4.5🌟

This story is what I would call a realistic romance because it felt very real and authentic like it could actually happen to someone I know. Hunting’s writing has developed with diversity in that we all know she can write a fabulous romcom, plus now I feel she can deliver a great contemporary romance with wit and emotion that takes me on a journey and has me falling for the main characters.

Avery and Declan met in college, and even though both had an attraction for the other, nothing was said between them as the timing wasn’t right. They were extremely compatible with similar interests in sports, crosswords and movies which bought about them being best friends and then roommates after graduating. Avery’s worst nightmare happens when she has a car accident and is immobile for weeks and Declan is compelled to be there for her 24/7.

Relationships are about give and take, and unfortunately Declan didn’t have any good role models with his parents. To him, once love enters the equation, couples use that advantage to seek revenge and hurt. Avery though knew what a good relationship could be like even though her parents had past years before. When these two spend more and more time together, they understand the attraction isn’t just lust. Avery needs help to do the simplest of things, and Declan always puts her first, so when she has an itch that desperately needs scratching, he’s only too happy to lend a hand.

I loved this couple. I loved their dynamic and how they processed things. I got why Declan was upset and lost it. I also felt for Avery being on the receiving end of his hurt. I appreciated the effort they took to heal and revisit what could be an amazing life together. It may have taken some time but Declan always knew that Avery was his best friend, his soulmate, his everything. The epilogue was super sweet, and something I would have enjoyed doing myself. This is a standalone novel, but who knows, we could be heading back to Sparks House as Avery has two sisters that deserve their own happy ending too.

I really enjoyed this book up until the last 10% when the hero flipped. I felt like we didn't know enough about his backstory to justify everything he did. Most of the book was adorable though. I really enjoyed the sisters relationship and work. The romance was a nice build and I thought it was going to be a more believable friends to lovers trope but then apparently they had been in love with each other from the beginning which made no sense. Overall this was a fun read though

This book was so good! It had a great romance and great characters. I loved the chemistry between the characters and every single page. I cannot wait to read more books by this author,

A fun friends to lovers story. Declan and Avery have been friends since college and share a condo together. Everything is in the friend-zone until Avery is in a bad car crash. She has a broken arm and a leg cast up to her thigh. Declan feels responsible for the accident since he was supposed to be driving. To atone he decides to work from home so he can take care of her. It works out fine until she needs a different sort of "taking care of".
While the two have always kept things to being friends in truth they truly love each other and maybe this is just the push to get them to finally admit it to themselves. Their pasts sometimes come between them to try to keep them separate but love eventually will in out.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this friends to lovers storyline. Declan and Avery’s chemistry is electric. This one grabs you from the beginning and holds you until the end.

Helena Hunting always knows how to write a romance novel that makes you want to spread the day reading, not putting down the book until you are finished. For me, she accomplished that with When Sparks Fly.

This best friends to lovers novel is about Avery and Declan. They met the beginning of college, quickly became best friends, roommates after graduating and have always been a constant in the others life. After a car crash forces both of them to examine their feelings for each other, they both have to decide if it is worth it to take their relationship to the next level and see if they can make it work.

Although predictable, especially given the number of times Declan’s parents, and previous lack of relationships was mentioned I was not surprised by what happened. I still found myself cheering them on and hanging in to see what would happen. I did love Avery and Declan’s chemistry from the beginning. You could always tell there was more than just a great foundation of friendship there, we were just waiting for them to see it themselves.

I love friends to lovers romances and Helena Hunting made this one really enjoyable! I absolutely loved the friendship between Avery and Declan, their nonstop banter and ribbing are some of my favorite aspects of this trope… it makes it so much easier to believe a transition from friends to lovers. There were moments when I scoffed, amazed that it took them so long to realize their feelings for each other (especially while living together) because it seemed too obvious but I loved the natural journey this story took. Declan become the caregiver flipped a switch for him and Avery, so much of their relationship was mixed with attraction and chemistry. I loved the tension filled moments from just hanging out, back massages and the sexy shower scenes! As with all romances, there was drama towards the end but I loved how Helena Hunting dealt with it. There was no ‘I love you’ that fixed things instantly, they took the time to heal individually before taking steps to slowly gain back each other’s trust again. This couple and their book just left me feeling happy; there were great friendships, amazing sister bonds, chemistry, steam, frustration, total lack of communication, hope and growth.

Helena Hunting has been an automatic one click author for me for years because she never disappoints! When Sparks Fly was no different and had the perfect amount of sweet and angst! Watching a best friends relationship evolve and grow into something different had me turning pages until the very end! Loved this book.

When Sparks Fly is a fun friends to lovers romance about two friends who never wanted to cross the line from friend to lover, even though they are each other's best friends and to boot, are roommates.

Avery and Declan live in Colorado Springs, Colorado - they've been friends through college and though sparks do fly, they ignore them in order to maintain their safe friendship. While Avery may go on a date or two, nothing ever comes to fruition. Declan, on the other hand, is the king of one night stands.

But when a string of unfortunate events occurs and Avery ends up in a severe car accident, Declan steps up and insists on taking care of Avery, as he had let her down in the past.

Of course lines get blurred, the relationship becomes more physically intense, and emotionally and physically, Declan and Avery are headed down either a complete disaster or their happily ever after.

The book is fun, though I wasn't completely enthralled. I actually couldn't really get into the relationship until the second half of the book. Not sure if it's because it felt disjointed, or because the story was predictable. But there is definitely chemistry toward the second half and Declan redeems himself a bit more.

It's not my favorite of Helena Huntings, but it's still worth a read.

When Sparks Fly is friends to lovers with a twist. When Avery gets injured in a car accident, her bff/roommate Declan steps up to take care of her during her recovery. And he does...take care of her...

This was a fine read, but I didn't really identify or like either of the two main characters so it was harder for me to love.

Declan and Avery's story was hilarious and emotional. I just love Helena Hunting's stories and can't get enough of the chemistry, banter and fun storylines. Overall this was a win! 4 stars!

Declan and Avery have been BEST FRIENDS since there college days, they had classes together, played sports together and now after college they are LIVING together !! She is focused on her work at her families resort destination, Spark House with her two sisters, she is happy BUT loveless .. or so she says ….

Avery has a big presentation to show to her college soccer team but it is a trip and she isn’t a fan of driving .. in the rain .. since her parents were killed in a car accident, so Declan volunteers to take her because he would do anything for Avery. Yes they have been friends for years BUT something deep down in his heart is saying he needs and wants her in a different form other than friends BUT he doesn’t want to ruin there friendship.

So when Avery goes by herself to the presentation because Declan being Declan does something really really stupid something happens that will change BOTH of there lives !!

Can Declan make up for his stupid mistake and can Avery forgive him OR will Sparks Fly because they are together 24/7 and they both realize they are and have been more than friends for years ??

I love this book .. Declan’s transformation after the accident, the way he takes care of Avery will let your heart and all she needed was an eye opener to see what they could have together. So enchanting !!

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book as it had a ton of my favourite tropes— friends to lovers, roommates, one of them is injured and the other takes care of them— to name a few so this had a ton of potential to be a new favourite romance book.

But unfortunately, it just ended up falling flat for me. It grew to be super repetitive, I swear I read the same paragraphs multiple times throughout the book to the point that it was getting frustrating and my enjoyment was waning.

I also just grew super annoyed at the characters and the way they were acting especially towards our main character. Often, she’d defend herself and then everyone else around her made her out to be the bad guy when she really wasn’t. I was glad some of those instances were addressed by the end but it still took away from me loving this book.

So, overall, this just didn’t end up being a book that I could fall in love with. But if you’re into any of the tropes above and want to give this one a shot, definitely do so!!

2/5⭐️

TW: death of parents, car crash, blood, surgery, cheating (not between the main characters)

It's been a while since I last read a Helena Hunting book, so I thought, why not? I enjoyed this one for the most part, but there were some things that bugged me and made me deduct a star since they were close to crossing the line for me.

Declan's actions with other women was one that rubbed me wrong. He doesn't 'cheat' on the heroine per se, but it kind of feels like a betrayal of sorts because of how it happens. When Avery goes on a date, Declan goes out, hooks up with a random woman in the apartment he shares with Avery, out of jealously, of course. The problem is that because of that scene, Avery ends up in a bad car accident and she wasn't even supposed to be driving, Declan was, but he let her down by getting drunk, hooking up and leaving his car across town. I get they weren't a couple, but it still comes off cheater-ish when he had feelings for her and she for him (they don't figure that out until later on though). Then there's the scene with the co-workers he has over after his fight with Avery and the female co-worker who is obviously trying to get in his pants knowing Avery is someone special to Declan. He did nothing to dissuade that. Again, not cheating since they were technically broken up, but it was still wrong nonetheless and gets close to my hard limit of no cheating.

Declan feels he is responsible for Avery's car accident that left her with a broken leg and arm. So he does everything he can to make her comfortable, happy and healthy. It's a little overbearing, but cute and sweet at the same time. I had to admire his dedication, even if the guilt complex became a bit too much.

Avery was the tomboy type of character that I can relate with, so I liked her a lot. The crossing the line with her best friend part seemed a bit forced to me, but I grew to accept it. I liked how cute she and Declan were as a couple, I just wish we had gotten more of them as a couple out in public instead of always at their home keeping things a secret.

Declan blows up big time towards the end of the book and it was utterly frustrating to say the least. He makes a huge deal out of something that isn't and came to the completely wrong conclusions without giving Avery any chance to explain things. At least he sees he has an issue and goes to counseling, but it was hard to forgive him for a while there since he became the complete opposite person he was throughout Avery's recovery.

The last chapter and epilogue were pretty great. I loved the scavenger hunt and then the proposal at the end. It showed Declan was really a sweetheart who was willing to go the extra mile to show his lady that shew as special and that he loved her.

Oh goodness this book is so sweet!!!! My goodness!!!! Ok so we meet Avery and Declan, they are best friends, Avery is a, events planner with her two other sisters, they run a family business. Declan and Avery are best friends, they live together, and of course I knew that this book will be full of denial DENIAL DENIAL!!!!! Clearly they have the hots for each other, but they are in DENIAL!!!! I wont give it up because the book moves QUICK and before you know it you are done with it. But this book is so sweet, How Declan was there for her through out her ordeal, Avery’s relationship with her own sisters, and even their other friends that they have together, UGH this book was heartbreaking to let go!!!!!!! Love romantic comedies, and the spicy kinds too.

Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free e-galley of this book. As with other Hunting novels I've read, this one is funny, sexy, and an easy read. Avery and her sisters run Spark House, an events venue. Avery is the responsible older sister who has had to take care of her siblings after traumatically losing her parents in a car crash. Declan is her male best friend, and roommate. They both have hidden attraction to each other when an irresponsible decision results in Avery needing constant care from Declan, and their attraction is forced to the surface. They are sweet together, and I appreciate all of the communication they share as their relationship turns romantic. Declan's jealousy that temporarily drives them apart seems sudden and like a bit of plot manipulation, but their time apart allows you to see them grow as characters. Overall, I recommend this book.

I had higher hopes for this one as I love a good friends to lovers trope! It fell a little flat for me though. It was actually really infuriating that she even asked Deck to "help" her with her problem, even though earlier in the book she mentions that she has a vibrator sooooo why not use that instead of asking your best friend for help? To me I just felt like it cheapened their romance. I'm assuming it was to show them they had sexual attraction since they were technically already in love with each other? I don't know, it just didn't sit well with me, it didn't feel realistic. I think they both way overreacted near the end but Deck was just ridiculous. His parents having a bad relationship wasn't much of an excuse since he has had such long and loyal friendships. I did really like how he went to therapy though to help him get through it. It was an ok read overall, I can't say I really loved either of the main characters, which is the one thing I really need in order to love a book.

When Sparks Fly is a heartwarming friends to lovers story. We follow Avery’s journey after she is in a car crash that leaves her unable to care for herself for several weeks. She has to rely on her college friend and roommate Declan to help nurse her back to health. During this time, the two recognize that they have both had unresolved feelings for years.

This story is so well written and there is enough drama and tragedy to keep you glued to your seat the entire read. It also discusses past trauma and how it affects relationships later in life.

Overall this was a solid 4 out of 5 for me, which is saying something because friends to lovers normally isn’t my troupe!

I’m not sure if there will be more related books but it is set up where we could easily have books about other the other characters!!

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy!

When Sparks Fly had me cackling with laughter 2 pages in and I was hooked! I read this book so fast, I couldn't put it down. It was definitely a situation where I had a good book and no appreciation for the next day because I read way past my bedtime, which I find to occur frequently with Helena Hunting's books.

Avery and Declan are the swooniest of friends to lovers, roommates to lovers, forced proximity and the tension and yearning was divine. Avery is an active sporty independent woman, who finds herself reliant on her best friend and roommate. This obviously creates some tension and increased intimacy between the two while they come to terms with their feelings and history.

I enjoy a good friends to lovers and this is one of the best. This book is less spicy than some of Helena Huntings independently published books, but still gives heat and steam. Avery's sisters were London and Harley were prominent characters in this book. I struggled with London's character, I didn't like her very much. She held a grudge, I didn't think she placed blame correctly when she was upset, and it was implied she acts differently with different people. She redeemed herself to me in the end, but she was my least favorite in the story.

I loved the friend ground how Avery's friends are all men, i think that is very common but not often part of a story structure.

Overall I really loved this book and didn't want to put it down.

I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily give my review.

This book was so addictive. It is a friends-to-lovers story of Avery and Declan. I could relate to Avery very well, and as always with Helena Hunting's books, the characters are so well developed. This pulled me in from the first page and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. I love these two and their story.

There was great banter, story, and steam to make for an awesome journey that I wish there was more of. The characters feel so real to me, and I desperately want to hang out with them. I highly recommend this book!