What a beautifully imaginative tale. I absolutely loved how slowly the world unravelled, as the truth behind the relationship of the two characters did too. Bizarre in the most hauntingly creative way - it was just enough to keep you hooked into the story without making it hard to follow. I didn't expect the theme of horror to be present throughout but it was woven into the writing in a glorious juxtaposition to the initial romance. I felt every single shift in the surrealist imagery used and it left so much to interpretation which kept me re-reading passages and wondering the meanings of things as I read through. I really enjoyed the length of this book as it perfectly complemented the surrealism - I feel that any longer and it would've become tangled. I do think that it might not be a book that everyone picks up and enjoys as much as I did as there are some elements of uncertainty and questioning but for me, it was really gripping.

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. It was exactly the length it needed to be, and explored deep into the central relationship even in that short time. The horror elements wound seamlessly into the narrative; reading this has made me want to read more queer horror. Reminded me a lot of Annihilation, the way everything you think you know about each reality is brought into question again and again.

What starts as a hauntingly intimate story of exes reuniting quickly unravels into something much darker, more imaginative, and unforgettable. I Can Fix Her by Rae Wilde is a brilliantly twisted queer short story told over the course of seven days—except the week never truly ends.

Johnny (she/her) runs into her ex, Alice (she/her), at a bar on Monday. What follows is a slow, eerie descent through rekindled passion, toxic promises, and a surreal unraveling of reality. Each day reveals more about their fractured connection and the pain still lingering between them. But underneath the surface, there’s something deeply off. The narrative twists and shifts, blurring the lines between love and obsession, memory and illusion. By the end, nothing is what it seemed—and the truth hits like a punch to the gut.

Rae Wilde’s writing is cinematic and vivid, every detail so precise it feels like watching a film unfold. The emotional manipulation, the tension, the claustrophobic intensity—it’s all laid bare with stunning prose and chilling revelations. Wilde lures the reader into sympathy and then slowly turns the mirror back on us, forcing a reconsideration of every moment that came before.

A gripping, smart, and disturbing piece of queer fiction that lingers long after the final page.

CW: Stalking, Toxic Relationships, Shifting Realities

This novella is smartly written and, for me, the right length and depth. It is broken into days, from Monday to Sunday. Within these 7 days, main character Johnny reunites with her ex, Alice, who has returned from Germany. With each day, something—or many somethings—change.

I think the surreal imagery in the book—which becomes more surreal with each passing “day”—will be hit or miss. There is a nightmare-ish quality to it, but not of the particularly scary variety. It’s more unsettling than scary.

The real horror in the book, for me, is that none of it may be “real.” THAT makes the entire novella chilling, from beginning to end—and re-reading it again, with new knowledge, makes it more so. Likewise, that Johnny is the abusive, toxic person in the relationship (and never realizes it) is scarier than the actual imagery used.

On Monday, Johnny follows Alice to a bar, they go home together. This is her second chance to make Alice stay, change, and fall in love again with Johnny. But things spiral in Alice's apartment as the week goes by.

Wow, what a journey! I did not know what to expect from this novella, as I didn't read the synopsis beforehand. I just knew it was a lesbian horror, but that was it. The story truly spiralled to a place I wasn't expecting, and as someone who enjoys metaphysical stories and narratives a lot, this was just up my ally!

The writing is a little rough, falling back on cliche's and sentences that reads a little too "wattpad" for my taste. It didn't bother me as much as I would have expected since it worked with the story itself, and the length of the novel. I would have probably given this book up to a 4.5 star rating if the writing felt more creative and distinct.

It was a page-turning, read filled with themes that dug deep and dark, told through a horrifying, warping reality. The way the entirety of the story and world revolved around Johnny's emotional attachment for Alice, was so exciting to read. The feelings evoked while reading will stay with me for quite a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and CLASH books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Powerful stuff, this novel utilises absurdism and paranormal weirdness in such a visceral way. I was uncomfortable all the way through but in the best way.

There are things I enjoyed about this book which include: the lgbtq+ representation, the underlying meaning of the story detailing the cycle of toxic relationships and abuse, and how difficult it is to leave those relationships. That being said, I found the story a bit too over the top when dealing with such a heavy undertone. The writing is perfectly fine, I wish it had dealt more with the horror side of things rather than fantastical creations. It felt a bit too much and too rushed. I see what the author was trying to accomplish, but for me personally, it just didn't quite reach the mark. I feel as though this is a book that will reach its particular niche and the people within that niche will absolutely love it. It just wasn't for me. I would read more from this author though as I do like their style of writing.

Thank you to Clash books and Netgalley for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was not much like This Is How You Lose the Tome War, but it was still a wacky fun book on possessiveness and obsession. It went pretty much how I expected in terms of absurdism. Not necessarily my cup of tea but still decent

Oh this book was interesting! I was confused as to what was happening at first, but I really liked the direction this took. It really reminded me of a cross between The Butterfly Effect and Love Lies Bleeding. There was some great gory surreal elements and the relationship seemed devastatingly real.

I really liked how this book went hard on the weird horror, but it was too short for me to develop any kind of closeness to either Johnny or Alice. Both of them read like stock characters, which is really unfortunate.

I see other reviewers mention that this is a horror manifestation of a toxic relationship, which is a really cool concept. But it felt like the horror came out of nowhere and then spiraled out of control that I forgot that this was supposed to be about an unhealthy, obsessive relationship.

While the horror elements were cool and creepy, I just wish the message had more of an impact on me.

Thank you to CLASH Books, Edelweiss, and NetGalley for this arc.

Gorgeous, disturbing novella that used paranormal and otherworldly imagery to show the cycle of abuse and the way people can end up being stuck in them. Will update this with my official review in the future.

3.5
I'm really not sure how to rate this book. Its not what I usually read. This book wasn't for me but I do see its appeal and I can see people really liking this book. I'm also just realizing that novellas don't usually work for me.
What I liked:
-The representation of toxic/abusive relationship and the cycle that keeps people in them
-The books willingness to push boundaries and venture into the absurd and the gruesome
What I didn't like:
-The prose felt over-indulgent sometimes.
-I got a little lost in some of the absurdity. I feel like it was done for symbolic reasons but I think I just didn't understand it.

I’ll be honest here… I have no idea what the hell I just read. The writing itself was intriguing and poetic enough for me to want to keep reading (this is where the 2 stars come in) but I truly don’t know what… that… was? I kept waiting for something to click, for some bigger underlying message to be revealed, but for me at least, it didn’t really happen. It was just a bizarre story about a toxic couple and the hell people put themselves through to be with someone they want… mixed with things like murder, dogs turning into sea creatures, and a lot of other weird shit. Maybe it was just too cerebral for my pea brain to comprehend, I don’t know, but if someone reads this and wants to try to better explain it to me, be my guest… give it your best shot. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I definitely think there are people who love this sort of book and will in turn enjoy I Can Fix Her, but I’m a romance and contemporary fiction lover at heart and this fever dream was just not my cup of tea.
💬Tropes: Sapphic, Existential Horror, Novella

Johnny is thrilled to spot her ex, Alice, at a small speakeasy one night—though less thrilled that Alice is with another woman. However, when Alice eagerly invites Johnny back to her apartment, Johnny is convinced they can make it work this time. They’ll change for each other. They’ll be better for each other.

But when Alice agrees that she can change, Johnny isn't prepared for the complete shift in reality that awaits her. The next morning, Johnny wakes up to a world where everything feels dreamlike and boundaries have dissolved. Although her time with Alice feels new and strange, a nagging sense of déjà vu creeps in, and a sense of dread grows as Johnny realises the world she knows is slipping away. Everything is changing, but can Johnny truly fix Alice and find the love she craves?

What a ride! I Can Fix Her captures the chaos of a nightmare in a way few books do, making it a thrilling experience for readers who enjoy unconventional, mind-bending storylines. The book intensifies with each chapter, and while it will appeal to those intrigued by the unknown, it may overwhelm those who dislike confusion or experimental plots. Fortunately, the ending offers a satisfying resolution, something often lacking in stories like this.

Both Johnny and Alice are deeply flawed and unlikeable, but by the end, I found myself empathising with both, which was a very surprising development, so kudos to Wilde for that impeccable character development. Their tragic relationship, and the idea that anyone can—or should—be "fixed," is heartbreaking and thought-provoking. It’s an anti-love story wrapped in a bleak hopefulness, with characters that can't let go of a doomed relationship.

Final Verdict: I Can Fix Her is a nightmare of a book that pulls you in, compelling you to finish in one sitting—and then dive back in to uncover the clues you missed. If you’re looking for similar déjà vu vibes, try Coup de Grace by Sofia Ajram, or Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin for another feverish tale.

Thank you to #netgalley and Clash Books for an advanced copy of I Can Fix Her.

This book is a gut punch for anyone that has been in a toxic relationship. Rae Wilde goes right for the heart and the throat with this short but emotionally resonant novella that really gets to what it feels like to be hopelessly in love with someone you know will always end up hurting you.

Johnny misses her ex, Alice. That’s not so strange. When she runs into her by chance at a bar, their awkward reunion, also not so strange. But then Alice invites her back to her place, and Johnny accepts, and again, their night spent together and the decision to try their relationship all over again? Completely believable. No strangeness detected. But then she wakes up in the morning, and Alice has a completely different hair style, and her tiny little yappy dog? Yeah, he’s a giant beefy aggressive boy now. AND WE HAVE REACHED STRANGE. Alice and Johnny spend a week together in total, and every day more and more strange things happen, turning Johnny’s life into a bizarre and increasingly violent dream with seemingly no escape. And worse of all, it seems like Johnny is more afraid of letting go of Alice than the terrifying things that are seeping into her reality as she keeps her stranglehold on this relationship.

And that’s the thing about Johnny and Alice. They absolutely should not try again. Johnny is possessive and obsessed with the concept of a relationship with Alice, but doesn’t really love Alice herself. Meanwhile, Alice is selfish and doesn’t truly love anyone or anything but herself. With their powers combined, they’ve created the single most toxic relationship possible, and neither one seems willing to let it go. Even as the relationship escalates to violent, even deadly levels of surrealism, and letting go is the only way out.

I Can Fix Her was a captivating novella, detailing the hidden depth of a toxic relationship between two women in the fallout of a messy breakup. The story was interesting, surreal, but still relatable. The story unraveled at a steady pace, with good timing, and engaging sequences. The horror of Johnny’s situation creeps on slowly, and the ending was somewhat unexpected but again, relatable. I’d recommend giving this a quick read just for the messaging alone, that in the end, in fact, you probably can’t fix her.

Weird, Unnerving, Crazy and Brilliant! 100% not what I was expecting after the first chapter but each day growing more and more strange was amazing!

I was confused at the beginning, but the story became exciting and very in the end. I'd love to read more from the author.

Rae Wilde's "I Can Fix Her" is an extremely bizarre sapphic horror novella about a relationship collapsing again and again, a madness of two resulting in a sort of shared psychosis (and this is to put it mildly). The loop is both mental and metaphysical, centered on toxicity, the persistence of romantic delusions through time, and the iteration of mistakes. It treats of rather sick beliefs about love and the (im)possiblity of change, within the context of a story told in a somewhat thriller format. It reminded me a lot of the way Eric LaRocca portrays queer relationships, but Wilde rests more on plot twists rather than situational grotesqueries. The writing is trippy, weird, and choppy; the imagery vivid but occasionally nightmarish. I'd say that it's essentially a grim morality tale about obsession, without any catharsis or redemption. I recommend it for the ending, which I found insightful and realistic.

In I Can Fix Her, we follow Johnny and Alice, two exes who bump into each other at a bar after Alice returns from Germany, Somehow Johnny ends up back at Alice's apartment, and the realms of logic start to fall down in wakes of their obsession for each other.

This was a delightfully weird little novella that doesn't bother following convention and instead does what it wants to do when it wants to do it. The writing was a pleasant surprise, since I don't always expect books of this size to be as well written as this one is. I absolutely plan on reading more from this author in the future, and I never would have found this book had it not been for Netgalley.

Without saying much since it is so short, if you've enjoyed books like Finna by Nino Cipri and like a good old Groundhog Day premise, I think this may be for you.