A fun story that I read in one sitting, quick and cute and didn't want to put it down. The heavy-handed opinions on romance books that I've seen in other stories wears on me, you're preaching to the choir about romance books to anyone reading! I enjoyed the personality and voices of the two protagonists, though at times felt they sounded a bit too similar to feel like separate people. Full of tropes (most delightful if you're picking it up based on the description and not blind choosing), but takes its own queues on pacing and subletting expectations that I really enjoyed. There were definitely moments where I was relieved with where the author took the narrative, which is probably why I was somewhat disappointed in the ending that we got. All in all a good time and would be a nice beach/summer read!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this title. It is too cozy, too innocent new adult romance for me. Didn't, couldn't finish.

I knew I was going to love this book the second I read the dedication. I have never related more to a book character than I do to Annie Walker, and seeing a piece of myself in her made it all the more exciting to watch her fall in love. The way both characters have very deep fears and hurts from their past make them so relatable and real in a way that makes you love them even more.

Adams does an expert job at weaving a story filled with the perfect balance of witty banter, but also deep character development. Side characters are sprinkled in to add humor as well as character conflict, but each moment is intentional and well placed. There are still cute fluffy scenes, classic tropes, and cute banter that are to be expected of every romance novel, but it was the vulnerability of the characters that made me love them. Nothing stands out as something I would change, so for now I will just give another round of applause to Sarah Adams and the world she creates in Rome, Kentucky.

Quotes to mention:

“This one is for the softies. The tenderhearted sweeties. The introverts who are afraid to shine.”

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

“This … isn’t something I would normally do, but I just need to take care of you. Please let me.”

Sarah Adams has always been an instant buy for me, and “Practice Makes Perfect” will be no exception!

It instantly became one of my favorite Sarah Adams books. The characters (especially Annie as an introvert myself), the setting, and the romance were amazing and kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved the closed-door romance and most importantly NO THIRD ACT BREAK-UP! This book seriously had me smiling up to the ceiling and feeling all gushy. I cannot wait to get another chance to visit Rome!

I absolutely will be recommending this book to everyone I know. Thank you net galley for the eARC!

I'd say the trope in Sarah Adams' new rom-com, Practice Makes Perfect, is "unlikely lovers." Annie and Will shouldn't be at all compatible. She's a sweet, attractive, virginal flower shop owner who has had no luck with dating but desperately wants to find her soulmate and settle down. He's a drop-dead-gorgeous, tattooed bodyguard for the superstar pop singer who is about to marry Annie's brother Noah, and he is definitely NOT looking for a serious relationship. So when both agree that Will will help Annie practice to be better at dating potential prospects, we know they are destined to fall in love. The fun is in seeing how they get there, against all odds.

I felt at first that both protagonists were a little over the top with their stories and personalities, but as the plot progressed, I was enjoying myself too much to worry about it. I also appreciated the (perhaps more realistic) supporting characters--Annie's sisters and brother, Amelia the pop star, and Will's brother--and I was surprised to learn (after I finished the book) that Noah's and Amelia's romance was the subject of the author's previous book, When in Rome. Both are set in the hamlet of Rome, Kentucky. Adams promises more books in that setting, hopefully elaborating on the other characters' stories, and I look forward to getting to know them better.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🌶️🌶️🌶️ lots of conversation about sex, innuendo, a few vague open door and fade to black scenes
🤬🤬

Read this book if you like:
•Modern day rakes
•Good girl + bad boy trope
•Dual POV
•Pirates
•Self-discovery adventures
•Cozy small-towns

This book was unputdownable for me! There aren’t a lot of big things that happen but it was perfect for this story. The small, day to day scenes drove the plot forward in a very realistic way. I don’t cry over books very often and this one made me tear up multiple times! There is a sweetness and a vulnerability to the characters that I think a lot of readers will relate to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the eARC!

*Will post this review on Bookstagram before May 1, 2023*

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Adams & Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an arc of Practice Makes Perfect in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own and may not be reproduced.

Sarah Adams is a new favorite of mine for romances, so I was happy to get the opportunity to review her new novel set to publish on May 2, 2023.

I'm a cover snob & will avoid a book or read a book solely based on the cover and if I didn't already know that I love Sarah Adams, this cover would have drew me in anyway!!! I mean, look at that sexy, tatted up guy! SWOON!

Annie who has been dubbed as super boring in relationships is on a mission to become leading lady material. She just needs Will, the bad boy bodyguard to tutor her on how to achieve this goal. So as to keep this secret from the town, they "fake date." Anyone who has ever read or watched a rom-com knows how fake dating turns out!

I was absolutely smitten with Will and Annie was adorable - - together, they're an enviable pair. I finished this book in one sitting. It was a fast & easy read and satisfied my need for a cute romance after several thrillers. And it has me already wanting the next Sarah Adams romance.

I highly recommend picking this one up!

This book was truly the most delightful, funny, sweet, relatable contemporary romance. Socially awkward Annie and Wolf Boy Will were two of the most relatable characters that had me rooting for them from the very first page. Sarah Adams knows how to write a beautifully tense, sexy, delicious closed-door romance that gets better with each book.

I’m a bit conflicted on how to rate and review this book, but I’ll try my best. I loved the story and the romance between Annie and Will, plus going back to Rome, Kentucky was fun. Sarah writes such fun characters and really entertaining stories. The opposites attract plot line was done well, quite a few parts had me cracking up, and I enjoyed the various names Annie has for Will.
It was also so fun to have the Audrey Hepburn connections and how the books in this series are loose retellings of Audrey’s movies.


Steam Content:
So I guess my biggest hold up was the steam level in this book. I would, personally, not say this is closed door. It’s a bit fade-to-black, but you’re still “in the room” and know what’s going on but there aren’t graphic/explicit details. In all honesty I’m not sure at all how to describe the steam content/level better. For me those scenes caught me off guard and I’m a bit shocked Sarah is writing more and more steam in her recent books.
It’s been interesting to see the difference between Sarah’s books now that she has a publisher versus when she indie published her books. And while I love Sarah’s books so much, with the progression of steam in each story, I don’t know how I’ll feel about reading her future books.
There are also conversations about past sexual partners (or lack of) and quite a few innuendos throughout.

Another 5 Star Book from Sarah Adams. This is my third read from this author and after reading "Practice Makes Perfect" she has been added to my "automatically read" author list. Her books never disappoint!

Practice Makes Perfect follows Annie an introverted flower shop owner, who is ready to fall in love, get married, and own the white picket fence home. It also follows Will who is focused on his job and does not believe in love. Will agrees to be Annie's dating coach, despite some hesitation on his part. Through the process, feelings are developed.

I was hooked from the very first line, as an introvert myself, I could relate to Annie. This is a cute, heart felt, rom-com. I had a huge smile on my face throughout the entire story.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Sarah Adams for the ARC.

Sarah Adams is the ultimate wholesome author. Every single one of her characters is so lovable and makes me feel warm. While I love spice, sometimes you need something simple and wholesome to cleanse the pallet.

As always, Sarah Adams delivers a fun, heart-felt rom com that's perfect for a weekend of lounging and reading. I did this very thing on a nice rainy day, and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Practice Makes Perfect picks back up in Rome, Kentucky, where we originally met Amelia Rose and Noah Walker from When In Rome. In this novel, we meet Annie Walker, Noah's sister, and Will Griffin, Amelia's bodyguard.

This is a very slice of life book, where we meet Annie, who runs her flower shop, and the wonderfully nosy people of the town. The characters are too funny, and I enjoyed if not all of them, most of them.

Will and Annie's story is not groundbreaking, but it is enjoyable. The romance evolves as Will acts as Annie's dating coach. Hijinks follow as Will and Annie find themselves moving from make believe to real life romance.

All in all a very solid romance that I recommend taking a chance on reading. I personally will be reading more of Ms. Adams' books in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Sarah Adams for the ARC.

For starters I just want to say, if you're not hooked from the start... I do not trust you. Description aside, cover aside (although those should hook you too), the first chapter immediately introduced a character I knew I was going to fall in love with.

I don't know how Sarah Adams does it, but her humor feels so fitting and well placed every single time. Practice Makes Perfect is no different.

I'm a big fan of her structures and chapter lengths. Very good at presenting a plot smoothly. Knowing what to give when to stop.

Early on we are introduced to some things the MCs need to work out. They aren't perfect, and I love that about them. How can I read a book with flawless characters and actually feel anything? We are human we all struggle.

After the strong start I will admit it gets a little slow, but it's not tugging to pull through just loses some attention.

SICK BED TROPE😫😫

Such a warm ending!! Made me feel all gooey 🥰

Worth all the stars 🌷

This book brings pure joy and happiness. I think this may be one of my new favorite Sarah Adams books?!

For all my fellow introverted and romance-loving book enthusiasts, this book will make you feel seen. Annie and Will can easily become a top tier book couple since it has all the perfect elements that we love in a feel-good romance. To name a few:
• fake dating
• opposites attract
• sunshine vs. grumpy
• small town

Speaking of the town, Rome Kentucky is my new favorite setting in a book. The best way I can explain it is a southern Stars Hollow. The way the town is involved in every piece of gossip, have secret town meetings, and go back and forth between overbearing but also super sweet makes the setting so much better.

Now brb while I go preorder my copy 🥹

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

Sarah Adams is taking us back to Rome in her fabulous romcom, Practice Makes Perfect, and it has everything - charming setting, fun characters, opposites attract romance, sentiment, and emotion. I loved getting to read this book with Kaley, and as always, we had fun sharing our opinions on all characters we got frustrated with and the ones we were falling in love with.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I just loved everything about this story! The setting and the gushable (if this isn’t a word, it is now) romance are perfect, and all the laugh out loud moments along with the more serious ones were the best.

This charming romcom is set in the small town if Rome in Kentucky, and I knew I was going to fall in love with the lead characters and all the townspeople all over again, since I loved them in the first book, When in Rome. I just wish I could live there and join in all the small town fun and shenanigans. They all made me feel like I was part of a fun community that was there to support one another and just love life!

How was the romance?

Well…I really can’t say much, or I will just spoil it for ya, but I will say that I was hooked and loved this slow burn buildup full of witty banter. I found myself cheering not only for the romance itself but for the characters as individuals. Also, the angst and tension were done at the perfect pace as the two began to grow their relationship.

Steam Level: PG/Closed Door

How was the pace?

This was a fast-paced story that I read in no time and was the perfect read while I was on vacation. Between the character growth, atmosphere, hilarious cast of characters, and all the romantic suspense I just couldn’t leave the world Adams had created in this fun and sweet story.

Do you recommend this book?

Yes! This was just a fun and delicious romcom that I totally binged, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series and more from this fun cast of characters!

Thank you, Dell Books/Random House, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Am I even qualified to review a book with <b> grey-eyed, floral tattoo, [more spoilery gush-worthy items] man of my dreams????</b>
No, no I’m not.
But I will--!

The obvious review here is Will is mine and everybody back off… But that's probably 50 other folks' review's too. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT was yes, your typical small town romance… but also not?

At first I found myself annoyed in the disparities between Annie & Will's perspectives, until about half-way through the book and then…. <i> Ohhh </i>oh, oh, oh… she's good. Sarah Adams is a genius, and it was of course on purpose and the view of Annie from Will's eyes is what it looks like to truly <i> see </i> someone. Le sigh, we'd all be so lucky. 4 goofy, quirky, swoony stars for Willburn and Annie.

This was my first Sarah Adams book, but I've already added three others to the list, and greatly look forward to reading more of her work.

Sarah Adams does it AGAIN. No one can make me swoon, laugh, and cry quite like her. Her books are the perfect combination of sweet and sexy. I read this entire book in one sitting. 5 hours on an airplane and I did not want to put it down once.

We’re back in Rome, Kentucky except this time we get a front row seat to Noah’s sister Annie. The soft-spoken “good girl” flower shop owner. And remember Amelia’s grumpy body guard? Yea, he’s here too. He agrees to coach Annie in her dating life and the two practice together while fake dating.

This might be my favorite book of Adams’ thus far. I related to the FMC Annie in more ways than one. Her soft shy exterior combined with her hidden angst and daring interior; she was very relatable. I’m 99% sure I’d be miserable in a small town with no WiFi but Adams makes me want to rethink that.

Read if you like:
😤Grumpy body guard MMC
💐Introvert romance book loving FMC
😘Fake dating
🏡Small towns
🙆🏻‍♂️He falls first
🕺🏻Playboy turned soft
👩‍❤️‍👨Lovese only her
🚪Closed door with lots of tension

I was so excited to get this ARC from NetGalley and it was so much fun and so cute! HIGHLY Recommend this book. It is a fade to black romance, which is not always my thing, but the sweetness of this makes sense. The big bad boy bodyguard and the sweet small town girl. She's a virgin, he's "dangerous." I love their dynamic and that he brings out the best and most out going of her. She deals with social anxiety and is a perfectionist, but he is able to bring out a feisty side in her and she just feels safe and at ease around him. Their honesty I thought was so cool, I loved the way they just said whatever they felt and actually talked about it. She wears banana pjs, he reads her steamy pirate romances. I really liked this book! Super Sweet.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Warnings: death of a parent; grief; loss
Spice: Fade to black

To say that I was excited when I received the advanced reader copy of Practice Makes Perfect (book 2 of When in Rome) is a drastic understatement. In fact, I may have let out an audible squeal 🤭

Entering back into the sleepy little town of Rome, Kentucky felt like being snuggled back up in your favorite soft blanket!! The various townspeople of Rome were every bit as funny and heartwarming as the main characters themselves, giving the story layers of depth and humor around every corner! And speaking of main characters, I was thrilled to FINALLY read Annie’s love story… let me tell you, it did not disappoint!!

I love a good opposites attract trope (hello, it’s my husband and I 👋🏼 ), and Will was pure literary boyfriend perfection when it came to a match for little Annie Bannanie. Their chemistry was sizzling, but also melt your heart sweet!! And of course in typical Sarah Adams fashion, I bounced back and forth between side stitching laughter and tender moment induced tears. This book was an easy five stars. No seven. Ok fine, TEN!

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC. Practice Makes Perfect releases May 2nd 2023

We’re back in Rome, Kentucky where Annie, Noah’s youngest sister owns her own flower shop. When Amelia’s executive protection agent Will gets back into town to witness An embarrassing date of Annie’s. With the help of Amelia, Annie convinces Will to be her dating coach, as he is a known serial dater. As the two spend more time together Annie and Will realize they connect on a deeper levels than anyone ever thought. Can Annie reevaluate what a picture perfect relationship truly looks like and can Will finally let someone close enough to truly love him?

I enjoyed When in Rome, but I loved this story MORE!!! I connected with Annie in so many ways, being an introvert and afraid to put yourself out there even though you really want to find your person. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want a soft hearted, flower tattooed executive protection agent to fall in love with you? I loved Annie’s and Will’s story so much and this will be going on to my favorites list!