Best friends and roommates Avery and Declan crash-land into something more after a serious car accident leaves Avery in need of extra support at home. Declan feels guilty after some bad decisions led him to not be in the car with her as planned when it happened.

Friends-to-lovers stresses me out for some reason, but I loved the depth of feeling and vulnerability founded on the long familiarity between these characters. I could tell their emotional baggage was fully realized because I was genuinely nervous when it reared its ugly head. Also, the cringey romcom moments made me cower, which is truly a high art form.

The romance comes along with disapproving, or at least wary, friends and family since Declan's a certified fuckboy. His journey was really powerful because in the beginning, I was not impressed (nor, I think, was I meant to be). As a friend, he's excellent, but anything more? The man is made of red flags. Seeing him want something for himself and taking cautious steps towards that romantic bond with Avery was beautifully done, even when his self-sabotaging and jealousy finally come to a head in a major blowup. I appreciated in that moment what a solid character Avery is, trying to not be reactive but to set boundaries and require conversation. I was impressed that no characters vilified him but suggested he has some personal demons to work out, nonetheless. It was a good blend of high expectations and genuine caring that leads to some much needed therapy and personal work.

My only complaint is that I think Avery's baggage got less airtime. I'm ok with her filling a more steady and well-adjusted role, but the car crash plot could have been more of a journey, I think, especially since her parents died in a car accident, too. I could see the attempts to acknowledge Avery's dark emotions and physical struggles, but it had a less satisfying and complete arc for my tastes. I've been known to soak up a "nurse me back to health" plot as much as the next person, but something this traumatic needed a bit more nuance and exploration to not come across as a plot device to further the romance.

A brief note to be responsive to queer critiques of the genre: this book perpetuates the definition of "sex" as a heterosexual, P/V act, exclusive to literally everything else, despite the characters' engaging in all kinds of activities. This definition is harmful for a lot of reasons, especially because it belittles a lot of other identities and experiences to suit a heteronormative schema. So be on alert.

This was my first Helena Hunting read, and I was so taken with the emotions and the standards for a healthy relationship, I would definitely pick up another. I'm especially interested in what the other Spark sisters have in store! Thanks to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you are in the mood for a good friends to lovers romance check this one out! I found myself having to wipe tears away from laughter during some parts of this book! I had literal laugh out loud moments. Overall I enjoyed this read. It was a quick one sit read. I was hooked from the beginning. I would definitely recommend this book. I will say by the time I got to the end of the book I wasn’t ready for this one to end! I would definitely recommend this book.

Received a arc for a honest review.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a friends to lovers trope novel that I enjoyed very much.
It’s not described as being the first book of a series, but the heroine has two sisters and both the heroine and hero are part of a friend group that feature in the book so perhaps it will end up being a series. Avery Spark and her sisters run Spark House a mansion like event hotel. Avery and Declan McCormick who is a financial advisor have been best friends since they met at college 10 years ago and they’ve lived together as roommates for the last 2 years. Avery had made plans to meet up with college friends to see a game at their Alma Mater and she was also going to make a pitch to her alumni association about holding events at Spark House.
Declan was supposed to join her and drive his car but he messed up and she drove herself and on the way was involved in a major car accident, was badly injured and now requires round the clock care as she has multiple casts and is basically helpless. Declan feels hugely guilty about Avery’s injuries and arranges to work from home so that he can be there for her. Neither of them is good at relationships, and Declan especially has sworn never to have a serious relationship, but the weeks and then months of extreme intimacy lead them to begin a sexual relationship, but if they can’t make it work, will it cost them their friendship? I really loved how brutally honest these two are with each other and how they are willing to put the work into their relationship because neither one of them wants it to fail. The angst and steam balance nicely and the strong relationships the protagonists have with the supporting characters made this book one that I highly recommend reading. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: September 21, 2021. #WhenSparksFly #Helena Hunting #ContemporaryRomance #FriendsToLoversRomance #RomanceReader #ContemporaryRomanceReader #Bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #StMartinsPress #StMartinsGriffin #NetGalley

Most of my choices in romance novels are relatively smooth sailing - they don't typically involve a lot of angst, the hero realizes his love for the heroine about halfway through, and there is no third act conflict. So when I started to see the reviews pouring in for this book, I was really concerned, because several people mentioned the angst, the emotionally stunted hero, and the disastrous third act conflict that had so many throwing out spoilers like they were candy at a parade. However, I really like the trope of one character nursing the other back to health, and it's so difficult to find in contemporary romance that I wanted to give this a chance. I am SO glad that I did! While I can confirm there are all those things other readers talked about, there is also a lot of genuine caring from the hero, mutual desire for affection without a lot of strings, and the groveling is top notch. You may like your romance to be without a lot of conflict, but believe me, this book may convince you that a messy romance is the best romance.

Avery Spark has known Declan since college, and as best friends, her decision to purchase a condo with him after graduation was easy. Sure, Declan brings a new woman home all the time for one night stands, but she has worked out ways to avoid seeing him naked on the couch again. He is always dependable, there for her for support whenever she needs it...until the one day he isn't. Declan McCormick has no interest in a real relationship, having watched his parents' failed marriage throughout his childhood. He thrives off his flings, with zero emotional attachment involved, and he gets to live with his best friend. Life is great...until he makes a big mistake and Avery pays the price. Now she is injured after a terrible car accident, and he is dedicated to making sure she is taken care of. But what he doesn't anticipate is the need for them to be closer than ever before, and when things get heated, the line between friends and lovers blurs. Is he ready for a real relationship with Avery, or will his past threaten to tear them apart?

I liked both Avery and Declan from the very beginning of the story. Avery is a hardworking woman, working alongside her siblings managing an event hotel for their grandmother. After a relationship in college ended with her being cheated on, she kept men at a distance, leaving room only for her male friends and the occasional disastrous date. She always thought she could count on Declan, and it was really interesting to see how their relationship changed after she got hurt. Declan was clearly in major self-flagellation mode. He was almost over the top at times in making sure she was taken care of, and it was clear that he was doing everything he could to make sure Avery knew she could still depend on him. While she blamed him for a time, she was really mature in how she handled her feelings about the accident and subsequent rehab. Things did eventually get sexual between them, and I loved seeing their relationship navigate the new waters they were entering into. Of course, nothing ever goes as smoothly as you want it too, and Declan's newfound relationship skills were tested. He went overboard in his need to hold on to Avery, and his lack of trust in her and in their love for each other became a driving force behind the third act conflict. Thankfully, Declan also had an amazing aptitude for groveling, and he did that very well. The romance was by no means smooth sailing, and it was very messy, as I stated before. But it was a realistic sort of messy that I hope we can all appreciate. People make mistakes, people change, and life goes on, sometimes better than it was before.

I look forward to reading more by this author! Definitely going to add more of her books to be my reading list.

This was my first romance from Helena Hunting, and I'll definitely read more! While I did find parts of the characters' relationship unappealing and problematic, the humor and charm of the story won out in the end.

Recommended for fans of The Cheat Sheet and Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating.

I really enjoyed this “best friends to lovers” story! I look forward to the next book in this series!

I started enjoying this book. I was enjoying their tension, there’s a bendy straw rant scene that I loved, I liked how Avery and her sisters were handling business. The moments between Ave and Declan were steamy. And I also kinda enjoyed their relationship. I liked Avery and Declan’s group of friends and I liked that Avery’s sisters were always there for her.

Aside from this, I never truly felt connected to the characters. And although I was enjoying the storyline I felt meh about them. They had great qualities, but they also said and did things that I disliked; especially in London. Although London was always there for Avery, she also said a lot of things that rubbed me the wrong way.

Although I enjoyed the sexual tension between these characters, I wish we could have gotten some chapters before the first one to see when they met and how their friendship progressed. I think this would have helped built their tension more and lead to a better transition. Yes, the scene where they take things further was steamy and hot, but it didn’t pull me in.

But what I REALLY disliked was the fallout. I kinda get why Declan reacted the way he did and I understood it, but that doesn’t mean I was okay with it.

I did love how HH wrapped things up and I loved that Declan wanted to become a better person. But I feel like their relationship was already tainted because of that specific scene.

This is book one in a new series set in Colorado Springs. Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and even bought a condo together, but an accident turns Declan into her caregiver and lines between friendship and something more begin to blur.

I’m a sucker for forced proximity and this one was made sweeter by their decade long friendship. This was cute and had some fun banter between Avery and Declan interspersed between more serious moments involving fears and mental health. I must admit that Declan both annoyed me at times while at the same time endearing me to him. But in the end he won me over. I definitely enjoyed the first half more before Avery started to heal.
While this isn’t my favorite by this author, I still enjoyed it. It’s hard to top my favorites like the Pucked series and Kiss My Cupcake.

Thank you to St Martin’s and Netgalley for the chance to read an arc. All opinions are my own.

I went into this book blind. I had zero clue what this book was about. Why would a reader do that you ask? Because of Helena Hunting. She is a must read author for me. I am so happy I went in blind, people. Avery owns a hotel/boutique event center that she and her sisters run together. Avery is an athletic girl and a workaholic. She doesn’t have a lot of time for a social life, but her sisters convince her it is time to start dating. Avery lives with her college best friend, Declean. They have been friends for so long and are extremely close. They have become comfortable with their friendship and living together in a condo. So when Avery announces she is going on a date it throws Declean for a loop. Their friendship is challenged and circumstances bring them to spend a lot of time together and they realize their friendship could potentially be more.
One of my favorite things about Helena’s characters is that they are not perfect. AT ALL. And these two are perfectly flawed. They work so hard to overcome their own issues and challenges and work together to become not only better people, but a better couple. This is a beautiful story and I cannot wait for the other Sparks sisters to get their own books! Do you love flawed characters, beautiful friendships, witty banter, and some steam in your books then this should be your next read!

I loved this book. It's a fun, feel-good story that I really needed to read right now. The writing was excellent and the characters were very likable. I think I might have been swooning over Declan just a tiny bit even though I was not happy with his behavior in a certain part of the book but I forgave him. The ending actually got me a little teary-eyed. This book was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy.

Avery Spark loves the event hotel she runs with her sisters. She loves her group of friends and she loves her best friend and roommate, Declan. She is happy. She doesn’t have time for romance.
.
Declan doesn’t want to end up like his parents and avoids relationships. He is not into commitment and a one night stand got in the way of his promise to Avery.
.
After an accident left Avery completely dependent on a caretaker Declan steps into that role. As he cares for his best friend sparks begin to fly. The sparks were always there but suddenly their love caught fire.
.
This was such an enjoyable one!

This is a really good friends to lovers book. Declan and Avery have been best friends for years. Avery is loving life until a bad car accident changes things. Avery becomes immobile for weeks and Declan decides to be her caretaker. Although the more time they spend together and the more he does for her the friendship lines become blurred. True feelings come out but can they survive a past that wants to destroy what they have become.

This was a book that I had a hard time putting down. I am not always a fan of friends to lovers but Helena Hunting did this genre justice.

Avery is living her best life, and has worked hard with her sisters for years, and has made some sacrifices along the way, but she is content with her life s it is with her family and her best friend Declan. When Avery is in a car accident which leaves her immobile for a little while, Declan insists he is the one who will take care of her. The more time these two spend together the more their feeling come to the surface. This is a well written story which is sweet, fun, humorous, entertaining, and with witty banter, which leads to an addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

Helena hunting’s story writing pulls you in from the start. You have Avery and Declan who have been friends for years. He has issues with commited relationships because of his Own family and she knows this so keeps her feelings hidden. When an accident that Dec blames himself for leaves Avery needing help, he jumps in as her nurse. These two have so much chemistry together and staying in closer proximity to eachother theirs feelings start to come to the surface. I fully enjoyed this friends to lovers story and cannot wait for more.

Helena Hunting is an author who is never lets me down. I know when I read one of her books I'm going to get a good laugh and an even better love story, and When Sparks Fly did not disappoint.

Avery and Declan have been friends since college and roommates just as long. They see it as a means to an ends kind of so that they won't get carried away and do something stupid, like try to get hitched. They both are workaholics and love soccer and even play on a weekend team with other friends. They are the ones who invite everyone over for dinner and to watch games and hangout. But a couple? Never!

When Declan makes a huge mistake and it almost cost Avery her life he goes out of his way to make it up to her, only to realize that he may have more than just friendly feelings for her when he finds out that she has needs that can't be met while she's laid up.

Avery is the tomboy ish girl who works to hard and plays even harder but keeps her best friend in the friend zone so that her true feelings never surface. But when a time comes that they do and then she realizes that maybe it was all fake, she's once again devastated and left hurt and alone for the first time.

This friends to lovers story was so good it was a straight read that I just could not put down.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book, which has lots of layers and plenty of romance.

Avery and her two sisters run an events hotel – Avery taking the lead in most things. They are trying to do really well, so that they can restore the fountain. Things take a turn for the worse when Avery is in an accident, and everything becomes more complicated to achieve.

Declan considers himself to blame for Avery's accident, and so he promises to do everything to make her life easier. They may share a home, but they have stayed away from the burning attraction for years. He is right to blame himself as he had a woman stay over the night before and let Avery down. I have to say this act did not endear him to me at the beginning, but he works hard to make things right.

You will need to read the goodness for yourself, but rest assured that things change in a number of unexpected ways after the accident. Some things really are unexpectedly funny, some very moving, and all leading to the happily ever after which we all want to happen.

Helena Hunting has once again delivered a really engaging, sexy, sweet, and satisfying read.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
WHEN SPARKS FLY is a really good friends-to-lovers romance. Avery and Declan are best friends and roommates and when Avery is in an accident, Declan steps up and takes care of her and their relationship starts to change. The romance is a bit of a slow-burn but the story isn’t slow at all, it was always engaging and I think that is because Avery and Declan are good, fun people. I really enjoyed spending time with them no matter what they were doing. They are the kind of people I’d want to be friends with.

There were a few things about WHEN SPARKS FLY I particularly liked, aside from Declan and Avery being a hot couple. One is that Avery and Declan are just regular, everyday people living their lives, hanging out with friends, and trying to move forth in their careers. Another is that Avery and Declan ultimately deal with difficulties in their relationship like adults. This is one of those rare romance novels where I didn’t feel that the drama was overblown, and that the conflict was legitimate, and the resolution was appropriate.

This was a great story and there are good times and bad times, and the ending was fabulous. WHEN SPARKS FLY is the first Helena Hunting novel I’ve read, and I now understand why Helena Hunting so popular. I’m definitely going to take the time to go and check out some of her other work. She has a new fan in me.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite romance tropes and I was so looking forward to this one. Declan and Avery have been best friends since college. They have been sharing a condo for a couple of years.

Declan is a playboy with numerous one-night stands. In fact he's so busy hooking up, he blows off going with Avery on a pre-arranged road trip. When she's seriously hurt in an accident, he's guilt written and insists on caring for her. With all this forced proximity, their relationship moves to another level with plenty of steam.

Declan was really hard to like. He acts like a jerk on several occasions. And while I realize his behavior and jealousy stem from his childhood, he was not my favorite. Lots of communication problems between all the characters and Avery wasn't immune to questionable decisions.

I enjoyed the dual point of view and how the author showed Declan going to therapy to work on his issues. This book did have a sweet epilogue so I'm rounding 2.5 up to 3. Thank you to the publisher for an e copy of this book.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is the perfect friends to lovers romance that will make you sigh while reading it. Avery has it all except love. After a car accident best friend and roommate Declan cares for her and, well, sparks fly! Of course there are misunderstandings and miscommunications but these are two very likeable people (though Declan was a bit reckless at the start but he more than redeems himself).The romance was sweet and the love scenes were...let's just say extremely satisfying to the reader. This was my first book by the author but I have already ordered Kiss My Cupcake - love and food- YES!

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Avery Spark and her family run Spark House, a hotel that specializes in setting up various events. Avery handles all of the activities since she is the really sporty one. She has also been living with her best friend, Declan McCormick for the last two years. Never once have these two thought of taking their relationship to the next level. That is until Avery gets in a car accident and Declan feels guilty because he was suppose to be with her. Now Avery needs someone to take care of her and Declan feels he needs to be the one to help ease his guilt. Of course the more these two really spend together, the more they both are seeing the other in a different light until they finally give in to their chemistry. Everything is going along wonderfully until a blast from both of their pasts comes back and manages to throw a wrench into the relationship. It will take a lot of looking inside for Avery and Declan to be able to find their way back to each other but they do so in a fun, entertaining way.

I just adored this sexy friends to lovers story. Avery and Declan have both wanted the other but never wanted to risk their friendship. I just loved Declan. He may have some commitment issues because of things in his past, but it just seemed that with Avery he became grounded. I really enjoyed Avery too. She was a fun, active woman who tended to hang out more with the guys. It was so entertaining what these two went through when Declan started having to take care of her. I just loved all the situations they went through....it kept me laughing out loud. Another great book by Helena Hunting.

Loved this best-friends-to-lovers romance!

”Seeing her in that dress messed with my head, and I started thinking about her in ways I don’t like.”

Avery Spark and Declan McCormick have been best friends for years and have been living together for a couple of years. Sure, they both acknowledge that the other is attractive, but their friendship is too precious to put at risk. However, one sexy black dress worn by Avery on a date night out and one reckless decision made by Declan result in a terrible accident, and Declan becomes Avery’s caregiver. The close proximity and forced intimacy results in a brewing attraction between them. Is it a good idea when Avery has been burnt in love and Declan is a commitment-phobe?

”She’s sweet and warm under my tongue. Addicting, Enthralling.”

I loved Avery and Declan’s journey from friends to lovers. It was humorous, sweet, sooo sexy, and angsty. Journey is the key word here as Avery puts her heart on the line after having it broken back in college. She took a chance on Declan, especially knowing his background. These two best friends risked everything as they crossed the line into lovers, especially as Declan had the biggest journey of all. He knew he wanted Avery, he knew what he was risking, but I loved that he made himself open and vulnerable to a relationship with her - with anyone, in fact - for the first time in his life. To be honest, he’s not always likeable in this story as his history has a lot to blame for his behaviour, but he totally redeemed himself towards the end of the story. I loved the way he wooed Avery back with his creativity and thoughtfulness. This was a fab story and totally ready for the next book in this series