I can always count on Sarah Adams for a heartwarming romance with lots of sweet and flirty moments. I thought I was in a reading slump but turns out I was just picking up the wrong books because I devoured this one within a day.

The story follows Amelia, a burnt out pop star who runs away to a small Kentucky town to take a break from her life. When her car dies on a dark road, she's forced to accept help from Noah, the local baker whose lawn she's parked on.

I loved the grumpy/sunshine connection between Noah and Amelia. They had great communication as they got to know one another, sharing their histories and fears along the way. We also get an amazing small town full of meddling neighbors, and a set of sisters who love to keep their brother in line.

It's charming and full of heart and I recommend picking it up if you need a love story that will keep you smiling -- fair warning it may have you craving pie and pancakes.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't think this book was for me. It was hard to find much substance in it and the main character just didn't vibe well with me. She was a little bit annoying. I think a lot of people will still like this book and like to escape with a rom com, but it was just missing some depth between the characters and in their personal lives. I did not finish this book.

Thank you Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gilmore Girls meets Star Struck in this charming romance. This is classic grumpy-meets-sunshine trope in its natural form.

The idea is so perfect that as soon as I read the description I knew I had to read it. This delivers on the giddy and cozy factor I was hoping for. I could see this becoming a hallmark movie one day easily.

The couple is eerily similar to one of my absolute favorites of all time— Luke and Lorelai. It can’t be denied. The plaid-wearing grumpy but secretly sensitive diner/pie shop owner having his walls broke down by a cheery, hyper, dark haired, blue eyed beauty with a kooky small town as the backdrop. So if you enjoy that, you’ll likely enjoy this.

Simply put, it’s a modern take on a timeless tale. Now I need to watch Roman Holiday!

(P.s. Listening to Roman Holiday by Halsey while reading this really adds to the experience lol.)

Sarah Adams, can you do any wrong? The answer is no. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors and definitely a one click. I LOVE a good grumpy/sunshine and When In Rome delivered. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. 5 obvious stars. I look forward to listening to the audiobook version!

4.5 stars

This book was so freaking cute and heartwarming. I absolutely loved it.

I loved Amelia, her love for Audrey Hepburn and the sweet soul she was.

Noah was a grump to her sunshine and I loved all his layers.

They were beautiful together. The whole story was. It’s a slow burn, and closed door, but amazing none the less!

This celebrity, small town, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity is definitely one you’ll want to read!

Sarah Adams did a great job at perfecting a quick funny read. I was honored to have received an ARC for this. Amelia and Noah develop great chemistry, which keeps you begging for more. The plot was well developed, flowed easily, and the characters were likable.


I cant wait to read more of Sarah Adams's books!

When in Rome is a charming American take on Roman Holiday, right down to the name of the southern Appalachian town that Amelia/Rae finds herself in. Complete with a hunky tragically single male baker, this story is pulling out the whole romcom cast that you know, love, and keep coming back for!

This book is perfect for lovers of The Holiday Swap, Wait for It, Set on You and On A Night Like This!

I was so excited to get an ARC of “When in Rome”. Tropes involved Pop star meets small town baker, opposites attract, grumpy sunshine. Pop Star Amelia Rose is burnt out and in need of a very serious vacation. Using her favorite movie Roman Holiday deciding to follow in Audrey Hepburn footsteps she decides to escape to Rome, Ky. That’s right Rome,Ky but on her way through town her vehicle breaks down right in front of Grumpy Noah Walkers front yard. The meet cute between Amelia and Noah had me laughing out loud. The story then decides to tug on my heartstrings. Amelia character breaks my heart she lonely from living the celebrity life and no one to talk to. I immediately felt for her. And Grumpy Noah has his own reasons for keeping Amelia at a distance. Both the main characters are wonderful Amelia is funny and kind and Noah is the grump with a heart of gold. But the townsfolk of Rome just make me want to go live there myself. From Noah’s best friend who knows how to push his buttons to his three very upbeat sisters. And then you have all noisy, busybody townsfolk who make you fall in love with the town. I only hope I get to come visit Rome, Ky again each of Noah’s sisters sure could find their own love.

So many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the arc!

Reading this book felt like springtime, curling up in a perfectly worn leather chair with my favorite book, a piece of my mom’s rhubarb pie next to me and the window open to let in a spring breeze and the smell of flowers. Free therapy, it was like free therapy.

Ok. Here’s the thing. I can’t imagine how nerve-wracking it is to release a new book after you’ve had one go viral on tik tok like the Cheat Sheet did. But let me tell you, Sarah Adams has nothing to worry about because When In Rome is BETTER than the Cheat Sheet (and I adored Bree & Nathan’s story). Amelia and Noah’s story had me absolutely hooked from page one.

What I loved:
☀️ sunshine + grump trope (executed flawlessly)
🌻 a cast of small town characters that had me wishing Rome, Kentucky was real (can Mabel be my grandma?)
💛 amazing family and friendship dynamics that warmed my lonely little heart
💫 the journey we got to see Amelia go one, from feeling lost in the world to finding herself
🥧 all the love for flowers and pies and books and cozy small towns


I’ve loved Sarah Adam’s stories since I first read The Match, and she continues to be an auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy of When in Rome! Catch me first in line at the bookstore on September 9 🥧

I freaking loved everything about this. EVERYTHING. It was hilarious and romantic and charming and classy and so, so, so well done. I’m not ready to say goodbye to Rome and these amazing characters.

The writing was fabulous, and had me laughing out loud several times. Amelia was a GEM!

And there was no huge conflict at the end, which I dread in any book. It’s always so cringey and predictable. This book was perfectly paced and realistic, and the “epilogue” was brilliant.

Please please please pick this up when it comes out on September 20th! You will love it.

Sarah! Please write the Emily, Madison, and Annie’s stories next!!!!!!

* Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

I have thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Adams’ other books, so I was super excited to read this new Small Town romance from her. The title is deceiving because I thought at first that this book would be set at Italy. But rather, WHEN IN ROME is set in a small town with tons of charm and delight. I found this fast paced and really easy to read, I truly could not put this book down! I am very excited to see what Sarah Adams writes next!

4/5 stars

When global pop star sensation Rae Rose, aka Amelia, experiences burn out from her overwhelming music career and celebrity lifestyle, she is inspired by her favorite film Roman Holiday and secretly escapes to Rome for a short trip before her upcoming tour. Italy is too far away though, so she settles for small town Rome, Kentucky. On her way there, Amelia’s car breaks down in the middle of the night in a stranger’s front yard and that stranger happens to be grumpy pie shop owner, Noah Walker. Although he wants absolutely nothing to do with Amelia, Noah reluctantly offers his guest room to her while her car is being fixed. That small act of kindness opens the opportunity for the two to genuinely get to know each other and possibly fall in love.

This was my first ARC and it was so much fun to read! I’m a huge fan of small town romances, forced proximity and grumpy-sunshine tropes, and dual perspectives; this book has it all! Although this story is a very slow burn and is basically smut-free, the tension/chemistry between Noah and Amelia is undeniable. Both leads were very likeable, but I especially enjoyed how close Noah was with his sisters, and how accepted and protected Amelia was by the residents of Rome, Kentucky.

Thank you to @netgalley , @randomhouse , and @authorsarahadams for the eARC and chance to review!

I’m always up for some baked goods, naturally when I saw the cover of this book and the synopsis I had to request An e-ARC! When in Rome by Sarah Adams 3.75 💫 this read was undeniably cute and I loved that it took place in a small town! We follow MC Rae Rose as she takes a much needed vacation from her celebrity duties as a singer. She has an estranged relationship with her mother and just really wants some time to mull over the current state of her life and how she got to where she is. Enter, unexpectedly, a baker who runs a pie shop (how cozy and an utter dream, am I right?) who is the stereotypical “give you the shirt off his back” kinda guy and he’s not looking for a relationship. When a fated meeting occurs, will Rae Rose’s trip be cut short or will she fall back on the phrase “when in Rome,” and truly slow down and embrace small town living.

I felt the book had plenty of funny, sweet, relatable moments but at times was a little slow for my taste. It still kept my interest and I was invested. I’m not really here for fade to black moments and I didn’t know this going into the book so that took me a little by surprise. Anywho, it’s an enjoyable read nonetheless and thank you to @netgalley and Sarah Adams for the e-ARC! Check it out on its release day 09/20/2022!! 🥧

Sarah Adams does it again with another super cute (but just a little spicy) book.
Told in dual POVs, When In Rome is the perfect combo of sunshine vs grump, celebrity meets country charm, opposites attract (but certainly not at first, of course!)
Sweet romance + hometown setting = an easy five star read!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC!

Sarah Adams’s does it again! This was the sweetest rom com with a fun setting and loveable characters. I love the celebrity romance trope. This is a slow burn closed door romance but don’t let that deter you open door fans. The chemistry is perfect and the sexual tension is 👌. Definitely recommend this one!

HUGE Sarah Adams fan and this book definitely did NOT disappoint! I loved everything about this book. The plot. The characters. The setting. The writing. Will definitely be recommending this cute and quick read!

Nothing beats a well written small town romance just like this one!

I had a hunch that I was going to enjoy this one just as much as when I read The Cheat Sheet last year and I was so right!

Sarah Adams' book When in Rome is a heartwarming novel. Set in a small town, the story provides a delightful romantic background for the plot. As a result of Adams' writing style, readers experience feelings and emotions alongside the characters. Anyone that loves an uplifting book sprinkled with humorous banter will enjoy it.

Synopsis:
Amelia Rose is known to the world as celebrity Rae Rose. After years of being in the spotlight, the talented pop star is burned out. Tired and needing a break, Amelia drives to Rome, Kentucky where her car breaks down in Noah Walker's yard. While Noah agrees to help Amelia get her car fixed, he makes it clear to her that he has no patience for celebrities. Can fate change Noah's mind?

As well as it's loveable protagonists, When in Rome also features a colorful cast of supporting characters. Adam's description of everyday life in a small community felt relatable without being overdramatic. As with most romance novels featuring high profile characters, there is a certain suspension of belief needed to fully enjoy the book. Sarah Adams' book When in Rome is lighthearted and feels like a breath of fresh air.

When in Rome by Sarah Adams is available on September 20th.
(4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫)

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, (Dell), for sharing this e-book with me. I had so much fun reading it!

When In Rome - Sarah Adams
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
spice: 🌶

I have to confess I’m a small town romance fan and this book def hit all the stops. It’s the story of Amelia “Rae Rose” & Noah — Rae is the queen of pop & Noah owns a pie shop in this wholesome small town called Rome, in Kentucky.

This book follows the depths of the loneliness that one can feel even when being surrounded by tons of people! Sarah did an amazing job at writing the very emotional background of Rae; at the end of the day she’s just a girl who wants to be able to FEEL and to be loved! I’m so happy that Noah became that safe space for her & showed her a completely different side of life.

And Noah… wow, he suffered so much loss in his life and yet he still was that incredible guy trying to help everyone without even noticing it. The way that he fell in love with Amelia is the most touching — they were completely vulnerable with each other. Not REQUIRING, not DEMANDING, but simply loving each other in the smallest of ways.

Whether it was because Amelia wasn’t allowed to eat pancakes and he made her the best pancakes, or that she was never allowed to cut her hair and Noah encouraged her to do it & proceeded to compliment her for the new look. He wanted someone he could share his life with — truly & they both found that in each other. This version of Audrey Hepburn’s “Roman Holiday” is def a new fav. 🫶🏼

Coming to all stores near you September 20th, 2022!

Thank you NetGalley + Random House for the eARC & Sarah Adams for writing this beautiful gem 🥺💙🥞

I loved everything about the sweet book!! Cute characters, a lovely setting, and a MATURE RELATIONSHIP!!! This was perfection!

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.