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27 days and 08:10:19
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When in Rome #4
In Your Dreams
Win a free print copy of this book!
27 days and 08:10:19
50 copies available
U.S. only
A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the
New York Times
bestselling author of
When in Rome
,
Practice Makes Perfect
, and
Beg, Borrow, or Steal
.
Madison Walker thought chasing her culinary dreams in New York would make her happy, but with graduation looming and everything falling apart, she just wants to return home to Rome, Kentucky. A chance misdial to James Huxley—her older brother’s lifelong best friend—leads her to tearfully explain her situation. Surprised but sympathetic, James offers her a job as head chef at the new farm-to-table restaurant on his family farm. Though they’ve never been close, Madison eagerly accepts.
What Madison doesn’t know is that James, secretly in love with her for years, created the position just for her. As they work together to bring the restaurant to life, James and Madison realize that the heat between them extends far beyond the kitchen. An accidental kiss sparks undeniable romance, and James proposes they give a relationship a shot. Madison agrees, but insists on keeping it a secret to avoid town gossip—and especially to avoid her overprotective brother's wrath.
They soon begin a private, casual, and sexless relationship. But with the restaurant’s grand opening approaching, their romance intensifying, a simmering sibling feud, and staying under the radar proves challenging.
As tensions boil over, Madison and James must decide if their love is worth risking everything—or if their relationship is is headed for the chopping block.
11 hours
Madison Walker thought chasing her culinary dreams in New York would make her happy, but with graduation looming and everything falling apart, she just wants to return home to Rome, Kentucky. A chance misdial to James Huxley—her older brother’s lifelong best friend—leads her to tearfully explain her situation. Surprised but sympathetic, James offers her a job as head chef at the new farm-to-table restaurant on his family farm. Though they’ve never been close, Madison eagerly accepts.
What Madison doesn’t know is that James, secretly in love with her for years, created the position just for her. As they work together to bring the restaurant to life, James and Madison realize that the heat between them extends far beyond the kitchen. An accidental kiss sparks undeniable romance, and James proposes they give a relationship a shot. Madison agrees, but insists on keeping it a secret to avoid town gossip—and especially to avoid her overprotective brother's wrath.
They soon begin a private, casual, and sexless relationship. But with the restaurant’s grand opening approaching, their romance intensifying, a simmering sibling feud, and staying under the radar proves challenging.
As tensions boil over, Madison and James must decide if their love is worth risking everything—or if their relationship is is headed for the chopping block.
11 hours
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published December 30, 2025
5158 people are currently reading
120869 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,449 reviews
December 31, 2025
4.5/5 stars
This was honestly one of my most anticipated reads ever like I was counting down the days until I could finally get my hands on it. When my ARC got approved, I swear I checked twice because I couldn’t believe it was actually happening 😭. I’ve always adored Sarah’s books, and this one was no exception. Her writing just has that magic it pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let you go until the end.
And oh my god, when I finished it, I was actually sobbing. This being the last book in the When in Rome series broke me a little because I’ve loved this series to absolute pieces. I’m not even someone who usually finishes series I have like three unfinished ones sitting on my shelf waiting for me (maybe someday I’ll get to them 😭). But as a total mood reader, completing a series feels like an accomplishment and heartbreak all at once. This one was just that special.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
this is the fourth and final book in the when in rome series and I’m not even going to pretend, this whole series is literally one of my comfort reads. like genuinely. the third book beg, borrow or steal?? easily one of the best small-town romcoms I’ve ever read. the cozy energy, the found family, the way every character cares so deeply about each other it feels warm in a way that you don’t even realize you needed until you’re in it. ever since I finished the first book I just knew this whole series would stay a favourite of mine forever.
this final book follows madison the youngest walker sister she’s chaotic, she’s dramatic, she’s loud, she’s a menace in the most entertaining way. she comes back home, and being back home brings her face to face with james huxley her brother’s best friend… the “oh no this could get complicated” type of crush. and slowly, that turns into something real.
but it’s not just romance the story also deals with her trying to find her footing again in her career as a chef, dealing with grief she’s carried for a long time, the weight of expectations, her own self-doubt, and all of that classic messy but real family dynamic.
and the way it all comes together is so soft and so bittersweet it really feels like the kind of final chapter that you want to pause and hold onto for a moment, simply because it’s the end of something that meant a lot to you.
➳ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
➳ Madison Walker
Madison is honestly one of those characters you just instantly connect with. like the way she talked about her self-doubt when it came to changing careers? that hit. the fear of leaving your town and starting completely fresh somewhere new? that’s such a real kind of terrifying. and then the insecurities the feeling of “am I even enough?” she carried all that in such a raw and human way that it didn’t even feel like fiction anymore. it didn’t feel like “oh I’ve felt this too,” it felt more like “I feel her feeling this.” that’s how deeply her emotions were written.
and the way she constantly compared herself to her sisters god that part was so painfully realistic. Sarah Adams has this gift to write characters like they’re breathing, like they’re sitting in your room telling you their mess in person. she writes in a way that legit makes you forget you’re reading words on a page.
madison is genuinely the kind of character you want to hype up, protect, laugh with, and get coffee with. her bubbly personality, the way she jokes, her witty comebacks, and the quiet kind of determination she has for her dreams all of that made me fall in love with her character a thousand times more. she’s the type of girl you wish you could be best friends with in real life.
➳ James Huxley
James is honestly the blueprint of “when in Rome” perfection. And yes yes, I know I’ve said that before about the other men in this series but what am I supposed to do?? Sarah writes her men like they were carved out of every hopeless romantic daydream I’ve ever had. She makes falling in love feel possible again, even when reality keeps reminding you that real-life men are not built like this. But a girl can still hope… right? 🤧
James Huxley is the kind of man you proudly take home to meet your parents. He’s the kind of man who makes you feel whole without trying to “fix” you like he just supports you so well that you actually want to grow into the best version of yourself. And that’s exactly what every girl deserves. The way he defended Madison when people tried to tear her down, the way he stepped in for her, protected her spirit, protected her name it was so sincere.
Like HELLO this man literally built an entire restaurant just so she could come back home to something she loved. Who does that? Who loves like that? . The way he believed in her for the both of them, the gentle reassurance he gave her when she broke down, the softness in how he loved her through her insecurities ugh. My heart actually melted like butter on a hot pan.
James is one of those fictional men you close the book and just stare at the ceiling for a second. Because wow. He made me believe in love again even if it’s fictional.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
Honestly, if you loved the other books in the When in Rome series, then trust me you’re going to love this one too. Like I genuinely mean it. Sarah just has this magical way of making you relate to every single character she introduces. It’s wild how you end up loving them with the exact same intensity you loved the previous ones. Every character feels so fully fleshed out, so layered, so human you literally forget it’s fiction. It feels like you’re reading about people you know, people you’ve grown with, people who live in your heart.
The comfort this series gives is unreal. The soft safety, the sense of belonging, the feeling of “I know these people” it’s so rare. And maybe that’s why it hurts so much that it’s ending. When I finished it, I genuinely felt that sting like the ache you get when you have to say goodbye to people you love. I shed actual tears because I wasn’t ready to let this world go. It’s like finishing a chapter of your own life.
°˖➴ " Overall, if you love small town romance that feels like home, if you like characters who feel like your emotional support people, if you want that soft-warm safe feeling while reading… don’t even think twice. Just pick this book up. I swear you won’t regret it." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 30 September, 2025
i got the arc of my dreams yayy!! sarah i literally love youu 🤧🤌🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"Because where Madison is concerned, I think I’d be willing to set the world on fire if it made her smile. And she has no idea"
This was honestly one of my most anticipated reads ever like I was counting down the days until I could finally get my hands on it. When my ARC got approved, I swear I checked twice because I couldn’t believe it was actually happening 😭. I’ve always adored Sarah’s books, and this one was no exception. Her writing just has that magic it pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let you go until the end.
And oh my god, when I finished it, I was actually sobbing. This being the last book in the When in Rome series broke me a little because I’ve loved this series to absolute pieces. I’m not even someone who usually finishes series I have like three unfinished ones sitting on my shelf waiting for me (maybe someday I’ll get to them 😭). But as a total mood reader, completing a series feels like an accomplishment and heartbreak all at once. This one was just that special.
➳ ABOUT THE BOOK
this is the fourth and final book in the when in rome series and I’m not even going to pretend, this whole series is literally one of my comfort reads. like genuinely. the third book beg, borrow or steal?? easily one of the best small-town romcoms I’ve ever read. the cozy energy, the found family, the way every character cares so deeply about each other it feels warm in a way that you don’t even realize you needed until you’re in it. ever since I finished the first book I just knew this whole series would stay a favourite of mine forever.
this final book follows madison the youngest walker sister she’s chaotic, she’s dramatic, she’s loud, she’s a menace in the most entertaining way. she comes back home, and being back home brings her face to face with james huxley her brother’s best friend… the “oh no this could get complicated” type of crush. and slowly, that turns into something real.
but it’s not just romance the story also deals with her trying to find her footing again in her career as a chef, dealing with grief she’s carried for a long time, the weight of expectations, her own self-doubt, and all of that classic messy but real family dynamic.
and the way it all comes together is so soft and so bittersweet it really feels like the kind of final chapter that you want to pause and hold onto for a moment, simply because it’s the end of something that meant a lot to you.
➳ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
➳ Madison Walker
"I love you too. Have my heart, James it's yours."
Madison is honestly one of those characters you just instantly connect with. like the way she talked about her self-doubt when it came to changing careers? that hit. the fear of leaving your town and starting completely fresh somewhere new? that’s such a real kind of terrifying. and then the insecurities the feeling of “am I even enough?” she carried all that in such a raw and human way that it didn’t even feel like fiction anymore. it didn’t feel like “oh I’ve felt this too,” it felt more like “I feel her feeling this.” that’s how deeply her emotions were written.
and the way she constantly compared herself to her sisters god that part was so painfully realistic. Sarah Adams has this gift to write characters like they’re breathing, like they’re sitting in your room telling you their mess in person. she writes in a way that legit makes you forget you’re reading words on a page.
madison is genuinely the kind of character you want to hype up, protect, laugh with, and get coffee with. her bubbly personality, the way she jokes, her witty comebacks, and the quiet kind of determination she has for her dreams all of that made me fall in love with her character a thousand times more. she’s the type of girl you wish you could be best friends with in real life.
➳ James Huxley
“I love you, Madison. And when I said I'm all-in on you, I meant all-in. You'll never have to wonder where you stand with me. Be mad at me. Tell me when I'm being a jackass and make me sleep on the couch. Chase your wild heart and when you come home, I'll be here. Always."
James is honestly the blueprint of “when in Rome” perfection. And yes yes, I know I’ve said that before about the other men in this series but what am I supposed to do?? Sarah writes her men like they were carved out of every hopeless romantic daydream I’ve ever had. She makes falling in love feel possible again, even when reality keeps reminding you that real-life men are not built like this. But a girl can still hope… right? 🤧
James Huxley is the kind of man you proudly take home to meet your parents. He’s the kind of man who makes you feel whole without trying to “fix” you like he just supports you so well that you actually want to grow into the best version of yourself. And that’s exactly what every girl deserves. The way he defended Madison when people tried to tear her down, the way he stepped in for her, protected her spirit, protected her name it was so sincere.
Like HELLO this man literally built an entire restaurant just so she could come back home to something she loved. Who does that? Who loves like that? . The way he believed in her for the both of them, the gentle reassurance he gave her when she broke down, the softness in how he loved her through her insecurities ugh. My heart actually melted like butter on a hot pan.
James is one of those fictional men you close the book and just stare at the ceiling for a second. Because wow. He made me believe in love again even if it’s fictional.
➳ FINAL THOUGHTS
"And what if I want to chase my wild heart with me sometimes? Will you go? Or is this where you stay home?"
"You're my home, I'll go with you anywhere."
Honestly, if you loved the other books in the When in Rome series, then trust me you’re going to love this one too. Like I genuinely mean it. Sarah just has this magical way of making you relate to every single character she introduces. It’s wild how you end up loving them with the exact same intensity you loved the previous ones. Every character feels so fully fleshed out, so layered, so human you literally forget it’s fiction. It feels like you’re reading about people you know, people you’ve grown with, people who live in your heart.
The comfort this series gives is unreal. The soft safety, the sense of belonging, the feeling of “I know these people” it’s so rare. And maybe that’s why it hurts so much that it’s ending. When I finished it, I genuinely felt that sting like the ache you get when you have to say goodbye to people you love. I shed actual tears because I wasn’t ready to let this world go. It’s like finishing a chapter of your own life.
°˖➴ " Overall, if you love small town romance that feels like home, if you like characters who feel like your emotional support people, if you want that soft-warm safe feeling while reading… don’t even think twice. Just pick this book up. I swear you won’t regret it." 💌
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 30 September, 2025
i got the arc of my dreams yayy!! sarah i literally love youu 🤧🤌🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I remember enjoying the first half of this series, though I never considered it groundbreaking or particularly memorable. To me, they were just nice, sweet romances that left me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. I wasn't the biggest fan of the previous book, so I went into this one with an extremely open mind and low expectations, simply hoping for a good time. Unfortunately, this was so boring and, to be frank, horribly written.
Madison and James are our main characters, and I couldn't connect with either of them. The romance felt completely unconvincing because their relationship consisted entirely of physical attraction, which I've never enjoyed reading about. We're repeatedly told that James has been yearning for Madison for years, even obsessed with her, but we're never shown WHY. The book quite literally bangs you over the head with how much he supposedly loves her and yearns for her without providing a single compelling reason beyond physical attraction. Like why was this romance necessary??? I have no idea.
Madison is by far my least favourite fmc in the series. She's 30 but acts incredibly immature. In one scene, she couldn't tell the difference between a statue and a human being which was so incredibly absurd!? The author clearly tried to make her quirky, but it came off as extremely cringeworthy and painfully unfunny.
This book might work for you if you're looking for an extremely light, undemanding read, but it honestly felt like the author rushed through it just to finish the series.
ARC provided by Hachette Australia.
Madison and James are our main characters, and I couldn't connect with either of them. The romance felt completely unconvincing because their relationship consisted entirely of physical attraction, which I've never enjoyed reading about. We're repeatedly told that James has been yearning for Madison for years, even obsessed with her, but we're never shown WHY. The book quite literally bangs you over the head with how much he supposedly loves her and yearns for her without providing a single compelling reason beyond physical attraction. Like why was this romance necessary??? I have no idea.
Madison is by far my least favourite fmc in the series. She's 30 but acts incredibly immature. In one scene, she couldn't tell the difference between a statue and a human being which was so incredibly absurd!? The author clearly tried to make her quirky, but it came off as extremely cringeworthy and painfully unfunny.
This book might work for you if you're looking for an extremely light, undemanding read, but it honestly felt like the author rushed through it just to finish the series.
ARC provided by Hachette Australia.
January 8, 2026
i'm easily impressed. 🖤
January 11, 2026
It feels so wonderful to be back in Rome—this dreamy, cozy small town filled with vivid, lovable characters and the kind of heartfelt love stories that wrap around you like a warm blanket. This time, we dive into another Walker sister’s journey, and it’s Madeleine’s turn to shine with two delicious tropes: crushing on my brother’s best friend and workplace romance!
Madison is such a delightfully warm, energetic, funny, and deeply sensitive heroine. Her mind moves a mile a minute—she’s a little scattered, a little chaotic, always juggling too much at once, and often dropping everything the moment her thoughts spiral. While her sisters seem to be thriving—crushing their careers, finding soulmates (and in Noah’s case, even becoming a country star!)—Madison feels left behind. She quits her teaching job to chase her dream of becoming a chef, moves to New York to attend culinary school thanks to Emily’s gentle push, and graduates… but not with the confidence she hoped for. She feels like she barely scraped by, relying on extra credit cleaning labs and never quite believing she deserved her spot. She even skips her own graduation ceremony and hides it from her family.
And then comes the emotional breakdown moment that changes everything: she drunkenly, accidentally calls James Huxley—her brother Noah’s best friend and the guy she has secretly pined for forever. Their relationship has always been awkward, distant, and full of unspoken tension, so he’s the last person she expects to comfort her. But he listens. He genuinely listens. And then he offers her a solution that feels like a lifeline: come home to Rome as the chef for the new restaurant he supposedly plans to open while restoring his family farm.
For Madison, this feels like a dream come true. A fresh start without shame. A chance to return home with her head held high—not dragging her tail between her legs.
What she doesn’t realize is that James never had a restaurant plan. He made one for her. Because he’s also had a long, quiet crush on Madison, and giving her this opportunity feels like both helping her and bringing her back into his world. To pull this off, he enlists the help of his infuriatingly charming, designer-clad, LA-hotshot brother Tommy—who fled Rome years ago for the big city and definitely did not plan on returning. Tommy’s presence instantly spices things up, especially when he starts sending flirty signals Madison’s way, creating friction between the brothers.
Back home, Madison thrives but also struggles—because spending so much time with James reignites all those feelings she tried so hard to bury. She made a rule never to get involved with coworkers, and now he’s her boss and her brother’s best friend… talk about forbidden temptation. James, meanwhile, is trying to keep everything afloat—his dreams for the farm, his father’s declining health, the financial risks looming over their heads. If Madison can’t make the restaurant work, they both lose so much. And yet James believes in her more fiercely than she has ever believed in herself.
Can they resist the growing chemistry simmering between them? Or will they be brave enough to find out what they could become together?
Overall: Returning to Rome is always sweet, heartwarming, and uplifting. I adored this pairing. Madison—with her lively spirit, big heart, and search for purpose—and James—the steady, charming, quietly smoldering cowboy who has best book boyfriend potential written all over him—are absolutely perfect for each other. And Tommy? He 100% earned his own book. The flashy LA city boy absolutely needs his own journey back to Rome!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for sharing this lovely and highly anticipated romance of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Madison is such a delightfully warm, energetic, funny, and deeply sensitive heroine. Her mind moves a mile a minute—she’s a little scattered, a little chaotic, always juggling too much at once, and often dropping everything the moment her thoughts spiral. While her sisters seem to be thriving—crushing their careers, finding soulmates (and in Noah’s case, even becoming a country star!)—Madison feels left behind. She quits her teaching job to chase her dream of becoming a chef, moves to New York to attend culinary school thanks to Emily’s gentle push, and graduates… but not with the confidence she hoped for. She feels like she barely scraped by, relying on extra credit cleaning labs and never quite believing she deserved her spot. She even skips her own graduation ceremony and hides it from her family.
And then comes the emotional breakdown moment that changes everything: she drunkenly, accidentally calls James Huxley—her brother Noah’s best friend and the guy she has secretly pined for forever. Their relationship has always been awkward, distant, and full of unspoken tension, so he’s the last person she expects to comfort her. But he listens. He genuinely listens. And then he offers her a solution that feels like a lifeline: come home to Rome as the chef for the new restaurant he supposedly plans to open while restoring his family farm.
For Madison, this feels like a dream come true. A fresh start without shame. A chance to return home with her head held high—not dragging her tail between her legs.
What she doesn’t realize is that James never had a restaurant plan. He made one for her. Because he’s also had a long, quiet crush on Madison, and giving her this opportunity feels like both helping her and bringing her back into his world. To pull this off, he enlists the help of his infuriatingly charming, designer-clad, LA-hotshot brother Tommy—who fled Rome years ago for the big city and definitely did not plan on returning. Tommy’s presence instantly spices things up, especially when he starts sending flirty signals Madison’s way, creating friction between the brothers.
Back home, Madison thrives but also struggles—because spending so much time with James reignites all those feelings she tried so hard to bury. She made a rule never to get involved with coworkers, and now he’s her boss and her brother’s best friend… talk about forbidden temptation. James, meanwhile, is trying to keep everything afloat—his dreams for the farm, his father’s declining health, the financial risks looming over their heads. If Madison can’t make the restaurant work, they both lose so much. And yet James believes in her more fiercely than she has ever believed in herself.
Can they resist the growing chemistry simmering between them? Or will they be brave enough to find out what they could become together?
Overall: Returning to Rome is always sweet, heartwarming, and uplifting. I adored this pairing. Madison—with her lively spirit, big heart, and search for purpose—and James—the steady, charming, quietly smoldering cowboy who has best book boyfriend potential written all over him—are absolutely perfect for each other. And Tommy? He 100% earned his own book. The flashy LA city boy absolutely needs his own journey back to Rome!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for sharing this lovely and highly anticipated romance of the year in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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January 13, 2026
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 1.75/5
Honestly, I expected so much more from this book. I'm not saying it's a bad book, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. I was so excited for this after reading Beg, Borrow, or Steal but it didn't feel like the conclusion to this series that I needed.
Madison and James were kind of lackluster and their story was missing that charm that the books in this series have. I remember when I read Beg, Borrow, or Steal last summer, I couldn't put it down because I thought the chemistry was immaculate and it basically oozed off the pages. I still think about a couple scenes from that book because that's how amazing the chemistry was there. However, here the chemistry was very lusty and surface level. I felt like it didn't develop enough for me to properly understand the dynamic of their relationship.
Also, serious question but why do people attempt to date when they know they're not over someone? You can't use a person as a crutch to get over someone else.
It did have some cute moments, but on an overall level, it wasn't super memorable. I was able to enjoy the appearances of the other family members and the moments where they were all together, but other than that, the rest of the book just kind of felt forgettable. I just finished this book and I can't remember most of what I read.
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pre-read: the reviews have scared me for this, but I'm also sad this is the last book of the series 🤕
Honestly, I expected so much more from this book. I'm not saying it's a bad book, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. I was so excited for this after reading Beg, Borrow, or Steal but it didn't feel like the conclusion to this series that I needed.
Madison and James were kind of lackluster and their story was missing that charm that the books in this series have. I remember when I read Beg, Borrow, or Steal last summer, I couldn't put it down because I thought the chemistry was immaculate and it basically oozed off the pages. I still think about a couple scenes from that book because that's how amazing the chemistry was there. However, here the chemistry was very lusty and surface level. I felt like it didn't develop enough for me to properly understand the dynamic of their relationship.
Also, serious question but why do people attempt to date when they know they're not over someone? You can't use a person as a crutch to get over someone else.
It did have some cute moments, but on an overall level, it wasn't super memorable. I was able to enjoy the appearances of the other family members and the moments where they were all together, but other than that, the rest of the book just kind of felt forgettable. I just finished this book and I can't remember most of what I read.
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pre-read: the reviews have scared me for this, but I'm also sad this is the last book of the series 🤕
Read
December 2, 2025Tell me why I have an arc for this when I haven’t even read the previous books 😭😭😭
Want to read
July 19, 2025OMGGG A NEW RELEASE DAY!!! IN DECEMBER 2025!!!
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IM SO SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!!! I HATE THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT THIS LONG FOR THE BOOK! IM SO IMPATIENT I NEED THIS IN MY HANDS!!
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IM SO SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!!! I HATE THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT THIS LONG FOR THE BOOK! IM SO IMPATIENT I NEED THIS IN MY HANDS!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
જ⁀➴ 𝟒.𝟓𝟎₊˚⊹💗 𝟙𝟚/𝟚𝟚/𝟚𝟝—𝟙𝟚/𝟚𝟚/𝟚𝟝
STOP—I didn’t want this to end but it was so good 😭! i didn’t realize how much i loved this series until the last page!! THERE BETTER BE A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA!! (better yet a Valentine’s Day novella)!!
the yearning was AMAZING, and this was the definition of gentle but passionate love!! literally with each book in this series it kept getting better and better and this book has moved up to one of my all time favorite romcoms!! 👀
James really did have a phD in yearning and silent love because WOW!! and seeing his relationship with his brother progress was cute as well (i need a book for tommy too)!! but all the men in this series are really top tier 🤭!
i didn’t even really like madison in the other books—but i loved her so much in this one!! her grief and anxiety were written SO well and i loved the overall message about failure!! she was funny, sweet, and relatable and soulmates with james 🥺
also please give it up for sarah adams because this is the first book that i’ve binged in MONTHS!! not only that but in 3 hours?! (yes I timed myself because i already knew I would devour this)!
honestly there isn’t much to say other than you NEED this book right now (and this whole series)! overall one of my favorites ever and one of my favorite mmcs too 💕!!🥺
pub date: 12/30/25 👀
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this Arc.
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: 𝟒.𝟓𝟎 💚
╰┈➤ what to expect!!!
💚 he falls first
💗 small-town romance
💚 chef fmc x farmer mmc
💗 major slow-burn
💚 childhood frenemies to lovers
💗 “phD in yearning” mmc
💚 fast paced
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
I GOT THE ARC!! so of course im going to start it today 👀💚!! I’ve loved reading sarah adams so I can’t wait to read this one too 🤭!! and the snippets of them in the other books!!
STOP—I didn’t want this to end but it was so good 😭! i didn’t realize how much i loved this series until the last page!! THERE BETTER BE A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA!! (better yet a Valentine’s Day novella)!!
the yearning was AMAZING, and this was the definition of gentle but passionate love!! literally with each book in this series it kept getting better and better and this book has moved up to one of my all time favorite romcoms!! 👀
James really did have a phD in yearning and silent love because WOW!! and seeing his relationship with his brother progress was cute as well (i need a book for tommy too)!! but all the men in this series are really top tier 🤭!
i didn’t even really like madison in the other books—but i loved her so much in this one!! her grief and anxiety were written SO well and i loved the overall message about failure!! she was funny, sweet, and relatable and soulmates with james 🥺
also please give it up for sarah adams because this is the first book that i’ve binged in MONTHS!! not only that but in 3 hours?! (yes I timed myself because i already knew I would devour this)!
honestly there isn’t much to say other than you NEED this book right now (and this whole series)! overall one of my favorites ever and one of my favorite mmcs too 💕!!🥺
pub date: 12/30/25 👀
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this Arc.
𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓
𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕: 𝟒.𝟓𝟎 💚
╰┈➤ what to expect!!!
💚 he falls first
💗 small-town romance
💚 chef fmc x farmer mmc
💗 major slow-burn
💚 childhood frenemies to lovers
💗 “phD in yearning” mmc
💚 fast paced
₊˚⊹ ᰔ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝:
I GOT THE ARC!! so of course im going to start it today 👀💚!! I’ve loved reading sarah adams so I can’t wait to read this one too 🤭!! and the snippets of them in the other books!!
December 30, 2025
જ⁀➴ 1.75 ✰
I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Sarah Adams book, but this was a big disappointment. I was so so excited to read James and Madison story since I read practice makes perfect and all that for what? for this?🧍🏻♀️
im actually crying because you all know how much I love Sarah Adams, she is literally my favorite author but I just can’t lie and tell myself that I loved this when I didn’t☹️ this was not the Sarah I’m used to.
The best word to describe this book is underwhelming. I really really really tried to love it, and I did enjoy the first 20%, but the more I read, the less I liked it. The story, the characters, the plot, all fell flat for me.
Sarah’s books are usually funny and charming in a quirky way, which is one of the main reasons I enjoy her writing. But here, it was SOOO painfully bad, the humor just didn’t work. It felt forced and awkward instead of cute or funny.
I’ve also realized that I rarely love the last book in a series because the closure often feels incomplete. That’s probably just a me problem. Still, for a series finale, I expected more moments with all the characters together. There were a few, but even in those parts, they didn’t feel like their old selves. It’s hard to explain what I felt reading this book, but I just know that it wasn’t enjoyment.
The only time I was happy was whenever my precious loves Will & Annie and Jack & Emily appeared on a scene!!! >ᴗ<
⤷ ゛the charactersˎˊ˗
My biggest issue with the book is that I couldn’t connect with either Madison or James. Both of them felt flat and one-dimensional, and I struggled to understand their choices or thoughts.
. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [james] ࿐ྂ
Honestly, James might be one of the most boring male leads I’ve read in a while. The only thing that stood out about him was that he had big arms and he never took off his boots. Also I have been seeing everywhere that the yearning from James side is extraordinary, but James keep saying and saying that he have been in love with Madison FOR YEARS yet it doesn’t feel like that and I DO NOT SEE IT, the said “longing and yearning” was nowhere to be found.
. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [madison] ࿐ྂ
I don’t even know where to begin with her. It’s insane how immature and childish she was.
Madison is officially my least favorite Walker sibling, mind you Noah is not my favorite neither cause he is boring asf but how can you be in your 30s and not being able to differentiate between a living performer and a statue??!????
Like what is wrong with you😭?
She truly lost me when she said that his boots could make an incredible erotic ASMR. I just can’t understand her fr.
I also wanted to bang my head on the wall every time Madison mentioned how she was celibate and that maybe that’s the reason why she wanted to lick every single part of James’s body. It was so repetitive and I didn’t see any reason why that fact could be so important to the story.
I think the reason why I don’t like her it’s because I couldn’t relate to her in anything, so maybe someone who is similar to her might like enjoy being in her mind. I didn’t enjoy being in her mind. Not even one second. It was torture.🤐
. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [the relationship] ࿐ྂ
Their relationship felt awkward and unbelievable. It gave off “everyone around me is in a relationship, so I guess I need one too” energy. The chemistry wasn’t there, and the emotional connection was completely missing. They also took so fucking long to get together, I’m sorry, everything was just making me more annoyed.
I understand that Sarah is trying to move away from her closed-door romance style, and I respect that, but this wasn’t the right way to do it imo. Madison and James’s relationship felt purely physical. Madison keeps mentioning how she’s celibate but wants James, and James seems to only think about her physically. I don’t mind romance with intimacy, but there was no friendship or genuine connection, just constant lust. It made their entire relationship feel shallow.
And again, I don’t have a problem at all with Sarah making this transition in her books I do have a problem with the fact that the transition was not smooth!
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Anyways, very sad that my most anticipated read and that the finale of a series that I love was my most disappointing one😕 obviously going to continue reading whatever she writes next because I do love her books but I hope she doesn’t focus too hard on the sexual side of the character’s relationship cause that’s what I think went wrong mainly for the book.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
thank you sm dell and netgalley for the earc in exchange of an honest review
_____________
{the happiness below was good while it lasted lol}
┆ ⤿ 💐 ༝ pre-read:
IT’S TIMEEEEE!!! IM COMING HOMEEEE😼
had to take a break from the book because of college but now im back fr!!🙂↕️ i seriously can’t contain my excitement for this book, I have been waiting for Madison and James’s story since I read practice makes perfect and I just know that this is going to be perfect!! Don’t want to accept that this is the last one in the series tho😫
_________
TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE RIGHT NOW😭 I cant believe my request got approved🥹 have to control myself so I don’t start this and ignore all my current reads🤚🏻
_________
ITS GETTING RELEASED A WEEK EARLIER!!!!!
she did it for me😌😌
___________
FOAMING AT THE MOUTH FOR THIS BOOK😭
I’ll read Sarah’s entire grocery list atp.
”He's loved her quietly for years, knowing she's never seen him as more than an annoyance.”
give it to meeeee rn🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻
I’ve been waiting for Madison and James book since practice makes perfect🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️ I’m so excited but also not ready for this series to end
CHEF X FARMER
THE BACKWARDS HAT. THE COVER. obsessed
I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Sarah Adams book, but this was a big disappointment. I was so so excited to read James and Madison story since I read practice makes perfect and all that for what? for this?🧍🏻♀️
im actually crying because you all know how much I love Sarah Adams, she is literally my favorite author but I just can’t lie and tell myself that I loved this when I didn’t☹️ this was not the Sarah I’m used to.
The best word to describe this book is underwhelming. I really really really tried to love it, and I did enjoy the first 20%, but the more I read, the less I liked it. The story, the characters, the plot, all fell flat for me.
Sarah’s books are usually funny and charming in a quirky way, which is one of the main reasons I enjoy her writing. But here, it was SOOO painfully bad, the humor just didn’t work. It felt forced and awkward instead of cute or funny.
I’ve also realized that I rarely love the last book in a series because the closure often feels incomplete. That’s probably just a me problem. Still, for a series finale, I expected more moments with all the characters together. There were a few, but even in those parts, they didn’t feel like their old selves. It’s hard to explain what I felt reading this book, but I just know that it wasn’t enjoyment.
The only time I was happy was whenever my precious loves Will & Annie and Jack & Emily appeared on a scene!!! >ᴗ<
⤷ ゛the charactersˎˊ˗
My biggest issue with the book is that I couldn’t connect with either Madison or James. Both of them felt flat and one-dimensional, and I struggled to understand their choices or thoughts.
. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [james] ࿐ྂ
Honestly, James might be one of the most boring male leads I’ve read in a while. The only thing that stood out about him was that he had big arms and he never took off his boots. Also I have been seeing everywhere that the yearning from James side is extraordinary, but James keep saying and saying that he have been in love with Madison FOR YEARS yet it doesn’t feel like that and I DO NOT SEE IT, the said “longing and yearning” was nowhere to be found.
. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [madison] ࿐ྂ
I don’t even know where to begin with her. It’s insane how immature and childish she was.
Madison is officially my least favorite Walker sibling, mind you Noah is not my favorite neither cause he is boring asf but how can you be in your 30s and not being able to differentiate between a living performer and a statue??!????
Like what is wrong with you😭?
She truly lost me when she said that his boots could make an incredible erotic ASMR. I just can’t understand her fr.
I also wanted to bang my head on the wall every time Madison mentioned how she was celibate and that maybe that’s the reason why she wanted to lick every single part of James’s body. It was so repetitive and I didn’t see any reason why that fact could be so important to the story.
I think the reason why I don’t like her it’s because I couldn’t relate to her in anything, so maybe someone who is similar to her might like enjoy being in her mind. I didn’t enjoy being in her mind. Not even one second. It was torture.🤐
. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [the relationship] ࿐ྂ
Their relationship felt awkward and unbelievable. It gave off “everyone around me is in a relationship, so I guess I need one too” energy. The chemistry wasn’t there, and the emotional connection was completely missing. They also took so fucking long to get together, I’m sorry, everything was just making me more annoyed.
I understand that Sarah is trying to move away from her closed-door romance style, and I respect that, but this wasn’t the right way to do it imo. Madison and James’s relationship felt purely physical. Madison keeps mentioning how she’s celibate but wants James, and James seems to only think about her physically. I don’t mind romance with intimacy, but there was no friendship or genuine connection, just constant lust. It made their entire relationship feel shallow.
And again, I don’t have a problem at all with Sarah making this transition in her books I do have a problem with the fact that the transition was not smooth!
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Anyways, very sad that my most anticipated read and that the finale of a series that I love was my most disappointing one😕 obviously going to continue reading whatever she writes next because I do love her books but I hope she doesn’t focus too hard on the sexual side of the character’s relationship cause that’s what I think went wrong mainly for the book.
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
thank you sm dell and netgalley for the earc in exchange of an honest review
_____________
{the happiness below was good while it lasted lol}
┆ ⤿ 💐 ༝ pre-read:
IT’S TIMEEEEE!!! IM COMING HOMEEEE😼
had to take a break from the book because of college but now im back fr!!🙂↕️ i seriously can’t contain my excitement for this book, I have been waiting for Madison and James’s story since I read practice makes perfect and I just know that this is going to be perfect!! Don’t want to accept that this is the last one in the series tho😫
_________
TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE RIGHT NOW😭 I cant believe my request got approved🥹 have to control myself so I don’t start this and ignore all my current reads🤚🏻
_________
ITS GETTING RELEASED A WEEK EARLIER!!!!!
she did it for me😌😌
___________
FOAMING AT THE MOUTH FOR THIS BOOK😭
I’ll read Sarah’s entire grocery list atp.
”He's loved her quietly for years, knowing she's never seen him as more than an annoyance.”
give it to meeeee rn🫴🏻🫴🏻🫴🏻
I’ve been waiting for Madison and James book since practice makes perfect🤸🏻♀️🤸🏻♀️ I’m so excited but also not ready for this series to end
CHEF X FARMER
THE BACKWARDS HAT. THE COVER. obsessed
October 11, 2025
6 stars!!
an absolute rom-com perfection!!!
reading this book almost 3 months before release date feels like a dream 🥺 i still cant believe i got the arc of this book! this is literally my fav romcom small town series and i have been waiting for madison's story since since late 2023!! i just know buket and i are going to love this beauty 💚🎀
an absolute rom-com perfection!!!
reading this book almost 3 months before release date feels like a dream 🥺 i still cant believe i got the arc of this book! this is literally my fav romcom small town series and i have been waiting for madison's story since since late 2023!! i just know buket and i are going to love this beauty 💚🎀
January 7, 2026
3.5 🌟
: ̗̀➛ started on 1/01/26
: ̗̀➛ finished on 1/01/26
honestly kinda disappointed. maybe i wasn't in the mood for this, but this book felt so bland to me. some parts i definitely did enjoy but majority of the book was just okay 🫤
--
pre-read: yes, i know i've already started the book but better late than never right? i was really excited to read this but so far its kinda mid 😔
--
once that clock hits midnight you bet im reading this
--
sarah adams is genuinely one of my favorite authors, i'm so sad for this series to end
: ̗̀➛ started on 1/01/26
: ̗̀➛ finished on 1/01/26
honestly kinda disappointed. maybe i wasn't in the mood for this, but this book felt so bland to me. some parts i definitely did enjoy but majority of the book was just okay 🫤
--
pre-read: yes, i know i've already started the book but better late than never right? i was really excited to read this but so far its kinda mid 😔
--
once that clock hits midnight you bet im reading this
--
sarah adams is genuinely one of my favorite authors, i'm so sad for this series to end
January 12, 2026
Everything I’ve read of Sarah’s so far has been perfection I’m so excited for this 😍
December 31, 2025
Oh boy, did this guy have it bad! Great writing, awesome setting in Rome, Kentucky. Enjoyed the last book in this series.
December 31, 2025
Third time’s the charm!
After the not-sure-about Cheat Sheet and the meh When in Rome, I finally found a Sarah Adams book worthy of my love.
4.5 stars
Madison and James have known each other forever but were never close. What Madison doesn’t know is that James has had a crush on her for years. She’s never looked at him as anything other than Noah’s best friend, but now that they’re working together, she’s starting to see him in a different light and appreciate his solid, quiet presence.
I loved James ��� he was hardworking and dependable, always there for her, and he was an outdoorsy, strong type, which was super hot. Madison was a mess, but she wasn’t quirky-annoying. She had no filter, which was handy; she spoke before thinking, so there was no room for miscommunication. Since I suffer from the same affliction (or maybe I should say the people around me suffer from it), I won’t be judging a sister in crime. She may have been too much for some, but she was extremely relatable to me.
I also loved the friends-to-lovers aspect. Unlike in so many contemporary romances, they weren’t best friends who stayed in the friend zone for no reason. They were more like Monica and Chandler — always in each other’s orbit but never close enough, until something shifts and BAM 💥😻
What didn’t work was the general nosiness of the small town and Madison’s sisters. But I knew from the first book not to expect boundaries, so I’m not dwelling on that. However! I have to say that I appreciate Noah treating his sister like an adult and not “defending” her from his best friend, which is a very common problem with the brother’s-best-friend trope. He didn’t have any opinion about them being together, and it was perfect.
All in all, adorable and very refreshing in many ways. So far, my absolute favorite from this author!
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
After the not-sure-about Cheat Sheet and the meh When in Rome, I finally found a Sarah Adams book worthy of my love.
4.5 stars
Madison and James have known each other forever but were never close. What Madison doesn’t know is that James has had a crush on her for years. She’s never looked at him as anything other than Noah’s best friend, but now that they’re working together, she’s starting to see him in a different light and appreciate his solid, quiet presence.
I loved James ��� he was hardworking and dependable, always there for her, and he was an outdoorsy, strong type, which was super hot. Madison was a mess, but she wasn’t quirky-annoying. She had no filter, which was handy; she spoke before thinking, so there was no room for miscommunication. Since I suffer from the same affliction (or maybe I should say the people around me suffer from it), I won’t be judging a sister in crime. She may have been too much for some, but she was extremely relatable to me.
I also loved the friends-to-lovers aspect. Unlike in so many contemporary romances, they weren’t best friends who stayed in the friend zone for no reason. They were more like Monica and Chandler — always in each other’s orbit but never close enough, until something shifts and BAM 💥😻
What didn’t work was the general nosiness of the small town and Madison’s sisters. But I knew from the first book not to expect boundaries, so I’m not dwelling on that. However! I have to say that I appreciate Noah treating his sister like an adult and not “defending” her from his best friend, which is a very common problem with the brother’s-best-friend trope. He didn’t have any opinion about them being together, and it was perfect.
All in all, adorable and very refreshing in many ways. So far, my absolute favorite from this author!
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
October 9, 2025
okay but not my queen sarah adams giving me TWO of my favorites this year??? i thought i loved beg borrow or steal until i read in your dreams bc hello? relatable as hell and so so incredibly cute!!😩
first off, madison. my favorite fmc in the series🥹 my sweet girl with a soft heart and a crazy brain with unhinged ideas🙂↔️ i LOVE her so much and i related to her on a deep level that i almost hyperventilated every time she had a panic attack🫠 my beautiful girl deserved every good thing in the world
which brings us to that good thing: james huxley. MY MANNNNNN. he yearned like he had no other business🤭 like he fell for her so bad he never wanted to get up😩
"Yearning doesn't skim the surface of it. For a decade, I've been dying inside, wanting you."
and my favorite family in rome🥹 i LOVEEEEEEE their dynamics so much and i wanna reread already bc this made me miss them all🥹 a beautiful ending to the series and i wish we could read more because it’s never enough 🥹
His head dips, mouth hovering over mine for an excruciating length
of time.
"What are you waiting for?" I ask, sounding breathless. Desperate.
"I'm not waiting. I'm savoring."
Oh my god. Why would he say that?
reading with my precious bestie ri made this experience so much better🙂↔️ love you bitch
first off, madison. my favorite fmc in the series🥹 my sweet girl with a soft heart and a crazy brain with unhinged ideas🙂↔️ i LOVE her so much and i related to her on a deep level that i almost hyperventilated every time she had a panic attack🫠 my beautiful girl deserved every good thing in the world
which brings us to that good thing: james huxley. MY MANNNNNN. he yearned like he had no other business🤭 like he fell for her so bad he never wanted to get up😩
"Yearning doesn't skim the surface of it. For a decade, I've been dying inside, wanting you."
and my favorite family in rome🥹 i LOVEEEEEEE their dynamics so much and i wanna reread already bc this made me miss them all🥹 a beautiful ending to the series and i wish we could read more because it’s never enough 🥹
His head dips, mouth hovering over mine for an excruciating length
of time.
"What are you waiting for?" I ask, sounding breathless. Desperate.
"I'm not waiting. I'm savoring."
Oh my god. Why would he say that?
reading with my precious bestie ri made this experience so much better🙂↔️ love you bitch
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
1/2 reread: I LOVE THEMMMMM, god this audiobook was everything. maddie and james u will always be loved by me
~~~
12/26: writing this review feels so bittersweet for me, when i first started reviewing for netgalley in 2023 ‘when in rome’ was my third approval on here but my first from a huge author and publisher, since then i have been so lucky to get to review all of the rome kentucky books and have loved every single one with every fiber of my being 😭
i have chomping at the bit for james and madison’s story since book one and oh man were the ever worth the wait!!! i dont know who im obsessed with more between the two of them honestly. everything about this relationship was SO fun, i absolutely loved the way it progressed. obviously we know going into this book that james is in love with madison and has been for sometime now but even though he has these feelings already the book was still a beautiful slowburn. we got to see him fall in love with her even more the closer they got and the more their friendship bloomed.
there were a million and one different things i wholeheartedly loved through out this book, i’d be writing all day if i started to try and name them all but one of my forever favorite things about this entire series, this book being no different is how many cameos we get thorough out the story of all of the past characters and side characters that we have spent 3 years and four books loving so much. every time a beloved character showed their face it made my heart feel so full to get to see a little of how they are doing in the time since we last saw them.
there is just something so magical about this town and sarah adams writing in general that makes it so hard to want to say goodbye for good, while i am forever excited for what sarah has in store for us next a little piece of my heart will always belong to rome kentucky 🥹
~~~
12/26: writing this review feels so bittersweet for me, when i first started reviewing for netgalley in 2023 ‘when in rome’ was my third approval on here but my first from a huge author and publisher, since then i have been so lucky to get to review all of the rome kentucky books and have loved every single one with every fiber of my being 😭
i have chomping at the bit for james and madison’s story since book one and oh man were the ever worth the wait!!! i dont know who im obsessed with more between the two of them honestly. everything about this relationship was SO fun, i absolutely loved the way it progressed. obviously we know going into this book that james is in love with madison and has been for sometime now but even though he has these feelings already the book was still a beautiful slowburn. we got to see him fall in love with her even more the closer they got and the more their friendship bloomed.
there were a million and one different things i wholeheartedly loved through out this book, i’d be writing all day if i started to try and name them all but one of my forever favorite things about this entire series, this book being no different is how many cameos we get thorough out the story of all of the past characters and side characters that we have spent 3 years and four books loving so much. every time a beloved character showed their face it made my heart feel so full to get to see a little of how they are doing in the time since we last saw them.
there is just something so magical about this town and sarah adams writing in general that makes it so hard to want to say goodbye for good, while i am forever excited for what sarah has in store for us next a little piece of my heart will always belong to rome kentucky 🥹
January 4, 2026
This was disappointing. My least favourite in the series, out of the books that I've read.
In short, the story is about Madison and James. James is her older brother's best friend and they practically grew up together. When she was younger, she first had a crush on him, and then on his brother Tommy. Then she left Rome and did her own thing, hooked up with different men.
New York and her culinary school are a disaster. After James offers her the job, she comes back and from the moment she sees him, she starts to openly lust after him. He doesn't want to do anything about that, until she starts seeing him as something more than a person she is physically attracted to.
I liked James. He is almost too good to be true. He has been pining after Madison for years. I don't know why, but I'll take that and if it's Madison he wants, then that's what he deserves. Even if opening a restaurant for her and fixing a place for her to live in, while struggling financially, seems very unrealistic.
However, I really didn't like Madison. I didn't click with her humor, her chaotic personality, her brand of quirkiness – whatever you want to call it. I didn't like her immaturity. I didn't get where her sudden physical attraction to James came from. The things she did and said felt so awkward and cringey to me. Not cute at all.
The whole storyline around opening the restaurant felt stressful and it went on for too long. I didn't see Madison as someone reliable or competent. Even the first opening with friends and family only was a total mess.
Overall, this wasn't an enjoyable reading experience for me. Book 3 is still my favourite in the series, and I even enjoyed book 2 a lot more than this one. It was nice seeing the characters from the previous books.
In short, the story is about Madison and James. James is her older brother's best friend and they practically grew up together. When she was younger, she first had a crush on him, and then on his brother Tommy. Then she left Rome and did her own thing, hooked up with different men.
New York and her culinary school are a disaster. After James offers her the job, she comes back and from the moment she sees him, she starts to openly lust after him. He doesn't want to do anything about that, until she starts seeing him as something more than a person she is physically attracted to.
I liked James. He is almost too good to be true. He has been pining after Madison for years. I don't know why, but I'll take that and if it's Madison he wants, then that's what he deserves. Even if opening a restaurant for her and fixing a place for her to live in, while struggling financially, seems very unrealistic.
However, I really didn't like Madison. I didn't click with her humor, her chaotic personality, her brand of quirkiness – whatever you want to call it. I didn't like her immaturity. I didn't get where her sudden physical attraction to James came from. The things she did and said felt so awkward and cringey to me. Not cute at all.
The whole storyline around opening the restaurant felt stressful and it went on for too long. I didn't see Madison as someone reliable or competent. Even the first opening with friends and family only was a total mess.
Overall, this wasn't an enjoyable reading experience for me. Book 3 is still my favourite in the series, and I even enjoyed book 2 a lot more than this one. It was nice seeing the characters from the previous books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2025
2.5 stars
🪷 ˙ ˖
i might be in the minority but i actually enjoyed the first half of this series more than the second. this book wasn’t bad per se, but i just didn’t feel as connected to madison or james as i’d hoped. i also tend to value emotional connection over physical intimacy and this one didn’t quite hit that mark for me.
james is said to have been yearning for madison for years, but there was more telling than showing which made it hard for me to buy into the romance. madison also ended up being my least favourite walker sibling. i genuinely can’t wrap my head around the fact that she’s 30 and can’t tell the difference between a real person and a statue. and the quirky humour was just painful.
that said, i can definitely see readers with different preferences enjoying this book, and even though i’d hoped to end the series on a stronger note, i’ll still look back on it with a lot of fondness.
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and ballantine for the arc!
i might be in the minority but i actually enjoyed the first half of this series more than the second. this book wasn’t bad per se, but i just didn’t feel as connected to madison or james as i’d hoped. i also tend to value emotional connection over physical intimacy and this one didn’t quite hit that mark for me.
james is said to have been yearning for madison for years, but there was more telling than showing which made it hard for me to buy into the romance. madison also ended up being my least favourite walker sibling. i genuinely can’t wrap my head around the fact that she’s 30 and can’t tell the difference between a real person and a statue. and the quirky humour was just painful.
that said, i can definitely see readers with different preferences enjoying this book, and even though i’d hoped to end the series on a stronger note, i’ll still look back on it with a lot of fondness.
ⓘ thank you to netgalley and ballantine for the arc!
January 4, 2026
While not my favorite in the series, it was still a good read.
I have such a type A personality which meant I had a hard time connecting with Madison. I honestly found her to be incredibly immature and careless for a thirty year old woman. I couldn’t take her seriously several times throughout the book. I also don’t think she was very active when it came to figuring out her life and it felt like everything was kind of handed to her. Madison was just not a female lead that I could admire.
I did like James though. He was so selfless and protective and it was honestly really adorable how much he cared for Madison. However, I never understood why he loved her. He has been yearning for her for years, but the author never provided an explanation as to why and it ended up feeling like it was mostly due to attraction. Also, James was not very likeable when the topic of his brother Tommy came up. He would always just get so angry and be unreasonable and uncompromising. I sided with Tommy during their arguments. With all of that combined, I never ended up loving James as a male lead and he was just average.
Overall, I enjoyed this series, but I wished it would have ended on a better note because the final book ended up falling a little flat for me.
———————
Pre-read: I’m a little worried going into this one since the reviews so far have not been great😬
I have such a type A personality which meant I had a hard time connecting with Madison. I honestly found her to be incredibly immature and careless for a thirty year old woman. I couldn’t take her seriously several times throughout the book. I also don’t think she was very active when it came to figuring out her life and it felt like everything was kind of handed to her. Madison was just not a female lead that I could admire.
I did like James though. He was so selfless and protective and it was honestly really adorable how much he cared for Madison. However, I never understood why he loved her. He has been yearning for her for years, but the author never provided an explanation as to why and it ended up feeling like it was mostly due to attraction. Also, James was not very likeable when the topic of his brother Tommy came up. He would always just get so angry and be unreasonable and uncompromising. I sided with Tommy during their arguments. With all of that combined, I never ended up loving James as a male lead and he was just average.
Overall, I enjoyed this series, but I wished it would have ended on a better note because the final book ended up falling a little flat for me.
———————
Pre-read: I’m a little worried going into this one since the reviews so far have not been great😬
January 16, 2026
I love the When in Rome series. 🥺❤️ There’s something so undeniably charming about it—this sweet and funny mix of comfort, banter, and swoon-worthy love stories throughout. To me, this series feels like a warm hug and is the perfect, uplifting escape when you’re feeling down. It is the perfect blend of nostalgic rom-com movies mixed with vintage charm (each book inspired by a different Audrey Hepburn movie!) and that cute small-town vibe with nosy neighbors, inside jokes, and sharp banter like in Gilmore Girls.
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I started off thinking that Practice Makes Perfect was my ultimate favorite—Will and Annie’s story was just too cute for words. However, In Your Dreams was a genuine surprise; I think it might be Sarah Adams’ best yet.
For me, Sarah’s writing resonates so much because it’s not just the swoon-worthy love stories – it’s the way she tackles the psychological growth of her characters. I’ve loved the developments evolve with each book:
💛 Amelia and Noah’s story was about following your heart.
🌸 Annie and Will’s was about defying expectations.
📚 Emily and Jack’s was about trusting your voice.
This fourth and final book brings together so many elements of these themes and hones in on embracing imperfection and failure in a beautiful way. Maddie and James had such a surprisingly deep story, complete with dealing with raging perfectionism and the journey to feeling seen, strong, and capable.
The book is filled to the brim with slow-burning tension and yearning. All the elements of a heartfelt romance, for sure! My favorite scenes were with Mabel, of course, and the heartwarming chapter showing us the boy’s perspective was super cute. The trip to NYC was such a fun, unexpected twist, and finally—no third-act breakup?! It was a total *chef’s kiss!* 😂❤️
It is so bittersweet to say goodbye (for now, I hope!) to such a beloved series. While I'm sad to see it end, I am so looking forward to whatever Sarah Adams writes next. I’ll miss so many things about these characters (especially Mabel!), the comforting stories, and the found family vibes. I’ll probably have more thoughts after a reread, but for now—see you soon, and bye for now. A piece of my heart lives in Rome, Kentucky!
Perfect if you love:
❤️ Small town romance stories (with an adventure in NYC!)
✨️ Childhood friends (frenemies) to lovers
💛 Chef FMC & Farmer MMC
🥰 Brother's best friend (or best friend’s sister, depending on how you look at it 😂)
❤️ Themes of dealing with perfectionism and failure in a beautiful way
✨️ Found family
❤️ Gilmore Girls vibes
💛 Audrey Hepburn movies
✨️ The Lovelight Farms series by BK Borison
(Note: Triggers are listed in the beginning of the book, but everything felt like it was handled well and nothing was over the top! ✨️)
It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I started off thinking that Practice Makes Perfect was my ultimate favorite—Will and Annie’s story was just too cute for words. However, In Your Dreams was a genuine surprise; I think it might be Sarah Adams’ best yet.
For me, Sarah’s writing resonates so much because it’s not just the swoon-worthy love stories – it’s the way she tackles the psychological growth of her characters. I’ve loved the developments evolve with each book:
💛 Amelia and Noah’s story was about following your heart.
🌸 Annie and Will’s was about defying expectations.
📚 Emily and Jack’s was about trusting your voice.
This fourth and final book brings together so many elements of these themes and hones in on embracing imperfection and failure in a beautiful way. Maddie and James had such a surprisingly deep story, complete with dealing with raging perfectionism and the journey to feeling seen, strong, and capable.
The book is filled to the brim with slow-burning tension and yearning. All the elements of a heartfelt romance, for sure! My favorite scenes were with Mabel, of course, and the heartwarming chapter showing us the boy’s perspective was super cute. The trip to NYC was such a fun, unexpected twist, and finally—no third-act breakup?! It was a total *chef’s kiss!* 😂❤️
It is so bittersweet to say goodbye (for now, I hope!) to such a beloved series. While I'm sad to see it end, I am so looking forward to whatever Sarah Adams writes next. I’ll miss so many things about these characters (especially Mabel!), the comforting stories, and the found family vibes. I’ll probably have more thoughts after a reread, but for now—see you soon, and bye for now. A piece of my heart lives in Rome, Kentucky!
Perfect if you love:
❤️ Small town romance stories (with an adventure in NYC!)
✨️ Childhood friends (frenemies) to lovers
💛 Chef FMC & Farmer MMC
🥰 Brother's best friend (or best friend’s sister, depending on how you look at it 😂)
❤️ Themes of dealing with perfectionism and failure in a beautiful way
✨️ Found family
❤️ Gilmore Girls vibes
💛 Audrey Hepburn movies
✨️ The Lovelight Farms series by BK Borison
(Note: Triggers are listed in the beginning of the book, but everything felt like it was handled well and nothing was over the top! ✨️)
January 14, 2026
── .✦ 4 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
┆ ⤿ 👩🍳 ⌗ started: january 12, finished: january 13
⤿ mini review w NO spoilers ⋆
‧₊˚ ┊ tropes:
.ᐟ chef x farmer
.ᐟ friends to lovers
.ᐟ business partners
.ᐟ small town
.ᐟ yearning
‧₊˚ ┊ read this with my best friend mads! 💌 i’m genuinely so glad i read this series with you!! you made it sm better and made me fall in love w it so quickly 🥹 i love you forever and here’s to many more brs!! ⭐️💋
‧₊˚ ┊thoughts ⋆˚࿔
what do you mean i’m officially done with the series?! ☹️ but i’m so so glad i picked up this series. it’s genuinely so heartwarming and made me feel like i’m a part of the walker siblings and rome.
and ofc! in your dreams was ADORABLE. it did live up to the hype. i enjoyed every bit of it and how different topics were touched on as well. i loved the friends to lovers trope and the yearning there was!!
── .✦ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
‧₊˚ ┊madison walker ⋆˚࿔
again, she deserves the biggest hug. all siblings were going through their own issues and i’m so glad they each got their own books so we could read about it. maddie dealt with panic attacks and trauma due to her stressful life in new york city. however, i’m so glad she chose to move back home to where she belonged. and hello?! she got to be a badass chef like she wanted to!!
‧₊˚ ┊james huxley ⋆˚࿔
my favourite yearner 😩 the amount he yearned for maddie and for YEARS made me giggle so much! the way he did everything for everyone but still didn’t take care of himself 😞 i’m so happy he had maddie to show him that he is cared for and he deserves all the love he can get
‧₊˚ ┊maddie + james ⋆˚࿔
eee i loved their tension when they became friends 🤭 i was giggling sm when they were both acting like fools in front of each other. however, i really wanted a bit more from them. maybe similar to emily and jack? something felt missing in the story which made me give it a 4 star rating. but other than that i LOVED their chemistry and story sm!!
── .✦ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
”I love you, Madison. And when I said I'm all-in on you, I meant all-in. You'll never have to wonder where you stand with me. Be mad at me. Tell me when I'm being a jackass and make me sleep on the couch. Chase your wild heart and when you come home, I'll be here. Always."
“You could try your whole life-really give it your best shot, and still would never come close to anything but extraordinary."
Yearning doesn’t skim the surface of it. For a decade, I’ve been dying inside, wanting you.
┆ ⤿ 👩🍳 ⌗ started: january 12, finished: january 13
⤿ mini review w NO spoilers ⋆
“you’ll never have to wonder where you stand with me. be mad at me. tell me when i’m being a jackass... and when you come home, i’ll be here. always”
‧₊˚ ┊ tropes:
.ᐟ chef x farmer
.ᐟ friends to lovers
.ᐟ business partners
.ᐟ small town
.ᐟ yearning
⤿spice: 2/5
‧₊˚ ┊ read this with my best friend mads! 💌 i’m genuinely so glad i read this series with you!! you made it sm better and made me fall in love w it so quickly 🥹 i love you forever and here’s to many more brs!! ⭐️💋
ⓘ book 4 of 2026
‧₊˚ ┊thoughts ⋆˚࿔
what do you mean i’m officially done with the series?! ☹️ but i’m so so glad i picked up this series. it’s genuinely so heartwarming and made me feel like i’m a part of the walker siblings and rome.
and ofc! in your dreams was ADORABLE. it did live up to the hype. i enjoyed every bit of it and how different topics were touched on as well. i loved the friends to lovers trope and the yearning there was!!
── .✦ characters 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
‧₊˚ ┊madison walker ⋆˚࿔
again, she deserves the biggest hug. all siblings were going through their own issues and i’m so glad they each got their own books so we could read about it. maddie dealt with panic attacks and trauma due to her stressful life in new york city. however, i’m so glad she chose to move back home to where she belonged. and hello?! she got to be a badass chef like she wanted to!!
‧₊˚ ┊james huxley ⋆˚࿔
my favourite yearner 😩 the amount he yearned for maddie and for YEARS made me giggle so much! the way he did everything for everyone but still didn’t take care of himself 😞 i’m so happy he had maddie to show him that he is cared for and he deserves all the love he can get
‧₊˚ ┊maddie + james ⋆˚࿔
eee i loved their tension when they became friends 🤭 i was giggling sm when they were both acting like fools in front of each other. however, i really wanted a bit more from them. maybe similar to emily and jack? something felt missing in the story which made me give it a 4 star rating. but other than that i LOVED their chemistry and story sm!!
── .✦ quotes 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
”I love you, Madison. And when I said I'm all-in on you, I meant all-in. You'll never have to wonder where you stand with me. Be mad at me. Tell me when I'm being a jackass and make me sleep on the couch. Chase your wild heart and when you come home, I'll be here. Always."
“You could try your whole life-really give it your best shot, and still would never come close to anything but extraordinary."
Yearning doesn’t skim the surface of it. For a decade, I’ve been dying inside, wanting you.
November 22, 2025
[arc review] I enjoyed this, and while I didn’t love it in the way I thought I would, there are some elements that really worked for the story—and some that ultimately didn’t.
I do want to start off with what I enjoyed, because it was definitely a cute and cozy story that I know a lot of people will love.
madison is a very complex character that—despite appearing as this happy-go-lucky person who goes with the flow and doesn’t let anything bother her—is actually a troubled person who struggles with anxiety and self loathing.
I enjoyed getting to know her beyond the glimpses of her in the other stories, and how james really helped madison become a better version of herself—he didn’t push her to do anything she didn’t want to do, and truly listened to her.
throughout the story he had her best interests at heart, and if she was to ask him to jump, he would always ask how high.
the slow burn really worked—the romance didn’t feel rushed and the characters didn’t get together for the sake of the plot.
letting madison work on becoming the best chef she can be, finding herself, and being more open about things was the best thing that could’ve happened—and I’m glad that was one of the main focal points of the story.
however, the story itself did feel too long by about 50-100 pages—there was a lot of repetitiveness that could’ve been wrapped up sooner.
I also—controversially—didn’t understand why james essentially put his life on hold in hope madison would return to rome. I’m a big fan of yearning, but I just didn’t understand it in this aspect.
madison and james were never friends—and this was said multiple times throughout the book. james was always the quiet and reserved best friend of madison’s brother, noah, that never really entertained anything—including a friendship—with madison when she lived in rome. so I just really struggled to believe he would essentially put his love life on hold for someone who might never return to the town he lives in. sure he tried to date other people, but all he could think about was madison? the same person he never really spoke to?
for me I wish it made more sense, and we saw more glimpses of a friendship between them—because it was made explicitly that they weren’t before madison moved home.
I went into this thinking it would be one of my top reads of 2025, but unfortunately it wasn’t—but I know for a fact a lot of people will love this story when it’s released, and I’m just sad it didn’t resonate with me.
huge thanks to headline eternal for an advance reader copy of ‘in your dreams’! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I do want to start off with what I enjoyed, because it was definitely a cute and cozy story that I know a lot of people will love.
madison is a very complex character that—despite appearing as this happy-go-lucky person who goes with the flow and doesn’t let anything bother her—is actually a troubled person who struggles with anxiety and self loathing.
I enjoyed getting to know her beyond the glimpses of her in the other stories, and how james really helped madison become a better version of herself—he didn’t push her to do anything she didn’t want to do, and truly listened to her.
throughout the story he had her best interests at heart, and if she was to ask him to jump, he would always ask how high.
the slow burn really worked—the romance didn’t feel rushed and the characters didn’t get together for the sake of the plot.
letting madison work on becoming the best chef she can be, finding herself, and being more open about things was the best thing that could’ve happened—and I’m glad that was one of the main focal points of the story.
however, the story itself did feel too long by about 50-100 pages—there was a lot of repetitiveness that could’ve been wrapped up sooner.
I also—controversially—didn’t understand why james essentially put his life on hold in hope madison would return to rome. I’m a big fan of yearning, but I just didn’t understand it in this aspect.
madison and james were never friends—and this was said multiple times throughout the book. james was always the quiet and reserved best friend of madison’s brother, noah, that never really entertained anything—including a friendship—with madison when she lived in rome. so I just really struggled to believe he would essentially put his love life on hold for someone who might never return to the town he lives in. sure he tried to date other people, but all he could think about was madison? the same person he never really spoke to?
for me I wish it made more sense, and we saw more glimpses of a friendship between them—because it was made explicitly that they weren’t before madison moved home.
I went into this thinking it would be one of my top reads of 2025, but unfortunately it wasn’t—but I know for a fact a lot of people will love this story when it’s released, and I’m just sad it didn’t resonate with me.
huge thanks to headline eternal for an advance reader copy of ‘in your dreams’! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 16, 2026
I believe the more appropriate title would be 'In My Dreams, I See Your Boots.'
The amount of unhealthy obsession the fmc had with his boots is insane. She said the most worst things at the worst times and thinks the sound of boots is erotic asmr. For his 'atonement', she makes him stand in shower with only boxers and boots and gets super aroused with sound of wet boots slapping the floor.
I've forgotten the amount of times, I have physically cringed reading this. I believe the author was going for this carefree wild fmc (that I honestly would've loved to witness) but ended up creating one of the most cringe characters ever. You wouldn't be able to convince me she's actually 30.
It has barely even been 15 days into 2026 and this just might be my most disappointing read. When I tell you, I loved the second book with my entire heart and soul and still do; and the third book also really worked out for me...I was beyond excited to read this. But yeah...genuinely heartbroken (and frustrated).
***
Part 2 of 26 of reading every single book on my kindle.
Mine and Arina's first buddy read of 2026 and our most anticipated read!! CAN'T WAIT 🤭🤭
The amount of unhealthy obsession the fmc had with his boots is insane. She said the most worst things at the worst times and thinks the sound of boots is erotic asmr. For his 'atonement', she makes him stand in shower with only boxers and boots and gets super aroused with sound of wet boots slapping the floor.
I've forgotten the amount of times, I have physically cringed reading this. I believe the author was going for this carefree wild fmc (that I honestly would've loved to witness) but ended up creating one of the most cringe characters ever. You wouldn't be able to convince me she's actually 30.
It has barely even been 15 days into 2026 and this just might be my most disappointing read. When I tell you, I loved the second book with my entire heart and soul and still do; and the third book also really worked out for me...I was beyond excited to read this. But yeah...genuinely heartbroken (and frustrated).
***
Part 2 of 26 of reading every single book on my kindle.
Mine and Arina's first buddy read of 2026 and our most anticipated read!! CAN'T WAIT 🤭🤭
January 14, 2026
▹TL;DR Review: A fitting end to a wonderful series. While this may have been my least favorite in the series, I still fell in love with Madison and James. This is the fourth and final book in the “When In Rome” series. While it *could* be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the books in order.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📕 Physical book
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: After her big-city dreams fall apart, chef Maddy returns to her small Kentucky hometown to start over—only to find comfort, healing, and unexpected love with her brother’s best friend. As they work side by side to build something new, friendship slowly turns into something deeper, proving that sometimes the dreams you give up lead you exactly where you’re meant to be
– FMC: Madison “Maddy” Walker. A resilient, albeit anxious, chef who struggles with self-doubt, picking up her dirty dishes, and keeping her business relationships out of her personal life. But she’s also kind, funny, and is learning how to redefine what success looks like
– MMC: Jameson “James” Huxley. Steadfast farm owner who was just handed over the family farm and doesn’t want to let his parents down. Longtime friend of Madison’s brother, Noah. Has been quietly in love with Madison and would do anything to make her happy
– Location: Kentucky (fictional town of Rome) and NYC (briefly)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 2-3 open-door semi-explicit/romantic spicy scenes
– Tropes: Slow burn, friends to lovers, idiots to lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, workplace romance-ish, small-town romance, secret pining, he falls first (and maybe harder)
– Content warning: anxiety/panic attacks, self-worth struggles, family pressure, toxic career environment, financial struggles, sibling fighting, high blood pressure, family emergency (off-page), smoking cigarettes
– Representation: mental health (anxiety, slight depression)
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ Heartfelt romance stories that could be on Hallmark, but maybe a bit more modern
➼ Pining for your brother’s best friend, even though you’re convinced he thinks you’re annoying
➼ Books/shows about chefs trying to make it
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy—————✧——————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I feel like I might be judging this book too hard based on my love of the other books in this series. I had to sit down and try to take my emotions out of it, but then I thought “well, isn’t that why we read romance? To feel some emotions?!”
I’ll start with what I loved.
- The Characters: Madison felt a kindred spirit. She was a little flighty, had too many thoughts to pin down at one time, aimed for positivity even when everything around her felt negative. She was, in many senses, the perfect FMC. She wasn’t too serious, but she was flawed. She was broken at the beginning and learned how to put herself together (sometimes with the help of others) by the end. And James was unassuming. He wanted the best for Madison that he concocted a hair-brained idea just to keep her happy
- The supporting cast: One thing Sarah Adams excelled at in this series was creating a small town of people that were flawed but worked well together and knew how to play off of each other’s strengths
- The main theme of the plot: which was a chef and a farmer helping each other out and falling in love in the meantime
What threw me off (but I realize I might be a bit too critical):
- While I love an idiots-to-lovers™ (TM: Lina), this started way too strong and just stayed at that level until they finally kissed. I wanted to watch it build more. I wanted there to be more awkward moments between the two of them because they were CLUELESSLY in love with each other. I wished that instead of “James couldn’t possibly think that way about me, I’m like an annoying little sister!” we saw more of this hesitancy from each perspective at the start and then watch them both realize that they were wrong. I was really annoyed with this being a theme for 50% of the book but all being on the same level of “aw shucks, he/she couldn’t like little ol’ me! I’m just a nothing nobody!”
- I really did not care for the whole “I don’t date co-workers” spiel Madison gave on one page and then on the next page she was shamelessly flirting (like…inappropriately for co-workers or family friends) with both James and his brother. I get this is not only her personality but also the nature of going into business with friends of family (being relaxed vs. strictly professional), but this just didn’t jive with me. It made Madison seem insincere or wishy-washy. I have no issues with them dating or whatever, and I don’t care that it didn’t take the forbidden route, but let that tension build a bit more! If she says “I don’t date co-workers,” have her bite her tongue more or let it unfold slowly or idk, something other than her saying that in one breath and then talking about his dick size (or whatever) in the next.
Would I Recommend?: Heck yes! This whole series was still beautifully done and I will for sure revisit them again in the future.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.5 out of 5
▹Format: 📕 Physical book
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: After her big-city dreams fall apart, chef Maddy returns to her small Kentucky hometown to start over—only to find comfort, healing, and unexpected love with her brother’s best friend. As they work side by side to build something new, friendship slowly turns into something deeper, proving that sometimes the dreams you give up lead you exactly where you’re meant to be
– FMC: Madison “Maddy” Walker. A resilient, albeit anxious, chef who struggles with self-doubt, picking up her dirty dishes, and keeping her business relationships out of her personal life. But she’s also kind, funny, and is learning how to redefine what success looks like
– MMC: Jameson “James” Huxley. Steadfast farm owner who was just handed over the family farm and doesn’t want to let his parents down. Longtime friend of Madison’s brother, Noah. Has been quietly in love with Madison and would do anything to make her happy
– Location: Kentucky (fictional town of Rome) and NYC (briefly)
– POV: Dual first-person
– Spice: 2-3 open-door semi-explicit/romantic spicy scenes
– Tropes: Slow burn, friends to lovers, idiots to lovers, brother’s best friend, forced proximity, workplace romance-ish, small-town romance, secret pining, he falls first (and maybe harder)
– Content warning: anxiety/panic attacks, self-worth struggles, family pressure, toxic career environment, financial struggles, sibling fighting, high blood pressure, family emergency (off-page), smoking cigarettes
– Representation: mental health (anxiety, slight depression)
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Home by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
╰┈➤ ❝While you were sitting in the back seat. Smoking a cigarette you thought was gonna be your last. I was falling deep, deeply in love with you, And I never told you 'til just now!❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ Heartfelt romance stories that could be on Hallmark, but maybe a bit more modern
➼ Pining for your brother’s best friend, even though you’re convinced he thinks you’re annoying
➼ Books/shows about chefs trying to make it
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn———————✧————Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy—————✧——————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I feel like I might be judging this book too hard based on my love of the other books in this series. I had to sit down and try to take my emotions out of it, but then I thought “well, isn’t that why we read romance? To feel some emotions?!”
I’ll start with what I loved.
- The Characters: Madison felt a kindred spirit. She was a little flighty, had too many thoughts to pin down at one time, aimed for positivity even when everything around her felt negative. She was, in many senses, the perfect FMC. She wasn’t too serious, but she was flawed. She was broken at the beginning and learned how to put herself together (sometimes with the help of others) by the end. And James was unassuming. He wanted the best for Madison that he concocted a hair-brained idea just to keep her happy
- The supporting cast: One thing Sarah Adams excelled at in this series was creating a small town of people that were flawed but worked well together and knew how to play off of each other’s strengths
- The main theme of the plot: which was a chef and a farmer helping each other out and falling in love in the meantime
What threw me off (but I realize I might be a bit too critical):
- While I love an idiots-to-lovers™ (TM: Lina), this started way too strong and just stayed at that level until they finally kissed. I wanted to watch it build more. I wanted there to be more awkward moments between the two of them because they were CLUELESSLY in love with each other. I wished that instead of “James couldn’t possibly think that way about me, I’m like an annoying little sister!” we saw more of this hesitancy from each perspective at the start and then watch them both realize that they were wrong. I was really annoyed with this being a theme for 50% of the book but all being on the same level of “aw shucks, he/she couldn’t like little ol’ me! I’m just a nothing nobody!”
- I really did not care for the whole “I don’t date co-workers” spiel Madison gave on one page and then on the next page she was shamelessly flirting (like…inappropriately for co-workers or family friends) with both James and his brother. I get this is not only her personality but also the nature of going into business with friends of family (being relaxed vs. strictly professional), but this just didn’t jive with me. It made Madison seem insincere or wishy-washy. I have no issues with them dating or whatever, and I don’t care that it didn’t take the forbidden route, but let that tension build a bit more! If she says “I don’t date co-workers,” have her bite her tongue more or let it unfold slowly or idk, something other than her saying that in one breath and then talking about his dick size (or whatever) in the next.
Would I Recommend?: Heck yes! This whole series was still beautifully done and I will for sure revisit them again in the future.
January 6, 2026
five stars all around… like wtf did sarah put in this??
if i thought my standards were high, james officially just raised them to the literal sky
if i thought my standards were high, james officially just raised them to the literal sky
January 2, 2026
such a nice way to wrap up this series and start the new year!
January 7, 2026
-ˏˋ₊˚꒰⏲️꒱ ⊹ 3 stars ₊⊹
⤿ my #first read of the new year!! who would've thought I would finish one this early, let alone give a full review . but eek we finally wrapped up rome!! although I did not read the first one. but this was so quick and fun, was it my fave? no. i did like emily and jack's story more. i did however love seeing everyone togehter in the end, it was just sooo wholesome.
⌇• i. characters
⟢ madison! our michelin chef queen, our poor girl was so alone in new york, and she just needed somebody. she's so witty and funny that she genuinely made me giggle, her dynamic with her sisters, even emily was so wholesome. NOW. don't hate me... i did find her insufferable at times. like i understand it, i get it but she did complain a lot which just rubbed me the wrong way. BUT with james, i love how soft and smitten she gets.
⊹ JAMESSSSSEYYY. he's just a big teddy bear in my head, was he my fav mmc in the rome series? no. he was lowkey insignificant and did not leave a huge impact. he was still super sweet and the yearning, the love he had for madison was something i admire.
⌇• iii. overall feelings
⊹ hear me out, i did enjoy this, simply because it was my first read and it was so quick to go through, but was it the ending i was hoping for? not necessarily. i feel like it didn't encapsulate or wrap up the entire feeling that the series gave me, and i just wished we got more. with that being said, i did enjoy their little moments and quirks, and i will dearly miss this series. <33
"“Yearning doesn’t skim the surface of it. For a decade, I’ve been dying inside, wanting you.”
with love always, ashley 🤍
⤿ my #first read of the new year!! who would've thought I would finish one this early, let alone give a full review . but eek we finally wrapped up rome!!
⌇• i. characters
⟢ madison! our michelin chef queen, our poor girl was so alone in new york, and she just needed somebody. she's so witty and funny that she genuinely made me giggle, her dynamic with her sisters, even emily was so wholesome. NOW. don't hate me... i did find her insufferable at times. like i understand it, i get it but she did complain a lot which just rubbed me the wrong way. BUT with james, i love how soft and smitten she gets.
⊹ JAMESSSSSEYYY. he's just a big teddy bear in my head, was he my fav mmc in the rome series? no. he was lowkey insignificant and did not leave a huge impact. he was still super sweet and the yearning, the love he had for madison was something i admire.
⌇• iii. overall feelings
⊹ hear me out, i did enjoy this, simply because it was my first read and it was so quick to go through, but was it the ending i was hoping for? not necessarily. i feel like it didn't encapsulate or wrap up the entire feeling that the series gave me, and i just wished we got more. with that being said, i did enjoy their little moments and quirks, and i will dearly miss this series. <33
"“Yearning doesn’t skim the surface of it. For a decade, I’ve been dying inside, wanting you.”
with love always, ashley 🤍
November 24, 2025
I’d been wanting to try something by Sarah Adams for a long time, so when I got the ARC, I decided it was the perfect chance to finally do it!
I haven’t read the previous books in the series, and maybe that was the problem, because this one didn’t impress me as much as I’d hoped. I had to reread the blurbs of the earlier books to understand who everyone was, since characters from those stories play an important—though not main—role here.
The book is sweet and light. From the very beginning, you can see exactly where the story is going. Madison dreams of becoming a great chef, and James helps her bring that dream to life. I usually love yearning, but here I didn’t really see the need for it… He loved her for years and did nothing about it?
I also wasn’t a fan of the whole situation with her sister. It felt kind of childish to me.
If you’re looking for something easy and sweet to read in one sitting, this book is for you!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
small town
brother’s best friend
yearning
childhood friends to lovers
open door
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Dell) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t read the previous books in the series, and maybe that was the problem, because this one didn’t impress me as much as I’d hoped. I had to reread the blurbs of the earlier books to understand who everyone was, since characters from those stories play an important—though not main—role here.
The book is sweet and light. From the very beginning, you can see exactly where the story is going. Madison dreams of becoming a great chef, and James helps her bring that dream to life. I usually love yearning, but here I didn’t really see the need for it… He loved her for years and did nothing about it?
I also wasn’t a fan of the whole situation with her sister. It felt kind of childish to me.
If you’re looking for something easy and sweet to read in one sitting, this book is for you!
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
small town
brother’s best friend
yearning
childhood friends to lovers
open door
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine (Dell) for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 17, 2025
I refuse to believe that this was a Sarah Adams book! What happened to the author who made me giggle with her tension and banter? Who excelled at writing closed door romances that still brought some heat? She was definitely missing from this book.
Sarah excelled at writing romances with PG-13 vibes. You never felt like you were missing anything by not being open door. Choosing to move to open door was a mistake. She is struggling and is not the same author that she used to be. She moved from having zero language in her books to lots of explicit language and open door scenes that leave me cringing. And I’m not saying she’s struggling for having language and spice. She’s struggling because the transition has been awkward and she’s lost the spark she once had as an author. It feels like she’s trying too hard to stray so far from what she used to write and the plot suffers in the process.
I think it was unfair to her readers to have the first two books in the series be closed door and the last two be open door. While I still enjoyed her last book, which was open door, this one was a huge miss for me. The storyline was bland and the romance did not feel believable. I felt myself incredibly bored. The FMC came across as extremely shallow, and I didn’t buy the MMC’s storyline of pining after her for years and putting his life on hold. Sarah’s books have always made me laugh and smile and I did not laugh once while reading this book. I felt zero connection to the characters and didn’t care what happened to them. It felt like there was zero plot. The MMC also smokes, which felt so unnecessary and bizarre. 😖 Like why? Ew!
What started off as such a strong series unfortunately ended with the weakest book of all. Sarah needs a fresh start and to figure out who exactly she wants her audience to be. In some ways it feels like she has betrayed her original readers who fell in love with her fun closed door romances that were full of humor and tension without the unnecessary explicit language and open door scenes. There is such a need for PG-13 romance books, and so many authors are moving to explicit spice and language. *sigh*
Sadly this will likely be my last Sarah Adams book. Her writing is just simply not what it used to be.
Sarah excelled at writing romances with PG-13 vibes. You never felt like you were missing anything by not being open door. Choosing to move to open door was a mistake. She is struggling and is not the same author that she used to be. She moved from having zero language in her books to lots of explicit language and open door scenes that leave me cringing. And I’m not saying she’s struggling for having language and spice. She’s struggling because the transition has been awkward and she’s lost the spark she once had as an author. It feels like she’s trying too hard to stray so far from what she used to write and the plot suffers in the process.
I think it was unfair to her readers to have the first two books in the series be closed door and the last two be open door. While I still enjoyed her last book, which was open door, this one was a huge miss for me. The storyline was bland and the romance did not feel believable. I felt myself incredibly bored. The FMC came across as extremely shallow, and I didn’t buy the MMC’s storyline of pining after her for years and putting his life on hold. Sarah’s books have always made me laugh and smile and I did not laugh once while reading this book. I felt zero connection to the characters and didn’t care what happened to them. It felt like there was zero plot. The MMC also smokes, which felt so unnecessary and bizarre. 😖 Like why? Ew!
What started off as such a strong series unfortunately ended with the weakest book of all. Sarah needs a fresh start and to figure out who exactly she wants her audience to be. In some ways it feels like she has betrayed her original readers who fell in love with her fun closed door romances that were full of humor and tension without the unnecessary explicit language and open door scenes. There is such a need for PG-13 romance books, and so many authors are moving to explicit spice and language. *sigh*
Sadly this will likely be my last Sarah Adams book. Her writing is just simply not what it used to be.
January 14, 2026
⋆˙⟡ — 4 stars
⤷⊹ started: january 12th, finished: january 13th
my fav series is officially over and i'm gonna miss them sm ☹️💔 rtc!!
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
we’re finally on the last book and i’m so sad ☹️ what do you mean my fav series is about to end 💔 AND ppl aren’t liking it so now i’m terrified 😭 i can’t wait to wrap this series up with my bsf har!! thank you sm for reading this series with me. getting to experience it again while you read it for the first time made it even better 🥹💗 ilysm!!
thank you netgalley, the publisher, and sarah adams for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!
⤷⊹ started: january 12th, finished: january 13th
my fav series is officially over and i'm gonna miss them sm ☹️💔 rtc!!
— ⋆˙⟡ pre-read 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
we’re finally on the last book and i’m so sad ☹️ what do you mean my fav series is about to end 💔 AND ppl aren’t liking it so now i’m terrified 😭 i can’t wait to wrap this series up with my bsf har!! thank you sm for reading this series with me. getting to experience it again while you read it for the first time made it even better 🥹💗 ilysm!!
thank you netgalley, the publisher, and sarah adams for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!!
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