An easy read from Phoebe MacLeod. Not about doing up a house like I thought!
Alex and her friend move in together at the same time as two male friends move into the flat opposite. You can guess what happens!

From the title I was expecting the plot to revolve around a house that needed diy and fixing up as well as a character that needed help - especially as Alex works as an estate agent.. However, this was the opposite. The plot had three different stories happening at once that didn't really tie together. The writing style is simple but the first person narrative was difficult to get through and made Alex, the main character, unlikeable and flat. The other characters that she interacts with are also plain and flat with very little development and backstory. The novel was predictable and the conflict between Emma and Alex, Thomas and Alex was nothing exciting nor tense. The dialogue between characters was forced and read with a formal manner between two colleagues then friends. What was also strange is the use of swearing and sexual innuendoes, but when anything remotely intimate happens it is a fade to black scene that just infers. This isn't a problem, but the language builds up to having an open discussion but then nothing - hardly common in a romcom.

Alex's relationship with her boyfriend Thomas lacks emotion or any hint of romance, the same with Alex's relationship with her neighbour Callum, who clearly states he doesn't want to be a 'pet project' but is used as one anyway suggesting his regular appearance is unattractive that falls into the stereotype of men who work in IT. The strange element that struck out was how Alex and Callum felt more like brother and sister than opposites attract. Emma and Alex's relationship as best friends was odd and jarring in their dialogue as they seemed as if they didn't actually like each other or immature for their age.

Overall, the novel has a good premise of neighbours falling in love, but there was a lack of scenes to depict the growing chemistry or attraction. I think this would have worked better as a concept if the house was in a poor state and needed work done, or Alex and Callum had moments of forced proximity.

The Fixer Upper is a fun, light-hearted romance written in an easy-to-read style that kept me turning the pages. The interest between the two main characters is a slow burn and I enjoyed the approach of the author in choosing a socially awkward male lead. Humour is provided by Alex’s initial boyfriend, Thomas, who cannot settle on a career. I’d definitely been seeking out further books by Phoebe MacLeod.

-grumpy sunshine
-forced proximity
-romcom

This story story starts out with Alex trying to move into a flat with her best friend Em.
She has a steady boyfriend who is going across the world for a couple of weeks. He is very immature and selfish - I could not stand him! While he was away, they met the other two guys in the flat and the rest is history.

I liked Callum as the MMC overall, He was the typical “grump” in “grumpy sunshine”.

I felt like this started out strong but fell flat for me - I didn’t sense any real chemistry between them! That was what made this a 3 star for me vs a 5.

I did like how things wrapped up and I’m glad she stood her ground with her ex!

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Much too crass for me. I didn't make it past the first chapter. The swear words weren't necessary. Not my type of book.

If you don’t mind that the hero is some alpha guy, this was an enjoyable read. The hero, Calum, is very insecure about his interactions with others, particularly women. But Alex breaks through his barriers and they end up finding out what each has to offer.

This was another book where the heroine’s original boyfriend is such a loser that you can’t imagine why she’s spent several years with him and hasn’t dumped him much earlier than she does in the book. But I guess the author thought that was necessary for the story to progress.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This was perfect and hilarious and romantic. I really love MacLeod's writing - her writing style is so easy to read and they're very nice quick reads.

Aside from the fact that the title, cover and blurb don't suggest the book I read, I have nothing negative to say about it. Alex and Callum are well-realised characters who behave in a recognisably normal way. There is no ridiculous quarrel or ludicrous misunderstanding; instead there's a logically developed plot. If none of this sounds like high praise, then I can only say that you haven't been subjected to as many ludicrously ridiculously unbelievable plots as I have!

Seriously, The Fixer Upper by Pheobe MacLeod was an enjoyable and entertaining way to spend the reading weekend, and I recommend it.

This book was the perfect tonic to a windy stormy weekend here, I found Alex instantly likeable and the funny antics of her job as an estate agent tickled me. Her experience with her friend and flatmate Emma made me remember the ups and downs of sharing a house with friends and I actually loved this unexpected (as not in the blurb) angle of the book. Emma & Alex have a really fun, honest relationship and their banter was very amusing, as was the ways Alex & Emma meet Thomas and Callum. The blossoming friendship with Alex and Callum was something I really enjoyed, I found him really endearing as a character even though he is socially awkward (I definitely picked up strong neurodiverse vibes) but I loved his no-nonsense honesty and how he was very self aware. It's a very light, feelgood read and certainly put a smile on my face .

Two flats four neighbors.

Two fell in love and make chaos in the life of the other two.

It all started with two residential communities and Alex is in a relationship with Thomas, who still lives at home.

Hartwarming friends to lovers not so romantic story.

I love all characters in this story.

Have fun reading!

Some Spoilers!

A fantastic feel good, fast paced read with low drama, definitely the kind of read needed after a heavy read!

This book had me laughing out loud and giggling away at some of the situations and characters, I absolutely love Jack and found his mannerisms brilliant. I found his outbursts hilarious but relatable, he definitely comes across as a dad trying to bring his child up the right way, and I am glad that Thomas was able to reconcile with him in the end.

I love how the romance in this novel is a slow burn trope, and friends to lovers, you can feel it building throughout, with the brooding chemistry, to an absolutely lovely ending and one I was completely there for. The book may have been slight predictable in places, but still a fantastic read that I really enjoyed, completing it in one sitting! Alex as a MC is wonderful and I loved her character, I really felt for her throughout, she was written and developed brilliantly! Emma was a great character too but I honestly preferred Callum as secondary character, he felt like such a relatable and dreamy character, despite being given a slighty stereotypical personality that those in IT are introverts, but I am glad that the friendship with Alex was able to develop his character more.

I always love reading books set within areas I know so for this one to be in Sevenoaks was great, I felt like I could easily bump into these guys on the street. I love Phoebe's work, and this is now book 3 I've read so I cannot wait for the next one!

It was a good book and really enjoyed it all and rooted for this couple to make it. Love it all. read it today you will not be disappointed.

i wanted to love this one, but it was so slow from the beginning and dragged. i didn't connect with the characters, and the overall storyline, while unique, was also a bit confusing. it didn't feel connected and wasn't very enjoyable. however, it was still a fast-paced and easy to read romcom- it just wasn't for me.

This one was the first book I’ve read by this author so let’s start with a synopsis:
as an estate agent,Alex's job is to create happy-ever-afters.It's just a shame she can't work the same magic on her own life. Her long term boyfriend’s a thousand miles away and she has a new friend that’s a grumpy nerdy neighbour … as they get to know each other, Alex starts to wonder if the answer to all her problems might be closer to home than she thinks...

The story had good premises but a thing I would have loved to see more moments with the two main characters together and I felt that their story once they started dating was rushed.

Thank you to Boldwood and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for a honest review.

I found it was a bit difficult to get into this book at first. It doesn't have big plot hooks that sweep you off your feet. No major twists, as you can imagine what's going to happen many chapters in advance.

The characters were a bit off. It was weird to see Alex's relationship to her roommate Emma, one so focused on cleaning, the other basically the opposite.
Or even her relationship to Thomas. You could have predicted a mile away what was going to happen when he decided to go to that college in San Francisco.

I enjoyed having no miscommunication and misunderstandings tropes, I really do hate them, as you probably know. And I found the last part more entertaining than the firs.

Overall, it's a nice book with no pretense to be more than what it is, an enjoyable read with low drama.

Thanks to Boldwood and NetGalley for the ARC.

There was more moments with her ex in the beginning of the book then the actual mmc. The side plots were very strange and felt very juvenile to me. There isn’t a lot of romance in the book and what should be a side plot takes up majority of the book.

I would have loved to see more moments with the two main characters together and felt their story once they started dating was very rushed.

Thank you to Boldwood and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for a honest review.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley

Sexy and fun. Great for Tessa Bailey and Lucy Score fans.

I am unsure why but I struggled to get into this one and the romance just feels lacking for some reason, I usually love Phoebe MacLeod's work so this one is disappointing to me.

thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

so, this is my first book by Phoebe MacLeod, and i don’t think i will be reading any other book by her. the writing wasn’t pleasant, and i couldn’t care less about Thomas and his family or the bff Emma, both related to Alex, the fmc, and subjects that took a lot of the narrative in a bad way. i was hoping that the relationship between Alex and her neighbor could be at least a little nice, but it wasn’t. really, everything was really boring. i am sorry that i couldn’t enjoy this book, but i think that some people might like it – it just wasn’t for me –.
also, what was that p0rn talk????

The Fixer Upper was my first book to read by Phoebe McLeod. While I think it was written well and had interesting character dynamics, I don't know if it flowed how I was hoping it would. The ex boyfriend and best friend I found lacking and almost could have done without. The main female and male character I fully enjoyed.