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kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Author: Sarah Adams
Series: When in Rome #1
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: September 20, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Wholesome • Fuzzy • Pleasant
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned-out from years of maintaining her “princess of pop” image. Inspired by her favorite Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome . . . Rome, Kentucky, that is.
When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear he doesn’t have the time or patience for celebrity problems. He’s too busy running the pie shop his grandmother left him and reminding his nosy but lovable neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment, he lets her stay in his guest room—but only until her car is fixed—then she’s on her own.
Then Noah starts to see a different side of Rae Rose—she’s Amelia: kindhearted and goofy, yet lonely from years in the public eye. He can’t help but get close to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have definitely seen all of the love for Sarah Adams on Bookstagram over the past couple of years, so when I was choosing 12 authors for my 2024 'Author Taste Test' project, she was an easy choice. I decided to start with When in Rome simply because of the cover and the small town vibes, and went in without knowing much more beyond that.
Take me to the pie shop! The small town setting of Rome, Kentucky was everything I needed and wanted it to be in this opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine romance. The dialogue is filled with quick witted banter that had me chuckling. The developing romance between Amelia and Noah felt wholly organic and I appreciated how their chemistry leapt off the page without it being overly steamy.
I absolutely adored Noah - he is the ideal MMC.
When in Rome definitely has those Hallmark movie vibes, yet without all of the cliché eye-rolling. It was a simple and joyful read with strong character development and just what I was looking for to kickstart summer reading season. Sarah Adams is definitely an author I look forward to reading more from, as I imagine I'll continue with Practice Makes Perfect next because if memory serves me correctly it involves a floral shop!
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• small town romance
• male bakers
• Audrey Hepburn
⚠️ CW: toxic friendship, toxic relationship, gaslighting, emotional abuse, abandonment, alcohol, death, death of parent, grief, dementia, sexual content, cursing, infidelity, stalking, body shaming, car accident
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Care is reckless because it doesn’t come with the seat belt that selfishness offers. Care has so much to lose, and almost always ends in heartbreak."
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Dementia, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, and Sexual content
luminescify's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, and Alcohol
nicolaj1994's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship
lucyrudd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
cmbohn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Dementia, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
crieraylas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Eating disorder, Car accident, and Abandonment
anais201717's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Abandonment
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
frantically's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing, Stalking, Gaslighting, and Classism
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Dementia, and Death of parent
akswhy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Cursing and Dementia
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual harassment
theespressoedition's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content