This has to be one of my favorite tropes. Best friends to lover gets me every time and Helena Hunting writes this trope like no other.

The story of Avery and Declan is perfect because it feels real. Humans are complicated. Bagage, even when acknowledged is not always easy to handle. And it makes relationships messy. But I hope to one day be as fiercely loved as Declan loves Avery. This is a feel good romance. With a few winks for those readers who have read all her passed books, I am loving this new series and look forward to the next book! It reads fast because it is so delectable!

I see man reviews being so hard on Declan. When for me my heart broke for him, for his distress, for his love and relationship anxiety. And what he is willing to do for her, and in turn her for him, shows us just how strong their bond was despite all the bullshit.

The ratings on this book clearly don’t reflect the book I have read. Declan is now at the top of my HH book boyfriend list with Darren and Grif. ♥️

Meet Avery and Declan. They are good friends but will their relationship become something more? Even if you think that you can answer the question, this book will provide a nice diversion. There may even be some surprises in store for you.

Avery and Declan are different from one another, kind of a convention in some romance novels. Avery enjoys working in her family business and spending time with friends. She isn’t sure that she wants to pursue dating. Declan is portrayed as more of a playboy. When a particular event recalibrates their lives, what will happen? How will the past show its impact?

Note that Avery’s last name is Spark. That makes a bit of word play for the title. Will the sparks fly for you? Find out as you read this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Happy Tuesday y’all! Today is a huge release day (so many great books are coming out today!) and one of those great books is When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting. Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of this book! I’ve read two other books by Helena Hunting- Meet Cute and Kiss My Cupcake– and I really liked both of them, so I was super excited to read When Sparks Fly, and it didn’t disappoint!

When Sparks Fly 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

So, I requested this book on Netgalley because of the cover (it’s so cute!) and because it’s by Helena Hunting, so I didn’t read the summary and went into it completely cold, so it was definitely a ride. I wasn’t expecting Avery to get into such a bad car accident so soon in the book or for Declan to blame himself for the accident as much as he did, but that’s 100% what happened. I loved seeing the two of them interact- the journey that they took to transition their friendship into more was so well written- it wasn’t easy or simple, but both of them had baggage and history, so of course it wasn’t going to be easy or simple. I really liked how close Avery and her sisters were and Spark House seemed like a really cool event space (although I didn’t realize it was also a hotel until pretty far into the book haha). One part that really annoyed me was when Avery’s sister got so mad and blew up at Avery for not doing any work and making them do everything, but like unless I was reading things wrong, didn’t both of her sisters pretty much force her not to work? Didn’t she want to work? How can you get mad at her for not working when you’re the one who isn’t letting her work? Like I said, that annoyed me, but that was so small in the overall scale of things. I really liked the last 1/4 or so of the book and how much work was put into that- even if it wasn’t a romance and it wasn’t known to be a happy ending, everything that happened in the last quarter and the growth that one of the characters went through was so great. Overall, I really enjoyed When Sparks Fly and I think y’all need to go out and grab it ASAP!

A comical and sometimes serious friends to lovers roommate romance that checks all my romcom boxes! With great buildable tension and an endearing cast of supporting characters, this is the perfect binge read about two adorable best friends who find they can’t keep their hands off each other!

Avery and Declan have been friends since college and also happen to be roommates. They’ve never considered dating, but when unexpected circumstances force them to spend more time together and examine their deeper feelings, the two build a physical relationship that only amplifies their long term friendship.

What I love most about Helena’s books is that I become so absorbed in the angst and banter I forget that I’m reading. I’m always completely transported and when I start anything by this author I’m captivated from start to finish. Her writing just clicks with me. Avery and Declan are so sweet and the conflict between them was done in a believable and honest way. The ending of this one is one of my favorites and I just love the way Helena balances serious subject matter with comic relief. A delight to read!

When Sparks Fly is an enjoyable romantic read. Avery and Declan have been friends since college and are now roommates in a two bedroom condo. When Avery is severely injured in a car accident Declan feels responsible and becomes her dedicated care giver. Slowly their relationship crosses the friend zone. These intimate pursuits that are described in detail. Avery's two sisters and Declan's friends are interesting supporting characters. but this book is definitely about romance.

I love when a book gives me all the feels and that’s what this book did for me. As most of you know, I am not a huge fan of friends to lovers. But when Helena writes this trope, I love it. It is hard not to love it.

The tension between these two I could just tap and it would break.

Declan and Avery have been the best friends since college. They are also roommates. Declan did like Avery back in college but Avery started dating one of his friends so he push his feelings away. After a terrible accident with Declan feeling guilty, he is adamant he will take care of Avery. But neither of them thought of the intimate moments like helping her shower. All of these feelings are coming back. Especially when she needs help with other things 😉

The fact that these two are already close as it is and they fall in love is perfect! They are perfect for each other!

What a charming story! 3.5

Extra fun that this is set in my home state of Colorado, and was fun to be familiar with the areas discussed. I enjoyed the family business, and the different roles taken by each of the three Spark sisters. The friends-to-lovers, forced proximity storyline led to some hot and torturous moments of longing. A little angsty at times, but that's to be expected before some growth. I really enjoyed the personal growth in both Avery and Declan, and that ending is just the sweetest.

This was my first book by Helena Hunting, and it definitely won't be my last!

Thanks to St. Martin's (Griffin) for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lire une comédie romantique d'Helena Hunting est toujours l'assurance de passer un bon moment de lecture. Nous voilà donc parties à la découverte d'une nouvelle saga et ce premier tome nous présente les soeurs Spark, leur entreprise familiale mais aussi l'amitié incroyable d'Avery et de Declan. Quand un événement aux conséquences dramatiques va tout remettre en perspective, nos héros pourraient enfin ouvrir les yeux sur la réalité de leur relation.

Avery Spark est une jeune femme de 28 ans qui dédie sa vie à la Spark House. A la perte de leur parents, ça a toujours été ses soeurs, son meilleur ami et leur entreprise. Elle a toujours des idées de génies et les événements organisés sont très intéressants. Pourtant l'équilibre est fragile et le moindre désistement pourrait causer d'autres troubles. Elle vit en colocation avec son meilleur ami Declan et leur relation pourrait susciter des interrogations si leurs amis communs ne savaient pas ce qu'il en retournait. Ils savent qu'ils se connaissent comme les deux doigts de la main et qu'ils ont complétement confiance l'un en l'autre. Avery va devoir compter sur lui encore plus lors d'un retournement de situation qui aurait pu être dramatique. Elle va faire preuve d'une force incroyable malgré les épreuves à venir et j'ai aimé cette jeune femme qui n'aime pas l'inactivité. Elle va devoir ronger son frein et sa routine va considérablement changer. Quant à dépendre de quelqu'un , elle aura aussi énormément de mal. Elle va donc faire de son mieux pour aller de l'avant mais elle se posera aussi des questions sur ses sensations et ses ressentis. Passer d'une amitié à autre chose ne sera t-il pas sans risques? Que dira son entourage?

Declan McCormick est notre héros et il est ami depuis toujours avec Avery. Il n'a pas eu le même schéma familial que notre héroïne car il n'a pas cet esprit de famille et de soutien qui unit Avery, London et Harley. Son père et sa mère s'entendent comme chien et chat , il sont divorcés et on ne compte plus les remariages de son père. Il ne s'entend donc pas avec eux et il a une piètre idée de l'engagement , de la relation durable et de l'amour en général. En amitié , il est fiable et loyal donc on ne voit pas de raison de ne pas le voir épanoui et fidèle en amour. Il est évident qu'il n'a pas de relation sérieuse mais il n'est pas non plus épanoui dans ses coups d'un soir. Quand la culpabilité va le ronger vis à vis de sa meilleure amie, il sera prêt à tout pour prendre soin d'elle même à subir les foudres de London qui va devenir une vraie "maman ours". Avec ses amis Jerome et Mark, il passera de bons moments de détente et il y a une scène complétement hallucinante et hilarante les concernant tous. On a l'impression qu'ils sont frivoles mais ils seront là pour ouvrir les yeux de notre héros sur la réalité des choses et pour le pousser en dehors de ses retranchements.

Bref, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture avec ce 1er tome. Même si l'intrigue est clairement entendue, j'ai eu quelques petites surprises. Helena Hunting nous régale une fois de plus avec des personnages auxquels on va s'attacher , une saga familiale qui donne envie de connaître la suite et des scènes comiques et sensuelles à souhait.

When Sparks Fly is a slightly heavier take on this author’s traditional brand of romcom. While it deals with a few real life issues, at its heart it’s still a Helena Hunting comedy.

The characters are fleshed out. The plot is solid. And so is the writing.
Here’s what to expect:
Forced proximity
Friends to lovers
Roommates
Comedic little nuggets throughout
And a great epilogue

It’s an enjoyable read.

Nothing better than a fun story where the guy is hot, craves a woman, but just can’t get over himself to figure out how to get the girl. Great romcom that has it’s share of emotional and sad spots. Declan and Avery are friends that turn into lovers but the twists that get them there is what makes the story a great read!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

NO SPOILERS!

When Sparks Fly was a sweet, emotional, and funny friends-to-lovers romance from Helena Hunting that will pull at your heartstrings. The storyline and characters were wonderful, and I loved the author’s prose. I really enjoyed Avery and Declan’s story, and was very pleased with the conclusion. I’m definitely looking forward to more standalones in this series.

Helena Hunting is an excellent author. I haved loved her other books, especially the Pucked and Inked series. Her characters are so relatable, even when they are very different from anything that you have experienced.

In this story, the heroine is Avery, one of three sisters who run the family hotel/event center, Spark House. Avery is very athletic and has a best friend, Declan. They have been besties since college. They play on the same rec soccer league and hang with two other guys to round out their group. Avery is driven and very committed to the business she runs with her sisters. Their parents were killed in a car crash when they were younger and they were raised by their grandparents. She works long hours.

Declan was raised in a disfunctional family. We don't really understand how toxic his home life was until much later in the story. His family dynamic has affected his dating life and he never dates anyone past the point where it would be a become a relationship. He is the king of hook ups. When he and Avery met in college, they became best friends and their relationship is very important to Declan. They live together in a condo.

Avery and Declan have plans to go back to their college for an alumni event. It is something that they have been planning for a long time. Declan is supposed to drive because Avery is not a fan of driving, since her parents died in a car crash, and also because her car is overdue for new tires. The night before they are supposed to leave for the event, Declan brings home some random from a bar after a night of too much drinking. This and the fact that Declan has left his car at the bar, force Avery to drive by herself in her car with the bad tires. Of course, there is a crash where Avery is critically injured and Declan blames himself for it happening. He decides to dedicate himself to helping her through her recovery.

When they spend all thisntime together and Declan has to help Avery with personal care and activities of daily living, their relationship changes and lines get blurred. Things go well until their pasts get in the way and Declan has a spectacular blow up.

There are a few things here that I want to touch on without giving spoilers. First if all, why the heck did Avery let her tires go so long, especially when she had fears of driving? Even if she was busy, she could have had someone pick up her car or dropped it off and caught a ride to work. This seemed irresponsible of her. And I get that Declan, Mr Random Hook Up, was upset when he went out the night before he and Avery were supposed to leave but it seemed so out of character for him to do something like that to his best friend who he was so close to. There were other things that happened that I thought didn't seem realistic. I found that I liked the characters more in the second half of the book. I also liked how Declan was willing to get help for his problems.

I feel bad saying this but this isn't my favorite Helena Hunting book. I have read all of her books and I have read most of them multiple times. Some of the story felt forced.
It was hard to like Declan.
Avery felt like she was a little into her own world. The name of her family's event center felt odd to me. Maybe it's a regional thing.
I enjoy a good sex scene in stories but even for me, it was too much.
Overall, it's a good book with a great story of two friends who find that they are more to each other than they thought.

Love This!
An enlightening story about guy/girl best friendship. I love how the friendship between Avery and Delcan was born and how it grew. Everyone needs someone to have their back with unconditional love and support. I also love how the author was able to differentiate between love for a best friend and the realization of the person having fallen in-love with their best friend.
The little details in this relationship make it so heartfelt and deep. One of their things is they do a crossword puzzle together, they have comforting home routines watching sports and getting together with their friends.
I championed Delcan’s determination to make himself better for Avery and their relationship a priority in his life which shows his true love for her. I was proud of Avery for giving Declan the time and the room to accomplish his self-restructure and not pressure or criticize him which shows true love.
I found the closeness between the three sisters is so wonderful. Coming from something I have never had; it is a true gift to be so close to your siblings. The sibling closeness as well as the true friendships make this story one, I could definitely re-read and enjoy over and over.
This story has the whole scale of emotions and keeps you reading, with no interruptions allowed, until you are finished! A well-satisfied sigh at the end is also a sign of a truly fantastic story! Loved it!

*Thank you so much to the publishers for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review*

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
Pub Date: 9/21/21

Avery Spark is living her best life. Between her friends, her sisters, and Spark House, the event hotel her family owns, she doesn’t have much time for anything else, especially relationships. She’d rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals.

Declan avoids relationships, giving him a playboy reputation that he lives up to when he puts a one-night stand ahead of a promise he made to Avery. While he may not have been the one driving the car, he feels responsible for Avery’s injuries and is determined to make it up to her by stepping into the role of caretaker.

Little did they know that the more time they spend in compromising positions, the attraction they’ve been refusing to acknowledge becomes impossible to ignore. When they finally give in to the spark between them, neither is prepared for the consequences. Their love is fragile and all it will take is a blow from the past to shatter it all.

Hunting does it again with this delicious friends to lovers rom com! There are a few heavier topics that adds depth to the story and makes the characters more grit to their story line.

Friends to lovers is my favorite trope and it’s honestly probably the hardest to disappoint me as a reader. If the chemistry is there and I like the characters, it’s at least a guaranteed four star read for me. I’m missing a bit of both here.
Avery and Declan have the chemistry..before the accident. Afterwards, it gets iffy for me. Once it turns physical, I’m wondering if I imagined that connection at all. There’s no feelings, it’s scratching an itch.
But I keep going, hoping it changes, or my reaction changes. And it does, but not in a good way. Soon I’m not seeing any spark between these two and I’m more than ready for their big fight…because you know there will be one. I wasn’t expecting the why or how it came about…that was a bit out of left field.
The inevitable coming back together just isn’t working for me either. I no longer care about the characters as a pair, but hope that Declan finds the clarity that he needs, because his family has messed him up. As far as Avery went, she’s my second favorite sister. I cannot stand London, so if her book is in the works, I’ll be passing on it.
I’m disappointed, because I’ve heard great things about Helena Hunting and was so ready to give her a try. I’m going to pick up another of her books, because I’m hoping this was a freak of nature for me. I guess we’ll see…

A great friends to other book ( which can be an overused trope). I love this author's writing and this is another page-turner and keeps the reader engaged in the story.

Once again H Hunting had me in tears from laughter and then in the next moment I was fanning myself over these characters and their HOT chemistry. I absolutely loved Avery & Declan's story! It is friends-to-lovers perfection.

Declan is everything swoony and possessive, and I loved every time he let his guard down for Avery and showed his vulnerabilities. His character development was a highlight of this book for me. And his love, compassion and loyalty toward Avery made me swoon over him SO hard!

As Declan & Avery's story unfolds, you truly see and realize how natural their relationship developed over time. Although they both had regrets, the path they took to get to their HEA was imperative to their love story.

Avery & her sisters hit home for me. Being one of three girls, I knew I would like their dynamic immediately, and I could definitely relate to more than one of them at times. They play quite a role throughout this book and I can't wait for London's story that is coming next.

I loved every aspect of this book but felt the ending was rushed just a bit. All in all though - I loved this friends-to-lovers story and am hooked on this series. Well done once again H Hunting!

When Sparks Fly is the latest book by Helena Hunting that features the adorable friend to lovers’ story of Avery and Declan. Avery and Declan have been the very best of friends since college but when a tragic event occurs it forces them to confront what they both have never admitted to anyone including themselves. The change in their everyday routines after this event helps them to both grow as people and friends and to understand what life has to offer and how they can make a difference to each other and those closest to them. True to her writing Helena Hunting manages to tell a story of a romance while providing with a light and quite humorous delivery. When Sparks Fly is a definite read for 2021.

After a slow start setting the scene and situation between Avery and Declan, the story picked up pace and became a very enjoyable read.

This is a more "serious" book when compared with Helena Huntings' more romantic comedy books but there were moments that made me laugh. There were definitely plenty of swoonworthy lines and the typical angst you'd expect to find in a contemporary romance novel.

When Sparks Fly follows Avery Sparks' story and if you like best friends-to-lovers then this is for you! I so hope the other Sparks' sisters get their story. I'd love to know more about London and Harley!

When Sparks Fly follows Avery, an independent, on-the-go woman whose life comes to a screeching halt when she’s injured in a car accident. With her live in male best friend as her care giver, things get complicated.
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I adored this book. It kept my interest from
start to finish, but the thing I loved the most was how real and relatable the characters were. In all romances there is always the rift that tears the couple apart before their happily ever after. The way this couple gets back together was so moving and so healthy and I loved every second.
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During the big rift I got a lot of Dean from Gilmore Girls (🤢) vibes from Declan (the best friend love interest) but my feelings quickly changed (😍).
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This book pulled me out of my reading slump and I am so thankful!