Loved this. It was a super cute rom com with fun quirky small town characters. The author should consider turning this into a series and writing about the other Rome, Kentucky townspeople. Noah’s family was adorable and it was nice to have a good ending with things wrapped up instead of up in the air.

Right away this book caught and kept my attention. Popstar Amelia is likeable sunshine character and small town Noah is a grumpy gentleman in this modern Roman holiday. The references to Audrey Hepburn was amazing and make me remember good times watching her movies. The whole time I was hoping that they would be able to be together without either of them giving up their personal lives.

Imagine a book with all the best tropes, damsel in distress, grump/sunshine and small town....that is When in Rome by Sarah Adams. Everything in this book is just STUNNING. I have no critiques because from the first page I was sold. Honestly, I just wanted it to be longer. I could literally a book just about Rae and Noah's daily life. That is how much I love them. Sarah Adams outdid herself with this one!

Rae is such a sweetheart, how can one NOT love her???? She is very much young Taylor Swift vibes for me. Noah shocked me a lot along the way. Like a man owning a pie shop is the way to my heart. Free sugar (cue the heart eyes).

Thank you for the advanced copy Net Galley. This is my honest review!!!

This was my first book by Sarah Adams, but it certainly will not be my last! This book was just fantastic! I adored Amelia so much. And Noah...oh man, he's definitely my newest book BF! I loved their banter together. It was hilarious and adorable and just *chef's kiss*.

The town of Rome was perfect. All the characters were sweet and wonderful. Mabel, in particular, was delightful. I just loved how they all took Amelia in without batting an eye. It was a true testament to a Southern hospitality.

Roman Holiday is one of my very favorite movies (and the main reason I requested this book) and I loved the nods to the movie, But, this definitely is not a retelling and stands on its own with ease. If you love laugh-out-loud love stories that will probably bring a few tears to your eyes, this is the one for you! I am hoping that Sarah Adams writes love stories for the Walker sisters next!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC of this adorable book!

After reading the Cheat Sheet, I am a fan of Sarah Adams! When in Rome was a funny, touching read.

Here are the things I loved the most:
- The slow burn was torture but so, SO good.
- The Sunshine/Grumpy romance was perfect. Noah was the perfect amount of grumpy and Amelia was just such a great character.
- The Audrey Hepburn references made me so happy. I was obsessed with classic movies when I was younger and Audrey was always my favorite!
- The town is LOVELY. If I could find this town, I'd move there.
- It's a closed-door romance. There's some making out and lots and lots of pining!

The only complaint I have is that I had to stretch my imagination a bit to believe that a pop star could disappear for a few weeks so easily.

I recommend to anyone who loves a quick, entertaining romance that will put a smile on your face!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Sarah Adams for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Inspired by her favorite actress, Audrey Hepburn, Amelia (or Rae as she’s known by her fans) decides to escape to the nearest Rome to escape from the pressure of her busy schedule, her demanding manager and her singing career. She has a mishap that strands her at the home of a cranky, closed-off man, Noah.

Over time she develops a love for the town, it’s inhabitants and especially Noah.

Although When In Rome got off to a slow start, it eventually became a cute story where the characters grew and developed over a short time. Overall an enjoyable read!

Queen of the slow burn, Sarah Adams, strikes again.

The set up of this book could not have been more perfect. Audrey Hepburn movies when you’ve got the mean reds? Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday are two of my classic favorites, I was hooked from the beginning.

I love the dialog. I read in another review this book might be spicer than the others but I didn’t see that. Loved the characters; superstar singer Amelia and hometown heart throb Noah.

Can’t wait to see what she does next. Cheers to NetGalley for this ARC

When in Rome follows Amelia Rose also known as Rae Rose to her fans. Burned out from touring and living the celebrity life, Amelia decides to take a vacation. One of her favorite movies is Roman Holiday. Amelia can't go to Rome, Italy since her tour is starting soon. So she chooses the next best option: Rome, Kentucky. However, her vacation does not start off as planned and her car breaks down. Her Car just so happens to break down in Noah Walker's front yard. He offers to help her but makes it clear he does not care about her being a celebrity and really wants nothing to do with her. He just wants to run his pie shop and go about his business. Noah offers to let Amelia stay in his guest room and the more time they spend together Noah starts seeing another side to Amelia. And is determined to show her his small town and what she has been missing. And maybe just maybe the two will fall for each other.

I LOVE SARAH ADAMS!!! Every single book that I have read by her has been insanely cute. I think this might be my favorite out of all her books. I loved, loved, loved this one. This was a different kind of small town romance story than I was used to. Loved the relationship between Amelia and Noah and how you were rooting for them to get together the whole time. There was a little plot twist at the end that I didn't see coming, which I loved. Everything about this book was so cute. This is a romance book that I would highly suggest you read. So thankful to have gotten an ARC of this one!

When in Rome is Sarah Adams' best book yet. Amelia and Noah's story is 100% fluffy goodness. There are so many things to love about When in Rome. Here are just a few:
- It's a grumpy/sunshine romance for the ages. Noah Walker is the best kind of grump. He's a grumpy old man trapped in a hot body. Cute pajamas sets that will melt your heart included.
- When in Rome has some steamy moments, but you could be comfortable recommending this book to your family or coworkers.
- Anyone with an appreciation for Audrey Hepburn or black and white movies will love Amelia. She is quirky and unique without it being over the top and cringey.
- THERE IS NO ANNOYING THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!!!!!!

After finishing this book, I really hope to read more about the residents of Rome, Kentucky in the future, particularly the Walker Sisters. ***Fingers Crossed"**

⭐⭐⭐⭐ || what a perfect summer read! sunshine-meets-grumpy, small-town-romance, pop-star-meets-down-to-earth. the rom-com feels

this story follows amelia (rae rose) a pop star looking to escape her reality and gets a large dose of escape when her car breaks down in rome, KY in the yard of noah walker.

why did i love this book? for (what feels like the first time), the person at conflict is the guy and I LIVE FOR IT. we get grumpy noah's POV and it. is. delicious. and real. and perfect for this story.

this book also delivered the laughs. the one liners. the butterflies. the banter. THE BANTER. a rom-com that brings what everyone is looking for, yet stays original and true to it's storyline. loved it.

*many thanks to netgalley for the E-ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. I thought this book was cute! It follows pop-star Amelia and pie-shop owner Noah at a happenstance meeting. Both of them are uninterested in a relationship, but of course, we get lots of tension as they navigate their "relationship". I felt like it could have used some more spice between Amelia and Noah. Towards the middle of the book, I was just waiting for something else to happen as it felt very dragged out.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
This book was a catchy spin on a “I need a break, get out of town Luxury vibes” but make it local (thus using the name of lux town only). Told from two point of views, Amelia is a pop singer and needs a break from the Fame and her inner circle that don’t seem to notice that she is burnt out and ultimately just feels lonely. She has a love for Audrey Hepburn that she shared with her mom (whom she recently has lost a relationship with) and uses her movies to help her in moments of need for what to do. Enter “Roman Holiday” where Audrey plays a princess and escapes to Rome, Italy for similar reasons. So that is what Amelia decides to do, opting for a little more local, Rome, Kentucky. When she arrives she actually has car troubles and ends up breaking down in front of Noah’s house (our second point of view character), who also has some issues he is dealing with (baggage from his past). The bulk of the story goes back-and-forth between their interactions and the effects their past has on this current situation, all the while avoiding the instant chemistry and growing deep connection that they have for each other.

Who doesn’t love Audrey? It was trendy to be an Audrey Hepburn fan so at first I was a little nervous with a lot of those references and idolization by the main character Amelia…..but they were actually really sweet and thoughtful references about her life in general. It helped Amelia unite her with some of the other characters in the book that had not heard of Audrey before so I think that I was proved wrong with the novel referencing her so much following a trend.

The story was a take on the other side of being famous, showing that even though being famous wasn’t what she ultimately wanted, it just happened and I think that it’s always interesting and unfortunate sometimes to hear the other side where you can actually be pretty lonely and it’s a weird price to pay….. but I think there’s a lot to be said about how to handle that and making sure you don’t lose yourself and to speak up for yourself. I think that was a really important topic that was subtly placed into the book.

There were some weird moments of ego, and others that did not seem very believable or realistic but I think what I took away from the book was that these were two really good people who somehow in the past have gotten involved with people that took advantage of them and their kindness and it happening to two different people, one famous - one not, but it still bonded them. Ultimately, they are kind and giving people that want to do the right thing, and fate aligns them together which always makes for a nice read.

If you like a wholesome love story about new relationships and instant connections, this is the book for you. I also really appreciated that this didn’t draw out or hang onto the idea that can frustrate the reader by setting up dialogue where we are left feeling that if they would just talk to each other or if they would tell each other what’s going on everything will be OK! This book does not do that thankfully and has a good flow that makes you just naturally want to see what happens.

A modern take on Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn. What a cute romcom! A popstar meets small town, untrusting, grumpy pie maker (Noah). Rae Rose (stage name, real name Amelia) is everything you wouldn't expect from a worldwide sensation. She's down to earth, low maintenance, quirky & funny. The day she runs away from her duties - her life changes forever. I loved every bit of the banter between Amelia and Noah. Even better, the banter Noah's sister's brought to the book.

The best part? The plot twist. This book had me laughing and tearing up at the end. We all love a happy ending, right? Sarah Adam's did it again!

I always love a small town romance! This one definitely hit the mark! I loved Amelia and Noah together. I loved this book. It was such a fun entertaining book. I wanted them to end up together the whole time and loved everything about them together! I loved the sunshine city girl meets the grumpy country guy and his noisy sisters.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Rome is one of my favorite backdrops for any story, particularly a romantic one. This twist on Audrey Hepburn was pretty adorable, I must say! Also, like every book littered with book, show, and movie references these days (something I've seen utilized in a lot of fiction lately but ESPECIALLY romance, please watch Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck (classic!) beforehand or be okay with spoilers.

Amelia Rose is full of life, the sunshine, who meets Noah, our classic grump. Honestly, I didn't feel like they had much chemistry in the beginning. It had That small-town vibe and I would definitely recommend this book if you're missing Gilmore Girls or just something precious and touching. It was very funny with Hallmark movie vibes and honestly, I kind of wish I waited until fall to read this book (I can see why it's not being published until September!) because this is a perfect book to cozy up with with a hot drink.

This is actually my first of Sarah Adams and I am pleasantly surprised! Her other books look to be more summery so I guess in that sense, it worked out after all since I'm reviewing this in the midst of summer. This is definitely the start of my Sarah Adams collection!

3.75 stars.

rating: 3.5 (rounded up to a 4!)

i was a little nervous going into this book because while the cheat sheet was okay, it was definitely a little too cringey for my taste and i didn't really like the mc (bree? i think). but this mc? LOVE. the love interest? LOVE. i love grumpy/sunshine (esp when the grump has such a soft spot for his small town). and the mc not giving up her career or dream ??? ALSO LOVE.

i will say, i wish the amelia (the mc) would've gotten more book time to fix things with her mom. she mentioned how affected by the fallout of the friendship was and while you see a small phone call that reveals why they weren't as close anymore, you aren't given much for their closure. i just felt like that was rushed a little.

anyway, what a fun, cute read!!

thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the arc!

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.

see see when i was coming into this book, i was a little bit scared. like on a scared-o-meter, id rank probably somewhere near 6 out of 10. i was nervous because all of my friends who have read previous sarah adams books have not liked them. not one bit. i usually am one to come to my own conclusions but when that many people do not fuck with you.. it makes you just a tad bit wary.

however, all critiques and criticisms need to be put on PAUSE because we’re talking about when in rome, and i’m gonna take the most wild assumption and say this book is not like the rest. i personally have not read the author’s other books but my oh my did i eat this one up. i ate it so hard and so fast i’m buying the cheat sheet as we speak!

let me get to the review because i don’t wanna make this unnecessarily long.

when in rome was definitely a breath of fresh air compared to all the other books im currently reading right now. i finished this book and was thinking of bad small town guy, big city girl, forced proximity romances and couldn’t think of a single one (they probably do exist, i can’t deny there are objectively bad takes on these tropes together, i just haven’t read them/this isn’t one of them).

the lust between noah and amelia would’ve been completely annoying if they were written in any other way but because the tension between them is explained so carefully and thought out, it works. i spent a good part of this book genuinely worried that this would be a roman holiday situation; she’d have to leave him for the dream she wants to carry out. but i was 87% sure it wouldn’t based on two things: one, this is a romance novel. and two, the comfortability that was shared between amelia and noah in that short amount of time proved they’d be in love with each other for a long time. i don’t think they had insta love, they definitely had an insta connection tho. it’s totally why i can genuinely see them living it past the epilogue. there were no secrets between them in the small time they were together for, and i think that’s a plus considering who she is!

anyways, my ending thoughts are simple: i need annie and james neeeeed to have their book because i’m a visionary! I SEE A FUTURE WITH THE TWO OF THEM!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What can I say? Super cute read. Great for the beach! I got lost in the book and wanted to visit Rome, Kentucky! I love the small town with the cast of quirky characters.

Definitely worth a read! You won't be disappointed!

I was lucky enough to get a chance at reading this ARC and ohhh this was a good one!!! It’s what a romance novel should be, and knowing Sarah Adams never disappoints- I just knew I was going to love it ♥️ My favorite of hers has been The Off Limits Rule for a while now but this one might bump it.
The book is about pop star Rae Rose and the break she needs from stardom. When she gets stranded in Rome, Kentucky, she meets the no-nonsense Noah Walker- and so begins their story as well as all the best tropes (close proximity, tons of tension, grumpy/sunshine)! I loved their story as well as the tribute to Audrey Hepburn. This is the perfect read if you just want some feel-good romance in your life!

Sarah Adams is able to write the prettiest and cutest love stories that are both clean and nice! I love having a writer that I can read and know it will be appropriate.