When in Rome: A Novel (Rome, Kentucky)
Opposites certainly attract for the stranded pop star and small-town baker in this charming slice of romance from the author of the TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet.
“This modern take on the Hepburn classic Roman Holiday is a quick, fun, slow-burn rom-com.”—Abby Jimenez, bestselling author of The Friend Zone
ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
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.
Amelia can’t resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.
Look for all of Sarah Adams’s When in Rome books:
WHEN IN ROME • PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT • BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL (Coming Soon!)
“This modern take on the Hepburn classic Roman Holiday is a quick, fun, slow-burn rom-com.”—Abby Jimenez, bestselling author of The Friend Zone
ONE OF NPR’S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
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.
Amelia can’t resist falling for the cozy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey had to leave Rome eventually.
Look for all of Sarah Adams’s When in Rome books:
WHEN IN ROME • PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT • BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL (Coming Soon!)
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Honestly, more of a 3.5. It was a fine story, but I feel like the chemistry between the two main characters was a bit rushed and slightly unbelievably. Still a nice story though.
When in Rome is cute, I'll give it that. Amelia and Noah had some really sweet moments making pancakes together and sitting in Noah's pie shop, and they've stuck with me in the full year it's taken me to write this review :D
But it didn't fully win me over. Adams falls into the trap a lot of romance novels fall into of not allowing the male lead to feel like a real person. Amelia mistreats him and it's portrayed like something wholesome and quirky. It's not. But that's not unique to her writing.
It's just like how that guy in The Notebook's refusal to take 'no' for an answer at the beginning of the movie is portrayed as romantic and endearing even though it's complete harassment. It's a real shame. But c'est la vie.
This book made me want to own a pie shop. Maybe I'll buy a bakery when I retire...
But it didn't fully win me over. Adams falls into the trap a lot of romance novels fall into of not allowing the male lead to feel like a real person. Amelia mistreats him and it's portrayed like something wholesome and quirky. It's not. But that's not unique to her writing.
It's just like how that guy in The Notebook's refusal to take 'no' for an answer at the beginning of the movie is portrayed as romantic and endearing even though it's complete harassment. It's a real shame. But c'est la vie.
This book made me want to own a pie shop. Maybe I'll buy a bakery when I retire...
Everyone deserves a happy ending, no matter how misleading it seems. In this story, we follow Amelia aka Rae Rose as she is overwhelmed with what her life turned out to be. So in the events of trying to catch a break before a major nine-month tour, Amelia finds herself in Rome, Kentucky followed by a minor accident where all things unravel for her, including, Noah Walker.
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