✅ friends to lovers
✅ first love
If you like Sarah Adams you need to read this!
This was a quick easy read. It was a great palette cleanser.

Comes out on mar 18, 2025

This book has most of my favorite tropes; 2nd chance romance and small town vibes. I loved the open door spice. This was a super cute and sweet read. I really enjoyed it!

3.5⭐️

This was a very sweet, quick read. Friends to strangers to friends to lovers. Grounded in reality with good dialogue and sweet, romantic moments of two people finding their way back to one another.

3.5 ⭐️

2nd chance romance, dual timelines for background and context

Overall I enjoyed this storyline. I felt that the characters lacked more development. Lots of things in the book felt rushed and not fully developed. A lot of the chapters were incredibly short. This was a fast read once I actually started reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper for the ARC.

Ben and Mylie are childhood best friends growing up in the small town of Clay Creek, Arkansas. Ben moved to the small town in grade school from Chicago with dreams of always moving back and that he did, immediately following graduation. Years down the road, his grandfather and mother passed and he is tasked with his moms last wish of him visiting Clay Creek once again before selling their home. He plans to get in there quick, sell, and collect the money for his new job move. However, things become complicated once reconnecting with Mylie, feelings spill out, and a quick "fling" begins, leaving them to determine how to navigate their clashing lifestyles.

I really did like this book and the sweetness of Ben and Mylie's relationship. I love love love a small town romance book. The closeness of the people, the long term friendships, the cute small businesses, all of it! I will say that it is sort of a quick type of chemistry, where the main characters had feelings before but never acted on them. When it was determined they still had feelings, it was quick, immediate sexual chemistry. I do wish there had been more slow burn, reconnecting type chemistry; however, I do understand the time perspective on it. Overall, I did enjoy reading this book and getting to know the various characters. I would definitely explore other titles from this author and am thankful to have read this book.

friends to lovers, open door spice, small town

Thank you to NetGalley and Annie England Noblin for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of this book.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

small town Friends-to-lovers romance. Flashbacks. Good chemistry between MC;s. Open door spicy scenes. Spice level 2/5.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the author for allowing me to read this ARC!!!
The description drew me in and so did the cover.

For the book itself, I loved the setting and Clay Creek. It sounds like a lovely place and you can picture the town. I finished this book in a day so it was engaging.

However, the romance was okay. Ben (love interest) seemed mature and grounded whereas Mylie (main character) seemed to think she was better than everyone. I wouldn't say I liked how she pretended that the bully was not an issue. The bully in this book seemed way meaner than a typical bully and ... that last couple of chapters made me think how the bully needs jail time and a restraining order. It was that bad. Yet Mylie did not seem to view it that way. Mylie also didn't allow herself to even think about the idea of leaving Clay Creek and seeing how another place could work...

This was a nice an sweet childhood best friends and a second chance romance. Clay creek is such a cute town! The last little bit l felt kinda rushed. I kinda just felt like I was missing something. Granny was absolutely lovely!

Cute read! I enjoyed the small-town feel as well as the flashbacks- they weren't executed the smoothest but the small peeks into their younger years were a nice touch.

The chemistry between them could have been fleshed out more. It was a lot of "I loved you in high school so these feelings sort of carry over" except neither one of them truly show feelings outside of lust that carried over. It's hard because it's been so long since they've last seen each other, so the "I've loved you ever since" part didn't vibe all that well.

thank you Netgalley for the arc

I really enjoyed this sweet second chance romance.
I simply couldn't put it down because it was soooo good.
The characters are relatable and I really enjoyed the highly anticipated fishing competitions. Very fun and exciting.
I especially loved the small town feel of this book. Everyone felt like family
Gotta love Granny! She was such an entertaining character that she quickly became my favorite person in the whole story.
I thought Miley and Ben were perfect together! They just needed to learn that for themselves. To me, that's what made this story interesting. I loved every minute of it.
5.stars from me. I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this wonderful and sweet book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Ben and Mylie were best of friends since 6th grade. They stay in touch until they don't. One day Ben is faced with a promise he must fulfill until he can move on to the next chapter in his life. As he is trying to fulfill this promise he is faced with some obstacles and he's unsure what he should. Will Ben fulfill his promise to his deceased mother, or will he go against his gut?
I enjoyed this book so much that when I wasn't reading it. I was wanting to pick it up and finish the story. I was able to finish it in 2 days. I have never read anything prior by this author, but I will definitely be checking out her backlist. Thank you again netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for letting me get this arc.

This was a cute little romance. I thought that for the most part it was a relatable story for many. Ben and Mylie finally gave being more than friends a chance and made it work. I enjoyed getting to read both of their perspectives as they navigated the change from friends to being in a relationship. Friends to lovers is not normally my favorite trope but this one was enjoyable.

Thank you Annie England Noblin, NetGalley, and Avon + Harper Voyager for the chance to read this early.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spring Fling by Annie England Noblin offers a charming exploration of friends-to-lovers romance set in the picturesque small town of Clay Creek, Arkansas. The novel centers on Mylie, a successful businesswoman deeply embedded in her community, and Ben, who returns to town to settle his family's estate. Their reunion rekindles old feelings and unresolved emotions, providing a heartwarming backdrop against the backdrop of a bustling fishing tournament and vibrant local characters.

The strength of Spring Fling lies in its endearing portrayal of small-town life and its rich, nostalgic look at the protagonists' shared history. Noblin skillfully blends humor with romance, creating a story that is both cozy and engaging. Mylie and Ben's journey from childhood friends to lovers unfolds with a mix of sweetness and tension, though some readers might find the romance slightly rushed or lacking in depth.

While the book is delightful in its depiction of a close-knit community and the charm of springtime renewal, it does encounter a few issues with pacing and character development. Despite these minor flaws, Spring Fling remains a pleasant, feel-good read perfect for fans of lighthearted romance and small-town settings. The novel’s warmth and humor, coupled with its picturesque setting, make it a worthwhile escape for a cozy afternoon.

I received this book in ARC form from Netgalley this review will be posted to Goodreads, Instagram and Netgalley. This book is a super cute second chance romance. I love that it takes place in a small town! I loved how fast paced this book was and kept me hooked the whole time! Can we talk about those flashback? I love how they have a little Insite to who they were growing up and how their relationship developed! I will be giving this book 4 ⭐️ and a 2 🌶️ (it’s barely there but it does go into details) This is a book I will definitely be recommending to friends and family!

I enjoyed reading this so much. It’s childhood friends to lovers as well as second chance romance although they never dated until he returned and they finally confessed to each how they feel, have always felt. It was nice. It’s not totally dual point of view although we do get Ben’s point of view every once in a while, and it occasionally does jump from past to present. I liked being able to see them when they were kids, and be there when they had certain moments. The amount of pining from both of them was insane. I kept screaming at them to just do it. Stanley and Fat Tony were amazing. Their feud rivals the Capulets and Montagues. Thank you NetGalley and Avon or Harper Voyager for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the plot of this book, and thought the cover was super cute! The supporting characters were great and well written. The romance felt rushed, and I did notice a few grammatical errors!

"Spring Fling" is a heartwarming small-town romance that perfectly captures the essence of springtime renewal and second chances. Set in the charming fishing community of Clay Creek, Arkansas, Noblin weaves a tale that's as refreshing as a cool lake breeze.

The novel's strength lies in its well-crafted protagonists. Mylie, a successful businesswoman deeply rooted in her community, embodies the spirit of small-town America. Her character arc, balancing personal aspirations with family responsibilities, resonates authentically. Ben, returning to his roots, provides an excellent foil to Mylie's steadfastness, his journey of rediscovery adding depth to the narrative.

Noblin excels at creating a vivid sense of place. Clay Creek comes alive through rich descriptions and a colorful cast of supporting characters, making readers feel like they're part of the community. The annual fishing tournament serves as an engaging backdrop, infusing the story with excitement and local flavor.

The friends-to-lovers trope is handled with finesse, building on Mylie and Ben's shared history to create a romance that feels both fresh and familiar. Their rekindled relationship unfolds naturally, with just enough obstacles to keep readers invested without feeling contrived.

While the plot follows a fairly predictable path for the genre, Noblin's writing style, peppered with wit and warmth, keeps the story engaging. The pacing is well-balanced, alternating between moments of tension and softer, reflective scenes.

One minor criticism is that some subplots, particularly those involving secondary characters, could have been more fully developed. However, this doesn't significantly detract from the main narrative.

"Spring Fling" is a delightful read that combines small-town charm with contemporary romance. It's perfect for readers who enjoy stories of homecoming, community, and love blooming alongside spring flowers. Noblin has crafted a cozy, feel-good novel that's sure to leave readers with a smile.

This second-chance romance set in a charming small town has moments of sweetness but leaves much to be desired. The story follows Mylie and Ben, who reconnect in their hometown after years apart, with a dual timeline, adding depth to their past and present relationship. While the book offers a fresh, fun escape with a quick pace and enjoyable side characters like Granny, it’s marred by some significant issues. Punctuation errors and inconsistencies, such as the changing spelling of the main character’s name and mix-ups about family details, detract from the experience. Additionally, while the romance has potential, it feels underdeveloped and lacks the emotional depth to fully engage readers. Despite these flaws, the book is an easy, fluffy read that's great for those looking for a light romance, though it could use more polish to truly shine.

This book was a very basic second chance romance in a small town situation with high school should’ve been sweethearts. Overall, just kind of simple and there. Nothing to write home about. However, there were many punctuation errors in the book and two major plot/character errors. First, the spelling of the main character’s name in the opening chapters changes. Second, at the end, it is said that Cassie’s family has a hunting cabin… by Mylie… her sister. It should’ve been Allie’s family. This book needs a lot of work for sure.