Synopsis:
Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match—someone who complements her happy, quiet life running the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. But finding her dream man may be harder than Annie imagined. Everyone knows everyone in her hometown, and the dating prospects are getting fewer by the day. After she overhears her latest date say she is “so unbelievably boring,” Annie starts to think the problem might be her. Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice . . . and Annie has the perfect person in mind to be her tutor: Will Griffin.
Will—the sexy, tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard—is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement builds for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker, Annie’s brother. He has one personal objective while on the job: stay away from Annie Walker and any other possible attachments to this sleepy town. But no sooner than he gets settled, Will finds himself tasked with helping Annie find the love of her life by becoming the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky. Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie. He knows for a fact that some stuffy, straitlaced guy won’t make her happy, but he doesn’t have the heart to say no.
Amid steamy practice dates and strictly “educational” tutoring lessons, Annie discovers there are more layers to Will’s usual stoic attitude. As the lines of their friendship become dangerously blurred, Annie reconsiders her dream guy. Maybe her love life doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be real.
Review:
Practice Makes Perfect was my first book by Sarah Adams and it certainly won’t be my last. It takes a lot for me to rate a romance book five stars but this one felt easy. I loved every page of this book and I’d kill for a sequel.
It’s so refreshing to have a couple in a romance book that actually communicate with each other. They were somewhat hiding how they felt about each other, but they weren’t afraid to say what they want in other areas. Miscommunication is my least favourite romance trope and thankfully that was nowhere in sight.
The banter between Annie and Will felt so effortless and it was such a joy to read. They’ve very quickly become one of my favourite book couples. When the love interests become friends first it makes the inevitable relationship so much more satisfying – the angst and longing are top-tier. Especially between Annie and Will. Are they both in When in Rome? If yes, I absolutely need to read it, even if it’s just to get a glimpse of the first time they meet.
This was the first ‘let me teach you how to date’ book I’ve read and I loved it. I think I have a new favourite trope. Well actually, fake dating is still my absolute favourite and that does kind of feature in Practice Makes Perfect, which makes this book even better.
The tension between Annie and Will in these scenes was almost too much to bear in the greatest way possible. I love that Will never made fun of Annie for waiting til marriage and he didn’t take advantage of her naivety. Not that she was completely naive, she loves a good steamy romance novel.
Speaking of romance novels, Will must be the most perfect male love interest ever written. Why you ask? Well, he doesn’t say romance books don’t count as real books, he read the one Annie was reading and wasn’t ashamed to say he loved it.
Annie was also a great main character. She had a lot of depth and I loved the development she went through. It was so satisfying to see her finally stand up for herself and do what she wants without worrying what other people will think about her. These characters were such a breath of fresh air.
I don’t have much more to say about Practice Makes Perfect that isn’t gushing about how much I love Annie and Will. I’d highly recommend checking this out.
Check out Young Creative Press on all socials
You can also check out my StoryGraph here
Like this post? Why not read this one too: Book Confessions: Series I’m Never Going to Finish #4