When in Rome

Description

The sparkling international bestseller, TikTok sensation, and a masterclass in cozy small-town romantic comedy! From Sarah Adams, the beloved author of The Cheat Sheet and Practice Makes Perfect, comes When in Rome—a beautifully structured, fast-paced, and utterly charming contemporary romance. Inspired by the classic Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday, this unputdownable book perfectly balances a heartwarming, low-angst plot with sharp-witted banter, delightful eccentric neighbors, and undeniable, high-performance chemistry.

Amelia Rose, known to millions of screaming, adoring fans across the globe as the sensational pop star Rae Rose, is completely and utterly burned-out. After years of relentlessly maintaining her exhaustingly perfect “princess of pop” public image, she reaches her breaking point. Seeking a desperate escape, she channels her inner Audrey Hepburn, packs her bags, and drives off into the middle of the night for an unscripted break in Rome… Rome, Kentucky, that is.

Her grand escape hits a major roadblock when her car completely breaks down on a quiet, gravel driveway. When Noah Walker finds the stranded stranger on his front lawn, he makes it aggressively, hilariously clear that he has absolutely zero time or patience for glamorous celebrity problems. Noah is far too busy running the beloved local pie shop his grandmother left him and constantly reminding his nosy, fiercely protective, but incredibly lovable small-town neighbors to mind their own damn business. Despite his better judgment and grumpy exterior, he reluctantly agrees to let her stay in his spare guest room—but strictly until her car is fixed, and then she is entirely on her own.

However, as they are forced into close quarters, Noah starts to see a completely different, uncurated side to the global superstar. She isn’t the distant Rae Rose; she is just Amelia: an incredibly kindhearted, goofy, and deeply lonely woman who has been starved of real connections due to years in the blinding public eye. Noah finds his rigid defenses crumbling as he gets closer to her. Knowing she must inevitably return to her glamorous, chaotic life on tour, Noah resolves to show Amelia all the simple, charming small-town experiences she has been missing, while she subtly helps him open his guarded heart to the possibility of love again.

Masterfully executing the grumpy-meets-sunshine, small-town romance, forced proximity, hidden/stolen identity, and opposites-attract tropes, When in Rome delivers an atmospheric, high-energy comfort read. Brimming with Sarah Adams’ signature clean-ish swoon, laugh-out-loud banter, and deep emotional warmth, this premium Headline paperback edition is a mandatory masterpiece for your personal romance collection.