Really cute romance with all of my favorite tropes! This would be a great read for vacation.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Charming, heartfelt, and full of slow-burn chemistry

This story had me hooked from the very beginning—and not just because of the grumpy, brooding co-owner with a toolbelt.

Ellie Sterns is a single mom with a history of dating the wrong men, but her luck seems to turn around when she inherits half of a house and a thriving café. The catch? The other half belongs to Gilbert Dalton—a man as handsome as he is grumpy, and who clearly wants nothing to do with this small-town life. What follows is a delightful blend of enemies to lovers, grump/sunshine, and single parent romance as they navigate their forced cohabitation and slowly unravel both the home’s past and their own growing feelings.

The characters were incredibly easy to love, even Gil with all his moody stares and sharp edges. While the banter between Ellie and Gil was more subtle than I usually go for, every moment they shared felt meaningful—and sometimes it’s the quieter connections that hit hardest. I found myself invested in their dynamic from the start, flipping through pages to see how their story unfolded.

If you love slow-burn romance with heart, a bit of tension, and just the right touch of emotional depth, this one deserves a spot on your TBR. I’d absolutely recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC!

Another winner from Peterson! Reading her books is like a breath of fresh air for me. In this story, which is part of her Two Harts, Texas series, Ellie is secretly matched up with Gilbert ("Gil") by Gil's dead grandfather. In the will, Ollie leaves the house, land, and cafe to both of them, but only if they both live on the property for six months. While there is almost never any question as to where this rom-com is headed, there are several surprises and events that keep the reader wondering and wanting to read more. The writing is witty and spot on, and I can't wait to read the next installment!

Thank you so much for the ARC! I loved the small town setting of Two Harts. And also loved little Oliver. I bet he and Ollie were great buddies. Great banter between Ellie and Gil. I also loved how Oliver and Ollie had matching shirts.

The Fix-Up is a sweet, light hearted romcom with a classic enemies to lovers setup, quirky charm, and enough emotional depth to keep things interesting. It’s a cute, easy read with some standout moments and likable main characters.

Ellie is a single mom juggling responsibility, emotional baggage, and a dream of stability. Her dynamic with Gil, the gruff and brooding co-inheritor, is filled with tension and banter. The premise of them cohabiting as strangers in order to secure an inheritance is fun. The notes they leave each other add a cute, almost nostalgic charm. There’s some real emotional payoff when they begin to uncover the layers of both their pasts and the house’s history.

Overall, The Fix-Up is a cozy, feel good read that delivers on humor and heart. Great for fans of warm, small-town romance with a bit of sass and some slow burn heat.

ARC provided by NetGalley

An utterly unputdownable slow burn pleasure to read.

Every character and the town grow on you so quick it’s easy to feel part of the community. The writing moves at just the right pace, the tension building just the right amount.

Ellie and Gilbert are magnetic and joyous and my favourite book couple this year. What is love? The Fix-Up!

Thank you Netgalley and to Bookouture for providing me with this amazing ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I went into it not knowing what the book will be about or if I would like it. Surprisingly, I enjoyed this one so so much!! Giggled, shed some tears and everything in between. I loved how the old man, Ollie, cared for her even after he passed, and that his dream of them meeting came true. Oliver, Ellie's son, was adorable and made my heart so warm reading about him. The gradual connection and relationship made me giddy. Their post it notes, ahh! loved them. And the little quotes from kids about what love is at the beginning of each chapter was the cherry on top.

This was my first book written by Sharon M. Peterson, but I am now so excited to read the others! 5+ stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of The Fix-Up!

This was such a fun, feel-good rom-com packed with all the ingredients I love: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension, snarky banter, a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and a cozy setting with heart. Sharon M. Peterson balances humor, heart, and heat in the perfect proportions—this one had me grinning, swooning, and even tearing up a bit.

Ellie is the kind of heroine you immediately root for—messy, real, and hilarious. Gil? The definition of brooding grump with a secret soft side. Their chemistry jumps off the page, and the snarky notes they leave each other were chef’s kiss. Beneath the witty dialogue and sizzling tension is a deeper story about healing, starting over, and choosing what truly matters.

If you're a fan of small-town charm, reluctant roommates, single mom representation, and rom-coms with both laugh-out-loud and tender moments, The Fix-Up should be at the top of your TBR. A perfect pick for fans of Abby Jimenez and Sarah Adams!

THE FIX-UP BY SHARON M. PETERSON.
I did enjoy this book. I love the cover and blurb. I did like Ollie. I loved Ellie character. Thos was a lovely story, which i liked more than I thought I would.



Blurb.
Ellie should probably have listened to the part where inheriting her house came with a hot, grumpy stranger and six months to figure it all out…

Ellie Sterns is a twenty-eight-year-old single mother who only ever seems to date seriously questionable men. But she’s just inherited both a home and thriving café, so life is looking up. The catch? Only half belongs to Ellie—the other half goes to the previous owner’s grandson. Gilbert Dalton may be absurdly handsome, but his frown never wavers and he has a chip on his shoulder the size of a small country.

Ellie would happily spend the rest of her life avoiding him, but to claim their inheritance, they must first live on the property together for six months. For Ellie, the house and the café are her future. For Gil, they’re part of a past he wants nothing to do with. She wants to stay, he is determined to sell. Will they be able to decide what comes next without going to war with Ellie’s whisk and Gil’s toolbelt for weapons?

But somewhere between the snarky notes they leave around the place, and discovering a heartbreaking secret about the house’s previous owner, Ellie and Gil might learn that frustration can turn into sizzling chemistry, and hate can turn into not-hate—and that’s basically only one step away from love…

A totally uplifting, heart-stealing and addictive enemies-to-lovers romance full of sweet chemistry and true laugh-out-loud moments. Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry and Sarah Adams.

@SHARONMPETERSON
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📚 Plot Snapshot
When single mom Ellie unexpectedly inherits half a house and café, she’s forced to co-own—and cohabit—with Gil, a grumpy but skilled handyman. Though their personalities clash from the start, a series of home renovation disasters, shared grief, and unlikely friendship stir up more than dust and drywall. It’s a slow build—of the house, and maybe something more.

🖋️ Writing Style Vibe
• Snappy, humorous first-person POV
• Plenty of inner monologue with emotional insight
• Rom-com charm with grounded, real-life stakes
• Enemies-to-lovers tension wrapped in warmth
• Clean and cozy with just enough zing to feel electric

❤️ My Highlights

✨Ellie’s Voice: She’s funny, real, and relatable in her chaos.
✨Gil’s Growth: He’s more than just a grumpy love interest—there’s nuance here, and his moments with Ellie (and the house) were sweet without being saccharine.
✨Renovation Romance: Always a fun trope when done right—and here, the shared space led to some great tension and quiet vulnerability.
✨Themes of Starting Over: Parenting, grief, career pivots—lots of heartfelt layers under the humor.

💭My Thoughts
This was an intriguing setup, especially since I’d been curious about Ellie ever since her name popped up in earlier books in the series. I really wanted to see her get a story—and a happy ending—of her own.

The beginning drew me in, but the pacing wavered around the first third. It felt like a lot was happening at once: friend-orchestrated blind dates, the inheritance issues, tension with Gil, her child, and a business to revive. The middle is where the story found its footing, especially when the emotional connection deepened and Gil’s gruff exterior started to soften.

🤔 What Fell Flat (if anything)
The pacing dragged in parts, especially in the early-middle sections. Too many side plots at once—Ellie’s friends trying to match her up while she’s already tangled in a growing bond with Gil felt distracting from the core romance.

⭐ Final Rating + Shelf Status
★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
Keep if you’re a fan of the series, but not a top-tier reread. Solid, heartfelt read with cozy charm and fun dynamics—but slightly bogged down by subplot overload.

I received an advance reader copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. My review reflects my honest and unbiased thoughts.

Ellie has a bad reputation with dating, so it's time to put it on pause. She has enough happening trying to be a single mum, running a business and now trying to keep the roof over her head.

Gilbert never knew his grandfather, but there is a secret love story that needs to be told, and one that may lead to his finding love, also.

I love that each chapter starts with a description of 'what is love?' described by children. Some of these made my heart melt, and the simplest answers were the best.

This novel explores themes of therapy and ADHD, I loved how Peterson made it so accepting and an easy everyday subject.

I loved the main characters in this novel. The character of Ellie made me want to bake. Gil and Ellie were so cute together, especially the scenes with the sticky note messages. I found myself trying to figure out their solution, and wanting to shout my ideas at how they could make things work down the pages.

There was also a scene I cried at sheer relief. This author knows how to make you feel all the emotions in this narrative.

We also revisit old characters from these previous novels, and I am genuinely so attached to them. This is a great addition to this series, which can be read as a standalone, but you do not want to miss out on this series.

Rating: 3.7/5

Ellie is a single mom of a little boy, Oliver. They came to the small town of Two Harts, TX several years ago in search of a better life after Oliver's dad left them. Luckily, the community took them in, especially an old man, named Ollie. Ollie had a old home in need of repairs and needed tenants to help pay for the mortgage, so Ellie and Oliver moved in. Ollie also owned the small-town cafe and hired Ellie to work their and have Oliver there when she couldn't find daycare. All of a sudden, Ollie passes away. It wasn't known that Ollie had any family, so everything was left to Ellie and Oliver. It was, until Gilbert shows up at Ellie's front door. Gilbert (Gil) turns out to be Ollie's secret grandson. Gil had a version of the will that said everything of Ollie's must be split between the two of them after 6 months of living on the property together. While Ellie is desperate to keep the property and her livelihood, Gilbert is wanting to sell everything and move back to Austin, where he has a life to take care of. Over the next 6 months, the two of them work together to fix up the properties and find that they have much more in common than there are differences. Gil and Oliver bond together -- Oliver even asking him to be a part of their family.

This is an adorable, little-to-no spice romance that makes you just blush. It's an enemies-to-lovers/grumpy-sunshiny dichotomy. It was pretty predictable, but one that makes you feel good. It was a fairly quick read. Would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I have been excited for this book from the moment I heard about it, and I have to say it did not disappoint (although I might be writing this review through tears, the end got me good). Oliver the meddling 6 year old, Ollie the meddling even in his death grandparent, and the town full of friends and found family. I love Two Harts, Texas and the world the author has created, and this book full of banter and love did not let me down. I read an early version, you should check it out now! While technically part of a series this book can one hundred percent be enjoyed as a stand alone, get it now and get ready to laugh out loud!

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sharon M. Peterson’s fourth novel, The Fix-Up reminds us that everyone deserves a helping hand!

Two Hearts, Texas offered a fresh start to Ellie (Elenor) Sterns, a single mother struggling to keep her head above water. While the entire community embraced her and her son with open arms, no one accepted them faster than Ollie. As one of the oldest living members of Two Hearts and owner of the quaint but beloved Sit-n-Eat Café, he shocked the small community by graciously offering Ellie both a job and a place to live. That is until his passing a few years later. While Ollie planned to provide for Ellie long after his death, he tied it up with a small but complex contingency, Gilbert (Gil) Dalton. With Ellie’s future once again in limbo she must work with a stranger to decide the fate of Ollie’s home and business.

Everyone time I get my hands on a Sharon M. Peterson novel I promise myself I am going to savor it. But the moment I begin reading I am reminded of how much I love her work. Not only does she put the laugh in ‘laugh-out-loud romantic comedies’, but her quirky, down-to-earth characters worm their way into my heart. So much so, that I can’t put the book down until I know how their stories end. This woman consistently has me reading way past my bed time!

The Fix-Up is by far my favorite book of Peterson’s. While I have loved everything she has ever written, there is just something so special about this book. Ellie and Gil’s relationship was complicated due to them each having a dependent and an extraordinary amount of pressure to do right by them. However, seeing them place their happiness to the side made me root for them twice as hard. They truly have become one of my top book couples!!

An added bonus was returning to the world of Two Hearts and catching up with beloved characters such as Mae and Ali. Thankfully, you don’t have to have read Peterson’s previous books, The Fake Out and The Fast Lane, to enjoy this one. Despite being interconnected, they are true standalone novels that can be read as such. However, you would be doing yourself a disservice to not read them all.

Standout moments in this book include:
-Oliver’s Mischievous Plan
-Easter Dinner with the Sterns
-Ellie’s Craft Closet
-Gil(bert)’s Grand Gesture
-The Ending (I dare you not to cry)

Special thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Sharon M. Peterson for gifting me an electric and physical copy of this book (plus some added goodies) in exchange for my honest review.

*T-minus 360 days till I get my much needed Sharon M. Peterson fix, hopefully featuring another Two Heart’s resident!!!

Ellie meets Gilbert when they are left half of a house each. Will they find a way to compromise. A great read. Looking forward to more from this author.

Ellie and Gilbert are two strangers thrown together and forced to live in the same house. The two are complete opposites and do not start off on the right foot. Ellie is determined to make Gilbert fall in love with the small town and the charm of the old house she calls home. Both are driven by the responsibilities they have.

Can the two set aside their differing plans and explore the connection they feel toward each other?

I have never connected more to a book character than I did with Ellie. Even the explanation she gave of her brain as squirrels running in all different directions- that’s exactly how I explain my brain to people when I need a moment to gather my thoughts. I absolutely loved how Gilbert was so understanding and in awe of Ellie’s mind. He never once made her feel bad for forgetting things or her systems-hello, post-it notes. He embraced it and helped. Gilbert is the sweetest, grumpiest, handiest MMC. Oh and he plays guitar! *swoon*

Honestly, I cannot say enough great things about this book. I love Sharon’s writing. She writes realistic, diverse characters with real problems, who encounter the most hysterical situations. And the slow burn. Whew! It’s worth the wait.

Be sure to grab this new book and if you haven’t read the rest of Sharon’s books- go read them!

This was such a sweet, heartwarming read that completely stole my heart.

Ellie, a single mum starting over, inherits half a house and café from a grumpy old man who took her in—but the other half goes to his estranged grandson, Gil. They have to live together for six months. She wants to stay, he wants to sell. The tension, the banter, and the sticky notes? Chef's kiss.

I loved Ellie—so relatable—and Gil was such a soft, unexpected hero. The way he treated her son and tried to do the right thing made me melt.

The small-town vibes, adorable kid, and a slow-burn romance packed with emotion had me laughing, swooning, and even tearing up. The chapter openers—kids defining love—were the cutest touch!

My only gripe? The ending felt a bit rushed. An epilogue would've been perfect. Still, I adored this and can’t wait to read more from the author.

I absolutely loved this book. I read it in one sitting!!! It was everything I look for in a feel good rom-com.
The banter was excellent and it was witty and I just loved the MMC and the FMC but also all the secondary characters like Oliver and Mikey!!!

I loved the ending it was beautifully written.

If you don't like happy endings, smiling and kicking your feet, or giggling while reading, you should not read this book! Sharon continues to perfectly balance the light with the serious. You get to hang out with some of your favorite characters again, and I love how I can relate to almost every single one in some way. Perfect for any time of year!

I asked the forced proximity gods to bless me with a fun easy read, and Sharon M. Peterson delivered. I've been on a small town romance kick recently (I'd like to thank the endless rainy weekends we've been having in New York City), and this was just perfect.

Ellie's voice felt like a real internal monologue, and I really enjoyed the way the characters were written in general. Her chemistry with Gil was also fantastic. This book was a little slow in the beginning, but the pacing really picked up and stayed spot-on, so I wasn't too bothered by it. The emotions and humor were great and kept me absolutely hooked.

I'd recommend this to fans of enemies-to-lovers, clean romance, and slow burns!

Thank you to Sharon M. Peterson and Bookouture for the advance copy. All opinions are my own. The Fix-Up releases June 17, 2025.