REVIEW: In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams

In Your Dreams by Sarah Adams: Madison had a plan! Move to New York and build herself a thriving culinary career. Simple really, one goal and all she had to do was remain focused. This was her chance to prove to everyone and herself that she was brave enough to chase her dreams… But not everything is as easy as it seems or always goes to plan… with a bit of a bruised confidence and a knock to her ego, Madison finds herself back in the one place she never expected to return to… home. Rome, Kentucky offers familiarity, comfort and…James. James has always been steady, dependable and quietly in love with the one woman he was never supposed to want: his best friend’s sister. Offering Madison a chance to run the town’s new farm-to-table restaurant feels like the right thing to do…even if it means putting his heart on the line. As old feelings resurface and long-held fears are confronted Madison and James must decide whether it’s safer to hold on to the dreams they once had…or if they are brave enough to reach for something even better…

I just loved this book to bits! In Your Dreams was one of those books that quietly sneaks into your heart. Right from the first chapter Adams creates a story that felt warm, sincere and deeply comforting. As always I am a total sucker for a good slow burn love story and that is exactly what we get with Madison and James. These two just had something about them that made it super easy to root them on as they tried to figure out their feelings, goals and how to keep everyone around them happy. Though what really made this book stand out for me was the way Adams balances longing and vulnerability with humour, small-town charm and genuine emotional growth.

Madison and James were the kind of main characters who stay with you simply because they feel achingly human and getting to follow them as they try to navigate their way through life felt relatable. I have to say I instantly found myself liking our leading lady, Madison was not perfect but she had so much of heart. Madison’s journey was layered with self-doubt, ambition and the quiet fear of having failed at a dream she once believed defined her. I loved getting to watch her relearn how to trust herself and really allow herself to want both love and fulfilment. Our hero James on the other hand was this steady small-town guy that just connected with everyone. I loved that he was so patient, loyal and getting to see his long-held love for Madison slowly poke through. The thing I liked about them as a couple was the fact that they didn’t try to change each other, instead they simply fitted into each others lives like a warm comforting hug.

These two just stole my heart with the way their relationship unfolded, built on years of quiet understanding, unspoken feelings and a foundation of genuine respect, getting to see them finally find their way to each other just felt right. There was a beautiful tension in the way they circle each other every look, shared memory and small moment carrying weight because of everything left unsaid. Their chemistry wasn’t just physical it was emotional…rooted in trust, patience and the comfort of being truly known. What makes them work so well is that they meet each other where they are, James offers steadiness without pressure while Madison brings growth, warmth and renewed purpose into his life.

I absolutely loved being back in Rome, Kentucky. With the cute small town vibes, sweet but nosey towns folk and two characters that were impossible not to love, In Your Dreams was a delight to read! This book was the perfect blend of warmth, emotion and small-town magic. A total must read!!

Book Info:

Publication: December 30, 2025 | Dell | When in Rome #4

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.