🌸Book Review: Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams

By: Jassy Diaries|Posted on: May 22, 2026 Friday

A hopeful, small-town romance about courage, communication, and choosing love

There’s something quietly special about the Rome, Kentucky series by Sarah Adams. It doesn’t rely on shock value or dramatic twists to hold your attention. Instead, it wins you over with sincerity, emotional relatability, and characters who feel flawed in ways that are deeply human. Practice Makes Perfect continues that tradition beautifully — offering a romance that is sweet, hopeful, and rooted in emotional growth.

Before diving in, it’s important to say this upfront: this book is best read after When in Rome. Not because Practice Makes Perfect can’t stand on its own emotionally, but because the world, relationships, and family dynamics make far more sense when you’ve already spent time in Rome, Kentucky. The town itself feels like a character — familiar, cozy, and emotionally grounding — and having that context enriches the reading experience.

What makes this series so comforting is that it invites you to root for the characters. You don’t just watch their love story unfold — you actively want them to win. You want them to choose happiness. You want them to overcome their doubts. And in Practice Makes Perfect, that emotional investment pays off.

💕 A Sweet Continuation of a Hopeful Series

Practice Makes Perfect follows Will and Annie, two characters whose connection has been quietly building beneath the surface. Their story isn’t explosive or rushed. It’s gentle, emotionally layered, and shaped by the very real fear of getting hurt.

Like the previous book, this story centers flawed people doing their best with the emotional tools they have. Nobody is perfect here — and that’s exactly the point. The characters stumble, miscommunicate, and hesitate, not because they’re careless, but because they care deeply.

What I appreciated most is how relatable that felt. The insecurity, the overthinking, the hesitation to be fully vulnerable — all of it mirrors real-life emotional experiences. These aren’t characters who fall in love effortlessly. They fall in love cautiously.

🌷 Will & Annie: Vulnerability Meets Fear

At the heart of Practice Makes Perfect is the push-and-pull between Will and Annie — a dynamic shaped by insecurities, miscommunication, and fear of emotional risk.

Both characters want love. Both feel it growing. But instead of running toward it confidently, they circle it carefully. They worry about saying the wrong thing, wanting too much, or losing what little emotional safety they already have. That hesitation creates tension — not the dramatic kind, but the quiet, internal kind.

There’s something very human about that.

Their miscommunication doesn’t come from cruelty or emotional manipulation. It comes from self-protection. From the belief that being vulnerable might cost them more than staying guarded. And while that can be frustrating at times as a reader, it’s also deeply realistic.

You’re watching two people practice bravery — emotionally speaking. Hence the title. 💗

🥀 Outside Forces & Emotional Interference

Another strong element in this book is the presence of outside forces that attempt to interfere with Will and Annie’s happiness. Whether it’s other people, expectations, or circumstances, there’s a consistent pressure testing their sense of worth and stability.

What stood out to me is how those external challenges highlight the importance of emotional boundaries. The story gently reinforces the idea that love doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it has to survive opinions, pressure, and interference.

At times, those outside forces feel overwhelming — but ultimately, they serve to strengthen the emotional payoff. Watching Will and Annie choose each other despite the noise makes their ending feel earned.

🌼 Lighthearted, Hopeful, and Easy to Love

One of Sarah Adams’ greatest strengths as an author is her ability to write lighthearted stories without making them shallow. Practice Makes Perfect is hopeful without being unrealistic. Sweet without being boring. Romantic without being overwhelming.

This is a book that doesn’t drain you emotionally. It comforts you.

There’s humor sprinkled throughout, gentle moments of warmth, and an overall tone that feels optimistic. Even when the characters struggle, the story never feels heavy or bleak. It maintains a sense of emotional safety — reminding you that things will work out, even when the path is messy.

That makes this book especially enjoyable to read from beginning to end. There’s no section that feels like a chore to get through. It flows naturally, inviting you to keep turning the pages.

📖 A Satisfying, Feel-Good Read

By the time you reach the end of Practice Makes Perfect, there’s a sense of emotional resolution that feels right. Not rushed. Not overly dramatic. Just… satisfying.

It’s the kind of ending that leaves you smiling, a little softer than when you started. The characters grow. They learn. They choose happiness — not because everything suddenly becomes perfect, but because they decide it’s worth the risk.

And honestly? That’s a beautiful message.

✨ Final Thoughts

Practice Makes Perfect is another win in Sarah Adams’ author career — a testament to her ability to write romances that are sweet, relatable, and emotionally grounded.

This book is for readers who:

• Love small-town romance

• Appreciate flawed but well-meaning characters

• Enjoy gentle tension rather than chaos

• Believe love requires courage and communication

It’s a story about practicing vulnerability, choosing love despite fear, and allowing yourself to hope — even when it feels risky.

From start to finish, this was an enjoyable, comforting read — and one that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a feel-good romance with heart.

If you’ve read When in Rome, this is the perfect continuation

And if you enjoy stories that make you believe in love again — softly, gently, and honestly — Practice Makes Perfect is absolutely worth your time.

⭐ The Jassy Diaries Signature Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5 / 5 stars)

✨ Why it earned this rating:

• Emotional relatability ✔️

• Gentle, hopeful romance ✔️

• Flawed but lovable characters ✔️

• Strong small-town atmosphere ✔️

• Lighthearted but meaningful ✔️

It loses half a star only because the miscommunication stretches a little longer than necessary — realistic, yes, but occasionally frustrating.

💖 Vibe Verdict

“Soft small-town romance with big feelings — hopeful, comforting, and quietly brave.”

This is a Sunday morning, windows open, sunlight on the floor kind of book.

Sweet. Earnest. Emotionally safe.

📖 Would I Reread?

Yes — and gladly.

This is a comfort reread you pick up:

• when you want romance without emotional whiplash

• when you need hope instead of drama

• when you want to believe love grows through patience

It absolutely belongs on a permanent shelf at home.

💫 Thanks so much for reading!

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XOXO, Jassy 💕