Practice Makes Perfect was one of my most anticipated romance books of 2023, and unfortunately, it was disappointing. The entire time I was reading it, I just wanted to re-read When in Rome.

I found Practice Makes Perfect to be very one note. I liked both main characters, but their dialogue, interactions, and inner monologues were repetitive. My other big issue was that Annie's inner monologue about marriage and needing to find a husband was exhausting. By the end, I no longer cared about them. I just wanted the book to be over.

This is a part of a companion series, and I highly recommend reading When in Rome first. Many of those characters and plot points will make more sense.

I’ll start off by saying I preferred this to When In Rome. The chemistry between Annie and Will is so genuine and fun to read. A very cute, fun, and lighthearted book.

Annie Walker, a small-town sweetheart, longed to find her perfect match in Rome, Kentucky, where dating prospects were dwindling. After being labeled “unbelievably boring” by a date, Annie wondered if she needed to become more outgoing. She sought a tutor and turned to Will Griffin, a handsome and tattooed bodyguard who has returned to Rome temporarily. Will’s objective was to avoid attachments but he reluctantly agreed to help Annie find love. As Annie and Will spent time together, their friendship blurred and revealed hidden depths to Will’s stoic demeanor. Annie began to question her ideal partner and realized that true love may not be perfect but it was real.

Practice Makes Perfect garnered significant praises from readers leaving me with high hopes and expectations. However, while the book was enjoyable to an extent, it failed to fully live up to my expectations despite the overwhelming positive reviews about Sarah Adams’ writings and previous works.

The narrative unfolded with a steady pace with dual POV as a big bonus that kept me in the loop about what the characters felt throughout the story. However, it felt predictable at times, leaving me longing for a more innovative and captivating storyline.

One of the main drawbacks of the book was the characters. While Annie and Will had their moments of growths, their arcs often felt shallow and repetitive. I also found the protagonists immature for their age mentioned in the book. It felt like reading main characters as high school students instead of around 30ish. These left me feeling somewhat detached in their journey.

While this particular book may not have fully met my elevated expectations, it is essential to acknowledge that reading experiences can be subjective. What did not resonate with me may captivate others. The book might had fallen short of my expectations but it still offered moments of literary merit, like emotional scenes that moved me, and engaged me to a certain extent. This might bring me to still try Adam’s early works like “The Cheat Sheet” and “When in Rome”.

(Review is posted in Instagram, Goodreads, and Wordpress.)

ugh so cheesy in the best way. one of my favorite romances i’ve read in a while. the way she would call him random names like wilburt and williamson was so freaking cute. his tattoos <333 i have no nit picking to give 10/10. i knew i was going to love this book.

Another enjoyable book from Sarah Adams. I loved that the story featured a different character that we had already been introduced to in When in Rome. The characters were great and I greatly enjoyed the storyline. Would highly recommend this book.

I swear no one does cozy romances like Sarah Adams!!!! I love having books where the third act break up isn’t a thing because I’m so so tired of it happening… it’s just overdone and unnecessary people!!

This book was just so mature. The ending was incredible and so well done because I hateeeeeee the insta love trope so damn much. Nothing about this book felt insta lovey but the FMC making the start decision not to marry the MMC after just a month of actually seeing each other was incredible! They were both mature even tho she had never been in a relationship and was a virgin and he had fear of relationships.

It was a bit corny but perfectly done as well! Cozy and funny and so easy to read. Sarah always leaves me wanting spice but I don’t mind that there is none because her characters make it just so easy to be loved!

I have a theory on who the next book is about and I cannot wait to see if I’m right 😉😉

I absolutely adored When in Rome, so I was excited to be back in Rome, Kentucky with some familiar names and characters. Sarah Adams writes such fun relatable characters that are hard not to love.
Annie is a 30 year old flower shop owner who is following in her mother’s footsteps even though she didn’t really know her very well because her parents died when Annie was very young. Annie still feels like this is what her mother would want her to do. Will is in town to be the bodyguard for Amelia, who is a pop star and engaged to Annie’s brother Noah. The wedding is just a couple of weeks away and Will has to ensure that Amelia is safe up until she leaves for her honeymoon and then he’s off on his next assignment. Both Annie and Will have lots of family baggage and so neither know how to handle the instant chemistry that happens-especially since “Angel Annie” is a virgin and Will is known for being a womanizing bad boy who doesn’t want to settle down because he saw he toxicity of his parents marriage and doesn’t want that for himself. Naturally, everyone in this small town has an opinion on whether they should be together-they go so far as to create a petition! And thankfully, we have communication between the MC for a change! I love a man who can express how he feels! Yes he had his moments, but overall, he was open with his thoughts and feelings and I am here for it.
This has more spice than When In Rome, so know that going in, but there is nothing explicit.
I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Thanks to Dell Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

I started reading this book with such high hopes that it would be exactly the romantic comedy I needed. But honestly, the characters fell flat and it just didn't keep me interested in the story enough.

Favorite romance of the year? I think so!

This has got it all! Bodyguard, fake dating, teaching how to date, butterfly inducing moments and she's a romance reader who turns him into one too. The chemistry is OFF THE CHARTS. SO much love, hope and happiness. It's just gonna make you smile!

This was my first Sarah Adams and OMG I have been missing out! Running to get more of her books now.

This was a super cute fake dating rom-com book. I loved the tension between the main characters. I gave this book 4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Annie is characterized as a sweet, innocent, people-pleaser by her family and basically the entire town of Rome, Kentucky. Will is a tattooed, mysterious body guard for Annie’s soon to be sister in law, Amelia. After a date gone completely wrong, Annie works out an agreement with Will to be her secret dating coach and help her find a husband. The two couldn’t be more opposite and so there’s no chance anyone catches feelings… 🥹

There is so much good in this book. I loved Annie and her growth as a character. I loved Will’s bad boy persona that hides his heart of gold.

Sarah Adams writes books that leave you feeling happy and this one is no different. My only complaint is that I wanted more of Annie and Will’s story.

You’ll love:
- Small town romance
- Florist + bodyguard
- Opposites attract
- Dual pov
- Spicy but not explicit

Sarah Adams books just keep getting better and better! This story was so sweet and both main characters were just so so easy to root for. I do think that this is my favorite of her books (minus maybe The Cheat Sheet), but I'm very hopeful that we get books following the other sisters in the Walker family in the next few years!!!

I normally read fairly spicy romance and a more closed door romance is a refreshing twist and gave me even more longing and heart aches for the characters/situation.

Read this book, its so lovely and very bingable for the summer.

4.5/5 rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing an eARC of this title for review. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

Desperate to break out of her shell, florist Annie Walker enlists help from bodyguard Will Griffin to gain more experience in dating. When real feelings start to develop but life seems to threaten to pull them in opposite directions, Annie and Will have to decide whether their romance has the roots to stick around long-term.

When I think of Sarah Adams, I think of a Hallmark movie in book form. Practice Make Perfect is a breezy summer rom-com that is sure to make her long-term fans happy. It was maybe a little sweet for my personal taste + the characters definitely read younger than 20s-30s. However, since it was released, it has already been a big hit with our patrons, with our physical and digital copies flying off the shelves. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for future books in this series and will be sure to recommend it to readers who enjoy romance on the sweeter side. 3.4 stars

I devoured this book and loved every minute of it. The fake dating trope is one of my favorites! Sarah was able to write it in a way that felt fresh and authentic. I can’t wait to add this to my shelf!

I am so glad Sarah Adams wrote another story set in Rome. This one is about Annie and Will and their story arc does not disappoint. Annie is cute, kind and loves flowers where as Will is a mysterious quiet man who bodyguards Annie's soon to be sister in law. I love the town, the people in the town and Annie's family because Sarah Adams tells us a little bits of each of them in each story. I hope she continues this series with one of the sisters...

The audio book was well done and the two narrators were perfect, just as I like it.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

I completely fell in love with this story. I didn't read the first book in the series, but was able to follow along just fine. Annie is sweet and kind and secretly passionate and longs for adventure. Will comes from a rough childhood and isn't sure if he's capable of love, but Annie challenges that idea from the beginning. They make a fantastic pairing and the honesty they have is so refreshing.

I love this little town, it reminds me of the southern version of Stars Hollow, where everyone knows everyone else. The side characters were entertaining and their meddling made me laugh. I can see why Annie is determined never to move away from Rome.

This was a lot of fun to read and I didn't want it to end!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the copy.

𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: small town, dual POV, opposites attract, fake/ practice dating, angsty, friends to lovers, pining

”𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆... 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝘅𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲"

Needless to say, this book caught my attention after this first line 😂

You hate love? Goodluck on hating it still after you’ve read this book!

\When in Rome is one of my favorite romances last year and this was such a great followup for that book! Also, can we all congratulate Sarah Adams for hitting the New York Bestseller List?? Woohoo!!! So well deserved!! 🎉

So what is this book about?

She wants marriage. He doesn’t even want to consider the thought of having feelings. 😂 Obviously, they are aware that they can never be together. Which makes Will the perfect dating coach for Annie who can’t seem to hold a conversation when out on a date. Perfect situation, right? Well, yes if the two of them didn’t secretly develop feelings for each other. I’m telling you the PINING in this book is another level! 😂

I love that Annie was a reader too. Her favorite type of book? Spicy romance books about pirates! Lol

As always, I fell in love again with the small town of Rome and loved reading about their lovely community filled with nosy neighbors 😂

See when you read a Sarah Adams book you just expect to laugh and smile and feel things! That first flower scene was so cute. And page Page 115? I’m not even into love triangles but this scene was super cute! That baseball scene had me laughing so much too!! Amelia and that fake mustache, I cannot haha. I absolute adore the times when he takes cute photos of her! And that this was all happening with the making of a wedding on the background!

I mean honestly I should stop reading her books in public! I look like a deranged human being from an outside observer 😂

Some parts can be repetitive for me and I thought they made the book longer than what is needed BUT that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book!

💭 Any Friday plans?
☕️ I’m meeting some booksta besties tonight for an Abby Jimenez event!

"You have wrecked me in the best way I could ever imagine, and I'll never be the same. Never want to be the same."

This has become my new all-time favorite rom com!

A small-town romance with fake dating, good girl/ bad boy and hilarious dialogue. I was smiling and kicking my feet literally 20% into this book. Our main characters Will and Annie had the best chemistry that I have ever read. I literally pictured this entire book as a movie in my head, it had the best banter and even though the story was a bit cheesy at times I loved it! I could not stop reading I stayed up late at night just to get more of Will and Annie.


Also this gave Gilmore Girl vibes in the best way. I loved how the whole town was so noisy and everyone just wanted to know what was going on with everyone. It definitely made me laugh out loud!

I highly recommend you read this book if you love,
>Small town romance
>bad boy/good girl
>fake dating
>are a hopeless romantic and a softie. <3

Sigh. This book was such a warm hug. I loved returning to Rome and reuniting with these characters.⁣
⁣
I always love a bad boy good girl trope and this was perfection. The banter was amazing. Annie was sweet and wholesome, the girl next door, living in books, creating gorgeous flower arrangements. Will was ex military and is now a tattooed, emotionally unavailable, not as sin body guard who was so drawn to Annie, his complete opposite.⁣
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The chemistry and banter between these two were dynamite. I loved their story so much and couldn’t put it down. The brought the best out in each other and pushed each other out of their comfort zones.⁣
⁣
This book had me laughing out loud at times and totally swooning. The open communication with these two was so refreshing. I absolutely LOVED it.⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book surprised me! I’ve been a little hesitant with contemporary romances lately but this one gave me all the feels. The tension between Annie and Will was electric. I loved the deeper character development of both Annie and Will. Annie with her trying to break away from the “sweet innocent” that everyone has pegged her to be and Will coming to terms with his parents terrible relationship and moving forward with his own. Will also seemed more like a true man in his thoughts and words. I read this book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down!