Okay. I’m mildly conflicted about how I feel about this because I was definitely not sold on their relationship. The conflict midway through demonstrated a lot of red flags on Declan’s side that are very hard for me to overlook. I understand projecting because of parental issues but that should not make it acceptable or normalized. Trust is everything in a relationship and the male love interest handled the situation so abhorrently poorly that I felt that they should not even be together. In a romance novel the point is to be convinced of their relationship most of the time - right? I did not think they were meant to be together after that.

However, the tension was decent I was convinced of that and the beginning was very unexpected. It was good that they focused on mental health and therapy because after parental trauma like that it’s incredibly important. I read pucked a long time ago and I really enjoyed it, it’s not that this was bad by any means - it just felt a little off...

I always enjoy a Helena Hunting book, and this was no exception. While it was not my favorite (the characters didn't grip me like those in her Pucked series)), there was still something very sweet about Avery and Declan. I remembered Avery being much more prickly from the previous book and didn't have a good feeling as to who Declan might be. But I was happy to get to know him. In this book, London came across as much more prickly, but that was quickly translated into being a protective middle sister.

Declan was a very sweet and fun character. He was probably my favorite from this book. However, I remember thinking that for such a successful guy, he's a little clueless. But maybe I'm far enough removed from my early 20's that I forgot that men tend to be like that! Regardless, he stole my heart with his cluelessness and dedication to Avery.

If you've read about these sisters before, you'll know that this story was inevitable. Yeah, inevitable in the best way. That's why the sparks were flying!

I usually enjoy Helena Hunting books but this missed a mark for me. I found it repetitive and confusing at some points. I feel like it could do with another round of editing, so the text is more coherent.
I love the premise - two best friends who have feelings for each other but only realize when they are forced into intimate situations but it was just boring. I found myself hoping for something to happen or searching for some humour at least!

I’m a big fan of Helena Hunting and have read most of her books and liked them so much. This one was just ok for me. I felt the pacing was slow and jumps in time were confusing. How long had past and what happened in the times between? I did enjoy the characters but felt like it would have been nice to see more from them.
It was a quick and sweet book, just not my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

"When Sparks Fly" was a cute story. The basic plot is fairly cliché -- best friends and roommates Avery and Declan find themselves in a situation (in this case, Declan taking care of Avery after she is seriously injured in a car accident) that causes them to realize that they are more than just best friends; a realization that Avery's sisters and Avery and Declan's group of friends had been expecting would eventually occur. Once their true feelings are more apparent, something happens that destroys the relationship and threatens the friendship, and they have to find their way back together.

However, the author is creative in the manner in which she has Avery and Declan realize their true feelings. Avery's injuries prevent her from engaging in certain self-care acts that lead to a lot of pent-up frustration and when Declan accidentally witnesses the frustration, he offers to provide the necessary assistance, which becomes a repetitive method of assistance. This is one of many amusing moments in the story. The story is set in Colorado, so pot-laced brownies also make a memorable appearance. Another aspect of the story that sets it apart is the actions Declan takes to repair the relationship after the destructive event. Having no experience of a healthy intimate relationship (his parents were and still are a horrible example), he is prone to jealousy and over-reactions. Not wanting to permanently wreck his friendship with Avery (and hoping to possibly resume a dating relationship), he undergoes therapy to help address his own issues before trying to win back Avery.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

3 1/2 stars

I'm not a big fan of the best friends platonic turned romantic trope but I like this writer so I wanted to read it.
A slowly developing charming romance story.
The characters were so engaging that it drew me into the story. I liked the element of the accident & Avery's recovery which added depth to the narrative.
Avery & Declan have good chemistry. I also liked the supporting characters. (their friends/her sisters)
I did like the ending and felt that it was a natural progression of the character arcs.
Steamy sex scenes.
The negative was that some of it was a bit TMI (ie. self-love scenes, etc.) for me/my personal taste.

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

I’m a fan of Hunting, but this book didn’t pull me in like I hoped it would. I liked Declan and Avery. I understood Declan’s guilt about the accident and how their physical relationship became a natural consequence of unadmitted feelings on both their parts. I just found the transition from best friends to intimacy awkward and sudden. It was clear that they cared for one another as friends, but I didn’t sense much attraction from either of them. I think I needed to see them fight their feelings of attraction for longer, in the hope that it would have made me believe there was more than just physical needs and a willingness to make up for mistakes by pleasing the other.

I liked Declan’s and Avery’s support system: their friend group as well as Avery’s 2 sisters. I thought they added a lot to the plot. What I didn’t love was that they seemed to diagnose more of what was going on between Avery and Declan than either Avery or Declan did themselves.

I enjoyed the bubble Declan created for their lives so Avery could heal, but once she was strong enough to go back to work, their dependency on each other seemed to revert back to almost a friends-with-benefits scenario. I wanted to feel more emotion from both of them, to see their attachment deepen and evolve in a more overt way. More plot was allotted to denying feelings and obsessing over fears than the development of the connection between them. I felt like I was on the outside of their relationship looking in, waiting for Declan to inevitably cut and run, as it was clear he would. I think the balance of the book was just a bit off for me. There were too many issues between them that resulted in more time with them being apart, though I appreciated the healing they both went through during that period.

Sweet best friend romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Best friend to lover tropes are always a fun read. You get to know the characters from two different aspects; as friends and eventually as lovers. Once the admission of love occurs, most of the time the couples friends are saying “DUH!! You have been crushing on each other for years!”

Hunting takes this trope and brings a delightful level up with her characters who are not the typical best friends. They live together, play sports together, protect each other, and totally know each other, except in the biblical way- to start.

The storyline is unique and interesting. Hunting does not bring a tired theme and recycle it. She creates a lighthearted, creative story with a touch of angst. Declan and Avery are matched beautifully. My heart goes out to Declan who struggles with self-worth and guilt. Avery is his number one supporter and he is hers. I love the tight circle of friends that support them too!

When Sparks Fly offers a sweet yet emotionally engaging read with a light amount of heat and spice. Delightful story and another winner for this author.

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed the first half of this "Friends-to-Lovers" rom-com. Declan and Avery have been best friends since college. They now share a condo, that they bought together. Avery works with her two sisters at their family hotel and conference center. Declan is a financial advisor. Avery's parents died in a car wreck, and she and her sisters were raised by their great-grandmother afterward. This makes Avery apprehensive behind the wheel, especially if it's raining. She and Declan are supposed to drive together for an alumni event, but Declan got drunk the night before, picked up a woman, and blew off Avery. She's on her own. Needless to say, she gets in a horrific wreck.

Declan is wrecked (pun intended) with guilt. He sets himself up as Avery's caregiver as she recovers from her injuries. He'll do anything for her. Yes, anything. As he starts helping her in the shower, a lot of their boundaries are crossed. And, Avery starts getting sexually frustrated, Declan lends a hand. Of course, this leads to complications. Declan's parents had a toxic relationship, and so Declan doesn't get involved. Except now, he is -with his best friend.

Of course, like every good rom-com, there's a complication and then a HEA resolution. Here's where the story lost me.


Spoilers below:

Declan loses his mind because Avery met up with an old boyfriend over a potential business deal. Things get ugly and he won't listen to reason. He grew up with parents who were always cheating on each other, so that's where his mind goes. He accuses her of cheating and after he won't listen to reason, they break up. She ends up taking a few things and heading over to spend time with her sisters.

When she goes back to THEIR condo (she's half-owner), Declan has started packing her things for her. The condo is HALF HERS. Why is she expected to leave? Why does she leave? She then gets all the rest of the stuff from the condo. Declan then basically ghosts her, not responding to messages. Until, one day, three weeks later, he decides to extend an olive branch. And, she jumps on it.

It's still not smooth sailing at that point. He's seeing a therapist to get over his issues, and the therapist wants them to be together without being together. So, they watch movies together, but in different places - he's in the condo, she's at her sisters'. They, go to a park at the same time and sit on benches in different parts of the park and text? This goes on for months until they see each other in person again. This all seemed a bit far-fetched. Maybe it's something a therapist would truly recommend, but it seemed over the top to me.

I've read other books by Helena Hunting and loved them, so I guess you can't win them all.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a sweet friends-to-lovers romance that entertains while making some serious points about issues of abandonment and guilt over letting a friend down. The two main characters are engaging and their relationship believable as they explore whether their friendship can become something more and whether or not it will survive if it does. The novel also deals with the heroine's recovery from a serious injury and the challenges involved in accepting a life altered by that event, though the tone of the book never becomes too dark or heavy. Those readers who enjoy contemporary romance leavened with humor and touching family relationships should enjoy this one.

When Sparks Fly is a sparkling 5 star read!

The story does take some time to really get going but I love a slow burn, angsty read and that’s exactly what this story is!

Relationships take time and I love that you got that time with these two! Declan and Avery already had a solid friendship but it was the more that took time to grow! It started small but morphed into more. One quick mistake derailed it all but what happened after is what I really loved about the story!

The characters took time to grow! You don’t see that often! You seem a grand gesture and then all is forgiven but that wasn’t the case and I loved that both had to work through their issues to earn trust back!

I felt the story was relatable and I loved the friend and family dynamics! I have read so many books where quick fixes magically happened but in this book you have people working and doing what they can to make their dreams reality and for me that was what makes this stellar romance 5 stars!

Avery and Declan share a condo and have been best friends for years. Avery has a car accident and Declan blames himself because he promised to drive her to her function. Out of guilt, Declan claims he is the best person to take care of her as her broken arm and leg heal. He has always had relationship issues, vowing to never get serious with his dates. The proximity and constant care bring out feelings stronger than friendship for both Avery and Declan. This book looks at friendship, relationships, family and strong work ethics in a fun, sexy light. I loved the care and creative ways Declan used to work through his issues. I also loved the relationships between Avery’s sisters and the friends Avery and Declan shared since college. Good lessons on the important of healthy relationships and a supporting community.

Cute, but not my favourite of hers. I read the synopsis and wasn’t sure it was for me, but then read that it was suppose to be hilarious, so I decided to give it a try; portions were fun, but the big issue towards the end lost me. The friends to lovers trope was fun and I loved reading about a girl who was athletic and enjoyed sports and junk food, plus had make besties. But then the ending kind of screeched into this weird zone for me and ended really sweet. Too sweet for me, but happy ending folks will enjoy it!

O. M. G.

Sparks are flying out of my eyes because THIS. BOOK. YALL.

I can’t even form a coherent thought to express my love and adoration for this book. I’m already ready to re-read and super stoked for the audiobook.

With a friends to lovers trope we follow girl boss Avery has her life is literally crashed to a halt when she’s immobilized in a car accident and her (hot, thoughtful) BFF/ roommate, Declan, becomes her caretaker.

I love that this book prioritizes mental health, friendship, and communication in a romantic relationship because these things are often left out of rom-coms. I really appreciated that Helena Hunting took the time to focus on the essential foundation of a relationship.

Loved this cute book! 'Super cute plot and lovable characters make this the perfect beach read. Helena Hunting never disappoints and this is the perfect beginning to summer book!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

‘When Sparks Fly’ is yet another home run for author Helena Hunting, providing the reader with friends-to-lovers deliciousness and wittiness for days.

Avery Sparks and Declan McCormick have always had a connection. Best friends and roommates, the pair has always had an effortless chemistry and a dynamic that they both highly value and prioritize. When Avery is in a car accident and becomes wholly reliant on Declan, they both realize that there are deeper feelings that had been hiding just beneath the surface of their perfect friendship. And when they give into their undeniable attraction to each other? Sparks definitely fly.

As an avid Helena Hunting fan, I was excited to see how she’d write a friends-to-lovers story. In my opinion, it’s a trope that is difficult to do well, because the reader really has to buy into the reasons why they’re not a couple in the first place. Hunting adeptly creates two protagonists who bring their own humanity and baggage to the table, and the way the narrative unfolds is as enjoyable as it is realistic. There’s a slow simmering of romantic and sexual tension that is engaging, and also teases the reader just the right amount to keep things interesting.

Another element of the novel that I enjoyed was the sisterly bond between the Sparks sisters. I cannot wait to read more about Avery’s siblings in the subsequent books in the series. If there’s one thing that Hunting always delivers, it’s an incredibly detailed universe full of characters you want to know more about.

In all, it’s another great novel from one of the best writers in the business, and a fantastic start to a new series.

A sincere thanks to the author, St. Martin’s, and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

When Sparks Fly is a binge worthy friends to lovers romance. Avery and her sisters run Spark House, a hotel catering to special events. The event in progress as we start the book is hilarious and REAL!!! Be sure to look it up… you won’t regret it. Declan is her best friend and roommate. They have a deep connection and an unexpected accident tests the bonds and pushes them to admit that they are much more than they are willing to admit. The ebb and flow of their relationship moves along beautifully. The angst and their love (oh the love) is palatable. I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR.

Avery and Declan have been friends since college, best friends to be exact. When Avery suddenly has a blind date Declan decides he's going to find a one-night stand to bring home. The next morning Avery and Declan are supposed to go meet up with friends but instead, Avery goes by herself. She then gets into a serious car accident, and the accident brings Declan and Avery closer than ever before.

Cute book. It wasn't an edge of your seat, can't wait to turn the page kind of book, but it kept my interest pretty well. It got a little slow in some parts, but overall I think it's a great summer beach read.

I LOVE Helena Hunting! And her latest book does not dissappoint! The chemistry between the main characters Avery and Declan (I've always loved this name!) are spot on. Both of them have had traumatic pasts that taint their views on relationships. Their denial that each of them has feelings for each other is extremely frustrating for the reader. But that makes it even better when realization is upon them and they start the roller coaster of awkward situations on how to navigate a "real" relationship. Their world crashes and as one needs to learn to be on their own, they each see what they need in each other. A lot of introspective thought for each character that leads to a HEA ending.