A delightful story written with warmth and humour. Loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Kerr's "Her Fixer Upper" is a delightful romcom that combines the charm of second chance love with the trials and triumphs of home renovation. Set against the backdrop of two friends' quest for homeownership, this novel is a heart-warming tale of friendship, romance, and the power of perseverance.

Freya and Charlie, faced with the daunting reality of unaffordable housing, embark on a bold venture to purchase a renovation house together. What begins as a practical solution to their housing woes soon evolves into a journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance. Kerr masterfully weaves together themes of friendship, ambition, and personal growth, creating a story that is as relatable as it is uplifting.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its authentic portrayal of the challenges and joys of home renovation. As Freya and Charlie navigate the ups and downs of transforming their fixer upper into their dream home, readers are treated to a vivid depiction of the trials of DIY projects and the satisfaction of seeing a vision come to life. Kerr's attention to detail and witty prose bring the renovation process to life, making it a central and engaging aspect of the story.

However, it is the dynamic between Freya and Charlie that truly shines in "Her Fixer Upper." Their banter is playful and endearing, their friendship genuine and heartfelt. As they work together to overcome obstacles and realise their shared dream, sparks fly and old feelings resurface, leading to a romance that is as sweet as it is unexpected.

Kerr's writing is infused with warmth and humour, making "Her Fixer Upper" a joy to read from start to finish. Fans of authors like Beth O'Leary and Lia Louis will find much to love in this charming tale of love, home, and second chances. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a hopeless romantic, this book is sure to leave you with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart.

Her Fixer Upper is the literary equivalent of a cosy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. Kerr spins a heart-warming tale of love, second chances, and home improvement – because who doesn't love a good fixer-upper story? The characters are endearing, the romance is sweet, and the small-town setting adds that extra touch of charm. Kerr effortlessly combines humour and heart in this feel-good romance, making it a delightful read for anyone in need of a hug.

What an enjoyable story this was.

It's a friends to lovers rom com, where two old friends decide to buy a house together to fix up, and then sell in order then be able to afford their own houses.

Freya even draws up a list of "rules" that must be adhered to at all times. Including one stating that they can't get involved.

I enjoyed reading about their different approaches to doing up a house, but also their general friendly banter.

It was a pleasure to read, and to see how everything would turn out.

I especially loved the scene with a dog, a care home, and the breaking of some rules.

This was very light hearted and entertaining to read.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I loved this book. I really like the idea of doing up a house. Freya and Charlie are very brave to do it with very little extra funds.

It's full of ups and downs with the DIY and the friendships throughout the book. It's really funny in parts, especially the tennis ball in the paint tin (if you want to know more you'll just have to read it). Ted is hilarious too and Freya's Grandad sounds like an independent cheeky chappy and reminds me of my dad.

My hubby and I struggle to do DIY together without having a disagreement, so it was really funny and so relatable when Freya and Charlie start doing things.

This book is not only funny, it's also romantic and heartwarming and I recommend it, if you fancy a light hearted bit of humour between friends.

Her Fixer Upper by Emily Kerr

I really enjoyed this rom-com even though I sometimes was very annoyed with one of the main characters.

Freya and Charlie are two old friends who bump into each other. They are both dreaming of buying a house but none of them has the money for it. One thing leads to another and they soon find themselves being the co-owner of a house that has seen its best days. They spend their days at their work and the evenings and weekends trying to renovate the Oak Tree House.

We get to follow them struggling with the renovation as none of them has any knowledge on how-to. As the renovation slowly progresses so does their friendship.

This story is both funny, romantic and a little sad. I loved the banter between them. This was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to read more from Emily Kerr.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for this ARC I got through NetGalley. .

The Fixer -Upper is a comfort romance read that has all the right ingredients for those romance lovers out there. While this isn't my typical genre, I did appreciate the premise of two old friends (Charlie and Freya) embarking on a huge project together. I loved that their issue of wanting to buy their own place but not being a place financially to do so spurred this idea forward as not being able to get into the property ladder is a reality for many people.

Saying that, I did have a few issues with Freya's character. I don't have an issue with unlikeable characters if they are written that way but Freya was quite annoying as she was so serious and uptight about everything. I often wondered if Charlie was a real-life saint with the amount of patience he had towards her. There were also a couple of cringy scenes in which she acted very childishly which was out-of-character and I was left feeling quite embarrassed for her. My other qualm was the dialogue. Freya's voice read very formally and quite unrealistic and her dialogue was clunky at times.

Read if you enjoy:
✨Home renovation projects
✨Close proximity romance
✨Opposites attracting
✨A village life
✨Dogs
✨Strong bonds with grandad

I really enjoyed this. It was an easy read and the story line kept me up turning pages into the morning. Would definitely recommend to all I know.

A fantastically light hearted, romantic read. Really enjoyable. The characters are warm and the need to know how it all ends is enticing. A gentle read bit with plenty of momentum to get you over the finished line. Recommended read.

Thank you Netgalley

The two main characters buy a dilapidated house (their route to finding both each other and the house are some of the many happy coincidences in the book), and the pair learn complex DIY skills quicker than even YouTube tutorials would have you believe is possible.

I thought the plot unfolds at a pleasant pace (unencumbered by the usual bureaucracy and stress house buying and renovating entails) and focuses more on the relationship between the characters. It was a sweet story and kept me occupied for a plane ride and unexpected hospital stay. I enjoyed it enough to want to read to the end (though it's obvious from the book blurb what's going to happen) and there were some genuine laugh out loud moments in the book - I rarely find supposed "laugh out loud" books actually laugh out loud.

However, I felt the characters lacked depth. Their personalities comprised nothing more than the romcom stereotypes; the main character Freya is incredibly uptight, efficient, overworked and underappreciated, while her housemate/ love-interest is incredibly easy going, handsome and charming. They are complete opposites and it seemed odd to me they'd get on. There is a spattering of side characters who pop up occasionally to help the plot along, but even the baddies aren't overly offensive - mostly because they aren't well formed enough to lift from the page. The dialogue seemed stilted and unnatural at times, and there were some clunky plot developments that jolted the characters' relationship forward. The main character also goes through a sudden shift in perspective which feels more plot-driven than a natural change.

Overall, as long as you're not expecting a deep, meaningful novel, I thought it's a nice enough read.

Fun and delicious.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wonderful read, the characters were great and the story adorable. Her grandad and the little pup gave me life 🥰

Friends to lovers is my kryptonite. I love it so much, and this book was no exception. I loved both characters and rooted for them to find their HEA from the start of the book. The chemistry was well written, and I am excited to read more from this author.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I LOVED this story so much. I actually considered reading it again as soon as I put it down (it may get a reread in the next few months haha.)

The chemistry between Freya and Charlie was just enough without being over the top, their adorablenesse with each other had me squealing, and it was pretty funny at times. Def a fave of the year, for sure.

I love the idea of two people combining their money to buy a house because that feels very realistic in this day and age and makes me feel better about not being able to afford a house lol. I do enjoy some reality mixed in with all of the romance in books that I pick up, and this was a good dose of each.

Kerr is a queen of romantic comedies in my eyes and I look forward to seeing what else she comes out with in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Kerr, and One More Chapter for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a lovely story. The characters were well written, I particularly enjoyed Grandad and Ted. Whilst the ending was always going to be a little predictable the story had enough twists and turns to keep it interesting. Will definitely read some more from this author.

Great storyline and loved the characters. A great read.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Loved this book, such an easy light hearted read. I loved the characters and how the story panned out. Granda was my fav! So glad Ted got joint custody too!

Her Fixer-Upper is a fascinating book with plenty of humour and problems from the real world in the twenty-first century. There is also the issue of young people keen to go on the housing ladder but unable to afford the deposit to do so. Then there is the grandfather, who is healthy and vibrant but whose body is not as young as it once was. Numerous unanticipated problems are involved in fixing up a potentially fantastic property that requires more than tender loving care. And then there's the case of the enduring school friendship that, given the perfect conditions, might develop into something much more than just companionship.
This is the tale of Charlie and Freya, who were once classmates. As they begin their ascent up the property ladder and purchase their first home together, they have rules that include a prohibition against becoming entangled. Along the way, they learn about home restoration, including intricate damp proofing and plastering techniques. Additionally, they temporarily take care of Ted, Freya's grandfather's cheerful Border terrier, who 'helps' with the decorating by doing things like putting his ball in the paint to create distractions. During the process, unexpected catastrophes happen; this is not a smooth journey.

I normally love Emily Kerr's books, however this one was a little underwhelming for me. Parts of it were cute and funny but on the whole it was very predictable. From the moment Freya comes up with the plan to buy a house with Charlie and sets out with her rules I knew there would be the typical struggles of renovations intermingled with flirting, tension, the inevitable fight and misunderstanding, finalized by them realizing they had feelings for each other and the typical hea. I did give it 3 stars for the overall writing and the parts that I did find entertaining.

Set in Yorkshire, this is a story of childhood friends reconnecting, after having lost touch for many years, and deciding to buy a house together. The house in question, Oak Tree Cottage, is in a bit of a state, to put it mildly, but Freya and Charlie are both so desperate to get a foot on the property ladder that they are prepared to take the risk. The descriptions of the renovation are so realistic you feel like you need a bath just reading about it. They could not have realised exactly what they were taking on or they would have run a mile. The pitfalls and steep learning curve required are completely convincing.
While I enjoyed Her Fixer Upper, I do have reservations. Freya and Charlie are opposites in that she loves a spreadsheet and a list, and he is fairly relaxed and easy going. They are good for each other as he encourages her to be more spontaneous, and she makes him want to improve himself. As we only get the story from Freya’s point of view, we have no idea what Charlie is thinking or doing – neither does Freya – and this leads to serious misunderstandings that slow the pace of the narrative as they go on for a bit too long in my view. I found it harder to warm to Freya as she was such a control freak. The way he was written, Charlie seemed a bit immature at times, considering he ran a successful business, which is why I would have liked some idea of what he was thinking. The romance element is fairly low key and not really the main focus of the story.
I liked the setting in the Yorkshire countryside, and the supporting characters of Freya’s friend Leila, her grandad Arthur, and his dog Ted whose antics definitely stole the show. I had not read anything by Emily Kerr before, but now plan to catch up and read her previous books. Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.