Ugh…I hate to write this…but I DNFd this one. I liked the main characters, but the story wasn’t holding me enough to finish it. Maybe I’ll come back to it eventually as I love Helena Huntings work!

This one is a contemporary friends-to-lovers trope.

Avery and Declan have been besties since college and now have bought a condo together as roomies. When Avery is injured in an accident which Declan blames himself for, he takes on caregiver duty until she’s back on her feet. Things progress, and they fear it could ruin their friendship.

Mixed thoughts here. While I did enjoy their friendship and seeing Declan’s growth in seeking help for trust issues, I found his beginning as “God’s gift” and his initial teenage behavior off putting. Plus the way they moved into “more” was a bit icky and awkwardly uncomfortable for me and to be honest frankly unbelievable. The friendship shifts into “more” in 0 to 60 and was somewhat jarring for me. In the end this was an OK read but not exceptionally so. Be aware there’s lots of steaminess in this one.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsGriffin for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

3.5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. There were moments I liked but unfortunately there were parts of this book that fell flat for me. The pace and plot just didn't hit the mark. I have read this author plenty of times and enjoyed all those other books which is why I didn't hesitate to read this one. But it almost felt like a different author wrote it. Both the H/h frustrated me too often. And don't even let me get started on my true feelings about Declan. To be honest, if I had this man in my life, I'd be concerned whether or not he was all in. I should tell you that there were enough moments with secondary characters that helped me to overall give this book a 3.5 rating. So, I didn't hate it; I just wish the author was able let me experience the connection I expected.

One aspect of romance for me that is a hard no is when there are other woman/other men intimacy on the pages before our MCs get together. I don't want to hear about that. And in this case, I wasn't a fan of Declan as a result. Even at the very end, I didn't have that sigh-worthy moment. Something was missing.

To sum it up, this review is what it is because of my reading preferences; you should decide on your own, especially if you are a Helena Hunting fan, if you'll read it. Not every book I read is a five or even a four star. As I said, I didn't hate this book but I will admit that I'm still considering if I will read the rest of the Spark sister's books when they become available. At some point, because I am a fan of this author, I think I'd like to do a reread and see if my feelings change.

While I received an advanced reading copy of When Sparks Fly,this is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

There's something completely bingeable about Helena's writing. She sucks me in with her prose and before I know it, half the book is gone.
Helena make me laugh and cringe and root for her characters. In this case, the LI is a total douchecanoe right out the gate. (Potential spoiler ahead!) In general, I've not enjoyed a character with his need to philander on page to get over feelings for someone else. I prefer it to be more in the past so I can focus on the relationship developing. But, in this case, it does add to the drama of the story.
Avery and Declan are best friends with quite a big of baggage they're both carting around. After she gets into a car accident, Avery is dependent on Declan's help during her recovery process, bringing up old wounds to compound the trauma.
I'm hoping Avery's sisters will get their own books but also would enjoy seeing stories for Mark and Jerome. The supporting cast added some much needed humor and validation of the MC's narrative.
Steam: High octane chemistry and on page.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

When friends turn up the heat!

One of the most heartbreaking friends-to-lovers books I've ever read, this one will punch you right in the gut before all the work is done. Avery and Declan have been friends for years, a friendship that survived her boyfriend (his best friend) cheating on her and breaking up their entire friend group. Now roommates, Declan feels resp0nsible when Avery is injured in a car accident so he steps up to provide all the in-home care she needs. All of it.

All the friends-to-lovers tension is here, as well as some forced-proximity as Avery works to heal physically and to get over the psychological impact of the accident. But Declan has some baggage of his own to work through, an issue that becomes unavoidably obvious when an innocent blast from the past unearths a lifetime of insecurities.

The writing flawlessly takes us through all the highs and lows, giving us both points of view and ensuring that even when we disagree with the characters' actions, we completely understand and sympathize with their motivations.

After a gut-wrenching journey of the heart, Declan and Avery arrive at a very satisfying HEA. I loved reading about their friends and Avery's sisters, and hope that at least a few of them will be showcased in future stories. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Very cute with good dialogue and compelling characters. Everyone has issues and faults, and I love that the author doesn’t gloss them over - it makes her characters all the more relatable. I don’t know if this is the start of a series or not, but I’m curious to know where the heroine’s sisters go from here…

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

When I read the blurb for When Sparks Fly, I knew that I needed to read it, one reason is that I love reading contemporary romances, and the other reason is that I have heard nothing but good things about Helena Hunting. I am glad that I read this book. It was what I needed to read.

I like the friends-to-lovers trope but feel that it is overused in romance novels. So I did go into reading the book thinking that When Sparks Fly would be typical in that regard. It isn’t. Declan and Avery’s slide into romance was one of the more natural romances that I have read in a while.

The plotline for When Sparks Fly was medium-paced. There was no lag in the book, and it was very well written.

I liked Avery. She had me laughing with her observations on life and Declan. I liked that she wasn’t portrayed as a shrinking violet. She wasn’t afraid to call Declan out on his stuff (like his extracurriculars). She did have her flaws, and they were on display in the book. But they were nothing compared to Declan’s.

Let’s talk about Declan. He was a freaking mess for 90% of the book. His childhood was less than ideal, and in turn, it turned him into a commitment-phobe adult who ran from his problems. But that didn’t excuse how he treated Avery during the last half of the book, though. He was a real douche canoe. But I did like him. The author didn’t make him perfect and chose to highlight his mental health issues.

The romance angle of When Sparks Fly was sweet. I loved seeing both realize that they were in love with the other person. It was a considerable whammy for Declan since he was using Avery’s relationship with his ex-best friend as a reason why he shouldn’t get with her. I loved seeing him realize that Avery was his person.

The sex scenes were hot in When Sparks Fly. I did giggle when Declan caught Avery masturbating. And I wasn’t surprised with how it ended up. I was a little “eh” when Avery told her sisters about it, though. I wouldn’t say I like kissing and telling (or, in this case: getting help with masturbating and telling).

I did like how mental health was portrayed in When Sparks Fly. Declan had some serious issues from his childhood that needed to be resolved before moving forward with any relationship. While I didn’t see his breakdown coming, I wasn’t surprised by it. But, I liked how his friends (and Avery) supported him. Having him going to therapy was a huge plus. I also like that his issues didn’t magically go away at the end of the book. Getting help was huge but Avery supporting him (and participating in the therapy) was even more significant.

The end of When Sparks Fly was sweet. And at the very end, it was perfect!! I did a lot of “Awww, so sweet” to myself as I was reading.

I would recommend When Sparks Fly to anyone over the age of 21. There is graphic sex, language, and mild violence.

This was an interesting book that I enjoyed reading. It's cute, had some good chemistry and I of course love a good friends to lovers. There are bumps in the road for their relationship and both have some pretty big obstacles to overcome, but once they do your heart will melt. I found a few parts lacking and Declan's character was pretty out there at some points that made me upset. Overall, it's a fun, sweet read!

Interesting and great story.

I liked the flow and the characters. There was a great amount of conflict and interest to keep page turning.

Attractive title and cover.

Recommend.

Was a good book. Not my favorite by Hunting, but a good read. Outside of the synopsis, which does a pretty decent job getting the highlights, there was heat, friendship, misunderstandings, family love, and family drama. Declan has some issues that he needs to get resolved to be in a committed relationship. So wasn’t surprised to see him behave the way he did. Was proud of Avery for standing true to herself.

Curious about Avery’s sisters and Declan and Avery’s best friends.

Friends to lovers stories can go a couple different ways, but one thing I like about them, is the emotions start off already at such a deep level. This book hit me in my feelings a few times. I mean, it kind of had a more serious vibe to it. Avery's accident, recovery, and the moments leading to it were hard. Declan is her best friend turned caretaker, turned more. I like their genuine care for each other, their supportive and honest friends, and the real conversations. I enjoyed the side characters in that way you always hope they get their own story. And I love how Declan will about bend over backwards for her, and how she can admit when she's wrong, and then try to fix it. Oh and the end is so swoony, a bit over the top, and I loved every second of it!

This is the story of 3 sisters trying to run a business together. Avery lives with her best friend Declan and the extent of her personal life revolves around the get together with their friends. Avery is in accident that causes her and Declan to become much much closer. This is a true friends to lovers romance. In true Helena fashion there is lots of humor!! I can’t wait to read more about the Sparks girls in the future!

I started this book on a plane ride, completely forgetting what the synopsis was and just remembering that it was a romance. I enjoyed the book in the beginning but about halfway through got very annoyed with the characters and it lost a lot for me.

Avery and Declan are best friends who live together. They’re supposed to drive together to their alumni association but Declan screws up and backs out at the last minute, leaving Avery to drive herself. On the way, she gets into a very bad car accident, leaving her unable to take care of herself. As Declan turns from best friend to caregiver, they start to cross the line into something more.

Since I had forgotten what this book was about, I was taken aback but the car crash at the beginning. Avery gets herself injured pretty badly. Declan immediately feels guilty and volunteers to take care of her. Their attraction sparks pretty quickly and I wasn’t a huge fan of what finally made them cross the line. It felt more awkward and embarrassing to me than romantic.

I also ended up getting very annoyed with Avery’s sister London. Avery and her two sisters run a B&B/Event business that is struggling a little bit. Apparently, Avery had a deal in progress with the Alumni Association but then when she got injured they backed out. As a result, London tries to get another company to sponsor their business but then Avery, while she’s injured, messes that one up too. London, obviously, gets very upset but then she basically yells at Avery and accuses her of doing nothing and that everyone is pandering to her. Like what? The girl has a broken arm, a broken leg, and rib fractures and it hasn’t even been 6 weeks! And also Avery has been wanting to come back to work since day 1 but everyone is telling her to take it slowly. Irritated the heck out of me.

Add that to the constant whining of Declan about how he’s never been a relationship before and he’s going to mess everything up and by the middle of the book I was just over it. The big conflict came about in a slightly unexpected way. Like, I knew their relationship was going to implode but seeing what was the igniting factor was interesting.

Not one of my favorite romance novels. I liked Avery and Declan together when they were friends but would’ve preferred more of a slow burn build to them finally connecting. I also did like the way they resolved their conflict in the end, but it took a little while and again, came off a bit whiney. I think maybe the writing just didn’t work for me? I’m not quite sure, but either way there are other contemporary romances that I love much much more.

This one was just okay for me. It's an absolutely serviceable friends to lovers romance. The problem is that neither of the leads connected for me, their romance seemed disingenuous and lacked that zing. Declan is not the hero I enjoy reading. He doesn't know what he wants, jumps to wild conclusions and behaves like a spoiled teenager much of the time. I finished this, because it was fine. I'm sure other readers will quite enjoy this book especially if friends to lovers, and/or miscommunication tropes are some of their preferred themes. I just expected to like this more, and when it didn't connect for me, everything fell flat.

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a friends-to-lovers romance, a trope that happens to be one of my favorites. Plus, it's Helena Hunting, who also happens to be one of my favorites.

I enjoyed many things about this book. The relationship between Avery and her sisters was one of my favorite things, as was the relationship between Avery and her guy friends. I also liked the reading about the running of Spark House and the different events and retreats they hosted; it sounded really interesting.

Avery and Declan's friendship was also very sweet and solid. I loved that they had a great foundation of friendship.

However, there were some things I struggled with, which knocked my rating down a bit. Declan's actions at the beginning of the book that contributed in a way to Avery's accident were a turn off for me (although I did eventually get over it). I also didn't like how that his actions somewhat led to the accident, and he felt such guilt over it. The accident could have happened regardless (with him being injured or worse as well), and the guilt Declan suffered from almost made it seem like the only reason he helped Avery out after the accident even though we know that's not the case.

The story itself started to drag a little for me. I was ready to get to the conflict you know needs to happen, and it wasn't going anywhere. Also, I know Declan had a lot of emotional and relationship insecurities to work through, but I was getting tired of him reflecting on them and not doing anything about it.

Then the conflict itself was kind of startling. Declan completely lost it. Refer back to his emotional and relationship insecurities, but holy bananas, it was a lot. I did not like how he acted during or after the conflict AT ALL, and I was wondering how the resolution would come about because there was not much time for it to happen.

I both liked and didn't like the ending as Avery and Declan healed and rebuilt their friendship. In general, I liked how everything came about, but the timing felt off. A lot happened in a relatively small amount of book space (but over months of time in the story), and while I understand why it happened that way, I also wished it had somehow been done differently.

I'm really hoping for stories for both London and Harley.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.***

This was a sweet friends to lovers book. It was a bit different than many of Helena Hunting’s other books since it was less of a rom com, but it was a good story. Declan and Avery have been best friends since college. It takes Avery being hurt in a car accident for them to start to see each other differently. I enjoyed how their relationship seemed very real and with real problems that they had to work through to get to their HEA. I enjoyed that this story showed the trials and tribulations of a real relationship. It also had some of the classic Helena Hunting comedy thought out it. Definitely worth the read.

Avery and Declan are best friends who live together in a condo they co-own. When Avery gets hurt in an accident, Declan blames himself and vows to take care of Avery’s every need, which leads to them talking their relationship to a whole new level. But Declan’s wounds from his broken family make him struggle to trust her once she regains her mobility.

The story world is populated with interesting characters from Avery’s sisters to her and Declan’s buddies. As I wanted more of these secondary characters, I’m hoping Hunting turns this into a series.

I would have liked a little more conflict before the incident that results in their break up. At times, Declan seemed a bit too perfect, seeming to turn into a completely different person when he became jealous. While I prefer the enemies-to-lovers trope to friends-to-lovers, I enjoyed this book. I especially liked Avery’s kindness toward her sisters and support of their extracurricular interests as well as the inherited business, Spark House, that they co-run. The various events at Spark House added a ton of fun.

The close friendship between Declan and Avery is nicely developed before things get steamy. The grand gesture is nothing short of epic, and the epilogue ties a nice bow on their happily ever after.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and St, Martin’s Griffin, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

This friends to lovers story follows Avery and Declan. Friends since college and now roommates, the two have always been close but never crossed the line. Avery has a great life running Spark House, a hotel/event space with her two sisters and spending her free time with Declan and their friends. However, that all comes to a halt when Avery is in a car accident and ends up needing care around the clock. Declan steps up to the challenge and goes above and beyond to help Avery as much as he can. Spending every day together sparks a long-held flame in both of them. However, their relationship isn't as solid as they might think and just as Avery is getting back on her feet, it all comes tumbling down. I really enjoyed this story and how great Avery and Declan are with each other. Their friendship is really established on the page before any hint of romance comes up. I also loved how attentive and caring Declan was to Avery, even when she was getting frustrated with him having to help her with everything. I really loved the slow burn chemistry between them and how carefully both of them acted because they didn't want to give up their friendship. We do see a little bit of their flaws earlier on in the book, but I do wish we had gotten a little more of a ramp-up to the act 3 break up considering how big and explosive that ended up being. It felt a bit out of left field, especially given how solid Avery and Declan's friendship and relationship were up to that point. Thankfully a big blow up like that didn't go unchecked and it was therapy and lots of time to the rescue for this couple. I really loved the positive therapy aspect both for individual therapy as well as couple therapy. This was a super cute read and I really hope Avery's sisters get their own books in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for review. Expected publication date is September 21, 2021.

Avery Spark and Declan are roommates and best friends since college. They both try to bury their feelings for each other in fear that anything beyond friendship may end up breaking them apart. A bad car accident leaves Avery dependent on others for her normal daily activities, and as an active athlete, this frustrates her beyond words. With Declan sharing the same condo, Avery has no choice but to accept his offer to take care of her. And the close proximity forces them to be more intimate than they've ever been...

I got quite mad at Declan at the beginning (his role in Avery's accident) and toward the end of the book (his trust issues and insecurities from his childhood), but he did grovel hard for both disasters. Seeing him take great care of Avery during her recovery and make important changes to himself at the end did soothe my anger. I like his taking a slow approach to get back to Avery as both need to be ready to build a healthy relationship together. I think the ending is very sweet and emotional, and it shows a good character arc for Declan.

*Special thanks to St. Martin's Press Romance for gifting me this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

-Release date: September 21, 2021-

This is a wonderful friends-to-lovers romance that focuses on Avery Spark and her best friend, Declan. They have been best friends since college and just have never crossed the line into anything more. Avery is a nose-to-grindstone worker who wants her grandma's event center to flourish and doesn't really seem to have time for much else. Her dating life is non-existent, but she is surrounded by a wonderful cast of two sisters and lots of friends.

Declan and Avery have a case of bad timing in college when she ends up dating one of Declan's best friends, who put him in the forever friend zone. Avery experiences an accident that results in her taking time off from the speed of everyday life. The story focuses on the growth Avery experiences as she is forced to slow things down and see the world a bit differently. Hunting writes these two characters with such natural grace that every progression their relationship takes in the book is unrushed and natural as Declan and Avery find a way to take their friendship into more. I love how the story flows along with the growth of Avery as she realizes it is OK to take a step back and slow down, but also that it is important to check in on those around us.