This book was mediocre at best, it’s got the whole childhood friends trope and second chance romance which I’m usually a big fan of but this book just felt like it fell short for me.

This book wasn’t bad but it wasn’t amazing either it was just sort of meh, I didn’t have trouble reading it but honestly wouldn’t have been bothered if I’d never read it either.

I wasn’t a big fan of Miley and Ben’s relationship either which was a huge plot of the book, they constantly seemed to be arguing over one thing or another and honestly their comparability seems awful like that couple you know in ten to 15 years will absolutely despise and resent each other .

The book wasn’t for me but I do feel like there’s a large group of people that really will enjoy it.

Thank you Netgalley Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the arc.

* Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review

WAIT why was this so cute. I wasn't really feeling it in the beginning, but I took a break, and picked it back up again yesterday and finished it in one sitting. I actually loved the fishing aspect of it, but wish we saw more of them as little kids. Also the small town romance vibes were VIBING. I'm obsessed with Clay Creek and the supporting characters really made the book: Granny, Cassie, Melissa, and even the raccoon. I do think the ending was a little rushed, and we didn't really see Mylie and Ben actually being in a real relationship. I just wish there was more depth in their relationship. It sometimes feel like there was no chemistry and they just went in circles when it came to communicating.

This was a sweet small town romance which tried to be a second chance, friends to lovers romance as well. It's the story of Mylie and Ben, two people who have been best friends and secretly in love with the other since the sixth grade. The day after they graduate from high school, Ben moves to Chicago to go to college and doesn't come back for ten years. When he finally comes back, it is only to sell th family home so that he can move to the East Coast for a teaching job at a university. Mylie stayed in the small town and built a life which makes her happy.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and I really wanted to love this book. The relationship between Ben and Mylie was sweet and the main supporting characters, especially Granny, added to the story, but for me the story was slow. I am always up for a slow burn and friends to lovers requires a slow burn for it to work, but this story just seemed to drag. There wasn't any banter between the main characters. The writing didn't make me feel the tug between the characters and the fact that Ben had been away for so long distracted from this being a freinds to lovers story. They didn't know each other any longer and they really didn't spend much time getting to know each other again. It also wasn't truly a second chance romance because neither one of them admitted their love to the other wneh they were in high school. There was a third act breakup and I didn't even tear up because I was so uninvested in the relationship. There also was a side story going on which, in my opinion, did not add to the overall story but rather left me wondering why the author spent so much time on it for it to be so anticlimactic. The side story had the potential to really add to the story, but it fell flat for me.

I have never written a book, but I know it has to be difficult and time consuming and I respect anyone who puts themselves out there in that manner. I know there will be people who will love this book, but it wasn't a book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest feedback!
3.5 ⭐️ 1.5 🌶️
There’s a lot to love with this one:
A dual/multi-pov
Small town
A wild neighborhood Racoon
A MMC that hates water he can’t see bottom of(I feel seen, Ben)
Childhood best friends to strangers to lovers
A relatable FMC
Lovable characters

This was a quick and enjoyable read, but I would’ve liked to see more with their relationship. They have physical chemistry, but they fought quite a bit, both in present day and in the flashbacks to their younger years. They mostly manage to talk through those fights after the fact, but I wanted to see more about what brings them together instead of so much of what separates them.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing and captivating experience, and I found the writing to be both engaging and accessible. The story flowed smoothly, making it easy to stay connected to the plot and characters without feeling lost or overwhelmed. The author struck a perfect balance, keeping things interesting while still making the content feel approachable. Overall, it was a wonderful read, and I would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and easy-to-digest book.

Thank you to #Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book!

Spring Fling was a rom-com followed Mylie and her high school best friend Ben. Ben left after high school and they lost touch for ten years. Ben returns to the small Arkansas town and they reconnect. The book also flashes back to the development of their friendship, I liked how these chapters gave some depth to their relationship and made the whole friends to lovers trope believable. With out this it reads more like an enemies to lovers as Mylie and Ben had a lot of disagreements. I think the best part of this story was the small town vibes and Mylie's granny, she had some great lines and was rooting for all the young people in her life.

Overall this was a light easy read, I am giving it three starts because it was nice but did not stand out content or writing wise. I would definitely pick up a book from Annie England Noblin when I need a fun romance!

A sweet small town, friendship to love, old friends reconnecting story with a bit of drama thrown in for good measure. A great cast of characters with the expected nosy small town gossips . Mylie and Ben have loved each other for what seems like forever, but neither told the other. When he left town, he barely looked back. They had very different life goals and dreams so how could anything possibly work? She has her Granny, younger sister and a business she is so very proud of and he never considered their town his home. It was what it was. When he decides to sell his family home so he can move on with his life, he heads back to town thinking he can get in and out without much fanfare. Haha! It’s a nice, easy, sort of predictable (it is of course what we were expecting so not a true spoiler) yet wonderful read to their eventual HEA. A great cast of characters, good writing and a great ending made for a wonderful read.

Cute small town romance. Friends to nothing to lovers. Reads like a Hallmark movie, but I am not mad about it. Was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Annie England Noblin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.25 This was a cute, easy and quick read. I enjoyed the story and characters. Granny seems like a woman I want to be friends with.

The two timelines was a fun surprise- starting from when they met in 6th grade, we get some backstory on their relationship as they age and get closer to Ben leaving.

Two best friends, Ben and Mylie, who had feelings for each other but never acted on them reconnect after 10years and jump into a friends with benefits situation that has an expiration since Ben is leaving again. I wish there was a bit more substance to them reconnecting- they barely discussed anything before acknowledging a physical attraction and jumping into bed together. Also, zero conversation about protection or birth control which stuck out to me - I thought we might get an accidental pregnancy trope thrown in.

I noticed a few discrepancies in the book #1 Jodi’s mom tried to match her with Ben at the beginning saying her boyfriend of 5 years hadn’t proposed and then later in the story he’s referred to as her husband when discussing boring married life.
#2 when looking for Cassie, Granny gets a text from Louise about the fish weigh in but then Louise is pointing out where the cabin is (but she’s not with them in the boat).
#3 at the end Cassie brings up her boyfriend, Ryan, but they broke up earlier and there was no reference of them getting back together.
#4 FMC is Mylie or sometimes spelled Miley

Tropes:
Small town
Second chance
Friends to lovers
Slow burn
Closed door-ish
Third person POV
Then and now timeline

ARC Review!
Thank you to NetGally for this ARC.

The title is giving what the book is, a literal Spring fling. I have always wanted a Summer Romance and seeing how a Spring Fling plays out hurts!!! At least during the Summer once has 3 months. A Spring fling is weeks!!! I have no idea how Mylie did it. Mylie and Ben have liked each other since kids but no one did anything, ever. Everyone knew around them it was evident what they felt for each other but they never said anything. Ben left after graduation back to Chicago to pursue his college life and everything he dreamed of. They went 10 years without talking, 10 years without seeing each other until it was finally time for Ben to sell his family home and his mom made a stipulation that he must be in town before selling. Being back in town is confusing Ben all over again about his life. Mylie and Ben start something up that they know has an end date. They finally acted on what they wanted back in high school!! The spice is very minimal if someone wants that kind of book.
There's a bit of suspense with another little plot of a side character.
Overall the book was good, a fast read, a happy ending!
3 starss!!!

Read If You Like:
- Friends-to-lovers romances
- Small-town settings
- Stories featuring fishing tournaments
- Narratives about rekindling first love
- Romantic comedies with a dash of spice

In the quaint town of Clay Creek, Arkansas, Mylie Mason has built a fulfilling life running her successful tackle shop, Hook, Line & Sinker, and caring for her spirited Granny and younger sister, Cassie. Her world is pleasantly predictable until her childhood best friend, Ben Lawrence, returns after a decade-long absence to sell his family's home.

As the town buzzes with excitement for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie and Ben find themselves drawn together, revisiting shared memories and unresolved feelings. Despite their differing paths—Mylie deeply rooted in Clay Creek and Ben accustomed to city life—they explore the possibility of a future together.

With her signature wit and cozy charm, Annie England Noblin crafts a heartwarming tale of second chances, community, and the enduring magic of first love. "Spring Fling" is a delightful read that captures the essence of small-town life and the complexities of rekindled romance.

This was not my favorite. It was too introspective to the point it was distracting to the story. The characters were difficult to connect with. And there were so many things that were not super clear and others that were overexplained. I like the childhood friends turned lovers, small town romance, but this just didn't hit for me.

I'm not going to post my review on my socials, since this book hasn't released yet.

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!