At 4% when I read the following, I knew this wasn’t the book for me:
“that we needed someone with that Gen Z energy to stop us being two bitter Millennials, constantly bitching about everything.”

Nope. Stop portraying millennials as so “woe is me” generation.

DNF for me.

3.5 stars.

At times like this I wish Goodreads woule give us half stars ratings
because there are some books that you enjoyed more than enough to give it more than 3 stars but somethings that didn't make it a four star read.

Aly is a fixer she has helped her exes get their lives on track and when she realizes what she does her friends decide to make it a business, she basically fixes other people's boyfriend's or husband's for them. A social media star takes notice of her who hires her to fix her boyfriend and offers a good sum of mone, sounds perfect right? Well, that said boyfriend is Dylan, Aly's childhood best friend and first love. And to make matters worse, Aly and Dylan haven't in been contact ever since Aly left for college.

Aly's character development was good, it was frustrating at times to see what she was dealing with though. Aly and Dylan were perfect to be honest, they had chemistry, history and their banter was good. I just wish we got to see more of them and their relationship as it was the best things about this book. Honestly, if the author ever writes a novella about them I would totally read it.

🛠 The Fixer Upper 🛠

“Love is only meant to be terrifying right at the beginning, right before you fall,” she said softly. “Then it’s meant to feel like home.”

Aly, The Fixer Upper, is here to help. Convince your man to propose? Give him a spark of motivation to get that career off the ground? Whatever it is, she has a playbook of subterfuge to light the fire of inspiration. Together with her best friends, Eric and Tola, they work their “emotional outsourcing” to help out their network of women in London. Their reputation precedes them and they are contacted by a social media darling, looking for their services to polish off her boyfriend and inspire him to be proposal ready. The only hiccup? Said boyfriend just happens to be Aly’s childhood best friend, Dylan. As the old flame rekindles, Aly begins to question the work she and her friends are doing - why do the men need fixing up? Why aren’t they good enough as is?

This one was sweet and goofy. I enjoyed watching Aly step into her own power as she developed through the course of the book. She took back her voice from the people speaking for her. I was cheering for her as she started saying no to those demanding too much of her and started saying yes to herself. A quick, funny read with a hilarious cast of supporting characters, I definitely recommend checking this one out.

🛠 Single POV romance
🛠 Set in London
🛠 Friends to lovers trope
🛠 Hilarious and supportive friends, which quips like, “You with an authority kink does not surprise me at all,”

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for this ARC! The Fixer Upper is on shelves August 2!

Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the E-ARC copy of Fixer Upper in exchange for an honest review.

Aly is a single girl with two good friends from her office: Eric and Tola. When Eric and Tola discover Aly has improved the lives of all her ex-boyfriends by 85% they embark on an experiment to see if they can make life better for other someone (getting their boyfriend to propose, parenting issues, work issues, etc).

One word of mouth gets around Aly is approached by a reality tv star and social media influencer who wants Aly to deliver big: a successful pitch for her boyfriends startup and a proposal for her by the end of the month.

However, when Aly meets Nikki’s boyfriend, it turns out it’s Aly’s childhood best friend she was in love with and hasn’t seen in fifteen years…

There are feminist themes, true friendship, love , lies, loss, honesty and learning to stand up for yourself all contained in these pages.

This novel easily sucks you in and is such a delightful palette cleanser. It felt like being wrapped up in a warm hug from a friend. I absolutely adored this novel.

5/5 stars.

The Fixer Upper is described as a romantic comedy, but it largely missed that mark for me. There was hardly any romance and even less romantically comedic dialogue. I thought that the first half of the book was all over the place and a bit chaotic — I often had to go back and read paragraphs/pages again so that I could understand how we just switched scenes so quickly.

The FMC, Aly, is overall likable, although she is quite a pushover and ultimately does whatever her friends tell her to do, which I did not love and could not relate to.

I love a second chance romance and was excited for that aspect of this book, but I personally just couldn't get behind the "fixer" part of the book. It came across a bit negatively and was portrayed as a necessity, which (I hope!) we all know that hoping to change someone in a relationship is not a good idea.

Overall, I thought that the book should have been explained differently in its synopsis and/or included more romance to match its description. That said, I think Forsythe is a great author and had a good storytelling ability.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam, and Lauren Forsythe for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story felt more epic than a standard romance. The characters exist and grow over a long period of time, and it was a joy to watch the evolution of their relationships. This book felt like a couple of books in one: romance, business, celebrity--all put together in one really compelling plot.

This book was such a fun and addicting read! When I first started this book, I didn't think I would love as much as I did. I am a sucker for second chance lovers and this book delivered that with a hint of enemies to lovers and a lot of laughs. I instantly clicked with our main character and her sidekicks because they remind me a lot of my friends and I. Growing up in today's world, I always felt like I myself was fixing up things and people for other people to enjoy, but never myself. It always felt like my job to fix people, and that always killed me a bit inside. This book warmed my heart as I followed Aly on her self discovery and love journey. She is who I want to be when I grow up, smart, determined, kind, and wants to help everyone!

Overall, the plot of the book was something I've never seen before, and it was upbeat and had a great pace to it. There was never a slow or dull moment which made the book so much easier to read! I loved all of Lauren's characters, she did a wonderful job creating them and writing them into the story. Every character had a significant role and played into the plot beautifully. I especially loved Tola and Eric, I think they were the comedic relief I desperately needed during some of these hard hitting moments.

Alyssa is a fixer. Not only does she fix huge projects at work but she fixes people. She gives them that push to strive for something better. She creates a exclusive website for her to fix others. When a social media influencer reaches out to Aly to fix her boyfriend Aly agrees. The only problem is it’s with her childhood best friend, the boy she loved, Dylan.

This was such a fun read, it really pulled at my heart strings and I couldn’t put it down. Dylan is a people pleaser who will go above and beyond for the people he cares for. Aly is a overachiever who feels she hasn’t achieved anything at all. I feel many can relate to this story, I know I did!

Thanks to @NetyGalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I just finished this book a few minutes ago and I do have to say I did enjoy it. Aly's character was very likeable, and Dylan was a great love interest. I had some trouble reading it in the beginning because I was having trouble focusing on the plot but once I got to around 60%, I went through it really fast. At some points I was angry, sad, happy it was a perfect mix. The author did a great job with this.

This was a really sweet story that touched on many topics that affect women; motherhood, gender roles, daughter-mother dynamics, workplace discrimination to name a few. While it had a HEA and I could toooooootallyyy see the adorable romcom movie adaptation play out in my head, it felt more like a women's/friendship story than a romance, but that is most likely because I wanted to enjoy more time with the couple actually together.

LOVED:
* Beautifully written and wonderful character voice... I felt like I was with Aly every step of the way... even when I was dying inside as everything began to collapse on her
* Aly and her mothers relationship... while it killed me inside at every interaction, I could relate with it in many ways and it says a lot about the writer when something hits home that way
* We never get Dylan's POV, but I still fell in love with him and knew he was meant to be with Aly... I was invested in them getting together, despite not having a glimpse in his mind
* Ughhh... "5 Things!" and "Tell me something true..." THESE THINGS ARE PRECIOUS!
* Eric and Tula... what fun friends! I love how they didn't let Aly back away or put walls up for very long... they fought for her friendship and that did so much for Aly's growth

WOULD HAVE LOVED:
* More time with this beautiful couple! Even if it's just a little epilogue (makes puppy dog eyes at the author)
* A little more sexual tension between Aly and Dylan... I didn't need them to constantly be 2 seconds away from jumping each other's bones, but a few little accidental touches, intense eyes, fluttery feels would have upped the romance vibe for me by tons...

OVERALL:
This was a truly a unique telling of a 2nd chance, friends to lovers story filled with friendships, character wounds and growth, and gut wrenching plot tension<-- seriously, I thought "THERE'S NO WAY SHE CAN REDEEM ANY OF THIS, EVER" through most of the book.

I will 100% be reading Lauren Forsythe's next book, and hope I get to see more of these characters in future... especially if I can catch a few more peeks of a happily ever after'd Aly and Dylan.

Thank you Netgalley, the publish, and author for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this friends to love story. The supporting cast of characters, the growth in both main characters, it was all enjoyable and charming and made for a perfect fun read!

“The Fixer Upper” is a childhood friends to enemies to lovers second chance British romcom. It depicts a woman in an awful job who begins to try “fixing” the men in her friends and family’s lives. Until one day, she is tasked with fixing her first love, whom she never thought needed fixing. Mayhem ensues.

The romance gets somewhat lost in the exploration of what it means to stay in a career and work to advance, or leave everything you’ve achieved to start something entrepreneurial.

There is good character development- the friends and family in the main character’s universe come to life. The main character and her love interest are deeply flawed, like all of us. She struggles with self esteem, boundaries, and standing up for herself, which was frustrating at times. She is at times manipulative and also a doormat for her coworkers. Her love interest also struggles, seeming to be codependent and people pleasing to the point of sabotaging himself.

It is a quick read with great banter between the characters and fun moments woven throughout. There is zero steam (for those who are averse to it), and the grand gesture doesn’t occur until close to the end. It seems a little rushed at the end.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and publisher for this electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Fixer Upper is a slow burn, second chance romance with a significant emphasis on character development. We have a chance to grow with the characters as they figure out who they are and where they want to be in their lives.

Omg!!! I really loved this book so so much. I had been in a bit of a reading slump but seriously couldnt stop reading this one. I would whip out my kindle any chance I got. I loved the main character Aly and really identified with her as being a “fixer” personality type. I thought it was the perfect rom-com and wasnt over the top cheesy. Can’t wait to read future books by this author!

What a cute British romcom!

Aly was a relatable FMC. She was hardworking and yet she was super insecure. I think it is a reality that some women should see. It's a story about coming into yourself and learning to take control of your life.

The relationship with her friends and their new business was so funny. I loved the concept (fixing parts of a relationship people don't like). Aly was always able to help others but not take her own advice.

When the fixer upper crew is approached by a women to help get her boyfriend to propose, it happens to be her old best friend who was also her old love interest. Second chance romance for the win!!!

I really enjoyed the rest of the story more than the "rom" part. The romance was lacking a bit but the "com" kept it interesting.

Overall, I think this is a light hearted and easy read. It shares some harsh truths and can easily make you laugh. Aly was a sucker for love and couldn't say no, but through her time working with her two best friends and fixer upper she was able to be confident enough to take controL of her own life.

The Fixer Upper feels so relatable and would make a wonderful movie! Feels like a trip to London without the international flight!

Overall, this is a good book. I would recommend to readers interested in this genre. I had a little trouble driving into the story at the beginning, but I did find it enjoyable and a fun read.

The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Pub date: 8/2/2022

Not sure why this book is marketed as a romance novel when there was literally zero romance. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t vibe with this book because this story had a lot of potential. It just did not do it for me. 😔

*potential slight spoilers ahead*

There are so many shallow, hateable characters in this story.
-the superficial, narcissist, rich influencer
-the gaslighting, sexist boss
-annoying coworkers
-manipulative, toxic mother
-the blandest male mc ever

& our main girl, Aly, is a massive pushover and people pleaser. It was REALLY hard for me to relate to her or even like her because I am the complete opposite of her.

Our main guy, Dylan, sucked. No redeeming qualities. ❌

I did enjoy some of the dialogue between Aly & her two best friends, Tolu & Eric. There were some funny bits! The dialogue in this book was great, I just didn’t like who was talking 😅

However, the only respectable character in this book in Tolu. 💯

Overall, I didn’t *hate* this book, I just didn’t really enjoy it. 👎🏻

Thank you to Net Galley & Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I was absolutely enraptured with the story of Aly, our fixer, and Dylan, the former friend/flame/first love. This novel had everything I'm looking for in a romance novel. Hot guy, check. Memorable and interesting side character who actually add something to the story, check. Sassy, smart and strong women, CHECK.

"'Are you his fucking mother?' Tola asked one of Becky's friends, pausing dramatically to sip from her straw. 'No? Then stop coddling! Stop feeding. Stop doing anything but demanding what you deserve. Because you are all beautiful, wonderful women, and you deserve to be worshipped! Those men should be on their fucking knees, grateful you put up with their badly shaven, unwashed, don't-know-where-the-dishwasher-tablets-are selves.'"

I mean, come on, that right there is something I feel like we have yelled, or at least wanted to, to one of our girlfriends. This book was so relatable and funny I couldn't help but devour it in one sitting. If my begging and pleading didn't encourage you to read this book maybe a few of my other favorite quotes might.

"'Well, we were thinking about starting a business outsourcing female emotional labor.' Eric told her. 'Apparently it might be the final puzzle pieces in the dismantling of the patriarchy.'" <- Que me cackling like a mad woman here.

This one is a long one but it's amazing so buckle up!
"'You know I 've got four sisters, right?' Tola said, and I nodded. 'One of them married a nice guy, just one of them. And even he's pretty useless.' She laughed, shaking her head. 'But it's like they put up with it, for love. For someone to look at them and own them and demand things form them, for the rest of their lives. But they just wanted so badly to be chosen...and now it's like it's normal. It's normal to be belittled by someone you marry, and expect them to be a crap dad and a lazy partner and just not expect more of them or more for you? I don't wanna be like that, babe. And I don't want any other women to be like that, either.'" Pure perfection. I cannot wait for this book to come out and you all get to experience it!

DNF at 20%
I really tried to make my way through this but honestly, there were just too many strikes.
The first one was the quirky GBF. Which I am sure that the author just wanted to include some representation but really it just came off as stereotyping and it's an old stereotype too.
Then we come to the fact that it's just boring. Like really really boring. The whole arc of this book is a woman fixing a man and I just can't read that. If I wanted that trope of 'I can fix him' then I'd watch a soap or read a dark romance. Something with actual drama and plot. Not this very stale version of a romcom.