Adams does it again! Made another fun, hilarious read with such likable characters and town — I didn’t want to leave it! I’m already ready to re-read it after finishing it less than a week ago! I think Adams has definitely found her groove with her own voice and I’m loving it. I have no doubt she’ll be leading the contemporary rom com scene soon enough!

Content warnings: drinking, crude language, and some semi-graphic sexual scenes mostly still considered closed-door

** Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

I loved this book! One of the better romcoms I’ve read this year- it was sweet and incredibly well paced, and I loved the characters. I wish there was a sequel! Well developed super realistic characters, anyone that’s lived in a small town knows a Harriet.

This book was exactly what I needed. A sweet small-town meets big city romance. I was completely captivated by Amelia and Noah. I want to move to this town, live in Noah’s pie shop, and have conversations with Mabel all day. Seriously such a feel good story that I could read over and over again.

When in Rome by Sarah Adams
Publication Date: 9/20/22
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

★★★★★

I LOVED this book. Sarah Adams has a magical talent of making you fall completely in love with her characters and ensuring that you are 100% completely invested in what happens to them. Her writing makes me laugh out loud while simultaneously squeezing my heart into smithereens.

When in Rome tells the story of Amelia, a famous singer who has lost the passion she once had for her dreams, and Noah, a small-town pie shop owner who isn’t interested in giving the time of day to anyone - let alone a woman from out of town. When Amelia ends up in Noah’s front yard needing help, his old-fashioned manners force him out of his comfort zone and into Amelia’s world.

Noah and Amelia’s complete and total annihilation of the grumpy-sunshine trope coupled with the dual point-of-view narration that let me see inside Noah’s hard exterior was *chef’s kiss*. There is nearly nothing better than finding out the soft and tender secrets of a rough and tough man. Each character had the perfect amount of backstory to keep up the pace of the book but also made them so relatable that I felt like I knew them and had to see them find their happily ever after.

The plot has laugh-out-loud moments, real-life truths, small town gossip, and unexpected twists that add depth to the story. This book is perfect for you if you like: grumpy - sunshine trope that is done to a T, angst - angst - ANGST, and a story that will leave you happier than when you started reading.

I have given this book a rating of 5 stars for a story that I loved and would definitely recommend to others. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced review copy of this book.

My full review for When in Rome will be published on Instagram @thereallifebookreviewer on September 13th, 2022.

Sarah Adams has done it again!! Every book she writes becomes my favorite & I don’t know how she does it but every book gets better & better!

This is the perfect feel good read! If you loved The Cheat Sheet you will absolutely love this one as well. & if you haven’t read a Sarah Adams book before.. I highly recommend all of hers! She is hands down one of my favorite authors!

This will be a definite re read for me because I loved it so much!

Sarah Adams has done it again with her newest book: When in Rome. I was given an ARC to review for NetGallery and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine. After reading this one, it is safe to say she has made it to my favorite author's list.

Amelia Rose is a burnt out pop princess, who is looking to find her place in the world. After being inspired by her favorite movie: Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn, she finds herself traveling to Rome... Kentucky. I love that she is not the stereotypical rockstar. She is caring, and thoughtful.

Noah Walker... a protective love interest who has a hard time opening himself up to love. Amelia was not what he expected, and will do anything to keep her safe.

I am personally from a small town, and loved the whole vibe of it! The townspeople of Rome were all incredible, and really added a layer of depth to this story. The bantering was hilarious, and heartfelt. It left me with a sense of nostalgia that made me coming back for more!

The spice levels were once again to a minimum. If you like higher levels of spice this may not be for you. However I was here for it this go around. I cannot wait to see more of what this author will bring to the table in the years to come!

TROPES:
Grumpy/Sunshine
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Protective Male

This book is very much like a Hallmark movie.

Rae/Amelia is an overworked pop singer having a breakdown. She hops in her car to escape and drives to Rome, Kentucky. Her car breaks down in front of Noah’s house and she is stranded in the town for two weeks. Noah is a grumpy pie shop owner who, despite not having a cell phone and no internet in his life, recognizes Amelia on the spot. He’s been burned by a beautiful woman breezing through town before, and is determined to help Amelia while keeping her at arms length. But with the help of some meddling townsfolk, she has no where else to stay and lands in Noah’s guest room for two weeks. What follows is your standard instalove with forced proximity.

I think the tropes explored just aren’t my cup of tea. I didn’t find falling in love in a week believable and didn’t really feel the connection. But it’s low conflict, low steam, and generally low stress, so I can see where this would appeal to many other readers. It’s a fine distraction for a few hours, but not very memorable for me, personally.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read in exchange for an honest review

Amelia "Rae Rose" sets out to reenact her own Roman Holiday when she feels overwhelmed with her pop star life - but the only Rome she can quickly escape to is Rome, Kentucky. This story is hopeful, cute, and set in a Gilmore Girls-esque small town full of its own characters that bring the book to life. The story line is this book had everything from a bad past with relationships to estranged moms and I loved every minute of it.

Amelia just needs a break from her life. She takes a page out of Audrey Hepburn's book (or her character's book) and heads to Rome. Well, Rome, Kentucky. On her way there, her car breaks down and she meets Noah. She finds herself staying with him and he is definitely the grumpy to her sunshine. He discovers she is actually a famous singer and he helps her find what she is missing from her life.

This book had one of the best chapters that I have read in a while. Chapter 31! Amelia and Noah try so hard not to fall but not being able to resist...but also that honesty that they can't have with anyone else. Sarah Adams has not written a book that I have not loved yet. Her characters tug at your heart with their realness and her storylines are well written and swoonworthy.

I 100% recommend this book! Thank you to NetGally for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow! Wow! One of my favorite books this year and may be one of my favorite rom-coms ever. Noah Walker is swoon worthy. I am completely smitten. I also loved Amelia! I love how real they both were and loved their Grump/Sunshine relationship. Such a slow burn and WORTH IT! The town of Rome and its people were hilarious and charming. I adored this book and will be re reading.

I was just so bored reading this book. I couldn’t find a single character with more of a personality than a cardboard cutout and I just didn’t like the writing style. It may have been personally not liking some of the tropes but I don’t know it was just so bland

I am very new to Sarah Adams' books. She is a perfect romance author if you like Hallmark movies served with a skillet of sizzle.

Amelia is a burned out pop star, known as Rae Rose, who just needs some time to herself. She needs to just be ... with herself. She knows she's heading for a breakdown of some sort so leaves behind her pop star duties for the town of Rome, Kentucky - based on an Audrey Hepburn reference.

Pie-shop owner, Noah, finds Amelia's car stuck in his front yard. He is determined to help her, but is naturally drawn to her. Hold up! He can't possibly be looking for love again after being hurt in his last relationship. He has sworn off dating! I'm sure you know where this tale leads.

The town of Rome is quaint and full of busy bodies, but those people are so nice! They help protect Amelia from the paparazzi and fall in love with her the way she's fallen in love with them.

While the story is deep at times dealing with family matters, it's not so deep that it's depressing. WHEN IN ROME gives a nice perspective of Noah's growth from grump to being in love and her being a door mat to finally standing up for herself.

This book is almost a five-star for me. My only issue was it felt like they had attraction/love with each other too fast. Like the first time they met fast. It seemed a tad unrealistic this would happen, but then again, it's the romance genre where love blooms quickly any time of the day or night!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me an e-copy of WHEN IN ROME to review.

I rate WHEN IN ROME four out of five stars.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Adams has become my go-to author over the last few years and this book only reinforced why. I’m not usually big on celebrity or pop-star stories, so I was a little weary of this one, but it was done well. There was very little name-dropping (this always drives me nuts) and Amelia’s celebrity lifestyle wasn’t front and center. This author may be a “fade to black” romance writer, but she is a queen of building up tension. Noah and Amelia were written so beautifully and the chemistry was there from the beginning. I’m crossing my fingers that this may turn into a series - so many opportunities for the side characters of Rome to get their own stories. My only (minor) complaint about this book is that the ending felt a little rushed and as a result a few strings weren’t completely tied off - nothing major, it didn’t ruin the story at all, but the pacing felt a bit more fast than the rest of the book.

I loved this book! Sarah Adam’s is one of my favorite authors! I liked how Amelia had a lot of character development and how hesitant Noah was to jump into things. Definitely would recommend this book to all my girlfriends! :)

This book was so good. I love the grumpiness in the leading man. It was a fun heartwarming story. The small town feel was amazing, made me want to live in one! Definitely will be reading again and again

pies. flowers. books.

This sums up Noah Walker. And also explains why I am done for.
Noah is the book boyfriend we never knew we needed, but are so glad we have!

When in Rome is a different pace for Sarah Adams - in my opinion it's a little edgier, a little steamier (still closed door. but maybe just a little cracked now...) a little more grit and a little less fluff. Not that I mind fluff - I love all of her other books - but When in Rome felt like it addressed deeper issues and more intense relationships than her other books.

Amelia is a pop super star looking for a change of pace. Noah is a hometown hero looking to stay in his lane. A chance meeting, a new friendship, and lots of town busybodies added into the mix make for lots of will they/won't they moments. Sarah Adams has that slow burn down to a science - and I am here for it!

When in Rome is a sweet love story of second chances, forgiveness, and the desire we have to love and be loved. know and be known. Such a great read!

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

This is my first time reading a book by Sarah Adams, and I ✨love✨ WHEN IN ROME!

This book follows Amelia “Rae” Rose, a lonely, international pop star on the verge of burnout. Needing a break from her life of yours and interviews, she takes inspiration from Audrey Hepburn’s film, Roman Holiday, and in the middle of the night, makes a secret getaway to Rome, Kentucky. It’s a fantastic idea… until her car breaks down in front of Noah Walker’s house, and they both find out it’ll take several weeks before her car can be fixed. He doesn’t have time to fall for a celebrity, no matter how beautiful and amazing he thinks she is. And, Amelia doesn’t want to break his heart by starting a relationship when she knows she’ll have to leave one day. Will they act on their attraction to each other?

This book is so good I read it all in one sitting! I really loved Amelia and Noah’s characters, their attraction to each other, the slow discovery of who they each are.

I also really, really enjoyed the side characters! Mabel and Noah’s sisters are some of my favorite characters in this novel. They breathe life into Noah and Amelia’s story, and add so much to the story.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this advanced reader’s copy through @netgalley ! I highly recommend this book and hope you read it!

I absolutely loved this book. The walker sisters remind me of my two sisters. Always talking loudly and over each other but somehow carrying on a conversation. The story was light and fun. Naturally I am craving pies and pancakes. Highly recommend!

This is a really sweet, fun, clean rom-com modernization of the Audrey Hepburn/Gregory Peck classic, "Roman Holiday." Amelia is a burned out pop star taking a self-imposed break in small town Rome, Kentucky. The town is endearing, with lots of fun characters who add spunk to the storyline. Noah's sisters were a riot. Noah is the guarded, love-scorned pie shop owner who is good to the core, but grouchy as a defense mechanism. Overall, a clever, enjoyable read.

4.5- this book was super cute! A famous singer is tired of everyone controlling her life, so she takes a spontaneous trip to a small town a few hours away. The small town has a lot of fun characters, and makes you want to live in a town like it. I can’t wait to read more books by Sarah Adams.

Thank you NetGalley and Random house publishing group- ballatine for the early ARC I return for my honest opinions.