Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

19 reviews

ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What a lovely book✨ I read when in Rome earlier this year and the sequel did not disappoint. It's all kinds of sweet, funny and did I say sweet? The characters are flawed to a point and I love them; all of them had sweetness in their bones. Some of the older generation's mindset is reflected here (how they easily judge interesting people like Will who is ripped and inked) I love the chemistry between Annie and Will, they were so fun. I loved all the secondhand embarrassment moments.😂 Overall, a fun read and a potential reread in the future. Thank you, Sarah, ❤️
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

yvo_about_books's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5

 Finished reading: July 12th 2023


“It seems to me, Annie, that you are just waiting for someone to give you permission to be yourself out loud.”

There is no secret that Sarah Adams is one of my favorite romance authors, and I've been waiting impatiently for Practice Makes Perfect to be published ever since I first heard about it. I loved the first book When In Rome last year, and I've looking forward to Annie and Will's story. I have to say that it didn't disappoint! Rome, Kentucky, makes for the perfect small town setting, and I loved being able to return and spend more time with its cast of characters. Annie and Will are both such great characters, and their story is basically your typical opposites attract romance. As usual, the romance itself is on the sweet side, although there is some sexy time involved as well. Somehow I didn't mind those scenes though, because I was too busy rooting for them by that time. There were some moments in the plot that were a tad frustrating, but as a whole I liked what Practice Makes Perfect brings to the table and the elements it offered besides the romance angle. I definitely can't wait to see what the next book set in this small town is going to be about! I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will involve James. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

happyreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

annahamburger's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

bringmybooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 This one gets bumped from “borrow” to “bring” (/buy) because this cover is just too stinkin' cute and I’m fine with that

✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷

Look if they didn’t want us to judge books by their covers then WHY HAVE SUCH CUTE COVERS
But anyways - I liked this one a lot (the banter was *chef’s kiss*), but there was a little tiny something missing that moved it down from a 5 star read to a 4. I thought that Adams did a really good job giving both Annie and Will a lot of backstory and making their relationship seem really plausible, and I absolutely loved the communication. Loved it.

Also worth noting that I’ve seen this author recommended as a closed door author, and while that is still true here, it veers a little towards slightly open door? I’m not sure exactly how to describe it, but it’s not a full fade to black - didn’t bother me, but worth noting if you’re going into it not expecting that.

ANYWHO. Still love Rome, Kentucky, still love these wacky neighbors, still love the Walker family and will definitely be continuing with the series! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kylieshart's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked it, it was okay. I wasn't 100% attached like hanging on every word though. Just okay, pretty good but not fantastic.
Characters make a deal to help her learn how to date someone and they fall in love, its a little predictable but sweet.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

hazelgirl21's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rickireadss's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.5

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an arc!!

WILL AND ANNIE >>>> i loved their little "practice" arrangement - this quite literally is one of my favorite tropes EVER. talk about butterflies, whew ;) also the meddling small town is one of my favorite aspects of this series.

watching will grow throughout the book was such a great time, as i was not liking him in his first pov chapter when he was talking about how he hates love and how he treated his brother?? made me want to punch him through the dang screen.

i found myself relating to annie wayyy too much. her thoughts, feelings, and just overall how she acted in certain situations felt like sarah interviewed for me for the character lmao. i had a great time reading this, and i HIGHLY recommend! this is a closed door, fade-to-black book (meaning no on-page, detailed sex scenes) - which typically i stay away from because i love sex scenes ;) - but sarah does SUCH a good job at still making you feel that tension and ooey-gooey feelings for the mcs that i didn't feel like i was missing a bunch without the on-page action, if that makes sense.

⚠️:  grief, death of parent (off page, past), bullying, child abuse, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, infidelity (not mcs), dementia (side character) 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

booksalacarte's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Practice Makes Perfect- 3.25⭐️ 2.5🌶️ (closed door)

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 Opinion✨

This was such a cute “fade to black” rom-com!!! It is a part of a series, but I read it as a stand-alone and it was great!

Small town
Grumpy/sunshine
Bad boy/good girl
Fake dating/dating lessons
Close family
Grand gesture

I loved the FMC and her character arc! It was great to see her communicate with her family and grow as an individual. The MMC was fun to watch as he let go of family trauma and lets himself be present. 

The ending was not what I expected, maybe a little out of character, but a grand gesture. It set it up to see snippets of their relationship in following books.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...