Sarah Adams definitely does not disappoint when it comes to delivering a swoony and engaging romance. Her classic comedic style that pulls you in shines in her upcoming release, When in Rome, while also creating characters you can connect with and relate to. Noah is the kind of brooding hero with a heart of gold that makes you want to add him to your list of book boyfriends.
There was a surprising amount of foul language in this book, which isn't really my cup of tea, and I personally found it to be excessive and distracting from the story. As far as sexual content, this book probably still lands in the closed-door category, though it crosses the line more than any of her previous books. I'd say it takes you to the door and gives you a listen, but you still don't see anything graphic.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amelia “Rae Rose” is a music superstar about to embark on a 9 month worldwide tour. But lately she feels as if she’s drowning in a life that is no longer is own. After watching her favorite actress Audrey Hepburn in “Roman Holiday,” Amelia decides it’s time for her own Roman adventure. But Rome is pretty far from Nashville, so her closest escape? Rome, Kentucky. She sets out to escape, unplug, and finally make some decisions on her own. But her adventure quickly goes awry when her car breaks down in a very handsome pie shop owner’s yard.

Noah Walker has been burned before by someone just passing through. In fact, he asked her to marry him and ran off to New York with her, only to return home to Kentucky when everything fell apart. He’s not interested in starting something with someone whose life is so different from his own. But what Amelia and Noah both want and need may not be that different after all…

All the stars for this book! 🤩 Sarah Adams is now an auto-read author for me. 💯 I loved the meddling townspeople, Noah’s hard exterior but sweet heart, Noah’s nosy sisters, and Amelia and Noah’s playful banter. I also enjoyed the dual POVs and the slow burn between Noah and Amelia. Get ready for laughs and lots of swoon-worthy moments! 💖

I loved this Audrey Hepburn modern take on Roman Holiday. City girl/pop star meets country grump in a heartwarming slow-burn that left me thinking about these characters for days. The MCs are great but the side cast was absolutely adorable. Three cheers for Noah's family <3

Sarah Adams does it again! Her PG style romantic comedies are a breath of fresh air for anyone who misses early 2000s romcoms. The chemistry between Amelia and Noah was absolutely perfect! Throw in some noisy neighbors, a bunch of melding sisters with a dash of Audrey Hepburn references, and you have a swoon-worthy story that you devour in one sitting.

Okay, I absolutely adored this one and devoured it so quickly. We love a grumpy cinnamon roll with a sensitive side. The will-they-won't-they went on ever so long for me - but I ultimately loved the tension and the buildup. Just wish there was more steam (but I know that's not everyone's cup of tea to read or write).

I cannot wait for more in this series and this charming town - and hope we get Annie's love story soon!

"Everyone’s getting too damn people-ly lately and I’ve had enough of it. Sometimes a woman is just worn out and needs a break, you know?”

“That doesn’t prove that you’re weak or neglectful, it proves to all the women standing by and watching you pave the road to success that it’s okay to say no.. It’s okay to shut your door every now and then and put up a sign that says, Busy taking care of me today. Piss off.”

A small town romance, grumpy sunshine trope. I enjoy the witty banter our main characters have. I really like the way their relationship develops. Amelia and Noah's mature way of communicating is 5-star worthy for me. I slightly enjoyed the inner struggle they had in denying their feelings.

I love the closeness of every one in town and the way they gossip around it kept me laughing at times. It was a fun and easy read for me.

Available on September 20

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC

It took me a bit to get through this one. And at certain moments, I got a bit impatient for the story to move forward (read: I totally skipped around and read ahead). But I really like the setting of Rome, Kentucky and where the author is likely going with what I understand will be a series set in this cute town.

I think some of my negative feelings had to do with details the author is including to build the world and set things up for the rest of the series. And there are a number of series that I love whose opening book isn't my favorite (I think Lisa Kleypas, Ravenels, is a great example of this).

There were other things working against me here. First, I don't love stories about musicians/celebrities which is a total personal preference. But again, since nobody else seemed to even sing in the shower or anything, I might be in the clear going forward. Also, I've never seen the movie, Roman Holiday. And I wonder if seeing that first would have made me appreciate it a bit more.

So, while I can't say I loved it, I'm really optimistic for where things might be headed.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC.

Being in Rome, Kentucky made me feel like being back home in KY!
Kentucky Girl Here!!!!!! 💙😺

When in Rome was everything and then some!
Sarah Adams I swear she can't write anything bad! I'm seriously convinced of it!
She has a way with words that no one has.
It's sweet, funny, endearing, and heartfelt. I loved both of the characters.
You will laugh out loud, you're face will hurt from smiling so big and you will feel their feelings. Its amazing. The romance was superb. 
The story is well-written, engaging and delightful on all levels. The characters are realistic, funny and so very awesome you'll wish they were real.
This book is by far my favorite read of 2022.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Random House, Ballantine & Dell,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

🥞🥧💐When in Rome💐🥧🥞
By Sarah Adams (via #netgalley)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

What a super cute rom-com! I needed a little bit of a palette cleanser and I got this as an ARC - btw, thanks #netgalley! It was just what I needed - it was light and cute…and I adored it. If you like wholesome grumpy/sunshine romances, be sure to pick this one up - coming out September 2022!!

Pop star Amelia ‘Rae’ Rose decides to take an impromptu road trip to clear her mind and escape the pressures of fame. Her car, however, has other plans, and breaks down in the front yard of Noah Walker’s house. Noah is the epitome of Mr. Grumpy, but there’s more to him than just his surly attitude. Ever the gentleman, Noah opens his home to Amelia while her car is being fixed and Amelia begins to fall in love with the small quirky town of Rome, Kentucky. She knows that her stay is only temporary, and she has to return to reality sooner rather than later, but When in Rome…

#netgalley #netgalleyreview #bookstagram #books #read #readmore

This book stole my heart! It was so adorable and heartfelt! The connection between Amelia and Noah was incredible and it was such a good slow burn! The grumpy guy and sunshine girl is one of my favorite tropes! The small town feeling was written perfectly and who doesn’t love a man who can bake? I was truly rooting for them since the beginning and their story felt so natural. I have never read a Sarah Adams book but now I definitely need to read more! She does a great job creating characters that are so easy to love!

I love Sarah Adams, I love Roman Holiday, I love grumpy/sunshine trope so I think my expectations for this book were too high. This was a cute and quick summer read that I enjoyed a lot but was missing that little extra spark her books normally have for me.

If you’re looking for a sweet and funny romcom with some steam but low spice, you’ll really enjoy this book. Also recommend the rest of Sarah Adams’ books as well!

What an adorable rom com! Amelia Rose, or Rae Rose as she's known to her fans, is an international Grammy-winning pop sensation, but she is burnt out from the stress of preparing for her upcoming tour. She needs a break, and she clings onto the idea from her idol, Audrey Hepburn, in Roman Holiday, and takes off to the closest Rome she can find - Rome, Kentucky. In her haste to escape, she takes her 10 year old car, which ends up smoking late at night in front of the house of the handsome, but grumpy local pie-shop owner, Noah Walker. He agrees to let her stay the night until she can get her car towed in the morning.

In the morning, they find out it'll be two weeks until her car is towed, and the local BnB is supposedly booked solid, so Noah begrudgingly allows her to remain at his house. Noah, with a lack of wi-fi in his home and no cell phone, forces Amelia to take a step back and truly unwind. Amelia is amazed that this small town is able to welcome her as a person, and not just a pop star - finally feeling like she belongs somewhere for the first time in a very long time. But with her upcoming tour starting in a few weeks, will she be able to say goodbye to Rome (and Noah), like her idol, Audrey?

I flew threw this book, and laughed a lot ("homemade chastity blanket" being one of my favorite scenes 🤣)! The supporting characters were hilarious and lovable (mostly), and reminded me of some of my close friends and family with their outrageous and unashamed banter. You could feel the tension more heavily between our two leads in this slow burn romance, but it's still closed door, like Sarah's other books. Overall, a great choice for readers of this genre.

Tropes: Forced Proximity, Grumpy-Sunshine, Different Backgrounds

Thank you to Sarah Adams, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Dell for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest feedback. You can see my full review on The StoryGraph (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/14cbf560-d5ef-4afe-a93c-bcf7320cdd93) or Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4709030600?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) starting on June 3, 2022.

The book comes out September 20, 2022!

Thank you Random House and Net Galley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5)

Amelia, stage name Rae Rose, has been feeling a bit burned out from music and decides to go to Rome like her idol Audrey Hepburn. Only instead of a true Roman Holiday, she take her car and goes to the nearest Rome, Rome, Kentucky. Her car dies on the front steps of our male lead, Noah. Both carry their own set of traumas but as they spend more time together it becomes harder to avoid their chemistry and they are both forced to tackle their pasts.

I'm a huge romance novel fan and this book covered all the romance check boxes.

The plot follows pretty basic romance novel tropes, but what makes this book shine is the amazing character building. The interactions are wonderful and even the side characters are given a chance to shine and are fleshed out. Noah's sisters are funny and real. Emily was handled with dignity and her role helps move the book to a happy ending. As an oldest child, I often felt connected to her and it was lovely to see her fleshed out even if Emily is not part of the main romance.

The book alternates between the point of view of Amelia and Noah. Which at times can be confusing, even with chapter headings having their names. The voice was a bit too similar to distinguish at times. Other than that the book is a perfect romance getaway. Plot wise it was a comfort read, but the characterization and character interactions are golden making this a must read.

I absolutely loved The Cheat Sheet so I knew I had to read this book as well!
This book made me smile SO much! I absolutely adored the characters (minus Susan obvi) as well as the town. I saw some comparing it to Stars Hollow and I absolutely agree. This was such a sweet love story and I enjoyed every minute of it! Definitely recommend picking this one up when it comes out!

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the advanced readers copy!

Amelia is a popstar feeling suffocated by her fame. She decides to go to Rome like Audrey Hepburn but it's too far away so she settles for Rome, Kentucky. After a meet cute with the town's pie shop owner and the resident grump, Noah, they realize rather quickly that they are not only attracted to each other but actually like each other. Now they have to figure out how to blend small town life with big city fame.

This book was enjoyable but quite a bit more far fetched than I normally prefer. Amelia and Noah also have little chemistry in the front half of the book. It is a closed door romance. If that's your thing, give this one a try!

That was a lovely, feel-good read, and I highly recommend it. When Amelia “Rae Rose” the famous singer ends up breaking down in front of small-town pie maker Noah’s house, they can’t keep the chemistry away despite their earnest tries. Sweet romance with a touch of heat. Perfect summer read.

When In Rome by Sarah Adams

3.5/5 Stars
0/5 Spice

ARC Review - Publishing 9/20/22 - A very special thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for this ARC & review opportunity!

Is it on KU?: It will be when published - you can pre-order paperback now though!

Book Cover: Fun & Flirtatious

Favorite Quote: “The future is full of unknowns. We can’t try to figure them all out tonight. Let’s just savor the moments we have together right now.”

This book is stand alone.

I was so excited for this book! As soon as I read the description and saw the cover I knew it would be added to my TBR. Not to mention all the good things I’ve read about other Sarah Adams books.

In this sunshine meets the grump book you get to follow the lives of pop star Rae Rose & pie shop owner Noah Walker. This book is such a fun rom-com with such a slow burn romance that you’ll be shouting “get on with it already!” the entire time.

This book is a heart warming & modern take on Audrey Hepburn’s classic, Roman Holiday. When Rae takes a break from her rich and famous lifestyle to try and find her happiness again she ends up in Rome… Kentucky, and little does she know it is everything she’s ever needed. Noah ends up stuck with the responsibility of hosting Rae when she ends up stranded in his front yard. The two have such an intense connection from the start that the entire, nosey, drama filled town can’t help but encourage the 2 of them to be together romantically.

I can’t tell you the amount of times I laughed during this book or how many times I smiled as I watched both Rae & Noah overcome their fears and life challenges. However, I wish I was able to get into this book faster than I did, I love to be hooked from the very beginning and this book did not give that to me.
Once I was about halfway through I really started to enjoy the storyline & didn’t want to stop reading.

You can find my videos/reviews at the different links below:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdGqyRP5/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/150848579-krista-diaz

Amazon Reviews I've done:
Praise by Sara Cate
More Than A Story by Jenni Bara
Id also like to review this book on amazon but the reviews are not yet allowed.

PUBLISHER DESCRIPTION:

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.

When In Rome by Sarah Adams
320 Pages
Genre: Rom Com/ Romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Pub Date : 9/20/2022

Amelia Rose aka Rae Rose famous singer is starting to realize how burnt out she is. So she takes a note from her favorite movie Roman Holiday and takes off in the middle of the night to Rome…Rome, Kentucky. She ends up breaking down on local Noah Walkers front yard. Noah makes it known he has no time for some big time city girl, but still lets her stay with him while her car gets fixed.

Noah is the perfect small town guy who is obsessed with his family, runs his grandmothers pie shop and loves everything classic. How could they not fall for each other even though they know it could never work.

This was such a great read. This is my first Sarah Adams book and it will not be my last. She has such great and witty writing. You fall in love with not only the main characters but all the characters in the small town.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Hallmark movies, Audrey Hepburn, Gilmore Girls and small town stories.

Thank you Netgalley, Sarah Adams and Randomhouse for the arc for an honest review.

Rae Rose is on a mission to take a much needed self care trip. Following her idol's lead, she ends up in Rome, but not in Italy. With a new tour looming she hops into her car and ends up broken down in Noah Walkers front yard in Rome Kentucky.

Noah is suspicious of letting his heart vulnerable to anyone outside of his small town due to pass heartbreak from a relationship and loss of his parents.

Amelia "Rae" tries to blend and make the most of her vacation. The last thing she is looking for is a relationship but finds it hard to avoid the luring pie shop owner.

I could not put this down. Well written and heartwarming.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for the ARC

I really wanted to love this, but at the end just felt like it was only okay. The concept was cute - Rae (Amelia) Rose is a pop star in need of a break and inspired by Roman Holiday, books a trip to Rome, Kentucky. Her car breaks down in the front yard of grumpy Noah and well I am sure you can figure out where this is all going.

I was drawn in by the cover and the famous person/non-famous person trope.

But, I felt like their attraction and falling in love felt really rushed and not believable. Weirdly, this felt too long and yet rushed all at the same time.