Love is in the details.
I must say I expected this book to be something like a TV reality about house renovations. Am I dissapointed that was not the case? Not at all.
Not only is the book soft, funny and, in a way, gentle, but it also speaks volumes of how sometimes things are simple and we are complicated. Specially when it comes to choosing, because there's a big "must have" and "must not have" list for Ellie, and turns out in her case, love was in the details she did not want to focus on.
Not only does this book speak of romance, but also of maternal love, of friendship, and healing, of families and stories and of what is and what we wish could have been.
In the end, it's not only the tale of a man and a woman, but of a father who took in a daughter who loves her son.
And the tale of a son, who came into their lives, who's also a brother to a man who loves him so dearly he knows he's home.
It was a great experience to read this book, and I'm thankful I was allowed to read the ARC. I cannot praise it enough.

I knew within a single chapter of this book that it was going to be one of my favourites. The humour that Sharon winds all the way through her books combined with a such a heartwarming story brings me back to her books again and again – and this one is no exception. The characters are real, relatable and, quite frankly, utterly adorable. The ADHD representation was done with consideration and didn’t overwhelm any part of the character or the book and, as someone who has ADHD in their family, I really appreciated that being included – as well as the fact it wasn’t given any negative vibes which can so often be related to ADHD.
I stayed up way too late reading this, desperate to know what happened next which just led me to chapter after chapter until I hit the end and let out a joyous, happy sigh of contentment. Get it. Read it. Then read it again and get all the happy feels for the second time around.

4 stars ⭐️ This was a fun clean romance! I loved Ellie and Gil’s tension filled slow burn!

What to expect:
- forced proximity
- slow burn
- small town romance
- single mom

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

You guys! This book! Such a joy to read! Single mom with her hands full finds her in a sticky situation when an inheritance leaves her sharing a house with a complete stranger. Closed door spice that is full of slow burn tension. The antics of the 6 year old son sends this couple on a journey neither one of them saw coming the end had my eyes leaking (as my 4 year old son would say) and a HEA! Loved the 'what is love' responses at each chapter so I asked my son and he said 'love is what you feel with friends', Maverick, 4

The banter was HILARIOUS!! I could not stop laughing throughout this book. It did take me a bit longer to read, but was amazing through and through. Highly recommend to people who need a good laugh, and want an overall romantic love story!!

I want to start by saying this was my very first ARC, and I was so excited to dive in! This is also the first book I’ve read by Sharon Peterson, and now that I’ve finished Ellie and Gil’s story, I’m definitely going back to read her earlier books. I can’t wait to learn more about the other couples. I absolutely love interconnected stories, and this one reignited my love for discovering new characters.

At its core, this is a romance novel, clean (no spice), but rich with emotional build-up. The slow burn, forced proximity, and growing tension between the main characters had me grinning, giggling, and even kicking my feet. It gave me that swoonish (yes I know not a real word) feeling.

Without giving too much away, the book delivers beautifully on themes of romance, found family, and small-town charm.

Ellie and Gil completely won me over and I am hoping Iris will be getting her story next.

Ellie and Gilbert inherit half a house each and have to live there together for 6 months in order to get their portion. A tale of forced proximity as old as time and just as delicious. This is the first book I've read by Sharon M. Peterson and it was a very solid closed door romance. The conflict between the characters is believable due to the real life stakes and isn't just played for the sake of drama. The supporting characters are charming enough to consider reading their books, which make up the others in the series. If possible, I'd give this 3.5 stars as once I started, I read it in a couple of sittings.

I read a lot of romance, and I’ve read my fair share of slow burns, but this one? This one got me in a way that not many do.
I don't necessarily read books of characters that feel like I couldn't be the character in the book, and Ellie being a mom made me worry at first. But literally a page in a half in and I was sold, Her personality and character alone was so hilarious and relatable. She felt like a very real person.

The pacing was unhurried in the best way, every moment felt intentional. It let the emotion breathe. And by the time the connection started to build, I was fully in it. Like, feet kicking, heart aching, wiping a tear and smiling at the same time in it.

What really blew me away was how grounded it all felt. There was nothing flashy or overly dramatic, just raw, careful character work and the kind of emotional buildup that makes every glance, every shift, every quiet moment feel earned. The heart-string plucking when Ollie just kept getting more and more revealed about him, the emotional support provided by Gil when Ellie needed it most, the kid basically acting as you but in the book rooting for them and pushing them together just as I wished I could. I love when a book trusts you to feel everything without spelling it out or rushing to the payoff. This did that, beautifully.

Also, the love here? Pure. Not really any spice, but true and honest. It made my heart ache in the best way. It reminded me why I love slow burns when they’re done right. I cared about these characters more than I expected to. I rooted for them so hard. I wished it kept on going! (even tho it does have the perfect ending point)

The Fix Up by Sharon M. Peterson

Let me start off by saying I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down!

It’s such a sweet story and had me laughing, tearing up and kicking my feet!
The way the characters were described made me wish I knew them all personally. I was rooting for Ellie and Gil from the beginning and as the book progressed, I felt allll the emotions. Happy, sad, frustrated, hopeful. ALL OF THEM. And once we got to meet Mickey and see his relationship with Oliver… I was in love! They were just perfect together! And Ollie just sounded like he was the perfect grandpa!

The icing on the cake was definitely how each chapter began with a quote from a child explaining what love meant to them. They had the sweetest answers!

I’ve read Sharon M. Peterson’s other books and after finishing each one, I always swear THAT’S my favorite! Lol

This one definitely gets 5 stars from me!

4.25⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. This book was cute, funny, and entertaining! I loved all of the characters, the best disability representation, and the plot to made me want to keep reading. The mixed media aspect with letters and notes was adorable. I wish we would've seen more of the home/cafe improvements with it being such a big part of the synopsis, cover, and title. Also, there were moments when the main character repeated things we'd already been told a few times. Overall, though, I enjoyed this book and I hope we get more books set in this world!

Read this in a matter of days and loved this book so much that as soon as I'd finished, I went and bought everything by the author I could lay my hands on!

Loved the setting of Two Harts as well as the hero and heroine - who definitely don't fall into stereotypes!

This was the first book I've read for this author. Going into this, I guess I expected something more than what I got. Don't get me wrong, I read this book quickly and found it cute and sweet, in a Rated G/PG Hallmark movie kind of way. But the blurb said there would be 'sizzling chemistry' and there was pretty much no chemistry or romance to be seen. They don't even kiss until around the 70% mark, maybe even later. We're told they spend time together and grow close, but it's just mentioned in a sentence or two. We don't actually get to see the romance happening, it's all implied and brushed over. He does nice things for her, but that's about it. I kept waiting for something to happen that would really make this a true romance, but then the book ends and I'm left waiting. There wasn't even an epilogue to show how they managed as a family once Gil came back to town. If I had to classify this book, I'd label it as chick lit, not romance. So if that's your thing, you'll probably enjoy this.

I did appreciate the ADHD representation. As someone who was just diagnosed with ADHD and autism both at the age of 43, I could totally relate with a lot of what Ellie dealt with on a daily basis. I too have a room of unfinished projects and to-do's that never get done lol. I may have to try that sticky note idea out to see if it helps me in my daily life.

I received ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture. I absolutely loved this one! Within the first few pages of this book, I was hooked! This was such a wholesome feel good story and I loved it. I enjoyed Ellie’s character a lot and her story! I also loved how the author started each chapter with what children of various ages thought love was, it was sweet. This was my first Sharon M. Peterson novel and I now want to read her others! I saw some of the characters in this story already have their own novel! I enjoyed her style of writing! This is a good one, be sure to read it!

| The Fix-Up - Sharon M. Peterson |

"Love is in the details... how we treat each other on our worst days or find a way to put the other person first every day. Love is a choice".

This was my first ever ARC and I feel super lucky that this was the very first!

Such a lovely story from start to finish. Lots of laugh out loud moments, times where I was kicking my feet and a few occasions where I had to stop to wipe my eyes before I could keep reading.

The characters were lovely, I felt connected with them like I knew them personally. Ellie and Gil's romantic journey was one that made me feel happy, angry, sad and everything in between.

Not to mention Oliver, Mikey who were so sweet. Their passion for things and excitement was adorable.

I especially loved that with each new chapter, it began with a quote from a child saying what they think love is. A beautiful touch ♥️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🥧 This was the first book I've read by Sharon M. Peterson & it definitely won't be the last. It had everything I love about romance & was written so perfectly.

🦖 Ellie was a relatable, lovely leading lady & Gil was a dreamy, swoonworthy leading man.

🥧 I adored their chemistry & banter & simply the way they were with each other. I'd ramble forever over the way Gil was with Ellie around the house, so I'll just say he was everything!

🦖 This was definitely one of those books that I was trying to dissect how the author was putting words together because everything fell into place & fit & just had be grinning from ear to ear!

🥧I highly, highly recommend this for romantics out their. I loved it so much.

Kelly

The Fix-Up was the sweetest of books! Ellie and Gil are an unlikely match at first, but the forced proximity of them being in the same house for six months is both hilarious and heartwarming. I loved watching their dynamic grow tentatively into friendship and then eventually into more.

I so loved the character of Oliver, Ellie’s six year old son. He really reads like a six year old- asking all the wrong questions at the wrong times but also leaning on his mom at the right ones. The relationship that Gil develops with Oliver is so precious, and I especially loved their “man club”.

This book was an easy read and a tender one. It’s got all the cute small town vibes as well as a lovely found family dynamic in Ellie and her friends as well as Ellie’s relationship with Ollie, whose passing kicks off the whole story. I will definitely be looking to read more of Sharon M. Peterson’s books in the future!

Thank you to Bookouture Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another fun read from Sharon Peterson, with the appearances of other familiar characters from her other novels set in Two Harts, Texas.
Ellie is a single mom who has lived in Two Harts and worked in her grumpy boss's cafe for years. When she is told she has inherited a house, a cafe, and some land, she starts out excited and wondering how much her life will change. That initial thrill quickly disappears when she hears that her dear departed boss has a grandson ready to claim his half and sell it ASAP. Add to that disastrous news with the info that the two must live in the house together for six months before they inherit.
There is one possible way for Ellie to save her home and career, and that is to win Gilbert over, but he is almost as grumpy as his grandfather and clearly doesn't like her. I can't say I blame him—having to live in the backyard in a tent—but who is winning over whom?
The banter in this is great, and Ellie's disquietude in his presence is very funny. Loved this clean romance.

4 stars!

Ellie and Gilbert inherit a house together. They don't know each other, and they have completely different views on what should be done with the house. Before the inheritance is officially theirs, they both have to live in the house for six months. At first, their life together is quite rocky, but over time they get to know each other and become friends.

I really liked Sharon M. Peterson's previous book, so I was happy to pick up this one.

At the beginning I had a bit of trouble because I didn't like the main character Ellie very much. She seemed a bit selfish and childish. As I read on, I started to like her.

The book was enjoyable to read, and I would happily continue to read books by this author.

WHAT I LIKED: Gilbert & Oliver (Ellie's son) were so cute together! I also liked the ADHD rep (as an ADHDer myself I always like relatable characters).

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE: Ellie at first. She was really hostile towards Gilbert, and seemed quite childish and selfish at times.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Pov: heroine, 1st person
Heat: closed doors
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: some miscommunication, some healthy communication
Third act: break up
Ending: HEA

Main characters:
* Cinnamon roll hero
* Strangers to enemies to friends to lovers
* Grumpy - sunshine
* Opposites attract
* Single parent

What?
* Forced proximity
* Found family
* Grand gesture
* One bed

Where?
* Small town

Drama?
* Difficult past
* Family drama

Other vibes:
* Mental health rep
* ”We’re just friends”

The Fix-Up is a lighthearted romance about Ellie, a single mom who lives in a small town in Texas with her 6 year old son. She has recently inherited a house and cafe from her former boss/landlord, Ollie, but is shocked to find that there’s a clause in the will that requires her to live on the property with Ollie’s long-lost grandson, Gilbert, for 6 months. Gil intends to sell the property, while Ellie wants to continue to run the cafe and fix up the house. The two don’t get along initially, but get to know each other over the course of the book.

Personally, I found the book a little too predictable and I didn’t love how the resolution unfolded (I feel like there could have been much better communication, much sooner), but I will keep it in mind to recommend to people who are looking for a wholesome romance set in a Texas version of Stars Hallow.

This book was so heartwarming! It had its moments where you related, where you laughed, where you hurt with or for them. It was genuinely one of those books where you end the book understanding the main characters and knowing their love. The banter was cute and light-hearted. I loved it!