In this grumpy/sunshine story, Amelia, better known as Rae Rose, the "princess of pop," and her complete opposite, Noah Walker, find themselves spending time together. After Amelia takes off on her own twist of Audrey Hepburn's film, Roman Holiday, she winds up in Noah's tiny hometown of Rome, Kentucky. Her car literally broke down in his front yard.

With his battered heart and quiet lifestyle, Noah struggles with his feelings toward the goofy and endearing, not at all a diva, Amelia. Amelia is falling for Noah, but she knows how the movie ends. She will have to return to her pop star life and head out on a 9-month international tour once her quick getaway ends.

This book was a delightful and quick weekend read. I enjoyed the main characters and absolutely fell in love with all the citizens of the small town of Rome, Kentucky. The entire cast was endearing, and the town perfectly captured the epitome of small-town life. Amelia's character tugged at the heartstrings. She was famous yet still humble. She was searching to find her way back from "Rae Rose" to Amelia, the girl she used to be. She wanted to rediscover herself and begin to love music again. I loved how her character finds her voice and changes throughout the story. I enjoyed watching Amelia and Noah's romance develop. With his broken heart and family loyalty, grumpy Noah also showed significant character growth throughout the story. This slow-burn, opposites-attract love story was fun to read. The story flowed well from start to finish, and the ending was perfect. This is an excellent choice if you love a feel-good, down-to-earth romance!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I only recently started to read Sarah Adam's novels and let me tell you, I quickly read many of her books in a row. When I found out that NetGalley gave me a copy of this new novel I dropped everything on my TBR and picked up this book straight away. I always love a cute rom-com and this book fits in that genre perfectly. I have been obsessed with small town trope books lately and this one showed small town life perfectly. I couldn't have imagined a better read for this weekend. I will definitely pick up this book again!

Such a cute, sweet, and easy read! I’ve enjoyed other books from Sarah Adams and the cover was so fun, I knew it would be a winner. Very easy to read and the characters are all very fun and likable. However I felt like there was too much extraneous information and parts of the book that could have been left out. It dragged on a little in the beginning and I wanted it to speed up a little. I loved the bantering between the two main characters and laughed out loud a couple of times. I recommend this if you are looking for a feel-good, closes door romance based in a small town with a hallmark feel!

Spice 🌶/5 not very spicy, more of a sweet romance!
Language 🤐/5 I don’t remember reading any foul language outside of words like d*mn

This is one of my favorite authors, and this book was so nice to read. Small Town, grumpy man and sunshine girl, and witty banter. The book had so many layers, and emotionally, you start to feel for each character. I want books for each of the sisters, and I want to know all about the side characters in the small town! Sweet story, closed door romance with lots of sizzle :)

Ahhh! I was super excited going into this one because I absolutely adored The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams. And let me say, this one did not disappoint!
This one is about Amelia, who is an international pop star who needs a break from her busy life. She ends up in Rome, Kentucky and to her surprise meets Noah, a very attractive pie shop owner. But not only does she fall for Noah, she also falls for the small town of Rome.
I loved Noah, he was the perfect grumpy hero with a heart of gold. I also loved his sisters and their family dynamic.
Was this the most original rom com I've read? No. Did I love it anyways? Yes I most certainly did. The best way I am able to describe this book, is a warm hug. I felt so cozy and happy reading this one.

- Acquaintances to lovers
- Small town setting
- Grumpy & sunshine

This book was exactly what I hoped it would be! Amelia and Noah are both adorable characters. Who can resist the adorable meet and the slow burn of the growing romance? Cute plot and witty banter made the story fun. The small town friends and neighbors help create the perfect setting. Heavy emphasis on Audrey Hepburn and "Roman Holiday" but I am not complaining.
Pretty tame on the spice factor (2/5).

Definitely interested in reading more from Sarah Adams!

When is Rome is a wonderful contemporary romance, with great characters and such a fun premise. Rae Rose, real name Amelia, is a pop star who needs a break. She "runs away" to the small town of Rome, KY only to end up stuck there with car trouble, reliant on local pie shop owner Noah Walker. Noah is bruised and hurt from a past relationship gone wrong, so swears he will not fall for Amelia, but the connection between the two of them is instant and undeniable.

I loved the sunshine / grumpy trope playing out between Amelia and Noah. The book is dual POV, so the reader gets to see inside both character's heads, which is always fun because it feels like you are in on a secret that the main characters don't know yet.

The slow-building romance is tension filled in the best way possible. The steam is closed-door and non-graphic, yet it satisfies. Sarah Adams' writing of how the characters fall for one another and why they're attracted to each other is delicious.

Noah's family (sisters, and feisty grandmother Mabel) add a lot to the book and help round out both characters. I loved the way the sisters banter with Noah, and quickly accept Amelia into their orbit.

Without any spoilers, I can say there is a happily ever after, but it takes some twists and turns to get there. When in Rome is the first book I've read by this author, and now I'm frantically added all of her previous works to my TBR! Do not miss this one when it releases this fall!

This is such a beautiful romcom by an incredible author!! LOL worthy and relatable characters in a vivid setting. Full review linked.

Sarah Adams, you’ve done it again. I absolutely loved this book. I caught myself smiling at my kindle on more than one occasion. This book gave me everything I love, romance, comedy, and a small-town. I really enjoyed the dual POV of Noah and Amelia. Although, I do wish there was an epilogue.. I found myself left with unanswered questions and hopeful for a sequel? 😉

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read When in Rome.

When pop star Amelia “Rae” Rose is overwhelmed and overworked she decides to make like her heroin Audrey Hepburn does in Roman Holiday and take a trip away from it all. Unable to fly to Rome, Italy she finds the closes “Rome” on the map and sets out driving. When her car breaks down on the outskirts of town will her “Roman Holiday” be derailed or will her dreams of a break from reality come true?

This book was okay and that’s about the best I can give it. I mean in what world does an old lady running a B&B refuse a customer and encourage her to stay with a strange man no matter how much she loves said man. The insta love, and cutesy nicknames did nothing for me. The character development was weak and honestly the twist at the end was just meh. I see that some people loved it but it just was not an engaging read for me

I loved, loved this book! I have enjoyed Sara Adams' previous titles and this did not disappoint! I liked Luke and Amelia's chemistry and thought the story progressed at a good pace while keeping me wanting more. Would recommend it if you're looking for a heartwarming romance!

Sarah Adams does it again!

The characters and chemistry are amazing. You could feel the tension on each page between Noah and Amelia, and the storyline flowed so well.

As an avid Sarah Adams reader, I was ecstatic to hear about her new book coming out. I was NOT disappointed!

Aww, this is my favorite romance I have read all year so far! An easy five stars! The main characters were fantastic and the chemistry was on point! Everything about this book was absolutely wonderful and enjoyable! I cannot wait to read another book by this same author. Everyone should read this book!!

As with all of Sara Adams’s books, When In Rome was adorable. I love reading dual POV books and I felt like it really added to the story here. Amelia is a fun character and I enjoyed the changes and strength she gained throughout the book. Can’t wait for the next Adams book.

I'm obsessed. I'm in love. I'm in awe 😍

First, I've been following Sarah since she released her first (non-hisorical) book and to see her book(s) now with a traditional publisher is amazing and honestly, so well deserved.

As I've had the pleasure of previosuly reading all of Adam's books, I can say with the upmost confidence that this is hands down the best book she has written and dare I say the best of 2022 thus far 😏

I'm a massive Hepburn fan myself and when I saw that this was a Hepburn inspired novel, I just knew I had to read it.

IT FREAKING DELIVERED. 🙌

I have never read something so fast in my entire life. I'm STILL thinking about WHEN IN ROME and it's fascinating characters. I'm not entirely sure I can accurately convey how much you need to read this book and how perfect it is.

There is the swooniest, grump of a man and I think I'm in love with him. Amelia was so down to earth despite being a pop sensation. I might be in love with her too. 😂

The pancakes. The reading. The pajamas. The everything. 😭

Everything about this book is absolute perfection. I'm so sad I will never been able to read it for the first time again but I know I'll love it just as much the second, sixth, or hundredth time I read it.

Also, can we talk about this cover? 😍😍😍😍

If you haven't yet, you can preorder now. If there is only one book you read this year, let it be this one.

I love all of her books so much this one is super funny, love the banter, love the town, and love the southernish vibe you get I would definitely read it again

With Sarah Adams’ “The Cheat Sheet” being one of my favorite romances, I was fully expecting to love this one just as much — but sadly, “When in Rome” did not give me the same butterflies :/

Lately I’ve been interested in the dynamic between a celebrity figure and a small-town person, and that was definitely the best factor regarding Noah and Amelia. However, the story failed to build those separate lives in an incremental way, and instead felt very rushed/insta-lovey to the point where I couldn’t focus on the otherwise adorable romance. If some of the moments between Noah and Amelia had been rearranged to precede their first kiss, I think I would have believed and enjoyed their chemistry a bit more throughout!

Very disappointed that this wasn’t the romance for me, but I will still be looking forward to Sarah Adams’ future releases! Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Adams, and Dell Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

Sarah Adams has done it again! I don’t think there is a book of hers I haven’t loved.

When In Rome had everything you could ever want in a romance: opposites attract, grumpy male character, and a small town romance between a stranded pop star and local pie shop owner.

Noah and Amelia’s chemistry is off the charts, but their emotional connection and vulnerability is everything !! The banter and witty comebacks were fun to read and left you waiting for the moment when these two finally admitted their feelings to each other.

The small town environment made this book feel like you’re watching a Hallmark movie. I personally love small towns where everyone knows exactly what’s going on and it was so fun to read the town interactions.

A slow burn with a swooning male lead, I highly recommend you add this to your tbr and pre order list!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When in Rome by Sarah Adams-ARC review

From the first sentence and several sentences after that, I felt a connection to Amelia. That is, until I found she was an international superstar and all similarities ended there 🤣

When is Rome is such a cute, heartfelt rom-com. I loved every minute of reading it. Amelia is a fun, spunky, sunshine character struggling with the isolation of being famous. Her love for Audrey Hepburn has her following in her footsteps and running off to Rome. Rome, Tennessee that is. It’s the only Rome within driving distance that she has time for before her big world tour. There she is able to find herself again, and maybe even find a little romance too. Amelia is perfection and I loved all the side characters as well. Adams did an amazing job at the small town vibes.

Content warning: language, fade to black romance (PG-13)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is a great rom-com and I loved every second of it. The banter is so fun and cute. It’s a great opposites attract story.