I truly loved how kind and hopeful the book read — it was playful and lighthearted, while still touching on some tender themes. 🪻💐🌷🌺

The book follows Annie & Will in a pretend relationship as “practice” to help Annie out on her quest to find love. It was so sweet to watch the pair grow and develop as characters while remaining true to themselves and building up a healthy friendship. I really enjoyed seeing how Annie and Will brought each other out of their shells and how well the two seemed to fit together! The book also had some small-town "Gilmore Girls" type hilarity, which I also loved!

The main characters Annie and Will had a lot of chemistry, and it was entertaining to watch their lighthearted, fun shenanigans throughout the story and see them grow as individuals, but unfortunately this novel wasn’t a hit for me.

Annie and Will were cute together, and I did enjoy the chemistry and connection they had as they went along with their dating lessons, but when it came to the writing itself, I found it to be over-explanatory and rushed, resulting in unbelievable, instantaneous romantic and emotional connections and unnatural dialogue between the characters.

The instantaneous attraction and romantic connection may be due in part to the fact that Annie and Will had met prior to this novel, in the author’s earlier work, When in Rome, which follows Annie’s brother. However, having not read When in Rome, and as this is a stand-alone novel, I would rather have seen Annie and Will’s feelings for each other develop more slowly over the course of their “lessons” instead of being an absolute fact from the moment they met five pages in and then not wanting to admit how they felt to themselves or each other.

I also found that throughout the story, the majority of character development and backstory was presented through dialogue between the characters instead of through narration and context, which feels unnatural to the reader. Instances of this are shown, for example, when Will is talking to his younger brother and telling him how hard it was to grow up with their dysfunctional parents, which his brother obviously knows and remembers since he was there and lived through it too, in an attempt to fill the reader in on Will’s backstory.

It's a shame because the plot is a great, entertaining, and perfectly rom-com concept, and I liked the dynamic between the characters, but the execution just wasn’t there for me. With a little slower development and exploration of their feelings, and more deeply explored plot points, it could have been a much stronger and complete novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Random House for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review!

I liked When in Rome, Amelia and Noah’s story, but I loved Annie and Will in Practice Makes Perfect! I loved the good/bad boy vibes and that Annie was an introverted romance reader. Adams is so good at writing tension and build up in her romances, that I don’t even mind that they are closed door.

I really loved Annie’s character. She reminded me of myself in a lot of ways, and I believe a lot of people who read this will be able to relate with her. And I really enjoyed Will’s character. His background was tragic, but well fleshed out. I loved getting glimpses of Amelia and Noah throughout the book, and I think I saw a hint of who the next book, if there is one, will be about. The small town setting of Rome, Kentucky adds such a fun backdrop to these stories!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

A sweet and endearing romance everyone should pick up and read. Practice Makes Perfect follows Annie Walker, a small-town inexperienced girl and flower shop owner constantly babied by the rest of her family. When her older brother is getting married to his superstar fiance, her bodyguard Will comes back into town. Annie and Will have to fight their attraction for each other initially, but soon find themselves in a perdictamite where Will teaches Annie how to date and be desirable. This setup brings new emotions they didn't think they could possess, and many unspoken feelings arise.

This was one of my favorite romances I've read this year. While sometimes cheesy, it made for such an entertaining and feel-good reading experience. I love both Annie and Will and the chemistry they bring to the table. My only complaint is the nosy and, most of the time, annoying townspeople who meddled in everything Annie and Willd did.

This book gives me all the cozy small-town vibes 🥰. I feel like I’m curled up on the couch, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, with a latte in one hand and a slice of Noah’s warm apple pie in the other. These Rome books also give me major Gilmore Girls vibes 💗. Fake dating, grumpy X sunshine, bad boy/good girl. Here for it 🫶.
.
We’re in Rome, Kentucky, where everyone has a pickup truck of a different color, and nosy neighbors will call town meetings to decide if they approve of your boyfriend 🫣. Angel Annie is the town’s florist and sweetheart. BUT, Annie Walker secretly hates it when her siblings call her “Angel”, and she hates it when they make fun of her virginal “good girl” status. (She reads pirate smut for goodness sake! 🏴‍☠️) But then Amelia’s hot bodyguard and serial monogamist, Will, shows up and agrees to be Annie’s dating coach. He has a sleeve of tattoos. She has a drawer of banana-themed PJs🍌. Will they keep things professional, or will all this practice lead to something more?
.
Will’s serious aversion to monogamy was almost off-putting at first, but I appreciated his character arc. Annie is also a bit precious at first, but I was happy when she finally spoke her mind. Adams has a really tender discussion about grief near the end that I found relatable 🥹❤️‍🩹.
.
Overall, I enjoyed my journey back to Rome 💗. Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for my ARC of Practice Makes Perfect!

Honestly, another cute book in this When in Rome series. It got a little bit repetitive for me and I got tired of hearing about Will's "tattoos" and how "sweet and innocent" Annie was, but other than that, I thought this was a quick and easy read to get me out of a current reading slump I'm in. Love dual-narrator books and I'm a sucker for cute romantic novels.

"Clearly my stab at conversation went right through him, and he's bleeding out."

"But the thing about quiet people is, we're only quiet because our brains are so busy overthinking everything."

Y'all, this book is darling. Will and Annie are so full of tension and the perfect amount of angst, and I really liked seeing their relationship grow and develop.

Seeing Annie come into herself and being willing to change and grow and finally stand up for herself was so satisfying. The character development of both Annie and Will was beautifully done.

I always am a sucker for people figuring themselves out and helping each other heal. Will and Annie are perfect for each other. They are very much opposites attract in the most fun of ways. I loved how they encouraged each other and wanted the best for the other (though sometimes I wanted to smack both of them), and they ultimately found their own happiness with each other.

The characters are fun, the romance is sweet, and Rome, Kentucky remains an incredibly nosy-but-lovable town. I would recommend this to romcom and contemporary romance fans, with the following caveat (see "Note on content" below).

Thank you to the publisher and author for the advanced complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Note on content: This book is not "steamy" in the general sense, but it is more graphic than previous books I've read by this author. It's at a similar level of spice and language as When in Rome, the first book in the series, so I'm sure we'll see similar amounts of both in the next books. I would put Practice Makes Perfect in the fade-to-black rather than closed door category because there is no graphic sex, but there are few things left to the imagination leading up to it.

sarah adams can do no wrong!! this might even be my new favorite book by her which is saying a lot!

this book was beyond wonderful and had me smiling and giggling all the way through! the communication, the friendship, the individual journeys the characters went on, ugh it was simply so good.

the characters in this story simply might be some of my favorite yet and I was so excited to return to the small town of rome. annie was so relatable for me and it was so heartwarming seeing her go on her own journey of self-discovery as she finally opened herself up to new opportunities and love. seeing her finally be the person she wanted to be and open up to those around her was so extremely special. and will - I cannot say enough good things about this man. a grumpy, anti-love male mc who refuses to catch feelings who can't seem to get this girl out of his head. he was utterly perfect and the way he treated annie was so cute. and the way that he supported annie and didn't want her to change anything about herself!

their relationship was just so pure and I loved absolutely everything about it. their individual growth too just added to the book so much and made me love them even more. and the side characters as we get to see more of amelia and noah, the rest of the walker siblings, and mabel and the town folks.

this was simply such a fun and wonderfully written book with the perfect mix of witty banter combined with emotional and tender moments. cannot recommend it more!!

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. Will recommend it to everyone I know!

While this can be read as a standalone, this book picks up after the events of When in Rome, centered around Annie (the youngest of the Walker siblings) and Will Griffin. Will refuses then hastily agrees to be Annie's dating coach, so she can get some practice in dating and romantic endeavors to help her find a man to settle down with. Only what's between them doesn't feel like just practice. Annie is grappling with being the youngest sibling and feeling like she's not respected or seen as anything beyond the innocent town sweetheart. Will is ignoring his turbulent childhood keeping up his raised by wolves story. Witty banter, small-town shenanigan's (including a petition to keep them apart), and many melt your heart sweet moments.
Protective MMC. Bookish MFC. Small-town, slow-burn, closed-door romance.
Stern. Brunch. Daddy.

Sarah Adams books are my ultimate comfort reads that I will come back to again and again! Practice Makes Perfect was no exception to that rule!

Will and Annie are some of my very favorite characters. Will is so thoughtful and caring without knowing just how good he is and Annie is observant of others, kind, and passionate about what she loves! Watching them find themselves throughout this book was a delight!

Sarah Adams is a pro at bringing all the tension and sweet moments together flawlessly! There were so many lines in this book that had me grinning like a fool the whole time I was reading! If you love romance that brings the heat without being open door then you've got to read this one!

The social anxiety rep was so well done in this book! Along with that the communication between our two main characters as they navigated that and any other possible difficulties in their lives was excellent!

Basically I will read anything this woman writes and I am already planning my reread of this one!

Thank you to Sarah Adams, Random House Publishing Group, Dell Romance, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Top 10 favorite book of 2023. Already calling it!

This was one of my favorites from Sarah Adams. Sarah writes books that truly make me smile and it's like a warm hug coming back to Rome, KY. What I didn't expect was to enjoy this book even more than When in Rome. I swooned and adored every second of this story. I could've spent a thousand more pages with Will and Annie. I'm so in love with this little town and hilarious cast of characters that Sarah has created.

All the things I loved:
•Military (air force)
•The chemistry was fire
•Annie is amazing and I am Annie
•Tattoos 😍
•Returning characters (from When In Rome)
•All the Gilmore Girls vibes and I'm obsessed
•Total comfort read
•Finding that safe place person
•Introvert representation
•All the consent *chefs kiss*
•Closed door romance yet sooooo steamy (it was perfect)
•Pure joy and cuteness
•FRIENDS refence (that's totally spot on)
•Finding yourself
•Family and found family
•honest communication was so refreshing

This book has taught me that I am definitely a small town romance girl! Give them all to me. I'm obsessed.

I can’t wait for the rest of the sisters to get their books.

Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC!

The end dedication says this one was for the softies. I am, in fact, a softie, and this book was, in fact so so soft🥹 I was so impressed by the very open communication between the two MCs!

*maybe a spoiler?*

Thank you Sarah Adams for not including a dramatic, nonsensical third act conflict🙏

4.5 rounded up!

Sarah is my queen of closed door romances. I did enjoy this book, but not as much as Noah and Amelia’s story. It was still great though! I loved how Annie gave Will cute nicknames. Annie’s character development was the best part of the book.

I really hope that the next book is Madison and James..

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for honest review


Book Dynamics✨
2 POV
Laugh out loud funny
Small Town
Fake Dating/Lessons
No 3rd act break up 👏🏼

I couldn’t put this one down!

The banter
The tension
The meddling small town antics
*Chefs kiss*

This is everything I want in a romcom. Sometimes the small town vibe can over power and take a front seat but this was the perfect backdrop to Will and Annie’s story. Very much Stars Hollow vibes. I found myself laughing out loud at their antics repeatedly.

Annie and Will are both quick to make a joke and banter back and forth. Their conversations were the best!!

They both had great character growth. But it did feel very sudden when they would make revelations about themselves. Like we went the whole book and then boom they have their inner issues solved.

There were also just a few contradictory personality traits through out that rubbed me the wrong way. Like at one point Annie says she loves being touched because she is a physical person but then there is a scene where Will asks her about being touched and she says it’s not her vibe but then a few pages later she says she needs physical touch. Just seemed like poor editing in areas.

Also the fact that Annie could feel Will’s tattoos bc they were raised?? Has the author ever physically touched a fully healed tattoo?

Overall: grab if you want a lighthearted funny romcom and don’t mind a few minor errors

Favorite Character: Harriet and Mabel

This was an adorable and sweet follow up to When in Rome! I was excited to read Annie's story, Noah's book-loving, flower shop owner sister. I love the small town and how everyone is in everyone's business, but also really love and look out for one another. Annie and Will had great banter and chemistry. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

I previously read 'When in Rome' by Sarah Adams and I really enjoyed that. I gave it 4 stars and had also received a copy from Netgalley. As soon as I was done, I just felt like there was a great set up for one of the siblings and immediately ran to see if the author was writing more. Thank god this book was available because I loved this one even more. I really felt scene by Annie's character and her experiences and growth. Definitely a perspective I don't get to read often. Will was a solid character too and I liked how sweet and patient he was with Annie.

Loooove the grumpy/sunshine trope so if you enjoy that, you'll love this book.

Finger crossed we get to see James and the Madison next.

•Reviewed on Instagram on pub week•

✨Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
Thank you Dell / @randomhouse for the gifted copy.

•Small-town
•Wholesome
•Opposites Attract (good girl / bad boy)

I'm pretty new to Adams, but I loved When In Rome! Practice Makes Perfect is set in the same world, and equally enjoyable! Adams' writing is so easy; the reader needn't work hard to get lost in this world. Annie is a new favorite protagonist - a quirky, adorably awkward bookworm, and so loveable! She and will perfectly compliment one another, and their chemistry is 🔥! Practice Makes Perfect is full of emotional, swoony moments and lots of laughter!

Sarah Adams writes the perfect sweet and swoon-worthy closed-door romances.

Will Griffin is a self-proclaimed bad boy who is convinced he is bad news. Though he has a tough exterior and somewhat of a reputation he’s really a genuinely good guy and has a heart of gold on the inside. Will is Amelia!’s bodyguard from the prior book, When in Rome.

Annie Walker is the town florist and resident good girl of Rome, Kentucky and she’s sick to death of her good girl reputation. She’s fed up with everyone she knows treating her like both glass and perfection.

Annie and Will enter into a dating couch/fake dating scenario that everyone in the town seems to have an opinion on all the while they’re both truly falling for one another.

There’s a lot of discussion on Annie’s virginity from her and from other characters and I didn’t really love that but the rest of the story was a delightful rom-com with familiar favorites from When In Rome.

4 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a feel-good romance with a semi-predictable storyline leaving you giddy for the MMC and FMC to fall in love and admit it! We have our quirky Annie who wants to break out of the shell she accidentally created for herself when she made herself small for the comfort of others, and our gruff Will who finds himself back in Rome, Kentucky where the small town vibes are NOT for him, and the town folk are suspicious of him for running through town with his shirt off. The growth between our main characters from beginning to end was spectacular! Sarah Adams wrote a beautiful love story with growth apart and together for our love interests. Just amazingly beautiful! The cover is gorgeous too!