Practice Makes Perfect: A Novel (Rome, Kentucky)

This enchanting, wholesome read left me giggly and blushing. The chemistry and tension between the leads were perfection, exceeding my expectations and pulling me into a charming world I couldn’t help but love. In this house we stan a man who can communicate—Griffin, with his “I’m not gonna catch feelings” energy and tender heart wrapped in floral tattoos, is peak book boyfriend. His unwavering support for Annie, wanting her to change absolutely nothing about herself, was everything. Sarah delivers a tender, witty, and emotional love story I adored to pieces.

Read if you enjoy: - Closed Door Romance - Fake Dating - Opposites Attract - Bodyguard (MMC) and Flowershop Owner (FMC) - Pirate Smut Reader (FMC) - Dual POV - Small Town Vibes - COMMUNICATION! I simply loved everything about this book! What a fun and quick-paced book filled with lovable characters and opinionated small-town nosy found family haha. Annie is a flower shop owner in a small town where everyone knows her as the sweet and angelical Annie. She is on a mission to find her perfect soon-to-be husband where she can finally fill the void she feels inside. On the other hand, we have Will, the bodyguard (excuse me… executive protection agent (EPA) sorry Will haha IFKYK) coming to fulfill his job for a month as Amelia (Book 1) is preparing for her wedding. He knows he should stay away from Annie but Amelia has better things in mind. She sets them up after a mortifyingly bad date for Annie. She asks Will to coach Annie on how to get better on her dates and this is where sparks just fly. The Fake dating in this story was so good. I loved the dynamic of Will and Annie and how he wanted her to shine without changing who she is. He was so supportive and gave her the means to flourish while blurring the lines himself of never falling in love. It was so sweet to see him coming to this realization after enduring his childhood traumas. The communication between was so good. This book was adorably cute! If you want a book with lovable characters and great communication with laughable moments, give this one a try! Loved it! “Annabell, I need you to know, I’ve fallen madly in love with you.” “But you don’t believe in love.” “It was easier to say I don’t believe in love, rather than admitting to myself that I was afraid I wouldn’t be loved back”

STARS ATTENTION! I think this is where *cute* enters the chat! We have a 5 Star Read!! Practice Makes Perfect is the second book in the When In Rome series by Sarah Adams. I read the paperback with a few chapters listened to on audio (so I could get the full experience)! I loved it both ways! Will and Annie are the cutest opposites attract couple in the entire state of Kentucky. This love story was witty, engaging, and downright tender. I loved Annie’s transformation. Watching her take charge of her own future was powerful and encouraging! In this house, we sure do love a man who can communicate. It’s so refreshing to read a male main character who doesn’t want his woman to change and who recognizes his own issues and works to improve. Will was one of my top male characters of the year! Pick this one up if you love a small town, tattooed man, breaking away from family pressures, working through issues, and finding yourself vibes. SPICE This is a closed door romance, but let me tell you what… it does not lack in butterflies and tension! I swear my tummy was doing little flips at 50 pages in. The romance is written so incredibly well, and when things do finally heat up, the fade to black gives us just enough for the imagination to run wild. I can’t say I’ve ever loved a closed door… until this one! HAPPY ENDING We get the cutest, most unexpected twist towards the end. Will and Annie give each other everything they need! I loved the ending and can’t wait to see more of this darling couple in book 3! FINAL THOUGHTS I loved this book so much that I included it in my Top 5 of 2024! I read 100 books, so that is really saying something! The When In Rome series is an absolute delight. I can’t wait to continue it with Beg, Borrow, or Steal!

⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5 stars) I listened to this novel on audiobook. The book started off very slowly, but the narrators were so exceptional that they kept me engaged from the beginning. Unexpectedly, the plot took a delightful turn and became highly entertaining, with witty humor that felt refreshing and charming. However, by the middle of the novel, the story began to drag and was weighed down by unnecessary filler. At times, I found myself listening without full focus, letting it play as background noise. Just as my interest waned, the plot would pick up again only to slow down once more. This uneven pacing made the reading experience somewhat inconsistent and annoying. If you don’t mind an extremely slow-burn romance with occasional filler chapters, you will likely enjoy this story. The female narrator, in particular, carried the novel beautifully and delivered a standout performance. Had the audiobook been condensed to around 4 hours (instead of 10!) it could easily have earned a solid 4.5-star rating. That said, Sarah Adams deserves praise for her creative humor and engaging passages. Her characters are undeniably cute and endearing, even if the story includes a lot of unnecessary scenes. I will continue reading more of her work, as I have enjoyed many of her novels and appreciate the lighthearted entertainment she consistently delivers.

I really enjoyed this sweet, small town romance between a lovely flower shop owner and a commitment-adverse bodyguard. Excuse me, Executive Protective Agent. Which reminds me of another favorite Rom-Com, The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center. However, this EPA (Will) isn’t protecting said florist (Annie). He’s protecting the protagonist of the prequel novel, When In Rome, who is a prominent Pop Star. I didn’t read When In Rome and I don’t really feel that you need to to understand this book which centers around When In Rome’s MMC’s youngest sister. This book is a Funny Face (an Audrey Hepburn film featured in the book) retelling in which sweet, marriage-minded, small town girl enlists the help of the worldly tattooed rogue to teach her how to be better at dating and attracting a potential husband. I’m sure you can guess what happens next but I really enjoyed the banter and the pining and the shenanigans of the townspeople. There were many chuckles and laugh-out-loud moments as well as teary-eyed moments, too. But, all ends well, and my only complaint is that it is closed door but I knew that going in. For readers of When In Rome, there is the continuation of Noah and Amelia’s story. And I’m really hoping that there will be another book in this series and it will be sister Madison’s story. For audiophiles, I really enjoyed the female narrator. She nailed Annie’s demeanor and sass. But the male narrator, although I’ve enjoyed his other performances, just was not the right fit for Will and it was just a strange dichotomy for this dual-POV story. And even though the female narrator’s Will wasn’t quite right, either, I would have preferred that she do both characters. That being said, I rely heavily on audiobooks to be able to enjoy books that I wouldn’t normally have time to read so my motto is always Beggars Can’t Be Choosers! I recommend this read for all my fellow introverted bibliophiles who love those saucy pirate romances and those sexy tattooed bodyguards! Umm…sorry Will, Executive Protective Agents! ;)

[5 Stars🤩] Practice Makes Perfect stared at me from my bookshelf for MONTHS before I picked it up, and now I can’t believe I waited so long to read it because it was so cute, charming, and EXACTLY what I needed! Sarah Adams wrote an amazing book that balanced charming and swoony, and it had me smiling, giggling, and kicking my feet the entire read. I loved Annie’s sweet personality and how she dismantled Will’s anti-relationship point of view without even trying. Their romantic development was perfectly paced, and the “dating coach” angle was so much fun to read, especially when Will fell hard and fast for her. Annie’s personal growth was an important plot line, but I also loved how she only became more confident in herself instead of trying to be someone else—and how Will already saw her as lovely and charming. Practice Makes Perfect is also a perfect example of how to write romantic tension between characters but keep the romance closed-door because the “seduction practice” and the kiss in the flower shop had me melting into a puddle from the steam! If you’ve been on the fence about reading Practice Makes Perfect, this is your sign to pick it up because it is the perfect follow up to When in Rome that will melt your heart, make you laugh, and wish you lived in the small town or Rome, Kentucky. 💐 ____________________________________ Details: 💘Contemporary romance 🎈Romantic comedy 💂Bodyguard romance 🏡Small town romance 👀Dual, first-person POV 🌹No third act breakup 🙌🏻Would re-read 🌟2024 Favorite Characters and Tropes: 🍰Cinnamon roll MMC 🥸Fake dating(ish) 📍Forced proximity 🐰Reformed playboy 🤐Secrets Spice: 🧨Slow burn 💋Explicit content hinted/fade to black (mild) ____________________________________ Emoji Ranking System: 🤩Excellent to Fantastic (4.75-5.00) 😍Very Good to Great (4.25-4.50) 😊Good to Really Good (3.50-4.00) 🙂Just OK to Decent (2.75-3.25) 😒It's A No (1.00-2.50) 🚫DNF

Let me start by saying that this book was what I needed right now. I've read somewhat heavy books during this month and I was looking for something sweet and cozy for me to read. Practice Makes Perfect delivered that. After an awful date, and determined to find a husband, Annie finds herself in a "fake dating/he teaches me the ways" relationship with the ever so beautiful, kind, charming and sexy Will. Will, is Annie's sister-in-law EPA (Executive Protection Agent = bodyguard) and because of his upbringing doesn't want anything to do with all the things Annie wants. What could go wrong if both of them are clear in the fact that they don't want the same things? The story is simple, not an over complicated plot. This book was a warm hug, a book that made me feel giddy and excited. I laughed and cried. Both Will and Annie are just great for each-other. I just think that where this book shines for me was with Annie and Will as individuals. They both found out throughout the book that maybe the things they believed they wanted were not 100% true, they grew individually and learned new things about themselves while yes, simultaneously falling in love. I loved their chemistry, and Will…omg he was just the cutest flirt ever. They communicate, and they are comfortable with each other which allows them put all their cards on the table. Also, NO MISCOMMUNICATION TROPE IN THIS BOOK, which is a win for me, 100% of the times. Loved their banter and how Annie purposely said Will’s name incorrectly, it never failed to make me laugh. The supporting characters like Mabel and Hariette also had me laughing. and AMELIA? OMG !! she is AMAZING. The only thing I didn't particularly like was Annie's sisters. Noah? perfect! But Emilia and Maddie, they seemed a little bit of mean girls and I just didn't appreciate how they treated Annie. I feel like they never tried to get to know her, and put her in a box where she felt shame to be who she wanted to be. They do get better, but I just didn't enjoy the moments where they teased Annie. I really really enjoyed this book and all the warm and fuzzy feelings it gave me. I had a lot of fun! Is a super cute, super fast read that its just cute and a great time!! A simple, beautifully executed story!

“It seems to me, Annie, that you are just waiting for someone to give you permission to be yourself out loud.” This book sucker punched me, in the best way possible. I’ll start by saying I didn’t know what to make of this book when I first started it. I’ve read all of Sarah Adams’ novels and have loved them all. This one is a departure. There’s something different about it, a different rhythm. For one thing, after having read When in Rome, it was surprising to see how Annie really felt about herself and her dynamic with her siblings and the town. There’s so much more to her than initially meets the eye. I didn’t realize why the rhythm was different until I got to the second half of the book. Will and Annie are both protecting themselves for their own reasons, and don’t really even admit to themselves what they want until the story gets further along. You can feel that, especially with Annie, in the beginning. She thinks she knows exactly what she wants, but maybe it’s not actually what she wants or needs. These onions have layers, folks. Both Annie and Will are guarded initially, but they also can’t seem to stay away from each other, so it makes for an interesting dance between the two characters. There’s a remarkable mix of vulnerability and honesty while they both try and convince themselves that they’re all wrong for each other. Experiencing the growth of these characters (both individually and together) was cathartic. This book is fun and lovely and warm, but it’s also real. There’s some angst to the characters’ backstories, but it’s not stressful, it only adds to story’s depth. And don’t get me wrong - it’s not all emotions. There’s plenty of humor and banter. I laughed out loud more than once (the scene at the kids baseball game really got me). Plus, I love the townspeople of Rome, Kentucky, and that we got to see Noah and Amelia/more of Annie’s sisters. For those that take this into consideration, this is a closed door romance. However, it’s more PG-13 as there’s still some spice leading up to the fade to black. There’s also some light cursing, but no f-bombs.

Un libro increíble con todas las vibes de las romcoms de los 2000’s. Small town, grumpy x sunshine, fake dating. Sin duda, un libro perfecto para quienes disfrutan de los romances lindos. Mi favorito de esta autora, que siempre recomendaré.

To historia dla wszystkich delikatnych, romantycznych, cichych duszy, które kochają marzyć i czytać. Dla każdego kto uwielbia małe miasteczka, humor i słodki romans pomiędzy przeuroczą kwiaciarką/ miłą „dziewczyną z sąsiedztwa” a „złym chłopcem”/ ochroniarzem, który tak naprawdę jest przekochany! 🤍🌷

She is the small town florist, he is the bad bodyguard . They make a deal.

I read When In Rome and I thought that nothing could be better… I was so wrong! Practice Makes Perfect detroned that one by a long shot 😅 This book has my entire heart ♥️ Will has my heart 🥹 I am convinced that Will is the best book boyfriend EVER! He is so playfull, so sweet and caring, that I just can’t 🥺 And the communication?! Guys, this is how everyone should communicate, not just with our parter, but with our family and friends. Their are just so honest with each other, they understand one other so well and they learned to read each other in a very easy way. Jez, I was like “oh god 🥺” ALL THE TIME!! Sarah Adams really did a awesome job here! I thought she had a way with words in When In Rome, but it’s wayyyy better in this one. Will and Annie are one of my favourite couples ever and this book is now in my 3 top favourite book of all times.

**4.5-5 Stars** This is book two in the ‘When in Rome Series’ it was a brilliant, cosy and hilarious read. I enjoyed it so much that I found myself re-reading chapters for the fun of it. Rome in Kentucky seems to be filled with a bucket load of hilarious characters. I also recommend adding the audio I laughed so much about this town and the people who get so much into your business. This for me pipped book one as I fell in love with Annie, she is the youngest sister of Noah from book one. There are 3 sisters and she is the one who owns a flower shop and virtually blends into the background. Her Sister in law to be Amelia is a pop star and has requested her usual bodyguard Will to be with them leading up-to and including the wedding Annie has never had a good date and the one she is on is no different. She is not used to saying much and cannot find the words to connect with him. Yet, she finds it so easy to relate to Will but believes he is out of her league. Will hates commitment due to the upbringing he had with his parents and their serial cheating and constant arguments making his and his brother’s life hell. There are so many laugh out loud moments and Amelia her sister in law to be spots a spark between the two. So she comes up with a plan to get Will to be Annie’s practice date, the idea is that Will has to show Annie where she is going wrong and give her tips ……… Both think of it as a bad idea and then all the fun begins. What a hoot and I absolutely loved how Annie came out of her shell and how Will wrestles with himself that he will never fall in love trying to convince himself that he will finish this job and leave the town by keeping Annie at arms length. I just sat back and enjoyed the journey with the outrageous busy bodies thrown in lol