When Sparks Fly

by Monica Murphy

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy comes a sweltering summer romance you won’t be able to put down.

Twenty-two-year-old heiress Rachel Henderson has one goal this hide out at her family’s lake house and recover from the most mortifying breakup Manhattan society has ever witnessed. Sun, swimming, and zero paparazzi, what could go wrong?

But her quiet summer by the lake goes up in literal flames when a spa-day candle mishap sets her mother’s designer curtains on fire. When the local fire department shows up—specifically the ridiculously hot fire captain—the house is saved, but the captain scorches her pride with a lecture about fire safety.

Determined to prove she can handle life on her own without her family’s help, Rachel finds a new roommate and a new job—too bad she’s terrible at it. Oh, and she keeps running into Captain Tall-Dark-and-Infuriating (which definitely isn’t a hardship). The more time they spend together, the more their conversations start to get real, and Rachel finds herself falling for Wyatt. She thinks he might even feel the same way.

The only problem? Wyatt is all about roots and permanence, while Rachel is the very definition of flighty. But this summer, she just might be tempted to stay....

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Firefighters, Rom Com, Summer

Audible Audio

Expected publication May 26, 2026

About the author

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author. A believer in kissing. A believer of love.

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Reviews

[Amanda Blanche · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC copy - releasing in May 2026.

This is an opposites attract - rich naive spoiled big city girl and the gruff single dad small town fireman.

Rachel is hiding out at her family’s vacation home, running away from her problems and her very public break up. Having never worked and relied on her parents for money, she’s not coping well. In an effort to cheer herself up - she sets up a little home spa day - and sets the house on fire. Who shows up to put out the fire, but the captain himself, Wyatt. It is not love at first sight - more like attitude and attraction. As Rachel gets cut off by father and left to figure out her life in this small town, she makes new friends and explores her chemistry with grumpy Wyatt. But Rachel doesn’t know what her plans are, where she belongs and if she wants to settle down - whereas Wyatt needs stability. Even as they grow closer, the cracks in their relationship grow, new insecurities develop and Rachel needs to decide if she’s staying or going.

I think the cover is beautiful, love the retro vibe of it and the artistry. I did not like Rachel as an FMC, I found her to be too much of a “damsel”. And even with her showing some growth, I just didn’t connect to her character. I found the relationship between her and Wyatt to be very superficial, and I also didn’t connect to their connection. I think this book has promise, just missed on some execution and character development - for my preference of reading.

[Noi (in & out)]

is this the Fireman book I've been dreaming of??

[Yimmie♡]

⊹₊🔥⋆｡°✩ 𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙: the blurb really caught my attention, so i’m hoping this is a good one💜


⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙:13th May, 2026

[Britnee Weir]

I was provided this book as an ARC copy from NetGalley.

I DNF’d this at 30%. I’’m so sad because I was so excited for this book… the cover and the synopsis sounded so good. I found the writing a little immature for me and I absolutely hated the FMC. Please tell me why the woman runs into a burning house to save a bag…. I’m sure that she comes into her own as the book goes on but unfortunately, this is the year of DNFing books I don’t love after a certain amount of time.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo addicting!!!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

When Sparks Fly was such a low-stakes, easy little firefighter romcom. Rachel is a wealthy heiress hiding out at her family’s lake house after a very public breakup, and within the first few chapters she accidentally almost burns the place down. Enter Wyatt: grumpy firefighter captain, single dad, and very much over Rachel’s chaotic rich-girl energy. Naturally, they end up hate-hooking-up the same night they meet.

Despite sounding dramatic, this book honestly stays pretty light and fun the entire time. Rachel has never really had responsibilities before, so watching her attempt to work an actual job and function independently was entertaining, while Wyatt was the steady, grounded contrast to all her mess. The opposites-attract chemistry worked for me, even if the overall story felt a little predictable.

This was my first Monica Murphy book, and overall I thought it was cute. Nothing super deep or life-changing, but definitely the kind of audiobook you throw on when you want something fun and uncomplicated.

Narration-wise, Kelsey Navarro Foster was easily the highlight for me. I love her in pretty much everything she narrates, and she made Rachel really likable. Tor Thom, unfortunately, was more hit-or-miss here. Wyatt came across flatter than I wanted, and I honestly think a different narrator could’ve elevated the romance quite a bit for me.

Still, if you like grumpy/sunshine vibes, single dads, rich-girl-meets-small-town energy, and low-angst romance, this one is worth picking up.

Thanks to Monica, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the ALC.

[Kamryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one! It was easy to turn your brain off and just read it. However, if you’re looking for in-depth and a heartfelt story this isn’t it… unfortunately. I had very high hopes for this one but I was let down.

I love Monica’s writing because it is so fun! However I had a hard time with the FMC (Rachel), I mean she ran back into her BURNING HOUSE to grab her bag… (this happened chapter two btw) but hey it was fun and easy and I had a good laugh. I thought her character would develop over time but uh it really didn’t…

I mean the MMC (Wyatt) he was amazing LOVED him! He even had a daughter which I kinda thought would make him and Rachel’s relationship deeper? Alas that wasn’t the case.

Kinda felt like reality TV in a good way though! It was fun, and super easy to fly through

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, let's start from the top.
Lovely cover. I'm in love with illustrated cover and the beautiful colors. Super cute and fire!
Story within? Cute. Enjoyable. Predictable with little dramatics. The ending? Too abrupt, but suffice. Narration? Ok. Liked Kelsey Navarro Foster for the spoiled rich FMC, but Tor Thom was a little too one dimensional for the MMC.

Now, let's get into story....
When Sparks Fly is the opposites attract, fish out of water, summer romance story that felt a little too easy, but was cute. Rachel, a rich young woman comes to her family's lake house after experiencing a heartbreak. But while she is bathing, she accidentally catches her house on fire. Wyatt, the local fire Captain (and single dad) is one of the first on the scene and rescues the short-robe -wearing Rachel after she decides to reenter her home to save her Birkin. These two obviously have different priorities, but what happens when they bump into each other again at the local bar?

This story was cute, but I felt like it was so light and never really dug into the characters too deeply. I mean, Rachel is a rich girl that has never worked a day in her life and lives off of her parents' credit cards, but once she is cut off from any money and support, she falls easily into a place to stay and a job. A job that ends up being easy for her to deal with. No real complaining about it, she just does it. Which is apparently all she's ever needed. She may have been a "fish out of the water", but one that could very easily adapt to its new surroundings.

Meanwhile, once she meets Wyatt, obviously he is hot and a fireman, but that is as much as they know about each other once when they decide to have a one night stand. But obviously that lasts only so long, as Wyatt and his daughter end up running into his one night stand when they go to get his daughter some ice cream. And these two just can't deny their chemistry and decide to give the one night stand some more attention.

Like I said, the story is cute and has no real strong drama or friction between the MCs, but is still enjoyable. Rachel is a little too easy and one-dimensional, but likes small town living after being a rich city dweller her whole life. Not realistic and could've had more fun with her trying to adapt to a whole new life. Wyatt had a few more years and responsibilities under his belt, but still took a chance on the girl that was a wild card. I didn't really feel their connection and chemistry and thought it was more surface level, until we get some more emotional stuff towards the very end. Ultimately, I liked the full cast of characters as a whole. From Rachel's roommate, to Wyatt's brother and daughter, they all played a significant role in the overall story and I liked the parts of the story where they were all included.

Lastly, the audiobook. This is the aspect I may have liked best. Kelsey Navarro Foster was not only able to capture the spoiled rich girl, but also the caring young woman that was learning how to survive on her own. I felt like her portrayal made the character and her growth that much more believable. Tor Thom, meanwhile proved to be a little more flat, but also that felt fitting for Wyatt's grumpy exterior. I think mixed with Foster's performance, it made the romantic connection a little too unlikely, but also worked for "opposites attract".

Overall, When Sparks Fly was a low to no angst, easy to read summer romance.

If you like:
Opposites Attract
Small Town MMC/Big City FMC
Age Gap
Single Dad
Failed One Night Stand
Summer Romance
With little to no drama, then this story could be for you.

[Catie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute summer fling romance book that turned into a cozy fling and add in a hot firefighter, yes please!

You meet Rachel, a rich girl who has never had to do anything for herself. When she realizes her boyfriend is a lying cheat and dumps him, she flees to her parent’s cabin across the country.

Where we meet Wyatt, a single dad with a hot ass job to serve and protect hehe.

When Rachel has to fend for herself, she grows close to this small town life and even closer to Wyatt.

Super quick read and my first of Monica’s!

[Chelsea Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the arc VPR!
Absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I love the growth from both MCs throughout the story, and whewwww Wyatt. Enough said!

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sweet romance that I really enjoyed! Multiple POV, my fave, and lovable characters to carry the story. The setting was really cute and the small town vibes were great. Read in one sitting, would recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Nicole Holdaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of When Sparks Fly immediately caught my attention… rich city girl meets grumpy, broody firefighter after he saves her from a house fire. It’s a trope-filled setup that I’m always excited to dive into, and the story largely delivers on exactly what it promises.
One thing I appreciated was that the female main character didn’t lean into the stereotypical entitled rich girl persona. Despite coming from wealth, she didn’t act spoiled or dismissive of others, which was refreshing. However, I did find her overall immaturity difficult to connect with at times, and that created a bit of distance for me as a reader.
The side characters were a highlight of the book. They added depth and personality to the story, and I’m especially hoping we get more from Paige and Nate in a future installment because their dynamic definitely caught my interest.
I was a bit disappointed that the storyline surrounding the house and its repairs seemed to fade away as the book progressed, since it initially felt like it might play a larger role in the plot. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the injury introduced very late while the MMC was on the job it felt a bit abrupt. That said, the emotional conflict that followed and the way the characters navigated it ultimately led to some satisfying moments of tension and resolution between them.
Overall, while some elements didn’t fully work for me, the story still had engaging moments and strong supporting characters that kept me invested.

[Manda Eclectic Mood Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25 rounded up because I was feeling generous
✨Summer Romance
✨Dual POV
✨Small Town
✨Single Dad
✨Found Family
✨Firefighter
✨First in a series
🌶️ 3+ spice scenes

Rachel sets her vacation house on fire after a bad-public break up. She's rescued by Fire Captain Wyatt in nothing more than her bathrobe. Stuck in California, she finds the kindest person ever to let her stay in her guest room while she tries to find a job and make enough money to get home. Unless she decides to stay for the very good-looking fireman that keeps showing up.

positives: the cover was so cute. Wyatt was a good dad with apprehension to bring anyone into his life that he shares with his child. he's a firefighter with a good family.
Rachel is unwilling to give up after she was cut off from her rich daddy. The side characters were just as interesting as the main. Maybe a bit more interesting i.m.o...

negatives: it was very lust forward and insta-lovey. 30 percent into the book and they're full on doing it. - so, if you like spice throughout the book then you might like this.
It would be a great vacation or poolside book.

Thank you to Blackstone publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy and review it honestly.

[Mamawattto4 Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC

⭐️⭐️⭐️ – When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy

This was my first Monica Murphy book, and I went in SO excited because firefighter romance?? Yes please. That’s one of those tropes that usually has me hooked immediately.

But honestly…this one was a bit of a struggle for me.

The biggest issue was Rachel. I really tried, but I just could not get past how immature and honestly kind of annoying she felt through a lot of the story. Instead of connecting with her, I found myself getting frustrated over and over again. It made it hard to fully enjoy the romance when I wasn’t rooting for her the way I wanted to be.

Wyatt, on the other hand? He deserved better 🤷🏼‍♀️ He felt more grounded and easy to like, and I kept wishing he had a love interest that matched his energy a little more.

The writing itself was fine, and I still love the idea of a firefighter romance, but the character dynamic just didn’t work for me the way I hoped it would. Not a bad read, just not the right fit for me.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC/ALC review

This book follows Rachel. Rachel is a privileged 22 year old woman that just got publicly dumped by her boyfriend. In order to gather herself back up she packed her bags and went to the lake house of her family. However her wish for piece and quiet is short lived when the house catches fire and she gets carried out of the house by the captain of the local fire station. Determined to prove she can handle life without her family's help she finds a place to stay and a job. She keeps running into the captain though...
This book is full of banter and humor, the interaction between Wyatt and Rachel is brilliant. Rachel's determination is admirable and I'm happy for her that she manages to prove to her parents and herself that she can do without their support. Wyatt is a quiet serious guy, he is taking care of his daughter after her mother walked out on her all the while he is working a dangerous job at the first station. Oh and Wyatt his child is adorable.
I thought Paige was a lovely side character as a friend to Rachel. I also loved how she had her own little side plot with Wyatt his brother.

Audio book 4 stars
This book was narrated by Tor Thom and Kelsey Navarro Foster. They both did an fantastic job bringing this book to life. I thought that the voices of Tor and Kelsey matched the characters excellent. I especially appreciated that Kelsey managed to make a small difference in the voice of Rachel at the beginning of the book vs. the end. She sounded way less arrogant towards the end and that matched the book well. Only thing I enjoyed less is the moments when Tor did the female voice. The overall performance was lovely, so that was something that didn't made me stop listening.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ This was so cute!

Rachel was an adorable hot mess. I really enjoyed how Rachel wasn't just a rich girl. She was a super well rounded character. I loved how she was open to learning and growing. It made me really love her and root for her. I loved how seamlessly she fit into to the small town and made friends and found a family she desperately needed.

Wyatt also fondly known as Mr. Grumpy Pants. I loved how even though he had every reason to be guarded and closed to love he easily opened to Rachel. They didn't have an easy road but he was open to it. I really liked that about him.
I also loved him as a single dad. Dottie was so cute and he was such a girl dad.

Wyatt and Rachel were so good together. They really brought out the best in eachother. I loved them falling in love.

I absolutely adored Paige. I hope that we get a story of her and Nate in the future.

The only thing I wanted more of was Rachel connecting with Wyatt's daughter Dottie. They had a few scenes but I didn't feel like they developed a relationship.

I listened to the audiobook. I thought Kelsey Navarro Foster did an amazing job at bringing Rachel to life. I thought she brought all the emotions and the spunk of Rachel's character! I have loved every book Kelsey has narrated! She does such a fantastic job! Tor Thom was a perfect Wyatt. He brought the grumpiness and the depth of his character. He did a great job!

Overall I really enjoyed When Sparks Fly and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to Valentine PR Audio, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing-Audiobooks for the ALC!

[casey ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

⋆˙⟡ tropes ⟡˙⋆
🏡 small town
🔥 cut off heiress
🪻 age gap
🍦 single dad
☀️ grumpy x sunshine
🧯 firefighter mmc

⋆˙⟡ thoughts ⟡˙⋆
i really wanted to love this, but sadly it fell flat for me on emotional depth. it’s a fast paced, shut your brain off read. the fmc, rachel, well…. i wish she had more character development and growth. early on she ran back into a burning building for a bag… i don’t know i just had a hard time with connecting to her.

now the mmc, wyatt, love him!!!! he’s such a good dad and i enjoyed his character. i almost didn’t feel their connection because of how much rachel irritated me :/ but if you want a just read and vibe type of book, this could be for you!

⋆˙⟡ synopsis ⟡˙⋆
heiress rachel has one goal this summer: hide out at her family's lake house and recover from the most mortifying breakup. but, her quiet summer goes up in literal flames when a candle mishap sets her mother's designer curtains on fire. when the local fire department shows up, specifically wyatt, the hot fire captain, the house is saved, but the captain scorches her pride with a lecture about fire safety. determined to prove she can handle life on her own without her family's help, she finds a new roommate and a new job… and she keeps running into wyatt. the more time they spend together, the more their conversations start to get real.

🎧audio: the narrator for rachel did a fantastic and made rachel more enjoyable (because i struggled with her character). now, the narrator for wyatt for me personally fell a little flat??? i didn’t love him but i was still engaged into listening to the story!

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to the publisher for the ALC! Honestly, I’m still smiling after finishing this—it was exactly the kind of fun, breezy romance I needed.

This was actually my first Monica Murphy book, and I’ll be real, it was an effortless four-star listen. It’s not a super heavy or "deep" story, but because I’m such a visual person, the charm and those summer vibes felt so vivid. I kept picturing every scene like a bright, sun-drenched movie in my head while I was getting chores done. It’s just light, easy, and so simple to get lost in.

Can we talk about Rachel and Wyatt for a second? They were such a fun pairing. I loved watching Rachel slowly figure out who she was outside of her family’s shadow, and Wyatt... well, I’m a total sucker for that "grumpy firefighter" energy. Their chemistry was addictive, and the pacing was spot-on—I definitely fell into that "just one more chapter" trap until the very end.

The narration was the cherry on top. Tor Thom and Kelsey Navarro Foster were perfect for these characters. Can we talk about Kelsey’s narration for a second? The way she shifted Rachel’s tone as she found her footing was just… chef’s kiss. You could genuinely hear her becoming a different person by the end, and it made the whole experience feel so much more authentic

Rating: 4 Stars. Swoony, cute, and the perfect summer binge. I’ll definitely be checking out more from Monica Murphy!

[Hannah Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions are my own. ✨

This was such a fun, spicy read! Monica Murphy never misses, and I was obsessed with Wyatt and Rachel from the start. Wyatt is a single dad firefighter with commitment issues and a very appreciated mustache, while Rachel is a rich girl forced to face the real world after a very public breakup and losing access to her family’s money. After Rachel's self care night goes up in literal flames, Wyatt comes to the rescue—literally throwing her over his shoulder in nothing but a silk robe—and their chemistry only gets hotter from there. The banter, tension, and emotional growth between these two had me hooked the entire time. I absolutely adored Dot, and there's nothing hotter than a big gruff man being a huge softy for his little girl. 🥹 When Sparks Fly releases May 26th, make sure to pick this book up if you love great banter, small town, firefighters with slutty mustaches, a FMC who never backs down from a challenge, and an adorable little girl who will steal your heart and possibly your bubblegum flavored ice cream.

[Shea Lawlis Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with this arc. The publication date for When Sparks Fly is 5/26/26.

This was a cute summer romance. Rachel, a NYC socialite, escapes to her family’s lake house after a very public breakup. When a knocked over candle burns down her lake house, she meets a grumpy and handsome firefighter named Wyatt.

Rachel’s father is tired of her irresponsibility and cuts off her funds. She is forced to find a job and somewhere to live. She meets Paige, a local of the town and moves in with her and gets a job at an ice cream store.

Over the summer Wyatt and Rachel continue to bump into each other and let’s just say sparks fly…

Over all it was an entertaining read. It would be a great book to take on a summer vacation for a quick and fun read.

Although the book was fun, I wasn’t totally convinced of their relationship and connection. I wish I could have seen more depth in their relationship and them getting to know each other. Things seemed to happen very fast. If you are a “if you know you know” type of love person you will like this book.

[Meg.RecsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

audio / 3.75* / netgalley

A damsel in distress, carried out of a fire by a hot ass fire chief in nothing but a silk robe? Yup, I’m all in!

I loved the small town vibes of this, as well as the reality of a busy ice cream shop during the summer at peak tourist season. This book had several real aspects including the FMC having a period - that is seriously not talked about near enough! Overall the book felt a little off with timelines, considering this man hadn’t let anyone else in his daughter’s life - but I guess when you know, you know!

Rachel was a bit whiney, but as a privileged 22 year old - the FMC was well played. Wyatt and Dottie were great and I loved how much found family played a role in this small town. There were so many side characters that really enhanced the story.

The audio would have been better in duet, as Tor Thom has such a specific voice that it made it kind of laughable when Kelsey Navarro Foster attempted Wyatt’s voice.

Thank you to VPR/Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley for the advanced audio in exchange for my honest review.

[caitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was so easily enjoyable! This was a very “simple” plot but not overly simple if that makes sense. I genuinely loved the community that was created here and I’m seriously hoping this is going to be a series because I want books for all the side characters!

I’m not a huuuuge fan of the helpless, lost city girl who can’t even like scramble eggs. But I always trust the process because I know her growth will always be good. And this FMCs growth was good. The other thing I didn’t really love was the “3rd act break up” and I’m not a 3rd act break up hater, I like them if they feel natural but this was felt useless and forced. There was genuinely no reason for her to make that decision except for a plot point because there wasn’t really an issue to be overcome between the two. So it felt forced.

But it was a really good listen and I liked the characters personalities and both the narrators did an incredible job!

Thank you VPR and NetGalley for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review

[Aileen Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔥 When Sparks Fly by Monica Murphy 🔥
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a fun, spicy small town romance with a very memorable meet cute. Rachel’s life literally goes up in flames after a public breakup, and being rescued by Fire Captain Wyatt sets the tone for a fast-moving, chemistry filled story.
Wyatt was definitely a highlight, he’s a devoted single dad, protective of his child, and cautious about letting someone new into their lives. I appreciated Rachel’s determination to stand on her own after being cut off from her wealthy father. The side characters also added a lot of charm to the story.
That said, this is very much a lust forward romance. The attraction happens quickly and the spice is present throughout, so if you love high-heat and insta chemistry, you’ll enjoy this.
Overall, it’s a great vacation or poolside read, quick, dramatic, and steamy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[book.obsessed.jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

I was absolutely drawn in by the cover, as it’s absolutely stunning and I love the style, Unfortunately though, this one missed the mark for me. The whole story felt a little surface level.

Rich spoiled heiress avoids the recent media breakup headlines by escaping to her family’s summer home. After an accident results in a fire, a run in with the grumpy fire captain, and being cut off by her family- she’s forced to try and be successful on her own.

This was missing a bit of depth. FMC is young and immature, and the connection with MMC is very insta-love. There isn’t a lot of high stakes in this, except for maybe ever so slightly in the end. I couldn’t connect to the story or the characters. &I did start to skim towards the middle of the book. Just wasn’t for me.

Thank you so much to Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy!

What to Expect:
🔥Insta-Love
🔥Dual POV
🔥Single Dad
🔥Firefighter & Rich Girl

[Abby Aguilera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Monica Murphy, thank you to NetGalley!

I love a cowboy/blue collar/firefighter romance, so the premise of this was right up my alley. I read it within a couple of days and the cover is just so cute, I scream.

I won't contain any story spoilers, but I ended up wanting to like it more than I did. My main complaint was the story felt a little disjointed and I think I just personally didn't jive with the writing style. I didn't feel super connected with the characters, which does happen sometimes for me with romances, but that may be different for another reader!

All in all, it was a 3 star for me in that it was a good quick read with spice, but I probably wouldn't use it for reader's advisory. That said, I do have previously saved Monica Murphy books on my TBR and I will be giving them a go.

[Emma Eiden · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing that struck me about this book was the incredible cover- from its striking colors to fun scene of where our main characters first meet? Adorable. Now on to the story:

The writing was a little juvenile for me which then made the copious amount of sex scenes a bit alarming… but it’s truly where I saw the best writing. Classic grumpy sunshine, young girl (22) and an older, but very tolerable age gap of 29 firefighter. And he’s a single dad! The tropes are troping in this one for sure.

Overall, it’s a cute romance if you just want to vibe out with its predictable plot points. I did find the relationship between Dottie and Rachel very enduring and loved the “coming of age” aspect our FMC got to experience throughout. A liked it.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This was a fun, summery opposites-attract romance with a dramatic (and slightly chaotic) meet-cute. Rachel, a recently dumped Manhattan heiress, retreats to her family’s lake house to hide from scandal… only to accidentally set it on fire and meet Wyatt, the gruff small-town fire captain who comes to the rescue.

I loved the cozy lake setting and the rich-girl-learning-real-life-lessons arc. Rachel does grow throughout the story, but I struggled to fully connect with her—she felt a little too damsel-ish and childish for my taste. While the chemistry between her and Wyatt was there, their emotional connection didn’t always feel as deep as I wanted.

Overall, it’s a breezy, steamy summer romance with strong small-town vibes—just slightly lacking in character depth and pacing for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this eARC!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Sparks Fly is the quintessential "beach read"—light, breezy, and incredibly fun. I loved the refreshing spin on the classic billionaire trope by giving us Rachel, a wealthy socialite who is surprisingly hardworking and independent rather than a damsel in distress. The "insta-lust" and banter between her and our handsome fireman Wyatt felt genuine and kept the pages turning. As someone who appreciates a good first responder trope (and a great mustache!), this hit all the right notes for me. While the relationship moved quickly and the ending felt a bit rushed, the conflict was predictable but satisfying. The dual POV, small-town atmosphere, and single-dad elements made this a total breeze to read. I’m definitely looking forward to Nate and Paige’s story next!

[Imogen Dior · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
I would like to start by saying i’ve read other books by Monica that I’ve absolutely adored however, this book just didn’t do it for me. All the tropes listed in this book would usually be right up my alley but I couldn’t connect with the book at all but especially with the main characters. I found Rachel’s attitude really hard to like but I kept going with the book because I thought she’d grow and change a bit but I really didn’t see that. Even with Wyatt I just couldn’t connect with him and found it super hard to invest in him. Considering this book is said to be single dad we really didn’t see much of the child at all or of them together. It felt very surface level and it doesn’t go deep at all into emotions. I just personally didn’t enjoy this book. This will not stop me from reading other books by Monica.

[Shann T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest review. I instantly couldn't put this book down.
Rachel is a heiress whom discovers her boyfriend is cheating and it goes viral, she then escapes to California to hide out. Her father then cuts her off.
Rachel has never worked or realized how much things cost and what hard work is.
In her family's rental house in California she accidently starts the bathroom on fire- hence her father cutting off the funds and told her to figure her shit out. Then comes Wyatt- a firefighter that gets the call for the fire. He is instantly drawn to her and is also cautious as he has a 6 year old daughter. He figures a one night stand will be perfect cause she will be leaving as her dad cut her off. When he realizes she is not leaving, he wants to know her intentions as he is protective of whom he brings into his circle when it comes to his daughter. She is leaving when the summer is over, as the place that hired her closes after labour day and she will have no job.
There is some spice and a potential for a spin off book with Wyatts brother. It was a quick read and i enjoyed it.


3.5 stars