When Sparks Fly is a slow burn, best friends to lovers, forced proximity romance.
Avery is one third of the Spark sisters, who run an event planning business at Spark House. I loved the dynamic between the three sisters, each one unique in their own way and I'm looking forward to reading each of the sisters stories. Avery and Declan have been best friends since college, bonding over their love of sports during a scavenger hunt in their co-ed dorms. Their relationship was great, you could really sense these two were two peas in a pod.

When Avery heads out on a date, Declan's behaviour gives a clue what perhaps he sees her more than just friends and gets jealous. He heads out on a night out, and picks up a girl to bring home to soothe his wounded ego. It was safe to say I was not a fan of Declan in this scene. He had promised to drive Avery to a sports game as it was over an hours drive, and due to Avery losing her parents in a car accident, she suffers with anxiety and panic attacks when driving far. Her car is in need of new tyres, hence the reason they were taking Declan's, but when she knocks on his door in the morning, he's all ruffled, with a naked hookup in his bed and left his car in town. I was absolutely livid for Avery, there was no way in hell I would have forgiven him for that considering he knew full well how her anxiety would be driving with worn tyres in the pouring rain - in the exact way her parents had died.

Declan calls her with his tail between his legs, and they talk whilst Avery has it on speaker phone. The entire scene with the accident, him hearing it happen whilst on the phone to her made me sad. You could really sense how important Avery is to Declan, despite the way he epically screwed up. Avery ends up in pretty bad shape, and needs round the clock care which Declan steps up to do. He is full of guilt (so he should be!) and takes incredible care of Avery. The forced proximity in this allows for their feelings to develop more, and you discover they both have had feelings for each other since college but have kept it locked deep down in the friend zone. Avery is an incredibly strong and independent woman, so throughout her recovery she struggles when she has to rely on others.

Declan has his reservations as he hasn't had the best example of healthy relationships due to his parents, and also he is worried about screwing up considering how important Avery is to him. You can tell he needs to work on his trust and relationship issues because they weren't going to go anywhere when the big green monster appeared constantly. He constantly deflected any conversation which regarded his feelings, and when we got to the part with Sam, Avery's ex boyfriend from college? Yikes. I wanted to bang their heads together and tell them to both grow up. Declan overreacted in such a momentous way I couldn't believe it was the same person, and Avery went running to a guy who cheated on her? I get that it was in a non-romantic sense but still. An ex comes calling, especially a cheating ex, you don't go!!


"Do you think the couch is made of quicksand? What If I become part of the couch?" The whole special brownies thing had me HOWLING with laughter.

As expected, they part ways. Avery moves out and Declan becomes a shell of himself. I would have liked to have read more in Declan's POV throughout him going to therapy and when he was working on his get-Avery-back plan, hence the drop to 3.5 from a 4. That's just my personal preference because I like to have a balance of POV rather than favouring one MC over the other. The scavenger hunt was super cute that he did.

"It's not just the way he makes me feel - so revered, the centre of his world- but the feelings he evokes in me. being with Declan is easy, like breathing"

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

This was a fun read - especially the very well done steamy parts. It was fun to watch as Avery & Declan crossed over from the 'best-friend zone' to something more. And I liked that the ride wasn't smooth, and that they both had demons to overcome. It made their story more believable, and the happily ever after that much more deserved.

I definitely recommend this book to all fans of romance.

Humor, heat and heart- that’s what can you expect from Helena Hunting’s newest story. Full of sweetness and heartwarming emotions, this friends/roommates to lovers romance ticks all the boxes when you’re in a mood for a light read with all the feels. When Sparks Fly delivers loads of entertainment, while still remaining a touching and uplifting story.

Forced proximity is my favorite trope and this book had plenty of it! Not only are our main characters best friends and roommates, but Declan becomes Avery's caregiver after her accident. This definitely created the perfect opportunity for the friendship lines to blur and for their relationship to change into something more.

While the conflict wasn't my favorite, this book did have a swoonworthy grand gesture that had me rooting for Avery and Declan. And I definitely want to read the upcoming books in this series to see who Avery's sisters end up with.

Thank you St. Martin's for the gifted book in exchange for an honest review!

4.5

All of Avery Spark's dreams have pretty much been fulfilled. She has her dream job of running the Spark House - a combination hotel and event space that has been in her family for years - she's worked very hard to make Spark one of the premier names in event planning. She works with her sisters. She's got a great group of friends, including best friend Declan whom Avery also lives with. If the only thing she's missing is love, than that's nothing.

Except, all of this comes crashing down when Avery is in a car accident leaving her immobile for weeks. Avery is not used to depending on others for help, but she has no choice. Luckily, Declan steps in, able to care for her. But as the weeks toil on, the lines between friend and caregiver and something more begin to blur.

Soon, Declan and Avery are dealing with feelings for one another they've barely given themselves time to acknowledge. Once they cross that line, there might be no going back, and the fate of their friendship and the life they've built around that friendship hangs in the balance.

This book just hooked me from page one. Finding those books that you immediately connect with is not a common occurrence. So when I happen to stumble across one, I just want to savor the moment.

When Sparks Fly is one of the best friends-to-lovers romances I've read in a long while. It hits all the right notes just perfectly between Avery and Declan highlighting their bond and offering up a good dose of undeniable chemistry to go along with it. I was rooting for them from the beginning, but I appreciated the build-up that we get along the way and how their budding romance is complicated by some other unacknowledged issues they each have on a personal level. It's not only a story about the journey to their relationship together. It's a story about how they can, if they can, individually commit to this relationship.

If anything, I would have loved a little more time spent expanding upon Avery and Declan from closer to when they met. We hear the stories of course, including an event that had a huge impact on both Avery and Declan, but I wanted to see a little bit more of where they started just to really hit home the depth of their friendship with one another. Don't get me wrong, it's clear, it's apparent, but I feel like going back to where things started - even just briefly in a prologue or something - could have made the distinction between friendship and romance that much more distinct. Would have raised the stakes between either embarking on the best relationship of your life or potentially ending the greatest friendship you've known.

As it stands, this is a book that I wanted to spend all day reading, and then when I finished wanted to spend the next day re-reading. It so lovingly highlights the important things in our lives, but also acknowledges the fear involved when you change the dynamic, and all our inborn insecurities, yet also following it up with a sense of excitement for the possibilities of what might be if that person feels the same for you.

This is the first book I've read by Helena Hunting, and I'm excited I get to go back and check out her previous books for the first time.

If you are a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope you will find everything to love about this one. I'm hoping there's a plan for Avery's sisters to get their own books. I'd love to get to see the sister dynamic play out some more for sure.

Wonderful new series from HH. Three sisters run an event business from an old hotel. Each sister has a unique talent for the business that keeps them successful. Avery and her best friend, Declan, own a condo together and have been friends since college. Everybody but the two of them can sense there is more between them. It takes a major life changing event to open their eyes. I absolutely loved their connection, emotionally and physically. There were many times I felt my heart hurt, or I cried and laughed, just because it seemed genuinely real. There’s something about her characters that pull you in. I loved this story and can’t wait to read the next one. I received my copy from Netgalley and wrote my review voluntarily.

REVIEW: When Sparks Fly by @helenahunting ✨😍💛

It’s time for another #unitedbyromcomsfeature and it’s a fun one this month, friends! ❤️ Thank you to Helena and @stmartinspress for the arc in exchange for an honest review. 😊

Helena Hunting was a new to me author when I started my bookstagram a few years ago, but now I just love all the books I’ve read by her. This one was no exception!

I’m going to try something different and write a short 3-sentence summary, so here goes!

BLURB: Avery Spark, an event planner at the Spark House event venue, gets into a serious car accident where she suffers many injuries. Her best friend and roommate, Declan, nurses her back to health. With the two spending so much time together, their chemistry builds and they find themselves falling for each other HARD.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the honest conversations about mental health, as well as how Declan’s backstory was described. Both Declan and Avery had things to work through, and the way the two of them grew through the story was beautiful. I also swooned at that ending 😍😍😍 it was perfect!

When Sparks Fly releases on 9/21! ✨

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

#whensparksfly #unitedbyromcoms #helenahunting #indieauthor #kindleunlimited #romancebooks #romancereader #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #booklover #bookish #romancereadersofinstagram

ONE OF MY FAVORITE READS OF 2021! Avery and Declan are two best friend that share an apartment together. Both of them have their own lives with Avery has the co-owner of Spark House which is runner with her sister and Declan as an accountant. One day Avery gets into a car accident which leaves Declan to take care of her but the more time they spend together, the more they realize they care for each other.

This is one of my favorite rom-coms of 2021. I haven’t read anything like this before. It’s hilarious, emotional, has sisterly and best friend bonds plus those steamy scenes. When I picked up this book, I knew I was going to love it. I think it was because of the summary and I heard great things about the author. The writing was well done for this book with great pacing, setting, characters and conflicts. I had no problems with the writing and the thought it was well done.

For the character, I loved all of them. Avery is a sweet woman who loves sports and working at her job with her sisters also Declan is the same but without the sisters. I enjoyed both of the characters and reading the book from their POVs. They were very fun and had great character developments. I enjoyed those special moment scenes and this book also those steamy scenes which I have to say are a 4/5 level of steaminess. Then there are the side characters who I really enjoyed and were involved in the story. The characters were very well written and I will be missing them.

This book has an AMAZING ending and left me in awe. This is one of those books that I will be rereading when I’m down or just need a comfy read. I think this is my second rom com book that I have read and this one just made me realize I need to read more! I had no problems with this book as you can see and will be reading more of Helena’s books. I recommend it to fans of romcoms or anyone in a mood for a cozy read.
*this e-arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

So I've read two books by this author before and really enjoyed them, but...what was this? First of all, I'm really starting to get annoyed with romance novels that have happy/pretty covers like this, but the story inside doesn't match up at all. My god, the car accident stuff alone was HEAVY. Like seriously, if you've ever been in an accident, there's a high chance you could be triggered by this book.

Then there's our "hero" Declan. What a piece of trash this man is. At least he grovels for what he did to Avery at the beginning, but at about the 50% mark, things go downhill very fast. He has numerous jealous and immature moments that are a no for me. Then he starts tracking her phone and straight up violating her privacy. I just think Avery deserved so much better than this trash man. ugh.

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

Avery and Declan have been friends since college and roommates and soccer teammates as well. They have always just been in the friend zone.

Avery loves running Spark House event hotel with her sisters. She is sassy, outgoing, and a bit of a tomboy. Declan is a responsible businessman and a good friend to her. He does not do relationships and is a sex-only kind of guy. He has always been there for her, but when he lets her down one time, something terrible happens. He feels so much guilt and remorse that he is determined to do whatever he has to in order to help her recover.

Now they are in close quarters, completing activities that are more up close and personal, and for some reason, there are little sparks that have not been noticed before. Now they find themselves in unfamiliar territory that has the potential to derail their friendship and home life.

When things heat up even further there is danger of feelings getting in the way. But Deck is afraid of relationships and neither wants to ruin their friendship.

This is a slow burn, gradual building of friends-to-lovers-to-more romance with humor and heart. Some of the events at the hotel made me giggle. I liked both Avery and Deck and they had a great bond and relationship before things started to change. But there are some errors in judgment, as well as underlying issues, history, and triggers lurking under the surface. Even when I totally wanted to shake sense into one of them, I was still rooting for them to make it work.

They have a fun shared friend group with Jerome, Mark, and her sisters Harley and London. I liked how they looked out for each other. I would be interested in more of their stories.

Avery hasn't had the easiest past but she's at a great place in her life. She runs her family's hotel/event space with her sisters, she has wonderful friends, and she lives with her best friend Declan. When Avery ends up in a terrible car accident, it's up to Declan to step up and take care of her. But will that finally lead to something more between them?

This is such a fun friends to lovers romance but I think I'm in the minority here because I liked it but I just didn't love it!

Things I Liked:
-Avery and Declan's solid friendship plus the other guys too
-The crazy events the hotel hosted always had me laughing
-The relationship between the sisters
-Healing from past trauma

Things I Didn't Like:
-The first part of the book got a little repetitive after the accident
-The manner in which Avery and Declan got together. It felt really weird to me.
-Declan really annoyed me at times

So, did I love this book? No. Is it worth the read if you like Helena Hunting, friends to lovers, and sisters? Absolutely!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my eARC of this book.

Thank you @smpromance for sending us copies of When Sparks Fly. It’s out next Tuesday, September 21st!

What I Loved:
⚡️ This is a true friends to lovers book. And then throw in some forced proximity! Perfection
⚡️ Avery, our heroine, has trauma to heal from and Hunting does a great job writing that healing process.
⚡️ Declan, our hero, is not the most like able guy. But he definitely grows on you. And by the end, you realize he is absolutely perfect for Avery.
⚡️ The steam. It’s wonderful.

Cannot wait for Starry-Eyed Love, the next book in the Sparks sisters series (out in May 2022).

This is a fun friends to lovers story. Avery and Declan had a solid friendship foundation and neither understood their attraction to the other. But, when thrown together due to unforeseen circumstances, those sparks did indeed begin to fly. I really enjoyed watching them come to terms with their feels but I think that I loved their individual struggles even more. Declan's guilt at being part of Avery's pain was palpable. His desire to do all he could for her was heartwarming. And his ultimate realization that she was everything he never thought he needed was handled with care by the author. Both of these characters brought lots of baggage to the party but as the story unfolded, they gave each other the space to figure out what was meaningful and important to them not just as a couple but also as individuals. And, to me, that's the secret sauce in this story...the fact that, although important, the romance wasn't the only thing. I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well and the depth they brought to the book. Overall, this is more than a friends to lovers story - it's a tale of taking your time to do what's right for you even if it's inevitable. Really fun read!

I adore the friends to lovers and forced proximity tropes but sadly this book just didn't work for me. I didn't like Declan's actions at the beginning of the book and it was hard to forgive him. Avery's parents died in a car crash and she has a fear of driving. She forces herself to get behind the wheel and drive after her roommate Declan blows her off even though he knows her tires aren't good and she gets anxious about long drives on the highway. Avery ends up in a pretty bad car accident on page, which can be triggering for people to read so beware of that. Declan feels guilty and decides to take care of her to make up for it. I liked that Declan took care of Avery and I appreciate that he did a lot of groveling. The transition from friends to more happened too fast, the plot dragged a lot and the third act conflict turned Declan back into a jerk. I did like that the story prioritizes mental health.

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a cute rom com, I listened to the audio version and the narrators were great- they truly helped make the story come alive. The characters were likable, the plot was good and the dialogue was believable. It was an easy book to keep interested in and fun to read.

This book was beautifully perfect and vulnerable. It certainly hit me in all the feels! It made me laugh, it made me cry, and made me ridiculously happy. Avery and Declan’s story is one I know I’ll revisit time and time again because it is so special and heartfelt. Their story is one of friendship, heartbreak, love and soul deep bonds. They showed that no one is perfect, but that there is someone out there perfect for you. That there is someone who will be with you through the ups and downs, thick and thin.

What I loved the most was that Avery and Declan spent years developing a deep and strong friendship. They built a foundation that endured so much. They saw each other at their best and their worst and still adored each other. Their friendship, and then their romantic relationship, was truly stunning and inspiring, raw and completely real.

This book moved me in so many ways. I can’t quite put it into words. But it is most certainly one of my favorite books to date! Avery and Declan will always hold a special place 🖤

A friends to lovers romance with a little added forced proximity. After Avery gets into an accident, Declan offers to become her caregiver as he feels it’s his fault she was in the accident in the first place. Even closer quarters in their already shared condo being together some interesting events and bring to light the couple’s true feelings.

This was such a fun, binge able story focusing on grief, forgiveness and loyalty. Avery and Declan had great chemistry and I feel like there was a lot of focus on the small every day things between them which I really liked.

I loved learning more about Avery’s job and seeing how passionate she was about it. As a former event planner, I was so intrigued by that aspect of the story and reading the details behind it.

Great for fans of Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating, The Cheat Sheet, My Favorite Half Night Stand and Crazy Stupid Bromance.

When Sparks Fly is everything I wanted it to be and then some. This book you will not want to put down. It is a laugh out loud feel good book around best friends and roommates Avery and Declan. I love their banter and how close they are. There is just something so special about Avery and Declan that will make you fall hard for them. Avery is a spitfire, athlete and helps run the family event/hotel business. Declan is an overall great guy and a finance guy. I love the pull you get once Declan starts helping Avery with her recovery. I love that you get these two somewhat broken souls that come together into something beautiful and magical. They just fit and make so much sense. I really loved these two and how they push themselves to be better. I could not get enough of this one. I cannot wait to see what Helena Hunting comes up with next. She is one of those go to authors for me and just always delivers everything I could want and more when it comes to her words. Go one click this one.

I loved this book so much, so sweet, sexy and emotional, a perfect friends to lovers romance, it made me swooned so hard, it made me sigh and laugh and smile, it is absolutely amazing.

Declan and Avery have been best friends for several years and housemates, after an accident that leaves Avery immobilized Declan begins to be her caretaker, and the hidden attraction they feel for each other begins to blossom and sparks fly between them, the slow burn romance was deliciously hot, their electrifying chemistry jumped off the pages.

Declan is absolutely perfect, he is so loyal and loving and takes care of Avery in such a sweet and dedicated way, I loved him, also I loved the way Mrs. Hunting narrates the development of the relationship, and little by little they are consumed for those feelings.

This is an addictive and sweet story that will captivate you and make you feel a swarm of butterflies in your stomach, definitely highly recommended to those who love sweet and sexy romcom.

Incredibly sweet. The relationship pulled me in and had me rooting for the two of them.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin and Helena Hunting. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own.