Okay besties, buckle up because Sparks in Iceland by Mandi Lynn Bell is the kind of romance that makes you want to pack a bag, grab your passport, and immediately book the next flight to Reykjavik. This book is EVERYTHING, atmospheric, swoony, funny, and heart-squeezing in the best possible way.

So the setup: we’ve got two leads who end up thrown together in the most magical, icy, breathtaking setting, Iceland. And let me tell you, the setting itself is a character here. The hot springs, the Northern Lights, the cozy little inns, the landscapes that feel both wild and intimate at the same time… every description made me feel like I was right there, bundled up in a parka but still holding my breath from how gorgeous it all was. This isn’t just “a romance that happens to take place abroad,” it’s a full-on travel experience wrapped in a love story.

The romance? Ugh. My HEART. It’s the perfect mix of banter, tension, and that “oh no, we’re catching real feelings” panic that makes my toes curl while I read. The chemistry leaps off the page, every glance, every accidental brush of hands, every moment when they both clearly want more but are terrified to admit it. The push-and-pull is written so well it almost hurts (in a good way). And when it finally comes together? Fireworks. Literal sparks in Iceland.

What I really loved is how layered the characters are. They’re not just pretty faces in a postcard setting, they’re both carrying baggage, navigating fears, and learning what they really want out of life. Watching them peel back those layers with each other gave the romance depth beyond just the swoon. It’s about growth, vulnerability, and taking chances, not just in love, but in life.

The writing is so engaging, too. It’s witty without trying too hard, emotional without tipping into melodrama, and descriptive enough that you feel the icy wind on your face and the heat of a hot spring on your skin. And yet it never drags, the pacing is tight and addictive. I blew through chapters without realizing how much time had passed because I was so immersed.

By the time I hit the ending, I was sitting there with a ridiculous grin plastered across my face, half tempted to start the book all over again just to relive the journey. It gave me everything I want in a romance: escapism, banter, chemistry, heart, and a setting that makes you want to grab your phone and Google flights.

Final thoughts: Sparks in Iceland is pure magic. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why we fall in love with romance novels in the first place, because they make you feel alive, hopeful, and a little dreamy-eyed. Five absolutely glowing stars because I was hooked from page one, stayed up way too late reading, and closed it feeling like my heart had just been hugged.