The Fixer Upper by Lauren Forsythe Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on August 2, 2022
Pages: 299
Format: ARC
Genres: Women's Fiction
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In this funny and sharp romantic comedy, a woman with a knack for turning her boyfriends’ lives around starts a professional service to help wrangle men, only to be unexpectedly matched with an old flame.
Ever since she can remember, Aly has been fixing everything around her: her parents’ marriage, her colleagues’ work problems, and her friends’ love lives. After a chance meeting with an ex who has gone from a living in his parents’ basement to a married project manager in three years, she realizes she’s been fixing her boyfriends, too…
So, Aly decides to put her talents to good use and, alongside two work friends, sets up The Fixer Upper, an exclusive, underground service for women who are tired of unpaid emotional labor. Using little tricks and tips, Aly and her friends get the men to do the work themselves – to get out of the job they hate, sign up for that growth seminar, to do more parenting. Before long, a high-profile Instagram star hires them to fix-up her app developer boyfriend. There’s just one catch – he’s also Aly’s childhood best friend and first love. As Aly tackles her biggest “fixer upper” yet, she’ll have to come to terms with their complicated history and figure out how much to change someone she’d always thought was perfect as he is…
The Fixer Upper is billed as a romantic comedy, but I disagree. There’s only the slightest bit of romance, and while lighthearted, it isn’t particularly funny. It is, however, an entertaining work of women’s fiction featuring winsome characters and an original premise. I enjoyed it.
Aly is taken for granted in every aspect of her life. She is overworked and overlooked professionally. Her relationship with her parents is tumultuous. Romantically, she has wasted too much time and energy in encouraging loser ex-boyfriends to reach their potential only for them to finally turn into successful husband material for other lucky women. She’s lonely, and I couldn’t wait for her to find a backbone and claim the life she’s entitled to. I liked how she gains confidence while helping other women find happiness with their partners.
The beginning of the book is on the sluggish side, but once Aly’s childhood ex-best friend, Dylan, is introduced the ball gets rolling. I liked their rapport and traditions. They would make a perfect couple except it really does feel more like a friendship between them than a romance. I expected Aly to feel jealous of Dylan’s shallow girlfriend, but throughout most of the story she seems to feel guilt and nostalgia more than anything else, while Dylan seems content to just have his best friend back. It didn’t stop me from rooting for them to wake up and realize how much they love together. I needed their HEA! Aly’s supportive best friends add a lot of fun to the plot.
The Fixer Upper is Lauren Forsythe’s debut novel. I look forward to reading more from her.
Recommended for fans of:
Friends to lovers
Influencers
Workplace stories
* I received an early copy from the publisher. This does not affect the content of my review. *
I enjoy influencer characters in books these days. It always make story fun and gives it more meaning. Great review!
I agree. Influencers fit in with our culture these days and their stories are usually entertaining.
Ugh. Another badly marketed book. I hate that everything is getting a rom-com nod these days. So disappointing. Glad you were still able to enjoy it.