Clay Creek is the epitome of small-town Arkansas - so it's no surprise when, after 10 years, Ben Lawrence's return sparks excitement amongst the townsfolk and feelings of uncertainty from his former best-friend, Mylie. After graduating from high school, the once inseparable pair forge their own paths through adulthood: Mylie starting the business of her dreams in Clay Creek and Ben earning degree after degree in the big city. Throughout this book, we get flashbacks to what brought them together in friendship and what was kept secret between them. This book has all the necessary ingredients for a tropey small-town romance: best friends, family antics, and a town villain with a robust rap sheet and an unquenchable thirst for revenge. With Clay Creek as a backdrop, I enjoyed watching the story unfold. The town and its inhabitants were fully fleshed out and not just added in as filler- I appreciated that they got their own well-deserved place in the story! Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read. Probably closer to a 3.75 but rating 4 stars because 3 wouldn't be enough! This was my first read from Annie England Noblin but certainly not my last.

Picky given I received an uncorrected e-proof, but is of note: Many times throughout this (including on one of the first few pages) there are discrepancies between the spelling of Mylie/ Miley. Also, Allie (another character) seems to often be placed in dialogue where it should be Cassie? I first noticed this during the scene where Mylie has to take Cassie home post some teenage troublemaking, and I had to re-read because I was certain it was just Mylie and Cassie yet Allie's name was next to the dialogue. I noted it again in Chapter 55 - Cassie is referred to as Allie.

3.5 Stars!

This small-town romance follows Mylie and Ben, former childhood friends, as they reconnect in Clay Creek, Arkansas. Mylie owns a tackle business and lives with her Granny and sister. Ben is coming back to Clay Creek to sell the family house after his grandfather and mother passed in order to start his new life as a professor.

I enjoyed the book overall. The characters and conflict fell a little flat for me at times. Conflicts didn’t have much build up and were resolved quickly. The setting and side characters were really enjoyable, but our main characters felt like they needed more to be relatable to the reader. There are some open door scenes, but I wouldn’t describe them as “spicy”. The book reads more YA than I am used to with books of this trope, which is perfectly fine, just unexpected.

I’d like to thank Annie England Noblin, NetGalley, and Avon + Harper Voyager for the eARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a super lighthearted, fun, small town romance. The characters of the town were a fun ensemble and definitely added to this books charms. Felt like reading a hallmark movie, which is a compliment as I love a good hallmark movie.

The story follows Mylie and Ben who are childhood friends being reunited after 10 years apart. There is a bit of a dual timeline element as you get flashbacks to their childhood but for the most part it takes place in present day. These two characters have different wants and life goals though that is keeping them apart.

The beginning was just a little slow but once I hit the 40% mark it really flew by and I really enjoyed it. I do wish we had gotten more insight into Ben’s character at times but overall he was well rounded. Mylie and her family were definitely the beating heart of this story.

If you like small town, second chance romance, with hallmark movie feels this is definitely the book for you. Was a great summer read and leaves you feeling hopeful!

*this review will be posted on my instagram closer to publication date*

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Who says you can’t go home? When Ben returns to Clay Creek, Alabama from Chicago to sell his mother’s home, he is reunited with his first friend in the town from growing up, Mylie. Spring Fling is an adorable, breezy novel about second chances. Southern charm meets the culture of Appalachia for a delightfully heartwarming tale.

Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!

This book was unfortunately not for me. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters, except for maybe the cute raccoon, and it just kept me from really enjoying the story. Had to push myself to even finish it and overly felt too tropey and a little ridiculous. Unfortunately I do not recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley & Avon/ Harper for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Was not my cup of tea. Not a fan of the writing style but it was still a cute romance easy read. I kinda pushed to finish reading it

This was a cute, fun romcom and I had a good time reading it, but overall I didn’t like the writing style and didn’t feel connected to the characters.

I would recommend it for the spring, but it’s not a favorite of mine!

All that to say the end was super cute and I did enjoy it

This was a quick read (around 300 pages). I really enjoyed it. Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, when done well. This one was good!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

First off if you are looking for a quick, fun and cozy read, this is the book for you! From small town romance, first love, to friends to lovers - Miley and Ben’s relationship is a whirlwind!

A small town romance set in Clay Creek, Arkansas - Miley the Owner of Hook Line and Sinker - a bait and tackle shop and Ben a Professor of Economics, find their lives crossing paths again after 10 years as Ben fulfills a promise to his mother.

A four star quick read for me!

Thank you net-galley and Avalon Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

This book was such a nice pleasant surprise for me! I was craving something but didn’t know what and this small town cozy romance was perfect. It was childhood best friends and second chance romance without a lot of the miscommunication that typically comes with this trope. I loved the setting of clay creek, that characters, especially granny, and the little danger/drama subplot with Robbie. The dialogue was funny, sweet, and realistic instead of cringy, I laughed out loud several times. Overall, this was the perfect small town romance. It was a great length, super bingeable read, entertaining, and engaging!

2.5!

This book is a sweet small town romance, following Mylie and Ben. This book was a fast- paced romance novel, perfect for someone who wants a deeper story, but not the pages!

When I first started this book, my immediate notice was to the third point perspective. However, I did get past this throughout, and it ended up adding to the charm of the book. I typically do not gravitate to small town romances, however this book was so charming, and the third point perspective added to that.

As I mentioned before, this book was very fast- paced. As someone who can typically gravitate to more details, this was a great break. I feel that this left for more imagination, and is absolutely perfect for someone starting to read, or needs a cute spring read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon + Harper Voyager for the arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Clay Creek, Arkansas is a small town like any other, where everybody knows everyone else there. Mylie and Ben had been best friends and neighbors since grade school, but while Mylie flourished in their cozy little town, Ben felt suffocated by it and longed to explore the world. When they graduated from high school, despite feeling as though they could have been more than friends, Mylie planted her roots while Ben set off to Chicago to take his chance in a big city. Ten years later, Ben returns to Clay Creek to settle his mom and grandfather’s estates and to sell their home there. His plan is to sweep quickly in and out of town as if passing through, but will he still feel the same way once he’s in Mylie’s orbit again?

This was a sweet, cozy little love story. The characters were endearingly adorable and their easy familiarity with everyone in Clay Creek draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are a part of it all. I loved that Mylie was strong and independent, while still demonstrating compassion and empathy. Ben is headstrong and stubborn, but also kind and giving.

While the plot line was somewhat predictable, it was paced well and kept my attention throughout. Though not overly dynamic, the characters were charming and utterly likable. If you love a small town, friends to lovers romance that will make you smile, then I highly recommend this book for you.

A Very cute, small town second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance. It has all the things! I enjoyed Miley and the cast of characters that filled up her world.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

-Small town
-Friends to lovers
-Flashbacks
-Second chances

Spring Fling is about two friends who stopped talking to each other (mutually) ten years ago only to be brought together again when Ben (MMC) is selling his grandfather’s old house next door to Mylie (FMC). He comes back to Clay Creek until the house is sold, only to reconnect with Mylie all over again. And boy, are there sparks!

Mylie is a driven woman. She owns her own tackle shop and employs most of the town. She’s a firecracker, and I really grew to adore her character. She knows what she wants, and she isn’t afraid to go for it. Ben strikes me as this cute, shy puppy who can’t get his words out…but in a good way. He gives off massive good guy vibes. A man that would do anything for his girl.

This was an extremely cute and easy read. As a matter of fact, it’s the first ARC I read that I actually didn’t want to put down. I found the small town, country vibe really refreshing. There was enough drama just like there was enough sweetness. It was a good combo of the two. Plus, comedic relief! I can see this book reaching its target audience no problem. Like I said, it’s an easy read. Quick chapters and just over 300 pages. I really enjoyed it.

ARC Review: 3.5 rounded up to 4! A surprisingly enjoyable romance! I’m always hesitant with the friends to lovers romance trope but this one was done so well. It’s very fast-paced (sometimes maybe too fast) and while we have a little of the “if you liked each other so much before why didn’t you?” it made sense as naïve high schoolers to adults who know how to voice their feelings. Overall the plot was very simple and absolutely loved Fat Tony and hero Stan! Very thankful to have gotten this ARC.

Spring Fling was a gem of a book. I absolutely loved how easy it was to read, the storyline, the characters ( Granny!) and the friends to lovers trope. Miley was such a breath of fresh air reading and getting to know. My favorite item (again, outside of granny) was the questions game. It had me smiling as I read it. I can tell that this book is going to be heavily talked about in the book community and will become people’s favorites, just like it has become for me as a top book in 2024 for its feel good, heartwarming qualities.

I read this book in a day and can honestly say it one of my top books read of 2024.

Thank you to net galley and Annie England Noblin for the arc of this book!
while i found this book to be a nice palette cleanser type it did in pacing put the slow in slow burn and some of the plot points while interesting felt like filler events. While Ben was complex he seemed to be heavily burdened, which quickly resolved towards the end almost completely. Mylie was also an interesting and at times heart warming character although some of her inconsistencies although human seemed to serve more as a plot point than character point.

3/5 stars
1/5 spice ? - honestly I would say this borders on YA minus the portrayal of intimate acts while remaining bare in descriptors and amounts.
1.5/5 plot - it felt a little messy and additionally the pacing felt off heavily during the latter half of the book with the chapter lengths leaving a confusing inconsistency.

I do still highly recommend this book, I am personally overly picky with some tropes and aspects of book but the book was still enjoyable!!

Spring Fling was such a sweet small town romance! It reminded me of books that I loved by writers such as Jill Shalvis.

This was a really fun rom-com about getting a second chance with your high school best friend-turned-crush!

I loved the main characters, I haaaated the villian, and the setting seemed so lovely. I'm a sucker for books where the fmc doesn't just own a flower shop or a bookstore (even though I do love those, don't get me wrong!), but it's so fun to see Mylie's badass bait and tackle business that she built, including the big tournament she puts on.

It did take me a few chapters to adjust to the changes in perspective since they aren't labeled (at least in my ARC), but once I was prepared for it I actually liked it! Like, I got to take a second and figure out who's brain I was in and that was fun. Was the story a little predictable? Sure, but it's the rom com formula's fault! I didn't pick it up to solve any mysteries, I picked it up for warm fuzzies and Noblin delivered on that. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

The book had some mis-spellings and grammar errors. Otherwise it was a good foundation and it just needs more depth because it was too quick to read. I needed more from the plot and characters.