‘The Fix-Up' is a delightful, feel-good read that will leave you smiling. The characters are lovable and relatable, with a palpable chemistry that makes their romance believable and sweet. The story is engaging, with a good balance of humor, heart, and drama. The author's writing style is witty and charming, making it easy to become invested in the characters' lives. While the plot follows familiar rom-com tropes, the execution is fresh and enjoyable. Overall, 'The Fix-Up' is a fun, romantic read that will appeal to fans of lighthearted, contemporary romance.

Ellie is a single mum who is raising her son Ollie in Two Harts. When she thinks things couldn't be worse after the death of Oliver, it actually gets a lot worse when the arrangements of Oliver's death force Ellie to live in the house when Oliver's grandson Gil.
The two instantly dislike each other, yet both characters are loveable in their own way. Ellie is a down to each, great mother and Gil is a grumpy yet charming man. He wants to sell the house and move on, she wants to stay and live there with Ollie, Ollie loves Gil but he;'s clueless as to what Gil really wants.
Overall a cute story but I feel there could have been lots of improvements, the end felt rushed and maybe it just wasn't for me.

This book was absolutely hilarious. I could not get enough of it. The character are so relatable. Sharon has definitely been added to my must read authors. The writing is well written. Story line hooks you. I didn't even realize I read for 3 hours straight.

This was such a heartwarming story about two people finding happiness and joy in each other. I loved the relationship that the main characters had. As the story progresses I was rooting for the characters so much. Ollie made me laugh so much with all his shenanigans. I am not normally into books with little kids in them but this one really added to the book. I loved the gradual pace of the book. The book made me smile, laugh, and cry! I couldn’t put it down. I really hope one day there will be more to the story!

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

If you’re a fan of genuinely funny romantic comedies, The Fix-Up is a gem. Sharon M. Peterson delivers a delightful enemies-to-lovers story packed with charm, chaos, and chemistry.

The story follows Ellie Sterns, a 28-year-old single mum who inherits half a house and café—along with a grumpy, absurdly handsome co-inheritor, Gil Dalton. The catch? They have to live together for six months to claim their inheritance. What follows is a whirlwind of witty banter, emotional revelations, and a slow-burn romance that feels both hilarious and heartfelt.

As a fellow mama with ADHD, I found Ellie to be a relatable and refreshing protagonist. Her chaotic, impulsive, and messy nature resonated with me on a personal level. She’s not your typical FMC—she’s real, raw, and trying her best to juggle motherhood, ambition, and a heart that’s been bruised more than once. Watching her navigate this forced proximity situation with humor and vulnerability was nice to follow, even if she dip a little deep into the woe-is-me pot a little too frequently! The snarky notes between Ellie and Gil in particular were a lovely touch.

Overall this is a book where Ellie shined as the star, which – if I’m honest – did come at a cost of the MMC at times who felt like he was there as storyline prop on occasion rather fully developed characters in his own right. Do you know what though …. I really didn’t care. I was so invested in Ellie and her story, I didn’t care that Gil didn’t truly turn up on the scene until a little later despite a brilliant start.

The Fix-Up feels like a warm, chaotic hug. It’s a story about second chances, unexpected love, and finding your place—even if it’s a little messy along the way. A brilliant easy and enjoyable ready perfect for summer.

This book was so good! If you love forced proximity romance books then you need to read this book! Highly recommend

I felt like this book was exactly what was promised — cozy, thoughtful, romantic and sweet. Predictable in a good way.

The Fix-Up is a heartwarming and funny romance set in Two Hearts where already Peterson’s previous two books took place.

I’m a huge fan of Peterson’s writing. She makes me laugh and her characters all feel authentic in their own often quirky and unique ways.
While Ellie and Gil were really sweet together and I absolutely enjoyed their slow burn romance, the side characters Ollie and Oliver had my whole heart. It actually broke a little when we finally got the backstory about Ollie’s connection to Gil and why he wasn’t a part of his life… And the bond he shared with Oliver… *sigh* - Is it allowed to swoon over grumpy-sunshine relationships when they are between a grandparent-figure and an adorable little boy?
And the relationship between Gil and his brother Mikey!?! Seriously, this book has so many amazing side characters and relationships aside from the romantic one. I always say how much I love well written sibling relationships, but this one really made me tear up. It was really bittersweet.

Definitely recommend this romantic comedy - and all of Peterson’s previous books - if you want characters with depth, something that makes you laugh and smile. Even if this book maybe made me shed a tear or two, it’s a feel-good romance in the best sense of the term!

Side note: I think the title, cover and subtitle are a little misleading. This is not really an enemies to lovers romance. While they definitely bantered and bickered, they just didn’t hate each other. And even though they have to work on this house they both inherited, it really isn’t the main plot. At least it didn’t feel like it to me. I didn’t mind at all, but I expected something a little different.

* Thank you to the author for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. I leave this review voluntarily and the expressed opinions are my own. (I received an eARC via NetGalley.)

Ellie is a single mom with a history of poor relationship choices—and a recently inherited house that turns out to come with an unexpected catch: she only owns half. The other half belongs to Gilbert, the grandson of the previous owner. To make matters worse, the will requires them to live together in the house for six months. Right from their first meeting, it’s clear they don’t see eye to eye, and their visions for the future of the house couldn’t be more different.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a closed-door romance, and this book reminded me how satisfying it can be when the focus is on emotional connection and character development rather than explicit content. I really appreciated the slow-burn dynamic between Ellie and Gilbert. Their growing friendship felt authentic, and I especially loved the subtle ways Gilbert showed his affection—it added a quiet depth to their evolving relationship.

Yes, some plot points were predictable, but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment. This is my first time reading a book in this series, and while I hadn’t read the earlier installments, I never felt lost. There were no confusing references to previous storylines, which made this book work well as a standalone—though now I’m definitely curious to explore the earlier titles!

Children in fiction can be tricky, often feeling either overly precocious or unrealistically portrayed. But Oliver, Ellie’s son, was a standout. He was written with care and believability, and I thoroughly enjoyed his bond with Ellie, as well as his budding relationships with both Gil and Mikey.

One aspect I appreciated was the inclusion of adults with additional needs. The story briefly touches on Mikey’s challenges, such as managing his temper, but I would’ve loved to see more of this explored on the page rather than just mentioned. Portraying these realities more fully could have added even greater depth to the narrative.

The writing was engaging and heartfelt—I finished the book in a single sitting. I’ll definitely be seeking out more from this author in the future.

Tropes you’ll find:

Enemies to lovers

Forced proximity

Single mom

I just adore her books! They are heartfelt, swoon-worthy, funny, and just overall a fantastic read! You can never go wrong picking up a Sharon M. Peterson book!

I have read all of Sharon M. Peterson's books. The Fix Up is just as wonderful as the rest.

We are back in Two Harts this time with Ellie Sterns. She is a single mom who now runs the cafe in town after her close friend passed away. She has just inherited the cafe along with his house but there is a twist. She has to share with his long lost grandson. They have to both live in the property for 6 months. She wants to keep ensuring, he wants to sell. She is hoping she can convince him in the end. Spending all that time together leads to closeness and the possibility of losing her heart.

I love the town of Two Harts and all the fun characters. Our main characters, Ellie and Gilbert, are a perfect sunshine and grumpy pair. Ellie's son, Oliver, is adorable and a little scamp who hopes for a boyfriend for his mom. Ellie and Gil have a slow burn romance. They are so sweet together.

This is a closed door romance. If you think you might not like that, you don't miss anything at all. The buildup is perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sharon M. Peterson for the e-ARC. This review is my own opinion.

I absolutely loved this book.

The Fix‑Up is such a fun, warm, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story. Ellie, a single mom, inherits half a house and café—but she has to share it with Gilbert, a grumpy (but totally lovable) co-owner who just wants to sell and move on. Forced to live together for six months, sparks fly, and things start to shift in the most delightful way.

Things I really enjoyed:

✔ Gilbert’s relationship with his brother absolutely melted my heart. His brother has special needs, and the way Gilbert cares for him is just… so gentle and beautiful.
✔ I loved the emotional honesty woven into the story. What really got me was the author’s note at the end—turns out the story is kind of based on her own life experiences, and honestly, you can feel that personal touch throughout the book. The struggles, the happiness—it all felt so real and honest.
✔ It’s told in a single POV (Ellie’s), which was fun, but I really wanted to know what was going on in Gilbert’s head. A dual POV would’ve made it even better, I think.
✔ Bonus love to the author and publisher for promoting reading among kids—such a wonderful cause.

Final Thoughts:

This book made me laugh, touched my heart, and left me smiling. Huge applause to Sharon M. Peterson. I’ll be looking out for whatever she writes next. Highly recommend if you enjoy small-town charm, forced proximity, emotional depth, and lovable characters.

Huge thank you to Sharon Peterson, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the e-ARC.

#NetGalley #SharonPeterson #TheFixUp #Bookouture #eARCreview

I was lucky enough to get this ARC from Netgalley. I literally could not put this book down. I started and finished it within a day. I was so overjoyed to be thrown into the small town and characters in this book. I cried, laughed, and enjoyed every second reading this book.

A solid 4-star read for me!

Three years ago, Ellie uprooted her life and moved with her son in search of something new. Now, having inherited both a business and a home, she’s faced with yet another big change: Gilbert the usurper, the grandson of her late “landlord” and co-heir to his estate.

What an unexpectedly delightful read! The premise intrigued me, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. There’s so much heart in this book and so many different kinds of love. Yes, there’s a charming romance between our main characters, but beyond that, there’s love of family, of friends, of community. Ellie has carved out such a special place for herself in this world.

It reminded me a bit of Gilmore Girls, not just for the small town setting, but because I adored the supporting cast just as much as the main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Sharon M. Peterson for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Fix Up is the third book in the Two Harts series by Sharon M. Peterson. Ellie Sterns is a twenty eight year old single mother who has a broken man picker. She recently inherited the cafe in which she works, the house where she lives with her six year old son, Oliver and the land it sits on. However, she quickly learns that she only inherits half of everything. The other half belongs to the previous owner’s grandson, Gilbert Dalton, a grandson no one knew existed. They discover they must live together on the property for six months in order to complete the inheritance. Gilbert is handsome; however, he’d be irresistible if he smiled which he rarely does. Both have different motivations as the cafe and house means a future for Ellie and for Gilbert, it means a past he wants to forget. She wants to stay and he wants to sell. Can they find a common ground? As the months pass, they learn the heartbreaking secret and their mutual iciness starts to melt, could it turn into a sizzling chemistry?
The Fix Up is Sharon M Peterson’s fourth book and she has established herself as one of my go-to authors. Full of heart and laughs along with real life drama and hurts, she handles a story that gives all the feels. Even though The Fix Up is the third book in the series, readers do not need to read them in order to understand each book; however, I highly recommend that readers do as each story is wonderful. That being said, I loved this story. This story is the ultimate grumpy-sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance as when readers first see Ellie and Gilbert together, you can’t help to think that their relationship would never work. I loved the characters, especially Ellie’s son, Oliver. Usually featuring children in fiction can be hit and miss; Ms. Peterson captures the six year old beautifully and believably. There wasn’t a plot point or character that I didn’t care for, everything came together wonderfully. I laughed. I cried and I closed the book with a smile. The Fix Up is sweet with fun banter and dramatic with real emotions. I highly, highly recommend The Fix Up.

The Fix Up will be available in June 17, 2025 in eBook and audiobook

Although the storyline was predictable (enemies to lovers trope), I absolutely loved this story! Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC! The main characters were portrayed so well, and just really had you invested from the start. The twist in Gil’s character makes you love him even more!

This is the type of romance that is just sweet. A single mom meets a grumpy dude and they’re forced to live together and decide what to do with a shared property. I found everything to be pretty predictable, formulaic but it was an easy read. It’s another type of romance that as soon as the last page is finished I will forget and move on to the next, but it was pleasant to read and overall a positive hopeful message. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

The Fix-Up by Sharon M. Peterson is the third book in the Two Harts series. I haven’t read the first two novels, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any important information—so I’d say this can definitely be read as a standalone.

The story follows Ellie and Gilbert (aka Gil). Ellie moved to Two Harts a couple of years ago with her son, and through her late housemate Ollie, she inherits half of a diner and home. The twist? The other half is left to Ollie’s grandson, Gil—whom he never actually met. There’s a condition: Ellie and Gil must live on the property for six months before they can decide whether to sell or keep it. Ellie is determined to stay, while Gil is just as determined to sell so he can take care of obligations back home.

I won’t lie—this book took me a while to get into. It wasn’t until the final part of the story that I truly couldn’t put it down. That said, I really enjoyed how the author developed Ellie and Gil’s relationship, and the ending was just perfect.

This is a no-spice romance, making it a great choice for readers who enjoy love stories without the heat. It does touch on some sensitive topics, including the death of a loved one and parental abandonment, so be mindful of those potential triggers.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

I met Sharon Peterson at the first writing conference I ever attended and I sat down next to her initially without noticing (I was busy with my own Imposter Syndrome thank you very much). AND THEN! She was wearing these amazing red glasses, every word that came of out her mouth was hilarious, and I couldn’t get enough (don’t worry Sharon- I won’t be stalking you…but I sure do hope we meet again someday!)

So imagine my surprise when I read a book she had written and LOVED it (The Fake Out).

When I was able to get my hands on an Advance Reader copy of her latest book (number 4 for those of you counting) I was thrilled! And The Fix Up did not disappoint!

Ellie and Gil are thrown together when they find out they are co-inheriting a house/cafe/land in the small town that Ellie lives in. Forced proximity? Yes please!

They both want very different things for very different reasons both valid and both understandable, yet as the tension rises, you can’t help but root for each one of them!

Sharon writes closed door romance with fantastically relatable characters. In fact I made my husband wait for dinner so that I could figure out how they were going to get their happily ever after.

Bravo Sharon! Another winner!

Thank you to NetGalley and @bookouture for my ARC of this novel, in exchange for an honest review.

#bookstagram #netgalley #readers #bookouture #whatimreadingnow #romance #closeddoor #twoharts #happilyeverafter #instabooks #bookreview

i thought the plot to the story was so much fun and tense well for the characters LOL

oh my gosh i laughed out loud so much the whole book had some of the best banter i have read in a while .

the Forced proximity well hello you could feel the steam coming off the characters , the perfect enemies to friends and then lovers .

i loved the small town setting. It was perfect .

i loved everything about the story and the writing is wonderful .

i am giving the book 4 heart swoon worthy stars

huge thank you to bookouture for asking me to review the wonderful book