I picked up When in Rome because I had recently purchased Practice Makes Perfect. When I bought the book, I didn’t realize it was part of a series. Although I was told it could work as a standalone, I wanted to read When in Rome first. I am so glad I did! Here’s a breakdown of the books and my review of each of them.
When in Rome Synopsis
Burned-out pop star Amelia (aka Rae) Rose spontaneously decides that she needs to escape from the relentless pressures of her life. Inspired by an Audrey Hepburn film, she drives to Rome, Kentucky. She makes it to Rome, but her plans are altered when her car breaks down in Noah Walker’s yard. Noah, a Southern gentleman, offers Amelia a room in his house until her car can get fixed. As the two grow close, they must contend with their vastly different lifestyles and the fact that Amelia will return to her life as Rae sooner than later.
When in Rome Details/Review
- To sum up this book in one word: CUTE.
- Amelia is a goofy and lovable chatterbox. Noah is a man of few words who runs the pie shop he inherited from his grandmother.
- The town itself is a character in this book, and I loved the cast of characters that Adams built. It was definitely giving Gilmore Girl vibes (Stars Hollow anyone?).
- This is a slow burn with “stuck with you” and grumpy/sunshine tropes.
- I thought that the book resolved very quickly, and there was room for some more emotional depth in the book that Adams left untouched. I also found it a *tad* unbelievable the way that absolutely no one in the town violated Amelia’s privacy as a celebrity.
When in Rome Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Practice Makes Perfect Synopsis
Annie Walker has one goal: to meet a man and settle down in Rome, Kentucky where she owns and runs a flower shop. She is hoping that this will fix the problem of feeling like something is missing from her life. The only issue is that she is introverted and, by her assessment, terrible at dating. Enter Will, her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s bodyguard. He is openly averse to serious relationships, which makes him the perfect candidate to be her dating coach. As the two set out on their “lessons” and have the town thinking they are dating, things become a bit more complicated than either of them anticipated.
Practice Makes Perfect Details/Review
- This is #2 in the When in Rome series. While this could be read as a standalone, I recommend reading it after When in Rome.
- Amelia and Noah are part of this story, but the focus has shifted to Noah’s sister Annie and her journey of self-discovery.
- I really loved Annie and how she learns who she is throughout the story. It felt like a very realistic depiction of breaking out of your childhood role and figuring out who you are as an adult.
- Will is everything—the chemistry between him and Annie was off the charts. I loved how he didn’t try to force Annie to do anything outside of what she wanted.
- Adams emphasizes the importance of honesty—with ourselves and others, and how we can’t let our past dictate our future.
Practice Makes Perfect Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
If I had to pick, I’d say Practice Makes Perfect was my favorite of the two; however, they were both fabulous. These books are so much fun, easy to read, and are clean romances. AND, Adams said in her acknowledgments that she is going to write another book set in Rome, so we have even more wonderfulness to look forward to!
You can buy When in Rome by clicking here and Practice Makes Perfect by clicking here, or you can visit your local bookstore ☻.