This is the modern day, female Good Luck Chuck! Aly has just the right amount of self confidence to know her worth, but not enough to know she deserves better…yet. When she and her friends decide to use her unique ability to snap her lazy, unsuccessful exes into well rounded individuals AFTER she leaves them, she and her friends decide to help women do the same thing with their boyfriends, before the breakup. Everything is going great, until their biggest job yet brings her first (unofficial) project back into her life after 15 years 😲

With romance, it can be hard to enjoy the trope because it can get predictable. Incredibly, this one was a twist on all the tropes you think you know! This story is about fake relationships, enemies to lovers, and realizing your own worth as a boss bitch, but in none of the ways you think!! 🤭 I loved Aly’s development and found myself rooting for her nonstop! Thank you to Net Galley for this refreshing and fun ARC!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, GP Putnam’s Son, and Lauren Forsythe for the arc of this book and exchange for my honest thoughts.

Whew, this book. It wasn’t a typical romance which I really enjoyed and I loved the heroin of this novel. She is 100% relatable.

Aly has had as many break ups as she has had boyfriends. In retrospect, she realized was dating projects and not people which is how it was described in the book and I loved it. She came in contact with one of her ex-boyfriends and she realized all of her exes became better after dating her. So she realized instead of dating she should help people realize their full potential. Her and her work friends started a “business” to motivate people to improve their romantic, personal, work life, etc. She is then hired to help with her hardest project yet - her childhood best friend and crush who broke her heart. She begins this project and you’ll have to figure out for yourself what happens!!

In my opinion the book started off a little bit slow. But by the 20% mark, I was fully invested. Once you read this book for yourself you’re truly going to want to hang out with Tola and Eric.

Overall this book was a really cute, quick read and I recommend. I thought the ending came too quick but maybe that was because I liked the book so much. will definitely keep an eye out for this author.

This book was such a fun and quick beachy read. It's a very sweet British romcom about a woman in her 30s having to work extra hard in every aspect of her life and never reaping the reward. She puts her all in at work to have been stuck at a standstill for years. Every man shes dated has ended up turning their whole lives around after dating her, they become successful musicians, businessmen, etc while she continuously ends up alone and stuck in her own life.

I found myself caring way more about the main character, Aly, and her friends Tola and Eric then I do any other part of this book. Their friend trio is so well written and you can really get drawn into all their drama and goals and root for their happiness the entire novel. I found myself not caring much about the romance plot line, it focused way to much on the miscommunication trope (past what I myself would deem enjoyable). I couldn't really find any chemistry between Aly and Dylan, and at points it felt like we were leading into a cheating/stealing another girls boyfriend territory.

Aly herself is such a relatable and enjoyable character to read about as she is going through her own journey of trying to find her own worth at work, trying to manage a toxic relationship with her mother, and in general, trying to put work into "fixing" up herself.

I thought this was really cute. I wish somethings were cleaned up a little bit but over all I liked it.

This was a very cute second chance romance, two people who knew eachother as children and had a bad end to their friendship and thrown into each others lives as adults in a really fun way

First, I would like to thank the NetGalley and the publisher for this eArc. This book fell short for me. I didn't feel a connection with any of the characters and it all seemed to progress too fast. The scenes jumped from one right to the next with not a lot of connection. A fine book but nothing special.

Unfortunately, I don't have much to say about what I enjoyed while reading this book. I just did not feel connected to any of the characters and I feel like the storyline fell in a little flat for me.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 rounded up, this was a super fun and fast read that said a lot of things that hit a little close to home and maybe i’m a fixer upper girlie too, i’ll start my business and see where it goes 🙏🙏

i really have no complaints though, it was a great book and i would totally read a sequel and anything else this woman writes. the friendships and character development worked so well with the more relaxed and fun writing style that i’ve come to really enjoy. it also did a great job balancing a lighthearted writing style with a fun story and complexity for the characters so it’s not shallow and only focuses on a “perfect” romance, but also not trying too hard to make the characters damaged as i feel like a lot of romance does. i think i’m becoming a romance girlie but oh well it’s very fun and i really enjoyed this. i usually despise miscommunication tropes but this was a lot more subtle and i respect that it wasn’t a glamorized homewrecker tale and didn’t play too heavy into the miscommunication and all from their past

I find that this novel with either be a hit or miss with most readers. For me, it was a bit on the miss side for a few reasons. I found that the first half of the novel, while intending to set up the conflict of the book, was quite slow and a large part didn’t seem to actually play a role in the second half of the book. In addition, I just wasn’t a believer in the love story - and that could definitely be a me problem. The story is well written, just not necessarily my speed and that’s ok!! 3 stars from
me!!

I received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 



Aly is a people pleaser rand always fixing everyone else’s problems, including all her past boyfriends. So when her friends notice they could turn this into business by helping women fix up the parts of their relationships they’re not fond of, she was all in. With one minor catch, one of her clients is hiring Aly to fix her childhood best friend, Dylan. The same Dylan who broke her heart all those years ago. And who she already finds 100% perfect.

This was a very sweet and fun read! I’m a sucker for a friends to lovers with a few bumps along the way trope and this book did that perfectly! 

The banter between characters was perfect. I found myself laughing at every joke and cheering for Aly to finally stop putting everyone ahead of herself. I loved how realistic the character development was, nothing really felt forced. I really felt a connection to Aly, I loved her so much, YOU GO GIRL!

*3.5 stars*

Aly is everyone’s go to to fix all of their problems, whether it be work or relationship related, and never says no. Eventually with the help of her friends she realizes they can put her power to good use and help women fix their men. She ends up getting an offer from and influencer to help “fix up” her boyfriend to get him to follow his (her) dreams and get him to propose. What Aly doesn’t know is that the influencers boyfriend is her ex beat friend who she was in love with from 15 years ago.

This book was a fun and easy read! The plot was unique and something I’ve never read before in a romance book, but I enjoyed it.

At first I was a little weary of Aly and was constantly wanting her to stick up for herself and put herself first. Through out the book you slowly see her grow into a person who knows her worth and knows she should put herself first. It was so nice to see her work through her problems and come out as a better woman.

However I wish we could’ve gotten more scenes between Aly and Dylan throughout the book instead of just towards the middle and end of the book. Because of this their relationship felt under developed and I feel we could’ve gone back in time to learn more about them as a couple and see more of them interacting in the present. I also wanted a bit more romance between them through out the book just to add some flair to it.

All in all, I enjoyed this read and thought this was a great debut for Lauren Forsythe.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P Putnam’s Sons, and Lauren Forsythe for sending me this arc and allowing me to review it!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC publication for an honest review.

The Fixer Upper

Lauren Forsythe

Publication: August 2, 2022

One of my favorite tropes is best friends secretly in love...when it is done right. And the book The Fixer Upper did everything right! I absolutely was delighted reading this book, but the romance was not even the full focus (though I was rooting for the couple.) Aly is a “fixer” of others and helping them find their potential. The irony is she feels stuck and has yet to reach her own potential in life—in essence, she needs her own fixing. There was so much I loved about this book. There is the sweet rom/com aspect but there are also some deeper issues with loss of a parent and a dysfunctional relationship with parents. I cheered for the friendships and romance and booed at the “villains” (Nikki, Aly’s dad, toxic boss/coworkers…) While some of the storyline was farfetched and maybe predictable who cares…it made me feel all the feels!

Tell me five good things and something real…swoon!

5 Stars

Add this binge-worthy read to your summer reading list!

Aly fixes everything in life. From never saying no at work, while watching the men take all the credit, to taking on “project” relationships over the years and watching her exes turn into the people she knew they could be - only now with someone else.

She and her friends decide to take on “Fixer Uppers” as a side hustle where women can bring their partners that need a little nudge in the right direction. When a social media influencer, and kitty litter empire heiress, reaches out with a monetary offer Aly just can’t refuse, she’s shocked to learn this project involves a lost love from her past who, in her opinion, doesn’t need any fixing.

This book definitely reads like a PG movie with enough friendships, toxic workplace environment, and “behind the scenes” of influencers to connect and entertain!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for an Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fast-paced and breezy. Not a lot of depth here, but a good romantic story if you need something that will carry you along like a raft floating in a pool. The characters were a bit younger than in the books I’ve read recently, which definitely had me thinking about how similar many things are even when the seasons and trappings of our lives are very different.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

What a fun, quick read. The story is fast-paced which makes for a fun story. Romance and comedy always go well together. Aly felt real and relatable which always makes the story better. I enjoy books a lot when I relate to the characters, which doesn't always happen. But this funny, light-hearted book was just what I needed after some heavier emotional books. If you're looking for something funny and fast-paced, check this out, I think you'll like it!

Aly has huge problems and while on the outside everything seems great, inside she is a mess. For others, she is a supportive friend and a fabulous soul. For herself, her esteem is in shreds.

The premise of the story is awesome. I think the author really hits the nail on the head with the deeper meaning here. I believe most people try to be supportive of others. Lifting up friends. Helping when and where possible. But for ourselves, we can be the worst possible friend and person.

The Fixer Upper offers us an internal view of what we should be accepting in life. A tight circle of friends/family who helps us see who we really are. A supportive team that has our back when we make tough decisions and cheer us on when we have finally had enough. And a partner who accepts you for who you are already are and where you are headed.

This book is humorous with some great characters. Ones you will love and others you love to hate. There will be times you will question the choices but hang in there. It’s better from the other side!

When it comes to Aly and her past boyfriend, I loved who they were together and their history. I just wish we could get more of them together. He is awesome!

A fun yet deep and insightful book that leaves you thinking about your life.

The perfect Rom-Com book! The characters are so relatable and they make you fall in love with them instantly. Love the main characters history and how Lauren slowly reveals bits and pieces of how they lost touch. I couldn’t wait to keep reading to find out what happened next! This book was everything I want in a romantic comedy! Aly’s friends are hilarious and the romance that evolves between Aly and Dylan is irresistible! Could not love this book more! Thanks NetGalley for giving me the chance to read an ARC!!

Such a quick, fun little book! I loved the dynamic friendship between Tola, Aly, and Eric, and found myself cheering for Aly's personal growth throughout.

The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe is a new and fun take on the second chance trope. It’s a good mix of humor and serious dialogue. There’s a lot of great banter between the characters. I also enjoyed the relationships between Aly with her friends and family throughout the book and not just the love interest Dylan. Overall a quirky, fun, easy to read rom com.

Unfortunately, this was not the right fit for me, although I liked the premise and I wanted to like the books. Could not get engaged with the characters. I'm sure other readers will enjoy it, it just wasn't right for me.