 3/4 of the book, nothing happened. Sure, there was minor chemistry, and sure, the introduction of the characters took time, but I had a hard time keeping my eyes open with this one, which is never a good sign.

Noah's sisters were adorable. I love the family aspect, and I love how their specific behaviors that were affected by their trauma were addressed. Each sister had a different personality and that shone through the story. I also loved the family aspect that this story was rooted in; it was very easy to draw the conclusions as to why Amelia wanted to stay in this small town- because she wanted what she didn't have.

I've only read two Sarah Adams books and I can already tell she has a very distinct writing style; softer, clean romances with minimal (if any) closed door scenes. And for the record, I don't hate closed door romances; but with her story telling, it's almost become formulaic, which in turn can make her books a bit predictable.

If you like Sarah Adams (as in she's a fav author of yours) you will love this story. It's heart-warming and fun, and hits the stores on 9/20!

5⭐️

I LOVED this book. This was like a perfect combination of a B.K. Borrison and Mariana Zapata book, with a dash of everything uniquely Sarah Adams. I seriously cannot wait for everyone to read Amelia and Noah’s story. My heart was swooning and I was cheesing so freaking hard over this book, I loved it so much!

When in Rome had all of my favorite things: Taylor Swift / Zooey Deschanel vibes, quirky adorable small town, the banter!!!, SLOWN BURNNNN, soooo much sexual chemistry, grumpy (but actually cinnamon roll) x sunshine ☀️

Obviously I know nothing about being a pop star but the woes & experiences that Amelia had felt very real and relatable. This story really pulled on my heartstrings and I was rooting for Amelia and Noah from the beginning.

Also, you can’t tell me otherwise, Noah Walker is the perfect book boyfriend 😍

I would love for this to be turned into a series because I need more Amelia & Noah, but also to find out what happens with Noah’s sisters!!

Just read it, you won’t be disappointed! This gem comes out September 20, so mark your calendars and be prepared to fall in love 💕

Thank you @randomhouse and @netgalley for the eArc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This author starts right off the bat with a lovely meet cute between a swoony small town hero and a pop star. All heart eyes for the little town of Rome, Kentucky. The contemporary remake of Roman Holiday was such a neat idea. I'm all for any Audrey Hepburn references.

This story is on the insta-love side as the MC Amelia is stuck in Rome for a few weeks. Noah is as sweet as pie with a grumpy exterior. And add the pie shop owner who doesn't own a phone or connect with the outside world, it's pretty easy to fall in love. I liked Noah a lot and that first kiss was so spontaneous and perfect. The sisters, Mabel, and all the small town "get in your business" type people were fun.

That being said, this was not my favorite of Sarah's books. I didn't care for the focus on physical intimacy vs. Getting to know someone. Though some romance scenes were high on the swoon level, she had two closed door scenes which I thought were unnecessary. Def more language than I expect from this author too.

I needed more wow to it. The FMC is a singer and I didn't get more music. He is a pie shop owner and they never made a pie together (cover is miss leading).

I thought this story was more bland but I think it's primarily because I don't hear her voice in this. I feel like trad pub has shifted it quite a bit. So I'm probably the minority in it but I didn't love. I expected more. The Cheat Sheet is still her best work.

I do love Annie and I'm hopeful for the next book. Love the bodyguard trope.

I really really enjoyed this one!

4.5/5 ⭐ OVERALL
.5/5 🌶 STEAM

“To me, you’re Amelia. Maker of shitty pancakes and a smile that rivals the sun. All I want is you.”

If you enjoy:
- Contemporary Romance
- Small Town
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
- Celebrity Heroine
- Dual POV

This is my first time reading a Sarah Adams novel, so my review is completely unbiased. This book was so super cute. I smiled and laughed so many times while reading it. This novel could totally be made into a hallmark film. I honestly felt like I was watching a hallmark movie, but not the cheesy type! 😅

Amelia is a pop star, just needing some down time. She's feeling like she's lost her love for her career so she instantly turns to an Audrey Hepburn movie, Roman Holiday. This leads her to the town of Rome, Kentucky where her car breaks down in front of Noah's house.

Noah recognizes Amelia immediately, but doesn't treat her like a celebrity which Amelia loves. Anyways, she ends up having to stay at his house for two weeks while her car is in the shop. Throughout this time Noah is addiment about keeping his distance. He's not trying to make the same mistake twice.

Amelia, on the other hand, wants the opposite. She finds him interesting and wants to do all these things that a slow life can offer. Experience the simple life, if you will. And, she wants him to show her. 👀

These two characters were made perfectly for each other. And, although I love me some steam in a romance novel, this was written so well that I didn't even miss it. If the above appeal to you, then you definitely need to add this one to your TBR!!

I'd like to thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review When in Rome early. I wish you all the best on release day! ❤