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Sparks
What seems broken might just need a reboot in this slow-burn, lesbian romance.
New admin Willow Greene has the worst luck with electronics. Computers crash, printers jam, and even coffee machines refuse to cooperate when she's around.
Like her devices, her relationships never seem to last, so she has given up on dating. That's why she's seriously unprepared for the IT department's easygoing, always smiling Scottie Prescott, who has far too much charm to be safe.
Scottie can't help noticing introverted, mysterious Willow, but she's still healing from a bad breakup. The last thing she needs is more chaos, given she's supposed to fix problems, not get tangled up in them.
But when they get stuck in an elevator together, the sparks between them become impossible to ignore. Can they risk their carefully protected hearts getting burned?
New admin Willow Greene has the worst luck with electronics. Computers crash, printers jam, and even coffee machines refuse to cooperate when she's around.
Like her devices, her relationships never seem to last, so she has given up on dating. That's why she's seriously unprepared for the IT department's easygoing, always smiling Scottie Prescott, who has far too much charm to be safe.
Scottie can't help noticing introverted, mysterious Willow, but she's still healing from a bad breakup. The last thing she needs is more chaos, given she's supposed to fix problems, not get tangled up in them.
But when they get stuck in an elevator together, the sparks between them become impossible to ignore. Can they risk their carefully protected hearts getting burned?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2026
About the author
Jae
135 books4,019 followersJae is the author of twenty-seven award-winning romances between women. She lives in the sunniest city of Germany, near the French and Swiss borders. The writing bug bit her at the age of eleven.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
She used to work as a psychologist but gave up her day job in 2013 to become a full-time writer and a part-time editor. As far as she’s concerned, it’s the best job in the world.
When she’s not writing, she is an avid reader of sapphic books, indulges her ice cream and office supply addictions, and watches way too many crime shows.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
April 24, 2026
This was a perfectly enjoyable book, yet I found it to be underwhelming. Jae is one of my all-time favorites, but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I don’t have a lot to say……. It was an interesting premise and the novel had its moments, but overall I struggled to get engaged with the story.
The first half was relatively slow and uneventful. The conflict was…meh, and very repetitive. I liked the concept, but I don’t think I was truly sold on it in a way that would have me care enough to have a stake in the outcome. The ending was similarly underwhelming as it felt like the story simply…..stopped. There was so little hijinx considering the overall premise!
This was one of those books where the “conflict” is essentially just that a character doesn’t want to do something, and the “resolution” is that eventually they do the thing. I find that this isn’t ever a good recipe for a winner unless the author does a lot of work to justify the characters indecision.
The excessive amount of tech puns were clever for the first 20% of the novel but then got mostly just annoying after that.
The first half was relatively slow and uneventful. The conflict was…meh, and very repetitive. I liked the concept, but I don’t think I was truly sold on it in a way that would have me care enough to have a stake in the outcome. The ending was similarly underwhelming as it felt like the story simply…..stopped. There was so little hijinx considering the overall premise!
This was one of those books where the “conflict” is essentially just that a character doesn’t want to do something, and the “resolution” is that eventually they do the thing. I find that this isn’t ever a good recipe for a winner unless the author does a lot of work to justify the characters indecision.
The excessive amount of tech puns were clever for the first 20% of the novel but then got mostly just annoying after that.
May 5, 2026
Excellent story: on a roll! Clare Lydon followed by Jae! Perfect reading. Jae writes so well, a joy to read. Slow burning, but go with it. Recommended.
April 3, 2026
3,75 stars
As a fellow person with unfortunate propensity for static electricity I had fun with this aspect of Willow's character. Thankfully, unlike her, I don't break electronic equipment by my presence, I just shock myself on doorknobs.
Other than that this was a decent romance. Not groundbreaking, but fun.
As a fellow person with unfortunate propensity for static electricity I had fun with this aspect of Willow's character. Thankfully, unlike her, I don't break electronic equipment by my presence, I just shock myself on doorknobs.
Other than that this was a decent romance. Not groundbreaking, but fun.
March 31, 2026
(rounded down from 4.25)
This was sweet, cozy, low-angst, and wholesome. I'm going to be honest, though: if you run out of a room upset whenever a device fizzles out and dies, you are not keeping your tech problems on the down-low.
The characters are sweet and make you want to root for them. There is a fair bit of growing out of trauma patterns and recognising that good people will accept you for who you are rather than blame you for things outside your control.
This is a good and sweet palate cleanser, but I can't say there was much memorable about it, honestly. It was a fun time, with sweet characters and a low-angst love story. I love the messages about identifying and growing past your trauma and learning to be who you are (and finding love along the way). Another banger from JAE, as usual.
This was sweet, cozy, low-angst, and wholesome. I'm going to be honest, though: if you run out of a room upset whenever a device fizzles out and dies, you are not keeping your tech problems on the down-low.
The characters are sweet and make you want to root for them. There is a fair bit of growing out of trauma patterns and recognising that good people will accept you for who you are rather than blame you for things outside your control.
This is a good and sweet palate cleanser, but I can't say there was much memorable about it, honestly. It was a fun time, with sweet characters and a low-angst love story. I love the messages about identifying and growing past your trauma and learning to be who you are (and finding love along the way). Another banger from JAE, as usual.
October 10, 2026
It wasn’t bad. It was kinda cute, but honestly, it could’ve been a lot shorter.
April 7, 2026
You'll fall in love with Scottie and Willow. Scottie is an IT specialist and Willow seems to have IT problems because of her static electricity!
Scottie was the one IT person to catch Willow's tickets, and she thought Willow was cute. Willow thinks the same of Scottie. Things between them change and they get a bit closer after they get stuck together in the elevator.
This is a really cute, low angst love story! I LOVE THIS BOOK! 5 stars!!
Scottie was the one IT person to catch Willow's tickets, and she thought Willow was cute. Willow thinks the same of Scottie. Things between them change and they get a bit closer after they get stuck together in the elevator.
This is a really cute, low angst love story! I LOVE THIS BOOK! 5 stars!!
May 3, 2026
I just felt like this was missing something, somehow perfectly mediocre and quite literally unremarkable.
April 14, 2026
Que libro tan divertido. Tiene una historia muy original y unas protagonistas que no te aburren.
Un trabajo bien hecho la verdad.
Un trabajo bien hecho la verdad.
April 8, 2026
4.5 stars
Very enjoyable read. Little angst, nice characters. Great writing, as I’ve come to expect from Jae.
Very enjoyable read. Little angst, nice characters. Great writing, as I’ve come to expect from Jae.
October 21, 2026
If you're looking for something with little to no angst, then you may really like this book. And there was a time where that would have described me and I probably would have liked this book more than I did. But I need more angst than what's here. The fact that Jae managed to make this into a long-ish book without that angst means that not a lot happens in this novel. I admit I got bored. I considered abandoning it at one point. Ultimately, I'm not mad I stuck with it. It was cute, even if I wasn't satisfied by the ending of non-romantic reason for tension in the novel.
October 12, 2026
Cute litte romance, with a fun storyline and characters. Would have been better off as a young adult book in my opinion
October 25, 2026
A cute story:)
March 25, 2026
"Jae-signatured" always means good time reading. "Sparks" is an extraordinary office love story vaguely related to Jae's series "Unexpected Love". Willow's strange talent sparked not only the electronics around but also started the fire of love, a situation worse than the glitch of her computer in her opinion :) I loved the interactions between Willow and Scottie. Sweet cozy read that I am sure others will love too! Try it!
October 12, 2026
I went into this book wanting to love it, but unfortunately, I couldn't even finish it.
One thing I will give Jae credit for is that, despite my increasingly complicated feelings about her as a person, I have always been able to separate the author from the work.
I still adore two of her books, both of which remain among my all-time favorites.
So no, my personal feelings toward the author haven't erased my appreciation for her writing.
However, Sparks was a serious disappointment on a purely literary level.
By now, I've noticed a recurring pattern in Jae's books: characters who are almost painfully idealistic to the point of naivety, professionalism that takes precedence over practically everything else, and a slow burn so slow that I sometimes lose interest in seeing the characters fall in love in the first place.
I love a good slow burn, but there is a difference between building romantic tension and stretching the journey toward a relationship until the reader's patience has completely evaporated.
With several of her books, I've found myself losing that initial excitement about the couple ever getting together.
Unfortunately, Sparks pushed all of these issues to the extreme.
I wasn't emotionally invested in either protagonist. IT, in particular, struck me as incredibly dull, and I honestly can't blame her former partner for losing the spark in their relationship.
The other protagonist, with her peculiar ability to destroy electronic devices, wasn't any more compelling to me. She came across as equally tedious and withdrawn, and I simply couldn't understand what was supposed to make pursuing her romantically so rewarding. At some point, emotional distance stops being intriguing and starts becoming exhausting.
And then there's the repetition. So much repetition. The same situations, the same emotional beats, the same endless circling around the same issues. Scenes drag on, the characters keep finding reasons to remain apart, and the story seems determined to squeeze every last drop out of a premise that simply doesn't have enough substance to justify this much padding. I can appreciate a story that takes its time, but here, the pacing felt less like deliberate storytelling and more like an attempt to prolong the inevitable.
I even bought the audiobook, and while the narrator did a good job, good narration can only do so much when the material itself fails to hold your attention. Eventually, I realized I was forcing myself through a book I had absolutely no desire to continue. So I stopped.
What frustrates me most is that I wanted Jae to impress me. I had enough faith in her as a writer to give this book a genuine chance, and I went in willing to overlook my personal reservations.
But I couldn't find a single character I cared enough about to follow to the end, and I wasn't invested enough in the romance to justify the time it demanded from me.
This isn't a case of a book being objectively terrible or of me suddenly deciding that Jae can't write. I've read enough of her work to know that she can write stories I genuinely love. That's precisely why this disappointment stings. Sparks simply didn't work for me, and this time, my affection for her previous books wasn't enough to carry me through.
DNF. I tried, but the spark just wasn't there.
One thing I will give Jae credit for is that, despite my increasingly complicated feelings about her as a person, I have always been able to separate the author from the work.
I still adore two of her books, both of which remain among my all-time favorites.
So no, my personal feelings toward the author haven't erased my appreciation for her writing.
However, Sparks was a serious disappointment on a purely literary level.
By now, I've noticed a recurring pattern in Jae's books: characters who are almost painfully idealistic to the point of naivety, professionalism that takes precedence over practically everything else, and a slow burn so slow that I sometimes lose interest in seeing the characters fall in love in the first place.
I love a good slow burn, but there is a difference between building romantic tension and stretching the journey toward a relationship until the reader's patience has completely evaporated.
With several of her books, I've found myself losing that initial excitement about the couple ever getting together.
Unfortunately, Sparks pushed all of these issues to the extreme.
I wasn't emotionally invested in either protagonist. IT, in particular, struck me as incredibly dull, and I honestly can't blame her former partner for losing the spark in their relationship.
The other protagonist, with her peculiar ability to destroy electronic devices, wasn't any more compelling to me. She came across as equally tedious and withdrawn, and I simply couldn't understand what was supposed to make pursuing her romantically so rewarding. At some point, emotional distance stops being intriguing and starts becoming exhausting.
And then there's the repetition. So much repetition. The same situations, the same emotional beats, the same endless circling around the same issues. Scenes drag on, the characters keep finding reasons to remain apart, and the story seems determined to squeeze every last drop out of a premise that simply doesn't have enough substance to justify this much padding. I can appreciate a story that takes its time, but here, the pacing felt less like deliberate storytelling and more like an attempt to prolong the inevitable.
I even bought the audiobook, and while the narrator did a good job, good narration can only do so much when the material itself fails to hold your attention. Eventually, I realized I was forcing myself through a book I had absolutely no desire to continue. So I stopped.
What frustrates me most is that I wanted Jae to impress me. I had enough faith in her as a writer to give this book a genuine chance, and I went in willing to overlook my personal reservations.
But I couldn't find a single character I cared enough about to follow to the end, and I wasn't invested enough in the romance to justify the time it demanded from me.
This isn't a case of a book being objectively terrible or of me suddenly deciding that Jae can't write. I've read enough of her work to know that she can write stories I genuinely love. That's precisely why this disappointment stings. Sparks simply didn't work for me, and this time, my affection for her previous books wasn't enough to carry me through.
DNF. I tried, but the spark just wasn't there.
April 2, 2026
4.5 stars. Just the sweet, low angst story I needed after multiple suspense/thrillers.
July 2, 2026
Aww!
I really enjoyed reading this book! More on the cozy/warm side, with a bit of angst from Willow about her powers.
Also on the topic of her powers, they are very unique and I'd imagine that in this era with everything going digital, it'd be a big issue. There was also some forced proximity in the elevator, which I loved.
I really enjoyed reading this book! More on the cozy/warm side, with a bit of angst from Willow about her powers.
Also on the topic of her powers, they are very unique and I'd imagine that in this era with everything going digital, it'd be a big issue. There was also some forced proximity in the elevator, which I loved.
March 30, 2026
My first thought about this book was: Is Scottie (one of the MC) written about me? The resemblance between Scottie and I was so uncanny. Not just the IT Part but I also identified with a lot of her characteristics.
After all the emotional and angsty books I’ve read lately, this was the perfect cute and cozy slow-burn romance for my Nervous System. It was so easy to fall in love with Willows and Scottie. I also liked the side characters, that had their short moments. Especially Barb,we all need a Barb in our life as a wing woman.
While this is definitely a low angst story, there is quiet a bit of healing and character growth involved especially for Willow and it was great to read what difference it makes to have a partner and family in your life that understand , supports and loves you unconditionally for the person you are.
This book also made me research a fun fact about turtles.
If you generally enjoy Jae’s books and a cozy romance and aren’t afraid of a few sparks here and there, I am sure you’ll like this one as well.
After all the emotional and angsty books I’ve read lately, this was the perfect cute and cozy slow-burn romance for my Nervous System. It was so easy to fall in love with Willows and Scottie. I also liked the side characters, that had their short moments. Especially Barb,we all need a Barb in our life as a wing woman.
While this is definitely a low angst story, there is quiet a bit of healing and character growth involved especially for Willow and it was great to read what difference it makes to have a partner and family in your life that understand , supports and loves you unconditionally for the person you are.
This book also made me research a fun fact about turtles.
If you generally enjoy Jae’s books and a cozy romance and aren’t afraid of a few sparks here and there, I am sure you’ll like this one as well.
October 6, 2026
This was an absolute delight from start to finish!
I adore Willow and Scottie, and their chemistry was off the charts ;)
Jae is always a hit for me, and I adored this one so very much a lot!
Rep: both MCs are cis white lesbians.
Content warnings: talks of toxic parents, being stuck in an elevator.
I adore Willow and Scottie, and their chemistry was off the charts ;)
Jae is always a hit for me, and I adored this one so very much a lot!
Rep: both MCs are cis white lesbians.
Content warnings: talks of toxic parents, being stuck in an elevator.
May 10, 2026
Excellent sapphic romance from the Queen of the slow burn.
October 18, 2026
Willow claimed she tried everything, but clearly not anxiety meds or therapy. I was excited about the premise but for the first time, I was disappointed by Jae's book. This could have gone so many different, funny or sci-fi ways.
Instead it's another "falling in love fixed me" story, about someone who treats something that's clearly a self fulfilling prophecy and untreated childhood trauma like it's a huge secret that will get her killed if found out.
Instead it's another "falling in love fixed me" story, about someone who treats something that's clearly a self fulfilling prophecy and untreated childhood trauma like it's a huge secret that will get her killed if found out.
April 9, 2026
Das ist so unlogisch what
April 23, 2026
This was a very sweet, low-angst romance with two distinct and likable characters. Scottie and Willow both had well-developed backstories, and I found it easy to root for them. I especially loved Willow's introverted, shy nature and how thoughtfully (and correctly) it was portrayed. There were also some great scenes like the hilarious coming-out moment, the whole elevator setup, and the intimacy conversation.
That said, it was a little too cutesy for my taste (which is more of a me thing than a problem with the book). I tend to prefer more tension-driven romance. The whole static electricity issue, especially to the extent it's used here, felt a bit far-fetched and came across like an external gimmick to keep the characters apart. I would've preferred Willow to deal only with internal, psychological obstacles instead.
I also had a few small quibbles. Like Scottie describing Willow as "so relaxed, so different from her usual guarded self" when it’s only their second meeting, or the repeated use of "right?" in both characters’ inner thoughts.
Overall though, I still enjoyed this a lot, especially toward the end. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute, cozy romance.
That said, it was a little too cutesy for my taste (which is more of a me thing than a problem with the book). I tend to prefer more tension-driven romance. The whole static electricity issue, especially to the extent it's used here, felt a bit far-fetched and came across like an external gimmick to keep the characters apart. I would've preferred Willow to deal only with internal, psychological obstacles instead.
I also had a few small quibbles. Like Scottie describing Willow as "so relaxed, so different from her usual guarded self" when it’s only their second meeting, or the repeated use of "right?" in both characters’ inner thoughts.
Overall though, I still enjoyed this a lot, especially toward the end. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute, cozy romance.
April 2, 2026
I kind of got into WLW romcoms through Jae. She wasn’t the very first author I ever read, but she’s definitely the one who made me really fall in love with the genre.
I recently started writing at least short reviews for the books I read, and I always look forward to a new release from Jae and once again, she didn’t disappoint.
Jae just knows how to grab your attention. Her stories feel original, funny, and genuinely sweet, and the conflicts between the characters feel real not like unnecessary, over-the-top drama, which I really appreciate.
Scottie is such a sweetheart… kind, warm, and non-judgmental. The way she approaches things and communicates is just so calm and reasonable, and honestly, it was really refreshing to read. And then there’s Willow, who’s a bit of a mess (in a relatable way), struggling with her own stuff, but slowly finding understanding, friendship, and love.
Overall, the whole story was soft, funny, and yes… a little bit hot too.
I recently started writing at least short reviews for the books I read, and I always look forward to a new release from Jae and once again, she didn’t disappoint.
Jae just knows how to grab your attention. Her stories feel original, funny, and genuinely sweet, and the conflicts between the characters feel real not like unnecessary, over-the-top drama, which I really appreciate.
Scottie is such a sweetheart… kind, warm, and non-judgmental. The way she approaches things and communicates is just so calm and reasonable, and honestly, it was really refreshing to read. And then there’s Willow, who’s a bit of a mess (in a relatable way), struggling with her own stuff, but slowly finding understanding, friendship, and love.
Overall, the whole story was soft, funny, and yes… a little bit hot too.
April 4, 2026
Jae creates the best fireworks!
Jae, Sparks is a beautiful golden retriever/black cat romance. I love Scottie’s personality and how she can glimpse Willow’s heart and softness beneath all Willow’s self-inflicted thorny walls. MC Scottie is loyal, attentive, and my heart melted from her extraordinary kindness to MC Willow who believes she is cursed. Jae, maybe the most extraordinary gift we can give each other is a safe place to blossom, despite the glitches.
Jae, Sparks is a beautiful golden retriever/black cat romance. I love Scottie’s personality and how she can glimpse Willow’s heart and softness beneath all Willow’s self-inflicted thorny walls. MC Scottie is loyal, attentive, and my heart melted from her extraordinary kindness to MC Willow who believes she is cursed. Jae, maybe the most extraordinary gift we can give each other is a safe place to blossom, despite the glitches.
March 31, 2026
Sparks by Jae
In this her 27th Sapphic based book, Jae has once again written a book that is thoroughly enjoyable to read. Based on an intriguing link between the major characters, Jae has given them cleverly crafted back stories that allow them to complement each other. I thoroughly recommend this book.
In this her 27th Sapphic based book, Jae has once again written a book that is thoroughly enjoyable to read. Based on an intriguing link between the major characters, Jae has given them cleverly crafted back stories that allow them to complement each other. I thoroughly recommend this book.
March 29, 2026
I recommend this book
Very enjoyable read . Tech support meets tech jinx. The characters are interesting and likable.. Sparks fly at the beginning the romance builds. Thanks for another winner.
Very enjoyable read . Tech support meets tech jinx. The characters are interesting and likable.. Sparks fly at the beginning the romance builds. Thanks for another winner.
April 6, 2026
I loooove how communicative and wholesome they are
April 7, 2026
as super sweet book
This is a super cute, super sweet story about a women who has a little extra zap and an IT nerd. Love the references to other sapphic books and all the jokes. There is one big spicy scene in this book.
This is a super cute, super sweet story about a women who has a little extra zap and an IT nerd. Love the references to other sapphic books and all the jokes. There is one big spicy scene in this book.
April 28, 2026
I didn't feel the sparks, but it was okay. Maybe next time.
May 8, 2026
Jae is one of my must-buy, must-read author. This book is another enjoyable one. I like the relationship between Willow and Scottie and how it progresses.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews