Declan and Avery are the main characters in a friends to lovers story. Ordinarily, I enjoy this trope, but I gotta admit to having a hard time with this one even although I love HH. I didn’t like Declan. He’s the friend your friends tell you to stay away from . And Avery needs to grow some responsibility skills. I get that HH used these things to bring them together, but maybe a test group of readers could let her know that this beginning isn’t making readers love the two of them. Now, once the book got past this, it returned to typical HH happiness. ThTs why I’m giving it 4 stars.

This was a cute friend to lovers book. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters, wasn’t a huge fan of Declan at the beginning, but he grew on me. Over all it was a good read!

I was very excited about the synopsis of this one, but it ended up falling flat for me. Two best friends are living together, she gets into an accident, and he is nursing her back to health. It sounded promising but what was supposed to be romantic ended up feeling forced without any chemistry between the two. Then add in their big blow-up and the events that follow, it just seemed a bit much to me personally.

What I liked was the idea of the storyline, because I am a sucker for friends-to-lover romances.

What I didn't enjoy was the lack of character development and the pacing. When I finished reading this one I realized I couldn't physically describe either of the main characters, which is a huge negative for me. Furthermore, things seemed to drag for quite a while. It took forever for them to get together and then seemed to take just as long to put the pieces back together again, simply because of an over-reaction.

This one just wasn't for me but most other reviews are positive so give it a chance for yourself!

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I really, really wanted to like this book more than I did. I absolutely hated Declan. I am all for the a*hole heros who eventually redeem themselves but this guy was awful all the way through the book. He did do alot of groveling but I also didn't feel like he changed. And I really didn't like Avery either. She was the typical "I'm not like other girls" girl. She likes sex, she preferred to hang out with guys, and she didn't like girls because they were dishonest. Blah blah. I hate that type of girl.

So overall I really would have DNFed this book if I wasn't reading it for Netgalley. If I don't enjoy the characters, I can't enjoy the story. So this one wasn't for me.

I really like Hunting's book, and this was no exception. Though I wasn't prepared for the car accident (I didn't read the blurb ahead of time) and it triggered feelings from my own car accident, I did love where this plot twist took the rest of the story. I loved the relationship build as well as the coming of age for both characters. It was definitely a quick read, and one I was eager to recommend.

Hello, Helena? Please contact my girlfriend and have her set up cute long distant-ish dates at parks.

I needed a light-hearted romance and I was so excited to have an ARC of When Sparks Fly handy on the my Kindle. Helena is a fantastic romance writer and this standalone was just what I was looking for. I admit, there are some scenes that I understand could be problematic depending on perspective of the reader and it is worth knowing that in advance prior to starting. The main female character is involved in an accident and while recovering she and her roommate and friend begin a friends-with-benefits type relationship. While I noted those scenes as a bit murky, they did not take away from the read for me and I acknowledge that some readers will see them as fine and others will not.

Declan is your classic millennial a-hole. He has parental-issues, is famous for his hookups, and he harbors very apparent feelings for his female best friend and roommate. He lashes out, sees things in black and white, and can be difficult. Avery is your classic millennial successful female. She's single, has made success on her own, and her best friend is a male. Add in a car accident, some serious groveling, and a quarantine-style stuck inside together scenario and you have a friends-to-lovers romance. There isn't a lot of meat to the story, to be honest, but the minimal angst, fun chemistry, and attraction acknowledgement was enough to keep me entertained. When Sparks Fly is a cute romance that I recommend for readers looking for a quick-read that ends with all the feel-good feelings.

BOOK REVIEW: When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting

Oh my goodness! A completely new twist on what it might mean to be a "true friend"?! And I'm putting the word out to my friends... I will not be asking you to "step up"!... ✨😎✨

T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books of 2021

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Romantic Comedy | Friends To Lovers | Steamy Romance
• T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating: 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy)
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: Colorado

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY...
What If You And Me by Roni Loren

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Books, Lifestyle & Home Ideas for Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

I usually love Helena Huntings writing but this one fell short for me. The characters were one dimensional and the plot just didn't do it for me.

New author for me and I liked the story and the characters but I think a better cover would go down well not that it detracts from the story

Going from friends to lovers isn’t an easy transition. That is the premise in Helena Hunting’s newest book, When Sparks Fly. Helena Hunting is one of my favorite authors so naturally, I was excited to read this one.

Delclan and Avery have been best friends since college and once they graduate, they become roommates. They have a great relationship and enjoy spending time together because they both love sports. They are athletic and love everything that has to do with the sports world. However, their friendship changes when Avery has a bad auto accident.

I liked Declan, although he is a manwhore. I found it is easy to forgive him because deep down he is insecure and dealing with baggage from his past. Declan is filled with self doubt when it comes to relationships and he doesn’t think he is suited to a long lasting relationship. So, his life is filled with a series of hookups with different women.

Avery is the perfect friend and Declan doesn’t want to ruin their perfect friendship by becoming intimate with her. The only problem is lately, he finds he can’t stop thinking about her and staying away from Avery becomes impossible.

Helena Hunting knows how to write romance and she doesn’t disappoint with this one. It is fun, slow burning and has entertaining characters. I thoroughly enjoyed Declan and Avery's story. They have so much in common and are great together. They worry they will ruin their wonderful friendship if they take a chance on love, but I wanted them to work everything out and end up together. This tender story had me quickly turning the pages to find out what would happen next.

Short and sweet friends to lovers, kinda fell flat for the most part. Apart from the Pucked series, these romcom style novels from Helena Hunting aren't doing it for me but her writing style alone is enough for me to keep reading in case I discover a hidden gem. That being said for fans of the trope this will be an enjoyable read, it just wasn't for me.

When Sparks Fly was an interesting idea but I'm not sure the execution landed in a way that hooked me. Avery and Declan being friends to lovers just didn't seem to happen in a way that made me believe that they were a couple. They just never connected in a way that made me want to read much of the story. A decent amount of ableism in Avery's point of view also just annoyed me enough that I never connected with either,

Avery & Declan have been best friends since college & live together. They’ve been through a lot in their lives. Avery’s parents were killed in a car accident. Declan was used a pawn in his parent's toxic relationship. They both have their demons and are oblivious to their feelings for each other. When an accident that Declan blames himself for leaves Avert relying on him completely. Feelings build as Declan cares for Avery his way of repenting for his guilt. Even then it’s not plain sailing for our hero & heroine as Declan insecurities bite.
There is definitely more angst in this story than say Helena’s Pucked series, but there is enough humour & banter to balance. The heroine & hero are relatable and engaging.
I enjoy Helena’s style of writing. Her talent for an outlandish scene is legendary. This was a highly enjoyable read that was difficult to put down.

So much fun! Sweet and sexy and brilliant friends to lovers story. Declan and Averys chemistry is so well crafted and lovely. I love how they grow and learn together. Loved it.

Thank you for the advanced reader/ listener copy of this book. Declan and Avery have an incredible chemistry that had me binge reading this book in one day! Thanks for a great book that I will recommend to many!

I knew I couldn't wait to read this one by Helena Hunting! loved both Meet Cute and Kiss My Cupcake last year and wasn't disappointed.

In this friends-to-lovers romance, Declan came out the gate rowing a douche canoe and I was sure I was going to hate his character. When his best friend Avery is in a car accident, he steps up to take care of her. There was plenty of built up sexual tension 🔥 I loved the discussion of insecurities and I found Declans characteristics very relatable.

I listened to the audiobook while at work and read the ebook at night when I couldn't listen. I have LOVED having both options on netgalley. The dual narration is my favorite when listening to romance.

A cute book. I enjoyed Avery and Declan's dynamic. I really enjoyed Harley and London - I thought they were fun secondary characters, would love to read their stories. I felt like the book dragged a bit in the middle, probably not my favorite Helena Hunting book. I love most of her back catalog and I still really liked this book, it just felt slow to me.

SPOILERS AHEAD! This book gets two stars only because the very beginning of the book was decent and gave me hope for the rest of it…. which was quickly dashed by the 15% mark. Avery wasn’t that bad, but good lord Declan is an awful romantic partner. Controlling, jealous, and quick to blame are some pretty big red flags, and it was all just excused by Avery going “No, I shouldn’t have met up with my ex for closure and to help my company.” It was just so stupid, but at least he got therapy I guess? Also, London was kind of awful in the middle of the book as well. And there was far too much description of every outfit Avery wore, which I think was meant to make us see how she was truly a “guys’ girl”. Overall… I disliked this book so badly when I really wanted to love it (friends to lovers is my favorite trope).

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for gifting me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 21 September 2021)

SYNOPSIS | Avery is the co-owner of an entertainment company alongside her two sisters. She is involved in a car accident which leaves her immobile for a number of weeks & her best friend / housemate steps up to help take care of her as he feels personally responsible for this situation. As they spend more time together in close proximity lines are crossed and repressed feelings start to bubble to the surface.

WHAT I LIKED:
- I really related to Avery's desire to feel useful & accomplish something even when she couldn't work in a full capacity (I really struggle to "rest")
- that each sister had a focus & something they were passionate about
- it has really similar vibes to How to Walk Away

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- it kind of felt like Declan & Avery only started a relationship because it was convenient to do so. I didn't feel the sparks that pulled them together as lovers but I could totally understand their friendship.
- I didn't like that Declan's actions at the beginning of the book were perceived as the "cause" of the accident.
- I'm not the biggest fan of romances where one character is heavily reliant on another as that power dynamic just isn't my fave e.g. acting as a caregiver.

What a sweet, funny, and emotional love story! I loved the characters and the HEA. Highly recommend!