Love on the Menu: In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams — Book Review

In Your Dreams is a cozy return to Rome, Kentucky with secret love, farm-to-table dreams, and a slow-burn romance I loved.

Summary:

When culinary student Madison Walker’s New York dreams crumble, a misdial to her brother’s best friend, James Huxley, leads to an unexpected lifeline—a head chef position at his family’s new farm-to-table restaurant in Rome, Kentucky. What she doesn’t realize is that James, who’s secretly loved her for years, created the job just for her. As they work side by side turning his vision into reality, an impulsive kiss ignites a secret relationship they try to keep hidden from the town—and her overprotective brother. But as the restaurant’s opening nears, family tensions rise and feelings deepen, forcing Madison and James to decide whether their love can survive the heat or if it’s destined to fall apart.

My Thoughts:

It was such a pleasure to return to Rome, Kentucky in In Your Dreams, the final instalment in Sarah Adams’s When in Rome series. Even though I’m reading the series out of order, I never felt lost—this book stands comfortably on its own while still offering that familiar small-town charm fans will love. Madison Walker is on the brink of graduating culinary school in New York when everything in her life starts to unravel, prompting a tearful, accidental call to James Huxley, her older brother’s best friend. What starts as a moment of vulnerability quickly turns into an unexpected opportunity when James offers her the head chef position at the farm-to-table restaurant he’s planning on his family’s farm back home. Madison’s return to Rome feels both necessary and hopeful, and I loved watching her find her footing again.

James is juggling plenty of his own stress—running a struggling family farm after his father’s heart attack, managing his own health, and carrying a long-standing crush on Madison that he’s never acted on. Their decision to work together (and quietly explore their growing feelings) adds a delicious layer of tension, especially as they try to keep things under wraps until the restaurant opens. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop amid family pressure, town gossip, and plenty of emotional obstacles. There are a few steamy moments along the way, and I appreciated that the author clearly flags them in advance, making it easy to skip if that’s your preference.

The Narration:

The audiobook experience was a standout for me. Chase Brown and Christine Lakin did a fantastic job bringing James and Madison to life—their performances were charming, natural, and easy to listen to, which made this romance especially enjoyable in audio format.

Final Thoughts:

In Your Dreams is a comforting, heartfelt small-town romance that delivers humour, warmth, and just enough tension to keep things interesting. A lovely send-off to the series and a great choice for fans of slow-burn, friends-to-lovers stories.