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.

It's been a decade since Ben left Clay Creek and Mylie behind. Ben had always planned to leave, therefore, he never acted on his attraction to Mylie, but the timing may finally be right for a little spring fling.

Spring Fling was a fun and cute small town romance. Everyone in these parts knows how much I love characters with history, and Mylie and Ben shared plenty. I was treated to learning all about their friendship via flashbacks, and I must say, they made many wonderful memories together. Though their relationship had lapsed, they were able to easily slip back into that friendship which I kept hoping would turn to more.

One of the things that made this story so much fun was Clay Creek. As with most small towns, this one was packed with quirky characters who added a lot to the story. Granny, Cassie, and Jodie were standouts who amplified the chaos and shenanigans. I really enjoyed all the events and festivities I got to attend as well.

Overall, I enjoyed spending time in Clay Creek where I had a great time mingling with the townsfolk as Mylie and Ben tried to figure out if they had a future together.

I enjoyed reading Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin is your classic small town friends to lovers second chance romance and it checks off all the boxes!

Initially I was wary coming into this book because of some of the other reviews but DO NOT LET THEM DISCOURAGE YOU FROM READING THIS FANTASTIC BOOK!

If you adore friends to lovers like me, you will love this book! It’s one of my all time favorite tropes and Noblin does a fantastic job at making a classic her own.

I love the dynamic between Mylie and Ben and the reverse side of the more common “girl wants to leave small town” trope. The dual timeline really adds something special to the book and really helps you understand their relationship when they were younger.

I enjoyed reading this all the way through and if you like Hallmark style sweetness and a couple good open door spice scenes you should give “spring fling” a try!

I found this a very sweet story about old friends finding that they still have the attraction that they had when they were high schoolers. Mylie is a great heroine. I really liked how she lives with her Granny and younger sister and doesn’t wish to leave and be on her own. She has built her own successful tackle business.

The problem is that Ben is set to move to Boston where he has a great offer to be a professor at a university there. So the problem is how they will resolve the problem of living in two different locations. This is a common trope in romances and I never find the resolution very believable. Of course, it will work out fine since this is a romance novel. Overall, I enjoyed the town and the relationships.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This was a cute book. The book was a quick read even though it was in third person. Whole book is in third person speech which is not my favorite. Thank you NetGalley for this book.

QUICK GLANCE-
My format-ebook ARC
Other formats: Audio🎧 (8 hours and 28 minutes) and 📖Physical (304 pages)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️(Skip chapters 35 and 44 for closed-door modification, Ch 39 contains brief explicit content)
Language: 🤐🤐mild/moderate

MY THOUGHTS:
This book was just alright for me. It’s a charming second-chance, small-town, friends-to-lovers romance centered around Mylie and Ben, with glimpses into both their youthful past and present-day lives. While their dynamic was undeniably sweet, their relationship developed so quickly that I struggled to feel the emotional connection, tension, and gradual build-up that make second-chance romances so impactful. The small-town charm added a lovely touch, but ultimately, the side characters and side characters overshadowed the main romance, leaving me wishing for more depth and focus on their story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I'm not normally huge on romance books, but Spring Fling was the perfect book to read as the weather starts to warm up. I loved this small town, second chance romance story between childhood best friends and was rooting for them every step of the way. Granny was also such a fun character that reminded me of a few people in my own hometown.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC

4 ⭐

3.5 stars

Spring Fling is a perfect spring read! It is a light and airy romance just like the time of year. If you love small town and second chance romances, then you’re going to love this book!

It is a quick and cute read but I felt like the love interests didn’t belong together. There was a sense of wrongness even though the romance was cute. As the title states, Fling, which I think that it’s more of that versus long lasting.

This book is still a great read for when you’re sitting out on your porch, deck, in the grass, in your garden or just snuggled up in bed!

Mylie has been secretly in love with her former next door neighbor for years. When he comes back to town to sell his grandpa's house. He is able to see Mylie again and he has secret feelings too. 🙄 But he has plans to move to Boston not live in Clay Creek, Arkansas.

Second chance romance, quirky southern town full of quirky hilarious people. I really enjoyed this book. It was a pleasant surprise. A good escape from reality.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc and to Libro FM for the alc of this book.

This was a really beautiful debut romance. I really enjoyed this story and found it to be addicting and mesmerizing. I think if you love books by authors such as Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez, you will fall head over heels for this love story. Amanda Stribling does a fantastic job with the audiobook narration too. I will be definitely on the lookout for more books by Annie England Noblin in the future! 5 stars!

I’m always happy to find another book written by Annie England Noblin but sometimes I forget just how much fun they can be. Spring Fling is terrific, one of the best. Fast-paced and smooth-moving plot, wonderful characters, alternating in time with flashbacks to when Ben and Mylie met in 6th grade through their high school graduation and what’s happening now in the present in Clay Creek, when they’re 28 years old and he has briefly returned after a 10-year absence. No communication between them for most of those ten years; she has always loved Clay Creek; he could never wait to leave it. He’s just here to sell his grandfather’s home. In fact, he’s only actually here because he promised his mother before her death that he would spend a little time in Clay Creek.

Ben and Mylie’s relationship was complicated. The best friends part was simple: they knew everything about each other, were beyond comfortable together. What wasn’t so simple was the deeper feelings each had but was afraid to share. She knew he wanted to get out of town as soon as he could; he had big plans for life and they couldn’t happen in Clay Creek. She wasn’t going to ask for something she knew she couldn’t have. He didn’t want to lie to her, to make promises he knew he couldn’t keep, so he never spoke up either. And they drifted apart. She was devastated but built the business she always wanted, has close family and friends, casually dates and is at home in her town. He continued his education and now has a shot at a good teaching job (he’s a professor now!) and the start of the life he’s dreamed of. His mother and grandfather are both gone now and he doesn’t really have close friends and has only casually dated, too. But this was the plan and things have gone according to plan so he’s happy, right?

He plans to pretty much sneak in to Clay Creek, get that house sold, and sneak back out. But Clay Creek is the town where everybody knows your name, and your business, and just stopping at a gas station alerts the gossip chain before he even makes it to the house. He hasn’t been back for so long he tries to unlock the front door of the wrong house, the house next door, which by the way is where Mylie lives with her grandmother and half-sister. Their first encounter in ten years – late at night, in the dark, her in her nightgown with a shotgun – is funny, and poignant and sets up the rest of the story.

You can almost see the electricity from the sparks between them and right away you try to figure out where that could go. We already know that Mylie loved him then and probably loves him now but he’s on a short, focused mission and it doesn’t look like anything has changed. We have no idea what’s really going on in his head except the doesn’t like the laser focus of everyone in town, the intrusion into everyone else’s business and don’t find out until much later. He loved big city life in Chicago and didn’t want to come to Clay Creek when he was a child and his father died, and he’s convinced he’ll always love big city life best. But those sparks, and maybe something deeper between them, are pretty intriguing. Have to see what happens.

Spring Fling is tender, romantic, sometimes heartbreaking. Mylie and Ben are likeable, lovable, irritating, exasperating with an equally wonderful well-crafted, interesting group of characters around them. You might love them or you might hate them, but you won’t be able to stop turning pages.

Thanks to William Morrow Group Harper Collins Publishers for providing an advance copy of Spring Fling via NetGalley. It was a great read with a completely satisfying ending and I recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.