Full of angst, emotion, and spice, this friends to lovers novel is a great fall read to warm the heart.

Fans of contemporary romance, spicy romance, and the FTL trope will rejoice in this novel!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy.

Ms. Hunting wove a wonderful story about friendship, trust, love and learning how to be the best version of yourself with every word of this book. Declan and Avery weren’t just friends, they were truly everything to the other, without realizing it. Deep down, they both knew they had deeper feelings for each other, but didn’t want to risk the friendship. Avery had already done that, and lost a friend and her boyfriend (and as a result, Declan lost his best friend).

Due to jealousy, which he doesn’t admit to, Declan doesn’t go on a planned trip with Avery. He lets her her down and she is heartbroken because he had never done this before. When he calls to apologize, there is an accident and he fears he might lose her forever. Her sisters are upset with him but he vows to take care of her through her recovery. She realizes that he owes her so she accepts his offer. Little do they know, this will change their relationship forever.

Declan has so much baggage from his parents’ relationship that he doesn’t even realize how messed up he is because of it. Avery also doesn’t know the extent of the damage his parents have done on him. While helping her with everything, they both acknowledge that they want to try for more. Open and honest conversations occur, but life gets in the way and jealousy rears it’s head again. This time, they might not overcome it.

I actually felt bad for Declan because I felt like she was wrong for doing what she did. He did overreact and not give her a chance to explain, but she should have talked to him first. I was happy to see her sisters talk to her and open her eyes to her part in their argument. I was also happy to see him get the help he needed. The way he opened the lines of communication and achieved a second chance was great.

I loved every moment of this book and can’t wait to read more about the Spark sisters, hopefully more books are coming. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is also posted on Goodreads and on Instagram.

I loved this book!! Friends to lovers trope with a forced proximity and ends with a HEA!!

Avery and Dylan are two former college roommates and best friends who live together in an apartment. Avery is fierce, driven, she runs Sparks House with her sisters and Declan works in finance and is an all round fun guy who is always in a good mood, fun to be around and doesn’t take himself too seriously.

The friendship between Avery and Declan is the center of the story, they have movie nights with two mutual guy friends, share a love of soccer and sports and they have a really cute system of doing crossword puzzles together. There's unresolved feelings between them and Declan who was a little jealous at the time, and he makes a drunken mistake that leaves Avery to drive alone to a college reunion and she ends up in a car crash that leaves her immobile and in desperate need of full-time assistance.

I loved that there were a lot of feel-good moments in the book, how Avery and Declan went from friends to lovers and everyone pointing out how long they were in love with each other, from Avery's sisters, Declan's two best friends and even Avery's ex who was Declan's best friend. I'm hoping that the author returns to Avery's sisters and Declan's bestfriends.

Things get steamy and sexy, once they admit their feelings for each other and Declan gives more than a helping hand while taking care of Avery.

Avery has anxiety from the death of her parents in a car accident and struggles with driving and riding in cars, while Declan is a commitment-phobe because he has seen his parents' toxic relationship of using him and using each other.

The one thing I didn't like was how Declan blew up with jealousy after a misunderstanding. I hated how he treated Avery, their friendship and their time together. Declan eventually works on himself and his issues with his parents. I loved how therapy was presented with positive representation and how Avery and Declan worked their way back to each other and their happily ever after.

Avery & Declan have been best buds & roommates since college. They’ve seen each other through the ups & downs of life. They’ve even been okay watching each other date & cycle through random one night stands. But it’s not until Avery is seriously injured & the guilt stricken Declan insists on helping her convalesce that they start to see each other in a new light. I’m a huge fan of Helena Hunting, but I guess friends to lovers is not my thing cuz I just didn’t feel for how this relationship developed. I did enjoy the way everything wrapped up in the end & the story had a cute epilogue.

"When Sparks Fly" by Helena Hunting follows best friends and roommates Avery and Declan. A car accident leaves Avery temporarily disabled, and Declan puts himself in charge of her care. As the title suggests, sparks will fly in this forced-proximity, friends-to-lovers story.

This is my second novel by Helena Hunting, but I'm sad to say I wasn't very impressed. While I was somewhat invested in the beginning portion of the story after Avery and Declan inevitably got together the book lost some steam, and I struggled to get through those final pages. I didn't quite feel the chemistry between the main characters, and I thought Declan exhibited some characteristics that would be red flags in a relationship. I also felt that the dialogue became clunky and winded towards the last third of the book. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the discussions on eco-friendly business practices, the rehabilitation process following an accident, and, most importantly, therapy and mental health.

CW: graphic car accident, loss of parents

I have been on a major romance kick lately but most of the romances I have been reading are of the historical variety. There is something so romantic about historical romances in a way that modern contemporary romances just don’t have. I think it’s the constraints of society and class in the historical romances that make them compelling but at the same time I am a modern woman and as a modern woman, I want to also read about modern women like me, not just the lone countess trapped in a marriage of convenience.

Enter this book. I decided it was time to take a bit of a break from the usual historical romances in favor of a more modern romance. Friends to lovers is such a great troupe (though I personally like enemies to lovers better) and I couldn’t wait to explore this book and the two friends who ultimately fall in love. The only thing I was worried about was sometimes the friends to lovers troupe doesn’t carry the same emotional impact for me as something a little more fraught with conflict like the enemies to lovers troupe—which is why I don’t read much of friends to lovers.

But this one sounded charming and I was eager to read something that didn’t involve a corset and buff colored breeches! Not to mention Helena Hunting has written a number of romances that sizzle and I couldn’t wait to read this one an explore the friends to lovers troupe in the modern world!

Summary
Running the Spark House, a hotel/event space that has been in her family for years, has been Avery Spark’s lifelong dream. After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she’s happy.

But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur.

Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and always had an attraction to one another, but when she ended up dating his best friend, Sam, they successfully stamped down any feelings they may have ever had for one another. Now, as Declan and Avery spend more time together, they each begin to wonder what would’ve happened if she’d dated him instead of Sam. What starts as a friend helping out another friend turns into foreplay and, before they realize it, they recognize how deeply they care for one another. But when things get serious their past threatens to destroy everything they have built (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This one landed right in the middle for me. I liked it but I didn’t love it. It was problematic for me for one reason—-how did these two live together for so long and not really ‘discover’ their feelings until now? That was a hard one for me to swallow. I think it would have been better for me if they didn’t live together. Friends yes but roommates too, it was hard for me to get past that. But at the same time this is where all the chemistry came from between the two characters—this forced proximity really worked well between Avery and Declan but it was a gamble that I don’t know worked for me. I think the same chemistry could have been achieved in other ways.

I did enjoy the slow burn of the romance and the deeper undercurrent of each character’s individual back stories. both Declan and Avery have emotional baggage that impacts their relationship abilities and I thought that was what shined in this book. There was some romantic tension between them and chemistry of course, but the backstories made this one less of a fluffy read than I was expecting. Romance novels are usually light and easy to read and while this one has some of that, the backstories of the characters hints at something more complex and challenging for them to work through. I think readers will appreciate that aspect of the book.

I had a conversation with a friend recently about the Ladder Theory. For women I think it’s really easy to decide quickly where to put a guy in the ‘ladder’. This is why I think the friends to lovers troupe doesn’t always work for me. I think a woman always knows where a male friend lands on her radar, now there are varying degrees of self denial that might factor in but overall I think women know when a friend is more than a friend. While I have my own theories on the friends to lovers troupe, it doesn’t mean that I don’t love reading them on occasion. This one was a good solid romance, while I had some issues with it, I did like it and found it enjoyable. I think Hunting did a good job creating chemistry and tension between Declan and Avery even if at times I struggled with the logistics of their romance.

Book Info and Rating
Format320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 21, 2021 by St. Martin’s Griffin

LanguageEnglish

Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martin’s Griffin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 3 stars

Genre: contempo romance

When Sparks Fly is a lovely friends to lovers romance with Avery and Declan.
This couple has been friends since college. Avery works for Spark House with her sisters managing events. She shares a home with her friend Declan. He works in the business world and their relationship has never been more than platonic but they may be harboring some secret feelings for one another.
When Declan shirks his friend responsibility and Avery is traveling on her own on a rainy night the worst happens. She is in a car accident while on the phone with him. She should have been in his car and he should have been driving.
Now she needs care while she recovers and he more than volunteers to take care of all her needs. The more time they spend together in this intimate and different way the more evident that they may need to explore the relationship avenue together.
Avery and Declan a fun, flirty, sweet, emotional, sexy and have that spark that I love so much in a couple!
~~Michele McMullen ~~

Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Helena Hunting’s When Sparks Fly reminds us how much we love Hunting’s brand of stories. In her newest book, her heroine, Avery, and her hero, Declan have been best friends since college. They live together, and their lives are deeply entwined. When Delcan fails to keep plans with Avery, she ends up in a serious car accident. Feeling guilty and knowing that he let her down, he decides to become her caretaker as she recovers. Very quickly, Declan and Avery’s forced proximity and latent feelings of attraction create “sparks” that “fly.” Best friends turned lovers, Avery and Declan begin a journey of love until complications from the past along with Declan’s unresolved issues related to relationships undermine their future.

Hunting’s story is simple, and it makes for the perfect weekend read. Avery and Declan’s chemistry isn’t as profound as you expect, but you fall in love with them as they navigate a change in the status of their relationship. When Declan, given his family history, causes problems in their burgeoning relationship, it creates these moments of gravity for her characters. Hunting deftly balances the familiarity and humor of their relationship with her requisite steam and a broken relationship’s angst in her story. However, Hunting also isn’t doing anything different here, thus my reason for the solid 4 rating.

That being said, I will always trust Helena Hunting as a storyteller as she writes stories that provide a mix of hilarity, romance, and seriousness. With a mix like that, you will want to read When Sparks Fly.

Rough summary

Avery Spark runs an event hotel, along with her two younger sisters. Ever since they took over from their grandmother, it’s been very stressful trying to meet their profit goal. But they were given a chance to give a presentation at their old university. A chance to make their financial situation a little more bearable. However, nothing went according to plan. It all started with something that might’ve been jealousy on her best friend’s part.
Avery and Declan McCormick have been friends for over a decade. Best friends, to be specific. Best friends who have also been living together for a while now.
In order to make her trip for the presentation a bit more bearable, the two had meticulously planned a get-together with their old friends from college. Their plan was to meet up after her presentation. But that was not what eventually happened.
On the night before their trip, Avery had a date planned with someone off of a dating app. And like anyone would, dressed up for that date. Declan, however, seemed to be quite upset about this. It was something even he couldn’t explain to himself. After the disastrous date and much needed sleep, Avery woke to find the apartment in a state of disarray. Their plans come crashing down when Avery finds out that Declan had a little drunken sleepover. Not only that, his SUV wasn’t even anywhere near their apartment. Left with no other option, she decides to go on that trip by herself. It wasn’t the best idea, but it was the only one she had at that moment. Especially given the fact that her tires were not fit for the rainy weather.
Unfortunately, a disastrous car accident further thwarted her plans.
It was everyone’s worst nightmare.
Feeling guilty and wanting to make it right, Declan takes it upon himself to be her full-time caretaker during her recovery period. And what was supposed to be a friend taking care of another friend, turns into something more.
Sometimes, situations like these can cause even the strongest of bonds to break. Other times, situations like these only strengthen it.


Review

This was not my first book by Helena Hunting, and it certainly won’t be my last. The writing was terrific, and the same can be said about the storyline. The tropes in this aren’t necessarily ones I usually pick, but I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised to have really loved them in this context.

The relationship between the 3 sisters was beautiful. They were the sweetest trio, each their very own unique personality. They were so very different from each other, but the bond they shared was absolutely lovely, it was one I’m jealous of to be completely honest. They were well written and realistic in my opinion.

The reason I’m not a big fan of friends-to-lovers, is because they never actually start off as friends. They’re usually not friends, but just two people who can’t have more than friendship at the moment. Hidden feelings, secret agendas. Never just friendship. But When Sparks Fly is, in my opinion, nothing like that. Avery and Declan started off as friends, and that’s how they stayed for a decade. I love that, even before the accident, they were so close. Their friendship was solid, and I loved how it slowly became more. They became closer emotionally and physically. A genuine platonic relationship that slowly but surely grows into more. The transition of their platonic to romantic feelings was so beautifully done. It was slow, smooth, and creeps up without them realizing it. It even seemed meant to be, almost natural, for both the characters and myself as a reader, to see them together. Their chemistry was electric and sizzling.

What really made me all mushy on the inside was the fact that Declan was the first to fall, the first to confess his feelings. He was the one who took that important step to further their relationship. He was the one who was relationship averse, so it's interesting to see him being the one to fall head in first.

As soon as the casts come off, as soon as she's able to be more independent, the rocky roads come into play. Their flirtatious, secret, safe bubble of a relationship suddenly turns a little darker, grittier, more emotional and everyone begins to doubt themselves. Unsure if they made the right decision, if they would work out well outside of their safe bubble, if that relationship was even possible. They both grew very attached and dependent on the other, so to have that safety net of a bubble no longer be there, is a lot to handle, a little nerve-wracking.

I received and advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This is a best friends to lover romance with a HEA ending.
Avery and Declan have been best friends and roommates for years. When Avery gets in a horrible accident Declan feels super guilty because he was supposed to drive her but choose a night of bad decisions instead. Now that they are spending every moment together lines are starting to get blurred. Can they cross the line without losing the friendship they have had for years.
I really enjoyed this book and hope we get some more of these sisters.

I always look forward to reading this author. This is Avery and Declan it’s a friends to lovers story. They have been friends for years now and always there for each other and never viewed one another as anything but friends.

However things slow shift and turn more away from friendship to something more. Events occur that neither one could have predicted.

Overall, it gives all the feels and it’s perfect.

This is a hard review to write - on one hand, I really wanted to like the book and found some parts delightful. On the other hand, there was a lot of it I found frustrating and kind of toxic in ways that didn't get resolved until the very end. Because of that, I had trouble deeply connecting to the characters. I think part of the problem is that Avery's big accident happened so early and I wasn't invested in her and Declan yet. The other issue - Declan. His constant self blame just rubbed me the wrong way and made it hard for me to get invested in him. Much of the rest of the plot was fun and the secondary characters (as well as the event planning subplots) were wonderful. Overall it was a pleasant read, but still ranked just okay for me.

When Sparks Fly by Helen Hunting, this was a new author for me so wasn't sure exactly what to expect. What I got from it was a cute, sweet read although for me it did seem to be repetitive at times. Overall I found the storyline to be good in the sense I don't ever remember reading something quite like it before. This book took me longer to read than most do, but that was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. I would recommend this book to others.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, in exchange for a honest review.

I love Helena Hunting’s stories and was very excited to receive this one!

Avery and Declan have been friends since college and are currently roommates. After Avery gets in an accident, she needs someone to help take care of her while she heals. Declan sets up to take care of Avery. Half from guilt of not being in the car with her, and the other half because he loves her. Even if he isn’t ready to admit it yet.

I am not sure if it was just the storyline of Declan feelinging guilty and taking care of Avery. Or if it was when they first went back to work and the feelings started to shift, it lost its spark. It just wasn’t the book for me, but that does not mean another reader will find it is the perfect match for them.

A great best friends to lovers romance with characters you want to know and a story that had all the feels, ups and downs that kept me glued to the book from the first page to the last. I loved the off-the-charts chemistry between best friends Avery and Declan and was rooting for their HEA. The incredible secondary characters rounded out the story and added to my reading pleasure. Ms. Hunting has given us another winner and I can hardly wait to see what she has for us next. I received an advance reader copy of "When Sparks Fly" from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This friends to lovers romance was just what I needed to get me out of my book funk. Avery and Declan have such a genuine feeling friendship that you are able to really feel immediately. This book hit all the right buttons for me. The book has humor and angst as well as a great supporting cast. Seriously, I loved the relationship between Avery and her sisters.

There were times that Declan was difficult to root for. He makes some questionable choices that made me want to throttle him but ultimately I feel like he redeems himself. Helena did a great job of taking my emotions to so many different levels with this book!

This is a cute Friends to Lovers read. Seeing the relationship develop as Avery and Declan are forced to spend time together in a different capacity makes for a good transition to more for their relationship. This is going to be a cute series of books.

This book, just like all of Hunting’s books will leave readers swooning. There were plenty of *sigh* ah moments but with just the right amount of spice. You won’t be disappointed grabbing this and adding it to your ever growing TBR.

"After years of working hard and making personal sacrifices, Avery and her two younger sisters have turned the Spark House into the premier destination in Colorado Springs. Avery is living her best life—she works with her sisters and loves every minute of it, she has a great group of friends, and she lives in a fantastic condo with her best friend Declan. She might not have any love in her life, but she's happy."

I love best friends into lovers books, because you always have a story behind it. This book was no different .
"But everything comes to a screeching halt when Avery is in a car accident, leaving her immobile for weeks. After nearly losing Avery, Declan insists that he will be the one to take care of her while she recovers. However, as Declan becomes Avery’s caretaker, lines begin to blur."

I just loved the build up of the story, the tension you could feel.
for me the writing was spot on ( I had to check the horse thing because we don't have it where i`m from)

Declan as such a good character I loved everything about him even his shortcoming . he was fun and caring. you could feel the love there.

I had fun with this book, it was a bit different then usual but I really love it
it 4 starts for me and I cant wait to read the next book :)

4 ⭐️ 🥰 fun to read, sweet romance
Helena Hunting has a new book with When Sparks Fly. It’s a contemporary best friend to romance story. It has some quirky humor that Helena is known to incorporate into her stories. Overall, it’s a well written and engaging sweet romance story with only a little drama thrown in.

Avery is an adventurous, strong female that has been roommates with her best friend Declan for years. Declan is that drop dead, love them and leave them kind of guy. Everyone but them realized that they were is in love with each the other for years. They only start to realize it after Avery is seriously hurt in an accident and Declan volunteers to help her recover.

This story is an easy read with a touch of humor and not too much drama. I am looking forward to more Spark sisters stories from Helena.