I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book (given by Netgalley)...

3.75/4 stars

I adore a good best friends to lover story when it is done properly and I did enjoy this book. Avery and Declan have been besties for a while when things starts to take an interesting romantic change in their relationship. There were definitely moments I wanted to shake some of the characters, but it was an enjoyable read.

I don’t think I’ve ever disliked a hero more than I disliked Declan. He just made one bad move after another. The author wrote a good redemption epilogue but in the end it was just too late for me personally. I did enjoy Avery’s backstory and the aspect of her business, The Spark House with her two sisters, London and Harley. I think the author set it up to write their stories next and I will give them a try because this one did have great chemistry and steam and would like to see more of these characters.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting is a friends to lovers romance that sort of fell flat for me. While I typically love the trope, I had to force myself to finish, mainly because I couldn't stand Declan and how I felt like I was reading two different books. I liked the first half but coming into, what I called it, Act Two, it felt like I was reading another book and I couldn't get with them as a couple. I typically love Helena's books but this was a miss for me this time.

Avery Spark is loving life, she works with her sisters at a job she adores, and her best friend is also her roommate. She doesn't have time for relationships and dating is not something she looks forward to. The free time she does have is spent hanging out with the guys and playing sports. Her life is upended when she is in a car accident and needs round the clock care. Her roommate Declan volunteers to care for her because he feels responsible for what happened. She agrees to let him help but soon realizes just how awkward this situation is going to be. Declan is ready to jump in and has no problem in helping with any thing she might need. As time begins to pass the awkwardness fades and the two begin to feel more than friendship for one another. Neither is great when it comes to relationships because of past issues. Follow along as the two try to figure out what they want and need from the other. Will love win in the end or will past issues rear there ugly head and.put and end to something that could truly be wonderful?

This friends to lovers romance was intense. It doesn't shy away from heavier topics such as fatal car accidents, jealousy, trauma, temporary disability and more. I love the way Hunting explored the dynamics of a friends to lovers dynamic within a larger friend group and the way a relationship can test the limits of that friendship. I also really appreciated that Avery didn't magically heal after her accident and that the descriptions of her needing to be cared for were authentic. I also really appreciated the way that Declan dealt with the relationships in his life and grew to realize how toxic the dynamic truly was.

I struggled with some of the repetition and some of the bigger topics were introduced and then didn't seem to get resolved.

Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's Griffen for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Helena Hunting is one of those authors I have been aware of for a very long time but have never read any of her books, so I was excited to read this one. It’s a contemporary, friends to lovers, sick bed romance. Avery and Declan have been friends for years and are roommates when Avery is left with a broken arm and leg in a car accident. Declan takes it upon himself to care for her because he feels responsibility for the accident (he wasn’t with he when he should have been). The two finally own up to their long suppressed attraction and begin a friends with benefits relationship wile still denying their love for one another.
I really liked Avery. I loved seeing her interact with both her sisters and her friend group. She felt very authentic and I fell like I was really able to get a feel for who she is. I also really liked Declan. He somehow managed to be an alpha tool while still being sweet in a way that felt like a real human. I appreciated the authenticity of the pair’s individual journeys and their journey as a couple.
It’s a minor thing but as someone who does the New York Times Crossword every day, it made me laugh that one of the ways that Declan showed his love to Avery while he was in cold storage was by doing the all the down clues on the cross word leaving her the across clues. That’s not how crosswords work, especially newspaper ones. If he did all the down clues, the crossword would be complete.
I did listen to part of the audiobook and really enjoyed it. Both narrators did really well and kept me engaged in the story. I will have to read more of Helena’s books in the future.
Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an easy, enjoyable read. I liked Avery and Declan, and while they had good chemistry, I didn’t necessarily feel the sexual tension between them. Overall I enjoyed the story. It was a satisfying read.

Declan and Avery are best friends who live together and when Avery gets into a car accident, Declan filled with guilt takes the initiative to be the one to take care of Avery. With all the forced intimacy, it’s impossible to not realize what’s always been there but after Avery’s healed, their relationship outside of their bubble is tested.

I liked it okay. Their chemistry with one another was fun and familiar. The only thing that made me not love it was the abelist-esqe commentary when Avery was hurt and in the hospital as well as when she returned home. It was all written like she wasn’t able to live comfortably in a wheelchair or was something less because she had casts on and didn’t have a lot of mobility.

An overall rating 3.2 out of 5 is what I'm giving this one. Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this one and hope that it is the first of a series because we totally need more of the Spark sisters. I’m a sucker for a good friends to lovers romance but this one definitely takes the unique storyline trophy because Declan had to take care of Avery for weeks. That brought out feelings they buried and things got interesting. I didn’t want to put this book down and was a little hungover when it was done. Can’t wait for more!
*I received an ARC for an honest review*

I loved both Avery and Declan and how they finally realized they were perfect for each other. I also enjoyed Avery's sisters and I'm going to see if they have a book and if not I hope they will in the future. Can't wait to read more by this author.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I enjoyed the story of Avery and Declan immensely. I found the writing to flow well and the story was balanced. The point of view of this story changes periodically from Avery to Declan and back again. The other characters of the story are Avery's sisters and Declan and Avery's buddies from college that they get together with every few weeks. These characters all have important parts throughout the telling of this story. This is a friends to lover story and there is some reference to "getting it on". I thought it was just a little "steamy" in some parts; but, not over the top, very well done. I liked that the dynamics of Avery and Declan's early family life are what led them to where they are today. Declan comes from a dysfunctional family and Avery and her sisters became orphans at a young age (Avery was a teen). Avery and Declan find themselves in close quarters and feelings begin to emerge; that they may have been harboring for a long time. Whether or not they can figure things out and become an actual dating couple remains to be seen. They both have a lot of emotional baggage that needs to be dealt with.
I found the authors way of dealing with conflict and facing one's own emotions/short-comings was done extremely well. Clear heads prevail in times of emotionally charged conflict. All-in-all I found this to be a very good story.

When Sparks Fly combined two of my favorites things in a romance novel; it’s a friends-to-lovers and written by Helena Hunting.
And it gave me all the feels.

Avery and Declan have had a strong friendship for years. They love going on adventures together and share the same type of humor.
But when Avery get injured and needs someone to nurse her back to recovery, the close proximity brings up feelings that have always been just under the surface.
I loved this story, it gave me everything I love about a friends to lovers romance.

I will say towards the end the light and fluffy took on a slightly more serious tone that I didn’t really feel was consistent throughout. I still very much enjoyed it. I’d recommend.

4⭐️

This is a friends to lovers trope... when I read the blurb, I hooked so I was looking forward to it.

Avery and Declan are best-friends and roomies for a couple of years now. And I guess you know where this story is going.

Sigh.

These two were frustrating, clueless but aware at the same time... lol

It's a little bit angsty, frustrating but also heartwarming and inspiring.

I’ve seen books by this author raved about a lot, but never read anything of hers, so when an opportunity to read this one as an ARC came up, I thought why not, let’s see what all the fuss is about.

And… I regret to say, I’m distinctly underwhelmed. I liked Avery, the heroine, well enough, even if she is very Not Like Other Girls. I don’t mind the friends to friends-with-benefits to lovers arc. I do, however, have serious problems with a hero as selfish and thoughtless as Declan. And honestly, this book is really a story about Declan’s personal growth, from a selfish thoughtless jerk sleeping with a different girl every week and letting down people who rely on him, to a guy who realizes he’s in love with his best friend and needs serious therapy if he’s ever going to be able to hold down a relationship with her.

I liked that we saw Declan actually getting that therapy. That’s something that’s all too often glossed over in fiction in general, never mind romance. There’s also some difficult times for Avery as she spends most of the book recuperating from serious injuries, none of which is shied away from. It’s realistic and at times confronting. But by the end of the book, Avery is still pretty much exactly the same person she was at the beginning, and it’s Declan who’s had the growth arc… which is not at all what usually happens in a M/F romance. It felt like wish-fulfillment. That a jerky playboy type really can turn himself around if he falls in love with the right woman. And honestly, that type of story isn’t my jam at all - I don’t like reformed rakes in the historical romances I read, either. So I’m afraid I can’t give this any more than three stars, and I’m not interested enough in Avery’s sisters to bother looking for their books when they come out.

When Sparks Fly is a fun romcom with some emotional baggage thrown in. The first part of the book had me smiling and sighing at the friendship that Avery and Declan have, even though a car accident occurs early in the book. But then once things seem to be going well, something snaps and things get real. By this point of the story, I found myself reacting emotionally to both main characters and I was anxiously searching for a hint at their resolution. Helena Hunting is great at writing flawed characters that bring out the reader’s anger, sympathy, and appreciation somehow all in one story. Avery and Declan may not be the cute and perfect couple, but their relationship feels authentic and relatable.

Thank you to @smpromance @stmartinspress @helenahunting and @netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

How beautiful is this cover? I adore friends-to-lovers romances, and this book was just what I needed when I read it.

I loved Avery (that’s also one of my favorite girls’ names)--she was one of those characters that I feel like I’d be great friends with in real life. She’s sporty, fun, independent, and running what seems like an awesome business.

When Sparks Fly reminded me a lot of People We Meet On Vacation, mostly in the way the two main characters interacted with each other. All of the relationships in this story were great. Declan and Avery had great banter, but I also loved Avery’s relationship with both her sisters and her other guy friends.

I got to Zoom with Helena Hunting about this book. Let me just say that Helena has been one of the most fun authors to talk to! I especially loved her demonstration of the little stars that London makes in the story.

I can’t wait for the rest of this series: first London’s story and then Harper’s. I’m excited to read more about Spark House and see Avery again in future books!

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a copy! It came out about a week and a half, so even though I’m a little behind, the benefit is you can read it now! 🤣🤣🤣 If you have enjoyed other Helena Hunting books, I think you will enjoy this one as well. ☺️

Avery has been working hard the past years creating her own company with her two younger sisters while living with her best friend Declan. When Declan bails on helping her one morning, she ends up in a horrible accident and is unable to get around. Guilt ridden Dec becomes her caregiver. Soon they both start to wonder if maybe they not just friends.

This is a fun friends to lovers story! I loved that Declan was there for Avery after her accident. This was a fast read and I flew through it.

This was a cute friends-to-lovers story.

Avery and Declan have been best friends for years. Now an adult, not only does he handle the finances for the business that she runs with her two sisters, but he is also Avery’s roommate. When Avery gets seriously injured in a car accident, Declan feels horrible and guilty that he wasn’t there for his friend when she needed him. Trying to make up for his mistake, Declan takes "caregiver" to a whole new level.

Even though I didn’t get the same feels that I usually get from a Hunting book, overall, I enjoyed their story.

A perfect rom com for fans of the "friends to lovers" trope.

Avery and Declan are roommates and platonic friends. But when Avery is injured in an accident, she needs to rely on Declan for help. And when Declan realizes that he might have lost Avery in the accident (and blames himself), he begins to see her in a whole newlight.

When Sparks Fly is a VERY slow burn. I must admit I did get impatient at times waiting for these two to finally realize that they were perfect for each other and the sparks finally started flying. Loved Avery's sisters and their relationship and I suspect there will be two more "sparks" books coming???

Combine, friendship, tragedy, love, and jealousy and you get one heck of a story. Avery and Declan are best friends and roommates. Their relationship is just a friendship until a car accident changes everything. Avery is stuck in two casts and can't care for her basic needs. In comes Declan to the rescue, but the friendship is pushed beyond when Declan helps Avery with her every, and I mean every need. Declan and Avery have to travel some very rocky roads to hopefully come out on the other side with at least a friendship still intact. This was a really fun read that was enjoyable from the beginning to the end. 4 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC.