Sarah never fails to write books that make me smile and kick my feet. Practice Makes Perfect was hopeful, playful and feel good! There was so much I loved - the tension, the pining, the flirting and the banter! Annie and Will’s individual journeys as well as their journey as a couple was mature and emotionally intelligent. It’s always refreshing to read a novel that showcases efforts at clear communication and therapy!

From the first page Annie is so awkward and relatable and William “I will never catch feelings” Griffin is the epitome of the perfect book boyfriend with his floral tattoos and sweet gestures!

I loved When in Rome but I think Practice Makes Perfect has become my favorite! I am so grateful to have been sent this ARC in exchange for my honest review! Thank you so much to Sarah Adams, Net Galley and the publisher!

Annie Walker is the town's good girl. Hurt her, and the village will come for you. Angel Annie's reputation precedes her, and no one wants to take her out. She even goes on a horrible date with the Hot Bank Teller, but even he needs to fake an emergency to get out of it. Enter Will Griffin. Bodyguard--sorry, executive protection agent to Annie's soon to be sister-in-law. Will Griffin has sworn off love. He's a no commitment guy due to the toxic household he grew up in. Somehow, some way, Will agrees to be Annie's dating coach. He'll help her sort out her jitters and learn what makes her so awkward and boring on these dates. But somewhere along the way, their feelings become real, and they have to realize that they want different things out of life. But it's all practice anyway. For when the real guy comes along to sweep Annie off her feet.

Practice Makes Perfect is the second book of Sarah Adams' Rome, Kentucky series. I read it as a standalone, thanks to NetGalley. This book was everything I wanted it to be. The character development of Annie is absolutely beautiful, and I really enjoyed seeing her shine. There's just something about a fake dating trope that gets me! I love them so much because they're just so entertaining. Annie and Will have obvious chemistry, and I loved reading their interactions. Will is a HUGE swoon-worthy guy. He always said and did the perfect things, and I think I fell in love with him. I read this book so fast because I was enjoying it so much. 
The dynamic between Annie and Will was EVERYTHING. And their tension was extremely palpable. Will sure knows his way around. I'm not sure who falls first, but Will falls so hard for Annie, and it's so sweet. Yes, it's typical and cheesy. Guy who doesn't believe in love falls head over heels for the girl who wants a white picket fence. But it was done so well that I can't even fault it. Especially with the small town setting. I think putting it into perspective really helped me ignore things I usually don't like in a book. Annie was refreshing, even though she could come off as a helpless heroine at times. I think it was all integral to her story.

Which brings me to two of my favorite parts of the book. One, Will helping Annie when she's sick. It's so sweet, and I'm a sucker for being taken care of. Now, second. ANNIE'S LIBERATING MOMENT. She finally says how she's feeling to her siblings. They are there to protect her, but gosh, she's old enough to not still be called an angel and protected from the world. Let her live. I was screaming every time her sisters would treat her like a porcelain doll. Honestly, I feel like the other sisters are just not as interesting. I first need to read When In Rome, but I am excited to see how the rest of the Walker siblings' stories play out. If I learned anything from this book, it's that I need to read more Sarah Adams right now.

After reading When in Rome last year, I was looking forward to this one! Specifically, I was excited to get more of Annie's story since she was such a sweet side character.

The thing I enjoyed most about this one was Annie's character! It's refreshing to see a shy main character who isn't forced to become outgoing and extroverted, and I identified a lot with her as an introvert.

Sadly, I found the story to be slow and lost interest. Annie and Will's dynamic was sweet, but the book began to feel repetitive, and there wasn't enough "will they, won't they?" for me. It seemed pretty clear they were going to end up together and how that was going to happen.

Nevertheless, I look forward to reading the next book from Adams! She sure does write a cozy small-town setting.

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 💐
by Sarah Adams

I knew that I was going to love this book the minute I read the dedication page. I was so excited to get to fall back into the When In Rome series and Sarah Adams absolutely delivered with this one!
This book made me kick my feet from giddiness and cheese so hard it hurt. I never wanted it to end.

💕If there is one place I want to live—it’s Rome, Kentucky.
🍌If there is one fictional character I relate wholeheartedly to—it’s Annie Walker.
🏴‍☠️If there is one perfect, swoon worthy book boyfriend—it’s Will Griffin (I call dibs).
🌸If there is one book you should be reading right this moment—it’s Practice Makes Perfect.

Rating—all of the stars. I love and adore this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House-Dell for the eARC.

"It seems to me, Annie, that you are just waiting for someone to give you permission to be yourself out loud."

One thing you can always expect from Sarah Adams is that she will create worlds, stories and characters that will just make you SMILE. Her stories are undeniably sweet, and within these stories are characters that you can't help but love and connect with.

I deeply relate to Annie. I found so much of myself in her character and the way she approaches life. I loved her banter with Will (and how she constantly called him the wrong full name). And I LOVE a book with characters who can COMMUNICATE. There is nothing I dislike more, than problems in books that could be solved by having one conversation. It was refreshing and amazing to see Will and Annie actually talk to one another and grow together.

My one complaint is that it seemed like Annie and Will kept denying their attraction toward each other even when they both knew that they liked each other? It seemed to go on for almost too long. But it did add that surface level tension to the book, without feeling too heavy.

Overall Practice Makes Perfect is a sweet, hilarious story and an undeniably romantic read and was published on May 2, 2023. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"The one with her nose always in a book because she prefers worlds where she doesn't have to interact with other humans."

Sarah Adams gets better and better every book. I loved this book so much that I was ready to start it over before I’d even finished. Sarah writes unique and quirky characters that are SO easy to root for. Annie is no exception. She’s so endearing. Will was the type of outwardly arrogant alpha that I wanted to hate, but hearing his perspective made it impossible. The banter is incredibly and swoony. The chemistry is off the charts. This book had SO MUCH TENSION for a closed-door romance. I love that there wasn’t a lot of pretense and bottling up emotions like typically comes with a fake dating style romance. It was a joy to return to the meddling town of Rome. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Sarah Adams may have just published one of my favorite happy go lucky books of 2023!

Annie is the owner of a flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. Not really knowing how to act on dates, she's okay with living the single life and planting flowers. What she won't admit to herself is her heart crazy crush on Will, Amelia's bodyguard. Will is in town for Amelia's wedding and that is all. He doesn't want to stay in the town that doesn't have cell service. What he will agree to however; is giving Annie relationship advice and dating lessons. He would NEVER admit his feelings to Annie. Remember what they all say though... practice makes perfect.

Practice Makes Perfect had me laughing and smiling throughout the read. Adams delights once more in writing fun characters and banter. The fun nods to Annie reading and Will's jealousy quips made this novel a huge win for me. I look forward to what Sarah Adams has up her sleeve next.

While the premise is cute and the banter is sometimes genuinely charming, this was not the book for me. I found the tension lacking, and the inner monologue almost crushingly obvious. I think this could be a very, cheesy fun summer read for someone with fewer pet peeves than I have, as the writing and plot themselves are a cut above many other novels of its ilk.

This was my most anticipated release of 2023 and it did not disappoint! This book had all my favorite tropes and it pulled me in from the first page. Small-town romance, tatted bodyguard x flower shop owner, fake dating, books about pirate smut... perfection. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Annie and Will. Both were so sweet, and I am obsessed with their banter. I got so emotional throughout the story. My self-love journey is so similar and challenging just like Annie's and I found myself in tears because she deserved so much more than she allowed herself to have. Will's traumatic childhood was heartbreaking and seeing how he constantly pushed people away for the sake of protecting himself destroyed me. Both characters made me want to protect them at all costs. The only reason I ended up rating it four stars was because I was hoping for wedding festivities and bodyguard action. I would have liked a little more tension/build-up before Will and Annie started to get physical and I wish we could have seen Annie and her family interact more as well as Will and his brother. But besides that, this story was so heartfelt and relatable. This small town quickly captured my heart and I wish I could just pack up and move there. I look forward to reading more from this author. This was the perfect warm and cozy romance.

Love! Sarah Adams always gets five stars from me! Fingers crossed we get to stay in Rome a little longer and hear some more stories from there.

No matter what - can't wait to devour the next one!

If you want something that makes your heart swell, look no further than Practice Makes Perfect. What a joy of a read this was. I've read a bunch modern romance novels and this one hit all the points I want a romance to hit. If you like:

- Grump vs sunshine
- Broody MMC
- FMC grappling with what she really wants and being more assertive
- MMC who reads bodice-ripping romances (yes please)
- the opposite of miscommunication

Then you'll love this book. I especially appreciate the NON-miscommunication trope. Words can't describe how much I despise miscommunication so I love it when a novel does the opposite and immediately has the characters clearing things up. The author did a splendid job with this.

I thought the plot was great and not too unbelievable (unlike many modern romances I've read recently). I felt for Annie so much during the story and wanted her to get her happy ever after. The tension between Will and Annie was so magnificently done and there was just enough slow burn that when it finally happened, it felt so satisfying. I would happily read another novel by Sarah Adams any day! What a wonderfully-written, fun, and heartwarming read.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC for Practice Makes Perfect, the sequel to When In Rome, (which I also received an ARC for last year!) This book had a high standard to live up to and it more than fulfilled my expectations! The romance was sweet and a little cheesy, but in a self-aware way that made it so adorable. The banter was great, and Adams somehow managed to make a goody-two-shoes protagonist who doesn't swear into a character I rallied behind instead of rolled my eyes over. Overall it was a fast and enjoyable read, and I laughed out loud more than once. It's clear to see which characters the third book in the series will follow, and I will definitely have it in my TBR as soon as it's announced.

I loved returning to Rome, Kentucky with Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams. Annie and Will complimented each other perfectly. I found myself giddy laughing out loud during many scenes. It gave me all the feels. I highly recommend this book because it will be living in my brain for the foreseeable future. Thank you, Sarah!

Omg omg omg. I absolutely loved this book! Sarah Adams does it again. This was truly the sweetest, cutest, and sexiest book I’ve read in a while. Annie is just the best. I loved getting to know her.

I loved this book set in small town with a dynamic of the florist Annie, timid and always protected by her siblings, and the gruff Will.

Sarah Adams writes about Rome in a way that makes you feel like you're there. It was my first read by her and definitely not the last!

Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for the ARC.

So cute! I loved each of the scenes between Will and Annie which built their characters so well and had you rooting for them. I appreciated how while there was some spice, it wasn't what the character development relied on.

Overall, I give this a solid 4 out of 5 stars. A lovely book that I'm sure I'll come back to (after I tackle more of my TBR list).

When I started reading this, I didn't actually know it was a sequel. However, reading this before its' predecessor "When in Rome" does not take away from enjoying this book.

This novel follows our main characters, Annie and Will, as they navigate their time in Rome, Kentucky, pretending they're not smitten with each other. Annie, the local florist, wants to find The One, and Will, returning to Rome for a job as an "Executive Protection Agent" for pop sensation Amelia Rose, truly believes he's allergic to all things monogamous. However, when the idea of Will becoming Annie's dating coach is floated to the duo, Will decides to try and help out the "hopeless" Annie. However, being a dating coach for a girl you already have a crush on is easier said than done. Will Will (heh) catch feelings, or will he be able to get out of this arrangement with his heart - and his dignity - unscathed?

Okay, so this is a cute one. I'm a sucker for a good "fake dating" trope, and this one managed to make it work with a special kind of sweetness. I always love when characters deny their feelings with such indignation, like there's no possible way they can fall in love, because they've never done it before and besides, I already told myself I wasn't going to fall for the sweet, adorable, kind, loving Annie Walker who smells like a bouquet of flowers and has managed to wriggle her way into my heart so I guess I'll just accept the fact that I'm in love with - hey! Wait a second...!

I don't want to give away too much, because this is a pretty new title. (Just released May 2nd!) But I do want to say how much I enjoyed the progression with Annie's character. She's known for being the baby of the family. She's sweet, kind, innocent, an "angel" if you will. However, over time she's grown to hate these comparisons. She wants to be less innocent and more daring. This could be one of the big reasons why she was drawn to "bad boy" Will, but I don't believe it's the reason why she stuck around. I liked seeing how Will helped her along with opening up and transforming into a beautiful butterfly - one that stands up for herself, kicks ass and takes names. While it was done while spending time with Will, I'd like to believe she always had that in herself, she just needed a little push.

Thanks again to NetGallley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Contemporary romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a cute and sweet romance.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Bodyguard romance
Flower shops
Great chemistry
Witty banter
He’s her dating coach/ fake dating
Opposites attract
Small town setting
Friends to lovers
Grand gestures
Closed door

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The healthy communication
Pirate smut lol
Dual POV

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Was a little cheesy but lets be real I loved it

Sarah Adams is an auto-read author for me. Her books are cute and fun. This book comes after When in Rome. An opposite attracts romance between Noah's sister and Ameila's bodyguard. I enjoyed Annie finding herself and realizing she can be herself and not be who everyone else thinks she should be.
I look forward to more from Sarah Adams. Thanks for the advance copy.

This book is PERFECT. Seriously. Five stars. ALLLLL the stars.

I suppose you could say, for Sarah Adams as well as FMC Annie, Practice Makes Perfect. Each new book of Sarah's becomes my favorite and her writing gets stronger every time.

There were SO MANY THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK (so many tabs), and here's a list of just a few of my favorites:
- Annie finding her voice
- Will being captivated by Annie from the first page
- "Practice" dating sessions where Annie gets to feel seen for the first time in her life
- Siblings + Amelia + small-town shenanigans
- Glimpses of Noah + Amelia's life together pre-wedding from When in Rome
- That both main characters have things to work through with their families AND THEN THEY ACTUALLY TALK/WORK THROUGH THEM
- Romantic gestures
- Some great humorous moments
- The emotional connection between the two characters builds slowly, like a real relationship would
- The growth of Annie's confidence simply because Will sees her + shows her she's already the person she wants to be
- The flower shop
- Will getting some perspective he greatly needed by slowing down + staying in one place