“Sparks” by Laura DiNovis Berry

Sparks

Laura DiNovis Berry
Indies United Publishing House, LLC (2026)
ISBN:  978-1644569153
Reviewed by Rachel Jitsawat for Reader Views (07/2026)

One steamy night, a winter break, and a broken friendship. College ends, and life keeps rolling forward. What happens when life maneuvers to make the paths of two one-time lovers cross again…six years later?

This second-chance opportunity for Olivia, a woman who does not rise before 8 AM, and Trevor, a man who was dubbed “King Flirt” in college, is explored in Sparks by Laura DiNovis Berry, a contemporary romance and a great summer weekend read.

Olivia knows how to do her job as a CPA; there is no question about that. She has always been self-sufficient and self-motivated, making a habit of going at it on her own. But when she wears too many hats as she takes over the tax company at which she works, she begins to drown in responsibilities, professionally and personally.

Trevor never stopped being charming since college, a characteristic that continues to work in his favor as a business coach–a highly successful business coach with his own business. When Olivia accidentally reaches out to Trevor for help, he drops everything to come to her rescue. After all the years of silence between them, Trevor decides to use the opportunity to make things up to Olivia. Good friends and study-buddies for most of their time at school, their last semester ended with an icy chill. He was wrong, and he knows it.

Sparks is a modern romance that is fun, amusing, and witty. Spattered with millennial pop culture references (Artax & Gollum, anyone?), Olivia and Trevor quip cleverly in their banter, yet the reader can relate to the melting mush the brain becomes when trying to speak to someone you have feelings for, especially after years of unspoken truths and misunderstandings.

This is a story that explores what happens when things are left unsaid, when true feelings are not admitted, and when texts don’t get sent to avoid seeming too “clingy.” Friendship trials are also explored as the main character stumbles through shutting out those who are most supportive, even while showing up consistently for them.

The story of Olivia and Trevor is worth the read. Wade through the sea of tension and awkward moments in this second-chance romance, and find out if they can reignite the sparks.