I love Helena Hunting. She has the ability to make me laugh my ass off (read her Pucked series), cry my eyes out (Little Lies), fan my face from the steam (all of her books) and basically melt into a pile of goo from her romantic writing.

When Sparks Fly is a lovely romance book with the main couple, Avery and Declan, who you love right off the bat. They are best friends who eventually become more. Their relationship, actually, their friendship is one for the books. They are there for each other and know each other so well. You crave for this type of relationship. Having that one person who knows you so well.

When a scary life incident changes their relationship where Declan feels responsible for Avery's injuries, he becomes her caretaker and takes this role very seriously. And suddenly they are both feeling more than friendly feelings for each other. Their relationship develops in fun and sexy ways. But baggage from both their pasts creep up and cause problems.

You root for them and want this couple to make it so badly. They are made for each other and watching them and their developing relationship is so fun and easy. It's not hard to really like these two and their friends and family. Avery's sisters are fun and a great grounding point for the story. The best guy friends are hilarious and bring levity to some of the situations.

Hunting brings another great romance story to the fold. She creates characters that are fun and well rounded. The story is easy but enchanting. You stick with Avery and Declan to the very last page

On her way to a client meeting, Avery Sparks has a terrible car accident. She survives with a broken arm and leg, several cracked ribs and many bruises. Avery shared a condo with her college friend, Declan, who was supposed to be driving her to this meeting and feels incredible guilt about bailing on her. Avery’s sisters, London and Harley plan to take her home for healing and recovery with them, but Declan begs her to allow him to assist with her rehabilitation. Avery and Declan have always been close, but as she relies on him more than ever, she starts to realize that maybe they could be more than friends.

When Sparks Fly is full of laughs, sobs and sweet romance. The chemistry between Avery and Declan, even as friends, is off the charts, so when they hook up, it’s immeasurable. Definitely not your cookie cutter romance, Avery and Declan both grow and change in ways that allow them to be together without sacrificing their individuality. I loved it!

I have avoided writing this review for as long as I could. I'm a fan of the books I have read in the past from this author. This one fell a little short compared to the others I have read.

This book moved too slow for me. Nothing really happens for most of the book. The characters fell off my radar by the time I got half way through the book. I just couldn't get connected to the book or the story.

I found this book to be ok but I found it fell flat.
I usually love Helena Hunting's books and I have most on my to read again pile but this one just isn't making it into the pile. It is my least favourite book by Helena Hunting.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a good friends to lovers story about two roommates and school friends, Avery and Declan.

Avery runs a family business with her two younger sisters in Colorado Springs, they lost their parents to a tragic car accident and so Avery feels responsible as the oldest sibling to work hard and ensure that their business runs well. She also attempts to have a dating life on the side with her limited free time, heavily encouraged by her sisters.

She and Declan have been best friends since their college days. She dated his best friend Sam, but when that relationship ended she ended up with their friend group and has maintained a good relationship with them ever since. So good in fact that her and Declan bought and live in a condo together and regularly spend a lot of their time together. They both recognize that they are attracted to each other, but are too invested in their friendship to risk anything happening to ruin it. However, once Avery gets into an accident and needs around the clock help to take care of her basic needs, their chemistry is harder and harder to ignore.

This book is good. I love a good friends-to-lovers’ trope, especially when there is forced proximity, but there was just something about it that just did not do it for me. It took me a little while to figure out what it was that was off, the characters are all very likeable, the storyline was good, the sexual tension was steamy – so what was the problem? I eventually figured out that I just didn’t really believe it. Two single people who are attractive and attracted to each other living together for so many years with nothing happening . . . nope. Don’t buy it. I think that was why I could never fully invest myself or believe in their relationship. The chapters also switched between their point of views, and they both sounded very similar, not a huge deal, but it was like there was no difference between their voices.

Declan was also very problematic in many ways, his actions at the beginning of the book and his behavior when they got into a miscommunication towards the end of it, was very unattractive and raised huge red flags for me. I never understand why so many of these types of romance novels have the girl ultimately being responsible to “fix” the problematic boy.

Avery is a solid female lead, but I wished better for her than to get involved with someone that still has many issues they need to work through before they can be in a healthy relationship. The secondary characters were also really fun to read about, and I would be interested in reading their stories as well.

Although I didn’t really believe in their happy ending, this is still a good novel. I recommend it for those who like steamy friends to lovers’ story lines.

~ Harshita

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting was such a sweet and steamy book! When I read that this was going to be a friend to lovers romance, I was really excited to dive into it because that is something that I find to be so special. It was sweet to see the relationship between Avery and Declan slowly blossom into more than just friends. I thought it was a realistic depiction of what can happen between friends especially when one of the friends is needing more help due to the accident. I would highly recommend this read!

This is a cute friends to lovers romance! Avery and Declan have been friends since college and are roommates so we have the friends, roommates and forced proximity tropes all tied in one nice little romcom bow! I actually really liked that Declan and Avery were such good friends, their love was set off from a spark that helped get them going in the right direction. Declan is swoony and protective, everything you’d want in a book boyfriend. Avery is independent and is very goal oriented which I can totally respect. This is an easy to read sweet funny and charming book with some dashes of spice to make everything nice haha.

I love the friends to lovers trope and When Sparks Fly definitely delivered! I especially loved the first half of this book, the tension was palpable. Avery and Declan were adorable. I'm so glad they got their happy ending!

When Sparks Fly was a great read by Helena Hunting. Avery Spark has always dreamed of running the Spark House, an hotel and event space that has a long history in her family. Avery and her two younger sisters turned Spark House into a premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is very happy with her life, even if love isn't a part of her life right now. Everything changes when she is in a car accident that leaves her immobile for weeks. Her roommate Declan insists that he will take care of her while she recovers. While he is caring for her, the lines begin to blur. I really enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

As a huge fan of Helena Hunting's—all the way back to Clipped Wings in 2014—it pains me greatly to say that I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I know that even our favorite authors can miss the mark once in a while and When Sparks Fly was definitely a miss for me.

I loved the first half of this book. The introduction of Avery and her sisters, their mission at Spark House, and Avery's friendships with her college pals worked really well. Avery's friends-to-lovers journey with Declan was a long time coming and seemed like it should have happened long before her accident.

However, I didn't like the feeling that Declan was just 'helping out' because of his misplaced guilt and obligation. It didn't feel like an authentic start to a healthy relationship, which becomes apparent in the second half of the story.

I am very curious about Avery's sisters and their stories, so I will definitely continue with the series. Also, I am sure this is a case of 'it's me, not you' and many readers will love this story. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them this time around.

Thank you to NetGalley, Helena Hunting and St Martin's Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I have only read one other novel by Hunting, but I really enjoyed both of them and I found this one so quick and easy to read! I adored each and every character and loved following their story. I love a friends to lovers story the best of the contemporary romance. The problems these characters face are thought provoking and I enjoyed that the solutions weren't quickly and easily wrapped up like some love stories. I love when the characters have to work on themselves in real ways to succeed in relationships. Overall, a fun, witty and fast paced novel that I would recommend in a heartbeat.

So I haven't really read a lot of books by this author. And it seems to be hit or miss on whether I love them or whether they are just ok for me. Unfortunately, this one was just ok for me. I ordinarily really like the friend's to lover's stories. I like knowing that there is more to their relationships than just chemistry and such. And don't get me wrong, this story does great with that part of it. It was everything else that didn't get there in my opinion. Their chemistry felt like it wasn't truly there. There seemed to be things in the story that felt like they were just thrown in to try to add something that it didn't truly need. There were a lot of places that I struggled through to keep reading because I was slightly bored with it. Some people may love it, but honestly, while the writing is good the story was lacking for me.

Declan & Avery Stole My Heart

There is nothing like a Helena Hunting small town romance, with the sweetest friends to lovers premise and enough angst to chug the plot along. She knows what she's doing. I would recommend this to any fan of great writing, fun smart characters and an HEA that is sooo sweet.

I just finished this and I want the sisters stories already!
Avery and her family run a business that does fun hotel events and when she gets into an accident her best friend, Declan, steps up to take care of her.
Then the literal sparks fly.
Dec taking care of Avery was so adorable and sweet and he was so loving. I love how their story evolved and how it ended 🥰
I always love a friends to lovers done so smoothly.
10/10 would recommend.

This was a really good romance. This was my first by the author but I'll definitely read more now.

I actually really love books/movies where there are Family run hotels! I am not sure why but they are always so much fun.

There was some heartbreak in this one also which I think is important for every novel. And I loved that there wasn't Instalove because I cannot stand that.

I'd definitely recommend this one.

4.5 Stars

This book was so fun, cute, steamy, but also had some emotional moments. When Sparks Fly was one of the best friends to lovers romances I've read in awhile. The chemistry was off the charts.I loved watching these two characters acknowledge and develop these more than friends feelings they had for each other. This story is definitely full of laughs as well. The story tapered off a little towards the end as some of that excitement wore off. But overall, I really enjoyed this story.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a hot and funny friends-to-lovers romance. Is this a standout in the world of contemporary romance? Maybe not, but there were some aspects I absolutely loved. Hunting not only emphasizes the importance of the female sex drive, but makes it a major plot point too. Additionally, the male MC acknowledges his past traumas and seeks therapy to manage his responses to triggers. Can I get a hallelujah?!

Avery might be a damsel in distress, but the strong, independent woman resents every moment of it. Declan might be a serial dater, but his time taking care of Avery brings to light feelings he thought he’d buried deep within.

This love story is steamy and sweet, but not without its complications (aren’t they all). My favorite kind of romance is one that makes the people involved better and Hunting delivers 100%. I recommend When Sparks Fly for fans of contemporary romance, specifically the friends-to-lovers trope.

I have been expecting this book for months, but sadly I didn't like it as much as I expected. The thing is that Avery and Declan are friends that become lovers, and we all know Helena knows how to write a great friends to lovers, but in this particular case I felt we didn't see a lot of their friendship, so I couldn't buy their evolution from friends to partners.

But the thing that disappointed me the most is a specific scene involving Declan. To me he overreacted and should have groveled a lot to own Avery's forgiveness.

Aside that, I did love their group of friends and family dynamics and I wish to see more of that on the upcoming books in the series.

As for Helena's writing, I think as always she did a great job. She knows how to write romcoms as no other and her steam scenes are hot af.

Overall, even if it didn't work for me, I think you should give it a try and see for yourself if the book is your cup of tea.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Narrated by Jason Clarke & Stella Bloom
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Genre: Romance

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a standalone romance and is absolutely wonderful! This is the first book I have read by the author and I absolutely loved it!

There was so much goodness in this book: wonderful characters, personal growth, a beautiful story, and so much love! I was so drawn to the characters and loved their story. I loved the humor and the interactions throughout. This was a beautiful friends to lovers romance and such a heartwarming tale.

I'm so grateful to Helena Hunting, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Helena Hunt writes wonderful contemporary romances. This is definitely one of them! Avery lives a super full life with friends, family, and running a business she loves. When she is in an accident and needs help taking care of herself while she heals, things kinda go sideways. Will her roommate, Declan step up, and what happens when he does? Will things get heated? Or will things fizzle?