Tag: Sarah Adams

TSM Book Club Book #28: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

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Started: July 7th
Finished: July 11th
TSM Rating: 5/5

This was such a lovely follow-up to When in Rome. Sweet Annie and Broody Will have such endearing chemistry right from the start that it was hard to put this book down.

Basic backgrounds, Annie is the youngest sister of Noah Walker, our hero from When In Rome, and Will Amelia’s favorite bodyguard. Thus when our story starts, they meet again on what happens to be a mortifying moment for our heroine. Her date is in the process of ditching her when Will walks in with a date of his own.

From the beginning, it is clear to everyone — except Annie and Will, of course — that they are in love with each other. So much so that the town starts a petition to end the non-existent relationship, which forces them into a fake relationship. And feelings bloom.

Annie is on a journey to come out of her shell and be seen by her family and everyone else in town as a one-dimensional, happy-go-lucky girl. Will just wants to do his job — protect Amelia in the month leading up to her and Noah’s wedding — and get out of this very close-knit, incredibly nosy town.

I love the way these two fall in love. Knowing Will allows Annie to find the confidence to stand up for herself. Sometimes it only takes one person really seeing you to help you see yourself.

I was looking for the perfect person with the perfect traits and the perfect timing, when really all my heart actually wants is to be filly known and loved. Someone to share the quiet moments with — someone to turn to when everything is good or everything is bad. Someone who wouldn’t be mad if I snuck in to see him before the wedding and ruined traditions — but who’d be just as eager to be with me as I’d be with him. Someone like…Will

Annie, Practice Makes Perfect, pg. 317

Coming into this, Will was the anti-relationship guy…until he met a girl who helped him see that not all relationships have to be as volatile as his parents.

Last night as I listened to Annie talk about the kind of future she wanted, I felt that relentless tug in my chest again. Not because I want the harvest-parties and soccer-games life she mentioned, but because I want the ability to dream a life with someone like Annie where my immediate thought isn’t: But how is it going to fail?

Will, Practice Makes Perfect, pg. 107

This book is as much about facing the past as looking toward the future. Both Annie and Will have to overcome traumatic childhoods to become who they need to be for each other. I loved this one more than When in Rome. There was so much more charm with Will and Annie. So much more sweetness. Definitely a must-read!

TSM Book Club Book #17: When In Rome by Sarah Adams

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Started: April 20th
Finished: April 25th
TSM Rating: 4/5

This was so cute. From Amelia and Noah’s meet-cute to their many attempts to keep their hands off each other to Amelia’s ongoing struggle to make the perfect pancake, I enjoyed When In Rome so much.

Sometimes romance novels can be a bit cringey with how the main characters behave. The sunshine character always comes off like an airhead who needs to be rescued. While Amelia did need rescuing initially, it was out of her control. When it comes to her relationship with Noah, she makes mature, adult decisions at every turn, making her one of the most relatable heroines that I’ve come across in a long while.

For his part as the grump, Noah fits the trope. Though, I would say he is more cautious and guarded than grumpy. He’s been burned by love before. He chose poorly in the past and is overcompensating by taking himself out of the game, even though he really, really wants to play.

I loved the dynamic between Noah and his sisters — Annie, Madison, and Emily. He is basically a lamb to the slaughter any time the four of them are together. They rule the Walker family, but you get the vibe that he would do anything for them. Practice Makes Perfect, the next book in the series, comes out next week, and I can’t wait to read Annie’s story and spend more time with the Walker clan.