This was a cute, fun romcom and I had a good time reading it, but overall I didn’t like the writing style and didn’t feel connected to the characters.

I would recommend it for the spring, but it’s not a favorite of mine!

All that to say the end was super cute and I did enjoy it

This was a quick read (around 300 pages). I really enjoyed it. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, when done well. This one was good!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

First off if you are looking for a quick, fun and cozy read, this is the book for you! From small town romance, first love, to friends to lovers - Miley and Ben’s relationship is a whirlwind!

A small town romance set in Clay Creek, Arkansas - Miley the Owner of Hook Line and Sinker - a bait and tackle shop and Ben a Professor of Economics, find their lives crossing paths again after 10 years as Ben fulfills a promise to his mother.

A four star quick read for me!

Thank you net-galley and Avalon Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

This book was such a nice pleasant surprise for me! I was craving something but didn’t know what and this small town cozy romance was perfect. It was childhood best friends and second chance romance without a lot of the miscommunication that typically comes with this trope. I loved the setting of clay creek, that characters, especially granny, and the little danger/drama subplot with Robbie. The dialogue was funny, sweet, and realistic instead of cringy, I laughed out loud several times. Overall, this was the perfect small town romance. It was a great length, super bingeable read, entertaining, and engaging!

2.5!

This book is a sweet small town romance, following Mylie and Ben. This book was a fast- paced romance novel, perfect for someone who wants a deeper story, but not the pages!

When I first started this book, my immediate notice was to the third point perspective. However, I did get past this throughout, and it ended up adding to the charm of the book. I typically do not gravitate to small town romances, however this book was so charming, and the third point perspective added to that.

As I mentioned before, this book was very fast- paced. As someone who can typically gravitate to more details, this was a great break. I feel that this left for more imagination, and is absolutely perfect for someone starting to read, or needs a cute spring read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon + Harper Voyager for the arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Clay Creek, Arkansas is a small town like any other, where everybody knows everyone else there. Mylie and Ben had been best friends and neighbors since grade school, but while Mylie flourished in their cozy little town, Ben felt suffocated by it and longed to explore the world. When they graduated from high school, despite feeling as though they could have been more than friends, Mylie planted her roots while Ben set off to Chicago to take his chance in a big city. Ten years later, Ben returns to Clay Creek to settle his mom and grandfather’s estates and to sell their home there. His plan is to sweep quickly in and out of town as if passing through, but will he still feel the same way once he’s in Mylie’s orbit again?

This was a sweet, cozy little love story. The characters were endearingly adorable and their easy familiarity with everyone in Clay Creek draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are a part of it all. I loved that Mylie was strong and independent, while still demonstrating compassion and empathy. Ben is headstrong and stubborn, but also kind and giving.

While the plot line was somewhat predictable, it was paced well and kept my attention throughout. Though not overly dynamic, the characters were charming and utterly likable. If you love a small town, friends to lovers romance that will make you smile, then I highly recommend this book for you.

A Very cute, small town second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance. It has all the things! I enjoyed Miley and the cast of characters that filled up her world.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

-Small town
-Friends to lovers
-Flashbacks
-Second chances

Spring Fling is about two friends who stopped talking to each other (mutually) ten years ago only to be brought together again when Ben (MMC) is selling his grandfather’s old house next door to Mylie (FMC). He comes back to Clay Creek until the house is sold, only to reconnect with Mylie all over again. And boy, are there sparks!

Mylie is a driven woman. She owns her own tackle shop and employs most of the town. She’s a firecracker, and I really grew to adore her character. She knows what she wants, and she isn’t afraid to go for it. Ben strikes me as this cute, shy puppy who can’t get his words out…but in a good way. He gives off massive good guy vibes. A man that would do anything for his girl.

This was an extremely cute and easy read. As a matter of fact, it’s the first ARC I read that I actually didn’t want to put down. I found the small town, country vibe really refreshing. There was enough drama just like there was enough sweetness. It was a good combo of the two. Plus, comedic relief! I can see this book reaching its target audience no problem. Like I said, it’s an easy read. Quick chapters and just over 300 pages. I really enjoyed it.

ARC Review: 3.5 rounded up to 4! A surprisingly enjoyable romance! I’m always hesitant with the friends to lovers romance trope but this one was done so well. It’s very fast-paced (sometimes maybe too fast) and while we have a little of the “if you liked each other so much before why didn’t you?” it made sense as naïve high schoolers to adults who know how to voice their feelings. Overall the plot was very simple and absolutely loved Fat Tony and hero Stan! Very thankful to have gotten this ARC.

Spring Fling was a gem of a book. I absolutely loved how easy it was to read, the storyline, the characters ( Granny!) and the friends to lovers trope. Miley was such a breath of fresh air reading and getting to know. My favorite item (again, outside of granny) was the questions game. It had me smiling as I read it. I can tell that this book is going to be heavily talked about in the book community and will become people’s favorites, just like it has become for me as a top book in 2024 for its feel good, heartwarming qualities.

I read this book in a day and can honestly say it one of my top books read of 2024.

Thank you to net galley and Annie England Noblin for the arc of this book!
while i found this book to be a nice palette cleanser type it did in pacing put the slow in slow burn and some of the plot points while interesting felt like filler events. While Ben was complex he seemed to be heavily burdened, which quickly resolved towards the end almost completely. Mylie was also an interesting and at times heart warming character although some of her inconsistencies although human seemed to serve more as a plot point than character point.

3/5 stars
1/5 spice ? - honestly I would say this borders on YA minus the portrayal of intimate acts while remaining bare in descriptors and amounts.
1.5/5 plot - it felt a little messy and additionally the pacing felt off heavily during the latter half of the book with the chapter lengths leaving a confusing inconsistency.

I do still highly recommend this book, I am personally overly picky with some tropes and aspects of book but the book was still enjoyable!!

Spring Fling was such a sweet small town romance! It reminded me of books that I loved by writers such as Jill Shalvis.

This was a really fun rom-com about getting a second chance with your high school best friend-turned-crush!

I loved the main characters, I haaaated the villian, and the setting seemed so lovely. I'm a sucker for books where the fmc doesn't just own a flower shop or a bookstore (even though I do love those, don't get me wrong!), but it's so fun to see Mylie's badass bait and tackle business that she built, including the big tournament she puts on.

It did take me a few chapters to adjust to the changes in perspective since they aren't labeled (at least in my ARC), but once I was prepared for it I actually liked it! Like, I got to take a second and figure out who's brain I was in and that was fun. Was the story a little predictable? Sure, but it's the rom com formula's fault! I didn't pick it up to solve any mysteries, I picked it up for warm fuzzies and Noblin delivered on that. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The book had some mis-spellings and grammar errors. Otherwise it was a good foundation and it just needs more depth because it was too quick to read. I needed more from the plot and characters.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

this is one of the best small town/friends to lovers books that i’ve ever read. it was such a cute, quick, and well-written read. i highly recommend adding this to your tbr for when you need a cozy, feel-good read!

thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon + Harper Voyager for the arc! i loved this one so much

This is a second chance romance set in Arkansas. Ben and Mylie were best friends 10 years ago, both wanting something more but too afraid to admit it. Ben left to go back to Chicago and never looked back. Now 10 years later Ben is back. Things have changed a lot. Mylie has her own business and life in Arkansas, and Ben has a prestigious job waiting for him. Not in Arkansas. Will Ben leave and never look back again breaking Mylie’s heart for the second time? Or will they figure out a way to stay together this time.

Not sure about this one. The dialogue was just so cringe and it just took way too much build. Too slow of a start. Just not for me.

4⭐
1.5🌶️

Spring Fling tells the story of a second chance at love in small town Arkansas. Miley and Ben were neighbors and best friends during middle and high school, but their relationship stagnated and they drifted apart when Ben went to college and Miley stayed in town. Now, they are both successful - Miley is running a thriving business selling fishing lures and Ben just completed his doctorate.

Ben comes back to Clay Creek to sell his mom's house in anticipation of accepting a job offer on the East Coast, but he and Miley quickly give into their feelings despite not knowing how long they have until he leaves.

Along with the romance, there's a suspensful subplot involving their high school bully.

Annie England Noblin nails the small town vibe- from all the moms showing up to bring Ben casseroles and pictures of their single daughters, to Granny calling everyone out on their nonsense. And the bingo scene and Sadie Hawkins dance makes me feel like I'm in Stars Hollow, just with less snark

Spring Fling was a quick enjoyable read that sucked me in pretty quick. It's perfect for a day on the beach or quiet afternoon on the porch

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this ARC in return for an honest review

I loved this sweet dual POV, small town, friends to lovers romance. It was cute, quick and easy to read. Granny was my favorite character! I recommend this cozy feel good book.

Spring Fling is a sweet, easy read about two childhood friend’s reuniting after 10 years apart. I enjoyed the story but it was a little slow for me. It couldn’t hold my attention like other books do.

There wasn’t a part of this book that I didn’t like, it was so cute and a quick, easy read too. I could feel the yearning between the main characters seeping off the page and I yearned with them. I loved the main characters, the plot line, both POVs and the pacing. I’m a sucker for a Spring/Summer book and this was perfect. No notes.

This was a story about two childhood friends, Mylie has lived in the Ozarks all her life and built a full life for herself there in her adulthood too. Ben moved there in grade school, from Chicago, and moves back to go to college. When it’s time for him to keep his promise to his deceased mom and go through the old house in the Ozarks, both him + Miley get a second chance to reunite as friends and to see what they could be.

Tropes:
* small town
* Dual POV
* Friends to lovers

Notes:
* I love Granny!!!!
* The questions game callback, my heart
* Sweet, heartwarming, feels good

I loved Miley, being the strong and independent woman, and taking care of younger sister and Granny. Granny was a freakin gem!!! I don’t know much about fishing and thought this might be a negative for me in the book, but it wasn’t at all.

I highly recommend adding this to your TBR list for a cozy, feel-good, Spring read.

Thanks to Net Galley x Avon + Harper Voyager Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own!