Sarah Adams is one of my new favorite romance authors! I read When in Rome right before this and omg I'm obsessed with her books. I knew from even reading about Annie in When in Rome, that I would love her book. This book had the good girl/ bad boy trope, a tattooed bodyguard, and practice dating! This book perfectly captured the chemistry and tension between Will and Annie. Will was the one person to truly understand Annie, and vice-versa. I loved how Will encouraged Annie to step out of her comfort zone and truly be herself. I was giggling and kicking my feet every time Will and Annie had an interaction together. I loved their practice dates and how protective Will was of Annie. You also got to see great character development for Annie and Will. Their love story wasn't rushed and any problems they had made sense and weren't unnecessary. I also appreciate how Sarah Adams can write great chemistry even when writing a closed-door romance. I definitely recommend this book. My favorite Sarah Adams book so far!

This was ADORABLE. My First Sarah Adams but won't be my last! I read these out of order, I haven't read book 1 but I am immediately going back to read it. This was closed door but still extremely swoony! Loved.

This was SO STINKIN CUTE. Fake dating is one of my all time favorite tropes and this was just done so well. I felt every emotional under the sun throughout reading this book and now I’m OBSESSED with the cinnamon roll of a man that is Wilmont Griffin 😩💓

This book was perfection! It deserves all the stars - 5 Star book for sure!

I loved all the characters — I especially love a male MC who was badly hurt and/or misunderstood and in need of that perfect person to help heal past wounds. *sighs deeply*

I also loved how similar yet different Annie & Will was - they both have been protective of their families growing up for different reasons yet needed to let go of their past to really enjoy the now. They also brought out the best in each other.

I also got serious Gilmore Girl vibes from the town and its endearing characters, town meetings and protectiveness of each other.

Annie very much felt like Rory to me and Will felt like Jesse so I was very much at home with this book. I took my time with this book but this book could also be a quick read - I just didn't want it to end!

this was really cute and then was fade to black which was so disappointing!! made me want to read the first book in the series, the town dynamics and side characters were really special

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this ARC. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. The book follows Annie and Will and how he becomes her dating coach, turned into fake boyfriend, turned into the real thing. I love reading the character development and how both characters where on a journey to figuring out what they wanted in relationships as well as in life. The way Sarah Adams writing captivates you so quickly to where you can put her books down is amazing. This is a good book to recommended and pick up if you like romance but not a lot of spice. It was a fade to black l, but not in the way you would expect. Overall, I gave the book 4 stars because I truly enjoyed the read, but I can see others not liking it as much as I do. Can’t wait to see what Sarah Adams writes next!

Wanting to spread her wings floral shop owner, Angel Annie starts a path of self discovery after a failed date that leads to finding herself in the tattooed arms of a bad boy Executive Protection Agent (aka bodyguard) too tempting to walk away from, even though she knows he’s leaving and he’s off-limits. Delightfully funny and cozy, this was lovely read! There’s not much spice but the tension was there and that was enough for me. This was my first book by Sarah Adams and I definitely have theories about who the next book might focus on. Can’t wait to read it!

Plot 4/5
Spice .5/5

4.25 ⭐️ this one was really cute :) just like the author says in her note, this one is definitely for the softies and the ones that always put others above themselves. you are deserving of love, just like sweet annie in this book ♥️

this book is the second in a series of interconnected standalones, with the first being when in rome. i do recommend reading the first before this one because that’ll help you understand who everyone is so much better. but i think you could still read this one without it if you prefer!

this one follows annie, who is the reserved flower shop owner in the small town of rome, kentucky. she really wants to step out of her comfort zone because she’s worried she hasn’t found love because she isn’t cool enough 😢 enter will, the bodyguard of the star of the first book (when in rome). will agrees to teach annie how to date, but of course that’s all it is! you’ll have to read to find out what happens next!

i thought this book was super cute and i especially loved annie. her journey through grief and finding herself really spoke to me, i hope she’s doing well now 🥺

thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review that i’m very late in getting out so go read this book now!!!

The first 15% was especially difficult to get through as it just hammers in the sweet innocence of the main character, Annie, who is a virgin and needs practice with dating. The innocence is drilled in so much so that she keeps a running tally of each person's cursing around her, as a grown adult. And she has exclamations such as "What the helicopters were you two doing here?" and "What in the Mary Poppins do you think you're doing?!". Along with the overwhelming amount of the innocence of Annie, the small town drama over non-issues also irritated me. For example: there is a scene where Will is running shirtless and almost gets run out of town for the "scandal".

While on the subject of Will, he is the reason why the book makes a turn for the better. Swoonworthy is an understatement and he gives other book boyfriends a run for their money. His character is so well written and I have a major crush on him. He finds the pirate romances that Annie secretly reads and not only reads them himself, but highlights parts he wants to play out with her! His character development is so strong and he finds a new family with this small town while battling scars of his childhood in a dysfunctional family. I absolutely adored him and I will read more stories in this series just for glimpses of him. I also loved the playful banter and mischief that he and Annie got into and I was hanging on every word hoping for their Happily Ever After.

This book is great for those with siblings as the sibling dynamic overcomes miscommunication and finding their own individual voices with their combined support. It also shows their sibling group expanding with the addition of their new sister-in-law with Amelia's upcoming wedding to their brother Noah.

I was not aware when I started Practice Makes Perfect that it was the second book in a series. I read it easily as a standalone and it does make a lot of suggestions of another couple in the book (Amelia and Noah) whose storyline is continuing on the side in this plot. I will definitely be reading their story, When In Rome, based on Noah's character in this book and how completely smitten he is with Amelia. I can't wait!

This was such a cute read! I loved both Annie and Will! Annie is such a sweet goofball who wants to find love and get married and Will is the hot tattooed broody guys who doesn’t believe in love. It had me smiling through and through!

This book was so cute, gave me all sorts of emotions. Loved everything about it. Can’t wait to read more from this author!

I really enjoyed this one! While I personally would have had some more sex scenes or at least something spicier to make this a contemporary and believable romance, it was enjoyable all the same. There's a lot of like here, from fake dating to an imbalance in experience, as well as the common flower shop/tattoo-clad guy trope, which makes me think Sarah Adams is a fanfiction reader/writer as well! I also liked this a lot more than the other book in this series, When in Rome, so I think this a much better indicator of the writer's style.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me a digital review copy via NetGalley!

Practice Makes Perfect is sweet small-town romance for all the quiet introverts who know what they want.

I must say, fake dating is not one of my favorite tropes. There were definitely moments where the fake dating trope was in full force and made me roll my eyes. However, the romance plays out gradually in a caring, patient way, which I really liked and appreciated. I also liked the side characters of Annie's family and the other town members who are so protective of Annie. It made me want to read the first book in the series sometime soon!

4.5 stars

4.5⭐️
Annie has always been the quiet good girl, but is looking to shed that reputation in favor of more authentically expressing herself. Despite her efforts though, her dates haven’t been interested in forming the emotional connection she needs. When Will Griffin returns to Rome, Kentucky to provide security for Amelia Rose, Annie has found the perfect person to give her some lessons. Will doesn’t believe in love, but Annie is too sweet to resist, but the lines of their arrangement quickly start to blur.

My favorite Sarah Adams book so far! Will and Annie are so swoon-worthy and I loved their chemistry and banter! Our tattooed, ex-military, emotionally unattached bodyguard is such an affectionate, tenderhearted sweetie who can communicate 😍 I love his dynamic with Annie and I loved that their relationship was one that supported each other as individuals and as a couple.

This is the perfect heartwarming, closed door romance loaded with tension to add to your TBR!

You’ll Find —
Good Girl/Bad Boy
Small Town
Fake Dating
Dating Lessons

Thank you NetGalley, Dell Books, and Sarah Adams for the gifted digital review copy!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of " Practice Makes Perfect". I adored" When in Rome" and have been anxiously awaiting this novel! The story follows Annie, the introvert of three sisters and Will, her future sister in laws bodyguard as they explore a flirtation under the guise of dating classes. I enjoyed the premise of this book, but it felt way too cliche for me and too predictable.

Annie is seen by everyone as the sweet, innocent friend that would never swear and needs to be protected at all costs. The youngest child, she never knew her parents like her siblings did. So, to not add to their pain Annie hid her feelings and put on a happy smile. She played the part of the innocent little sister and was even called “Angel Annie” by her sisters.

When Annie has yet another disastrous date, this time witnessed by none other than Will Griffin— the sexy, bad boy bodyguard of her soon-to-be sister-in-law. Amelia sets the two up, suggesting Will can tutor Annie through her awkwardness on dates. The two have an instant chemistry— but Annie wants to marry, and Will doesn’t believe in love. Slowly, these seemingly polar opposites tear down the others walls and realize they have more in common than meets the eye.

Man I wish I picked this up sooner. I swear Annie Walker is ME. I need a Will Griffin in my life, for real.

read if you like:
• Sarah Adams books
• romance reads
• small town romance
• good girl/bad boy trope
• “fake” dating trope (kinda?)
• Audrey Hepburn

Best RomCom of the year!!! I feel the same way reading Sarah Adams’ books as I do watching Nancy Meyers’ movies… they are comfy, cozy, and absolutely delightful. Practice Makes Perfect is bad guy/good girl, practice dating, small town romance ~perfection~

This is a closed door romance with tons of chemistry (steamy but not spicy) BUT you can read an open door scene of their time in Paris if you sign up for Sarah Adams’ newsletter!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Sarah Adams is my go-to author when I'm looking for a feel-good rom-com. In her latest, sweet, introverted Annie Walker is looking for love, but she is really bad at dating. When Will, aka Buzzfeed's hottest bodyguard, comes to town to work with Annie's friend, she enlists his help as a dating coach. It's an adorable love story with a relatable protagonist. I loved returning to the world of When in Rome. More, please!

I had such high hopes for this book because I liked When In Rome and I loved the premise of it but unfortunately, I thought Annie seem too childish and it got old fast. I felt she could’ve still been innocent and kind and tender without seeming totally naive and over the top childish. I could not find the excitement or desire to pick up this book and read it so unfortunately this one was not for me.

Sarah Adams did it again! She has created this sweet, Gilmore Girls-esque world that is positively swoonworthy. This book was full of sweetness and desire - a great compliment to When In Rome!