Member Reviews
This was a cute rom com that I enjoyed a lot! I love the friends to lovers storyline, even though it seems so popular, it just cannot be overdone! Helena Hunting does a great job with this storyline and keeping it different while keeping all of the components that you love! The characters were lovable and I was rooting for them the whole time. It was pretty predictable, but that is what I like in a light-hearted rom com.
I think it might be time for me to call it quits on Helena Hunting. There is something about the writing - or perhaps the storytelling - that just doesn't work for me anymore. I found myself skimming pages very early in this one. I wasn't charmed by the sort of slapstick beginning, and then I wasn't feeling any connection between Avery and Declan. At all. I didn't even get a friendship vibe from them really. They came off as roommates, and then after the car crash they came off as a severely injured woman and a guy suffering a major (major) guilt complex. I didn't feel any...well...spark between them. And honestly, I didn't really like them very much either.
Ultimately, there wasn't enough in the first 30% of the story to motivate me to finish and it was a DNF for me.
It is no surprise that I loved this book. It had all the witty banter, character development, and steamy times Helena Hunting is famous for. I especially loved Avery's relationship with her sisters, but Dylan (while often immature, impulsive, and infuriating) was mostly a sexy and lovable book boyfriend (and oh so helpful in the shower).
Another thing that it's always a win with HH: her titles! When Sparks Fly? Kiss My Cupcake? Meet Cute? So adorable.
I enjoyed this story so much!
Anything “boy meets girl, girl dates boys’ best friend, best friend cheats on girl, boy and girl are friends for many years, and (finally!) boy and girl are a couple, is right up my alley.
Avery and Declan have been best friends since college.
When Avery dates Declan’s best friend, Sam and things go south, Declan is given a choice…he must choose between his best friend or Avery. Declan picks Avery.
Cue all the feels as Avery and Declan live together with a bit of sexual tension everyone but them seems to notice and you have the beginnings of a typical RomCom.
It takes a serious accident to bring our heroes true feelings out in the open. Since neither is ready to face these feelings, is this new couple destined to fail?
Will time apart for healing and therapy bring our couple together?
You won' t know until less you read "When Sparks Fly" by Helena Hunting.
I have read other books by Helena Hunting, and I truly enjoyed this one the most!
Thank you so much to Net Galley and St. Martin’s for sharing this eARC for me to review.
Oh this is a book I wanted to live! Friends to lovers but in the best way as roomates and all. They start off as best friends and then move into more as life starts to move fast. I couldn't love this more!
Poignant and funny! One of the best friends-to-lovers books I’ve ever read! HH’s characters are memorable and nuanced. It’s hard not to be invested in these characters and their imperfections.
I will read any book that Helena Hunting comes out with! I love her writing style and characterization and this novel is no different.
I haven't read many books from this author so I was excited to read this story. The cover alone is eye-catching and the blurb was interesting. This was a cute friends to lovers romance story with good characters, drama and a HEA. There were moments that made me want to throat punch Declan and it took me a while to warm up to him but I enjoyed Avery a lot. This book was a good way to pass the time and I would give others books from this author a try.
Hilarious rom-com that will keep you turning the pages! Avery and Declan have great chemistry, but their insecurities about relationships toss them into chaos. Can best friends become lovers, can their relationship survive knowing so much about each others pasts??? Super fun, quick read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in return for an honest review.
I love a good friend-to-lovers book, and this one was no exception! I just loved Declan and Avery and their sweet friendship! I thought the chemistry between these two was amazing right from page one, it was a unique situation that caused them to transition from friends to lovers. The novel is told from dual points of view so we get to see into the minds of both characters fairly equally
This book was very well written. I highly recommend this book by Helena Hunting, she's a great writer.
I started this Sunday afternoon and finished it Monday after midnight. I love how quickly Helen Huntings plot moved. It was a super light and endearing read! #netgalley #whensparksfly
This was such a great Book.. swoon...
Friends to lovers I could not get enough of this book.... this book has it all.. its funny, has its sexy passionate moments , and also its heart felt moments ... once again Helena Hunting gives us an amazing book where the reader easily gets lost into the story and never wants it to end.
This is a must read book for all...
A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel!
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I read this entire book in one sitting on a plane, and I had no regrets with my choice to start it when I did. There was nothing to disrupt me from just reading, and I was happy for the distraction free zone because the book had me hooked from the start. Avery and Declan are the definition of friends to lovers (though sometimes I wonder how they made it this far in their friendship with nothing happening). This is definitely not a slow burn which you often find with this trope, but Hunting does give enough background on them both that it feels earned. I really loved Avery as a character, and while Declan rubbed me the wrong way, I did love how much he meant to Avery.
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Their journey as a couple is far from straight-forward and smooth-sailing. Pretty much every complication that could get thrown at them does, and toward the middle of the novel I started to just want something to go right for one of them. I am all for giving contemporary romance couples huddles to get beyond, but for my taste there was maybe one too many. I was entertained the whole time, and Hunting crafted a story that includes side-characters I would love to see in their own novels.
When Sparks Fly is the perfect summer or vacation read. I loved the romance, the family ties ans the writing. Great beach read.
I am a total sucker for all kinds of different book tropes. One of my most favorites is best friends to relationship. Declan and Avery are best friends and live together. One accident changes everything. Each has their own hang ups and past scars, that threaten to derail their romance. All the characters are likable and the progression is believable and realistic. My favorite part was toward the end. What Declan does for Avery is so sweet and the final gift will make you weak in the knees. Let the sparks fly as you connect with the characters and see what all this story entails.
Let me begin by saying that I love Helena Hunting, loooooove Helena Hunting, but this one was not my favorite, I could not stand Declan and he could not redeem himself in my eyes, and maybe I am a petty person and just not a forgiving person but I just couldn't, Avery was just a way better person than I was. That being said, when she has a new book, you can bet your bottom dollar I will be getting it.
LOVE LOVE LOVE. Usually I read my advance copies in the order they are released, but when Helena Hunting's latest was approved, I couldn't resist. Excellent read. Friends to lovers stories might just be my favorite.
What can I say. I liked this book. Must read. Do it. If you do anything else. Read this book today. Great read and enjoyable.
This story is sweet, romantic and swoon worthy. Avery is very mature. Declan is her loyal best friend. And friendship is the strongest foundation to a lasting relationship. When they are forced by circumstances to spend every waking moment together, they are also forced to accept that their mutual love might not only be of friendship. So they struggle with insecurities and fears but we also get to read about their determination. And there is no lack of it in their story. There is no better match. No one more important for them than each other.
Publish Date: September 21, 2021
When Sparks Fly is a best friends-to lovers romance that brings a unique spin to the classic trope.
Declan and Avery are the very best of friends. Things begin to change when a guilt stricken Declan desire to car for Avery after a terrible accident. Declan and Avery are a wonderful match and I commend Hunting on bringing awareness to mental health in this novel. Declan is so caring but struggles with guilt and his self-worth. I loved how supportive Avery is in this story and she had friends to lean on.
When Sparks Fly is a great best friends-to-lovers romance that will evoke a multitude of emotions but still love every minute of it. I recommend this books for any romance reader.
Thanks to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.