5 stars.

“If I waited until I felt confident to live my life and do the things I want to do, I’d never live.”

Basics:

- bad boy, serial dater, scared of commitment type meets sweet as pie, sunshine type
- Mabel = the small town, old lady, precious grandma type
- Siblings. Small towns. And Swoony Romance.

Concept:

Annie, having social anxiety and being an introvert, struggles to date. But she is determined to have what her parents had - happily married by 30 years old. At 28 years old, her clock is ticking on finding the one. She wants dependable, sweet, and cozy. She wants a steady, cinnamon roll- not a bad boy.

Enter Will. She’s a homebody. He’s adventurous. She’s sweet. He’s spicy. She’s super awkward on first dates. He’s a ladies man, oozing with confidence. So Annie convinces Will to be her day coach- her practice date, if you will.

Will and Annie may be opposites, but the way they fit together can’t be matched. But how can Will ever go for a relationship when he’s wholly against the idea of love? And how can Annie let herself get involved with someone who never wants the house, the family, or the white picket fence?

My thoughts:

From the first chapter- I was hooked. Queen Sarah does it again. This book was so so so cute. I laughed out loud, I swooned, and I smiled the entire time while reading it. This one may be my favorite of all Sarah’s books. (Which says a lot because I’ve read them all; I’ve loved them all.) The characters feel so real with so much depth. The chemistry is sizzling. The story is such a good one. I loved everything about this one, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. And the mentions of romance novels. Probably my favorite moments involved this. Yallllll. Add it to the TBR. Get in line for the library hold. Preorder. All of the above. Releases May 2, 2023.

Thank you so much 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.

Xxxx Hannah

This book was so sweet and wholesome, I--- 😭

💫 Small-town romance (yep there's plenty of gossip and interfering)
💫 Fake dating / dating coach trope (and no, he doesn't try to change her, tg)
💫 Grumpy/sunshine

I'm so happy to be back in Rome, Kentucky again (and even happier that we get two more books in this town, following Madison and Emily !!) - this town and its inhabitants are as lovely as ever, and it was so much fun to read Annie and Will's story. The banter was top-notch, and I loved how they both had self-growth over the course of the book. I just wanna go reread it all over again ❤️ also I really, really want a bonus epilogue of their adventures, fingers crossed that the author released one 😭

TWs - toxic household as a kid (fighting/cheating parents, divorced parents) (MMC), death of parents at a young age and a grandparent with Alzheimer's (FMC), stalking of a celebrity

--- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

I loved When in Rome, and I was so excited to get the chance to read Annie’s book early. This was another win for me. I could totally relate to Annie and her tendency to keep her feelings to herself as both a protection method and so she didn’t feel like she was being a burden to anyone else. I loved that, as the book went on, we learn that just because Annie is more reserved and has sheltered herself a bit, she’s not naive. Part of that revelation is found in her relationship with Will and the safety she finds in him to be herself. That aspect of their relationship was my favorite. This version of fake dating — with an inexperienced woman being ‘coached’ by a perceived playboy — is probably my least favorite variation of the trope, but Sarah Adams writes soft and sweet so well that it was more enjoyable than I usually find it. Will on his own was a conundrum for me. His experience level - and his awareness of Annie’s lack of - made the mixed signals he continually sent her a bit frustrating. I know he was navigating his own confusion about the situation and the feelings he wasn’t expecting to feel, but I was still happy that we got a moment from Annie where she called him out on the unfairness of it. He got there in the end though, and that’s the most important part. Major points for a superb first kiss, a great care-taking scene, and cute, flirty banter. Final thoughts: if you love Sarah Adams, odds are high you’ll love this book.

Is this the perfect romcom? Signs point to yes.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Adams work, but I think it is safe to say she has thoroughly outdone herself with Practice Makes Perfect. Annie and Will are polar opposites yet so clearly perfect for each other. The fake/practice dating, the slow burn, the pining looks, the TENSION all make for an amazing romance that readers will finish in one sitting. I just finished and I already want to reread it! This book also features Sarah's signature humor that had me cracking up at several different points and more steam than her other books (while remaining closed door). If you are looking for a book that will put a smile on your face, I have found it!

Practice Makes Perfect is the second book in the Romes series by Sarah Adams. I loved her first book, When in Rome, and could not wait to read Annie’s story. The shy, sweet, sister in the Walker family surely would have an interesting story.

Nope, this book fell a little flat for me. I was really disappointed by Annie’s character. She could be totally relatable, but her personality doesn’t match her age. As a 27 year old woman who owns her own flower shop, her inner monologue was just so immature. I get that she’s inexperienced, but it just felt like such a stretch for where she’s at in her life. I just felt frustrated with her at times.

What I Loved? Reading more about all the people that live in Rome, Kentucky!

There were are some very funny moments, things that made me smile, and scenes that made me swoon!

Read if you want more of the Rome series, Skip if you read it as a stand-alone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I'm a sucker for a grump-sunshine love story, and Sarah Adams delivered here. I loved Will's demeanor, his back story, and his tattoos -- and the way he brought balance to "Angel Annie" and helped her learn what she needed and wanted. This a sweet, charming small-town romance had just enough tension, lots of sweet moments, and a perfectly satisfying ending.

4.5 Stars Practice Makes Perfect was a fantastic follow-up to Sarah Adams’ When in Rome. Adams’ sweet and lighthearted novels always make for a good read.

In the small town of Rome, Kentucky, the name Annie Walker is synonymous with “sweet,” “angelic,” and “virginal.” Annie can’t deny that these terms fit to her a t, and she hates them. As the youngest of four orphaned siblings, she has been seen as the baby of the family for far too long and she’s sick of the persona she’s allowed her siblings and the entire town to create for her. Annie dreams of getting married and having kids, so after another terrible date, her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Amelia, concocts a plan to have Amelia’s bodyguard, Will Griffin, act as a dating tutor for Annie. Will has avoided Annie since he first met her, because he knows that his attraction to her would be a distraction from his job—and from his plan to never be in a committed relationship, let alone get married and have a family. Spending time practicing flirting and dating, Annie and Will are hard pressed to deny their attraction to each other. They know that it could only end in disappointment, with each wanting entirely different things and the other unwilling to budge.

All of Sarah Adams’ books are guaranteed HEAs and all have a low-stakes feel when it comes to the drama/conflict in the plot. This makes for an easy, light-hearted read, which is nice after some really emotional and heart wrenching novels. The side characters in Rome are hilarious. I’m glad to we got to see more of Mabel and Harriet’s never-ending war to be the queen of the town, and that we got to see a continuation of Noah and Amelia’s HEA from When in Rome. I’m so excited for the next two books about the remaining Walker sisters, Emily and Maddie. I’m guessing the next one will be about Maddie and James, given how he was clearly pining after her at the end of this one. Then I think Emily will get a second-chance romance with her high school sweetheart. No matter what their stories are, I can’t wait!

Thank you for writing this story and putting it out into the world! I am in awe. This sweet love story has everything you could want - depth, so much love, all the feelings, and humor too. The characters are so lively and fun - I felt like I was a part of the family, living in this small town. It is a beautiful thing when you realize that people will love you for who you are, when you decide to embrace it yourself. And when a person becomes a safe space. I enjoyed this story, and cannot wait to read more of the love stories that will occur in Rome, Kentucky!

4.5 Stars Practice Makes Perfect was a fantastic follow-up to Sarah Adams’ When in Rome. Adams’ sweet and lighthearted novels always make for a good read.

In the small town of Rome, Kentucky, the name Annie Walker is synonymous with “sweet,” “angelic,” and “virginal.” Annie can’t deny that these terms fit to her a t, and she hates them. As the youngest of four orphaned siblings, she has been seen as the baby of the family for far too long and she’s sick of the persona she’s allowed her siblings and the entire town to create for her. Annie dreams of getting married and having kids, so after another terrible date, her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Amelia, concocts a plan to have Amelia’s bodyguard, Will Griffin, act as a dating tutor for Annie. Will has avoided Annie since he first met her, because he knows that his attraction to her would be a distraction from his job—and from his plan to never be in a committed relationship, let alone get married and have a family. Spending time practicing flirting and dating, Annie and Will are hard pressed to deny their attraction to each other. They know that it could only end in disappointment, with each wanting entirely different things and the other unwilling to budge.

All of Sarah Adams’ books are guaranteed HEAs and all have a low-stakes feel when it comes to the drama/conflict in the plot. This makes for an easy, light-hearted read, which is nice after some really emotional and heart wrenching novels. The side characters in Rome are hilarious. I’m glad to we got to see more of Mabel and Harriet’s never-ending war to be the queen of the town, and that we got to see a continuation of Noah and Amelia’s HEA from When in Rome. I’m so excited for the next two books about the remaining Walker sisters, Emily and Maddie. I’m guessing the next one will be about Maddie and James, given how he was clearly pining after her at the end of this one. Then I think Emily will get a second-chance romance with her high school sweetheart. No matter what their stories are, I can’t wait!

Favorites:
* the impromptu keep away scene in the flower shop 💌🌷
* Will’s nurturing side 🥣💆🏻‍♀️
* Mabel 👵🏻
* Anna-Banana 🍌
* the little league baseball date ⚾️🧢🥸
* the tattoo 📖

This was definitely a fun book to read. I loved the beginning with the date gone bad and Will swooping in to save the day. I also enjoyed watching Annie and Will’s relationship slowly progress to love♥️

I didn’t appreciate the almost constant bad language in this book or the extent the author went with some scenes. Because of this my rating is lower than it would have been otherwise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the opportunity to read this book before the release date. Opinions listed above are purely my own.

I have been such a big fan of Sarah Adams since I read The Cheat Sheet last year.

It was so fun to revisit Rome Kentucky and get a peak at how Noah and Amelia are doing, along with the rest of that meddlesome town.

I loved Annie’s vulnerability throughout the story and the bravery she embodies to break the narrative that she is not only the baby of her family but also the baby of the town. It did get a bit exhausting at the end with how much Annie’s naïveté was highlighted.

Will and Annie’s journey was a delight, especially all the practice ;)

Fans of When In Rome will be pleased with this latest entry!

I absolutely adored this book. I was given this as a wish and wow was my wish granted. I love Will Griffin and I love Annie Walker and even better I love Will and Annie together. The characters were so fully fleshed out and had so many lovely details to them. Annie had some major character development that was also very appreciated. I think they both brought out really good qualities in one another and they helped each other grow. This story was a delight, I loved the small town elements and everything else in between. Highly highly recommend.

Ughhhhh So so cute. It was so sweet and didn't feel overdone or overplayed. It was cute but not nauseating

This book was absolutely lovely. I am a long-time fan of Sarah Adams, but I think this just might be my favorite of hers yet. It was passionate, heartfelt, relatable, and so, so sweet. Annie was the most relatable character I’ve read, and the way Will treated her was absolutely beautiful to see. I can’t wait to visit this town and family again!

Read if you love:
- good girl x bad boy
- small town
- practice dating
- Audrey Hepburn movies
- book lover heroines

Another great Sarah Adams romance! Sweet and swoon-worthy, this is a perfect read for anyone looking for a love story with a happy ever after!

i am one of the biggest sarah adams fans i know. i will push her work on anybody that will listen, including this. it wasn’t my favorite of hers (good girl, bad boy trope will never be for me) BUT. if that is your thing, by all MEANS pick this up. annie is such a sweet character, and i loved seeing characters from the previous book again. thanks to the publishers for this ARC!

Sarah Adams always has a way of writing romances that feel so cozy. It was amazing to be back in Rome, Kentucky for Practice Makes Perfect.

In this book we follow Noah’s younger sister, Annie. She’s an introvert with a life for romance novels but is ready to get married and settle down. She’s not into dating and feels that she is horrible at it. Will Griffin is the security guard for Amelia and is known for being single. With some meddling from Amelia, Will agrees to be a dating coach for Annie. The spark is undeniable but they agreed to be strictly friends for their coaching sessions.

Will is what book boyfriend dreams are made of. He has the broody, dark haired love interest thing going on along with tons of tattoos. His flirtatious nature was giving me butterflies throughout the book.

Will and Annie’s story is so beautiful, cozy, and full of angst. I loved every minute.

Thank you to NetGalley and Randomhouse Ballantine for this digital arc. All opinions are my own.

My review is also available on goodreads and my bookstagram account (@sirius.book.lover).

When in Rome was a little slice of magic but I knew that Noah’s sister’s had stories of their own and I needed to read them. Practice Makes Perfect proved that to be true. Taking us on Annie’s journey to find love and marriage in the small town of Rome with the help of super hunky, tattooed, bodyguard Will, Annie finds out who she really is, finds her confidence and finds love.
This story is an absolute winner. I loved When in Rome but I think I loved Practice Makes Perfect even more. From the vulnerability of the characters to the love of flowers, everything hit just right for me🌸

Annie Walker is known around Rome, Kentucky as the sweet, quiet, angel of the Walker family. She is ready to settle down but when her first date doesn’t go as planned, she comes up with a new plan: learn how to be a good date by practice dating the bad boy bodyguard Will Griffin who is temporarily back in town. Will has just returned to help provide security to Amelia Rose in the lead up to her wedding to Annie’s brother Noah and his only goal for his time in Rome is to keep his distance from Annie. Will quickly learns that there isn’t much that he wouldn’t do for Annie including helping her practice dating.

I love the connection between Annie and Will and how they bring out the best in one another. Although they appear to be vastly different at the start, this book shows that there is more to people than looks and the opinions of others. I found Annie to be incredibly relatable and really enjoyed seeing her learn to embrace herself as she is and not let everyone else’s opinions limit her. The way that this book explores the way that Will and Annie are coping with things that have happened in their past feels very honest and helps the reader to connect with them. I really loved returning to Rome in this book and getting to know the Walker siblings more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so cute and swoony. I read When in Rome a few months ago and when I found out that Sarah Adams's next book was about Annie, I got so excited. She was a lovely minor character in When in Rome and I loved getting to see her shine in this one.

Annie lives in the same small town that she grew up in with her three siblings, and owns a flower shop. Will is part of the security team for her brother’s fiancé, and they could not be more different. I loved the split narrative between Annie and Will, and I adored each character. Watching them grow and change while they develop feelings for each other felt so authentic and raw. Not to mention all the quirky and unique situations they get in to - all entertaining and fun to read

I also loved that Amelia and Noah were such a big part of this book, and the other side characters that I grew to love in When in Rome. I hope that where are more books based in Rome, because I can’t wait to check in on these beloved characters again! 

One of my favorite things is when characters talk about going to therapy - and especially men. We need more of that! And men reading romance novels. More of that please! 

I highly recommend this sweet and fun rom com. Can't wait to read what Sarah Adams writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!