GAH! Practice Makes Perfect absolutely stole my heart. “Bad boy” meets “good girl” and sparks go FLYING.

This story gives you Gilmore Girls vibes in the best way. Small town, secret town meetings, everyone meddling in everyone’s business. It would be so annoying if it wasn’t so endearing!

This is what sweet “angel Annie” has to deal with, as the baby of her family. She’s had enough though, deep down, she wants to take dating seriously and flourish into the passionate and adventurous woman she knows she can be. When a failed date causes her to lose hope; dangerous, sexy, and completely against love Will steps in to “teach” her to how to date. Annie wants to get married, Will is against love. The arrangement is perfect for practice, until it’s not.

This story was so sweet and did such a gentle and amazing job highlighting the hard topics of grief, traumatic childhoods, and upholding an image that you never really felt you wanted in the first place. You will fall in love with these characters and root for them from start to finish, and by the end you’ll be hoping to get swept off your feet by your very own pirate ;)

I loooove Sarah Adams books! This one was so cute and I love these characters. Sweet stories and love the continuation of the family storylines. Would highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Adams!

practice makes perfect review 🌼

5★s in the flower shop

I was actually selected to receive an arc of this book before it came out and I read it right away and never got around to reviewing it but better late than never, right! I am so grateful I had a chance to receive it early, because from the moment I saw people talking about this book I knew I needed it read it.

This is actually my first ever Sarah Adams read which makes me a little sad because I wish I would have discovered her sooner but now that I have I can’t wait to go back through her catalog of books and read them all, especially the first book in the When In Rome series. I loved that this book made complete sense on its own but I also can’t wait to see the rest of this beautiful world that was built.

Annie and Will are one of my favorite couples because of how great their communication is in the book. I’ve never seen a book couple talk to each other about what is bothering them so clearly as they do in this book.

Annie made me feel so many things while I was reading this story because I think I relate to her a little too much. I loved getting to see her learn how to be more confident in herself and stand up to the people around her who have always put her in sweet little boxes.

I think my favorite part of this book though is the town! It felt a lot like gilmore girls in the most cozy way possible With a book like this I absolutely loved meeting all of the characters and wanted to spend more time with them in the end which is another reason I am so excited for the rest of the books!

Overall this book was amazing. If you like small towns and fake dating, definitely pick this one up!

Practice Makes Perfect is a very cute and easy read. Annie and Will's relationship is somewhat similar to "insta=love' for me, which I don't love and there was practically no question whether they would end up together or not. I enjoyed the story overall and the town but felt like something was missing during the plot

I've been on a romance book kick lately, and this book was a perfect read. Annie and Will's relationship was adorable. I love that they both communicated with each other and the personal growth they went through in the book. The relationship between Annie and her sister was slightly immature at times, but overall, I liked the dynamic. I also like how the people of this small town look out for Annie and want the best for her, even if, at times, it feels a little too overwhelming.

This was the first book I read by Sarah Adams, and I cannot wait to go back and read When in Rome to see Noah and Amelia's story and any future books in this small town of Rome, Kentucky.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballentine, and Sarah Adams for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

An adorable read by Sarah Adams! I fell in love with her books when I first picked up the sensation that is The Cheat Sheet. Now, that book I think will always be me absolute favorite book of hers, but this one was also adorably romantic!
Great beach read, laying in the sun! Or perfect for a rainy day cozied up with a blanket!

✨Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

My rating:
5/5
🌸🌷🌻🌼💐

Stop what you are doing and go read this book 🥲 Sarah Adams truly is such a phenomenal writer, I eat everything she writes up! I did not want this book to end and got so excited with the author’s note at the end saying she will be working on another book!

This is the second book in the Rome Kentucky series. I highly recommend reading When In Rome before PMP because the main characters from the first book are mentioned a lot in this book and I was so happy to see that because I’m obsessed with them.

Annie owns a flower shop in the small town of Rome, Kentucky. Will is a body guard who is in town providing security for the famous singer Amelia Rose. When Annie is on a date that goes horribly, Will happens to be in the restaurant at the same time and they eventually make a deal for Will to be Annie’s dating coach.

I love a fake dating trope! The lighthearted banter between the main characters and some of the things that happened in this book made me swoon and laugh all at the same time.

I couldn’t recommend this one enough! I bought the paperback copy but also was lucky enough to receive an ARC from netgalley! Go buy this immediately! ✨

After loving When in Rome last year, I had to pick this companion story when I saw it available on Aardvark! I enjoyed this new book a lot, though I maybe liked WIR a little bit more, but this was definitely a close second and enjoyable.

I loved the character development of Will and Annie! Will is the bodyguard (officially called executive protection agent, which is what he prefers to be called) of Amelia from the first book. Annie owns a flower shop and wants to find a husband and settle down. She struggles with the awkwardness of dating and, with Amelia’s urging, she decides to work with Will as a “dating coach.” This includes some practice dating, which of course puts them in circumstances and spending time together where they may begin to develop feelings. The way the relationship plays out is both sweet and fun.

Both of these characters have some emotional aspects to their stories. Annie lost her parents at a very young age and has always felt like she had to hold things together as the sibling who knew them the least, since she’s the youngest. She is known as being sweet and is called “Angel Annie” by her sisters. She struggles with breaking out of the box that her small town and family have inadvertently put her in. Will grew up in a dysfunctional household where his parents regularly fought and cheated on each other. He doesn’t believe he will be good in a committed relationship because he never saw that modeled in his own life.

I thought this was really enjoyable to read! I would recommend reading When in Rome first to have the full background on the characters and be familiar with the town. If you’ve read this, let me know your thoughts!

This book is bursting with charm, infectious energy, and two main characters who couldn’t be more compatible despite their outward personas. Annie is sweet, compassionate and struggling to validate her own grief and pain. That is until Will, a suave bodyguard with a heart of gold, comes to town and truly sees her for the first time. The side characters are entertaining and endearingly nosey, providing for some laugh-out-loud moments, and I completely fell in love with the small town charm. I can’t wait to read the future books about this family!

Adorable book and a must-read for rom-com fans....
This book had sooo many sweet and cute parts and def hits home with real life, it could def happen
Annie -hides who she is, is shy, innocent, and is looking for a husband but needs to get 'dating lessons' bc she feels out of her element
Will - bad boy but with a past that no one knows who he really is, sexy, a bodyguard, confident, and of course he had past relationship and trust issues

Will is set to help Annie (bc he doesn't want anyone else to) but then he realizes that he is attracted to he but in a different way like he really adores her and can maybe even see a future with her. But he doesn't do relationships and marriage.

Do they stay friends or does a relationship starts between the two of these two....
So much affection, chemistry and caring emotions between them, so sweet and flirty
i loved how it had its serious parts but also so many places where it made you laugh out loud and even giggle

Tropes - small-town romance, bad boy-good girl

This is Book #2 in the series 'When In Rome' and can def be read as a standalone book.
But now I do need to go read the first one lol

Is Will going to change his feelings on relationships, Is Annie gonna find her husband, And get her happily ever after???
Gotta read to find out

I was so happy to have read this book and thankful I got the ARC thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions/review above is my own, honest, and voluntary.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT BY SARAH ADAMS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one is pure small town, cutesy rom com vibes all the way and I ate it up. It is the second book set in Rome, Kentucky so read When in Rome first!

Flower shop and florist Annie Walker is tired of being bad at dating and known as the “good angel” around town so when bodyguard Will Griffin is convinced to help her at dating, she’s eager to learn and grow into someone someone wants to marry. Will, on the other hand, doesn’t settle down, doesn’t stay in one place, and definitely doesn’t want a wife.

Annie is so sweet and cute but like every girl who’s been pigeon holes into a box, she wants to be more. She really grows into herself and it’s a joy to watch. Will is guarded and when you learn why, you’ll just want to wrap him in bubble wrap and hug him. Their friendship is so wholesome and the honesty and genuine thoughtfulness in their convos and interactions just gave me all the warm fuzzies. There is no miscommunication in this book and I am here for it.

Breakfast dates, how to flirt lessons, practices kisses, cuddling, crashing her real dates, people thinking they’re together, oh no I’ve caught feels, reenacting romance novel scenes, this has got it all.

I love my husband AND I’ve got it bad for Will Griffin.

Vibes:
Fake dating
Small town romance
Slow burn
Closed door
Bad boy meets good girl
Pirate romance books
He takes care of her
Tattoos
Self growth
Sibling relationships

CW: grief (death off page, historical), dementia, divorce, dysfunctional family, infidelity

Sarah Adams killed this book!!! I absolutely loved this book. Captivating me with Annie and Will!!! Him wanting to reenact scenes makes him a automaticcccc win in my book!!! LOVED !

What happens when you get your sister-in-law’s hot bodyguard to teach you about dating and relationships? LOVE OF COURSE!

This is my favorite Sarah Adams book. Will and Annie were absolutely electric. The banter was top tier and witnessing the two of them build a friendship together was so precious. If you enjoy small town romances, this one might be for you!

Special thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so EXCITED to read this book, and it certainly lived up to the hype! Sarah Adams killed it again with this cute, swoon-worthy romance. If you are looking for a warm, fluffy read, this definitely checks off those boxes. Even though its a closed door romance, there is still steam/tension/spice.

The banter between Annie and Will had me kicking my feet and I couldn't put the book down. The dynamic of "Girl next door" and "tattooed bad boy" worked really well in this book. Their relationship was healthy and we STAN a man who can communicate. This will be added to my list of comfort reads. I've already read this book twice.

I haven't read the first book in this series, but you can still read it as a stand-alone (like I did). Now I want to go back and read the first book!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book.

Small town
fake dating
Bodyguard and a florist
Friends to lovers

Rate⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Giving this book a solid 3.5
Because honestly I felt like the FMC was immature and I never like that kinda trope also not a huge fan of the storyline “Boy" is going to teach her how to approach men because she's dumb and innocent and she just Kept on repeating the same thing which was a happy stable marriage and it was a turn off for me as a reader
While on the other hand, I just loved Will's character we all need this kinda boyfriend/husband in our life (hot understanding as well as good at communicating)which was a green flag !!
I adore all the cute moments especially making out in public (I also have a thing for kissing or making out in public)
Overall I enjoyed this book it was a cute and fluffy rom-com book that I haven't read for a long time
So if you are looking for YA romance then this book is for you

I ABSOLUTELY loved this book! Annies inner monologue had me cracking up SO many times!! I listened to the audio book and found myself literally laughing out loud at so many different parts and the freaking accent Amelia tried doing had me dying 🤣🤣 I’m not ready to leave Rome so I hope we get more books from this series! ❤️

I picked up 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 not realizing it was #2 in Sarah Adams'' 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦 series but it totally worked as a stand-alone (and I'll be going back to read the first one). Broody bodyguard meets quirky florist plus fantastic banter and small-town charm equals a complete delight!

4.5 stars

Thanks to Random House/Ballantine for the copy to review.

Ｂｏｏｋ ｒｅｖｉｅｗ

𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 by Sarah Adams
Published: May 2, 2023 by @randomhouse
Reviewed by: Mel
Format: Physical book (duh!), and eBook via @NetGalley

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲
✽ RomComs
✽ Closed-door romance
✽ Fake dating trope
✽ Journey of self-discovery
✽ Hot men with sexy tattoos
✽ Small town setting (Hello Rome, Kentucky!)

Huge thank you to @NetGalley and @randomhouse for gifting me an eBook ARC of this book. It allowed me to keep my physical book pristine at home while I read on my Kindle at the lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon! #gifted #netgalley #practicemakesperfect

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
The perfect romance doesn’t exi…stop. Stop everything right now and read this series. I adored When in Rome, but the limit does not exist on how much I loved this book. You may ask - but Mel, I saw that it took you over a month to read it, why? Why?! Because I don’t know when the next time I’ll be traveling to Rome, Kentucky will be, so I savored every moment.

Adams’ writing is funny, adorable, and, while it is cheesy, it’s the kind of cheese that makes you grin from ear to ear, close the book, and hold it tight against your chest while you daydream of being friends with Annie, Amelia, and the rest of the squad.

Will I read another romance book this year? More than likely. Will I give it 5 stars after being blessed with Practice Makes Perfect AND Happy Place in the same month? Doubtful. Are these two books my new all-time favorite romance books? You betcha! 🩷🩷

better late than never right??? i got this as an arc a few months ago but it never felt like the right time to read it until this week and now i am kicking myself for waiting so long (typical).

Sarah is my all time favorite comfort author, i absolutely adore ever book of hers that i’ve read and this time was no different! i seriously cannot remember the last time i had this much fun with reading a book 🥹

i have to start this with my heart is actually SO fulfilled that we got such insanely good cameos of amelia, noah and all of my favorite people from when in rome. like god bless you sarah for that because i am still so obsessed with Amelia/Noah that i would read about them grocery shopping if she put it out into the world 😂

before starting this i was so sure that nobody could top grumpy pie making Noah Walker but holy damn was i wrong. Will Griffin is THE book bf of the year for me. i honest to god actually BLUSHED multiple times over how charming and smooth talking this man was. not even the dirtiest toe curling things i have read in the past have ever accomplished that??? i also seriously adore how he was so desperate to help Annie in her journey to find herself but always asked her to never change the things that make her Annie :’)

one of my favorite things about this series so far is how relatable she makes the fmc. i think that i connected with this book so much because i am literally Annie personified lol. the quiet, shy, doesn’t want to do anything to hurt people even if it hurts me kinda girl who lacks so much inexperience in the world due to just plain old being scared to put myself out there. i think that everyone deserves to have a will griffin (platonically or romantically) in their life to help them live life to the fullest.

also while this book still remained closed door can we just talk about how insanely hot and tension filled this was?????

honorable mention to how will legit took pictures of her all the time secretively because he thought she was beautiful and deserved to have good pictures of herself😭

ok anyway i feel like theres 10 billion other things i could ramble on about and if you’re still not sold on how much fun i had reading this i have tons of updates you can go through and see more of my obnoxiousness.

some featured tropes:
small town, stars hollow vibes
literal human sunshine flower shop owner/cynical grumpy hot tattooed bodyguard
fake dating
he falls fast and HARD

lastly, she reads pirate smut & he wants to help her reenact them 😏

Sarah Adams did it again, I absolutely adored Annie and Will. A bodyguard with full sleeve of tattoos who is afraid to love? SIGN ME UP.

Sarah wrote a tender, emotional, witty love story that I could not put down. The growth these two go through is so amazing, could not stop smiling the whole time. I am so lucky to have receive an early copy of this book. I cannot recommended this book enough, EVERYONE needs to get their hands in this book!

If you need me I'll be sitting in a flower shop in Rome!