After an injury ends Travis Ford’s major league baseball career, he returns home to start over. He just wants to hammer out his frustrations at his new construction gig and forget all about his glory days. But he can’t even walk through town without someone recapping his greatest hits. Or making a joke about his… bat. And then there’s Georgie, his buddy’s little sister, who is definitely not a kid anymore.
Georgette Castle has crushed on her older brother’s best friend for years. The grumpy, bear of a man working for her family’s house flipping business is a far cry from the charming sports star she used to know. But a moody scowl doesn’t scare her and Georgie’s determined to show Travis he’s more than a pretty face and a batting average, even if it means putting her feelings aside to be “just friends.”
Travis wants to brood in peace. But the girl he used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman who makes him feel whole again. And he wants her. So damn bad. Except Georgie’s off limits and he knows he can’t give her what she deserves. But she’s becoming the air he breathes and Travis can’t stay away, no matter how hard he tries…
my thoughts:
For a while, I had been avoiding straightforward romance novels. After overindulging in them, I grew tired and began to genuinely dislike the genre. However, this past weekend, I found myself craving something lighthearted and fun—and Fix Her Up turned out to be the perfect choice. I’m happy to say it completely delivered.
One reason I had lost interest in romance was the dialogue in some of the popular contemporary titles. Let’s be honest—most men don’t speak the way they’re often portrayed in these books. I simply couldn’t endure another novel filled with cheesy, unrealistic lines. That’s why I appreciated Fix Her Up so much. While Travis and Georgie had incredible chemistry and plenty of adorable moments, their conversations always felt genuine. There was a bit of explicit talk here and there, but overall, the dialogue felt authentic, and I had very few complaints about the realism of their relationship.
I absolutely adored Georgie and her quirky personality. She was unconventional, but fully aware of it—and she embraced herself completely. She remained confident in who she was, regardless of how others treated her. And speaking of others, her family often got on my nerves. They constantly looked down on her, mainly because of her career choice. Sure, being a children’s party clown might not be everyone’s dream job, but Georgie loved it and made a living doing what she enjoyed. It was frustrating to see her family and friends dismiss her happiness. I had mixed feelings about her family—they had their good moments, but also their disappointing ones. The same went for Travis. He could be a real jerk at times, though it rarely felt intentional. Still, that didn’t make his behavior okay.
The plot was somewhat predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable. There was enough going on to keep me engaged, and the book did a nice job setting up characters and storylines for the next installment.
Overall, Fix Her Up stands out as one of the better romance novels I’ve read in recent years. If you’re looking for a quick, uplifting read that’ll leave you smiling, this might be the one for you. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Tessa Bailey!
“We’re not about cutting people out of our lives. We’re about refusing to accept anything less than what we deserve. About realizing that we’re all important here despite mistakes or bad relationships or lackluster careers.”
– Tessa Bailey, Fix Her Up
What Others Are Saying About Fix Her Up:
Star-Crossed Book Blog: “This book is NOT cutesy and fluffy and tame. This book is emotional, and filthy, and addicting.”
Love in Panels: “Fix Her Up is a funny, surprisingly steamy romance between a literal clown (she does birthday parties) and her brother’s best friend.”