While I did enjoy this one, it definitely is not a favorite. I felt there needed to be more plot to the storyline to make it more impactful. Avery and Declan are the best of friends and they struggled to find their places in each other's lives as more than just friends. This was a fast, cute read that I would suggest to romance lovers.

This read was good.
Avery and Declan had chemistry. But the ending was unsatisfying. I just didn’t buy into Declan’s wobble on his was to true love.
This book starts slow but is worth a read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I'm sorry, but what did I just read? I am kinda confused. I do not understand how anyone can stand Declan. I would never be objective to Declan behavior whatsoever, so I am kinda confused on why Avery would stand by that behavior. No one should bully at all. Everyone is different. It does not mean they are weird or strange. Just different personalities to understand.

When Sparks Fly is the newest contemporary romance written by Helena Hunting. Believe it or not, it is actually the first book that I have read by her. I have heard her name often, and even have a couple of her previous books on my shelf but, for some reason have never picked them up. Well, I’m certainly glad that I decided to pick this one because it was a great introduction to her writing style and has me wanting to read more

When Sparks Fly is a best friends turned lovers type of scenario. I love those kinds of books especially when they are done right. In this case, Avery Spark and Declan McCormick are the two characters in question. They have been best friends since college and are currently roommates. The idea of romance has never crossed their minds but, suddenly they find themselves in a closer proximity than they ever expected. This brings up many questions and could change their dynamic forever.

Avery is a sweet girl but, she is very guarded. Her last relationship did not end well and since then she hasn’t really been able to commit to anything except for her work at her family’s event hotel. She is also emotionally traumatized from her parents death when she was eleven. They died in a car accident and when she winds up in a car accident herself, it brings up alot of emotions which she had thought she had resolved. Plus, she is normally very independent and does not like be helped with anything. So to be dependent on Declan is very hard for her.

Declan is in such denial about his feelings for Avery that he puts his emotions into everything else. He is a major playboy. In fact, this is the reason that Avery winds up in the car accident in the first place. Or so he blamed himself. If he had been more available, maybe the tragic event wouldn’t have happened. So when she needs someone to help her twenty-four seven, he is quick to volunteer. Only is is hard to keep those feelings hidden under the surface when they are so close together.

The switch from best friends to lovers does not happen over night for Avery and Declan. There is some strong build up first which I appreciated. And when things start to get complicated, they actually take a step back. There are so many factors that go into this dynamic and if this doesn’t work out it does not affect only them. I really liked the way that their relationship was built up. You could tell it was based on friendship and respect and that they were not afraid to call each other on their stuff. Also, they had chemistry together.

When Sparks Fly really was a wonderful introduction to Helena Hunting. I look forward to reading more from her soon. I’m also curious if she will be continuing with this and turning it into a series. Avery has two sisters who are single, plus Declan has a couple of buddies who are single I believe. Will we be able to see all them get their happily ever after?

When sparks fly by helena hunting

This is a friends to lovers slow burn romance. I got this review copy from #netgalleyarc and started reading with expectations as I liked another book by the author. However it was not that great for me and felt superficial until the last few chapters

This was a fun friends-to-lovers romance. The relationship wasn't rushed and there was just the right amount of angst. Overall, a good story, and I enjoyed it.

Helena Hunting writes the best heartfelt romances. This is a friends to lovers story. Avery and Declan have been best friends for years. They bought a condo together after college graduation and have a tight group of friends they hang out with. Avery is engrossed in making her family’s business a success. And Declan is a successful financial analyst bouncing from one girl to the next. One horrible decision by Declan changes both his and Avery’s lives forever. Will they be able to handle all these new and exciting changes to their relationship? I loved these two together and how they navigated each other’s feelings. A truly perfect love story.

I love Helena Hunting’s writing and a good friends to lovers story so I was excited to pick this one up. It had it’s cute, sweet, and steamy moments, and I loved a lot about the first half, but the last half didn’t work great for me.

Avery and Declan have been best friends since college and are currently roommates. There has never been anything romantic between them, but Avery gets in an accident that has her depending on someone most of the time for healing. And that someone becomes Declan.

I enjoyed this part of the book a lot. Watching Declan realize his feelings for Avery, him trying to make up for the accident which he feels to blame for, and especially watching things change and grow in their relationship. When Avery was mostly back to normal and started to go back to work etc things started to shift for me.

It took a few chapters to really get into this story but once I became invested in Avery and Declan, I was all in! I truly enjoyed this friends to lovers story and how both main characters came from dramatic pasts and had baggage they needed to work through. Their friendship was so strong that it seemed as though nothing could break them apart. The playfulness between them was fun, but the chemistry and sexual tension was also very apparent!

Appreciated the tension and drama that Helena Hunting infused into the couple's story and found that it really helped grow their characters as individuals and a couple. It wasn't drama for the sake of drama. It was deep routed, emotional and life changing.

I wished there was more from the side characters, especially Avery's sisters. They seemed to be such an interictal part of her life but their presence in the story was minimal.

Solid 4 star read and I especially liked the epilogue!

I loved this book. I thought it was a great friends to lovers book. Sometimes you just don’t know what you have until it’s gone or it could be done. This is the case in this book. You see Avery and Declan figure out what was always there in their own time. It is not all easy and does not go as planned. I loved that they stayed true to themselves while finding their way. They stated themselves and truly it was watching them figure it all out. It does get a little hard for a bit….. but again. They stay true to themselves! Great summer read at the pool or beach.

This is a cute friends to lovers romance. Declan and Avery are forced to re-evaluate their friendship after Declan takes care of Avery while she recovers from a car accident that left her with a broken arm and leg. I enjoyed the first two thirds or so of the book, but I felt like the main conflict was entirely Declan's fault and it made it hard for me to root for him for the last bit of the book.

Avery Spark and her sister's run the event house known as Spark House. Avery loves Spark house, her job, her sister, soccer, and her pals. She lives with Declan, one of her best friends from college. Everything in Avery's life is looking great, until she gets into a horrible car accident, which will involve a long recovery period and the help of someone by her side, Her siblings offer to do it, but with having to keep Spark House running without her, they really do not have the time to take her on, as well. Declan, feeling responsible for the state she finds herself in, insists on taking on the responsibility of caring for her. Soon, they have figured out ways to make some of the more uncomfortable tasks, like getting her to the bathroom and getting her bathed, work, and it seems like they have their groove back. What they do not plan for is the changes this could bring to their relationship, or the challenges her recovery might pose for other aspects of her life.

When Sparks Fly is a fun, light romance. It is an easy read that does not demand much from its audience. However, this reader was not in love with the book. It was fine, and I was even somewhat hooked for the first half of the story. Although it was not particularly believable, it was still fun to watch Avery and Declan discover that perhaps they can be more than just friends. However, when they stepped out of their bubble, and things got real, the bubble burst for this reader and the rest felt like a trudge to get to the end. I had hoped for more, but I am sure other romance lovers will enjoy this friend to lovers romance.

When Sparks Fly, the newest from Helena Hunting, is a fantastic friends-to-lovers romance featuring an independent, business-minded leading lady and the relationship-phobic roommate who’s always meant more to her than either one truly knew.

Avery Spark has always been one of the guys; athletic and more at home around sports than the makeup counter, she’s also the face of her family’s hotel and event planning company. She spends her days running the business with her sisters, and her nights talking sports and hanging with her roommate, Declan. Declan, with his commitment issues and girls that never last more than a few weeks. They’ve been friends since freshman year of college, with a bond made even stronger by past drama, but they’ve never crossed the line into something more. But then Avery is in an accident, and Declan, out of grief and guilt, becomes her primary caretaker on her road to recovery. As Avery heals, her friendship with Declan moves into new territory and the lines begin to blur. As they both begin to see a new future ahead of them, their pasts come back and make them second-guess everything they thought felt right. Relationships aren’t easy, and both Declan and Avery realize that even love based on friendship will take work and patience if they want it to last.

I adored the characters in When Sparks Fly. I thought Avery was a relatable main character, even though she is athletic and I am the exact opposite. I loved that Avery was still very family-oriented, despite balancing work, sports, and hanging with the guys. Her sisters were just as important in her life as everything else, and too often it seems like the jock girls are unable to relate to their feminine sisters. So I loved that Avery made time for everyone, especially when her and her sisters weren’t exactly on the same page. Declan has many faults, and it made him a realistic, but broken, character. Declan went through a bigger transformation throughout the story, and I thought it was perfect. Usually, the sporty, promiscuous guys in romances are alpha types, but Declan was definitely more of a beta and I loved seeing that representation. I think what I enjoyed most about both Declan and Avery is that they both made mistakes, and they were able to see that and own up to it; there was no denying their issues or pretending they were faultless.

Hunting’s story was easy to read; I easily got lost in the pages and found myself devouring this story in just two sittings. There was family drama, friendship drama, romance drama – and Hunting wove it all together very well. When Sparks Fly had laughs and easy-going banter, and Avery and Declan were such a natural progression of friends-to-lovers with just the right amount of conflict. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I can’t wait to see what Hunting has planned next for the Spark sisters.

Helena Hunting writes seriously good stories. When Sparks Fly is a sweet friends to lovers, “nursing back to health” story, featuring Declan and Avery—two best friends & roommates who secretly catch feelings for each other.

Helena Hunting’s books are perfect for readers who love Christina Lauren or Jasmine Guillory, or for readers who enjoy romances with humor and heart.

While it isn’t my favorite book of all time, I enjoyed Avery and Declan’s story, and I loved how the plot worked to normalize therapy and prioritizing healing, whether of trauma or grief or harmful learned behaviors. I love how both of them working on themselves led to a healthier relationship in the end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

"Avery is my best friend, my soul mate, my everything."
DECLAN WALKER, MARRY ME RIGHT NOW. Avery and Declan's friendship is honestly goals, with their crossword puzzles, their constant roasting and bickering, and most of all, the way they look out for each other. After that car accident, I really thought Declan would never be the same again, let alone Avery. But they both came out stronger than before. When they start to realize the feelings they had for each other were more than just "platonic," I WAS LITERALLY SCREAMING. I love relationships that start off as friends, as I believe friendship is the strongest base to any relationship. I also love the character development of both Avery and Declan, as Declan learns to work on his trust and commitment issues while Avery learns about the essence of communication. ALSO, shoutout to the coolest side characters I've ever seen; Harley, London, Mark and Jerome. I hope Helena gives each of these characters their own stories; I would totally pick them all up. A WONDERFUL BOOK.

Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite types of romance, and Helena Hunting certainly delivers with this book.

Avery and Declan have been friends since college and now share a condo. After a nasty break-up with Declan’s once best friend, Avery hasn’t dated anyone seriously. Declan is traumatized by his parents’ disastrous relationship, and as a result is convinced he’s not relationship material. Because of all of this, they have repressed their mutual attraction and have gotten comfortable in the friend zone.

Yeah, like that’ll work in the long run.

Avery is in a car accident and, after being discharged from the hospital, requires round-the-clock care and assistance. Declan makes some arrangements at work so he can fill this role, also allowing Avery’s sisters to focus on their shared business. As she needs help with even some of the more intimate tasks, Avery and Declan grow even closer, and the attraction they tried to deny for so long becomes impossible to ignore.

Not only are they now faced with redefining their relationship, Avery’s recovery and increasing independence plays into Declan’s insecurities, which neither of them handles well. When this comes to blows, they have to decide how to move forward – if at all.

I liked how this was ultimately resolved. It shows that relationships require work, especially when there’s underlying trauma. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This one fell a little flat to me, it was a little predictable and monotonous but still super sweet. I did enjoy Declan a lot as a character. Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for this book as I love Helena Hunting"s work.

This isn't my first go around with Helena Hunting. I have read half of the Pucked series.

This is a friends to lover tale. One friend lets another friend down and they wind up getting hurt. He then has to nurse her back to health. The problem with this book is that we didn't see much of them being friends first. I think that is what makes a friends to lovers work well. Because this was lacking, I gave it three stars. I just did not feel the connection as well as I wanted between the characters.

Another amazing book with great narration. Helena Hunting never disappoints and yet again I got lost in her book. I enjoyed the friendship and loved the chemistry building between roommates Avery and Declan. The dual narration in the audio book was on point. I’m always in a mood for a Helena Hunting book. Highly recommend

A sweet and fun romance worthy of Helena Hunting! If you've read her before, then you already know what kind of fun you're going to find here.

I was particularly drawn to the romance because the friends-to-friends trope is one of my favorites, and I loved how the author knew how to balance both factors, letting us see Avery and Declan being best friends (and roommates), but also showing the most intimate side of them as a new couple, discovering new and unknown aspects of the other.

As for the subplot, I really liked the idea of these sisters, all with drastically opposite personalities, running this Inn, trying to juggle and pirouette to maintain the family legacy.