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.

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!