When Penny visits her sister and attends the next door neighbor's estate sale, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. Anthony is not only the estate seller, but he's got some dubious activities that get the two of them in extremely hot water very quickly. I really loved Penny -- she had a great attitude. And Anthony is the strong, silent type, but he's just too adorable when it comes to Penny.

This cute and humorous romantic suspense /comedy makes it to my favorites of 2025. I really enjoyed this story. Although predictable, it was just a fun romp that held my interest until the end. I'm not a big fan of insta-love, but sometimes it works, and I could feel the chemistry between Anthony and Penny from the start. The story is a bit far-fetched, but the tone of the narration just makes it easy to ignore that sort of thing and just relax into the story. Recommended if you are looking for a romantic suspense tale with a light touch.

This was such a fun little genre-mashup I didn’t know I needed! The cover absolutely hooked me and fits perfectly with what’s inside—light, fast-paced, and full of chaotic banter. I liked the mix of romcom and mystery, even though the plot was definitely on the predictable side
Penny started off feeling a bit immature, but she totally grew on me as things unfolded. I loved her dynamic with her sister and how she kept her cool (mostly) while getting dragged into an actual murder-adjacent mess. And Anthony? Honestly, kinda a golden retriever with a sketchy backstory—and I kinda loved that. Their chemistry wasn’t super intense, but it worked for this story. Plus, I’m always here for a FMC who isn’t just tagging along but actually has the brains to puzzle things out herself
It gave big early 2000s romcom-meets-thriller movie vibes, and while it didn’t blow me away totally, it was an easy, entertaining read that did exactly what it promised for me

This was so much fun! This is mystery/thriller with romance done perfectly. There was action and drama but the romance kept everything light. The banter between the main characters was great and I just really enjoyed this from start to finish. Was it plausible? No. Was it a fun caper? Absolutely. Definitely recommend this for a reader looking for a mystery with a healthy dose of romance.

This was such a fun ride especially since Anthony was the absolute bestttt 😍😍😍😍 loved all the action and hijinks!
I gave only 4 stars not 5 though because it wasn't dual POV which is always what I want in a book but especially with amazing Anthony- at least could have had his POV started later in book due to mysterious nature and all at beginning. Also I was confused by what their ages were because they acted much younger than I think they were supposed to be but were adorable even so, was just a little strange.

✔️single pov (hers)
✔️swoon-worthy mmc
✔️no spice

I read The Big Fix as a digital book from Netgalley and gave it 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book, it's a mix between a romance, thriller/mystery and action and I personally thought it was well done and I had a good time reading it. If you are looking for a book that is going to make you laugh one minute and then be on the edge of your seat the next I would recommend The big Fix.

The premise of this was interesting, but overall it didn’t hit as hard as I hoped it would. You definitely have to suspend disbelief as there are lots of plot points that don’t really make sense in the real world. The romance is definitely insta-love, and I never felt like I really understood who Penny or Anthony really were. It felt a bit superficial in that way. It was quite light for a murder type mystery, and an easy read overall. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

This was well-written, but it was just not for me. The whole plot hinges on the supposed fact that Penny and Anthony have so much chemistry upon meeting, that everyone around them thinks they're a couple. I didn't feel this chemistry, it was too insta-lusty/insta-lovey for me. The mystery is pretty interesting, but I couldn't get over how Penny became involved, and her decisions were just ... dumb.

This was SO MUCH FUN! I'm obsessed with the crossover part of a Venn diagram with 'romance', 'thriller', and 'comedy' and this slots right into that spot.
"The Big Fix" was fast-paced and throws you right into the action and I was so grateful for that. It got me out of my spring reading slump and I devoured the book in one night. It wasn't super deep or dark but it kept a healthy level of suspense throughout the story that just made me keep turning page after page (...or pressing the right side of my Kindle screen, again and again.)
Penny was a fun FMC; I loved her inner-monologue and seeing the exasperation about Anthony give way to a full blown crush. Honestly, so relatable because now I *also* have a crush on Anthony Pierce but it sucks that he isn't real.
My only complaint is that I wish there would have been a bit more tension between Penny and Anthony because the way he was immediately down-bad for her tiptoed a bit too close to the insta-love trope for me. Aside from that, I would highly recommend this to anyone who loved The Fall Guy or Whiskey Cavalier (ugh, my beloved show was gone too soon), or to anyone who just wants a fun and thrilling romance!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing, Holly James, and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

This book was an absolute blast, but with a kind of geeky twist. Penny is a brainy computer science professor who somehow ends up in a action movie after a fight over candlesticks turns into a wild adventure. I loved the chemistry, the chaos, and how Penny held her own through it all. It’s fast paced and funny, but somehow still manages to be swoony in the best way. If you’re in the mood for crazy comedy with a bit of a romantic edge pick this one up!

Thanks to the Author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read in return for an honest review.

I was in a little bit of a reading slump and this book brought me back!

The cover was the pull initially, I loved the artwork, it was a new author to me and the storyline peeked my interest.

I really enjoyed reading as the mystery unfolded.
Penny is visiting her sister when they stop by an estate sale to the house next door.
Anthony is managing his late uncles estate when he seemingly gets caught in a murder mystery.

I love that we get a true feel for Penny’s ambition, she’s already pushing to make tenure at the university she’s teaching at, and her need and determination to get to the bottom of this mystery drives her to a HUGE range of new experiences. Nothing is to big a task for Penny, she’s the type of person that can’t be told she can’t do something 🤣

Anthony’s cards are held close to his chest the whole way through the book. I love how it keeps you guessing if he’s a good guy or not.

There’s a slow burn connection between them the whole way through and my only criticism is that it all felt a bit rushed at the end with a closed door mention of them getting it on. I was ready for ALL of the romance to hit, and felt it was kinda skimmed over.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this, I usually go for a romance and this was giving extra with the rom/com and action packed storyline.

If you watched fall guy, this book definitely was giving similar energy, so glad I picked this one up, perfect to get you back into reading and would make a solid holiday read.

The tea ☕️

❤️ - Rom/com
🔒- forced proximity
🔍 - mystery/suspense
🥊 - violence/death
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 - found family
🚪- closed door

This book was such a fun journey! A mystery/action rom com with just the right amount of chaos.

Penny is a computer science professor just trying to finalize her tenure. What she wasn’t planning on? Finding a dead body at an estate sale, getting caught up in a full-blown conspiracy, or running for her life with her handsome new neighbor, Anthony. But here we are! The unexpected events had me IN this book!

I loved the added mystery that kept me guessing and while it is not usually my go-to, the action scenes were very immersive and had me on edge! Holly James has a way with writing characters and Penny’s dry, self-deprecating humor had me laughing to myself and really rooting for her.
There was a great range of side characters, like her meddling sister and his mysterious friends, they kept me engaged. If you like a slow-burn, closed door romance then you will really enjoy this story!

Another great read from this author following the story of the mysterious neighbour next door and the professor who just wanted to make tenure.

I loved how the story progressed with twists and turns around every corner. I enjoyed the journey of the two MC’s getting to know each there and the annoying sibling.

Overall a great book, can’t wait to read more from this author :)

⭐ 4.25
🌶️ 0
📚 Tropes/Themes: snarky banter, forced proximity, romantic thriller, slow burn, fake dating, one bed
👀 Single POV 1st person
🩷 Something I liked: So snarky
🙈 Something I disliked: lack of spice
🧠 Triggers: violence, murder
🛍️ Available: Now!

💬 This was such a satisfying read! I'm not normally a romantic suspense / thriller kind of gal but this one was SO GOOD. I requested this from netgalley because of the cover, and stayed for the excellent story.

The storyline pretty much sucked me in right away, and I loved the dedication. The snark and the witty dialogue was hilarious, and pretty much the entire beginning with Penny inserting herself into the situation too.

I also appreciated that the thriller/suspense part of the plot was relatively mild. It's not that I don't like that genre, it's just I'm really deep (balls deep if you will 😏🤣) into my sweet and spicy/fluffy romance era at the moment and I find it really hard to break out of that. But it was definitely compelling, and when the action really started I was on the edge of my seat.

I was kind of bummed that it was only a single pov, I think first person single POV is probably my least favorite because I just...ugh it kills me to not know what the other MC is thinking. That being said it's really just a personal preference and this book is very well written. I still was able to connect with the characters.

I definitely recommend this!

Holly James strays away from her usual romance to bring us romance with some thrilling elements.

Penny is a thriving professor of computer science looking to finishing her tenure track by the end of summer. During this time, she was going to stay with her sister to help her with her kids while her husband is away, and to relax in her pool. Libby's next door neighbor passed away, and a hot man has taken over his estate. While Libby thinks to set him and Penny up, some shady things happen, like a dead man falling out of his hall closet.

Penny is in for more than just completing her tenure track this summer.. she is also on the run from some scary men. How did she get involved in all of this? Will she get her tenure or will meeting this man screw it up?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This book was not a good choice for me, unfortunately. I just couldn’t get into it, it was too slow and didn’t capture my interest. A DNF.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.
I will not publish this review elsewhere as I did not finish the book.

A lighthearted, romp that takes its cues from screwball comedies. It was a fun read, and had everything I love - a nice mixture of action, adventure and a bit of romance. Unfortunately, after starting strong, it just couldn't hold my attention, so I ended up reading this is multiple sittings.

Libby's bossiness and Penny's compliance really pissed me off. While their family dynamic was well-written, Penny needed to tell Libby to stop butting into her life - from trying to matchmake her with Anthony at the start to demanding Penny stay with her over the summer when she knew that Penny was trying to focus on her tenure application in peace.

The romance felt insta-love was also told more than shown. Literally. Every supporting character kept saying it, yet I saw more chemistry between Portia and Anthony. I liked them, but I couldn't believe they'd fallen in love in less than a week. Perhaps if their initial candlestick bickering was built up with more 'Beatrice and Benedick' snappy dialogue I'd have believed it more.

That said, this book would be perfect for a movie. Having actors flesh out that chemistry I think would sell Penny and Anthony more and I would absolutely buy a ticket to see it.

Overall, a cute, escapist tale. I'd read this again, but I think maybe audiobook (depending on narrator) might bring to life more.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5★
The Big Fix by Holly James is an action packed rom-com about about a woman who goes to her sister's neighbor's estate sale and ends up going on the run with a handsome fixer.

This book has AMAZING banter and was super funny with non stop action. There were lots of great metaphors (im a sucker for a metaphor). Now I know a lot of of rom-com (and metaphors) can give me secondhand embarrment but I didn't find it cringey at all. This is a great book that helped me get out of a reading slump. I read this book WAY too fast.

I also love a man who wears all black. This books is not spicy and although Penny and Anthony find themselves attracted to each other pretty early, I don't think I would consider it insta love. I recommend this to anyone going through a reading slump of wants something fun and fast paced

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars
this genre is something i had only seen in films before this book. i wasn't looking for a romance read when i picked this up but i guess it worked well for me in the end. it was light and easy, but i didn't really see the sparks between the main characters. this is quite unusual for me but i may have liked the plot more than the characters here...

This is the perfect summer book! Goes great with sunshine and lemonade. It’s got a little bit of everything and hooked me right from the first chapter.
The writing style made me feel like I was there without being too heavy or so descriptive that I lost sight of the story.

The Big Fix is a really fun, fast-paced action comedy. And Katherine Center's Bodyguard meets The Fall Guy is a spot on comparison in terms of spice and tone.

Bay Area CompSci professor Penny meets fixer Anthony at his uncle's estate sale when a body accidentally falls out of a closet thanks to her nephew's hijinks. It sets in motion a series of events that puts Penny and Anthony in the crosshairs of a tech CEO.

It's a dialogue rich book. These people talk A LOT. And at least once, I felt like the plot came to a standstill as Anthony catches Penny up on why he's really in the Bay Area. They were in a car at the time and there was no scenery to break up all the talking.

As someone who lived in NorCal, James mostly gets the Bay Area references right -- the City, the peninsula, San Mateo County Sheriff's Dept, no "the" with the freeway numbers, etc. I'm giving it an artistic license pass that she plunked a Victorian down in a suburban neighborhood.

The thing is, I just didn't really buy the romance between Penny and Anthony. It's hard to put my finger on why exactly, I just didn't believe they were attracted to each other, despite being put in situations for it to develop. And yet that wasn't a dealbreaker for me. Come expecting action comedy, not romantic comedy or romantic suspense, and you'll have a great time.

3.75 stars