I am a vibe reader first and a critical reader second, and this book passed the vibe check! If you are into small-town romcoms, tattooed bodyguards, and dating lessons turned real, you need to run and pick up Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams.
This is the first book I read by this author, and I will definitely be picking up her other books. It was a good time, relatable, and made me giggle on numerous occasions.
It is the second book of an interconnected series. That being said, I’ve only read this one so far, and it can definitely be read as a standalone.
Without further ado, let’s get into my not-so-serious review of Practice Makes Perfect.
Take note: The last section contains spoilers.
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Practice Makes Perfect Book Overview
- Title: Practice Makes Perfect
- Author: Sarah Adams
- Genre: Contemporary romance/romantic comedy
- Series: When in Rome #2
- Published: 02 May 2023
- Writing Style: First person (dual POV)
- Tropes: Friends-to-lovers, bodyguard romance, dating lessons, small town romance, hopeless romantic x doesn’t believe in love, opposites attract
- Spice Rating: 0.5 on the chilli pepper scale, closed-door romance
- Personal Rating: 4.5 stars
- Goodreads Rating: 4 stars
- Buy it here: Perfect Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
Synopsis (source: Goodreads) – 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.
My Spoiler-Free Vibes Check
RELATABILITY – The first thing to hook me was the fact that Annie Walker is socially awkward and introverted. She reminds me of myself in that aspect.
SMALL TOWN MEDDLING – Although this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I liked the small town meddling. I liked the townsfolk being ‘against’ Will and Annie’s ‘relationship’. It highlighted the character development and self-discovery journey immensely. Which brings me to my next point…
SELF-DISCOVERY – Practice Makes Perfect was a fun read that still had significant depth. Was it an intense book? Nope. But the character development was impressive. I loved how Annie’s perspective on life evolved and how she grew into her true self. This aspect is particularly relatable; many of us can connect with the feeling of our families having a specific idea of who we are, even though we often feel completely different inside.
LOVEABLE CHARACTERS – You will ship Will and Annie from the start! Their banter is out of this world. And don’t get me started on the TENSION. Swoon-worthy. Also, Will’s backstory and emotional damage deepen his character to the next level. Then there is Mabel and Harriet… Trust me, they are what a small town romance needs.
CLOSED DOOR ROMANCE – I want to get into more closed-door, low-spice romances this year, and this was a great start to the journey. The tension and yearning were of such a nature that they didn’t need the spice. However, I will still rate this a 0.5 on the chilli pepper scale.
EASY READ – Practice Makes Perfect is an easy, bingeable read. You don’t need a lot of brain power, and even though the ending is predictable, I still highly recommend it to my fellow introverts.
My Thoughts Summary
So, in short:
- Practice Makes Perfect is a great mood read when you need a fluffy and sweet palate cleanser.
- It is a solid 4.25-4.5 stars.
- It is a closed-door romance that maintains tension so high it hurts.
- Do I still think about it? Sometimes.
- Will I reread it? Maybe.
- Do I recommend it? Yes.
SPOILER ALERT
Memorable Quotes
Still not sure whether it is worth your time? Let these quotes change your mind.
- “It seems to me, Annie, that you are just waiting for someone to give you permission to be yourself out loud.”
- Annie: You’d do that for me? Will: I’m quickly learning I’d do anything for you.
- “But the thing about quiet people is, we’re only quiet because our brains are so busy overthinking everything.”
- “This one is for the softies. The tenderhearted sweeties. The introverts who are afraid to shine.”
- “If I waited until I felt confident to live my life and do the things I want to do, I’d never live.” He stares into my eyes. “This lesson is one as old as time: Fake it till you make it. If you want something, pretend you’re the kind of person who’s not scared of it.”
- “I’m terrified to admit that holding her in my arms is the closest I’ve come to feeling truly happy in a very long time.”
- “Until I met her and held her in my arms, I never knew I could be capable of so much tenderness.”
- “Will Griffin is absolutely not the kind of man I need. Too bad he’s very quickly becoming the man I want.”
- “I breathe in the smell of flowers and Will Griffin. My two favourite scents in the entire world.”
- “Just kissing you is a gift.”
My Favorite Scenes
Let’s talk about the scenes that made me feel alive.
THE SIDING – This scene is the most random one, yet it is the one I still think about the most. Will had to create a distraction for Annie to sneak into the Inn without being seen, and damaged Mabel’s siding in doing so. The best part, though? He was (badly) trying to fix it, and Mabel knew it was a distraction. See chapter 12.
THE FIRST LESSON – You cannot tell me you didn’t feel anything when he had her against the door, only touching her hands. The restraint this man has is unmatched. See chapter 13.
THE FIRST KISS – Will really tried not to get consumed by Annie… and failed miserably. The fact that it started as a lesson makes it even better. See chapter 16.
THE PAJAMAS – Her silly pjs. That’s it. I love her quirky personality.
WILL SNEAKING INTO HER ROOM – I mean, this got me every time! See chapters 20 and 21.
THE WRONG NAME – Every time Annie called Will by a deviation of his name (that was totally incorrect) made them feel more real.
AMELIA BEING UNDERCOVER – This scene alone makes me want to read the first book that follows her story. See chapter 30.
THE REINACTMENT – You cannot tell me Will reinacting a scene from one of Annie’s pirate books, isn’t the perfect ending to the story. ALSO, her declining his marriage proposal? Peak character development.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap on my book review of Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams. Pick up this book if you are looking for a good time and characters you can simp over. Will Griffin might just make it to your top book boyfriends list!
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Have a great day wherever you are in the world!
Love, Steph ♥
