Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin is a sweet, heartwarming story about second chances and small-town charm. Childhood friends and neighbors Mylie and Ben lost touch after high school when Ben left their small town. Years later, he returns to Clay Creek, Arkansas, to sell his grandfather’s house before relocating for a new job. What was meant to be a quick trip turns into something much more when he reconnects with Mylie — and realizes his feelings for her never truly faded.

Annie’s descriptions of Clay Creek are so vivid and inviting that I found myself wishing I could visit. The town feels like a character itself, wrapping the story in warmth and nostalgia, making this book perfect for a cozy night in or a relaxing afternoon.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the emotional journey Ben and Mylie embark on as they navigate their past and uncertain future. Their ups and downs kept me engaged, and the romance had just the right amount of spice — I’d say a solid 3 out of 5 — enhancing the connection without overshadowing the story. My only wish was for a bit more character development, as Ben and Mylie’s motivations weren’t always entirely clear to me.

Overall, Spring Fling is a charming, feel-good romance that will appeal to readers who love small-town stories, second chances, and a sprinkle of spice. I’d give it a solid 3 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for a comforting love story.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I didn't love this but I didn't hate it either. I was fairly predictable and mindless so maybe good if you just want an easy breezy read.

This book follows childhood friends and neighbors, Mylie and Ben, who lost touch after high school when Ben left their small town. Years later, he returns to sell his grandfather’s house before relocating for a new job. But what he thought would be a quick visit turns into something more when he reconnects with Mylie—and realizes his feelings for her never truly faded.

This story is both heartwarming and charming, perfect for a cozy night in or a relaxing afternoon. Annie’s descriptions of Clay Creek, Arkansas, are so vivid and inviting that I found myself wishing I could visit.

I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the emotional journey of Ben and Mylie. Their ups and downs kept me engaged, making their story even more compelling. There’s also some spice—the spice level sits at a solid 3 out of 5, complementing the romance without overpowering it. While the book is a delightful read, I would have loved a bit more character development, as Ben and Mylie’s motivations weren’t always entirely clear to me. Overall, it’s a sweet, feel-good romance that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a comforting love story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Recommendation: Perfect for readers who enjoy small-town, friends-to-strangers-to-lovers romances. This book is cute, cozy, and heartwarming—if that’s what you’re looking for, I highly recommend it!

Note: I received this book as an e-ARC on NetGalley and I would like to thank NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Annie England Noblin for the opportunity to review this book.

It started off really well, but some plot points lost my interest. Still, it was a sweet story overall.

I am always super grateful to be selected for an ARC.

I always like friends who never went for it when they were younger, but finally figured it out later in life. I also appreciated the 10 year gap, as that added to the longing from high school - it was enough time between saying goodbye and seeing each other again to add to the suspense. I loved that Mylie was a business woman who was clearly running a very successful business for her town.

I think the book is lacking in a few areas - specifically paying attention to minor details, for example: Ben says the roof was replaced not even five years ago and then a few chapters later Morris says he'll need a new roof by winter, roofs tend to last 20 years. Another case was her friend Jodi, in one chapter Jodi's mom said she had been with her boyfriend for five years and he had yet to propose, a few chapters later Jodi said being married was boring. Both of those were completely contradictory to information shared earlier.

2.5 rounded up. This was an overall okay read. I didn’t love Mylie and Ben as a couple and I felt that the spice went from 0-100 without any kind of build up. I also noticed a few inconsistencies that drove me insane. Like Jodi’s mom giving her a hard time for not being married but then mid book she is married. And Cassie breaking up with her boyfriend and then boom they’re just magically together?. The small town vibe was cute. I also loved Granny and Morris.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC!

A fun and easy rom com based in the Ozark Mountains. As someone born and raised in small town Arkansas
I can attest to the character types in the book. They May seem exaggerated but that stuff really happens on a daily basis.
The book progresses pretty much as expected from a rom com perspective, so it’s not anything that breaks the mold but it is fun!
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

3.75🌟 Thank you so much to Annie England Noblin for the advanced copy of this fun spring book!

This book follows Mylie, who is living her dream of owning her own business and being an amazing girl boss in her small hometown of Clay Creek, Arkansas. Living with her sassy Granny and her little sister, Mylie feels like everything is going perfectly until her childhood friend and secret crush, Ben shows up back in town to sell his family home. Reconnecting with Ben makes Mylie start to wonder what could have been and if her life is really as complete as she thought.

I thought this book was very cute and I did enjoy it as a fun spring read. It took me a little bit to get into it and I found myself a little frustrated with the main characters and their refusal to really communicate their feelings. The further I got into the book, however, the more I enjoyed it and the author did a great job towards the end of the book bringing the small town to life and made it a really fun part of the story.

In the end, I would recommend Spring Fling is you are in the mood for a fun, lighthearted read with very little stress or complicated plot lines.

This book was fine, and very easy to flip through. Nothing was too high stakes and it was a cute friends to strangers to lovers storyline. It was a bit of a slow burn which made it easy to put down at times.

Thank you to the publisher for access to an early copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Very cute book about living in a small town and second chances with your first love. I don't know that I'd completely classify this as a romance as I felt like the relationship that the main character Mylie had with her family and her town was more fleshed out than her relationship with Ben. Ben and Mylie were friends from 6th grade to graduation when Ben moved back to Chicago. Ten years later, Ben comes back after grad school to sell his grandfather's house and to reckon with the relationships that he has left behind. There were a lot of misunderstandings and poor communication between the leads but the side characters Granny, Cassie, Jodi, Stanley the dog and Fat Tony the raccoon made up for it!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Honestly, it was a bit of a rollercoaster, and not the fun kind. More like that rickety one at the fair you're kinda scared is gonna fall apart.

Initially, I was vibing with it. I was down for the small-town, second-chance romance. But, I felt like the chemistry between Mylie and Ben was a total snooze-fest. They jumped from "hey, remember me?" to "let's get it on" way too fast. It felt super rushed, like they were speedrunning the romance. Ten years apart and suddenly they're all heart-eyes? 😬🫤

The whole "friends with benefits" thing after a decade of radio silence was a little sketchy. They needed to actually reconnect, not just jump into bed. And the conflict, a bit lame. "Oh, we're not talking? Okay, now we are again." Yawn.

However, two stars doesn't mean it's a bad book. It was just not for me. It had potential, for sure. The characters had their moments, and I did chuckle a few times. But it felt like a draft that needed a serious overhaul. More depth, more conflict, and way less rushing.
I wanted to love it, but unfortunately, it just didn't hit the spot.

I appreciate Annie England Noblin, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for providing me with this advance reader copy for review.

Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

The most perfect childhood best friends to lovers romance I've ever read! Set in small-town Arkansas, with a sassy granny, a trouble-making little sister, an adorable and protective dog, Fat Tony, the neighborhood raccoon, and a romance that will melt your icy heart.

This book was everything I was looking for. I am in love with the love in this book, in all its forms. We have familial love, platonic love, and of course, romantic love. I was absolutely drawn in by the hilarious family dynamics Mylie has, first with her grandmother, who raised her, and then with her little sister, who Mylie practically raised. They have such loving, while also brutally honest, relationships with each other. They call each other out, they push each other to go after the things they want; they don't hold back. They bring out the best in each other and are loyal to each other no matter what happens.

Platonic love was a shining star in this book. This small town genuinely cares for each other and it's something I loved reading about. Everyone knows your name, your history, and seemingly knows what you need before you know yourself. But the love that stood out the most to me was Mylie and Ben's. They were childhood best friends until Ben leaves for college. Ten years later, Ben comes back to Arkansas and reconnects with Mylie. Y'all, their romance was so pure. It had me squealing and kicking my feet. This was the ultimate slowburn and it was done perfectly. I love the pining, the secrets, the confessions, and the heartache. And when Mylie and Ben finally realize they're meant to be together, it is oh, so satisfying. This is why the childhood best friends, best friends, or just friends to lovers is my favorite trope. It's just perfect. And Miss Annie did it so well. I am obsessed with this book. It is so full of heart and humor and the perfect read to usher in spring! Y'all really need to pick this one up. Thank me later.

Spring and new beginnings are in the air in this delightful small town, second-chance romcom.

✨ Book Review: SPRING FLING by Annie England Noblin ✨

Mylie loves her small town of Clay Creek, Arkansas. She’s made herself a good life there as the owner of a successful business while being surrounded by family and friends. Her childhood best friend and longtime crush, though, couldn’t wait to leave. Ben went off to college and spread his wings. He’s only in town for a few weeks this spring to sell his family home. It’s just enough time for Mylie and Ben to reconnect and Clay Creek to show all its color. The question is now, though, if Mylie and Ben can make it work now that they’re older.

My Take: This book is full of big characters and raw feelings. Granny and Mylie’s sister Cassie are especially wonderful. There are also lots of laughs, plenty of town gossip, and the high school bully who never did grow up. It’s a fun ride.

Read SPRING FLING for
🥰 Girl/boy next door vibes
✌️ Second-chance romance
🫶 Friends to lovers
🏡 Small town shenanigans
🦝 Neighborhood raccoon
🔥 Steamy chemistry
⏳ Flashbacks to childhood

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to @AvonBooks for the gifted eARC. All opinions my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Though this is your typical formula for a small town romance it was still enjoyable. I was definitely sucked in to the charm of it all. It had an interesting sub plot with Robbie, the town bully, who brings in turmoil and drama that helps keep things interesting. The characters were fun, especially Granny who was a complete hoot. I also liked the relationship between Miley and her younger sister, Cassie. Let’s also not forget about the beloved town raccoon, Fat Tony ❤️🤣

I did have a few issues.

First, the unlikely scenario how both the realtor and Ben both went to the wrong house. It was a bit far fetched for a small town scenario.

Second, the timing and pacing seemed a bit off at times, especially with the intimate scenes. The first two ended abruptly, while the last was several pages long. The spice portion seemed out of place and made the intimacy fell forced at times. I feel like the spice should have been left out on this one. I usually enjoy spicy books, but it just didn’t work here.

Finally, I do understand this was an uncorrected arc, but it had a lot of inconsistencies, more than I usual experience in an ARC. The FMC was Mylie/Miley. Her best friend was Jodi/Jodie both going back and forth the entire book. The timeline with Ben’s family history didn’t match up. Miley’s tackle shop was originally a shoe factory and then something different later on. Miley’s best friend, Jodie, was single in the beginning of the book and then 2 days later was bored of marriage. Definitely some head scratching moments where I questioned things. I do hope the final copy addresses these because this would easily be a 4 star book otherwise. I still enjoyed it and if you enjoy small town romances I think you will enjoy this too. I’m definitely will to read more from this author.

Ok so I am so incredibly glad I decided to choose this as a read now on Netgalley! This was surprisingly super cute and a bit more emotionally charged than I thought it would be. I definitely recommend reading this!

Mylie and Ben are the perfect example of how to do a second chance romance, friends to lovers, where they were just too young to realize what they had. The fact that they were so in sync from the moment they reconnect was incredibly sweet. Their banter was so stinking cute! There is just the right amount of spice that add just enough flavor to the story.

I loved the fact that this was a multi pov and split timelines. Having the ability to witness their love blossom from childhood to the present made it all the more remarkable. And let’s not forget the side characters, they are special in their own ways and the each add a little tidbit to the plot.

Spring Fling by Noblin is a charming, feel-good romance that perfectly captures the fresh, hopeful vibes of the season. The story follows two endearing leads whose unexpected connection blossoms into something deeper, with plenty of flirty banter and laugh-out-loud moments along the way. Noblin’s writing is warm and witty, making the characters feel authentic and relatable. The small-town setting adds a cozy charm, and the sprinkling of quirky side characters makes the story even more delightful.

While the plot hits some familiar romance beats, the sparkling dialogue and genuine emotional moments keep it engaging. It’s the perfect pick for readers craving a lighthearted escape with a touch of springtime magic. Four stars for its sweet romance, lovable characters, and breezy charm—ideal for a lazy afternoon with a glass of lemonade.

The small town setting of Clay Creek was really charming - loved the tight knit community. The characters surrounding the main couple—like Mylie’s quirky Granny and little sister Cassie—definitely added some fun and heart to the story. The storyline had its engaging moments and I was able to breeze through this book but the romance felt a bit forced. Mylie and Ben hadn’t spoken in over a decade, and then suddenly they were all over each other? Lots of tension and unresolved issues between them. The constant miscommunication and back-and-forth made it hard for me to buy into their relationship long-term. Overall, a solid story that many may enjoy. It is a light, breeze romance with the small town feel. It just didnt win me over completely.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Voyager / Avon for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A sweet friends to lovers romance set in a small town. I enjoyed the characters both the main and the side ones. This was just a cute story. I got the warm and fuzzies while reading it.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

♡ Thank you for the free book and ARC, Avon Books and NetGalley.

This was a lovely small town, second-chance romance. The slow-burn, friends-to-lovers elements were enjoyable and our FMC was the sweetest. I especially loved Mylie’s goal-driven and nurturing personality. Granny was a hoot and Ben was a catch. It was just a light, enjoyable read. And the cover is adorable.

Spring Fling is a cute, quick read with the perfect amount of romance! I read previous reviews on this book that mentioned they didn’t love the love story because they found it unrealistic or not relatable- I couldn’t disagree more because it reminds me of my own love story! Mylie and Ben were childhood best friends who went their own separate ways after high school graduation. Fate brings Ben back 10 years later (fate being his family home that he needs to put on the market) and he and Mylie finally embrace their feelings towards one another and give love a try. I loved the sacrifices they were willing to make for each other, and Granny is the best character of them all. I do wish the book had more character development all around.