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Verdict: A sunny, sexy rivals-to-lovers surfing romance with Melissa Brayden’s trademark banter, and for many readers the best of the Seven Shores series. A minority felt the formula was wearing thin and the romance didn’t quite spark.
Best for: Readers who want witty dialogue, a beach setting and a feel-good competitor romance.
Heat level: Hot
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.9/5 — a 4.24 Goodreads average across 1,903 ratings, 4.06 on StoryGraph from 339 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 510 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Rivals to lovers, opposites attract, competitors, media spotlight, found family, series instalment.
Sparks Like Ours is Melissa Brayden’s 2018 contemporary lesbian romance from Bold Strokes Books, the third book in her Seven Shores series about friends living in a Venice Beach condo complex. Gia Malone wants to be the best surfer in the world; her biggest obstacle is annoyingly perky world number one Elle Britton.
It holds a 4.24 average across 1,903 Goodreads ratings, with 83% of them four or five stars, 4.06 on StoryGraph from 339 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 510 Amazon ratings.
What Is Sparks Like Ours About?
Elle is tired: tournaments, fan meet-ups and nonstop media leave her craving peace. With Gia closing in on her ranking, she needs to surf her best.
When the media pounces on their neck-and-neck race, the two are pushed into the spotlight together, and it isn’t long before the chemistry on and off the beach becomes undeniable. But only one can win.
What Works in This Romance
- Dialogue: Readers repeatedly praise Brayden’s flirty, funny banter.
- Chemistry: Several call Gia and Elle their favourite couple in the series.
- Surfing: Readers found the competitions exciting, even with little surf knowledge.
- Seven Shores friends: The recurring cast adds warmth and humour, with a nod to the author’s Soho Loft characters.
Book Synopsis
The world’s top two women surfers are fierce rivals — until a marketing campaign makes them partners.
Falling for your competition is complicated when only one of you can be number one.
My Review
This is Brayden doing what she does best: light, charming, low-angst romance with sparkling dialogue. Readers who had wanted Gia’s story since book one say it was worth the wait.
Some long-time readers say the Brayden formula is wearing thin: one couldn’t tell the characters’ voices apart, another found the relationship wishy-washy, and a third liked the start but not the ending. A few wanted more of the surf competition, and one disliked set-up for the next book.
My honest note: A breezy beach read.
| Element | In Sparks Like Ours |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Gia Malone & Elle Britton, the world’s top two women surfers |
| Core tropes | Rivals to lovers, opposites attract, media spotlight |
| Setting | Venice Beach and the pro surf tour |
| Heat level | Hot |
| Length | 241 pages (Kindle listing) |
| Series | Seven Shores #3 |
| Content notes | Mild; readers mention little difficult content |
How Spicy Is Sparks Like Ours?
Hot. Readers call the heat smoking and the chemistry off the charts.
StoryGraph has no content warnings submitted for this book.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you enjoy Brayden’s banter and rivals-to-lovers. It is on our sapphic sports romance list.
You may want to skip it if: you’ve grown tired of her formula.
In short: Sun, surf and sparks.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 44% five stars, 39% four, 14% three, 2% two and almost no one-star ratings. On StoryGraph, 90% tagged it lighthearted and 92% found the characters loveable.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): The banter first. Second, the chemistry. Third, the surfing. Fourth, the friends.
What readers argue about and complain about: Formula fatigue, above everything. Second, weak sparks for some. Third, the ending.
The comparison worth making first: Brayden’s Make Your Move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read the Seven Shores series in order?
It helps. Sparks Like Ours is book three, and readers enjoy the recurring friends from the earlier books, though Gia and Elle’s romance stands on its own.
Is Sparks Like Ours enemies to lovers?
Rivals to lovers. Gia, ranked second in the world, can’t stand perky world number one Elle — until a joint media campaign throws them together.
How spicy is Sparks Like Ours?
Hot. Readers describe smoking-hot chemistry and sexy scenes.
Is it low angst?
Mostly. Readers call it feel-good and low angst, with a mid-book separation that some found less dramatic than usual.
Is Sparks Like Ours on Kindle Unlimited?
Not at the time of writing — the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99.
If You Loved Sparks Like Ours, Read These Next
Continue the Seven Shores series, or browse our sapphic sports romance list and the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Sparks Like Ours sets out to be a hot, fun rivals-to-lovers romance, and for most readers it is. What holds it back is a familiar formula. Worth it for Brayden fans. Check Sparks Like Ours on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Sparks Like Ours ranks as a good sports romance — breezy, hot.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 4.24 average across 1,903 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 83% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 4.06 on StoryGraph from 339 reviews
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 510 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★★☆ 3.8/5
- ✓ Rivals to lovers
- ✓ Hot chemistry
- ✓ Wishy-washy for some
- ✓ Low angst
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ 92% loveable characters
- ✓ Mysterious Gia
- ✓ Perky Elle
- ✓ Series friends
Writing ★★★★☆ 3.9/5
- ✓ Brilliant dialogue
- ✓ Formulaic for some
- ✓ Exciting surfing
- ✓ Similar voices
Emotional Impact ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ Tagged lighthearted by 90%
- ✓ Feel-good
- ✓ Mild separation
- ✓ Light
Heat Level ★★★★☆ 4/5
- ✓ Hot
- ✓ Smoking chemistry
- ✓ On page
- ✓ Sexy
Ending ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ Together
- ✓ So-so for one
- ✓ Sets up book four
- ✓ Sweet
Re-read Value ★★★★☆ 3.6/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ Audiobook available
- ✓ Series binge
- ✓ 241 pages
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