
Member Reviews

Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn is one of my all time favorite movies! After hearing that this book is loosely based on the movie, I couldn't wait to read it. I really enjoyed Adams character, the small town charm, and the meddling neighbors. I had a difficult time connecting with the main character, Amelia. I had a difficult time getting into the story.

I just finished reading When in Rome; and my brain is overloaded with so much love for this book, these characters, this town, that I cannot seem to form intelligent sentences. So let me say this, READ. THIS. BOOK. Noah and Amelia have secured themselves as one of my all-time favorite couples (and I’ve read thousands of romance books, so that is saying something). AND we are getting Annie and Will’s story next?! Honestly, bless you Sarah Adams. You are a gem, your words are addicting, and please never stop writing. 💕

Oh my word this book has all my heart!! The best yet!!! I fell in love at first chapter of this book and by the end of chapter 2 I was preordering my paperback copy.
Amelia is famous and although most people might think being famous is all that jazz, I think Amelia’s story is much closer to the truth. Exhausted and unhappy and searching Amelia finds herself stranded right outside of a little town called Rome. Immediately I felt a connection with Amelia. I have never been famous, but I think so many of us can relate to the feeling of being burnt out and stuck in our situation.
Noah is our broody, grumpy sunshine, who I promise will be your next book boyfriend. I mean how could you not love a guy who tries so hard to close himself off and protect himself, but fails miserably where Amelia is concerned?
This story could have been very predictable, but I really felt like it wasn’t and I think that is in large part due to it being a very character driven book. As the reader, I felt the emotions the characters were going through and I genuinely wanted everything to work out. I loved that the climax of the book was very natural and did not feel like it was hyped beyond reality.
So to sum it up, I loved this book so very much that I think it might very well be my new favorite Sarah Adams book. This one will be hard to top!!! Excuse me while I reread all my favorite parts!
** Please note this book is a little different from other Sarah Adams books. There is a decent amount of swearing and although technically it is closed door, it is defiantly more than implied what is happening behind that door.

This book is truly a treat, sweet as pie ;)
I don’t think Sarah Adams can write a bad book. Her books are always on the happier side and they're SO swoony. I will admit, at first I thought this book takes place in Rome, Italy (raise your hand if you never read the synopsis of books) and so when I found out it took place in Rome, Kentucky, I was I thinking I might have a hard time picturing/daydreaming about the town. But with Sarah’s descriptive writing, I totally visualized it all. What the walk might look like past the hardware store, avoiding Harriet and finally getting to the pie shop.
I liked that this was a celebrity romance, and that the woman was the celebrity. Noah was the perfect grump, so kind and charming. I would have never believed Amelia was a celebrity with how humble she was & how easily she disconnected from that life. Still, it all goes to show that when you’re really at your wits end, you’ll go into anything with an open mind (and some nerves lol). I loved the side characters, and I’m especially excited that we get Annie’s book next. I will need a James book at some point in time, so I do hope that’s to come :)
When in Rome comes out September 20th! If you’ve loved Sarah’s other books, go ahead and pre-order this now!
Thank you Random House, Dell, & Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for my review!

This book is baked fresh with love!
International pop-star Rae Rose is burnt out and needs a break so she leaves to go to Rome in the middle of the night, much like her favorite movie, Roman Holiday. Oh, and when I say Rome, I mean Rome, Kentucky.
Right when Rae, whose real name is Amelia, arrives in Rome her old Toyota Corolla breaks down in the front yard of hometown hottie and pie shop owner, Noah Walker. Although she doesn’t trust a random man in the middle of the night, so she won’t leave her car until he calls his elderly woman friend to talk to her as a character reference.
Noah has been burned by a relationship with an out of town woman before so he knows that he can’t get attached to Amelia and makes an effort to consciously repel her. However, Amelia is relieved to be being treated like a normal person and getting to know everyone in the close-knit small town.
While there Noah and Amelia start to fall for each other and Amelia begins to learn so much about herself and her interpersonal relationships.
This was a great read; 5 stars!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Dell for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Adams can do no wrong. This was a delightful read! With playful heated interactions between the main characters, and a sweet story line I truly did not want to put it down.

I loved this book! The chemistry between Noah and Amelia was great. I loved how the characters didn't push each other away and how well they communicated. Even the extra characters were so well developed and added to the story. The whole book was lighthearted and low angst, with a swoony feel that worked.

This is my first time reading a novel by Sarah Adams and I loved it! This adorable book pulls you in with butterflies and undeniable chemistry. Noah Walker is the perfect love interest and him and Amelia have great banter. The writing in this novel was really well done! The small town love story was told so well.
Thank you so much to Random House and Net Galley for the ARK!

This was a really cute read. Pop star Amelia “Rae” Rose needs a break from celebrity life. She’s lost her voice figuratively in that she can’t stand up for herself and isn’t sure who she is anymore. With a strained relationship with her mom, she goes to the next best comfort Audrey Hepburn movies. That’s how Amelia ends up in small town Rome, Kentucky where everyone knows your name and your business. She meets our hero Noah when her car breaks down on his front lawn and she’s convinced he’s a killer. But much like classic men from class movies, Noah is a gentleman and honestly the perfect guy. He has trust issues but isn’t afraid to admit it. He’s even afraid of storms!!!! Amelia is a bit of a rascal in terms of nosiness but that just makes her fit right in with the small town. I loved all the side characters and their meddling ways (that would totally drive me crazy in real life) and I loved that there was minimal drama but a nice slow burn. If you’re looking for a quick, light read that’s beautifully written, check this book out!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC :)

I am obsessed with this book! Holy cuteness Batman! This book was so good! I think I had a smile on my face the entire read! It also made me want all of the pancakes ever! This was such a great one

When in Rome by Sarah Adams
Rating: ★ ★
Genre: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Format: 𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤
Length: 𝟑𝟐𝟎𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 - 𝘉𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
✨Read this book if you enjoy✨
Small town settings
Grumpy/Sunshine
Lighthearted Romance
This was my first Sarah Adam’s book and I was so excited to get approved! I knew going in that Sarah Adams writes clean romances with only minor suggestions. My main issue is that the characters seem like teenagers instead of adults. I had a hard time taking their relationship seriously when they both acted so immature. One minute Noah seems like such a nice down to earth guy and the next minute he’s being mean to Amelia just because she’s from out of town. His behavior just didn’t make sense for a grown man. Noah’s family was the real hero of this book for me. His sisters and their grandmother were the only thing that made this book enjoyable for me.

I’ve been putting this off because I knew I’d love it and I didn’t want this to be over. I of course, as with all Sarah Adams books, adored this one! I spent the whole book trying to decide between savoring it and bingeing it. I loved Amelia and Noah. This was a such a sweet heartwarming story. It was a slow burn, but I loved it! I loved the will they/won’t they as Amelia and Noah are developing feelings for each other, but trying to fight these feelings. I loved all of the supporting characters and the town of Rome. I’m so glad Annie is getting her book and I hope all the other sisters do too! This will definitely be a favorite this year!

Sarah Adams is back with another adorable, will give you all the butterflies, dream of a rom-com. When in Rome has Sarah’s signature sweetness infused with Southern charm and a cast of lovable characters. A modern retelling of Roman Holiday, Amelia escapes the monotony of Hollywood and her exhausting singing carrier and travels to Rome, Kentucky where she meets grumpy baker, Noah Walker. Amelia is charming, goofy, sweet but a little bit lost from the impacts of fame. Noah is serious, guarded, supportive and a little bit jaded from a previous engagement.
I loved the small-town vibes and grumpy/ sunshine dynamic. Noah is a dream; the way he cares for his family is so endearing. Despite her career, Amelia is so down to earth and relatable. This story had some Taylor Swift inspo, I saw a lot of her in Amelia’s character. The chemistry, the pining, the tension in this was making me crazy (in the best way). I had so many butterflies reading through this story. It is closed door with the tiniest peek. The language is respectful and delicate, focused on their connection. The steamy scenes are so tender and handled with so much care. It is clear that Amelia is so precious to Noah and it was so swoony.
The cast of characters in When in Rome were delightful. I immediately pre-ordered Practices Makes Perfect, Annie and Will’s story, after finishing this one because I need more of Noah, Amelia, his sister, the nosey townspeople and especially, Mabel. Mabel might have been my favorite character. She is meddling, a total spitfire and I loved every scene where she was involved.
Another great thing about this book, there was no third act breakup, which is so rare to find in romance novels. I had a great time reading this book. It is impossible to read a Sarah Adams book and finish feeling anything but joy. Joyful, lovely, sweet and an utter delight!
Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and Net Galley for an opportunity to read this one early!
*I will share on my IG and Goodreads closer to release date and update this review with links!
Rating 4.5 stars but rounding up to 5 on GR

Amelia is a famous pop star who is known as Rae Rose. She is obsessed with Audrey Hepburn, and watching her old movies reminds her of the special times watching them with her estranged mom. One night she is watching Roman Holiday, and is inspired to visit Rome. The closest Rome to her is Rome, Kentucky. She needs a break anyway and makes plans to stay at a B&B there.
She gets into town last one night when her car starts smoking and dies in Noah’s front lawn. She refuses to get out of the car thinking he is a serial killer, until he has his grandma’s best friend Mabel on the phone vouch for him. Amelia’s car is going to take weeks to fix, and is stuck in town. Mabel, being the meddlesome B&B owner that she is, swears that there are no available rooms and that Amelia will have to stay with Noah.
Although Noah is very grumpy, her sunshine attitude gets him out of his shell. They develop a friendship and open up to one another in a way that is so sweet and vulnerable. All Sarah Adams books are fade-to-black, but as usual I do not miss the steam. They are so tension-filled and the characters have so much chemistry between them!
4.5 stars
I received this book for free in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the gifted ARC of this book!
Sarah Adams is my go-to author for feel-good, heartwarming romance. When in Rome is another of Sarah's masterpieces: a grumpy/sunshine romance between a bubbly pop star and a grouchy pie store owner. YES. PLEASE. I loved the smalltown feel, the zips of chemistry between Amelia and Noah, and the fantastic cast of supporting characters. There was even a lil twist I didn't see coming! If you're wondering if you need this story in your life, I'll tell you right now: you do.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-
Thank you to Dell Publishing, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
-
Holy. Freaking. SMOKES. I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!
-
It took me about 10% to get into but once I was in, I was IN. I read this in one day and honestly wish I could just move into the story and live in Rome, KY with Noah and his sisters and Amelia and Mabel and everyone forever. I also love Roman Holiday (who doesn’t) so this was SO fun to read.
-
We meet Amelia, our main girl, as she’s escaping her popstar live in Nashville to get a break. After being inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, Amelia runs off to Rome… Kentucky, since Italy is just a little too far away. Unfortunately, her car breaks down when she’s about 20 minutes outside of town, but fortunately it just so happens to break down in Noah’s front yard.
-
The two have their baggage to work through and decide that a romantic relationship probably isn’t the best idea, so instead they become friends. Friends with a lot of tension. The slow burn here is literally like a drug and the tension is so freaking good and hot and fun and I literally loved this book so much I could scream about it for days.
-
Also - THERE IS NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP. YUP. YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT. IT’S A MIRACLE AND I LOVE SARAH FOR IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!
-
10/10 would recommend - preorder this book right meow!

Okay...sooo, I wasn't a fan of the writing style in this and the story at times felt like the author didn't know what to write next and just decided to insert a scene for the sake of it. The writing was just a bit too sweet for my taste too and overly cute. I know it's supposed to be cliche and all as it is a romcom, but from the beginning it all felt a bit too convenient. The way Amelia goes from thinking Noah's a serial killer and can't trust him to saying how safe she feels with him was kinda too fast and some things that happen in the story contradict the characters' thoughts too. Noah reminded me of Luke from Gilmore Girls, and I liked that. The people in town reminded me of the tv show as well, yet, it frustrated me how in the face they were! Like, oh my god..why don't people mind their own business? haha but I think we are supposed to feel that?
That said, it kept me wanting to read and I feel like the second half was an improvement. The love scenes while very low-heat were well done too and I like Amelia's character development. Ultimately, the book didn't leave such a big impression on me and I think it could have some more editing done, but I enjoyed the premise!

I loved this rom-com!! I love how Rae escaped to Rome, Kentucky instead of escaping to Rome, Italy. Rae and Noah's romance is so cute with Mabel helping them out along the way. Noah doesn't want to fall for a city girl that will break his heart, but in the end, it was destiny. I love the modern day version of Audrey Hepburn!

I absolutely loved this book! It was the best Rom Com I have read in a very long time. After reading it I ran out and bought another of the author’s books — the Cheat Sheet. Loved that one too. It was very different but still witty and warm hearted. Have discovered a new favorite author!! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. I am now on the hunt for the author’s backstock. I think you will be too.

This was a charming small town romance with an adorable couple who quickly falls head over heels for each other. Noah and Amelia had instant chemistry, and while this isn't the steamiest romance you'll find, there's plenty of banter and forced proximity slow burn to keep you engaged. Plus, there's an adorable cast of meddling and loveable side characters who make Rome, KY feel loved in and a safe haven the an overworked pop star looking for a much needed break.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.