I obtained a copy through NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

This book is centered on Rome, Kentucky. A small town where the main character Annie wants to start living and recurs to Will for help and since he is the "bad guy," he has the experience.

I have read all of Sarah Adams books and have become a huge fan of her writing. Everything she writes I will read. This book was no exception, I adore it. I love her writing style, Sarah can write like no other and describe mundane things so different.

I loved Annie and could sympathize with her. Her family saw a personality that wasn't there anymore and she kept portraying something Annie wasn't anymore. Will helps her on this journey to discover new things including dating.

One thing that stood out to me is that her male characters tend to fell for the main protagonist really fast (I don't find it annoying but I would wish the build-up would take more time to develop), but for PMP it took more time to develop since Will was the "bad guy" not wanting to fell for Annie. This was perfect.

I also loved Will and how he tried and failed, to stay away from Annie. My favorite moment was when Annie was trying to convince Will to help her date and another male character comes up to her flower shop.

One thing I regretted is reading this in physical format instead of ebook. (But of course, the audiobook is not ready yet!) I love Sarah's audiobooks so as soon the release drops I will be rereading the book in audio format.

Annie Walker is tired of the status quo of her boring life. Everyone looks at her like she's this perfect angel. An angel who is so sweet they couldn't possibly be the wild child who lives out their dreams. But once she makes an arrangement with the tattooed bad boy bodyguard of her soon to be sister in law, things will hopefully change. And boy do they..

This is the perfect friends to lovers, closed door, fake dating, good girl/bad boy, dual POV, small town, bookish FMC book. It was sweet and fluffy but with the perfect little pinch of “I should get therapy instead of pretending a relationship will fix everything”. Sarah Adams does a great job of building their chemistry and tension. And their banter was just perfect. I really enjoyed this one. It is going to happily sit in my top romances.

*recieved an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book is probably my favorite Sarah Adams book I’ve read thus far. From chapter 3 these characters stole my heart. There were pieces of Annie I found relatable and I loved continuing my time in Rome, Kentucky with this book. I could understand Will pretty well too and the reservations about love he has. I would classify this book to be a small town romance with a bit of a slow burn. Annie is also probably my favorite sister of Noah’s (When in Rome) and I look forward to hopefully learning more about Emily and Maddison in future stories. Overall, I highly recommend this book especially if you loved When In Rome as this is a companion novel to that story but can also be read as a standalone if so desired.

Well, it would seem I am, once again, back in Unpopular Opinion Corner. I might as well just live here at this point.

So, first, I did not know that this was a spin-off of another book. I also didn't know that Sarah Adams' MO is clean, shiny, sickly sweet romances. I'm glad that there are authors who write these kinds of books because there are obviously plenty of people who like to read them. I've found that I'm not necessarily part of that group. I need a little bit more spice in my romances. I need characters who aren't total and complete cliches. I need a main character who doesn't feel wildly naive for her age.

That said, there were good things about this book. I liked that it was in small town Kentucky. I liked some of the side characters. There were a few swoony moments. Even if it was too sweet for me, the romance was pretty wholesome.

I'd definitely recommend to people who want something super fluffy and clean. But if you're looking for something with a little more flavor, this might not be it.

Thank you Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC

If you've enjoyed Sarah Adams books before, you will enjoy this one. If you didn't enjoy Sarah Adams books before, you might enjoy this one. I've read four books by this author at this point, two prior to her getting a trad pub deal and two post, and I have to say: She's getting better!

The storytelling in PMP is a little less chaotic and immature than the past three books I've read. The characters are more rounded and real. The things that hold the characters back are more realistic. This is probably the least cheesy Sarah Adams books I've ever read. It's still firmly a Rom-Com book, but it's less Rom-COM than her previous works, and I, for one, adore that.

This was the first book of hers that I didn't find myself getting frustrated or rolling my eyes at the book because the characters were acting wildly immature, stupid, or just in ways that didn't make sense. And this excites me, because honestly, this was going to be the last Sarah Adams book that I read.

But then I liked this one! This is a solid 4 star, I liked this book, book for me! It was cute without being cringey, it was sweet without giving me a toothache, and I loved and bought into the chemistry between the two main characters.

This book is dual, first person POV and did at time suffer from what felt like wanting the same scene from both POVs. If something big happens at the end of one chapter, you can look forward to the beginning of the next chapter being heavy inner monologue going over feelings about that scene from the other's POV. It still has very chunky paragraphs that I wish her and her editor would break up more. It would help make the story feel like it flows faster and better and smoother.

We've got: virgin and introverted FMC, body guard MMC (but not protecting FMC), small town, closed door, dating coach, forced proximity if you count being stuck in a small town as forced proximity, opposites attract.

The storytelling was more . . . mature? sophisticated? refined? Writing is a skill that you have to exercise to get better at, and you can just tell that Sarah Adams is getting better with the storytelling. Especially if you started with her self-pubbed stuff like I did. Her self-pubbed stuff had poor pacing at times, repeated ideas, and just boring parts that slowed and slugged the story down. This one almost suffers from slightly slow, boring parts, but as soon as you get to the point where you're thinking "let's move this along," the story does just that. The twists and turns in this novel were delightful in nature.

I liked the arc that the FMC took, even if it was a little fast and kind of blah in the sense that nothing new happened. In theory, I liked the arc that the MMC took, but he was a massive asshole at the beginning of the book towards the idea of love and marriage. His brother, whom he raised, calls to tell him he's engaged, and our MMC can't muster up a fake congratulations? He can hate marriage without being such a tool to his own brother. And I'm supposed to buy into him being my MMC for the book??? His relationship with his brother also really confused me. I know no one is a monolith, but wouldn't it stand to reason that they'd be closer given the childhood they went through? IDK. His arc was nice, but it was drilled a little too much that he doesn't believe in marriage and love in his second scene.

Ticky Tack things that probably have to do with it being an ARC, but also probably don't:
*Will doesn't carry a gun to protect Amelia??? I find that VERY hard to believe.
*We never found out his real name and the end of the book AND I AM VERY PISSED ABOUT THIS. If you're going to make it a cute little joke throughout, at least solve the riddle for the reader at the end. I'm still miffed over not knowing WW Hale's real name from Ally Carter.
*Had this book been edited at all? I'm not trying to be mean, but the copyediting was horrendous. Missing quote marks, commas where there should be periods, extra punctuation, Ethan was never introduced formally as his brother, the reader just has to connect the dots, the fiancée goes from Hannah to Heather...

Overall, if you've never read Sarah Adams, start with this one and don't go back through her catalog because this is her best yet. If you've read her before, pick this one up ASAP because it's her best yet. I'm excited to see where Ms. Adams goes next!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I don’t really know how to put into words how much I love this book. I adored Annie from the moment I met her in When in Rome, she’s quiet but she has fire in her soul. I related a lot to her since she’s afraid of disappointing people and she’s also just the nicest kindest person. Then there’s Will, what a dream, what a pirate, he’s been through a lot but he held up except is now terrified of love. Sarah crafts a story that feels real and you fall in love right along with them.

“Welcome back to Rome. Where no one has anything to do but complain about one another.”

Can a person die from a giddy, happy, full heart? if so I bid you farewell because THIS BOOK was everything!!! How am I ever going to move on from this?

I am obsessed with the Rome, Kentucky series. I thought nothing would top When in Rome. How wrong I was, how naive.

Practice Makes Perfect was simply… well PERFECT. It was flirty and funny and so full of heart. I am truly head over heels for it.

“Gosh. Speaking of torture. It’s nearly unbearable to look right into Will’s eyes. It’s like staring at the sun. Too powerful for mere mortals.”

✨READ IF YOU LIKE ✨
•Bodyguard meets flower shop owner
•Butterfly tattoos
•Converse and overalls
•Fake dating
•Practice kisses
•Small town romance
•Pirate HR
•Introvert + social anxiety rep
•Happy Faces, Audrey Hepburn
•Sick comfort

“Annie, the truth is, I really want to close myself off from you. But I also find myself wanting to tell you everything. What spell have you cast over me?”

Sarah Adams does it again!!! I've loved all her books, and this one is no different. I wasn't sure I could love this as much as "When in Rome" but I did! Will and Annie are so cute. Their "practice sessions" were so fun and Will did such a good job of making Annie feel comfortable and open up. I loved that he was so clearly already hooked on her from early on. I love love love when the MMC is a goner for the FMC. This is another one of those adorable, feel-good, heartwarming quick reads that Sarah is so good at delivering and it was exactly the read I needed this week. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this eARC copy!

4.5 ⭐️
“He smiles and again it shoots down into the pit of my stomach. Geez, what would it be like to date a man like him? All charisma and confidence. I would definitely embarrass myself.”

“Okay, but it’s adorable how embarrassed he looks all the sudden. If there was a little rock in front of him, he’d kick it.”

Sarah Adams always writes the cutest shit. For me she kind of peaked with The Cheat Sheet, though that may have been because that book hit all my sweet spots (childhood best friends to lovers, fake dating, cinnamon rolls x2, anxiety rep). But this one was pretty damn close to perfect.

The main thing that bothered me were some of the internal monologues that seemed out of place. Either Will or Annie would start having these intrusive thoughts at a moment where it feels not right, something that I felt could’ve happened like the scene after and it would make more sense.
A personal issue I have is the emphasis on Annie being a reader. I don’t know what it is but I simply cannot stand it when the FMC is a huge reader, it becomes a little too meta for me. It doesn’t affect my love for the FMC or the book, honestly, but I just don’t enjoy it at all. I also wasn’t a huge fan of Annie’s belief, for most of the book, that having a husband and kids and settling down was what was missing from her life. It honestly felt out of character for her.

Onto the good things, which are most parts of the book, Will was an absolute dreamboat. The man was a perfectly flawed character. The internal (and external) push and pull he felt for Annie was angsty, and hilarious at time, but always felt so genuine. I loved Annie’s adorableness and wanting to break out of the shell that everyone put her in. I also love the fact that she acknowledges the fact that she had a hand in allowing them to do that, but I did feel like she wasn’t giving herself enough credit, though it did make sense for her character. Their chemistry was palpable and I thoroughly enjoy Sarah’s venturing into more steamy territory, though the book would still be classified as closed-door.

MVP: Mabel OBVIOUSLY, but also Amelia (and Noah). I think I liked them even more in this book than I did in their own book lol.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

GAHHHHHHHHHHH. I literally just finished this book and wanted to write the review while it was still fresh and I’m all up in my feelings. A bodyguard, a flower shop and Noah Walker’s sister?? Say LESS.

“I was looking for the perfect person with the perfect traits and the perfect timing, when really, all my heart actually wants is to be fully known and loved.”

🥹🥹🥹

A lil’ synopsis for ya — When the owner of the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky, makes a questionable agreement with a tattooed bad boy, a delightful friends to lovers romance begins to bloom--from the author of When in Rome and The Cheat Sheet.

I’m gonna come right out of the gate and tell you — 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I have NO NOTES (insert Nick Miller/Schmidt gif). The plot? Perfection. The characters? Absolutely endearing. The banter? The humor? The supporting cast? The ~vibes~? IMMACULATE. Truly utter perfection.

Sarah dedicates this book to the softies, the tenderhearted sweeties and the introverts who are afraid to shine. As a comfy clothed introvert myself, I’m telling you this book will make you feel so very seen. Annie is an absolute delight and her development was just a pure joy to witness over the course of this book.

I absolutely loved being back in Rome, Kentucky and if you did as well while reading When in Rome then I strongly implore you to sharpie in May 2, 2023. Cancel all your plans, prepare your comfiest clothes, pop a giant bowl of popcorn and sit down with this gem. You will thank me. Sarah Adams just became an auto-buy author for me 😮‍💨

PS: Thank you FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF MY HEART to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse it for providing me with an e-ARC of this novel. I am forever grateful 🫶🏼

Read if you like…
• fake dating
• opposites attract
• sunshine vs. grumpy
• small town vibes
• being happy in general bc this book will make you smile
•closed door romance

Practice Makes Perfect is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. This is Will and Annie’s story. Annie is a sweet and introvert. Will is the grumpy bodyguard, who has seen a lot. I loved the quirky meddlesome town folks. This is a fun rom-com book. A quick read with laugh out loud moments. I can’t wait for the next one in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Oh my goodness I was so excited when I saw that this was added to my list of books to review. I moved it to the front of the line of my TBR and read it all in one sitting. I was so enthralled with the story and so happy to be back in the small town from the first book in this series. Loved every moment! Would give them 11 out of 10 stars if I could. Perfectly paced to keep me wanting to read more.

I was such a fool for thinking I wouldn’t love this as much as When in Rome and I think I might have loved it even MORE? I such a sucker for small town romances and it was a joy to return to Rome, Kentucky with all the meddling townspeople.

I related to Annie with her social anxiety and having a hard time standing up for herself, but loved seeing her come into her own and go after what she wants!! This book was so fun and sweet from start to finish. Annie and Will have my whole entire heart.

Grumpy man who doesn't believe in love and sunshine girl who dreams of fairytale, romance will always be a hit. WillAnnie served one of the best grumpysunshine couple,

Also seeing now NoahAmelia crumbs are so cute, i was blushing seeing them together in love and being mushy mushy. These two together created magic which was hard to miss.

Can't wait to see next sarah adams book.

This is the platonic ideal of cozy small town romance for hallmark fans and a gateway to the more spicy reality of the market

5 Stars - If you loved When in Rome, then you must read this next book by Sarah Adams to see what everyone is up to in Rome, Kentucky. Practice Makes Perfect picks up right where we left off with Amelia and Noah … well, I won’t say anything else about that. No spoilers in this review. However, I will say that you must read When in Rome first.

Within minutes of starting Practice Makes Perfect I felt like I was going back to a town that I loved. The people I knew were all there, as well as a few new ones. In fact, that’s what makes this book so good and so hard to put down; it’s the “to be continued” from the will they won't they, happily ever after love story. Annabelle was a supporting character in the first book and we only had a glimpse into her life - She is the youngest of the three sisters and owns the local flower shop. Now she is the main character and watching her grow and learn to love herself for who she is at her core was beautiful. Growing up without parents has left her broken and when she turns to Will (Amelia’s bodyguard) for guidance in the dating world, she learns that he too is walking a similar path to love. What starts out as ‘Dating Lessons 101’ with time in and time outs, quickly becomes real as feelings develop between two people that seem to be polar opposites. At least on the outside, but inside they may want the exact same thing. From Angel Annie to steamy pirate romance novels played out in her daydreams, the story of Annie and Will’s relationship made me laugh out loud and shed a few tears.

Sarah Adams has created this family, the Walkers from small town Rome, Kentucky and writes so beautifully about their relationship with each other as siblings and the secrets that are kept from each other and those around them. Yet one person, Mabel, seems to know exactly what everyone needs and can make everything better with a smile and a hug … and Jason, that neighbor we’ve known all our lives, the one who is like a brother, well he may just be the next person we learn has a secret love. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Rome, Kentucky!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending this ARC for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I give this book 5 Stars.

Practice Makes Perfect is available for purchase on May 2, 2023

Annie is the youngest in her family and is essentially seen as a goody goody. She feels like something is missing in her life and determines it is a husband and kids so she sets out to fix this issue. However, Annie doesn't have much dating experience and after a bad first date she confides in her soon to be sister-in-law. Said sister-in-law then sets out to help Annie with the assistance of her body guard.
I didn't realize this was the second in a series and haven't read the first, but that did not affect my enjoyment at all. If you love small town romances, this is definitely one to pick up. The characters, both main and side, are likeable and the story is great.

Florist Annie Walker feels like there’s something big missing in her life. A closet romance reader and romantic, she decides the missing piece of her puzzle is a husband and family of her own. After an epically bad date, introverted Annie is discouraged with her inability to put herself out there and connect with others. Amelia, Annie’s future sister in law and music superstar, hatches a plan to help Annie. Amelia’s bodyguard, Will Griffin, will become Annie’s dating coach and help her practice her real world dating skills. Outgoing, adventurous Will is perfect for the job. He’s got the skill set required and because of he’s traumatic childhood has no intentions of marrying…ever. Which means there’s no chance of these two opposites catching feelings for each other. At first Will is reluctant to help. He thinks Annie is wonderful and shouldn’t have to change for others. Annie, however, is tired of living in the box her family and community has stuffed her into. Angel Annie, perfect Annie, sweet, quiet, innocent Annie. She wants her loved ones to finally see who she really is and wants Will to help her. But what happens when fake dating becomes all to real?

A so, so sweet slow burn from Sarah Adams. I loved Annie. It’s nice to see an introverted character so well represented. She’s uncomfortable in crowded situations and with new people, but she’s not a doormat. When she’s in familiar surroundings with loved ones, she’s fun and sweetly funny. Will is such a good complement to her. He’s outgoing and adventurous, a bit of a risk taker, but he’s not a jerk. He enjoys Annie and is gentle with her feelings, but he’s willing to push her as she tries to show the world the real Annie. The relationships Annie has with her siblings are realistic and fleshed out. Annie is so concerned with their feelings and making them happy, she loses bits of herself in the process even though she knows they love her unconditionally. Adams has created an hilarious cast of characters in the citizens of Rome. They’re big, bold, nosy, gossipy, and protective of their own. Things you most assuredly find in real life small towns. The busybodies of Rome play an integral roll as Annie and Will dance around each other and their relationship. A magical, small town romance. I can’t wait to return to Rome for the next Walker siblings adventure.

I absolutely adored this book. I never thought a book could top When in Rome but this one takes the cake. I loved that while it had conflict, the book was still kept light and humorous. Will Griffin might just be one of my new favorite book boyfriends. I love that the story ended a little bit differently than most…yet still with a HEA. Annie’s journey to find her true self was relatable and honest and I love that this book included that journey as well. Sarah Adams….YOU HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!

Brilliant, amazing, what can I said , I beyond adored the book, amazing follow up for when in rome and im here for the reat of the books, definitely will be back with a more thru review.