When in Rome: A Novel

Adams predicates the novel’s inciting incident—her decision to take a break from her life—on Amelia’s desperate need to reconnect with her authentic self, which has become obscured by her celebrity persona. Amelia goes to Rome precisely because she needs a break from the world of celebrity in which her public persona has become increasingly disconnected from the things that truly matter to her. Amelia’s inner monologue throughout the novel frequently refers back to her feelings about being subsumed by her career and the demands of her manager, the novel’s primary antagonist. Amelia’s initial fears about getting involved with Noah center on her worries that her manager won’t like it. As Amelia explains, “Susan has forbidden [her] from dating a normal guy when [Amelia’s] considered it in the past […] Unfortunately, [she’s] also forbidden from cupcakes, any sort of exhilarating activity, or blinking without Susan’s consent” (81). The amount of control Susan has over Amelia’s life, career, and everyday choices leaves Amelia increasingly beholden to the expectations and opinions of everyone but herself. The world she inhabits as a celebrity makes her feel like she must be perfect at all times.