This was honestly just okay for me. I found Aly to not be me the most intriguing main character and I just didn't find the main premise to be completely plausible or interesting enough to follow. Personally, if I needed to fix up a partner before they are good enough to date, I would just rather leave them and have them figure it out on their own. Overall, just an okay read. 2.5 stars rounded down.

I loved the idea of a group of people who can help someone to get their act together. Sometimes, people just need a little push. The characters are likeable and I slowly warmed up to Dylan; I liked Aly from the start. I laughed a lot through this one. I loved the Aly was smart when it came to business decisions but was less confident about her value in her work environment. This story helped me remember two things: don’t try to change people, and always stand up for yourself. The five things to be grateful for is something I may incorporate into my daily life (if I remember – I’m terrible at remembering). Highly recommended for a vacation read or when you need a pick me up.

Heat Factor: There’s no whoopie and there’s actually very little overt sexual tension but somehow I am still TOTALLY invested in this book.

Character Chemistry: They’re meant to be, and it’s adorable. Think “13 Going on 30” meets “Failure to Launch” with a hint of “Bridget Jones’ Diary”

Plot: Dylan and Alyssa were BEST friends growing up, until Alyssa confesses her love for Dylan and ghosts him overnight in embarrassment. When she and her two friends create a side business for nudging reluctant partners in the “right” direction for their clients, Dylan ends up being the job…only Alyssa doesn’t think he needs any fixing. At all.

Overall: This one might be a tiny bit smut adjacent, but it’s AMAZING and I’m completely obsessed with it.

Let me just tell you how beautifully this book is set up, because the tension builds like an elaborate room of dominoes and then it all comes crashing down in the most satisfying way.

Essentially, Alyssa is stuck. She’s spent her entire adult like in relationships with men who need “fixing”. When her friends realize this, they make a list and determine that, in fact, every single man she’s ever dated has ended up better off for her having been with them. This sparks an idea, and she and her friends end up making a business with Alyssa’s expertise, essentially nudging “stuck” partners into a better place. Only, while Alyssa enjoys helping people, she also has some pretty big reservations about what she’s doing with her life. This discontent is further amplified by the sheer number of hot messes she’s got constantly sucking the life out of her–her mother, who is still hung up on her father, who has a whole other family and only blows into their lives to screw everything up again, her boss, who essentially uses her drive and self-sacrificial nature to keep her on the hook while promoting other people. And then all the men she dates. There’s simply no more energy left for her own life! It’s…relatable.

But then they get a client, a rich social media heiress named Nicki, who is desperate for her boyfriend to launch his tech company and propose to her…and it just happens to be the one guy Alyssa has never gotten over–her childhood best friend, Dylan.

Dylan does need some help, to be fair. For starters, he’s one of those people who disappear into their partners. He is actively WITH Nicki the whole time he’s rebuilding a friendship with Alyssa. (Like, the author does make an attempt to call it out, and it’s very clear he’s 100% sleeping with Nicki while in love with Alyssa…this was a bold choice not often seen in romance, in my personal opinion, but he and Alyssa don’t do anything physical until literally the last few pages…so it felt different, but okay. Some readers may hate it, though.) But he does seem to evolve as the story progresses, regaining a sense of who he wants to be and what his values are. So that was satisfying.

What was very, very satisfying was Alyssa. She starts out a clear cut self-sacrificial people pleaser and starts to see very slowly what she’s actually giving up to make other people like her. She also sees that while she feels like she has more control over her life by fixing other people’s messes, in reality she’s being shamelessly used and has LESS control over her life because of it.

This dynamic is ultimately why I feel this book hinges on being women’s fiction. I could see some valid arguments coming from both sides–that the plot revolves around Alyssa more, and that the plot revolves around their relationship. It’s first person, from Alyssa’s perspective–but it’s heavily focused on her budding connection to Dylan. While the whole plot revolves around their relationship, the transformation of Alyssa really does steal the show. Ultimately, the incredibly romantic ending brought literal tears to my eyes (which rarely happens, I’m a swooner, not a cryer), flipped some trends on their ends, and I LOVED it. Loved it.

If I’m totally honest, the Creative Writing major in me geeked out big time over the incredible character development (even the secondary characters had banging backstories), and the tension was just…delicious. Little kernels dropped right and left. Small glances and inside jokes. This is how you end up with that bereft feeling after you close a book, and it was certainly true here.

If you’re interested in a book that will leave you feeling like your chest has too much air and like perhaps someone has been cutting onions and playing violins under your window, this is it. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

I enjoyed with rom-com debut! I liked that Aly is such a real and relatable main character. Plus, she has a great friend group. The insightful story is more women's fiction with a romance element than a true romance.

This book had a lot of potential. I enjoyed the read but it wasn’t my favorite. Too many things I wish would’ve happened that didn’t happen. The romance aspect fell a little too flat to me. Not much happening.

This was a cute, fluffy romance that was good for a summer read.

Interesting plot line. Well developed characters. Seriously couldn’t stand the Kitty Litter Princess from her first appearance and while I liked Dylan throughout, there were times I wanted to strangle him. You could also see the characters grow over time.

Overall, a good read and I’d recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars!

Aly Aresti is the ‘fixer upper’ helping to fix everyone’s problems. All her ex’s were on dead end streets when she met them, but with her advice she helps motivate them to advance in life. The only problem is they all move ahead finding love and success without her.

Once Aly and her two closest co workers/friends realize that her ex’s where under ‘The Aly factor’, they decide to start an evening side business fixing people’s men. Their first client is Social Media sensation Nicolette Wetherington-Smythe. The big break they need to jumpstart their new business. Aly discovers the man she has to fix for Nicolette is non other then her long time childhood crush and first love, Dylan James. Can she really fix this relationship? Does she want to? Is she going to be honest about her real feelings for Dylan?

I’ll start by saying the plot had several holes. Everyone takes advantage of Aly at her regular job, and she allows it. Her life seems messy for someone who is able to fix others. It’s like finding out your marriage counselor is three times divorced 😂 The whole concept “We can fix your man so you don’t have to” is very cringe. Aly and her friends used several very questionable tactics to achieve that. None of it really sat well with me. Acting like therapists with no licenses to do so lying and acting to interject into peoples lives to get results…yikes 🙈

I will say there were several parts I did enjoy, but several parts I really didn’t. I was a bit confused on what was happening between Aly and Dylan in the end. Did she want to be with him or not? So much drama and not very much romance here. So for me this just okay.

Friends to enemies to lovers second chance romance with vibes of How to Lose a Guy in 10 days… well… need I say more?

Super sweet story with nice character growth

Rating: DNF
Author: Lauren Forsythe
Available Now!

I could not finish this one. I got to about 30% and had to call it quits. When it comes to ARCs I try my best to really finish the book. I made sure to take a break but when I came back I quickly realized I still wasn’t enjoying this one.

This book had such a great synopsis and I was so excited for it but unfortunately it just fell flat. I was enjoying the first couple chapters but when the main character started ‘fixing’ people is where I ran into some issues. I felt like the story was already becoming repetitive and what the main character was ‘fixing’ didn’t seem to be major issues or issues at all in my opinion. Honestly, reading some of those parts made me feel uncomfortable because in a way I didn’t agree with what was going on. Of course others might disagree with me on that. I did enjoy the side characters and thought they were so supportive. They also added some much needed humor to the story.

Overall, while I love the idea of the story I didn’t love the story itself. I do, however, think it was well written (atleast what I read). I’m not sure if readers will be able to connect or relate to the characters but it was nice that they had their own personalities. Even though I could not finish this one I would say if you are interested in it then you should give it a try.

Thank you so much @putnambooks for the gifted copy on #netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From page one, I loved this book! I haven't been much in the mood for a contemporary romance and I was delightfully surprised that it was more women's fiction than I expected. The setting, cast of characters, and overall development made this a hard one for me to put down.
Aly's personal life may not be what she'd hoped it to be, but she works hard and knows it will pay off if she can just keep moving. She's always there to pick up the pieces for someone else, to help and support to the best of her abilities. With the help of her two favorite co-workers-turned-friends, they develop a side hustle to help women "fix" their relationships. A wild opportunity presents itself with a demanding heiress and Aly can't turn her away. The only problem is the man she is supposed to fix is Dylan, her childhood best friend.
Can I please have another Lauren book? I was sad to find this is her debut because I won't have a backlist to dive into but equal parts happy to discover her at the beginning. I am hopeful there is another coming soon!
Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This romance novel was such a fun read. Who doesn't know someone who tries to fix everything and everyone around them? I'd sell this to any reader wanting a bit of escapism this summer.

Alyssa knows how to fix things. Whether it be a boyfriend, her parents, or a coworker, she knows just how to to manipulate them into the best versions of themselves and put all the broken pieces together. So she decides to fix people professionally and put her branding experience to the test on the troubled couples of London.

But what happens when she is hired to fix an influencer's boyfriend and it just so happens to be her childhood best friend and the boy she has loved for the last fifteen years?

I really enjoyed this! It was messy and raw and the characters all felt very real to me. I have never read a book with such a unique premise and the author did a wonderful job of crafting her story.

For a romance, this could kick it up a notch. This one took me a bit of effort to really sink myself into it. I loved that she’s a fixer— I’d love that. Maybe I need to try fixing everyone around me too! But the lies and lies on repeat started to lose me. Still fun enough to enjoy the story though.

Aly Aresti discovers that her exes are much better people after having been in a relationship with her. With some very astute observations from her friends, she discovers a knack for fostering others potential. After a trial run, Aly and her friends start a side gig helping fix men for women who need them to step up. Things go a bit sideways when she is hired to 'fix up' a media influencer's boyfriend, who just happens to be Aly's childhood best friend. Along the way Aly is confronted with her own relationships, both romantic and family, as well as her career. In the end, is it actually Aly who needs the fixing up?

I went into The Fixer Upper thinking it would be a pretty straight forward romance. I was completely surprised. It is primarily women's fiction with a little romance thrown in. The characters are really likable. I found myself cheering on Aly as she worked to empower herself. I loved the relationship and comradery between Aly and her friends. Forsythe's examination of the characters and the plot is pretty insightful. I really liked the writing style. The pacing is consistent and at no time was I bored. As I got further in the plot, I really wanted to read more. The best part of this book for me is that I wasn't hooked to see how the romance played out, but more because I adored Aly's growth, the conflict, and some of the themes. Overall, a wonderful read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe.

Alyssa Aresti is a marketing master. She works hard at her job, just waiting for the day that they announce promotion to head of branding. She’s not currently in a relationship, but she’s okay with that. She goes out to eat once a month at a fantastic restaurant by herself, just to enjoy good food and good wine. But when the maitre’d at her latest restaurant choice balks at seating her at a table for one, she stands up for herself. And the guy behind her in line stands up for her too. And when she turns around to acknowledge him, she realizes she knows him.

An ex-boyfriend of hers, this guy is now married and about to buy a house with his lovely wife. When she had dated him, he had lived in his mother’s house and taught guitar to kids. When Aly looked him up later on social media, she found out that he was a project manager, clearly successful, and very happy.

When Aly told the story of bumping into her ex-boyfriend to her best friends at work, Eric and Tola, Eric pointed out that she did that a lot, that she was the one who nudged the people around her to become better, to take the risks, to putting in the work, to making the change. She shrugged it off, but Eric and Tola went to work. They asked Aly to make a list of ex-boyfriends, and then they did the internet research. They found that after Aly, each of her exes went on to become 85% better, based on her definition of success. They got jobs, or got better jobs. They found stable relationships, marriages, started families. There were even a couple of them who acknowledged Aly as the one who changed them, even if they didn’t say her name.

Eric and Tola realized that they had something special in Aly. She was someone who could make a difference. She was a fixer.

Aly shrugs off the gift she offers others, but her friends keep pressing. Tola thinks there is a business idea there. And they decide to test Aly’s ability. They have a friend who wants her boyfriend to propose. They’ve been together for a long time and it’s been good, but she wants that commitment. Aly sits next to him at the bar and tells a story about how she broke up with her boyfriend because he couldn’t propose. She didn’t tell him what to do. She just told her tale of finding someone new, letting him come to his own conclusion. And a week later, when they all see the ring on her finger, they know they’re right. Aly is the fixer, and they have a way to help people live their best life.

They start taking more jobs, friends ask, and then friends of friends. They make suggestions, nudge at changes, encourage small changes that can end up taking someone to the next level of their career or their relationship. They make a difference. And then they get the call. Multimillion-dollar influencer and reality TV star Nicki calls, wanting their help with her boyfriend. He has an app idea that could help a lot of teens, but he’s slow to take it public. He shies away from social media. And she wants him to propose to her. And she is willing to pay Aly and her team if they can make it all happen in a month.

But when Nicki’s boyfriend turns out to be Dylan James, everything changes for Aly. Dylan was her best friend in high school, her first crush, her first love. But he hadn’t loved her back. He’d had a great smile and had won over other girls by pretending to be exactly what they wanted him to be. Only Aly had known the real Dylan. But when he broke her heart, she had disappeared and never looked back. Now he’s standing in front of her, needing to be fixed so that he’ll launch his new app and propose to his girlfriend. And Aly is the only one who can make that happen.

Aly has her own reasons for needing to make this happen. She has things to prove, and she needs the money that Nicki is willing to pay in order to fix things in her own life. But as the weeks go by and Aly starts to reconnect with the Dylan that used to be her best friend, she has to decide if she can really sell him out to his reality star girlfriend, or if she will figure out another way to pay for the problems she’s been keeping from her friends.

The Fixer Upper is not your typical rom com. Aly is a powerful woman who can make things happen, and she knows it. Author Lauren Forsythe has created a protagonist who seems to have the ability to fix everyone but herself. But she is smart, and she is surrounded by really well-drawn characters who all have an electricity.

I really enjoyed The Fixer Upper. I think it’s a romance for smart women, a comedy for strong women, and a story that blends empowerment with enjoyment into an impressively fun novel. I loved these characters (with a few obvious exceptions), and I wished I could keep hanging out with them. This is just a really intelligent novel, and it just may be the nudge that women need to invest more of their emotional energy into fixing themselves instead of trying to fix others.

Egalleys for The Fixer Upper were provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons through NetGalley, with many thanks.

My thanks to Putnam Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Aly and her friends have started a business called the Fixer Upper. They all work at the same marketing firm and decide to use their marketing skills along with Aly's gift of "fixing" people to help women change their significant others to the men they want them to be. Aly discovered she was good at this when she realized that all the guys she had dated had gone on to be quite successful after leaving a relationship with her. All, that is, except Dylan who was not a boyfriend, but rather a childhood best friend who she just happened to be in love with as a teenager. A misunderstanding has kept them apart for 15 years until Dylan's girlfriend hires Fixer Upper to work on Dylan. How is this going to work when Aly doesn't really want to change Dylan, but has a lot on the line if she doesn't? Can they rekindle their friendship?

I liked this book, however it didn't read all that smoothly for me and even though it was necessary for the plot, I didn't like how the "fixer uppers" manipulated people at the beginning of the book. Fortunately, Aly has a lot of feelings resurface and she does some changing herself which is obviously the point of the book. The supporting characters are strong and the ending was good even though I wished for just a little more of Aly and Dylan together at the end. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I received this from NetGalley as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There were so many adorable things about this book.

This is an opposites attract love story. I especially loved the details about repairing the house that they're sharing. They have to work through those difficulties while also managing their careers. When one is a free spirit and the other an organized-have-no-time-off person, there's bound to be tension. My favorite part is when the secrets are revealed. The Fixer Upper is a feel-good romance with a bit of spice.

Aly firmly believes she is on the right career path. But her personal life is another mater altogether. She has a knack for picking men "with potential" who can never seem to get it together. A chance meeting in a bar with one of her exes demonstrates that Aly is the thing that pushes her exes to be better, she is the catalyst for their personal epiphanies. One of her former projects is now successful and checks all of the boxes she deems necessary to demonstrate he is a fully matured adult: he has a legitimate career; he has a beautiful, accomplished fiancee; he has a house in the suburbs.

When Aly lets her friends Tola and Eric know about the meeting and her discovery, they decide to take an objective look at the data and examine Aly's effect on the twelve men she has dated. All twelve of them had 360 degree reinventions when the relationship ended. Tola and Eric are convinced this means that Aly is a genuine "fixer-upper" - someone who knows exactly how to motivate men who aren't quite ready to pop the question, or go after their dreams, to finally do it.

For months they take on side projects as a team, helping women who seem caught in limbo. And then a big potential client reaches out with an opportunity that seems too good to be true. Groom her boyfriend's social media image, help him nail the campaign to launch his start-up and convince him to propose. Aly agrees and all is well until she meets her new fixer=upper.

He is none other than her first love and she hasn't seen him in fifteen years.

This second-chance romance is all about standing up for what you want - especially learning to say know to time vampires who will suck energy from you and people in your life who want to step on your back to give themselves a boost to the top. It's about claiming your voice as a woman in the workplace and realizing you don't have to be nice to people who continuously take advantage of you.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. The Fixer Upper was a sweet (very low heat) romantic comedy. There were definitely a few moments that verged on being too much second-hand embarrassment, but it was still fun. I always have a soft spot for the best friends to lovers trope, but I do wish it that Aly realized a little sooner that she didn't need to fix Dylan. This book was sweet, fairly funny, and a bit of a romp.

I loved the characters and the sweet second chance romance. Their group of friends was fun and they kept me entertained. I loved the story of her relationship with her mom. The romance had tension, pining, and drama - everything I love about second chance romance. But…there isn’t much payoff for all the angst. The ending was cute, but I was disappointed. Everything between them was tied up in a bow and it’s written like an HEA, but things aren’t actually resolved. I was waiting for so much more. I don’t think they overcame the issues that caused their problem at all. Dylan didn’t actually make a choice and why (?!) after everything she learned, was Aly still the one fixing everything in the end? I just didn’t buy it and that was my main issue with the book. I didn’t buy into the ending or the premise.

The premise - their fixer upper business - felt so unrealistic that I didn’t care for the first 20% of the book, which was all about the setup of the business. Aly and her two work besties are hired by women to fix their men, thereby instantly fixing the relationship, because obviously the men are the only problem. It only takes one conversation with the man in question to get them to do exactly what their partner has been wanting for years. They have a 100% success rate. It was way too simplistic and I wasn’t into it.

Once Dylan came into the story, I really did enjoy the book—up until the ending. There were so many great moments that I almost forgot what wasn’t working.