Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of "The Fixer Upper" by Lauren Forsythe. All opinions are my own.

In this funny and sharp romantic comedy, a woman with a knack for turning her boyfriends’ lives around starts a professional service to help wrangle men, only to be unexpectedly matched with an old flame.

This was a funny romcom and I enjoyed it.

A fun, empowering rom-com about a woman who’s great at fixing up her friends' exes — but not her own love life. It’s witty, feminist, and a refreshing twist on the romance genre. A lively, feel-good story.

*The Fixer Upper* by Lauren Forsythe is a fun, flirty read with great chemistry and plenty of laughs. There’s banter, heart, and a slow-burn romance that’s super satisfying. It’s light, easy, and totally enjoyable if you’re in the mood for something sweet and playful.

A fantastic rom-com had me loving the characters from the beginning. It's friends to lovers, to enemies, to friends, to lovers, and really quite an enjoyable read. It's light and funny in parts, yet entirely understandable and emotional in others.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Lauren Forsythe, and the publisher for providing an advanced reader's copy of The Fixer Upper.

The Fixer Upper is a charming British rom-com that combines humor, friendship, and second-chance romance. Aly is a character you can't help but root for as she navigates the complexities of her professional and personal life. The book explores the concept of self-discovery through Aly's unique ability to "fix" relationships, though this skill leads her back to her childhood best friend, Dylan, who just so happens to be in a relationship with someone else when Aly is asked to help him.

One of the standout features of this book is Aly's character development. She is complex, strong, and has a great relationship with her friends and family. The dynamic between Aly and her best friends is heartwarming, and the friendships feel real and supportive. However, while I appreciated the emotional depth of Aly's character, I personally struggled to connect with the romance. There was potential for a lot of chemistry between Aly and Dylan, especially with the "friends to strangers to friends again" trope, but it felt underdeveloped. I wished there was more romantic tension, and at times, the pacing made the connection feel rushed.

The plot itself is a bit of a rollercoaster. Aly's journey toward self-realization is entertaining, but I couldn't help but find the premise of her helping to "fix" someone else's relationship with her childhood crush a bit unrealistic, especially since Dylan is already involved with someone else for most of the book. Additionally, the miscommunication trope, where Aly and Dylan have to work through past misunderstandings, felt unnecessary and a bit frustrating.

Overall, The Fixer Upper is a fun and quick read that focuses more on personal growth than the romance itself. It's an easy read with witty banter and a lot of humor, especially when Aly's friends, Tola and Eric, are involved. The ending, while satisfying, felt a bit rushed, and I wished we had more of an epilogue to see how Aly and Dylan's relationship would unfold after the story's conclusion. If you're a fan of slow-burn romances and character-driven plots, this is a delightful pick.

In conclusion, while I would have loved a little more romance and a deeper exploration of the relationship between Aly and Dylan, The Fixer Upper is a solid and enjoyable read that will appeal to readers who love stories about self-discovery, friendship, and the complexities of love.

A quick read that is good for the PG loving romance reader.
Miscommunication is the main trope and the author focuses on that. I wish the characters had more depth… BUT it’s an easy read for a beach day!

Not my favorite…frustrating characters, bad communication, a “romance” that is barely there and when it is it feels like cheating… if I wasn’t listening to this at 2.5x (and from the library) I probably would have DNFed. But it did make me laugh a few times so there’s that…

I value the opportunity I was given to read this in advance, but it has been three years and I still haven't read this. With so many books ahead of me, I cannot return to this title.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! I just couldn't get in the mood for this one, but I do love this author!

The Fixer Upper is a fun and refreshing take on rom-coms, following Aly, who’s made a career out of “fixing” men—only to realize she might need some fixing herself. Lauren Forsythe delivers sharp humor, relatable moments, and a touch of heartfelt self-discovery. While the premise is unique and the friendships shine, the romance felt a bit underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more depth. Still, it’s an enjoyable, witty read perfect for fans of empowering, feel-good fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I enjoyed this “rom com”. I say rom com loosely. Yes, this is a romance, but much of the book is focused on Aly’s job, her growth into who she wants to be, and her family.

Dylan… oh Dylan… in a romance I like to like the MMC. I can honestly say, I am not a fan of Dylan. I like to feel some swoony, but there were a couple of times I got a major ick.

The Fixer Upper business wasn’t quite what I thought it was going to be when they first started explaining where the idea came from, I was thinking something like Failure to Launch. But it was slightly different since they were hired by Nicki (cat litter queen and social media influencer) to help push her boyfriend (Dylan) to propose and helping him speed up the process of launching his start-up company.



FEATURES: single 1st person POV, debut, childhood sweethearts, manipulation madness, miscommunication, light on the rom, second chance



Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM, G. P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed this book! It was just what I expected - a nice, lighthearted read. This is the kind of book I look for when I just want my brain to shut off. I can see many people enjoying this book.

This was a little bit of a struggle to get into but once I was past the first couple of chapters the book caught my interest. Although I did not like the ending. The plot of the book was fun and enjoyable. It is a short enough book that it can be read quickly.

I found this book to be a good read but nothing extraordinary. The plot moves along nicely, and there are moments of intrigue, but the characters didn’t have enough depth to really pull me in. The writing itself is strong, but the story can feel a bit repetitive at times. It’s not a bad book, but it doesn’t do much to stand out in its genre.

This was such a hard book to get into unfortunately. The idea of a woman fixing a house and her heart sounds amazing, but something was lacking here. I'm unsure if it's the writing or the plot, but something wasn't working for me here. Just not a fave.

🌟 🌟🌟/5

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Putnam, Lauren Forsythe, and NetGalley. ❤️

*The Fixer Upper* by Lauren Forsythe is a frustrating and unremarkable read. The plot, centered around a woman trying to rebuild her life by renovating a house, is clichéd and predictable. The characters are one-dimensional, with little development or emotional depth. The romance feels forced and lacks chemistry, making it hard to care about the outcome. The writing is flat and uninspired, and the pacing drags, especially in the middle sections. Instead of being invested in the journey of self-discovery, I found myself bored and uninterested. Overall, *The Fixer Upper* offers little beyond tired tropes and fails to deliver a satisfying story.

A fun quick easy read that will make swoon. No spice in this book, so perfect for readers who like romance but no spice.

This book is a cute rom com. The main character is a fixer, she comes in to make relationships better, usually for one person in the relationship. Her newest job gets her in trouble when it’s the highest money amount she’s ever been offered, but the person in need of fixing is her ex boyfriend/ best friend.

Very cute premise! Reminded me of good luck Chuck. Not sure why British rom coms are so adverse to steam/spice but it’s disappointing. Also, outside of this taking place in London it didn’t feel British at all. The language was very American. The romance didn’t build emotionally strong, but I liked the writing.

A heart fixer and career strategist who helps others find their happiness. Setting people up has been one of life's great gifts. This was funny and light-hearted.