This is the definition of a feel good book! It is sweet, fun and flirty! It has it all.. grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, dual pov and a small town romance. I don’t reread books but this will definitely be one I pick back up in the future. I love how this book isn’t just about romance. It talks about finding yourself and rekindling relationships.

Pop star, Amelia Rae Rose finds herself on her way to Rome. Rome, Kentucky that is. Her car breaks down in front of none other than the grumpy Noah Walker’s house. From there we follow the story of how the two are forced to live in the same house for the next two weeks until her car is fixed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Sarah Adams for allowing me to read this amazing ARC.

When in Rome tell the story of Amelia, who is known as the pop star princess Rae Rose. Feeling burned out, she decides one night to randomly pick an Audrey Hepburn movie to watch and follow its path. The movie she ended up picking was Roman Holiday so she sets off to the closest Rome she could find: Rome, Kentucky. Her car ends up breaking down in front of our sweet yet grumpy, pie-shop owner’s house, Noah! Amelia ends up staying at Noah’s place while her car is getting fixed and the two just couldn’t resist each other - no matter how much logic said they should🙈

This was a nice change of pace from the steamy romance novels I usually enjoy to read so the fade-to-black here was just not it for me. But the dual POV was amazing for the plot and the supporting characters were very entertaining👏🏼

It's a perfect light read if you’re in the mood for something cute🥰

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for allowing me to be an early reader✨

Such a cute rom-com! I love a small-town romance. The main character, Amelia, escapes to a small town and falls in love with a handsome pie shop owner. This story is so cute and I loved it just as much as The Cheat Sheet. I highly recommend it this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
I think from now on I will not read books by any acclaimed author in tiktok. While I am sure a lot of people will enjoy this book I am not one of them. Finish it was a chore, by the end of the book the contradicted herself with information she gave us in the beginning.

I literally squealed when I found out I was getting this arc!! Reading one of Sarah's books is like that perfect day of reading. You're all cozy under a fluffy blanket, it's stormy outside, the fireplace is going, and you have a warm cup of hot chocolate or tea next to you. You read the whole book in one sitting because you can't put it down!

When in Rome was so much fun!! You've got the grumpy/sunshine trope. Add to that a small town with hilarious side characters! Our sunshine is a famous pop star with an Audrey Hepburn obsession! Our grump is an adorable pie shop owner that's been burned in the past. I simply adored the banter! It's laugh out loud funny! Plus, their inner monologues had me giggling!! I love each of their personalities and the trials that made them who they are. It was realistic and I like seeing the messy! Plus, I have nothing in common with a wealthy famous singer but I found myself drawn to Amelia and the way she's a people pleaser and relating to her that way. I was really invested in these characters like they're real people! That's GREAT writing there!!

The side characters are really fun and I hope this becomes a series! I want HEA for all Noah's sisters and James!! They all have distinct personalities and I really enjoy them all!! The writing is fun and the pacing is great! I couldn't put it down! It's that perfect fun rom-com read that just puts you in the best mood when you finish! Totally fell in love and couldn't recommend this one more!!

When in Rome was the amazing rom com, I didn't know I needed!
This book made me FEEL & when books make me feel.. it instantly becomes a favorite!

When in Rome follows small town, grumpy, Pie Shop owner, Noah & Big City, Famous, Pop Star, Amelia. Amelia needs a break from her life that's making her feel lonely although she's surrounded by millions of people. She escapes to a small town to de-stress & re-evaluate her life, but falling for the handsome, hopeless romantic Noah, was not in the cards.

Mentions of classics like Audrey Hepburn (who I named my daughter after BTW) & Frank Sinatra tunes, amongst others, just ups the romance factor in this book.

The way the author describes the thoughts of each character, just made me feel like I was physically there. The chemistry & the tension, between both MC's is fuckin' outstanding. I laughed at the banter between all the characters in the book, I cried when I saw heartbreak about to happen, and was so happy when getting towards the end. Now, I just want more of Amelia & Noah!!


Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Without giving too much away:
This one is for the people who have ever been cheated on in a relationship you weren’t truly happy in but found it so hard to let go of someone and the person you were with them. This one is for the people who feel suffocated by their surroundings but the loneliest they’ve ever felt. This one is for the people who feel abandoned by everyone who said they’d never leave. It’s ok to still love someone and to only want the best for them even after they stomped all over your love. It’s ok to want them to be happy. It’s ok to be grateful for all of the things you experienced with them, even if you never want them to be a part of your life ever again. It’s ok to accept all of this to help you heal & move on.
Noah is an absolute dream boat. Amelia made me cry a few times and I feel protective over her. Such a good read.

Sarah Adams is my new favorite author! I've seen her books on social media but never picked one up until this ARC. OH. MY. GOODNESS. I've read two more since this one and can't wait to read the rest of her backlist. When in Rome is a sweet, hilarious, and completely addicting story that is the perfect escape read!

Amelia "Rae" Rose is a pop star in need of a break. And she soon finds just what she's looking for after her car breaks down in the tiny town of Rome...

I was HOOKED on the characters as soon as they met. The chemistry between them was evident from the start, and I found myself rooting for them the whole time. The romance is very slow burn, so know that you aren't going to get a lot right off the bat. But I think that almost makes it better because we really get to see Amelia and Noah's relationship blossom and transform.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with the eARC. The opinions herein are my own and my honest review of the book.

Summary: Amelia Rose has been performing as a pop icon and needs a break. She loves Roman Holiday and cannot believe the serendipity in finding herself in Rome, albeit Rome, Kentucky. She then meets a very handsome and gruff stranger who shows her kindness and a town excited to embrace her for who she is, not what they can get from her.

This is my first Sarah Adams book, but I have seen people post about her on TikTok a lot and was very excited by the premise of the book. I love Roman Holiday and Audrey Hepburn, but I also got big Gilmore Girl and Sweet Home Alabama vibes from the book, Especially with the way Noah interacts with the town. I am also such a sucker for forced proximity. However, I didn't love the characters in the story, I felt some where a little too stereotypical and I didn't totally buy Noah and Amelia's chemistry, especially in the beginning. Overall, it was a cute and pretty quick read, great for reading by the fire this fall when it will be released.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars

- I’m a sucker for anything Audrey Hepburn (especially since I share a birthday with her 💁🏻‍♀️) and especially Roman Holiday and this book sucked me in from the very first Audrey reference on the first page.

- 100% relate to Amelia’s problem with sticking to a certain image, even if I’m not a famous pop star.

- Noah’s sisters remind me of my sister and best friend and I want to be besties with them.

- Very grateful for the limited spice.

- Wish I could read this book for the first time again 😩.

- Question for the Author: What happened on May 23rd???

Gosh this was so cute

The perfect grumpy vs sunshine trope 🤌 Noah and Amelia's chemistry was on point. I absolutely loved their self-control. I specifically remember "chastity burrito blanket" had me dying.

This has everything you want in a typical small town romance without being super cliché and corny. This was done in a way that just felt so authentic and heartfelt. I just want to transport to this town for a gateway.

This was a fun, quick read, perfect for vacation reading. It definitely requires some suspension of disbelief, and the characters are pretty stereotypical (complete with the only Black character maybe being magical).

So darn cute. I love everything about Sarah Adams her books included. When In Rome was super cute and followed Rae Rose as she took a break from her time in the spotlight. In doing so her car breaks down literally on Noah's front lawn. During her time in Rome Kentucky Noah fights the feeling he has for Rae but it's no use. Rae and Noah are the cutest when they finally get their act together.
Thank you Sarah for my review copy on NetGalley.

What a fun, sweet read! I enjoyed the story and loved the characters in the book. Kept me reading and wanting more!

Cute cute cute! What a beautiful retelling of Roman Holiday.
Amelia is a pop star that needs a break. She ends up In Rome, Kentucky where Noah (a handsome pie shop owner) lives. I love a small town romance. I love the side characters.

This was a cute rom-com in parts but lacked the pizzazz I was hoping for. A bit predictable with a plot that had some promise, When in Rome is a fast read that leaves you happy for love and longing for pie!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for this eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loving this book was a slow burn for me. I felt frustrated and annoyed, but it turns out, that was the brilliant author Sarah Adams’ plan the whole time. I’m fairly certain I’d like to claim Noah Walker as my newest book boyfriend and placing him in first place. For me, this book addressed a few very important things: burnout + prioritizing mental wellness, and communication. Communication between partners, strangers, friends, and family are all so important to maintaining healthy relationships instead of keeping feelings reeled in and losing yourself and those relationships. Burnout is a very real thing in any line of work and I am a firm believer that therapy is for everyone, not just those who experience loss, trauma, or mental health struggles- it’s a benefit for everyone and the ending of this book touches on that. It also reminds readers that taking a timeout is OKAY. You shouldn’t have to feel guilty about disappointing others when living through that burnout is only going to disappoint yourself. Take the time to water yourself and the world will be ready to watch you bloom when you get back to it. By the end of this book I just wanted to hold and hug it forever. Like drinking a warm cup of coffee during a light rain, snuggled up under a blanket and holding hands with a dog nestled into your lap. 10/10 recommend and will be swiftly purchasing the physical copy when this book is released on Sept 20.

When in Rome
author: sarah adams
genre: contemporary romance
pages: 320
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
spice rating: 1/5
pub date: Sept 20

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of When in Rome by Sarah Adams in exchange for my honest opinion.

1. I stayed up way too late to read this book!
2. I decided When in Rome is the equivalent of book crack for romcom lovers.
3. I like being an addict if I can read books that are this funny and warm-hearted!

Truly, I was sucked into this story so, so fast! I loved how Amelia and Noah interacted from the beginning. This is a dual POV so we get to see how each one is trying to resist the other. It was so delightful with the sisters and town.

This romcom has elements I love:
Grumpy & Sunshine
Small town
A baker!
Famous person & the ordinary person
Past trauma that leads to the characters' actions (and this is true for the sisters too!)
References to old movies and music! (Love this & hope to see more of it!)

Do I recommend the story? YES!!!
I loved it!
Don't walk, but run to get it!
And clear your schedule so you don't have to stay up too late to read. :)

And Sarah (yes, I'm addressing you like we know each other), please, please, please give me more books!

-Small town in Kentucky (hello hometown)
=Audrey Hepburn Vibes (who doesn't adore her?)
-All things pie (apple pie, you the real MVP)
Count this gal in!

It was a
SWEET
LIGHTHEARTED
COZY
read.

Also lets talk about my girl, Mabel. I knew so many ladies like her growing up. Felt like home. I know she has to have a huge collection of broken-in quilts and for sure makes the best biscuits and gravy.

I'll gladly read anything Sarah Adams writes. An errand list, grocery list, I'll take it.