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!

The Fix-Up is the third book in the Two Harts series. While those who have read the previous books will see some familiar characters, I do believe this could be enjoyed just fine as a standalone as well.

This was such a sweet read! Ellie is a single mom who had moved to Two Harts a few years earlier to get a fresh start with her son... which she found in part thanks to a cafe owner named Oliver. When Oliver passes away, he leaves her his home and cafe... with one small catch, he also left them to the grandson he'd never met Gil... and to claim it, they must live on the property for six months. Right away, I loved Ellie and Oliver. Their meet cute had me laughing out loud, and while they had very different plans for what to do with the property (leading to some slight enemies to love vibes early on), they had a really sweet chemistry and personalities that just seemed to balance each other very well. They both had their reasons for these plans, and the more we learned about all those reasons, the more I couldn't help but root for them both. Theirs was definitely a slower burn... but with a fantastic payoff in the end. If you love stories with a lot of heart and humor, this is definitely one to check out.

The Fix-Up is a closed-door romance with kisses only. It does have some minor language.

**ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for a sweet small town romance, you can’t go wrong withThe Fix-Up. Both Ellie and Gil we great characters and I loved all the supporting characters as well.

I liked this book a whole lot more than I was expecting. It was such a sweet and heartwarming story, one I really loved.

Ellie is a single mother, who started her life over in a small town where a grumpy old man, Ollie, took her and her son in. After his death, she inherits his home and the café, but under one condition. She only owns half, the other half goes to his grandson Gilbert, one nobody knew he had. Both of them have to live in the house for the next six months to get their share. He wants to sell, she wants to stay. They don't like each other at all, but a lot can change in six months.

I loved Ellie, I can recognise parts of myself in her, so I felt a special connection to her. And I think I should definitely use her notes system, that's genius. I really liked Gil too, the way he understood her, how he was with her son and how he tried to do what's best for his brother.
I adored their story, all the banter, the sticky notes and the tension. It really was a slow burn, but worth it in the end.
We also got a little glimpse into why Ollie was absent from Gil's life, which was heartbreaking.
The small town setting and all the secondary characters really made this story great. And Ellie's son Oliver was adorable.

It was an amazing story, it really made me feel all the feelings. I had fun, fell in love and, honestly, cried a little. It really struck a chord with me. Also, the fact that the author started every chapter with a note of what love is, answered by a child, is honestly the cutest thing I have ever read.

The only complaint I have is that the ending was a little bit rushed, I wish we got more. An epilogue would've been great.

This was my first book by this author, but I'll most definitely read more, especially since I found out that Chris already has his own book.

Ugh, what can I say?! How stinking cute! That's what! I will 100% admit to staying up far past my bedtime to continue reading this - which really says a lot considering I, like Ellie, am a mom as well as a 4am waker.

I guess you could say I'm a sucker for a good rom-com. I thoroughly enjoyed how relatable Ellie (and really all of the characters) was. And having previously read The Fake-Out, it was nice to see the return of some already enjoyed characters. I would also like to add that Gil definitely "ticks the boxes" if you know what I mean 😉😏

oh! and before i forget, I'd like to give a thank you to the author for providing the opportunity to be an ARC reader! I can't wait to add a square to my 2025 crochet book blanket for this read 😊

it's not enemies to lovers. they dislike each other. there's banter. they're not actually enemies. but that's on the marketing department and has nothing to do with the book itself.

the book was okay. it's not memorable and blends in with every other 'enemies to lovers' romance out there. there's adhd representation, which is something you don't see often, and i think it was handled well. overall, it's nothing to write home about, but it's far from being a bad book.

Sharon M. Peterson’s The Fix-Up is everything you want in a rom-com—sharp banter, sizzling chemistry, and just the right amount of emotional depth. From the moment Ellie and Gil’s paths collide (literally, in an inheritance battle), it’s clear that this will be a journey filled with laughter, tension, and unexpected heart. Ellie is a delightfully chaotic protagonist, balancing single motherhood, her newly acquired café, and an infuriatingly handsome co-inheritor with a mix of stubbornness and charm. Gil, on the other hand, is the classic grump with a past he’d rather forget. Their forced proximity creates an electric dynamic, packed with witty exchanges and moments that will leave readers grinning. If you’re looking for a feel-good read with a dash of spice and a whole lot of laughs, The Fix-Up is a perfect pick. It’s a romance that keeps you entertained from start to finish, and Ellie and Gil’s journey will have you rooting for them every step of the way.

I'm so loss at words how to describe this book. It literally made me feel all emotions. I was giggling at Ellie & Gil's banter so late at night, had a hard time suppressing it 😂 but then oh my!! it did make me shed some real fat tears too 😭 the chemistry, story flow, cuteness, everything is so ON point!
Easiest five stars & HIGHLYY recommended from my side ❤

Forced proximity, single mom romance. Small town and found family feel. Great main and side characters.

Didn’t make the connection until a bit into it that this book follows The Fake Out, so I got to revisit Mae and Chris from that book as well. Can be read as a stand alone though!

Thanks to Bookouture for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for The Fix Up to come out June 17, 2025.

This is a perfect book for Summer Reading !

Ellie and Gilbert are the main characters. They become your friends and you’re are hooked from the beginning as it is brilliantly written. You feel as you are part of the community they are in!

I related to Ellie as I am a Post-it fan! I have used them for communication at home just like Ellie! I have them all over the house to keep me organized! Ellie would be so proud! LOL!

When she described herself as an “anxiety burrito”- and was told “your man picker is broken!” by her therapist ! It reminded me of past conversations that I have had.

As a snarky fumer just like Ellie, I loved this book!. Her
I thought the character development was incredible!
Gil will capture your heart just like Ellie’s I loved how he stepped up to be the Duncle for his nephew, Jason. He is kind, caring and Amazing!

I think it was easy to root for them to become more than friends even though they both thought I can spend 6 months in the same space ! How hard could it be? Throw in a old farm house, tent, cafe and nosy
people and a calendar and postit notes!

It is a great read that is you won’t want to put down!

This romantic comedy was an enjoyable read. Just like in Sharon's previous books, there were definitely moments that made me laugh out loud.

One of the highlights for me was Ellie's son. His adorable attempts to play matchmaker between his mom and Gil brought a sweet touch to the story.

What I also appreciated was seeing Ellie and Gil go from enemies to lovers. To see how they grow closer to each other despite the big responsibilities they both carried in their lives. It was touching to see how they supported and understood one another while still managing their own challenges.

While the pacing wasn’t perfect, I thought it felt a bit slow at times, the book still delivered the fun and cozy small town vibe I was hoping for.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sharon M. Peterson for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: June 17th, 2025

This book was nice. I didn't love Ellie as a character, I couldn't quite put my finger on why. she did come across as a bit immature and selfish at times.

I don't feel like we got to know Gilbert enough for me to want to champion him as the MMC. The first half was negative judgements from Ellie, and then the positives were largely just that he looked good and fixed stuff.

It was nice. It was a cookie-cutter, hallmark, little-town-shop-owner-meets-stranger plot. It was slow burn and no sizzle.

i loved this book so much! i want to cry now that it’s finished! i adored everything about this read! the banter, enemies to lovers trope, the little details and scenes UGH! all of it was amazing! this book deserves all the love!

The Fix-Up by Sharon Peterson is an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity small town romance that will give you all the feels. Ellie is a single mom who always seems to pick up the wrong man. She has just inherited a cafe and home from Ollie, only to find that she has only inherited 50% when his long lost grandson, Gilbert, comes forward. The pair must live together for 6 months in order to fulfill the terms of the will. I LOVED how the relationship developed between Ellie and Gil, almost as much as I adored Gil and Oliver's relationship. I struggled a little with the pacing of the book, it felt as though time would skip ahead quickly or in odd places. Overall, I really enjoyed this read, especially the humor!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read all of Sharon M. Peterson’s books to date, The Fix-Up is another solid and enjoyable addition to her series. This book is set in the same universe as The Fake Out and The Fast Lane and follows Ellie, the sister of Chris from The Fake Out, who is referenced in his publicity mishap. Ellie is a single mother who works at the diner in town. When Ollie, the diner owner, passes away, he leaves the diner and his home to her and her son, who have been living there for a couple of years. However, Ollie also left half of his estate to a grandson that no one knew about. To receive any proceeds from the sale of the property, both Ellie and his grandson, Gilbert, must reside in the house for six months. At the end of this period, both Ellie and Gilbert have different plans, with Gilbert needing money and wanting to sell the property, while Ellie prefers to stay. While it’s not a traditional enemies-to-lovers story, it does have a rough start that gradually builds into a slow-burn romance. The book is chaste, but the romantic tension is effectively conveyed. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend checking out the rest of Peterson’s books as well.

Thank you, Bookouture, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This was cute! The plot or scenario isn't really the most original but it's cute. The chemistry between the characters was very heart warming and cute to read.

Rating: ★★★☆ 3.75 Stars

Ellie is living with this old man, Ollie who dies and leaves her his house and Café, before his grandson rocks up and they found out that they each own half the house... as long as they both reside there for 6 months.
Chemistry: THE SLOWEST OF BURNS. Maybe a light enemies-to-lovers vibe for the first 15 or so chapters.
Tropes: Serious MMC/Bubbly quirky MFC, Forced proximity, single-mother redemption.
Steam Level: 🌶️

I'll be upfront, It took me a minute to get invested in this book, the opening was a lot of information and people yet at the same time, felt like nothing was really happening...and it took maybe until the 30%-ish mark for things to really pick up for me, and I was wondering around chapter 15 if I was going to really enjoy this book... BUT OH BOY. STICK WITH IT.
I normally read raunchier romance stories bordering the line of pure erotica, but this did not disappoint even though it didn't progress past kissing and some shirtless man oogling.

"The Fix-Up" is such a light-hearted, wholesome rom-com and was such an easy read.
The characters exchange in such a passive-aggressive but witty way (especially through the form of a post-it note) and even when they touch on more serious or troubling aspects, Sharon did a great job of weaving in the comedy to keep it light.

The plot looped back on itself perfectly and little bits of information that you had that seemed pointless (like Gil's oatmeal) came back with a funny anecdote later.

I was cautious when the FMC brought up her ADHD wondering if the representation would just be "i'm a little quirky" vibes but it really was filled out nicely without it being her whole personality trait. There was one part in the book where Eleanor was being kept up at night wondering if mini sheep exist the way mini horses do... and while I've never had that thought, it felt so perfectly Ellie. It's been a long time since a FMC hasn't fallen flat to me and the personality that came from Eleanor kept the book going even when Gil wasn't involved.