7 Sweet Books Like Practice Makes Perfect By Sarah Adams

If you fell in love with Sarah Adams’ Practice Makes Perfect, you’re probably searching for more romance books that deliver the same heartwarming charm. Known for her sweet, closed-door romances filled with small-town settings, witty banter, and swoon-worthy love stories, Adams has quickly established herself as one of the best contemporary romance authors in the world. Whether it was the feel-good chemistry, the wholesome slow burn, or the cosy small-town vibes that hooked you, there are plenty of similar books waiting to capture your heart. Here at What We Reading, we’ve rounded up the best books like Practice Makes Perfect that fans of Sarah Adams will love. From wholesome romantic comedies to charming small-town love stories, these readalikes offer the perfect blend of lighthearted romance and emotional depth. If you’ve been searching for sweet romance novels or authors like Sarah Adams, this is the list for you. 

---

Practice Makes Perfect Summary

Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams is a sweet, small-town romance that perfectly blends humour, heart, and wholesome love. Set in the cosy town of Rome, Kentucky, the story revolves around Annie Walker, a lovable, slightly awkward florist who feels like the “safe” choice in everyone’s eyes. Determined to step outside her comfort zone and prove she’s capable of finding real love, Annie enlists the help of Will Griffin, a tattooed, confident bodyguard passing through town. 

What starts out as a “practice” dating arrangement quickly turns into something much deeper, as Annie and Will’s grumpy/sunshine dynamic creates sparks neither of them can ignore. With laugh-out-loud moments, closed-door romance, and tender character growth, this book is perfect for readers who love wholesome romance novels with strong small-town charm. 

When In Rome – Sarah Adams

Kicking off our list of the best books like Practice Makes Perfect is the first entry in Sarah Adams’ When in Rome. Amelia Rose, known as Rae Rose to her adoring fans, is burned out from years of maintaining her “princess of pop” image. So, she drives off in the middle of the night for a break in Rome… Rome, Kentucky, that is. 

When Noah Walker finds Amelia on his front lawn in her broken-down car, he makes it clear that he doesn’t have time for her celebrity problems. However, despite his better judgment, he agrees to let her stay in his guest room. Then Noah begins to see a new side to Rae Rose. And he can’t help but get closer to her. Soon she’ll have to return to her glamorous life on tour, but until then, Noah will show Amelia all the charming small-town experiences she’s been missing, and she’ll help him open his heart to more. Amelia can’t resist falling for the cosy town and her grumpy tour guide, but even Audrey Hepburn had to leave Rome eventually. 

Betting On You – Lynn Painter

When seventeen-year-old Bailey begins a new job at a hotel waterpark, she’s less than happy to find that one of her old acquaintances is her new coworker. Bailey and Charlie are still polar opposites, but instead of everything about him rubbing her up the wrong way, she’s surprised to find herself enjoying their time together. Their favourite way of passing the time during their shifts is gossiping about two of their fellow employees who keep flirting with each other. Bailey and Charlie make a bet on whether or not the cosy couple will actually get together. 

Bailey and Charlie keep a close eye on their romantic pair, whilst Charlie struggles to deflect the growing feelings he’s developing for Bailey. Yet Charlie also has a secret – a secret that involves Bailey, and another bet he might have made. Can the two find a way to make a go of things, or has Charlie’s secret doomed them before they could start? 

---

Check Out The Best Books Like Gossip Girl

---

Maggie Moves On – Lucy Score

House-flipping sensation and YouTube star Maggie Nichols can’t wait to start getting stuck into her next challenge. Arriving in tiny Kinship, Idaho, with only a coat and a coffeemaker, Maggie is prepared to restore a crumbling Victorian mansion in four months. She has her to-do lists, her blueprints, and her team. What she doesn’t have time for is sexy, laid-back landscaper, Silas Wright. 

Yet as their summer gets downright steamy, Silas manages to demolish the emotional walls she’s spent years constructing, sending Maggie into a panic. He’s the wrench in her carefully-crafted plans. With the end of the project looming, she has a decision to make. But how can she stay when her entire career is built on moving on? Similar to Practice Makes Perfect, Lucy Score’s Maggie Moves On is a quirky, low-spice small-town romance tale. 

Out On A Limb – Hannaha Bonam-Young

Winnifred “Win” McNulty has always been wildly independent. Not one to be coddled for her limb difference, Win has spent most of her life trying to prove that she can do it all on her own. And, with a few minor adjustments, she’s done just fine so far. That is, until she has a one-night stand with the incredibly charming Bo, a perfect stranger. 

And that one night changes everything. While Bo is surprisingly elated to step up to the plate, Win finds herself unsure of whether she can handle this new challenge on her own or if she’ll need a helping hand. Together, Win and Bo decide to get to know one another as friends and nothing more. But, as they both should know by now, life rarely goes according to plan. One of the best books like Practice Makes Perfect, Out on a Limb, is a heartwarming, witty, and inclusive romance read perfect for anyone looking for their next wholesome adventure. 

Part Of Your World – Abby Jimenez

After a wild bet, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come – the complete opposite of the sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable. Every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, Alexis discovers what’s really important in life. Yet letting their relationship blossom into anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people. 

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his? Brimming with warmth and humour, Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World is the perfect go-to read similar to Practice Makes Perfect if you loved Sarah Adams’ winning formula. 

---

Check Out The Best Books Like Part Of Your World

---

The Co-Op – Tarah De Witt

LaRynn Lavign and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens. Certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But, a decade on, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they’re thrust back together and need to figure out how to put the pieces back together. 

LaRynn has the money, but to access her trust, she needs to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. So, the pair strikes a deal: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties. Thrust into a home without walls, they soon learn that it’s easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex, they’ll also learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team. Like Practice Makes Perfect, The Co-Op is a story of restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. 

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care – Ashley Herring Blake

Delilah Green swore she would never go back to Bright Falls. Her life is in New York, where her photography career is going full steam and her bed is never empty. Sure, it’s a different woman every night, but that’s just fine with her. Nevertheless, when Delilah’s estranged stepsister, Astrid, pressures her into photographing her wedding, Delilah finds herself back in the godforsaken town that she used to call home. She plans to breeze through, but then she sees Claire Sutherland, one of Astrid’s stuck-up besties, and decides that there may be some fun to be had in Bright Falls after all. 

Having raised her eleven-year-old daughter largely on her own, Claire Sutherland depends upon a life without surprises. And Delilah Green is an unwelcome surprise. At least, at first. Forced together during a gauntlet of wedding preparations – including a plan to save Astrid from her horrible fiancé – Claire isn’t certain she has the strength to resist Delilah’s charms. Worse still, she’s beginning to think she doesn’t even want to. If you loved Practice Makes Perfect’s blend of charm with classic grumpy/sunshine tropes, Ashley Herring Blake’s Delilah Green Doesn’t Care needs to be on your TBR pile.