Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams Review: A Charming Small-Town Romance Full of Heart and Humour

A charming, laugh-out-loud small-town romance with lovable characters, sizzling chemistry, heartfelt personal growth, and wonderful audiobook performances.

Summary of Synopsis:

Annie Walker is content running her flower shop in the small town of Rome, Kentucky, but after a failed date leaves her wondering if she’s too boring to ever find love, she asks the town’s handsome, tattooed bodyguard, Will Griffin, to help her become more confident and date-worthy. Although Will intends to keep his distance while in town for Annie’s brother’s wedding, he reluctantly agrees to coach her through practice dates and flirting lessons. As they spend more time together, Annie begins to see beyond Will’s guarded exterior, and the two discover that the love they’ve been searching for may not be the perfect fairy tale they imagined, but something far more genuine.

My Thoughts:

I may have read the When in Rome series completely out of order, but I’ve loved every visit to Rome, Kentucky—and Practice Makes Perfect might just be my favourite of them all. With its laugh-out-loud humour, irresistible chemistry, and heartwarming romance, this was an absolutely charming read from beginning to end.

Annie Walker is the sweet, quiet owner of the local flower shop who has never had much luck with dating. After overhearing her latest date describe her as “boring,” she starts to wonder if she simply needs a little more practice at flirting. Enter Will Griffin, the handsome, tattooed bodyguard in town for Annie’s brother’s wedding. Although Will has no intention of putting down roots or getting involved with anyone, he reluctantly agrees to become Annie’s dating coach. What follows is a series of hilarious practice dates, plenty of witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and a slow-burning romance that neither of them saw coming.

I absolutely adored watching Annie grow in confidence throughout the story. Her awkwardness around men made her incredibly relatable, and her quirky personality was impossible not to love. Will was the perfect counterpart—guarded, charming, and quietly smitten with Annie long before he was willing to admit it. Their relationship developed so naturally that I found myself smiling through so many of their scenes together. Yes, the story is predictable, but that’s part of its charm. Sarah Adams delivers exactly the kind of feel-good romance I was hoping for, and she does it with humour, heart, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, which is told from both Annie’s and Will’s perspectives and narrated by Jorjeana Marie and Will Peters. They completely brought these characters to life. Jorjeana perfectly captured Annie’s sweetness, vulnerability, and growing confidence, while Will Peters gave Will just the right mix of charm, warmth, and emotional depth. Together, they made an already delightful story even more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a fun small-town romance filled with lovable characters, sparkling banter, and a relationship that will leave you smiling, Practice Makes Perfect is an easy recommendation. I can’t wait to see what Sarah Adams has in store for Rome, Kentucky next.