I love small town romance books, Mylie and Ben grew up together and were best friends in highs school. Ben moved away to go to college. Mylie runs her own store and it's booming.....After several years Bens grandmother passes and he finds himself back in town getting things ready so he can sell her house. I feel like Mylie is living her best life, then Ben shows back up and old emotions comeback that they never admitted was there. This was cute book that gives you all the feels. Fast passed and one that you can read non stop in a day or 2. I laughed out loud a few times too...

Thank you so much Epic tastemakers and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

I genuinely enjoyed this book!

Rating: 4.5

Book: Mylie and Ben were best friends until Ben moved away after their high school graduation. They lost touch until ten years later when Ben returns to their little town to sell his family house. It’s like nothing has changed, and they hit it off again, except for the looming reality of Ben’s departure once he settles his affairs in town.

What did I like?
It was funny. I burst out laughing a few times. I love the characters (except that one) so much! Ben and Mylie make me love the friends-to-lovers trope. Their connection felt so natural, because before anything else, they were friends.

My thoughts: I wish we had seen more of their relationship. There was so much potential for them. It was all about Ben’s impending departure until it wasn’t and then the book came to an end. I understand why it unfolded that way, but it would have been nice to delve deeper into their relationship.

Will I recommend this book? Of course!

2.75⭐

LIKED:
- The first act of this book is really charming. I like the character introductions and the introductions to the town and everything. I don’t, uh, love her whipping out a gun on him as their re-meet cute, but, uh, yeah. The south. Hooray.
- Granny ruled. I could have done with even more of a deep dive into some of her character and everything throughout.
- The flashbacks were very sweet and I liked having them. I do think they could have been more robust (they were really short)
- The bingo scene was my favorite. Very fun and really showed off the characters and the way they lived their respective lives in this little hamlet

LOATHED:
- This is so pedantic, I know. But why does this book have the title Spring Fling? Yes it’s spring, sure…but I would not call this any sort of fling. That title does not fit the overall story and doesn’t really do a good job of selling the story of two childhood friends reconnecting romantically.
- My biggest problem with this book is that it lacks any real meat to it. Why are the chapters so short? It feels like it only tells what it has to to get the story to its conclusion. We lack any real character moments that are more than skin deep.
- Unfortunately, I also don’t believe that these to characters should have ended up together, mostly because of not actually having real discussions as adults discussing who they are now after a decade apart. And the reason(s) that they can’t be together is/are not resolved by the end of the book. So them being together just does not make any real believable sense.
- There’s too many plot lines. Why is there a fishing tournament? Why is there the craziness with Robbie? Pick one. Honestly, I would cut Robbie. He felt cartoonish and not grounded in any realness. Or at least cut him down to less and make it a less bombastic conclusion.
- Why were there a few chapters at the end from different POVs? They didn’t really add anything. Cassie’s maybe more so, but Morris’ (who I also just didn’t really care for) did not add anything for me.

LONGED FOR:
- More character connection moments between the two leads
- More substance and grounding to the story (especially with Mylie. She was almost there)
- Less happening. There was enough plot with just the stuff happening around the town and then the tournament

Will I read the next one? : Maybe.

This book takes place in Clay Creek, which was the cutest setting and one of my favorite parts about this book. However, the couple in the book, Ben and Kylie, were not believable in any way, There was so much miscommunication that I couldn't picture them as a real couple outside of the book at all.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I thought this was so cute and an easy to read book. I loved the small town setting and loved Ben and Mylie's story. This was my first team reading a book written by Annie England Noblin.

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

This felt like a solid 3 star read for me. The plot/resolution all moved pretty quickly so if you are looking for a quick easy read then this is for you. There was cozy charm, laughs, and a dash of spice

Mylie and Benjamin met in the 6th grade and became best friends, everyone around them knew they were falling in love but circumstances kept them apart, now they will get a second chance to see if their shared history is enough to overcome their obstacles.

Grannie and Fat Tony were the absolute best and the bingo scene was hysterical. The family dynamics of the Mason family and the situation with the town bully added some depth to this story making it more than just the friends-to-lovers trope. This does have a duel timeline so we are taken back to some moments of Ben and Mylie growing up so we get to see where their story started. It is told in multiple POV, which I loved since we got to hear the story from both sides. I thought Mylie was a great female lead, she put others first, took care of the people she cared about, and she was not a pushover. I loved seeing her and Ben develop together and how neither one gave up on what they wanted, they just adapted.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #SpringFling #NetGalley

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for my early copy of this book! All thoughts are my own.

I flew through this book. I was honestly short and to the point. I do wish there had been more romance building and angst but I did love Mylie and Ben. Also; with the whole Robbie situation, I wish there had been more to it.

I really enjoyed the friends to love trope and the spice level was probably a 1. I think if you are looking for a quick/swoony romance to binge, this is the book for you!

This story was a great story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

This was overall a sweet, cute, cozy read. I did have a hard time connecting with the two characters and I felt like one area of the plot was out of left field.

I did like Mylie and her family dynamics. I enjoyed reading about them.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon Harper Voyager for this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #SpringFling #AnnieEnglandNoblin

Spring Fling is a second chance romance, set in small town Arkansas. Mylie loves her small town, the business she has built, her grandmother, and the little sister she is helping to raise ~ and only occasionally thinks about her first love who left for Chicago right after high school graduation. Ben loved Mylie, and their friendship, but has built a city life and is only back to honor a promise to his mother. The story has a dual timeline: present-day and then flashbacks of the past. As a reader, you witness the missed chance at love alongside the second shot.
I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a small town, friends-to-lovers romance. It's an easy but delightful read. 3.5 stars, rounding up!

Thank you to the author and publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

Title: Spring Fling  
Author: Annie England Noblin         
Genre: Romance        
Rating: 4 out of 5

Spring is in the air and Mylie has everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.

After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.

Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.

I liked Mylie and Ben. This made living in small-town Arkansas sound appealing—and I’ve been there and done that and have no desire to repeat the experience. The characters really made this read fun—all the characters, not just the main two. The raccoon was hysterical! This was a fun, sweet read, perfect for a weekend binge.

Annie England Noblin lives in Arkansas. Spring Fling is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager in exchange for an honest review.)
(Blog link live 3/19).

This was a cute romcom but it stayed way too surface level for me.

The setup to this book started off well. Friends since 6th grade, Ben and Mylie have always had eyes for each other but they never crossed that line to lovers. Ben leaves for college and they don’t see each other for 10 years. He finally comes back and the spark is still there.

However, it all happened so quickly and I wanted there to be more depth to their actions. It didn’t help that the chapters are so short and it really feels like the characters can’t finish their train of thought. It’s a bummer because this has so much potential to be a good romcom.

The ending too with Robbie was so rushed when I feel it could have really added some tension for the plot. The spicy scenes were about 2 🌶️ out of 5. They could have been written a bit better too.

Some good moments I did enjoy were: the raccoon getting stuck in the house, the raccoon stealing Morris’ phone…just anything with the raccoon really.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Annie England Noblin for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Conflicted on what to say about this because I did really enjoy it but there were also parts that I was not a fan of. I really enjoyed the neighborhood raccoon (LOL) and there were quite a few scenes between Ben and Miley that were cute. However, there was a lot of miscommunication and fighting in this and it made me want to rip my hair out!! However, the storyline was great and the characters, even those that were supporting, added so much joy to the story.

Tropes:
- Friends to Lovers
- Second Chance Romance
- Found Family

🌲🎣🌸 Mylie has lived in the small town of Clay Creek for her whole life. 10 years ago, her best friend Ben left for Chicago. Mylie thought she'd never see him again, until one day he's (literally) at her door. With Ben suddenly back in her life, at least until he sell his mom's house, they navigate rekindling their relationship while dealing with the drama that comes with living in a small town. Can Mylie and the town charm him enough to stay?

This book was a perfect second chance romance! The setting of Clay Creek town was adorable. I really loved Mylie's character and how she put other people first and was willing to drop everything she's doing to come to the aid of the people she loves. Mylie had really great character development, and I really enjoyed seeing her grow with Ben. I think that they both really brought the best in each other and were exactly what the other needed. The small town setting was super fun and I loved the variety of characters living in it! This was a super cute and wholesome read! 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced reader's copy!

A happy romance novel that follows small town girl Mylie and city boy Ben. One book that I've actually seen flashbacks done really well where they fit and are easy to follow. Ben and Mylie have loved each other since Ben moved to town in 6th grade but they never had the guts to tell each other. Now they must figure things out before it's too late and they loose each other for good.

I received this ARC from publishers via Netgalley
#SpringFling #NetGalley

A solid 3.5 stars! It's a seriously cute and cozy spring romcom. This is a small town, always been you, slow burn romance. This is my first book by the author and I enjoyed it, I would read more of her work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for access to this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great childhood friends to lovers, the connection between our main characters is clear from the start. I love the small town aspect with the meddling towns people and the care the towns people have for each other and Fat Tony the Raccoon. I will absolutely be reading more from this author!

I’d like to start by thanking NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an unedited copy of Spring Fling in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so much potential. It features a small-town community, second-chance romance, and friends-turned-lovers, which are all things I typically love. However, as much as I wanted to enjoy it, I found myself distracted by a number of issues that prevented me from fully connecting with the story.

First, while I understand this was an unedited proof, I found myself taken out of the story by some timeline and continuity errors. For instance, the Spring Fling tournament is supposed to be taking place next month, and at the start of the book, it's May. But there’s a sense that the event might actually take place in late May or early June, which doesn’t quite fit the "spring" theme. It left me wondering whether the timeline was a little unclear.

Another timeline hiccup happens after a Sadie Hawkins dance. The characters return home to find vandalism at Mylie’s house, and then the next day, Granny convinces people to fix the window on a Sunday—but we skip over Saturday entirely. Little things like that pulled me out of the story, making it harder to stay immersed.

Beyond the timeline issues, I also had trouble with some of the characters. For example, Morris is introduced as a teetotaler, but almost immediately, we see him drinking beer. This contradiction isn't really addressed, and later, Granny even mentions that he’s pretending to be a teetotaler, but it doesn't quite make sense given his behavior earlier. It just felt like there was a lack of consistency in how these characters were portrayed.

Then there's the confusion surrounding Jodi’s relationship. She has a boyfriend at the start of the story, and it’s mentioned several times that they’ve been together for five years. However, later on, this boyfriend is suddenly referred to as her "husband," even though there’s no mention of a wedding or any significant change in their relationship. This left me scratching my head, as it was a small but noticeable detail that didn’t align with what we were told earlier.

And then there was the issue with Jodi’s name. I know this is nitpicking, but both "Jodi" and "Jodie" are used interchangeably throughout the book, which made me wonder if that was intentional or a mistake. It was just one of those things that made it harder to stay focused on the characters and the story.

As for the plot itself, Mylie and Ben’s romance is built around their long history together. They’ve known each other since middle school and had feelings for each other that they never fully expressed. Ben leaves after graduation and, despite trying to stay in touch, they lose contact over the years. Now, Ben returns to town to settle the sale of his inherited house and start a new life in Boston, but his feelings for Mylie resurface. This rekindled romance could have been really sweet, but I struggled with how stubborn both of these characters were. Mylie refuses to even consider a life outside of her small town because she wants to take care of her younger sister and doesn’t want to leave Granny alone. I get it, but it was frustrating to see her shut down every possibility of a future with Ben, even if it meant making compromises. On the other hand, Ben is also stubborn in thinking that Mylie should be the one to make the sacrifices, only offering to compromise once he’s already set up his new life in Boston.

As for the romance itself, the intimate scenes, while not a must-have for me in a romance, felt rushed and forced. They didn't feel natural or necessary to the development of the relationship, and I honestly think the book might have worked better without them.

That said, I did find myself enjoying the character of Granny. She was the heart of the story for me—funny, wise, and full of personality. She’s the kind of older woman I’d love to be someday, and she brought some much-needed warmth and humor to the book.

Ultimately, Spring Fling has a lot of heart, but its inconsistencies and missed opportunities left me feeling a bit let down. While I appreciated the small-town charm and the idea of a second-chance romance, the timeline issues, character contradictions, and rushed elements kept it from being as enjoyable as I’d hoped.

I’m giving it 3 stars out of 5. It wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential.

I finished this book a few weeks ago and I'm still torn.

Spring Fling follows Mylie and Ben who are childhood best friends who lose touch as adults. Ben ends up coming back to Clay Creek to sell his childhood home and as I'm sure you guessed, Mylie and Ben explore the possibility of a relationship.

I'm torn because I love the town, Clay Creek so much. This small town made me smile and the characters antics were hilarious. Granny was my favorite character, she had me laughing out loud. The fishing tournament added a fun element to the story as well.

However, the relationship isn't one that I was invested in or really cared about. Both characters were fine, I just didn't connect with their romance. I also feel like the communication between Mylie and Ben was a little rough. I really wish I could have connected with the story and the characters more.

This is a quick read and even though I had some issues with it, its still worth picking up.

Ben was always the-one-that-got-away, but now that he's back in town, Mylie isn't sure how to approach him. All signs point to him leaving again, but who says it has to be something serious? Maybe they can just have a spring fling...

The tone of this novel was very lighthearted and easy, even when some of the subject matter probably warranted a little more depth. Personally, I was craving a little bit more from these characters, but every time I felt that way it seemed to launch into another tropey situation that kept things light and playful.

The characters felt well developed for the purposes of the story. Mylie, in particular, had a lot of ties to the town that drove the subplots well enough. The setting of Clay Creek is small town America with the requisite old-lady bingo group, and rascally wildlife.

For me there wasn't a lot that really stood out as being particularly original or interesting. That's the danger of reading so much romance! If you're looking for something sweet and light, this book fits the bill, but if you're looking for the next great romance novel, in my opinion this one isn't essential reading.

Note:: I received a copy of this book for free through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.