Member Reviews
Okay I'm not gonna lie, I've been in a reading slump for a few days. That's when I remembered that I have the arc for this book. I love Sarah Adams and I didn't know if this book would top her other popular book 'The Cheat Sheet'. I would say after finishing this book, I love them both equally. This book definitely helped me get out of my reading slump. I love a good old celebrity romance plus it was grumpy/sunshine and a small town romance. I loved the characters (Mabel was by far my favorite character) , the relationship between all the different characters, and the plot. Definitely 5/5, I can't wait till it's published for everyone to read.
I’m obsessed with this book!! I was hooked the first couple of pages in and read it in one day.
The story follows the main character -famous pop star- Rae Rose (Amelia). Cracking under pressure and needing a break before her upcoming tour, she (inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday) flees to Rome, Kentucky. On her journey, her car breaks down in front of Noah Walker’s yard.
I fell in love with the characters Amelia and Noah. The characters have a great connection and amazing banter in the room. This book had me smiling and giggling through its entirety. Noah Walker is my new book BF.
When in Rome is addictive and as sweet as powdered sugar. I give it 5 stars! It is a MUST read!
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review published on Goodreads and StoryGraph
There were many things I loved about this book. I enjoyed all the Audrey Hepburn references. I liked how he only had sisters and could understand their quirky language. And I loved the Walker sisters. I really hope we get more books about them because they were so entertaining. All in all a great rom com read.
Such an addictive closed-door romance! I could not get enough of Amelia and Noah and ask the romantic tension between them!
I loved the Pop Star meets small town nobody trope going on, I feel like a lot of people have that fantasy. The depth of emotions this book has was perfect! I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to hug and comfort most of the characters at one point in this book.
Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Adams and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*ARC received through Netgalley,and the following is my honest review*
•Before I read When in Rome by Sarah Adams, I was imagining cute vacation vibes off the coast of Europe. However, I now think Rome, Kentucky was a much better choice. Amelia and Noah are the perfect match. One thing I loved about this book was the character development. On one hand, we had Amelia who started off naive letting a lot of peoples opinions control her. Then, we had Noah who was the perfect grumpy sunshine guarding his heart. As the story progressed I really enjoyed seeing the development of not only their feelings, but their character. The second thing I really enjoyed about this book was the aspect of community. From his sisters, Amelias mom, to the entire town, I loved it. Overall this was a really fast read for me and I enjoyed the characters and the story.
•The only thing I wanted more of was the epilogue. Simply, because I’d become attached to Amelia and Noah’s story
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When in Rome is a fun romance that reminds me of a Hallmark movie. Amelia "Rae" Rose is a pop star who escapes to Rome (Rome Kentucky) when life becomes too overwhelming. She meets Noah, a hometown boy who owns a pie shop. They fall for each other and have to decide if they can make it work when they're from two separate worlds.
This is a cute book. I appreciated how the author managed to make it somewhat believable that the character would stay in the guest room of a man she barely met. I also enjoyed how she depicted the townspeople as kind and caring, and didn't fall too deep into stereotyping them as hicks. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, from the controlling manager to Noah's sisters. Ultimately, while a little predictable, I found this book a fun, quick read.
Popstar Rae Rose is heading out on a world tour for months, but having no relationship with her mother since reaching fame and suffocating from her lifestyle, she packs up her old car and heads for a vacation. In Rome, Kentucky, the closest Rome she can find.
After her car stalls out in front of grumpy resident, Noah, who suprisingly owns a Pie Shop, Rae aka Amelia, sparks fly shortly thereafter.
I loved the characters and the whole town of Rome and the protectivess of the townsfolk for Noah and for Amelia. It was a sweet read I really enjoyed.
I adored this one so much! The small town vibes were on point. The characters were likeable, adorable and engaging. Cannot wait for more by Sarah!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This one covered a lot of tropes: sunshine/grumpy, small town romance, close proximity, famous/normal person. I thought it was very sweet. Amelia and Noah were adorable together and their slow burn was fun to follow. I also loved all the people in the town and Noah's sisters! A solid 3.75 stars rounded up to 4 from me!! #wheninrome #netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This was a cute, fun, rom-com with good tension and banter between the main characters. Amelia wants a moment of normalcy and well, Noah just wants to be left alone until he can’t deny the way he is feeling towards Amelia. The sweet, small time vibes were all there and the pacing was well done to keep me engaged. I wanted a little more info on his baking and her singing, but the story was still enjoyable and solid 4 star-read for me.
This book was just ok. I found Amelia to be really immature. She’s supposed to be 28, but it felt like she was maybe 18. I liked Noah. He saved the book for me. A grumpy moody guy is always my favorite. One thing that surprised me in this book was the language. I’ve read several books by Sarah Adams and they had very mild language. This book was filled with bad language. Personally I felt it could have been left out as I don’t think it goes with the character’s personalities. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and for wanting my honest opinion.
This book in 3 words: Happy. Personable. Darling.
Amelia, pop princess, heads to Rome, Kentucky (because Italy isn't doable with her timeline). She's desperate for a break, but the first thing to break down is her car... in Noah's driveway. Noah has a strong aversion to all things city and pop culture... LET THE FUN BEGIN!
Lots of tropes in this one but here are my favorites: close proximity, sunshine/grumpy, small town romance. I didn't know how much I enjoyed sunshine/grump until recent books but this one really solidifies the deal. Great tropes, wonderful characters (with the best details to enrich them), a plot that isn't overly predictable - satisfaction all around!
This story reminded me of my favorite blanket... just the feeling of snuggling up and being content.
Not very spicy but a nice, solid, slow burn. My first by Sarah Adams and definitely not the last. Can't wait to read more by this author.
This book is just the cutest! Sarah Adams knows exactly how to suck me in and make me swoon. By the end of this book, I was ready to pack up and move to Rome, Kentucky.
Read this book if you love:
🥧 a grumpy/sunshine love story
🥧 a celebrity needing a break
🥧 small town romance
🥧 hilarious side characters
🥧 fade to black steam
Amelia and Noah were absolutely adorable. I loved their meet cute- it was so funny! I loved seeing both of them lower their walls and figure out what they truly deserve in their lives!
This book is out on September 20th. My copy is already pre-ordered. Make sure you grabs yours too!
Having just read a string of small town romance novels, I was a bit concerned that When in Rome would blend in with everything else and be just more of the same... But I couldn't summon the willpower to wait to read this one. Luckily, Sarah Adams's book is fresh, fun, and populated with lovely characters you want to cheer for from page one. Rae Rose and Noah Walker are characters we've seen before, as is the scenario-- but Adams manages, mostly through clever dialogue, to craft a story that is charming and thoroughly enjoyable. It's the kind of feel good story that you can read over a weekend, and I think it would make for a great rom com film adaptation.
I truly loved this book. A sweet and swoony closed door (with a crack in it) romance book. It’s such a fun book set in a small town with a grumpy pie shop owner and a famous singer. I cant wait toy get my hands on a physical copy when it comes out I DEFINITELY recommend.
*I will be posting on my Instagram, tiktok, and Amazon one month prior to release dafe*
Book received for free through NetGalley
An absolutely adorable and lovely book. So hard to put down as the characters grabbed me from the very starts. Simply awesome!
This book was so darn lovable and adorable!! What was there not to love about it?? Small town. Forced proximity. Strangers-to-lovers. Sunshine vs grumpy. The banter was spot on and the spice was clever and just enough to make you fan yourself but not enough to be embarrassed if your coworkers suddenly eavesdropped!
Definitely a great summer read!
Hold on to your cookies! Big pop star meets small town hunk . Complete opposites find romance and pancakes. This was a fast paced , funny, and pleasurable read. The well developed characters are wholesome and quirky. This is my first Sarah Adams book, yet it will not be my last! Keep the sizzle coming! I am extremely grateful to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to receive this ARC. This honest, voluntary review is expressly my own.
Sarah Adams is back with another hilarious, cute, romantic, and heartwarming story that is my new absolute favorite from her. I think it’s her best writing/story yet because of how she manages to write a cute love story that also has emotion and realistic aspects.
Amelia, aka pop star Rae Rose, is on her way to a last minute vacation when her car breaks down. She ends up on a stranger’s lawn and is terrified when they tap on her window. The lawn owner turns out to be a grumpy pie shop owning, book reading, pancake perfectionist named Noah Walker who is about to change her whole life in a short amount of time.
Amelia is extremely burnt out with her career and looking to relax in Rome… not Rome, Italy though, Rome, Kentucky. Her broken car leaves her stranded for two weeks and in that two weeks she learns about small town living from everyone who resides there. She learns more about herself that she has been ignoring and also develops feelings for someone she never expected.
I fell more and more in love with Noah with every chapter I read. What I thought was going to be a typical grumpy small town recluse turned out to be a still grumpy guy who loves to hang out with his three sisters, bake desserts for a living he doesn’t even like to honor family members, say hi to everyone in town, and read books. He has been hurt in the past and we see how it affects his decisions with Amelia. What I loved most about him was how he made Amelia finally feel seen/heard, but also like a normal person.
This book felt slow burn because of all the angst/tension between Amelia and Noah due to their forced proximity, but it only takes place over a couple of weeks while Amelia is waiting for her car repairs. So much happens in the span of two weeks and it just goes to show how when you know, you know.
Sarah always writes funny, quirky heroines and heros that turn out to be ideal book boyfriends. This book especially became a favorite because she added some more emotion/depth to the plot that made it more than a fluffy romance (which I’d love all the same regardless.) I really enjoyed reading this story and excited for more releases from her.
Tropes: small town romance, forced proximity, vacation romance, celebrity heroine, baker hero, meddling sisters/friends, grump/sunshine
This was such a cheeky, fun, and adorable read! It started off as a slow burn and continued to grow and I couldn't get enough. When in Rome is a grumpy/sunshine, forced-proximity, small-town love story you definitely won't want to miss out on. Amelia and Noah's chemistry had me at the edge of my seat, and their banter had me giggling out loud. I loved Adams' humor throughout the novel. It made my nerdy heart swell! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am so thankful to have had the chance at an ARC and early review.