When in Rome was such a cute romance read! If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine, celeb/normal person, and reluctant love tropes — you will love this!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

"The door shuts behind me and I stand in the silence feeling acute loneliness for the first time in my life. I used to revel in this quiet. Crave it. Now all I crave is her."

<i>When in Rome</i> by Sarah Adams is a sweet, closed-door romance with a super fun grumpy/sunshine trope. I would rate this 3.75 stars.

What I liked most about this book was how real Amelia and Noah felt to me. They had solid reasons behind the way they were, which made their emotions and responses feel relatable and authentic. I really enjoyed Noah's sisters, and I hope this book turns into a series where we get their stories because each of them was darling.

I've read pretty much everything Sarah has written, and thoroughly enjoyed all of them. And this one was no different. I enjoyed the story and had no problems getting through the book. I was a disappointed with how much swearing was in this book, as that is a shift from her previous novels. Language in books isn't my favorite, but normally I can ignore it. In this book, the swearing stood out almost every time and pulled me out of the story. It didn't really seem to fit with the characters and their personalities, though this opinion is probably biased on my part.

Overall, <i>When in Rome</i> was sweet and fun. The tension between Amelia and Noah was absolutely fantastic throughout the book, and some of the moments were swoon-worthy to say the least. As far as slow burn romances go, this one hit a lot of the right notes for me. Also, be careful when reading this as you might start spontaneously craving pie. :)

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the complimentary eARC of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sarah Adams delivers on the swoony romance, as always. She writes such relatable characters and the trip to Rome was a treat. Thank you NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Very sweet read, though predictable. Perfect if you just want something light-hearted and fluffy to read. Noah and Amelia's relationship was very cute!

Content: PG-13, closed door

3.5

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine Dell for the advanced copy of When in Rome.

Amelia is a famous singer who feels lost and disconnected from her passions. Inspired by Roman Holiday, she takes off in search of Rome and the break she desperately needs. She finds herself in Rome, Kentucky in a front yard with a broken down commuter car and a grumpy, intriguing man. Amelia discovers keys to her happiness and drivers of her unhappiness in this sweet, closed door, grumpy/sunshine story.

Sarah Adams write such fun and irreverent stories. She taps into what makes people tick and pulls that out into thoughtful, interesting tales.

The premise was super fun and the typical hallmarks of a Sarah Adams book were all there, chemistry, banter, kindness, and a slow burn steam that while isn’t explicit is still present.

I loved Noah and Amelia separately and together. The characters felt like real people and Noah’s sisters were great additions to the setting and cast. I loved Ms. Mabel and her meddlesome tendency. I hope there are more stories with James, Emily, Madison and Annie!

The storyline with Noah’s grandma was sweet but it fell a little flat for me. I also thought the conflict with Susan was resolved too quickly and without as much airtime as it took up in the rest of the story.

I recommend this if you enjoy funny banter, chemistry that will burn you and loving characters, who are creatively and thoughtfully developed.

It was a very super quick and fun romcom with quite adorable people as main characters. I definitely see myself reaching out to read it again.

Book: When in Rome

Author: @authorsarahadams 💫

Release date: September 20, 2022

GOOD THINGS CHECKLIST:

✔️ dough-kneading arms 💪 & apparently the rest of him ain't too shabby either 👀

✔️ big city girl × small town boy (man's got a LANDLINE)

✔️ ALL the music references

✔️ a man that knows his way around a kitchen AND a woman (& a woman that is so bad in the kitchen she causes multiple fires)

✔️ speaking of fires... 🔥 we get a lil spicy action AND a legitimate friendship/romantic connection... *cue Hannah Montana 'Best of Both Worlds'*

✔️ honestly they actually communicated pretty well?? RESPECT.

✔️ forced proximity (but kinda not forced because this man was raised to be a gentleman & wouldn't leave a damsel in distress *who just so happens to be a beautiful, famous, talented singer/songwriter* stranded)

✔️ SMALL TOWN CHARM - newsflash y'all.... it aint in Italy 🤌

Overall, I'm SO glad I had a chance to read this book & that it was my FIRST Sarah Adams book! definitely recommend getting this bad boy on your TBRs, wishlists, and into your hands when it's released!

thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the advanced e-book copy! 🧡

This book was such a sweet, joyful breath of fresh air! I *loved* the small town, Stars Hollow vibes, and that the town came with so many quirky and lovable side characters. Mabel?? The perfect meddling grandma. Noah's sisters?? The sweetest people, who were so funny with each other and so intentional with Amelia.

I really loved Amelia! I appreciated that her story didn't revolve around the fact that she was a pop star in a small town who needed a personality makeover; she wasn't spoiled or bratty. She was kind, loyal, and genuinely just looking for a community that welcomed her. I felt her struggles in my HEART. The scene where they're having dinner at James's house and Amelia says, "I still can't believe I'm here with these people. These people who like me enough to poke fun at me. To acknowledge when I'm bad at something. To let me fail and enjoy the hell out of it over and over again." I could've cried reading that because it hit me in my own heart. It was important to hear Amelia process both her feelings of loneliness and her joy over finding a family.

The only things I would change are two personal preferences. I would have liked their relationship to start with less obvious attraction and let it build over time, rather than something so immediate. And I would have liked just a teeny bit more spice (I loved what was there), if only to get a payoff for all the tension built up between Noah and Amelia. (Speaking of which, the tension was literally perfect. I absolutely love when a book gives me butterflies, and this did so over and over again!)

Thank you for the digital ARC! Please, please keep writing the stories of people in this town - I would LOVE to read more about Noah's sisters and their own love stories.

If you like grumpy sunshine trope, forced proximity, and/or small town romance then this book may be for you. I didn’t hate this book but I also wouldn’t read it again. Overall, it was an okay romance based in a small town. You’ve got Amelia who is a celebrity and finds herself stranded in Rome, Kentucky. She meets Noah who is a grumpy pie shop owner who has past trauma and relationship hurts that keep him from opening up to Amelia. For me, I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two characters so it felt forced. I finally started enjoying the book around the 70% completion but overall I wasn’t sold on it. I was just wanting more depth to both the characters and the plot.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and the author for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

Yes, @authorsarahadams has done it again! She is the queen 👑 of sweet RomComs. Each and every one of her books are some of my all time favorites, but this one is her best yet.

What I loved:
- it was such a completely romantic and swoony love story. I loved how Amelia and Noah met, how their friendship grew, and how they both took the risk with each other
- the characters. I loved all of them! They welcomed Amelia into their circle and created a family
- my heart ached thinking of how this could end, but it all worked out and just gave me the biggest smile
- and of course, great laugh out loud moments

What I didn't like:
- nothing!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Romance: kisses, make outs, fade-to-black scenes

Thank you to Sarah Adams and @netgalley for this gifted e-arc. All thoughts & opinions are my own

I’m literally over here in tears! 😭 This book was perfect. I absolutely fell in love with Noah and Amelia. 100% 5 stars!!!

This book was just delicious! so entertaining and filled with romance. The trope was absolutely lovely, the whole grumpy-sunshine thing.
Sarah is a genius and this is easily my new favorite read of hers. I was so focused and devouring every single detail wow.
Also the Audrey Hepburn mention absolutely made my dayyyy!!!!! loveee it

also thank you so much Netgalley and Random House publishing for my copy!!!

This book was pretty cute read! It gives off a small-town Hallmark movie vibes and was a nice break from some of the darker or more intense books that I normally read. Also loved the "Roman Holiday"/ Audrey Hepbern references throughout the book. I felt that they added so much to the story. Would definitely recommend for anybody looking for a cute, funny romance.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect feelgood small town romcom, I loved it! I feel like this would be perfect as a movie

The singer Rae Rose decides to take a vacation in small town Rome , Kentucky. Once she’s there her car breaks down - right in front of Noah’s house. Oh no! Luckily he invites her to stay there over the weekend while the car gets fixed nearby

This book was so hard to put down, I loved every second of it! There were many moments when I found myself smiling from ear to ear while reading, even laughing out loud at times. I loved them together and as individuals, but also getting to know the town it was set in and everybody that lived there! An extra shoutout to Noah tho, one of my new favorite book boyfriends<3

Something I love about this book is the communication, they dont only have have great banter but they also know how to communicate and explain their feelings through problems that occur which felt refreshing to see. It also felt like just the right amount of drama to put in there!

If you like these things you will like this book;
- Grumpy/sunshine
- Small town romanve
- City girl meets small town boy
- Dual pov

I have heard so many good things about Sarah Adams books before and this was my first by her but definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the ARC!

Oh, what a fun book! With wonderfully delightful, lovable characters. I loved it and did not want it to end.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Loved it, very nice story.

When in Rome was a light fun summer read. Fairly predictable, but the characters were well formed enough that I enjoyed following their story nonetheless.

Sarah Adams does it again! I absolutely loved this book. No unnecessary drama with a nice romance storyline. Effortlessly pulls off closed door romance. Could not put the book down!

This is a great story and a good vacation read

This was such a fun story! I went in completely blind (I liked the cover) and couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. I loved the characters, they were so unique and quirky but also familiar and loveable. The side characters in this book were also perfect. Noah's three younger sisters and his friend James were my favorite of them.

The Roman Holiday references were such a fun twist! This was my first Sarah Adams book and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Adams has done it again! Although this is her steamiest book yet (closed door/fade to black) and more language than her others, I still ended up loving this one. Sarah has this magic in her writing that just pulls you into the story and spits you out a happier human being.
I might not be as obsessed as Amelia is, but I am a total fan of all things Audrey Hepburn and her movies. (I’ve been lucky enough to literally be go to all the places she does in Roman Holiday and I absolutely LOVE Rome!) That, plus all her other fun quirks made me love Amelia so much. She made the story so much fun because you are able to see “normal life” in a totally new way.
And where do I even begin to describe Mr. Grumpy, the one and only Lover Boy, Noah! He’s the total definition of a sour patch kid, first he’s sour, then he’s sweet and I am. here. for. it! I love how old-fashioned he is and all of his characteristics just enhanced the story.
This is a fun RomCom for anyone looking to escape to a small town with celebrity vibes and banter that will make you chuckle and swoon.
Now excuse me while I go play Scrabble.