Practice Makes Perfect brings us back to Rome, Kentucky where sweet Annie falls for bad boy Will.

Annie is tired of being put in a box by her family and her whole town. While yes she's a positive person who looking to settle down she still wants to see the world and let loose. Will, hurt by dysfunctional relationships in childhood, buries himself in his bodyguard work and doesn't do serious relationships. However these two can't deny their chemistry and learn that maybe what the other one wants isn't so bad.

I really started to like this one later in the story as they characters grew and changed. The emotional breakthroughs of both characters made my cry!

The meddling townspeople (who I usually) adore kind of drove me nuts! But I suppose that is the point. Read this one if you like romances with heart but also great chemistry.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The electricity between Will and Annie sparks off the pages in this follow-up to When in Rome.

Annie has lived in Rome her whole life and owns the flower store next door to her brother Noah's pie shop. With Noah's impending wedding to music mega-star Amelia, additional security is needed in the form of Amelia's "famous-for-being-a-serial-dating-smoke-show" bodyguard, Will.

After Annie has a disastrous date, Amelia devises a plan to bring Will and Annie together for practice dates to help Annie become comfortable dating. Annie and Will's interactions are charming and disarming as they surprise each other with their natural chemistry. Over time, they help each other face who they want to be and what is holding them back from achieving their goals.

Like all of the author's books, this is a sweet, closed(ish)-door love story with richly developed main characters and supporting characters you want to explore (and no third-act breakup drama). This book isn't spicy, but it SMOLDERS on almost every page. You can't help but fall further in love with Rome, KY, and the people who live there.

Many thanks to @netgalley, @randomhouse, and @authorsarahadams for the opportunity to review this book in advance of its release on May 2, 2023.

This book was high on my list of anticipated releases for the year, so I'm grateful to have received an eARC for review!

I always know that Sarah Adams will make me smile and giggle and give me butterflies, and this book did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the introvert representation in Annie's character and her development, I appreciated the steaminess that Will brought to the table, and overall the small town setting of this series is just so fun. Not to mention the fake dating trope, which is the cherry on top for me! If you're looking for a feel-good, lighthearted romcom, look no further!

The one element that I didn't love about this book was the feeling of "insta love". I'm not even particularly against insta-love as a trope, but in this one it did feel pretty sickly sweet until about the halfway point.

I was thrilled to receive an eARC of this book after positively loving When In Rome. To have these characters and the charming small town of Rome back is like watching a comfort show or wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket. I absolutely loved this book!

This time, we get to experience life in Rome, Kentucky, through Annie’s eyes, who we were introduced to in When In Rome, as Noah’s youngest sister. Annie has a reputation among town as being the good girl, the rule follower, and the sweet and innocent flower shop owner. She’s ready to change the narrative and is determined to figure out what she wants out of life, starting with finding someone to settle down and build a life with. After a terrible date that leaves her feeling very insecure, her soon to be sister in law Amelia, enlists the help of her bodyguard, Will, to help Annie practice dating. Will is known for his tough guy exterior and he wants absolutely nothing to do with love. They soon start to find happily ever after in each other but will their visions of the future align?

I had the best time reading about these two falling in love. I appreciated the layers behind each character. And, while both felt misunderstood, they were able to discover a new version of themselves while staying true to who they were. I also will never turn down reading about a tattooed “bad boy” that’s really nurturing, caring and sweet on the inside and that’s exactly what I got in Will! I also adored the returning cast of characters from the first book and look forward to the next in this Rome series (as hinted at in the author’s acknowledgements)! I would best compare this book to In The Weeds and Adams is quickly becoming a favorite romance author of mine. If you want a comfort read filled with substance, along with tropes including fake dating, small town romance, and opposites attract then pick up this book immediately! Next up, I’ll be watching Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn, which was a frequently referenced movie from the book!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Dell for my gifted eARC!

I have never read a Sarah Adams book before, and after finishing Practice Makes Perfect, I realized I have been missing out! This book was like a warm hug! It was wholesome while also bringing some great tension between Annie and Will, the main couple. Some of the scenes made me so giggly!! I just loved Annie, Will, and the town of Rome so much.

If you are looking for a wholesome, feel-good, small town romance, look no further!

Thank you to Netgalley, Sarah Adams, and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I’ve read by Sarah Adams and I loved it so much!! I immediately had to go and get the others. I loved how sweet the story was. I loved that things never felt forced between Will and Annie.
The dialogue was fun and fit the characters. The story flowed well. It was easy to get caught up in the story. I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in just a few hours.

This was the second book in the Rome, Kentucky series and I enjoyed reading about Annie and Will a lot after having met them in the first book, When in Rome. I loved learning more about both characters in this book, from their various quirks and likes and dislikes, to their deeper struggles and history that shaped them into who they are in the book today.

Just like the first book, I loved the small town vibe of this one and was glad to see all the side characters from the town and what has been going on in their lives since the happenings of the first book. I was also happy to see that this book was also taking place around the time of the first book's MCs wedding. Seeing their happily ever after again here and there in this one made me feel warm and fuzzy and felt like I was multiple epilogues of the first book (which is something I love lol).

It was refreshing to see how open and honest the main characters were with one another and how they broke stereotypes/ the three act structure resulting in no useless third act breakup, no miscommunication trope, etc. loved to see it!!

overall, i enjoyed this book a lot and highly recommend if you are looking for a book with:
- small town romance
- dating coach
- bodyguard x flower shop owner
- pirate romance books. lots of them

This book was sweet, and fun, and deeper than just “boy meets girl”.

There were a few heavy topics explored and discussed throughout the book, which I felt helped set this one apart from typical romance reads. The things the characters discuss in regards to healthy relationships was refreshing.

It is a closed door romance in case that’s important for you to know before reading it. I also loved the cover.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Random House for the digital advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love Sarah Adams. But I could not get into this book. I wanted to love Annie and will but even the bodyguard romance couldn’t cut it for me. Maybe her next book!

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
Rating: 5 stars
Pub Date: 5/2

I swooned my way through this follow-up to When in Rome. This time the story focuses on Noah’s sister, Annie, as she searches for the right guy to settle down and start a family with. After hearing her date call her boring and faking an emergency to get away from her, she realizes she needs a little dating help. And there’s only one person she wants to coach her.

Will Griffin is Amelia Rose’s flirty, smokin’ hot bodyguard, and he is not the settling-down type. But if there’s one person he could see himself falling for, it’s Annie. He agrees to fake-date her and teach her a thing or two about dating, even though he’s secretly falling for her.

I loved being back in Rome, KY, with these lovable characters! There’s something about the quiet, shy, romance-obsessed bookworm ending up with the tattooed bad boy that just makes my heart swell. Their flirty banter, honest and open communication, and sizzling chemistry had me rooting for them from the very first page.

And while there is no explicit sexual content, this book turns up the HEAT! I don’t know how Adams manages to make this book so frickin’ hot, but some moments had me blushing! Will and Annie have a very deep, emotional connection that comes through in every look, touch, and conversation. There were times when it felt like I was listening to two real people, and their tender friends-to-lovers love story made every scene together feel intimate.

I loved everything about this book, including the small-town shenanigans. The townspeople are as nosy as ever, and Noah might even be grumpier than I remember! This book can be read as a standalone, but you should really read When In Rome first because it’s amazing, and it will give the past character’s cameos even more meaning.

Read if you like:
*Opposites attract
*Fake dating/dating lessons
*Bookworm references
*Steamy reads without explicit spice
*Dual POV

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sarah Adams, and Penguin Random House for my copy to read and review.

Oh, my heart. So, so full after reading this book! I think I've just read my new Sarah Adams favorite. Sweet, tender, funny, emotional, and heartfelt. I loved it so much.

WHAT I LOVED:
• Annie is such an incredible gift to us introverts. I can't even tell you how many times I said, "yes, me too!" or "I can so relate to that!" out loud while reading.
•And Will. What else is there to say except gimmie more of this "stern brunch daddy". 🥵🫠 He has two modes: playful and serious, and I can't get enough of both!
• The banter. The tension. The chemistry!
• When he takes care of her when she's sick 🥹
• The text messages! 🥰
• Yes, this is a closed door romance. But don't let that deter you because this was hot!! 🔥 Chapters 20&21?! 🥵 Get back to me after reading that part. Lol. So good.
• And of course, I loved that we got so much of Noah and Amelia, and the rest of their small town, honestly. Mabel. 🧡

I cannot wait to be back in Rome, Kentucky for the rest of the stories!

Thank you Random House for the ARC.

Well, I finished this in a single day, so clearly Adams is doing something right!

The plot definitely kept me reading more than the writing—there's a lot of telling instead of showing, and some repetition, especially in the beginning. I also think Adams struggled to get into Will's head. His chapters and dialogue don't feel as genuine or natural as Annie's.

ALL of that being said, there's some really witty dialogue and laugh-out-loud writing throughout the story, and I appreciate seeing a character negotiate her sexuality and reputation with such thoughtfulness and care. It was a true pleasure watching Annie come out of her shell and start demanding what she wanted from the world.

There is plenty of sexual tension, but the novel as a whole is relatively closed-door, making this a perfect option for anyone that likes a bit of steam to their romance without getting all the details.

I'll definitely keep an eye out for what else Sarah Adams does!

He falls first + small town + practice dating! 🫶🏼

Annie in searching for her perfect match. But finding her dream husband is proving hard in her small town. Especially with social anxiety & being an introvert.

The perfect idea: practice dating.

Will is temporarily back in town, acting as body guard to Annie’s almost sister-in-law. His one goal in town: stay away from Annie. Until he gets roped into helping her.

Read if you love…
- 🫶🏼dual perspective
- he falls first
- small town
- social anxiety rep
- FMC flower shop owner
- practice dating
- MMC bodyguard for pop star
- opposites attract
- texts on page
- nicknames
- caretaking
- grumpy (him) & sunshine (her)
- no third act breakup
- closed door
- slow burn

THIS FREAKING BOOK! Not shocked at all that Sarah has done it again! Annie & Will are perfection! I loved every single thing about this book & could not put it down! I never wanted it to end!

The mix of tropes is chef’s kiss: practice dating + he falls first especially is a lethal combo.

The caretaking scene. I wanted to re-read it over and over because it was just absolutely impeccable!

The nicknames are top notch. I am always here for an ongoing joke between two MCs and this one did not disappoint as Annie continued to find variations of longer versions of “Will.”

The consistent cameos of Noah & Amelia and the rest of the small Kentucky town, along with alllll of the meddling, had me cackling!

Pals, put this one on your list! And go read When In Rome first, if you haven’t already, because it’ll just make this one so much better!

Trigger warnings: loss of parents, past; grandparent with Alzheimer’s; dysfunctional childhood with emotional abuse & parents divorced

Sarah Adams has done it again. She is one of my absolute favorite authors. This adorable story had me hanging on not wanting to put it down.

I am obsessed with this book. Sweet Annie and tender Will are my new favorite couple. Sarah Adams is the queen of heat and tension with no spice. I loved everything about being back in Rome.

Sarah Adams has done it again! I have fallen head over heels in love with this book. I have never connected or related so much to a character as I have with Annie Walker and I just loved seeing her story unfold in a way that had me awww-ing out loud. And also cackling out loud (I mean, the Little Leagues game, need I say more?) These types of stellar, swoony romances is what has made Sarah Adams one of my favorite authors of all time- she knows how to tell a story and how to tell it well.


Notes for Publisher: Two typos found - "whenWill" (correct to "when Will") on page 84 of 291; "breaks" (correct to "brakes") on page 155 of 291.

In this sequel to When in Rome, we get to return to the sweet little town of Rome, Kentucky and follow along flower-shop owner & town “good girl” Annie as she unwillingly falls for the New Guy in town. He’s rough around the edges, is completely her opposite, and downright wrong for her in every way…or at least it *seems* that way at first.
This reads like a true sequel, revisiting the story of Noah & Amelia and using their upcoming wedding as a story element. As someone who enjoyed When in Rome immensely, it was fun to continue to read what was going on with that OG couple!

I really like the way @sarahadams writes; she has this way of writing the main characters in a way that almost feels like they’re talking TO you as the reader, instead of merely narrating their story.
This book is full of the same witty dialogue & witty banter that fans of Sarah’s have come to love. PLUS, a few very Stars-Hollow-style town meetings that made me just giggle 🤭

Unfortunately, I did feel like I was missing out on a little of the character development for both Annie and Will. I found myself looking for a couple additional elements to their relationship beyond just physical desire. I started seeing it more near the end as they started to open up to each other, but I prefer that as the basis to a relationship instead of just physical attraction.

Thank you to Random House Publishers and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Practice Makes Perfect is my first Sarah Adams book, and of course right off the bat I messed up by not realizing When In Rome takes place first until I was halfway through it.
Aside from that mishap though, I liked the book. The two characters had great chemistry, and really push each other outside of their comfort zones in the best ways.
At the start I actually wasn't sure if I would like it very much, mostly just because I really wasn't a fan of how singularly marriage focused Annie was. But as the story progresses and she comes into herself and realizes what she really wants, I began to like her a lot more.
I also LOVED that she had a love for spicy novels, and Will completely went with it with absolutely no judgement (unlike some).

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell for the gifted copy of this book!

Practice Makes Perfect takes us back to Rome, Kentucky where we met Amelia Rose and Noah Walker in When in Rome. While the books can be read as standalones, you'll want to read them both because you won't get enough of this lil town. In this book, Noah's sister Annie is a florist tired of being the sweet, angelic, super wholesome one seen as predictable and shy. She also wants to find love, but struggles with dating, so she asks Amelia's body guard, Will, for some dating practice since he's got quite some experience. Buuuuut obviously fake dating is hard when you're super into each other.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Will and Annie are clearly made for each other, and I just love when the male love interest sees something in the woman that no one else can see and makes her shine. It also doesn't hurt that he's covered in floral tattoos and absolutely gone for her. The family interaction and whole town setup with the "should these two be allowed in a relationship" was EVERYTHING and made for some really special moments. Sarah also really builds the tension in this book - she's a closed-door romance author, but is so so talented at showing the couple's chemistry without being explicit.

Super highly recommend reading this, and I will anxoiusly be awaiting Madison and Emily's stories. I think that I will ironically really relate to Emily's story since she's a kind-of bossy and particular firstborn - so I'm very interested to see her story arc.

Read if you:
- prefer closed-door romance
- love floral arrangements
- are a lil anxious and shy
- love a guy with tats
- enjoy small-town settings

If I wasn’t already a big Sarah Adams fan, I would have read this on the cover alone. 🤩

Short Synopsis:
Annie has always been the “good girl”, the “sweet girl”, the “angel.” But when tattooed body guard, Will, comes back to town, Annie learns to accept the other side of herself, even if it is different than how her family and the town views her.

My Thoughts:
Oh my heart. I loved this one. I could relate to Annie in so many ways. And Will. Will is a dream.

I have enjoyed every single one of Sarah Adam’s books, and I’m constantly blow away how each book just gets better and better. So much tension. So much love and understanding. So much happiness. It just what my heart needed and I can’t wait for this book to be out in the world for everyone to fall in love with Annie and Will.

It’s officially my favorite Sarah Adams book and I had no idea that was possible after The Cheat Sheet.

Read if You Like:
🦋 Flowers
🦋 Tattoos
🦋 Lots of tension
🦋 Introverts
🦋 Pirate romances