When in Rome was a really cute small town, sunshine/grumpy romance book. It is the perfect feel-good love story. I thought Noah and Amelia were great characters, they were so cute together.

If you like contemporary romance I definitely recommend you check this book out!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When in Rome is about a burnt out pop singer named Amelia who loves Audrey Hepburn and decides to take a spontaneous trip to Rome…… Kentucky. Here she falls in love with the small town and it’s residents because they see her as a person instead of just for her fame.
My favorite part of this book was definitely Rome and it’s charming residents. I loved Noah and his sisters and their relationship. It felt like a Hallmark movie. I also very much enjoyed the dual POV. Seeing both protagonists POVs in a romance novel is my favorite plot device. But the romance itself was not well written. It felt very insta-love, which I don’t like in my romance novels. I also did not enjoy how passive Amelia was. I just couldn’t move past her toxic relationship with both her manager and her mom. Overall, it was. 2.5-3 star for me.
This was a NetGalleyARC.

Sarah Adams is easily my favorite Rom-Com writer! I loved this book and I really love her writing style. I thought Noah and Amelia were great characters and I liked how they balanced each other out. I enjoyed the plot and the timing of things as well! This book was such a fun read and I am hoping there is a sequel! Highly recommend for fans of rom-coms!

Time to make pie!

When in Rome is a fast paced rom-com where opposites attract.

Amelia aka pop sensation Rae Rose, couldn’t do it anymore. On a whim, she heads to Rome (Kentucky) to live out her own Roman Holiday. But much to her dismay, she becomes stranded in Noah’s front yard. He may be a small town, pie shop owner, but that may be the sweetest thing about him.

Perfect for those who love:
grumpy/sunshine
closed door (kissing, make out. a tad more descriptive than her other books.)
small town/celebrity dynamic
dual pov

Now, can we get a book with one of the sisters?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this eARC. All options are my own.

Release date: September 20, 2022
This was an adorable, happy story, filled with many loving, small- town people and a famous pop star trying to figure out what she wants out of life.
Rae (Amelia) and Noah meet when her car breaks down in his yard. She could’ve called her people to handle it, but she wanted to be normal for a while. Noah opens his home to her reluctantly and they slowly begin to have feelings. She’s got a controlling manager and a mom that’s been distant, and he’s got overbearing sisters and a business to run in his small town.
This book makes me want to run off to a small town and eat pie. Noah is such a kind, soft-hearted man, and sensitive to the core. He’s all about simple, small-town life and doesn’t even have a cell phone. Rae is the complete opposite- famous pop star that’s outgoing and all over social media.
Add this to your reading list this year- it’s sure to be a fun read for you this fall.

Sarah Adams is a master at writing cute rom coms. This is a small town romance with grumpy-sunshine and I absolutely devoured this. Pop star and a pie shop owner find love. Seriously read it.

“We’re acting as if we’ve never touched anyone of the opposite sex before. It’s absolutely ridiculous. And wonderful. And confusing. And incredible.”

So cute! Lots of fun and fluff, kooky and nosy neighbors and adorkable main characters. I liked how this book never took itself too seriously which is exactly what I needed. It’s the grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, lazy read it set out to be.

Amelia’s burn out and loneliness, coupled with Noah’s need to protect his heart was what put them on the slow-burner, but it definitely paid off. I would definitely read any book that Sarah Adams writes for the Walker sisters. Maybe even one for James?

MVP: Mabel. Love a good meddlesome, match-making grandma.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Needing some time to herself, Amelia Rose, known to her fans as pop princess Rae Rose, escapes to the small town of Rome, Kentucky. When her car breaks down, she finds herself stranded in local pie shop owner Noah Walker’s front yard. He begrudgingly offers her a room for the night while her car gets sorted out. Noah has no time for this spoiled city girl and Amelia just wants the temporary peace of small town life.

There is nothing I love more than the grumpy/sunshine trope and this book did not disappoint. Opposites do attract with small town guy Noah and pop star Amelia “Rae”. Their chemistry is fun and flirty from the very beginning in spite of trying to just be friends.

When in Rome is well paced and has just the right mix of sweetness and humor. This is a closed-door romance so if you’re looking for something spicy this may not be the book for you.

I’ve read a few other books by author Sarah Adams and this is definitely my new favorite.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine!

You know that feeling when you're wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, sipping a warm beverage, snuggled next to a fireplace and feeling perfectly cozy and content? That's how this book made me feel. It was the perfect combination of funny, sweet, and heartfelt. The slow burn was perfection and even though it was closed door, the attraction and tension between Noah and Amelia added the perfect level of heat. The grumpy/sunshine dynamic was so well done and lead to some hilarious banter. It really lived up to the "com" part of rom-com. I also loved all the small town characters and the community of Rome, Kentucky. Fingers crossed that some of the side characters show up in future books!

I love Sarah Adams and had a feeling this would be a 5 star read, but it was even better than I was expecting! This may be my new favorite, which is saying a lot because I loved her other books!

I was over the moon to get an ARC from Netgalley and Random House in exchange for my review. Thank you!

This was cute! I loved Noah’s character, and his relationship with his sisters (Would love a series about each of them + James) but I don’t super love the celebrity / non-celebrity trope anymore (I think all of the fanfics I read growing up were enough haha). The writing wasn’t my favorite, but that’s just personal preference I think.

It felt like a cheesy hallmark movie, which I don’t think is entirely bad. Not my favorite, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

I have loved all of Sarah Adams' books and somehow I loved this one even more. The characters come to life and have such chemistry but it isn't forced or rushed. The side characters are wonderful and I hope we get stories of the sisters falling in love because I don't want to be done with this family yet. This book is absolute perfection and I can't wait to order it once it is published to have on my shelf and read again and again (and maybe lend to friends). This is a must read.

Thank you to Random House publishing a Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I’ve willingly read and reviewed it. All opinions are my own.

WHEN IN ROME was ridiculously cute.

I find myself loving and reading more and more novels where at least one half of the couple is famous and though the main character in WHEN IN ROME, Amelia (aka Rae Rose, is a world-famous singer—I definitely got Taylor Swift vibes!—the story is less about her notoriety and more about her experiencing and falling in love with the “normal” world she hasn’t experienced since she was a teen.

After parking her car on Noah’s lawn (and ascertaining that he isn’t a murderer) Amelia finds herself staying in his guest room. What starts out as a reluctant offer due to his ingrained hospitable nature soon turns into a weeks-long stay when Amelia ultimately discovers that this small-town life in Rome, Kentucky and the community she encounters there is what she’s really been missing in her day-to-day, city-to-city touring life. A handsome, surly, guarded Noah doesn’t hurt either.

Though, of course, they have their obstacles, I really loved how natural Amelia and Noah’s relationship and attraction felt, especially since they had only known each other for a matter of weeks, which is definitely a credit to Sarah Adams and the way she wrote these characters. There was a lot of maturity, despite Amelia sort of growing up in this bubble of fame and manipulation, and the rationality behind the decisions both Amelia and Noah make were incredibly refreshing to see as a reader.

I loved so much about WHEN IN ROME. Fingers crossed for more books set in Rome, Kentucky!

When in Rome was a cute small town, sunshine/grumpy romance book that I couldn't put down. There was a perfect amount of banter between Noah and Amelia. I also really enjoyed Noah's sisters and the meddling from the town. Overall a great book! This was my first Sarah Adams book and definitely not the last.

When in Rome is a hilarious and heartwarming romantic comedy that had me smiling from ear to ear. I loved the Hart of Dixie vibes - I immediately pictured Wade when Noah was described, which is great because he is SMOKIN HOT. Amelia and Noah’s back and forth banter, the townspeople, Noah’s sisters, late night scrabble, and matching pajamas - I wouldn’t change a single thing.

Oh and did I mention those fade to black scenes? Adams deserves an award for the feelings those moments made me feel. I’d be hard pressed to find anyone who does it better.

Forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, dual point of views, and opposites attract?! PERFECTION.

advanced reader copy generously provided by publisher through netgalley!!!

wow, this book was amazing. i remember trying to read the cheat sheet about a year back and not being able to find interest in it. however, when in rome has completely captivated me.

it featured two people finding themselves together which is really uncommon in romance novels. i loved every part of it. definitely one of my favorites of the year.

The book was really cute! It would translate really well into a cheesy hallmark movie. The conflict is very minimal and is really just about Noah and Amelia getting out of their own heads. This was my first Sarah Adam’s book but I will definitely read more of her stuff!

That being said, there were several parts of this book that were pretty boring to me. The stakes were very minimal and it was hard for me to care at certain points. I also don’t love reading about celebrities. I don’t find the celebrity/non celebrity trope to be that interesting, but that’s just my personal preference!

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy of When in Rome!

I love all things Sarah Adams, and have been very excited to read this book. Overall, I enjoyed this book and it’s characters. I did feel like Sarah’s writing was a it different in this story, in comparison to her other books, and I didn’t find myself captivated until about 60% through the book.

I do hope that we see more books based in Rome, Kentucky (Noah’s sisters, am I right?)!

Overall enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others

This book felt like a cozy, warm Hallmark movie but infinitely better! Now, I personally enjoy myself a good Hallmark movie in the Christmas season. Here's the thing, whether or not you love Hallmark movies, this book will always beat out those movies. I'll tell you why...
To start with, we must acknowledge the 'com' aspect of this romcom. Everyone is familiar with the comedy type that is the trademark of Hallmark. The jokes that even in the perfect situation with the best comedic timing still wouldn't be funny. The one's that try way too hard to force a light bond between the characters. This is not so with Sarah Adams. She had me laughing like a manic all alone in the darkness of my room late into the night. I hear she gets input from her husband on the jokes too, and I thank him very much for his contribution. Seriously, this book was so genuinely funny! I fell head over heels basically immediately!
Next, to discuss the romance aspect. It is also familiar that Hallmark always feel rushed and ingenuine. It is understandable given they have to fit an entire romance plot into an hour and a half. However, with this feast of a book, we are nothing if not tantalized for pages on end as we watch the full relationship bloom from the ground up. It was absolutely beautiful watching the characters grow throughout the stories and discover what truly matters to them. The best part was that we get both perspectives. Sarah Adams is a true giver because she always gives us the man's perspective as well as the woman's in all her romcoms.
Finally, it's a book, so that automatically makes it about a million times better than any movie. All in all, that million points plus the points from all the other bonuses I mentioned gives this book a huge leg up on Hallmark. This was the perfect homage to the small-town, grumpy-sunshine, and slow-burn tropes. I am in love with Noah and Amelia and forever will be!
You have to read this book! That's an order! I trust Sarah Adams with my entire being to produce the greatest romcoms to ever exist. I predicted before I got my hands on this book that it would be a 5 star read, and my girl did not disappoint AT ALL!

When In Rome
By Sarah Adams
Release Date: 9/20/2022 (go preorder it NOW!!!!)

I am so thankful to @authorsarahadams @randomhouse @netgalley for the eARC! I was so excited to see that Sarah Adams was coming out with a new book, and immediately requested it.

I am so in love with all of her books that I’ve read so far. Bonus: Sarah is the literal SWEETEST human alive! The amount of messages I sent her while reading…and she responded! This is what I love most about authors on Bookstagram! The connections you get to make with authors (and them interacting with their readers) always impresses me and makes me want to read more by an author.

This book follows “Rae Rose” AKA Amelia, a big time singer. She escapes to Rome, Kentucky for a break, but her car breaks down in Noah Walker’s front yard. He’s too busy for her celebrity problems, because he’s running the local pie shop that his grandma left him. Unfortunately, he has to let her stay in his guest room until her car gets fixed, and before she has to head home for her world tour.

Will they occu-pie each other’s thoughts, or will the slice hit the fan?

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Noah Walker, take my whole heart!

Fun fact: this is my first Sarah Adams' book and I 10/10 will be reading more!

Amelia, or to adoring fans - Rae, is burnt out. Years of being a culture icon and always being on for her fans & the media is exhausting. Weeks before a long tour, she takes off in the middle of the night to a small town in Kentucky.

When Noah fins Amelia and her car broken down in his front yard, he makes it very clear he wants nothing to do with her or her problems. He has enough of his own between running his family' pie shop & small town drama. But he offers her his guest room to stay in until her car is fixed.

As Amelia starts to come out of her shell, trusting herself again, Noah begins to see a side of her no one else gets to see. She's kind & playful & lonely. And Noah can't help but want to be her friend.

Read this if you love...
- a cinnamon roll grump
- opposites attract
- insta-attraction with a slow burn
- small town - think Gilmore Girls - vibes
- hilarious banter & one-liners
- dual perspective
- feelings all your feels

Cinnamon roll grumps: my kryptonite. I love them so much! Noah is small town, family-oriented, loyal af, loves & cares deeply for the people he calls his, witty & hilarious.

The nicknames, oh my gosh. I cannot.
The storm scene was all the feels.

I loved watching Amelia's journey as she began to fight for herself & what she needed.

I loved Noah's sisters & their dynamic. And I loved that just enough of their stories were weaved in that you could see character growth in them.

I loved the small town Gilmore Girls style vibes where everyone knows everyone's business. Noah actively trying to avoid every business owner the morning after Amelia's first night in town was hilarious! But I also loved how much they all take care of each other.

Thank you Random House Publishing - Ballantine, Dell, & Netgalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review!