I really liked this authors style of writing! It was a romance, but it didn't just focus on the romantic gestures. I will say this was a slow start for me. But it definitely made up for it by the end, I couldn't put it down! I was obviously rooting for Aly and Dylan from the first time they brought Dylan in the picture, or should I say back in the picture. ;)
I loved how it wasn't cheesy like some rom-coms can be and I liked how they made it a point to love yourself, not just your significant other. I will definitely be on the look out for future books by Lauren! This book is out 8/2/2022!

Than you NetGalley for this arc ! I loved the main character. This book was fun and relatable, cute fun rom com that I recommend everyone to read !

This was such a cute fun read! I can’t wait to tell all my family and friends to read it! I’m so glad I got chosen to read it

Over all a sweet, quick read with extra points for British accents!

Overall this was a 3.5 star read for me

Aly is a Fixer. Boyfriends, friends, family, coworkers. She puts her all in to helping those around her with great success even if it means sacrificing her own wants or happiness. When Ally’s friends realize that she has “fixed” all of her ex boyfriend’s to no longer be man children but successful adults they decide they can make a business out of helping other woman fix up their boyfriends.

When I started this book I liked Aly then towards the middle, not so much. I didn’t like how she and her friends manipulated the fixes. Then it all came full circle and Aly redeemed herself (phew)! I enjoyed seeing Aly grow and recognize that she deserved to be happy too and didn’t always need to be a people pleaser. Aly’s character showed great development throughout the story and the other characters rounded out the storyline to make it an enjoyable read. This was a sweet British romcom with a HEA.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Aly is a problem solver. Whether it’s an issue at work or a relationship to be fixed, she always knows what to do. Her colleagues and friends soon discover her ability to revitalize troublesome men and put her to work. Soon Aly finds herself taking on a high profile client who needs her help getting her boyfriend to propose. The reluctant boyfriend turns out to be someone from her past.

The Fixer Upper is an interesting take on the second chance trope. It’s just the right mix of humor and serious dialogue. There’s a lot of great banter especially between Aly and her colleagues. There was focus on different types of relationships not just romantic - friendships, familial. I do wish that there had been more background on Aly and Dylan’s past. There was also a lot going on with Aly’s mother that I think needed to be further developed.

At this time, I am unable to finish this book. I do not enjoy the writing style, and I am having to force myself to pick this book up. I am hoping to return to this book in a few weeks and try reading this again. If I have better success, I will update my feedback. I apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for this opportunity.

This was such a great concept. I enjoyed reading through all the crazy things these characters would do to help fix people and their relationships, but it’s hard when the shoe is on the other foot. We meet Alyssa who is a go getter, helping everyone all the time, doing everything for everyone but in the end, she doesn’t stop to look at herself and her own life. Hoping that doing all these wonderful things will get her where she wants to be. This story was a proof that growth is attainable, once you see what’s in front of you and you face the reality you are living, and the truth comes out you learn a little something about yourself and how to fix what you’ve been doing wrong. Learning not to run away the moment reality seeps in.

Alyssa’s friends were adorable and completely had her back throughout the book. Only positive vibes from them and they too only wanted the best for her. But when Dylan an old friend was in the picture Alyssa didn’t know how to handle the truth.

I really enjoyed this book through and through. At the beginning I wasn’t so sure about it, but then it got interesting, and I got invested and I started rooting for everyone to succeed where they needed to. I would recommend reading this book and giving it a good look. Look into yourself and find your truths along with the main characters, sometimes things are right in front of you and all you must do is accept them for what they really are. Loved it.

I absolutely loved this easy-read, rom-com. I saw someone say this book was Olivia Pope just not in politics and that is the perfect description. Aly has always tried to fix everything around here whether it was her parents relationship or her current boyfriends. She wants them to be better. Her friends want to check the data and see if she truly did improve every ex’s life. Aly and two of her coworkers take this skill to business level and start helping women fix their significant others. After they have worked with quite a few couples, someone more high-profile reaches out. It turns out that the guy Aly will be “fixing” for this high-profile client is her childhood best friend. Overall, really cute read that I would recommend to anyone wanting something cute and funny.

Did you have a childhood friend that you had feelings for but never shared or maybe you did share and ran away. The main character Aly is all about fixing problems whether they be at work, relationships or her parents. She handles each problem with a logical and pragmatic approach. Enter Dylan, the only person that she truly let get to know her.

I loved the development of the characters and the story line. I wanted to see what would happen next and I even shed a few tears. I was wanting to find out if what happened next in all of their lives.

I loved this book! It was such a quick and easy read and it wasn’t hard to follow. I was easily able to picture the different settings that took place throughout the book. It was a romance book, but not your typical romance book. There wasn’t any steam which I preferred for this book. I loved the character development and I really loved the dynamic between Aly, Tola, and Eric. The main takeaway I got from this book is not to change who you are just to fit into someone’s life. Be you and be proud of that. Perfect beach read!

The book started off slow. Most of the action is about 60-70% in. We follow Aly who has been "fixing" things her entire life. We start off where Aly runs into an ex who is doing great since they split 5 years ago and he gives credit to Aly for pushing him in the right direction. Aly teams up with her co-workers Tola and Eric to start a side gig helping women to fix their partners to improve their relationships. The team gets their big break when social media influencer hires them to nudge her boyfriend to propose. Turns out, the ex is Aly's childhood best friend that she ghosted 15 years ago.

Aly was an okay character for me until she finally grew a backbone. I had a hard time relating to her because I'm just wired differently and I'm not a people pleaser. Once she stood up to her mom, her boss and her co-workers, I was so happy for her! Finally, our girl did it!

I LOVED Tola. For me, she was the most relatable character. She was there for support but also dished out hard truths when necessary. She believed in Aly when Aly didn't even believe in herself. I would love to see a sequel from her POV with their next moves.

Eric was super sweet. I could absolutely see a book come out of his relationship as he navigates from the transition from being in a 3 year engagement to a woman to being a "baby gay"

Overall, while slow to start, I did enjoy the book. There were some minor grammatical errors, but nothing too bad.

The Fixer Upper tells the story of Aly, who is known as a "fixer" and helps others fix their parenting, relationship, and work problems. However, her own personal life is a disaster and seemingly unfixable. Aly and her friends create "The Fixer Upper" and help others solve their problems, and shortly after, land a huge, famous client. However, the client's boyfriend is Aly's childhood best friend and first love, Dylan.

The Fixer Upper was an enjoyable and quick read; I think I finished it in less than 24 hours. I haven't read too many "second chance" romance tropes, so I really liked that aspect of the story. I also thought the idea of a "fixer upper" was unique and an interesting plot point. I also appreciated seeing the relationship between Aly and her mom, especially how Aly's mom grew throughout the novel and learned to stand up for herself and do what's best for her and Aly.

Perhaps it was the timing of when I read this book, but I wasn't overly attached to the characters or invested in the story. Some parts just felt kind of "meh".

Overall, this was an easy, quick, enjoyable rom com read. Thank you Putnam and Netgalley for the gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review. (Instagram post coming closer to publication date!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The Fixer-Upper by Lauren Forsythe is a charming story about Aly, who fixes problems for a living in public relations and is so good at her job that she starts a side gig fixing personal relationships for money. Her success hits new heights until she realizes that she is being hired to fix the only guy she ever loved (15 years ago) who didn’t return the feelings. It turns out that those old feelings run deep. The last 40% of the book makes up for the slow and repetitive first 60%. For a girl who can fix things, the one thing she can’t fix is herself. This is a relationship book more than a romance but had some enjoyable moments. #relationships #repair #love #forgiveness #life #damagecontrol #TheFixerUpper #LaurenForsythe #Netgalley @netgalley @putnambooks #book #books #bookstagram #reviewer #reader #romance
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Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC; my thoughts and review are my own and without bias.

A cutsie rom com with a fun premise.

This was a clean romance, so if readers are looking for spicy scenes, you won't find them with this one. If you love childhood friends-to-lovers (which is probably my favorite trope and infinitely better than enemies-to-lovers in my opinion, don't fight me!), you should pick this one up. What I did not appreciate, however, was the heavy presence of the miscommunication trope. This is a nonnegotiable mood killer for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I saw someone describe the main character something like "Olivia Pope if she fixed people instead of political situations." That is actually a really good description. I really did like the premise, it seemed light and fun.

I admit upfront I had a hard time getting through this book. I don't know if it was the characters or the lack of dialogue or what...but I didn't feel I connected with the characters. There was an awful lot to wade through at the beginning to "set up" the story, and I felt it kind of bogged down in places before Aly and Dylan come face-to-face again. But, by then, I think it was too late. I didn't really identify with the characters, and I'm almost ashamed to admit that I didn't care if Aly and Dylan ended up together. I just didn't feel their chemistry.

What I did like was Eric and Tola's friendship with Aly. Every girl needs a hype team like that! I'd actually read a story about Eric and Tola. My only beef is they forgave Aly way too easily. I am really glad it seemed like the author tried to keep it "cool" because Dylan had a girlfriend for the majority - I don't like cheating at all.

I was drawn to the premise of the book. The main character is a doormat and a people pleaser who can’t say no. Sadly, I can relate. All her exes are disasters that need to be fixed and Aly did so gladly. All while her life was falling into pieces. Of course, she starts Fixer Upper to fix everybody’s problems but her own. There were several times in this book when I wanted to reach through the pages and shake Aly myself. She books a client and ends up having to fix her long, lost ex-friend who she was in love with it. Dylan and Aly do some former friends who have turned into enemies banter. It’s very tame. There is no heat. Which is to be expected since Dylan is not available. The slow burn is strong on this one.

Things I liked about this book:
1. Tola: I hope she gets her own book.
2. Eric: I also hope to see more of Eric.
3. It was easy to read. I read it in a day.
4. The character development for Aly was great. When she finally grows a backbone, it’s epic.

Things I did not like about this book:
1. The lie that Aly tells to Tola and Eric is super shady.
2. How Tola and Eric forgive Aly so easily when the truth comes out.
3. The love triangle aspect.

I really liked this book! The overall message of the book really sealed the deal for me though. I felt really drawn to Aly and her past dating history. Although I felt at times the plot was slow, it picked up in the end! There's not much I would change. This book was a quick read for me and I would definitely recommend it!

If you've ever been told to smile more at work and look more approachable... if you've ever had to choose between work and life... if you've ever struggled with deciding what truly makes you happy... this book will get you right in the feels.
I was worried in the first chapter that the premise would become shallow. And it so easily could have. But Lauren maneuvers the story in an authentic and heartwarming way that hits every piece of being a thirty-something in today's world, whether it's feminism, work-life balance, struggles with family, or even dealing with a coworker you can't stand.
Aly bumps into an old boyfriend and realizes her efforts to help him grow as a person finally kicked in. Only his new wife was reaping the benefits.
Aly's problem (one that her coworkers and close friends Eric and Tola point out) is that she wants to help everyone and she expends so much energy helping others, through mentorship at work, pushing her significant others, or helping her divorced mother, that Aly doesn't have the energy to grow herself into what she wants to become. After some analysis, Eric determines that when Aly ends a relationship, the men go on to become 85% more successful. The three then decide to take this skill and turn it into a side business.
The major story kicks off when a social influencer catches wind of their business and hires them to convince her boyfriend its time to propose. But there's a twist that I didn't see coming and will not spoil!
From start to finish, I enjoyed this story. I teared up a few times. Cheered for Aly. Said a few choice words for the social influencer and Aly's boss or coworkers. I held a hand over my heart at the HEA. It also made me look inwards and so few stories have made me do that.
I received this book through net galley but it would take zero convincing to buy the paperback to keep on my bookshelf to reread. It is not a spicy book so if that's a dealbreaker, this one isn't for you. But oh, the feels.

Generally the characters were fun, the dialogue was interesting, and the premise was enough to keep me interested and reading. That being said, I’m just not sure it completely hit the mark.

Aly and her friends realize that she has a special talent: fixing men. She helps women get their boyfriends to have more confidence or be better boyfriends. However, this side hustle becomes personal when she’s faced with a man she used to love.

Overall, it was a cute story and I think the main character had a good development. My main issue is that I’m not sure it’s that different than a lot of other romantic comedies I’ve read or seen. It was a lot of misunderstandings, a rich beautiful antagonist girlfriend, and a guy in need of a confidence boost. I think many people who read it will really enjoy it, it just was a little too off for me.

What would you do if there was way you can “ fix” the flaws of your partner? Would you consider it?

5/5⭐️!!! I absolutely enjoyed this book so much! I couldn’t put the book down what’s so ever. I adored every SINGLE THING! I absolutely loved the dynamics between the two main character, Aly and Dylan. The author did such a great job of making us cheer for these two to get together. I also really loved the side characters so much.

Tola and Eric’s friendship with Aly is so loving. This was one of my favorite things of this book. They make me laugh and cried throughout this book. I really wanted the friendship that they have for each other. Loved the teasing and the comfort that these characters brought to this book.

This book also portrayed so many themes highlighted in this book such as being self loved, getting out of toxic relationship/marriage, to not be trapped in a emotionally unstable cycle that takes a toll on your mental health and start affecting your life. To as well to find the little things to be happy about everyday. If you can’t find 5 things to be happy about at the top of your head, “GO ON A ADVENTURE!!”.

I will definitely be getting the actual book as soon as it comes out!


FIXER UPPER WILL BE COMING OUT ON AUGUST 2ND!!

DONT WALK!! RUNNNN, TO YOUR NEAREST BARNES AND NOBLES OR ORDER ON AMAZON AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT!

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO NETGALLEY ,PENGUIN GROUP PUTNAM, G.P PUTNAM’S SON, AND AS WELL TO LAUREN FORSYTHE FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THIS BOOK AND GIVING ME MY FIRST ARC!

ALSO HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO LAUREN FORSYTHE FOR THE AMAZING DEBUT!! I will MOST DEFINITELY be reading more from this author!