I really thought I'd enjoy this book, but as someone from Kentucky I really just couldn't mesh with this town and the main character's reactions to everything.

When In Rome

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sarah Adams next book comes out this September and you’ll have to check it out if you’re looking for a breezy romcom! It centers around Amelia, a celebrity on the run to a small town for a break. She ends up falling into Noah’s yard and the two slowly hit it off.

I didn’t love this one as much as I have some of her other books. This one felt a little cliché and the characters just seemed a little forced. I could see clear spots where I think this will spin off for next books, this one probably won’t stop me from picking the others up!

Still a good summer book to dive into. Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this eARC!

Can a surprising relationship between a famous singer and a grumpy man living in his small hometown really work? This slow burn rom-com follows Noah and Amelia as they get to know each other and determine if connecting is worth the risk. Noah's past makes him leery of women and relationships and Amelia's celebrity status makes things complicated for her. Sarah Adams does a great job of developing these characters and showing us their internal world beyond their first impressions. It was fun to watch both characters change and grow as the book continued. If you like a quick read full of fun banter, funny background characters, and a windy road to romance, you'll love When in Rome. I'm a big fan of Sarah Adams and this latest novel did not disappoint!

Content warning: Mentions of adults losing their parents in an accident as children, and Alzheimers.

Thank you to to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sharing a digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review published on GoodReads and Barnes & Noble. Review will be published on Amazon on the 9/20/22 release date.

This book was sweet as pie! If you're looking for something light and fun with a quirky cast this is definitely it. There are serious Gilmore Girl vibes in the town of Rome, KY and I love it. If you're a fan of Lorelai and Luke’s banter this will definitely be in your wheelhouse. Amelia is sweet and adorable and grumpy Noah who is really just a marshmallow is the perfect counterpart. (Seriously, Noah is the best)

Fun facts:
*Dual POV
*Closed door romance
*Found family
*Release Date: 9/20/22

Also, I think this will be an excellent audio book, I can’t wait until it comes out!

When in Rome by Sarah Adams 🥰
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you #NetGalley and #randomhouse for the ARC of this FABULOUS book. I love Sarah Adams books because it sucks you into the story, the character development is top notch AND it’s not overly spicy. It’s just enough to keep you guessing and wanting more.

I LOVED this story of Rae Rose (aka Amelia) and her stardom turned small town when she finds herself stranded in Rome, Kentucky. Noah to the rescue! He may just be my favorite male character of her books yet. He was charming, reserved, and hilarious. I loved watching their story unfold, and Amelia finds her self with the help of Noah and his small town. When in Rome is a fantastic read.

It comes out in September, and I have already preordered my copy…you should too 😉

This is an adorable rom-com book that is perfect for fans of the opposites attract trope. I adored Amelia and Noah's story.

When in Rome is such a sweet read! Pop star Amelia Rose needs a break, so taking inspiration from her idol Aubrey Hepburn and her movie When in Rome, she heads to Rome… Rome, KY that is (Italy is just too far) and ends up with her car broken down on the lawn of the town piemaker, Noah. And with her car repairs needing two weeks, romance-averse Noah gets a roommate he never bargained for. So Noah may just be the perfect man. He’s broody yet sensitive and kind and charming. Plus he can make pies and pancakes, and he’s so so wonderful to the women in his life. And Amelia is so endearing. She is so lonely in the spotlight and my heart just broke for her! But I loved her finding her place and playfulness and voice in Rome as she connects with not only Noah but also his sisters and the townspeople. I loved watching that teasing side come out and her vulnerability when it came to the struggle of balancing who she is with her pop star-self. I just wanted to give her a hug. Thankfully, she had Noah though. And the flirting! It’s so playful and cute. I mean I had a huge smile on my face reading this small-town, closed door romance. It’s endearing and adorable and light and just everything you could ask for in feel good read!

When in Rome is a lighthearted romantic comedy that instantly gave me all the feels.

Amelia Rose, aka Rae Rose, needs a break before heading out on tour. After a night of watching Audrey Hepburn, she decides to travel to Rome.. that is Rome, Kentucky. To her luck, her car breaks down in front of Noah Walker's house. Let the small town adventures begin.

Noah Walker has sworn off love. He's been cheated on by his ex fiance and now just wants to run his pie bakery in peace. He does not want the popular to get close to him or stay in his home. Little does he know, she may be just what he is looking for.

When in Rome has a small town vibe, side characters that'll make your heart skip a beat and a heartwarming plot. Adam's does what she does best: tells a story about two lead characters and their own emotional journeys. Fans of Abby Jiminez's Happy Ever After Playlist will enjoy this book.

What a charmingly fun romance by Sarah Adams! The chemistry between Noah and Amelia was off the charts and I loved the playful and fun banter they had. The tropes of small town romance, grump/sunshine, enemies to lovers and forced proximity were expertly done and I also loved all the side characters who added so much fun and heart to this love story. The only thing that would have made this better for me would have been more steam and open door romance, otherwise this was practically perfect! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for my copy.

Okay… let me just say… I loved this SO much. Adams hit all the right notes: pitch perfect snarky humor, delightfully grumpy-sunshine MC’s (Amelia is incredibly likeable and I so need a Noah in my life… grumpiness and all), all the culinary goodness (pie, glorious pie!) and oh yeah plenty of Audrey Hepburn love (which come on… who can’t get enough of that). Adams also manages to balance the slow burn romance and the character story arc’s, which isn’t all that easy and is delightful. Oh, and there’s no info if this is the start of a series, but I would so buy the heck out of books featuring Noah’s sisters and best friend. If you’re looking for a true romcom, run don’t walk and pick this book up as soon as you can.

When in Rome is a sweet rom-com with some familiar tropes - grumpy-sunshine, pop star/celebrity-commoner, nosy small townsfolk. Overall a predictable story line, and while it makes for an easy read, the progression of their relationship felt slow and more drawn out than necessary. I did not particularly connect with the characters. Minimal spice.

"When in Rome…"

Beautiful story, beautiful writing. Sarah Adams captures our hearts once again with Amelia, a stranded pop-tart and Noah, Mr. small-town baker. We see love and lost, insecurities and strengths. As a closed door romance, Sarah is able to provide rising steam without falling into spicy smut which adds to the lightheartedness of the novel. Can we get a round of applause for all the supporting characters please?! I loved everyone, especially because there is at least one person that every reader will be able to relate to. Overall, a novel I would recommend to anyone looking for a lighthearted read where the past struggles to hold one back from moving forward and sometimes one just needs some time to find oneself. Also, Audrey Hepburn references!

P.S. Hoping for a future bonus chapter or even a short novella! *fingers crossed*

Light Trigger Warning: Death and Dementia

[Special thanks to Sarah Adams, NetGalley and Random House Publishing for sharing a digital advanced reader copy with me in exchange for my honest review.]

This was my first time reading Sarah Adam but certainly won't be my last! A fun, heartwarming book about Amelia Rose, a talented pop star who is burnt out and has her car break down in Noah Walker's yard while driving to Rome, Kentucky. In addition to the loveable main characters, When in Rome also has a wonderful supporting cast. A nice, lighthearted story that's a quick read for anyone who is a fan of romcoms!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advance copy!

This is my first Sarah Adams book and I really enjoyed it! It was a fresh take on the “celebrity/normal person” trope where the heroine was the celebrity! I loved that it wasn’t a girl falling for some unattainable hero but the boy falling for a “way out of my league” heroine. Fans of the grumpy hero trope will love this book! It wasn’t too spicy and was a very fluffy romance for those concerned with that kind of content.

I shouldn’t have requested this book because I forgot that I don’t vibe with Sarah Adam’s’ books… but I gave into the hype, and now have to DNF. I just cannot get past the childish inner dialogue of these characters - it makes it difficult to get through the chapters. If the story was a little more straightforward instead of buried between ridiculous dialogue and banter I think I would like it more.

One of my new favorite Sarah Adams books! So cute, very well written, and lots of fun. Celebrity tropes can be tricky but this one was done so well! I love our main characters and their banter. I love their loyalty to each other. Amelia was still relatable, and it was fun to unravel a little mystery in her life as well. I fell in love with the town and the people in it. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

OKAY WOW THIS BOOK.

I am new to Sarah Adams and I am a new fan. This book has so many good things: grumpy/sunshine, great town characters, forced (kinda) proximity, and a lovely family.

Amelia is a famous pop singer, Noah is a small town guy. Inspired by Roman Holiday, Amelia escapes her life to the nearest Rome, Rome Kentucky. Her car breaks down and Noah can't help but help her even though he's not going to be sunshine about it.

SWOON. LOVE. SLOW BURN. THIS IS A GOOD BOOK.

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story is a quick and fun romance read that is a great spin on Audrey Heburn’s Roman Holiday. I felt that the writing was a bit rushed and underdeveloped in the beginning, which made me worry, but as the story progresses and the characters become more developed, it’s actually a really sweet read. Perfect for vacation or wanting some sort of escape.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! While enemies to lovers always is a win for me, I love how involved all of the townspeople were through the story. I loved how they were essentially one big family for Rae and Noah. Such a fun rom com!

I was pleasantly surprised by this story! I was a huge fan of Sarah’s first two rom-coms (The Match and The Enemy), but I’ll admit I struggled with her other contemporaries. But When in Rome was a wonderful reminder of why I enjoyed her writing in the first place—I loved these characters and the setting of Rome, Kentucky was just adorable. I definitely need more of the entire cast of characters (hint hint, more books in this series, hint hint). If you enjoy closed-door rom-coms with sizzle, give Sarah’s books a read! 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.