In Your Dreams

This was a nice finale to the When in Rome series. One of the best parts of this series are the characters - main and supporting - as they welcome readers into their small town and allow us to see them connect, grow and find love.

In Your Dreams, the fourth book in the series, centres around Madison, one of the Walker siblings. Madison is seen by her family and townspeople as a bit of a screw up, with all of her errors in judgement remembered by everyone. When she barely graduates from culinary school and has a horrific first experience in a professional kitchen, she's at a loss of what to do.

James Huxley is Madison's older brother's BFF and the proverbial thorn in her side since they were kids, and they continued to swap snark well into adulthood. He's had a secret crush on Madison since they were teens and has had his own problems keeping his family's farm afloat financially. When Madison needs a job, he quickly invents one and asks her to be the chef at his new 'farm to table' restaurant he's building on his farm. 

Madison is a chaotic character who likes to do the unexpected and sometimes gets burned because of her choices (which her family and townspeople will never let her forget). James is the calm and steady character and her brother's BFF since childhood. 

This was a very slow burn romance with some sweet and spicy moments, but the spice doesn't happen utnil the final quarter!).  Adams uses a lot of page time to dig deep into heavy topics: the weight of expectations, anxiety and self-doubt. And while I liked the connection between the main couple, I didn't love them as much as other couples in the series. James was too much of a doormat for me to fully get on board (side note: I really want someone to write a romance book where the main male character doesn't have to be 6'3" with rippling muscles everywhere. How about a regular sized guy?)

Miscommunication reared its ugly head a bit and it felt a bit repetitive in parts, but otherwise it was fun to catch up with the Walker siblings and revisit townspeople - especially the sqabbling older ladies. This was a sweet story and a good ending to the series that featured flawed and messy characters in a small town setting. 

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this title that was gifted by the publisher to the public library where I work. I am voluntarily providing this review. All opinions are my own.

My Rating: 3.75 stars

Author: Sarah Adams

Genre: Romance

Series: When in Rome 4

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from publisher

Publisher: Dell (Penguin Random House Canada)

First Published: Dec 30, 2025

Read: Nov 20-21, 2025

Book Description from GoodReads: A homecoming to Rome, Kentucky, sparks a new romance—and lots of drama—between two old family friends, from the New York Times bestselling author of When in Rome, Practice Makes Perfect, and Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Madison Walker left Rome, Kentucky, determined to prove she could make it in the culinary world. But after years of chasing success in New York, all she has to show for it is a shattered confidence and a desperate need for a fresh start. Coming home isn’t part of the plan—until an unexpected job offer lands in her lap, giving her a chance to rebuild everything she’s lost: the head chef position at a new farm-to-table restaurant in her hometown. The only catch? It comes from James Huxley, owner of Huxley Farm, her brother’s best friend . . . and the last person she wants to work for.

James has always played it safe, keeping his head down and doing what’s expected of him in the family business and never contemplating anything different—until now when Madison’s happiness is on the line. He’s loved her quietly for years, knowing she’s never seen him as more than an annoyance. Now that she’s back, he’s determined to change that–even if it means he can only ever be her friend. The one problem? His charming, wildly successful younger brother, Tommy, seems determined to win her over first.

Then Tommy is called away on business and Madison and James are tasked with launching the dreamy farm-to-table restaurant on their own. But as the town starts meddling in their relationship, Tommy’s pursuit of Madison grows more relentless, and Madison’s fears threaten to hold her back, keeping things strictly professional becomes impossible. And when an unexpected disaster on opening night collides with a long-simmering sibling feud, both Madison and James will have to face their biggest insecurities—and decide if love is worth the risk or if some dreams are safer left untouched.