The book was cute and the premise was decent, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I also really disliked the “business plan”, I found it manipulative and kind of demeaning towards men. Also extremely unlikely to ever work in real life. That’s not usually an issue since it’s a fiction book but I really took umbrage with a business plan. Also, for a romance novel, there seemed to be a lack of it here.

3.5 stars

Second chance, but not because he has a girlfriend. Close proximity/working together. Massive miscommunication, as teenagers and now.

How does she do this when she has her own full time job!? And does her full time job know about this consuming side gig? Workaholic pleaser who helps everyone.

Tola and Ben are the best.

My habit of not reading descriptions got me here, because I thought this was going to be a home-reno setting. Instead, it's people that Ali is fixing. While the premise was cute, I struggled to get into it and to connect with the characters. I did love that Ali had a lot of personal growth throughout the book, and also liked seeing their side-hustle evolve to best help women. I enjoyed Ali's relationship with her work friends and her journey to find her self-worth within her profession. I didn't connect to the romance, though, and found it hard to root for the couple.

This book just wasn't a hit for me. I didn't feel any connection between the lead and the love interest, which, since this is a romance, was off-putting to say the least. Generally, I prefer my romances to actually have romance.

Honestly, I just didn't connect at all I found reading this to be a chore. Which I did for my NetGalley ratio since I did receive a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review. Otherwise, I would have DNFed within the first fifty pages

Imagine being in your 30s and having a string of relationships that never went anywhere because the guys just couldn’t step up. Now imagine if you discovered that all of your exes are now better off for having dated you. Wives, careers, children … they have it all because of the support and guidance you gave them while you were together. Such is Aly’s problem. So at the behest of her friends, Aly and gang start The Fixer Upper, a secret business in which women employ Aly and her friends to help them “fix” their men. Whether it is helping more around the house or getting a “real job,” The Fixer Upper can get any guy on the right track.

But Aly meets her match when she is hired to fix the love interest of a social media influencer & reality star because this guy turns out to be Aly’s childhood best friend … and secret love of her life, Dylan. How is she supposed to “fix” Dylan when he is already perfect? And does she really want to help another woman seal the deal with her first love?

The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe is a novel for the modern woman, highlighting the struggles that women face both in their love lives and their careers. Looked over for a promotion time and time again, and used by countless guys for what she has to offer instead of who she is, Aly is so many of us. Having grown up in a toxic household where her parents were throwing plates one minute and then making up on the sofa the next, Aly’s view of what a caring, nurturing relationship looks like is skewed, which might be why she is so great at fixing things, but why can’t she fix what’s wrong with her own life?

Although, this appears to be a lighthearted book, it is actually pretty serious and deeply examines real issues that women face. While I am all about novels that tackle heavier issues, it wasn’t what I was looking for at the moment, picking up this book because I thought it would be fun and funny. Unfortunately, it was not, and I found myself really having to push myself through at times. The characters, which are what I really connect with in my reads, were pretty flat and stilted, and I just wanted something more from this purported rom-com.

This title was really cute, I enjoyed it. The storyline was pretty good, I just felt like it was really predictable from the start. But it's a really great "feel good" read. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down, I felt like I needed a little something more.

This was a cute concept but so predictable. It would have been a quick read but it took me forever to get through it.

This book is an inside look at life and relationships. I am the type who tries to fix things myself so I related to her and like her, I had to learn what is worth fixing and when you need to let go and realize it's not worth the trouble. I love the characters and the truth to the story

The book was okay, not really great not horrible. I wish I could have gotten throug it faster but I just wasn't drawn to it to keep going.

Thank you so much for this review copy . I don't think I am the right reader for this book so I will not leave a review online. I really thought the idea was cute but something about all the layers of dishonesty maybe is keeping me from really connecting and enjoying these characters. I don't know if the romance can come back from where it is enough for me to believe it.

I'm a bit late to read and review this one, but I wish I had read it way sooner! Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin/Putnam for the e-arc.

Aly has spent most of her life fixing messes: work problems, romantic partners, even helping to try to fix the toxic relationship between her mother and father. Her friends help her start a side hustle: The Fixer Upper - a company that will help "fix" a problem your partner has. Whether that be cleaning the house, being a better father, going for the promotion, Aly and her friends are there to do the emotional labor so you can just reap the reward. But then she is given the opportunity of a lifetime...but the Fixer Upper is her ex-best friend.

I thought this was a really fun and refreshing read. The premise was something I've never read before and I felt like it was unique for the romance genre. All the characters were a lot of fun; I particularly enjoyed Eric and Tola. Nikki made the PERFECT villain, at times I hated her but in others I understood her motivations behind hiring Fixer Upper.

I enjoyed that this book was all about the emotional aspects of a romantic relationship. There was ZERO spice, but rather a lot of angst and pining and times where you wanted to shake the characters and yell WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS? It made for a interesting read that was a lot more about personal growth rather than the romantic chase.

All in all, if you are looking for a quick romance read, almost a palette cleanser of sorts, I recommend this book. I'll be curious to read Lauren Forsythe's next release.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book. I didn't finish it because the characters were boring and one-dimensional, and the plot seemed too predictable for me.

I was unable to finish this novel before the publication date. My library owns a copy and it is used for displays and reader's advisory.

I'm a bit late to review this one! I had it on my Kindle for ages, and if I'd known how good it was, I would have read it sooner. I love a second chance romance, and this one was just perfect.

It takes a lot to capture my attention when it comes to a romance novel. I used to be a huge romance reader but over time, I just got bored - the storylines were all the same, I could predict exactly what would happen before the book even started based on just the premise alone, and it sent me into a huge slump. This one, however, really charmed me. Perhaps it's because I really saw myself in the main character as the "fixer upper" and often lose sight of myself when I get to work solving the problems of others. An inventive storyline, interesting characters, and a unique perspective really captivated me right from the start.

Even though this was still a little predictable, I love the character development of Aly. She grew so much in confidence and self-worth and I found I liked that aspect of the book more than the traditional romance between two partners. Part inspirational, part quirky and funny, and part therapeutic, I loved reading this one!

Thank you to Negalley for this early access in exchange for an honest review. The Fixer Upper was a slow moving and barely a finish. There was something just not connecting me to the characters. I couldn't tell if they just weren't fleshed out enough or I just wasn't vibing with them. Instead of a book full of fun romance, I was quite bored of the push and pull of our main characters wants.

If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and enjoyable romantic comedy, then "The Fixer Upper" by Lauren Forsythe is definitely worth checking out. This novel offers a good introduction to Forsythe's writing style, and her talent for crafting relatable and likable characters is on full display.

In "The Fixer Upper," we follow a woman who has a talent for turning around her boyfriends' lives. She decides to turn this skill into a professional service, helping other women wrangle and fix the men in their lives. However, things get complicated when her new client is his name is Dylan: her best friend fifteen years ago, the same boy she had a huge crush on and the same boy who broke her heart.

What I loved about this novel is its humor and sharp wit. The banter between the characters is snappy and engaging, making for a fun and entertaining read. Additionally, the romantic elements of the story are sweet and satisfying, and the chemistry between the characters is palpable.

Overall, "The Fixer Upper" is a fast read that will leave you smiling. It's a great introduction to Lauren Forsythe's writing, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good romantic comedy.

If you're looking for a cute, easy-going rom com, The Fixer Upper is just for you!

This was a fast and fun read. I thought it was a unique premise to have a service to improve the lives of others after realizing that all of Aly's exes had some sort of success after dating her. When she ends up finding a spark with one of her clients, the heat starts to pick up but in a pretty clean way! I think the real gems were Aly's besties, Eric and Tola, who kept the comedic banter coming.

While this was not a book with big peaks of excitement, it was one that was sustainably enjoyable throughout! A good beach read or someone just looking for an uplifting escape.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putman books for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this ARC of The Fixer Upper. I enjoyed reading this book but all I kept thinking was that the main character, Aly, could have really benefitted from therapy. As I read what she would put up with from past relationships and the affect it had on her as an adult, it made me sad. Otherwise, the other characters were fun and liked the story. There was some good quirkiness to everyone and it kept it moving along.

3.5 stars. Workplace Rom-Com. Much of it was pretty predictable, but I did enjoy it. My favorite part was the friendships, and I also wanted to give a fist bump when our main character finally started to stand up for herself and speak out toward the end. I did enjoy the second chance romance with her high school best friend. There was a bit of the miscommunication trope, which isn't my favorite, but it felt a bit realistic in this book. I do wish there wasn't any curse words because they didn't feel like they fit with the characters and weren't necessary in the story at all.