Though I am not a fan of LGBTQ, I have decided to read more books based on LGBTQ to get a change from the usual genres I normally read.

Britton is in foster care system and was adopted by Cate and Tom Cahill. And the catch? Cate and Tom have a daughter named Avery. The two are polar opposites of each other--Avery is a popular cheerleader in the high school. Britton is interested in photography. But Avery has a secret and Britton is having feelings towards her...

To be honest, compared to the other LGBTQ books I have read, this book is to my surprise really good! The story is completely told from Britton's perspectives but nonetheless the story felt realistic. The writing was really good and it was engaging as well. I do like the bond between Avery and Britton with Avery going through her sister's death and their support for each other during their senior year in high school. Truly enjoyed reading about their romantic relationship.

Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. This review is based on my honest opinion.

This was a really sweet story. The story was an easy read and although it was somewhat predictable, it didn’t make the story any less interesting. I loved Britton, Avery and while their relationship was a slow burn one, it just made me smile. I even loved Spence and I wouldn’t have been mad if there was a plot twist with her. I also absolutely loved Avery’s family. I wish all families were so supportive of hers.

A friend and I were talking last year about LGBTQ+ representation in books and asked me what my favorites were, and for a moment I was really stumped because I didn’t have more than 2 books to recommend. From that point on I made it a mission to add more LGBT books to my TBR. When a friend recommended When Sparks Fly by Kristen Zimmer, I jumped at the request from Netgalley.

Britton is a foster kid who just turned 18 and is in her senior year of high school. Her foster sister Avery, just shy of 18 herself, shows her the ropes of the neighborhood and the two girls start to become close. As their connection grows and starts to become something more, family secrets start to spill out from the closet, and Brit and Avery are forced to make some tough decisions. Do they (and their secrets) remain in the closet, or do they step out into the light?

Why is it the secret lesbian romances that always suck me in??? Maybe it’s the parts of my past that I identify with, or maybe it’s the soap opera-like qualities of high school that get me. This was a cute story. I found myself really devouring the first 50% of this story, hooked on the tension. I wanted it to build and build and drag me under. If I’m being honest I wish it would have held out a LITTLE longer so that the climax of the book was a little more dramatic, but I really enjoyed this story overall. I rounded up to 4 stars because of how quickly I read this book and how much I found myself flying through the pages. Thank you!

Britton has been in foster care since her birth and seen her share of foster parents, now in her last year of high school she ends up with the Cahill family. Tom, Cate and their daughter Avery who is the same age.
The story unfolds from Britton's POV but you get a good sense of the other characters as well and Zimmer manages to give them depth even though you are not in their head.
It is a new adult novel dealing with friends, parents and coming out. The book never gets too serious but stays on the sweet side with Britton and Avery turning from friends to lovers, meanwhile healing some past traumas.
It was an enjoyable read, written very well and it's good book to lie on the couch with on a lazy afternoon. Don't expect a lot of drama, just a nice story. Now it might seem boring, but I can assure you, it's not. This is one of those books that excels in in keeping you invested even though you can't really say why that is.
I liked Britton and Avery together, their groups of friends, especially Spence, are a nice addition as side characters as are Tom and Cate in their role as parents.

If I had to say something it's that everything is going too smoothly, not something you're necessarily used to in a romance but it was a refreshing change of pace. The ending felt a bit rushed though...there was this big build up to them becoming an item and there were still issues when they decided to go for it but those were resolved in very fast pace where everybody reacted as if it were a perfect world. Only point of critique though, I enjoyed myself immensely otherwise and while I get this might not be everyone's cup of tea due to the lack of drama and angst, I still think it's worth your time if you want some feelgood reading.

*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***

I’m not usually a fan of YA books but I enjoyed this one. The issues that Kristen dealt with were deep but not too deep that I felt triggered. I loved that Britton’s and Avery’s relationship built slowly and that they weren’t instant friends then lovers. I am a new fan of Kristen Zimmer and I’ll be reading more. My only issue would be the intimate scene, which was mire in depth than I thought that it should be for a YA book, but that’s just my opinion. 4 stars.

The two main characters are starting their senior year of high school. Told from the POV of Britton who has been in the foster care system her whole life. She is happy to be in a home that feels safe but she never feels secure as she knows things can change in an instant. Her new family's daughter is her age and tries to welcome her and help her adjust to her new school. Avery is everything the Britton isn't. She is a cheerleader, popular, confident and queen bee of the school and her social group.

Avery seems like she has it all but there is sadness in her and buried anger. As they get to know each other they open up to about past insecurities and traumas. Britton is openly gay, Avery is Bi but has not come out to her friends or parents. I appreciate that there isn't a villain but instead real friends for each of the girls. Avery's parents are wonderful too in their unconditional love of Avery and in welcoming Britton.

I liked both the main characters and Zimmer keeps their personalities real and not stereotypical. I didn't love the teen slang especially in the beginning but I got use to it. I think this would be a great read for older YAs and new adults. I will definitely look for other books by Zimmer in the future and although I got some closure on Spencer I would love to read her story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Britton Walsh has never had a home. After a lifetime in the care system, she doesn't expect she’ll ever find one. But beginning her senior year with new foster parents in a new city, means starting over yet again. Tom and Cate Cahill seem okay. The hitch? Their daughter, Avery.

First off, I have been out of high school for a long, long time and I was not sure how well I would relate to today’s New Adults/Young Adults in this novel. Well, I should not have worried. It all came rushing back: the angst, the passions, and the pressures that seem all-consuming.

When Sparks Fly’s two main characters are high-school seniors Avery Cahill and Britton Walsh. Britton is gay, has just turned eighteen, and has lived her entire life within the foster-care system. She struggles with all that entails. She is starting her life over once again in the Cahill home. Avery is a Queen Bee cheerleader who is beautiful, popular, and cool as all get out. The kind of girl every boy wants to date, and every girl wants to be.

The entire story is told from Britton’s POV, so we get to know her thoughts and feelings right upfront. She wants to keep her head down, graduate, and get on with her life. She is as happy as she ever living with the Cahills. She has the heretofore unheard-of private bedroom, a little money in her pocket, and foster parents who seem to care for her. The last thing she wants to do is mess up a good thing. But trying to ignore her attraction to Avery is getting harder by the second.

Avery has been carrying the proverbial weight of the world on her shoulders for a while. She rules her clique of fellow cheerleaders, gets good grades, and is the apple of her parents’ eyes. But she has a sadness simmering just below the surface and spends most of her time tapping down her feelings of guilt and shame. No one sees the real her until Britton spies her at a park through the lens of a camera.

The two girls slowly show themselves to each other without the filters and begin to tentatively grow closer together. But each knows that they are taking risks. They both have a lot to lose. Is a relationship even possible? And if so, is it worth it?

The rest of their world is populated by wonderful supporting characters. Avery’s ‘parental units’ Cate, a lawyer, and Tom, a game designer are genuinely kind, caring, and supportive. They count Britton as one of the family. While their school friends travel in different circles everyone seems to get along. And then there is Spencer, the soccer team captain, an out lesbian, and Britton’s new best friend. She and Avery can barely stand to be in the same room together. What’s up with that? Britton wonders.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be reminded of what it was like to feel everything so much- the highs are higher, the lows are lower, and no one really understands. I enjoyed this story more than I originally thought I would. Things have changed so very much since I was in high school, both for better and for worse. Being gay does not seem to be as big a deal these days and that is reflected in this novel. Sex and alcohol seem much more prevalent, but maybe that is just my history. I did sign up for the author’s newsletter, so I won’t miss it if Spencer gets her sequel!

This is my 2nd Kristen Zimmer book. The first was great but this was better. Britton Walsh has been tossed from one foster home to another until she's finally placed with the Cahill's, she feels very much the misfit especially against the very cool and very popular Avery Cahill. Avery is holding onto something that Britton can't quite figure out...as they spend more time together the attraction grows Britton feels more comfortable and Avery starts to let her defences down.
Despite the fact that this story is about two teenagers and I'm way beyond that in age, this book was a 'could not put it down'. There was a bit of teenage jargon that was beyond my comprehension but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. The angst was there almost to the end, even after the girls first got together and I love a good angsty storyline. A great second book. Would I read it again. Definitely. 5 stars.

This was a really lovely read. Britton grew up in the care system and is less than a year away from an adulthood of freedom once she graduates high school. Her (hopefully) final foster placement is the Cahills. The only hiccup is her foster syster Avery. She's used to being placed with families that hate her, abuse her and treat her like the family babysitter, but she's not used to being so insanely attracted to them. Things get even more complicated when it seems those feelings are mutual.

If I'm honest, this was a pretty simple a+b=c book, but do you know what. I was fine with that. I absolutely fell in love with Britton and genuinely wanted her to be ok. Both Avery and Britton are damaged by their past and you are willing everything to work out for them.

My one criticism of When Sparks Fly is that it doesn't quite seem to know who its target audience is. At times it feels very YA with its tone, pace and content. However, with a sex scene that is 18+, it seems to jar a little with the tone of the rest of the book. Don't get me wrong, I love a little heat in a novel, but it didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book.

That being said I loved Britton as a character and enjoyed getting to know the different layers of Avery.

I rated this book 4 1/2 stars
This YA romance book has a lovely pace and is one that will get you in the feels.

I found the main characters had a nice maturity about them. Which nearly in a lot of the young adult books there is always an over dramatic immature dialogue , that as a ready makes you cringe. Lucky for you Zimmer does not to that.

Both of the mains Britton and Avery are easy to love. Each from different walks of life and both with heart breaking back story's.

The reason I rated the the book 4 1/2 is because I would of likes a little more flirty banter and seduction. I know its a young adult book so I don't expect it to be two full on for two girls only just turned 18. However I believe Kristen Zimmer could easily put this tastefully into her books.

SPOILER * KING OF *
I just want to warn readers there is a little element in the book that touches base on psychological abuse and bully. It isn't discussed in depth but if you are someone highly in touch with your emotions you might feel sad and angry all at once.

This is my second book of Kristen Zimmers and if you haven't already i recommend to read this book and her other book 'The Gravity Between Us'. You can read my review for that book which I rated 5 stars.

I'm already looking forward to what Zimmer will write next

Britton Walsh is 18 years old, she has been in the foster system her entire life but she can’t age out until she finishes high school. The Cahill’s are the latest family Britton has been placed with, she just has to finish her senior year and then she can start out on her own. But Tom and Cate Cahill are different to all her other foster parents, they treat her like she’s part of the family and they soon develop a great relationship. One thing threatens their bond, Britton’s attraction to their daughter Avery.

//

I have such a soft spot for Britton Walsh, she immediately made me feel protective of her. Although I enjoyed the relationship developing between Britton and Avery, the highlight of this novel for me was Britton finding her family. I loved how the Cahill’s welcomed her and showed her what family was in a way none of her previous foster families did.

Overall I really enjoyed this novel. The author managed to strike the perfect balance when addressing some of the more serious themes in the book, it was never too idyllic or too dark.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Britton has been moving from different foster homes as long as she remembers she never had a home. She finally lands a home in the beginning of her senior year in a new city with a family who also has a daughter in her senior year.

Britton and Avery both are hiding past pain although they get along they have a hard time connecting but as they get to know each other their feelings grow into something more but can they open up and let their pain go and live a happy life.

This was a good read. Although Britton and Avery had to deal with their pain I like that they overcame them and the others characters were great too.

Great novel. Really sweet but working through some major feelings. Two senior-in-high school leads, one an out lesbian, the other closeted bi. No homophobia, welcoming family and friends. I flew through this in a single evening and really enjoyed it.

Britton is starting a new high school at the beginning of senior year. Major bummer, but that's what happens when you get a new foster family. Luckily, or unluckily, her foster sister - Avery - is also a senior at the same school. The two girls get along fine, but each is hiding past pain that makes it difficult to connect. However, the two soon find themselves growing more than close, but could it ever work?

**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'Some storytellers spend a part of their lives learning the skills and art of using words really well.Their words sometimes make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper..'

4.5stars!
Kristen Zimmer returns after taking such a long hiatus from writing with a sweet, alluring and absorbing YA book, 'WHEN SPARKS FLY'
'WHEN SPARKS FLY' is a nicely written story for anyone who doesn't want to read anything deep, boring or dark involving teenagers but wants something edgy, little intimidation, fluffy with some silliness intertwine. The drama is perfectly balanced; explanation of the why & how Britton (one of the leads) ended up living with The Cahills, moving from one foster home to the next (some okay, some bad & others just mentally draining) --- to that slow developing relationship between Britton & Avery (the daughter). For the most part, all the characters were well-developed -- from both leads to the parents to their high school buddies/friends. Nothing happened too fast and the storytelling never dragged on -- just perfectly paced.
Overall, I'm gonna say that this was a ripping good teenage love story that is in large part about acceptance of others, embracing life's changes and the relevance of being Loved. Perfect for all Ms.Zimmer's long-awaited fans and interested readers.

I really enjoyed this! Kristen Zimmer’s previous book The Gravity Between Us was one of the first sapphic New Adult romances I read back in the day, so I was excited to read her new book. When Sparks Fly is a sweet romance between two girls, Britton and Avery, that’s able to introduce real emotional stakes without ever getting melodramatic.

It did take me a while to get fully invested in the story because some of the dialogue between the girls and their friends in the beginning was feeling a bit awkward. It seemed like it was trying to make them sound young and cool but wasn’t quite hitting the mark. That faded away once the story between Avery and Britton really got going. They had great chemistry and their conversations with one another brought up real issues that they were able to handle maturely.

Overall this was a very enjoyable romance full of cute moments that also touched on some serious topics as well.

It fell flat for me. The characters were really judgy and clichee. The storyline was basic and the writing was subpar in my opinion.

After reading the Gravity Between Us, I jumped at chance to get this book and I am not disappointed. I did feel a little old with some of the high school slang but I really adored this story.