This book was so cute! I have had this on my shelf forever, and I don't know why it took me so long to finally pick it up. I loved the small-town setting, the characters, and the development of the relationship between Amelia and Noah -- two seemingly complete opposites. I cannot wait to read the next books in this series. They are definitely moving up my TBR!

*When in Rome* by Sarah Adams is the kind of small-town romance that feels like a warm cup of coffee on a cozy morning—sweet, charming, and just the right amount of fun. It follows Amelia, a pop star who’s completely burnt out and in desperate need of a break. So, she does what any exhausted person would do—escapes to a tiny town called Rome (not the one in Italy, though).

Enter Noah, the grumpy but ridiculously attractive local baker who definitely *did not* sign up to play host to a stranded celebrity. Sparks fly, banter ensues, and despite their differences, Amelia and Noah can’t seem to stay away from each other. The small-town vibes are perfect, the romance is swoon-worthy, and the humor keeps everything light and fun. If you love opposites-attract stories with a Hallmark-movie feel, this one is a must-read!

I am OBSESSED with Sarah Adam’s. She’s quickly become a new favorite author of mine. Amelia and Noah gave me butterflies. It was light, sweet, hilarious, and the TENSION!! So perfect. This entire series has my heart and I cannot recommend it enough.

I liked this one! Cute and fluffy and a very mindless read. I’m a huge fan of the sunshine x grump trope so this one was enjoyable.

[REVIEW: When in Rome by Sarah Adams]

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. Opinions are my own.


3.5 ⭐️, rounded down!

This book was maybe THE SLOWEST and I meant S-L-O-W-E-S-T burn rom com I’ve ever read.

Spoiler alert: our couple doesn’t really admit feelings or get together until the book is 85% of the way through (and I know this to be exact because my kindle told me so)!

To my discredit, I’ve already read other books in this series (this is book #1). This may be contributing to the reason why I felt the pacing was a bit off for this author’s typical speed. I know it takes time to set the scene for a small town romance with all its busybody townsfolk, but the whole story’s timeline really left me wanting more from our main characters. I can however confirm I loved book #2 and will certainly pick up book #3 in the future.

Tropes:
- grumpy/sunshine 🌧️☀️
- stranded in a small town 🗺️
- celebrity singer/bakery owner 🎤🥧
- found family 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

What a delightful book - I don't know what I was expecting when I started reading it but it was a lot sweeter and more comforting than I could've imagined. Like the movie, Roman Holiday starting the brilliant Audrey Hepburn, our main character Amelia "Rae" Rose who is an international popstar runs off to Rome (Kentucky, not Italy) to escape her life where she meets the broody (yet oh so lovely) Noah Walker. There's a lot of attraction from the start but between her popstar life and his jaded past, there's a LOT of "will they won't they". The other characters in the book are wonderful and heart warming and I kinda want to go visit Rome myself now.

I absolutely LOVED this book! Noah and Amelia’s relationship was so sweet! I loved that he was a baker! His relationship with his sisters was so funny and I also loved how Amelia fell so well into a relationship with his sisters as well. Just a super cute romance!

This really is a sweet book but I feel like this author is just not for me. I liked the romance, the banter, and the setting. However, I felt like there was something missing. I am sure a lot of readers will enjoy this one.

This book has been on my Netgalley for a bit and I haven’t picked it up. I haven’t been into romance in a minute, so I’m not the right person to review it anymore.

I really loved this book! Amelia was such a good main character. I really felt for her and how she had no one to trust. I love the small town and found family of this book.

Okay, let me just say—I loved this book! When in Rome by Sarah Adams was exactly what I needed: a cozy, feel-good romance that hit me right in the feels. It’s sweet, funny, and just the perfect escape.

The story follows Amelia, a pop star who’s totally burnt out and ends up in a small town after her car breaks down. Enter Noah, the grumpy (but secretly swoony) small-town baker who reluctantly lets her stay at his place. Classic opposites attract, but oh, it’s done so well! Their banter had me smiling nonstop, and the slow burn? Chef’s kiss.

What really stood out for me was the character development. Amelia isn’t just a pop star stereotype—she’s real and vulnerable, trying to figure out who she is outside of the spotlight. And Noah? He’s gruff and guarded, but with such a soft side that comes out in the best ways. Watching them slowly let down their walls and fall for each other felt so natural and satisfying.

Also, the small-town vibe is just perfection. It’s cozy and charming, and the side characters add so much heart and humor. I felt like I was right there with them, rooting for Amelia and Noah every step of the way.

If you’re looking for a cute, slow-burn romance that’ll make you smile, laugh, and maybe even tear up a little, When in Rome is it. Highly recommend for a cozy night in with a blanket and a cup of tea!

When in Rome was an absolutely adorable rom-com! It includes several tropes/elements that I love, including a small town setting and a relationship between a celebrity and a "normal" person (non-celebrity).

Amelia is burned out and wants to escape from her celebrity life, She heads out in her car, only to break down in a rural town. Have no fear, though, she is rescued by Noah. Alas the car repairs will take several weeks, so she is forced to stay in Rome, KY, explore the city, and meet the locals. Inevitably she is charmed by the cast of characters she is introduced to, and the small town feel of Rome. There is also her growing attraction with Noah (classic grumpy X sunshine). Between all of these things, it's getting harder and harder for her to imagine leaving Rome.

Overall this is a heartwarming story and the whole way through I just couldn't wait for the two of them to admit their feelings for each other and get together.

This was such a cute little rom com that I enjoyed from start to finish! It’s a slow burn, grumpy-sunshine romance — two of my least favorite tropes — but I’ll tell you, this one really worked for me!

The characters were unique and had a lot of fun quirks & baggage to unpack in addition to the main romantic plot. They were each dealing with their own trauma and drama! While I am not much like either character (ie. Not a pop superstar or a small town pie shop owner), I found them both easy to love! I loved the tension between them and appreciated that there was more to the story after the main romantic climax (pun ABSOLUTELY intended) and it didn’t just fall off and wrap up “and they lived happily ever after” like a lot of slow burn romances do.

There was also a great cast of supporting characters that I would absolutely read a book about -- for example a spin off about Noah's sisters, or a "prequel" about his grandmother & her best friend Mable, who seemed like the Thelma and Louise type!

(NOTE: As I was writing this, I looked it up and she DID write some of these! Practice Makes Perfect came out last summer and follows Noah's youngest sister Annie & Beg Borrow or Steal follows his oldest sister, Emily, and releases in January! Definitely adding them to my TBR!)

While this wasn't necessarily the best book I've ever read ever in my life, I did give it five stars. Why? Because it hit all the marks for what I expected -- it was a fun, easy read that made my smile and giggle! It had everything I want in a silly little romantic comedy, although if I did have to critique, I'd say I would have liked a little more spice instead of the "fade to black" when they FINALLY got together! But if you're looking for a very wholesome romance with a unique perspective, this one is for you!

The biggest thank you to the author, Sarah Adams, and her publisher, Dell, for allowing me to read this book as an ARC! It may have taken me a while, but I'm so grateful and hope to read future love stories from Adams!

DNF @ 60%

I set this one down and over a year later I still have no desire to finish it. While I liked the main characters, the sisters really killed this book for me. I am sure there was going to be a conversation later on about their controlling ways but I just could not stick around to finish it.

3.5
This is a light and comforting romance. I enjoyed the banter between Amelia and Noah as well as the cute, charming town of Rome, Kentucky. The story has the predictable elements of romance and conflict/hurdles to overcome, but it’s handled quite well and is fun to read. This is a slow burn, closed door romance - perfect if you need some comfort and fun.

I really enjoyed this book! I love a good small town romance, especially two MCs from different worlds coming together. I thought the chemistry was so well written between these two and I loved their relationship. I will definitely be rereading this book!

This was the first book I read by Sarah Adams, and I'm sure it will not be my last. Perfect summer read Thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with this book.. Thank you, NetGalley for the arc of this book.

I absolutely loved this book!! The small town vibes were perfect. All the towns people cracked me up & gave Gilmore Girls vibes all the way. I loved how grumpy Noah was but how he took care of those he loved. Overall this book was 5 stars and a new fav of mine!

I loved this book! The author does a wonderful job creating and writing her characters and developing a story that draws you in. I had a hard time putting this book down.

This is the first book in a new series and I can't wait to read the second book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Very nice rom com. Loved the characters, and the writing gave me a good laugh throughout. Would definitely read more of your works!