““I tell you what makes me madder than a hornet. When people tell other people how they should feel.”
Adams
Length: 305 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
Three words/phrases: Pie, small-town, adorable
In all honestly, I picked up this book on a whim because I loved the cover. (A cute glance while baking pie? How could I resist?) I was in need of something light and fun amid a rough semester, and on both accounts, this book came through!
This novel follows famous pop star Rae Rose, whose career has been weighing on her heavily. After watching the famous Audrey Hepburn movie for which the book is named, she decides to escape her life of fame for a while and drive to Rome, Kentucky. When she’s there, her car breaks down in front of the house of none other than Noah Walker, a local who has recently taken over his grandmother’s pieshop and carries baggage of his own. She finds out it will take a couple weeks to fix her car, which means she’s stuck in the cute little down with an even cuter baker…
I have to admit, I am a big fan of the “car breaks down in a small town” trope. I love the idea of stumbling into a place where everyone knows everyone and building a home there. It’s not just about the romance (which is lovely), but also about becoming part of a community. It usually gives me Schitt’s Creek vibes, which I adore. This novel did a great job of playing into that trope with unique characters all over town. From Noah’s sisters to the hairdressers at the salon, everyone that had a role in the story helped build an atmosphere of joyful simplicity that I always crave when reading these types of novels.
The romance itself was a perfect blend of sweet and simple that just made all the warm and fuzzies come out. There was a touch of grumpy meets sunshine in this book, with Noah being a bit closed off after what happened in his previous relationship. He is reluctant to let Amelia in, but the more time they spend together, the more he begins to let down his guard. I am a big fan of friends first, and this book did well as it depicted them starting to hang out together and learning they can just be themselves around each other. It’s such an important step in a relationship, and I think it makes the eventual romance so much sweeter! I also liked that it wasn’t just the two of them all the time. They hung out with Noah’s sisters and other folks in the town, which made it seem even more intimate and real.
The last point I wanted to note was the character growth of Amelia. From the first scene of the book, she is starting to take control of her life. Because she is such a public figure, a lot of her decisions are made for her manager, Susan, but as she starts to learn things about herself and her management team, she takes matters into her own hands. I like seeing women stand up for themselves and say no if they have to, to protect their physical and mental health. I was constantly whispering, “Yes, go Amelia,” to my book by the end of the story.
This was my first book by Sarah Adams, and it did not disappoint! Her writing is easy to read and funny, and I really enjoyed all of her characters. If you’re looking for a great small-town romance, this one is perfect! I would highly recommend it if you’re having a bad day and in need of some book therapy. There are more books in the series (the second one just came out), and I cannot wait to read them!
Where the Words Went 