I love Helena Hunting's books, but this was not her usual style book. I found this one was just ok. I was expecting more and got a just ok read.

I enjoyed the book, don't get me wrong. It was a predictable friends to lovers romance. Nothing shocking or even a little different happened.

I am a Helena Hunting fan, so I was excited to read When Sparks Fly! My favorite romance trope is best friends falling in love and the friendship in this book really shines! I immediately got a sense of who the characters were together as friends, soccer teammates, and roommates. I liked the book and recommend it, I just didn't love it.

I appreciated how strong Avery is - the perfect combination of sporty, intelligent, and mentally resilient. She is my ideal female main character! Unfortunately, Declan, Avery's best friend, falls a bit flat by comparison. He's an attractive, nice guy most of the time, but I never got to the point of being able to visualize him like I did with Avery. While I appreciated their friendship, I never fully got a sense of their latent physical chemistry except for in one steamy scene, and that, from my perspective, kind of came out of nowhere. Typically, I FEEL the author's characters' chemistry build up over time, but this time I didn't and I can't pinpoint why since all the essential elements were there. I also felt like the drama over her ex, Sam, around the 70% mark was just there for drama's sake. It made Declan's character unlikable (and triggering, see Content Warning below) for the next few chapters and didn't speak to the lengthy relationship that he and Avery actually had.

With the switch in narration from Avery to Declan, I appreciated getting into each of their heads as the story progressed, but at times it was really repetitive and I just wanted to keep the story moving forward. I never felt their emotions in a way that I expected. The book has some great potential for high emotion and I think I would have felt their chemistry more if it were a more emotional story. Perhaps this is just an example of me going into a book with too high of expectations?

Advanced copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Rated R / One scene involves a door violently flung open in anger while the other character is vulnerable, which may be triggering for some

This is a roommate friends to lovers story, hinged around a car accident to make Avery needing Declan's help with...a lot of things. This was more of a 2.5 stars for me, rounded up as I liked the sisters (hoping they each get their own book) and the wacky events at the hotel. The other two guy friends who came over to watch sports felt like their characters were very unrealistic, in my opinion.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is written in first person, hopping from Avery, our main female character, and Declan, her roommate slash best friend since college. Being a Type A personality, she spends most of her hours at her dream job of running an events hotel with her two sisters. Her downtime is spent with Declan and a couple male friends, drinking and laughing. Avery is an onion of many layers, a more complicated character with insecurities and issues. A nasty car accident puts her in an awkward position of needing personal care and Declan steps up from his deep guilt that he should have been with her in the car. The title's a fun play on words as Avery works and part owns the Sparks Hotel. A nice beach read.

I really loved Declan and Avery’s friendship. They had a very strong bond and amazing chemistry, even if it was only as friends for so long. Everything turned upside down with Avery’s accident. I enjoyed the transformation of their relationship while he was taking care of her. Things went a little fast and they ended up paying for that later, but it was all very entertaining and a great story.

This was such a fun, cute read! I really enjoyed it and read it fast. The chemistry between Avery and Declan is amazing from the very beginning and builds perfectly throughout the book. A true friends to lovers story. There are some steamy, sexy parts included. This book made me smile and gave me feel good vibes. This is my first book by Helena Hunting and I will definitely be reading more!

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy in return for my honest review!

Avery and Declan had been best friends since college. There by each other’s side for everything until a date changes the carefully played relationship they built. A one night stand leading to a broken promise changes their entire world. Not only leaving Avery and Declan questioning their friendship but realizing a simmering attraction was slowly beginning to consume them both. Helena crafts an amazing tale of healing and letting go of the past to find the happiness that will heal you.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Avery is happy working with her two sisters. She lives with a couple guys who she has been friends with. This book was an enjoyable read.

Avery Spark is living her best life. Between her friends, her sisters, and Spark House, the event hotel her family owns, she doesn’t have much time for anything else, especially relationships. She’d rather hang out with her best friend and roommate, Declan McCormick, than deal with the dating scene. But everything changes when she is in a car accident and needs someone to care for her as she heals.

Declan avoids relationships, giving him a playboy reputation that he lives up to when he puts a one-night stand ahead of a promise he made to Avery. While he may not have been the one driving the car, he feels responsible for Avery’s injuries and is determined to make it up to her by stepping into the role of caretaker.

Friends to lovers usually isn't my favorite trope. It's hard to write the sparks and cuteness... But this book is very well-written. The sisters stole a lot of the scenes and I would love to read more about them.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the ARC.

I think the friends-to-lovers trope is one of the most difficult to pull off but in Helena Hunting's more than capable hands, When Sparks Fly is a romantic, enjoyable escape of a novel. I was rooting for Avery and Declan from the very first page until the last. Highly recommend.

3.25/5 ⭐

I am actually grateful for this book because it came to me right when I was in need of something fun and easy to read. And it was, indeed, both fun and easy to read.
I appreciated the easiness of the two, Avery and Declan, of falling in love with each other, even though I am not the biggest fan of this best-friends-since-a few-years-ago to lovers.
It was a bit of a cliche at times and this thing makes it look a bit forced, but overall it wasn't a bad read and it's definitely good for when you're struggling with a reading slump :D

I love Helena Hunting books! While I enjoyed her other books a lot more. This was a cute, quick read.

When Sparks Fly is a fun, friends to lovers romance that's told from both Avery and Declan's points of view. The pair have been friends and roommates for years but get even closer and more intimate when a jealous moment by Declan leads to Avery being seriously hurt in a car accident. Naturally, feelings they've both been avoiding come to the surface as Declan helps Avery with her recovery process. I loved how the author used this as the means of bringing the characters closer, when one of them is at a low point. Declan did tend to drive me a little crazy, especially when he was perpetually guilt-tripping, but he also had sweet moments too. There were also some points where things tended to get rehashed over and over again, which got repetitive, but overall I enjoyed this fun, romantic, sweet and sexy story.

this definitely had the potential to be a four-star, the ending was just not enough for me(nor anyone I feel).

overall, this was just so ~cute~. it has a lot of adorable tropes, and the author took advantage of them for sureeee. perfect for when you're feeling extra single....

I love friends to lovers romance and this was well done. Avery and Declan were best friends and when it shifted yo more than that it was so much fun to read. I loved the way the author moved them along in their relationship and I thought this was a sweet story. I hope we get books for Avery's two sisters.

This was an enjoyable friends-to-lovers story! My one complaint: I wish the guy wasn't always a "good guy but a big man-whore" type. It's so overdone, but of course, we need to give him some flaw and that's the easiest route.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic easy paced, light hearted read! Read this on in a day. That's how great this one was!
This book will make you laugh, cry, have all sort of feelings! And I loved it!
The characters were funny and sweet!
A friends-to-lovers romance which are also a great enjoyment to read!
Thanks NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Author for this amazing book!

This was a quick, fun read. I didn't love the way the accident happened or the aftermath, but the sexual tension was excellent. I am looking forward to more books about the Sparks sisters!

When I read the synopsis for When Sparks Fly I knew this was going to be good!!!! This is the perfect romance story and I loved every second of it. With great characters and an adorable story, what more could you want. I think this is one of Helena Hunting best books I've read. Can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve for next time!!!

When Sparks Fly is a funny friend to lovers romance sure to bring a smile to your face. Avery lives with her best friend, Declan, and runs the Spark House hotel with her sisters and has little time for much else. A car accident leaves Avery needing help doing pretty much everything, a job Declan volunteers for. Full of guilt because his playboy ways kept him from being with Avery on the day of her accident, Declan dives headfirst into being the best friend and nurse a girl could ask for. Compromising and awkward situations lead to an intimacy between the friends that can only alter their relationship. A sweet and sexy HEA where friends do wind up making the best lovers. A feel good romance with just the right mix of heat and humor for enjoyable and unputdownable read that keeps Helena Hunting on my must read shelf. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.