WHEN IN ROME
By Sarah Adams
5/5

When it comes to happy rom-coms, Sarah Adams does it best. I squealed with delight when this showed up in my inbox.

Synopsis: Amelia “Rae” Rose is a successful pop-star who finds herself overwhelmed with the constant “go” of her life. Influenced by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, Amelia sets out on a whim for the closest Rome she can find only to end up stranded when her car breaks down. Noah is the grumpy pie shop owner in small-town Rome, Kentucky who finds Amelia broken down in his front yard. Somewhere along the way, a deal is struck giving Amelia a place to hide out from her fast-paced career in the public eye and giving Noah more than he bargained for.

I loved this. I was hooked from the very beginning and didn’t want to leave Rome, Kentucky. Amelia and Noah had great chemistry and I found myself rooting for them from the start. I definitely got small town vibes from the setting and loved that Noah’s sisters played a big part in the story. This story left me feeling happy (always a given in a Sarah Adams book) which may have been the best part. Add this to your list immediately and thank me later.

Read this if you love:
♥️ grumpy x sunshine
♥️ famous person x normal person
♥️ small town vibes
♥️ a pie shop
♥️ forced proximity
♥️ dual pov

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review will be posted on @booklovingtaylor on 7/18/22 and Goodreads on 7/17/22.

Sarah Adams novela always leave me with a smile on my face, and this one did not disappoint!

Amelia is a world famous pop star in desperate need of a break before her upcoming tour. She channels the spirit of Audrey Hepburn and takes off for Rome…Kentucky.

Enter Noah, the slightly reclusive pie shop owner in Rome. When Amelia’s car breaks down in his front yard, he chivalrously offers to help her out—out of town as fast as possible that is.

Unfortunately, the speed of car repair shops don’t always match the desires of its patrons, so Amelia and Noah end up shacking up for a few weeks. What follows is a beautifully tense and emotional journey for the two as they explore what they have unexpectedly found and are afraid to hold on to.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital advanced reader copy!!

When in Rome by Sarah Adams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is that kind of romance book you want to read, with a cute plot and a sweet ending. At first I was annoyed because this book starts just like "Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez" with a broken car in a small town, a guy helping them out and city-girl meets country-boy plot. But besides the similarities I still enjoyed this book.

Amelia, known as Rae Rose is a pop star that is burned-out from her celerity life and in an attempt to get away from everything for a while she decides to follow her favorite actress Audrey Hepburn, from Roman Holiday's film and run to Rome, but Italy is too far so she goes to Rome, Kentucky. When she gets there her car breaks down right on Noah's front yard. Noah is a local pie shop owner, and after helping Amelia he makes sure that she knows that he has no time for celebrity problems but he still lets her stay in his guest room until her car gets fixed.

In the next day, he helps her calling a local company to get her car and they find out that it will take about 2 weeks to get fixed. Noah takes Amelia to a local B&B but the owner says that they're all booked and that she will have to stay with Noah, which wasn't true and she was just trying to keep both of them together. The whole town wants to know about Noah's new company and they're all very nosy. As the days go by Amelia gets to know more about the town and the people and gets to meet Noah's sister and hung out with them. She shows a different side of herself that makes Noah starts to fall for her. Noah doesn't want to break his heart again. The last time he helped an out-of-town girl he ended up asking her to marry him, moved to NYC and then finding out she was cheating on him. He doesn't want a long distance relationship so he tries to stay away from Amelia. Which of course failed because as the days go by they fall more and more for each other.

Very cute story and an enjoyable book!
I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

this was simply such a fun, enjoyable quick read that i consumed within hours. there's something so heartwarming about a small town, grumpy x sunshine read especially when the girl is just looking to get away from everything. being the pace it is, the romance was of course whirlwind, but there was some depth to our two mains, amelia and noah that i appreciated. with their flaws and the things they've been through explaining their reasons behind their actions and hesitancy in going into a relationship. still, this story had me smiling at many moments and was endeared by amelia and noah's push and pull and by the characters in the small town that rooted for them all along. i would definitely recommend this as a charming, brisk read for the summer that's engaging making it easily bingeable!

This book was sooo cute and had me in love with Noah and Amelia right off the bat! Sarah Adams just seems to write the cutest love stories that always leave me cheesy smiling at the end when the characters get their happy ending. When in Rome follows pop star Rae Rose, Amelia, to a small town in Kentucky when she needs a break and an escape to find herself again. When her car breaks down in ,“hillbilly- joe- serial killer”, Noah's front yard and his southern hospitality takes over. These two have that witty banter, and chemistry right from the get go but this book is a slow burn for sure. This dual perspective story has you following these two as they become friends and as they turn into exactly what the other needs.

If you liked the Cheat Sheet you’ll love this one too.

Thank you Sarah Adams, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing Group for gifting me an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
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This book was very entertaining. This is the second book this month I've read about a famous singer and surprisingly this is a trope I have really come to enjoy. This book was a grumpy x sunshine, small town romance. The small town and all the townspeople in the book were cute and hilarious. I loved all the scenes in which the MCs went into town and we got to witness all the gossiping and meddling from the townspeople. There really wasn't a single character I disliked.
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The plot was good. Only thing I would say is that the middle of the book was slightly lengthy and maybe a scene or two could've been cut so we could get to the main issue and then the resolution.
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There is lots of good banter in this book between the MCs, so if that's your thing this book is for you. If you liked Beach Read by Emily Henry, I also think this book is for you. It has many similar elements from that book except this book is not enemies to lovers.
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Overall a very entertaining read and I can't wait to read more of Sarah Adams' books.

This was darling!! The chemistry between Amelia and Noah was palpable, and the townsfolk were a trip! It was a happy, engaging story that made me super hungry for pancakes…just not Amelia’s. 😊. A must read!!

Thank you so much to Sarah Adams, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Rae Rose is about to embark on a nine month long world tour. After watching Roman Holiday, she decides that she should take off to the closest “Rome” within driving distance. On her way to the Bed & Breakfast, Rae’s car breaks down in Noah Walker’s front yard. While Rae’s car is being fixed, she begins to fall in love with Rome, KY. Being in the spotlight may not be all that it seems…

This was such a cute book! I love enemies to lovers, and I love how grumpy Noah was. I loved the small-town setting, and this really felt like a Hallmark move. Great read!

This book is a truly classic romance novel, its contemporary but only if you squint. The story of Amelia and Noah is a sweet slow burn filled with chemistry and teasing, but for me never got very deep.
This book reminded me of a lot of the romance novels I read in my teens that fit the formula and didn't push any envelopes and if you are looking for a classic closed door romance, look no further. This book is well written the characters are sweet and the book is a low conflict grumpy/sunshine slow burn that doesn't rely on the miscommunication trope. All of that are good things. The reason it isn't a higher rating is that I look for more depth in my contemporary romance, especially the straight romance. And while this is good I didn't fall in love with any part of it.

Overall this is a good book and if you want a sweet small town romance where at least one of the characters has heard of a smart phone then I would recommend it.

Thank you to Dell, Random House and Net Galley for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pop sweetheart meets grumpy, guarded pie shop owner in an adorable rom-com! That's how I would describe this book. I absolutely loved meeting Amelia and Noah! Their back and forth banter, undeniable chemistry and the anticipation of will they won't they had me on the edge of my seat!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House and Sarah Adams for this arc.

I absolutely loved this book! When I started it, I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. It’s the perfect small town romance. It’s so funny and lighthearted and you cannot help but smile the whole time! Amelia and Noah’s chemistry was undeniable and I loved their banter between each other.

Amelia and Noah were both such likeable and relatable characters. Not only did I enjoy seeing their relationship with each other develop, but I also loved seeing Amelia’s relationship with Noah’s sisters develop along with the rest of the town who treat her like one of their own.

Amelia and Noah both had to work through some past experiences and showed beautiful depth and character development. They could always open up and be themselves around each other and I really loved that.

Give me all the Sarah Adams books because I loved this one!

First of all thank you to netgalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was exactly what I needed!! It was a small town romance featuring a pie shop owner and a pop star looking for a brake. RIGHT UP MY ALLEY!!
If you liked the movie starstruck as a kid this one is definitely for you.
Amelia and Noah were so cute. I loved Amelia's personality she was so bubbly and funny and her annoying Noah was always very entertaining. AND NOAH god the man that he is. He was so whipped from the beginning it was truly the best.
Overall this is a 3.5 star read for me mostly because it takes place during such a short period of time, i wish we had gotten more development in certain areas. But still I’m very happy with the end result.

Thank you NetGalley, Sarah Adams, and Random House Publishing for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

How is this the first book of Sarah Adams’ that I am reading? I loved this book! It caught my attention from the very beginning and had me interested and laughing throughout the entire book.

This book had your big city girl who is overworked and just needed a break, and your small town grumpy guy who has been hurt in the past. Noah has his heart walled off to every girl since he was hurt before. But he definitely has it walled off to women who have no intention of staying in his small town. In comes Amelia (aka Rae Rose) into his small town for a much needed getaway. She got the idea to go to Rome, Kentucky by no other than Audrey Hepburn in her classic movie Roman Holiday.

The chemistry between Noah and Amelia was amazing and I loved the banter between them. No miscommunication trope here because Noah is all about communicating to Amelia how he feels, why he feels certain ways, how he has to work through things and I loved it! The side characters in this book were incredible and the citizens of Rome, Kentucky have my heart!

I started and finished this today and I am actually OBSESSED!!!! This might be my new fav from Sarah. Everything about Amelia and Noah is *chefs kiss*. I have lived in Kentucky most of my life and never knew this place existed but now I need a trip to Rome, Ky ASAP!!!!!

3.5/5 stars ||

Needing a chance to catch her breath, famous pop star Rae Rose, or Amelia, takes off in the middle of the night only to break down on the side of the road in small town Kentucky. Noah already dated one city-girl, and that is more than enough for him. The sooner he can get rid of Amelia, the better.

When in Rome is a cute, wholesome romcom about finding yourself in the unlikeliest of places. Check this novel out if you are a fan of opposites attract, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine or small town romances.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @NetGalley and @RandomHousePublishingGroup for the ARC of When in Rome in exchange for my honest review.

This read hit the spot. High profile female MC ends up in male MC's small town. The two are opposites in many ways but we see their story develop over time. This is a enemies to lovers trope, found family trope, and some heartache along the way. This had some spice that fit the plot perfectly. I highly recommend this book if you like rom-coms and HEAs.

I will most definitely be reading more from Sarah Adams!

Ok to begin, I usually love love love sarah Adam’s books, but this was a miss for me. It still had her clever writing which I adore, but the storyline fell flat, and honestly not a lot happened. It was just same old avoidance entire book, when really we needed some more action happening or something between them. I still laugh at parts and sarah cute banter. It’s very hallmark and the take was cute for a Audrey Hepburn redo. Side comment: the cover doesn’t match the book. It’s not about them baking together at all…. Overall I’ll give it a 3.5(ish) rating. Thank you for the chance to review !

I was really excited to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I love the premise of the celebrity pop-star escaping to a small town to take a break and meeting a local shop owner. This book is like "It Happened One Summer" meets Schitt's Creek. I really enjoyed the small town of Rome, Kentucky and all of the local townsfolk we meet. Noah and Amelia's grumpy/sunshine interactions were entertaining and heartfelt and there were so many great moments of tension. My favorite part of this book was getting to know Noah, his backstory, and his family of vocal sisters. I can't wait to read each unique sister's story...which the author seems to be setting the stage for.

Unfortunately, the overuse of similes, metaphors, and hyperbolic phrases really took me out of so many moments and I found myself getting more and more frustrated. A majority of the similes felt unnecessary as they described common thoughts that did not need to be further explained. Additionally, the cycle of Noah and Amelia constantly voicing to each other that "this" can't happen because they were from different worlds, trying to separate themselves, be drawn back together in some physical way, and then stop because "this" can't happen became very repetitive and frustrating. I kept reading because I loved the idea of this book and wanted to see how the story would end for Amelia and Noah but unfortunately it all just fell flat for me.

Needs to use other words besides "strawberry" and "raspberry" to describe "red" lips/cheeks. I don't like the romance, they do the whole "i can't like you because you're just a pit stop in my life therefore it'll never work, yet we are still going to fall in love" thing, which i'm not a big fan off, i felt like i was watching a hallmark movie. Singer runs away to small town, meets boy who owns some local place, they fight their attraction, attraction wins, someone choices to move away or give up on their own dreams for someone else, the end.


also this: "What I really want to do is open that deodorant stick and sniff it until I pass out, but I don’t because I’m forcing myself to act like a civilized woman." direct quote from book, creepy as f*ck, like is there some girl out there who thinks like this or does this?! i'd hope not.

WHEN IN ROME was a great palette cleanser that I needed when I was in reading slump.

What I liked:
-Noahs grumpiness that softens over time for Amelia
-quaint, small town setting of Rome, KY
-Amelia’s search for happiness
-banter
-supporting characters esp Noah’s sisters and Mabel

If you’re looking for a quick and cute romcom read, I’d definitely recommend picking up WHEN IN ROME.