Practice Makes Perfect Book Review - No Spoilers
My sister called last week asking for advice about her daughter who's been hesitant to try new things. She said, "She's afraid of not being good at something right away, so she won't even practice." We talked about how practice isn't just about getting better—sometimes it's about discovering you were already enough. That conversation came to mind when I read Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams. This charming romance is about learning that being yourself is more than good enough.
Plot Summary
Annie Walker runs the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky, and she's perfectly content with her quiet, happy life. But finding love in her small town is proving harder than she expected. When she overhears her latest date describe her as "so unbelievably boring," Annie starts to wonder if maybe the problem is her. She decides she needs to become more flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies. She just needs a little practice, and she knows exactly who should be her tutor: Will Griffin. Will is a gorgeous, tattooed bodyguard who's temporarily in town providing security for celebrity Amelia Rose, who's engaged to Annie's brother Noah. Will has one rule while he's in Rome: stay away from Annie Walker and avoid any attachments to this town. He plans to leave when the job is done. But when Annie asks for his help becoming more exciting and dateable, Will can't bring himself to say no. He agrees to teach her through practice dates and flirting lessons, even though he knows some boring, straitlaced guy won't make Annie happy. As they spend time together on their "educational" dates, the lines between practice and reality start to blur. Annie discovers that Will's stoic, emotionally unavailable exterior hides deeper layers. Will realizes that Annie doesn't need to change a single thing about herself—she's already perfect exactly as she is.
Why I Love This Book
I love how this book celebrates being yourself. Annie is sweet, genuine, and loves her quiet life. The message that she doesn't need to change for someone to love her is beautiful. Will is the perfect grumpy, emotionally unavailable hero who falls first and hard. I think his journey to opening up is so satisfying. The practice dates are adorable and funny. The small town setting in Rome, Kentucky is cozy with quirky supporting characters. This is book two in the When in Rome series and features Annie's brother Noah and his fiancée from book one. The romance has great tension and chemistry but is closed door/fade to black, making it perfect for readers who want emotional connection without explicit scenes. The banter is witty and the slow burn is delicious.
Who Will Like This Book
This book is perfect for readers who love opposites attract and he-falls-first tropes. If you enjoy small town romance with a tight-knit community, you'll love Rome, Kentucky. Fans of practice/fake dating scenarios will enjoy watching the relationship develop. This works as a standalone but reading When in Rome first gives you more context about the town and secondary characters. The romance is closed door with chemistry and tension but no explicit scenes, great for readers who prefer sweet romance. Anyone who needs a reminder that being yourself is enough will appreciate Annie's journey. The humor, heart, and swoon-worthy moments make this a feel-good read.
⚠️ Trigger warning: self-esteem issues, emotional unavailability, fear of abandonment.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, small town romance, practice dating, fake dating, opposites attract, he falls first, grumpy sunshine, emotionally unavailable hero, closed door, fade to black, sweet romance, bodyguard hero, florist heroine, brother's friend, slow burn, HEA, When in Rome series.
Steam Level
This is a closed door romance with fade to black scenes. There's plenty of chemistry, tension, and romantic moments, but no explicit content. Perfect for readers who prefer sweet romance.
