Book Review: When in Rome

I always see people rave about Sarah Adam’s ongoing Rome, Kentucky series. When I was at Barnes & Noble months ago they were having one of their buy one get one 50% off sales on select books so I picked up the 2 books that are out in the series – When in Rome and Practice Makes Perfect. I just read When in Rome this week finally!

The novel is a dual POV and follows Amelia Rose and Noah Walker. Amelia is a really popular pop singer who is feeling burnt out and lonely. Just weeks before she is set to leave on her 9-month tour, she decides to leave town and go on a little trip alone without telling her manager or anyone where she’s going. A life-long Audrey Hepburn fan, she decides to take inspiration from the movie Roman Holiday. However, she doesn’t have time to go to Rome, Italy before her tour so she drives to Rome, Kentucky. Before she can make it to the b&b she booked, her car breaks down in front of Noah Walker’s house. Noah is the hot and grumpy pie shop owner in the small town and although he is grumpy he convinces her to get out of her smoking car and come inside the house.

When they learn it’s going to take 2 weeks to fix Amelia’s car due to a shortage in a part she needs, Amelia stays with Noah and quickly begins to love the small town and the people in it including Noah’s 3 younger sisters. Feelings and attraction grow between Amelia and Noah, but they both decide they can only be friends. Amelia is going to have to return to reality and her career and Noah has been hurt in the past by another girl who was only in town temporarily and doesn’t want to go through that again. But with their growing friendship and forced proximity, will they be able to remain just friends?

I really enjoyed this novel and adored Amelia and Noah. The slow burn was well done and I loved the playful banter – mostly Amelia trying to purposely get under Noah’s skin and his grumpy ways. And I always love a grumpy sunshine!

I can’t wait to read Practice Makes Perfect because I think Annie and Will’s story is going to be really good!

Read this if you want a closed door romcom with the forced proximity and grumpy sunshine tropes.

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