This was a fun and engaging romantic mystery with plenty of action, humor, and likable characters. When bookish Penny Collins reluctantly joins her sister Libby at a neighbor’s estate sale, she expects to browse antiques and maybe haggle a little. Instead, she finds herself in a heated argument over candlesticks with the deceased owner’s nephew, Anthony—right before a dead body falls out of a closet. From that moment, Penny’s quiet summer plans are derailed in spectacular fashion.

Penny, a computer sciences professor working toward tenure, is suddenly thrown into a whirlwind of danger. Mistaken for Anthony’s girlfriend and believed to possess something of great value, she’s forced to go on the run with him. Together, they dodge bullets, climb walls, and outwit henchmen—all while navigating a simmering attraction. Meanwhile, Anthony’s secretive job as a fixer complicates things further, as they’re hunted by a ruthless billionaire and the FBI.

The chemistry between Penny and Anthony is undeniable and adds a spark to the high-stakes mystery. Penny’s cleverness and level-headedness complement Anthony’s more action-oriented skills, making them a great team. Supporting characters like Libby and her kids add humor and heart, making the story even more enjoyable.

The plot, involving a missing billionaire’s wife and a web of secrets, keeps the reader hooked with twists and turns. The blend of romance, action, and intrigue makes this book a delightful read from start to finish. If you enjoy mysteries with strong characters, witty banter, and a dash of romance, this one is definitely worth picking up! Thank you a NetGalley for my ARC.

Alright, this one made me laugh.

It’s almost like Stephanie Plum had an affair with Harlen Coban and together they wrote The Big Fix (and yes, I mean Stephanie. Not Janet).

This book is so so amusing, we’ve got a hot Ranger-style dude, a murder and a dead body and no answers. What could go wrong?!


….only complaint: NOT ALL WOMEN ARE CLUMSY. PLEASE GET RID OF THIS TROPE.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an unbiased review. I’m giving it 2 stars, because i DNF’d at 45% (which was not a decision made lightly) but even though it didn't work for me, it might work for you

Here’s the thing: I really really wanted to like this book. I entered (and lost) several Goodreads giveaways for a copy, and was thrilled when I finally received one from Net Galley. Everything about it appealed to me - the concept, the promise of a fun mystery and wacky hijinks, even the super cool almost retro vibes of the cover. But unfortunately the execution did not live up to its potential.

First of all, the mystery fell flat. I figured out pretty quickly why the body in the closet was there, and what Anthony, our super spy like MMC, had to do with Lydia’s disappearance. I wanted to like Anthony as a character, but for some reason the way he was described just sounded like Matty Healy, which doesn’t really do it for me. His insta-love with Penny, our FMC fell flat, and the chemistry was lacking. Penny herself came across as juvenile, and lacking common sense. You’re telling me that a full grown adult with the mental wherewithal to navigate collegiate politics enough to be up for tenure is surprised to discover that impulsively investigating the murder of the book’s equivalent of Jeff Bezos’s wife might possibly be dangerous? Adding to the juvenile nonsense is the fact that the whole impetus for her involvement in the plot is that random strangers, including one of the big bad guys! saw her arguing with Anthony and decided to ship them, to the point where he is discussing their chemistry like a tweenager… while tying her up in a murder basement! And while in said murder basement, and while escaping said murder basement, Penny’s biggest concern is that someone will look at her underwear (not kill her, of course, that would be a sensible thing to worry about). Don’t get me wrong, I like unhinged comedy, and while I think this would work perfectly in a Jenny Cruise-Bob Mayer book, it just doesn’t work here, probably because author Holly James seems to be treating the plot far more seriously than she probably should, considering the abundance of stupid decisions her supposedly grown ass heroine makes.

Things I loved: The cover, the concept, the side characters (Honestly, I’d prefer more Lydia and less Penny all the way).

Things I didn’t: Literally everything else. Nothing about this book worked for me. I wanted to quit at 29% but kept pushing myself out of a sense of duty. However, based on other reviews people REALLY like this book, so don’t let me yuck your yum. Maybe I’d be satisfied if I went in with lower expectations. Give it a shot!

Perfect for fans of: Murder mysteries, Silicon Valley, Matty Healy, good guy mobsters, insta-love, Antique Roadshow, and anyone who hates tech-bro billionaires.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was such a fun read! I found it to be really refreshing and light, giving just the right amount of action entertainment to keep you wanting to read more. I finished this in two sittings! Penny finds herself tied up (literally) in a kidnapping scheme gone wrong, and ends up on the run from some really seedy characters with a handsome man she just met days before. While Penny and Anthony try to figure their way out of their predicament, they go on an adventure across state lines, trying to stay incognito in 70's attire and a fancy Camaro. I could definitely see this book being a really fun romcom action chick flick in all the best ways. Holly James has quickly become one of my faves!

Holly has quickly become an auto-read author of mine. This book was so much fun! It had adventure and romance in it, and I couldn’t stop reading it. Anthony and Penny were such a good pair.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I was entertained by this book. It was a bit slow in the beginning but once it picked up I was invested. I loved the Anthony character.

The Big Fix by Holly James — ★ ★ ★ ★

Tropes 🌷
- mystery
- thriller
- action

“I’d always have a before and after Anthony Pierce. And under that sweeping midnight sky with endless possibility rippling around us, I knew I wanted to find out what came next.” Penny

When I first saw this book, I instantly fell in love with the cover. I mean, just look at it—the colors are gorgeous! and the blurb totally grabbed my attention. I’m so thankful I got approved for an e-ARC. 💖

The book has As Good As Dead and The Bodyguard vibes—a perfect mix of thriller, mystery and romance that took me on a wild ride. 🫶🏻

The story follows Penny, who’s staying at her sister’s house for the summer while finalizing her tenure as a computer science professor. She suddenly finds herself on the run with a guy she barely knows, dodging bullets, scaling walls, and even accidentally stabbing henchmen. It all starts because her sister tried to set her up with Anthony, the neighbor, who’s organizing an estate sale for his late uncle.

Things take a crazy turn when a body falls out of a closet during the sale—and it’s not Anthony’s uncle, but someone oddly familiar to Penny. She just can’t quite place where she’s seen him before. This was definitely not how Penny imagined her summer going!

The book had me on the edge of my seat, heart racing with all the action and twists. I couldn’t put it down and ended up reading it in one sitting.

And I absolutely loved the tension between Penny and Anthony—it had me giggling and swooning! If you’re into murder mysteries with a dash of romance, you’ve got to check this one out when it comes out on March 25, 2025. 💖✨

Thank you so much NetGalley and Kensington Books for the e-ARC! and congratulations Holly James for this amazing book! 🫶🏻

This is a fun, romantic suspense book! With outrageous moments (helloooooo dead body falling out of a closet!) and scenes filled with danger (but also swoon?), this book is a fun ride!

I did think it was a bit slow in parts, particularly when Anthony was talking about his uncle or explaining the story of his friend, I did enjoy the overall story.

I thought Penny was a great character. I loved that even though she had no idea what was going on, she never truly felt like a damsel. Her relationship with her sister Libby was also great!

Read if you like:
-suspense & mystery with a side of romance
-a damsel who doesn’t feel like a damsel
-hilarious sibling banter
-closed door but still swoony

This book was a ton of fun! Poor Penny just wants to make tenure when she gets onto a mega billionaire’s bad side… by association! It all starts with an estate sale, a body tumbling out of a closet opened by her mischievous nephew and Anthony, a man who is hiding something and dare I say, someone, aside from said dead body.

Once I started, I couldn’t stop! The pages flew by, the story is action packed with witty one liners and characters to easily root for (and against!). Highly recommend if you’re looking for an adventurous read that will keep you laughing and guessing into the wee hours of the night.

Romantic/Adventure or Suspenseful romance! There are many action adventure movies with a romantic undertone, but not a lot of books. The Big Fix is reminiscent of movies like The Lost City or Indiana Jones-- a "regular person" due to "chemistry reasons" finds herself in the middle of a crazy spy/fixer/crime novel. This book is great fun, I enjoyed the adventures of Penny and Anthony, as well as their banter.

Penny is a computer science professor on the tenure track, and while visiting her sister she goes to an estate sale of her sister's neighbor. Only to find his nephew wholly uninterested in the whole affair. The whole room notices a spark between Penny and Anthony, everyone except the two of them. When they find a dead body, the adventure begins. Portia is the wife of a tech billionaire, and she has gone missing. It turns out the dead body is her bodyguard. But where is Portia and how does she relate to Anthony? Before she knows it, Penny is in a different world. Anthony is intimately involved in Portia's disappearance, but is he one of the good guys?

She is a fish out of water, but there is a lot of humor when she tries to get her bearings. It is always fun, in a romantic book, when the reader is aware that the main characters are falling for each other before they do. It helps that this is NOT multiple POV, it is all Penny's perspective, so we find out who Anthony really is at the same time Penny does. This had great dialogue and great pacing. I am a fan of Holly James/Holly Michelle's other works, and I am happy to say I really enjoy this cross genre story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Press for the ARC. Book to be published March 25,2025.

loved this mystery of finding a dead body while walking through an estate sale. loved the romance between tony and Penny. Loved that they were helping each other out and trying to figure who really did murder . Loved her sister ,

this was a great book! it really was a movie-ish book where it felt like it was playing out like a movie in my head. I liked the romance aspect and the sillyness that came along with the mystery and the action that this book had

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

When bookish Penny Collins reluctantly lets her sister drag her to an estate sale at a neighbor’s house, she’s hoping for a little diversion rummaging through dusty antiques. Instead, she ends up in a public squabble over candlesticks with the deceased owner’s nephew, Anthony right before a dead body tumbles out of a closet! Good book! This book was a bit different from the normal thrillers I read! It definitely had some dark humor! It also had suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest feedback. First of all I love love this cover!!!! It’s a twist turning book so buckle up and take some anti-nausea this one will take you for a ride. It’s giving Stephanie Plum meets Finlay Donavan. Add this to your TBR!!!

This was my third book by this author. I really enjoy her stories and this one was right up my alley since I enjoy the trope of two characters on the run from someone and forced to work together.

While I enjoyed the story, I never really felt the connection or chemistry between the two leads. Apparently their chemistry led everyone around them to assume that they were boyfriend and girlfriend, but that chemistry wasn’t there for me. I would never have mistaken them as a couple based on those interactions.

I did enjoy seeing the story unwind and the pieces come together and I did like both of the characters. I just wish they had had more chemistry. I was also expecting the story to be more humorous than it was. Still this was a fun, quick read.

I’d recommend this one for those looking for genre bending escapism ‎ It surprised me how much I enjoyed this. It wouldn't surprise me if it did become a movie one of these days.

The Big Fix by Holly James is the perfect mix of mystery, action, twists, and swoon-worthy romance. Penny Collins, a total bookish queen, just wanted to vibe at an estate sale with her sister, but instead, she ends up caught in a crazy murder mystery with Anthony, a super hot fixer (who’s got major Ryan Gosling energy). The banter between these two? Iconic. Penny’s awkwardness + Anthony’s smoothness = absolute chemistry. Plus, it’s a super quick read that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, funny, and totally romantic escape, this one’s for you!

- forced proximity
- one bed
- closed door romance
- banter

4.25 🌟

This book starts with a body falling out of a closet... what is there not to love?!

I know I've said it before but I've fallen in love with cozy mysteries and this book was the perfect blend of suspense and humor. I flew through this book and it was the perfect break to some of the heavier books. If you like Blonde Identity, you'll love this book!

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

2.5

I enjoyed this and it was a lovely quick read but the romance was probably the least compelling part for me (Though, Penny and Anthony were cute!)

Considered giving an extra star for Libby bc she was one of my favorite side characters I’ve read in a while but took away a star instead for the resolution of the conflict bc it was a bit clunky and awkward. I also don’t always love a closed door romance so that might be part of why this didn’t hit as much


thank you so much to netgalley & kensington publishing for this arc to review!

3.75-4 ⭐️

Was a nice quick easy read, the pacing was pretty good
Penny was kinda annoying a lot of the time 🙈
Could’ve been maybe a bit longer of a time frame on the ‘being on the run’ just maybe make things more realistic and give some depth.

It was a good book overall and like yeah kinda seen the plot twists coming but it was still a good read. Was super excited to read this and requested the ARC ages ago but I’m still pretty happy I got this ARC


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.