Book: sparks will fly by Laurel Holl
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 4.5/5
This book was a lot of fun. While I have never been into battle robots before, it kinda made me want to check them out.
Mari is a great character. She is smart and funny, and really gives her all to those she cares about, to her own detriment. I love seeing her put herself first by taking advantage of the oppportunity that falls in her lap to level up in her hobby.
Jacob is a little harder to figure out. He keeps things very close to his chest for most of the book. Once they are able to get out their real feelings and clear up the misunderstandings from years ago it is a totally different book. Jacob is so attuned to what Mari needs, but he keeps up his quiet manner about it.
I love the mix of competition and care between the two. They manage to have great chemistry as well.
The representation of Mari's chronic illness is probably my favorite part of the book. She seems like a caregiver herself by nature, so having to need so much care is difficult for her. Jacob is written well in that he is an excellent partner for Mari, taking care of her, while helping her maintain her autonomy which is such a hard balance to manage.
I recommend this book if you want a competitive story set in a nontraditional sport, a healthy example of how to take care of a loved one, or just a really cute second chance love story.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.