Mr. Fixer Upper

Gannon King moves to Haven Lake, Pennsylvania to renovate a historic lakeside resort. As the renovation project manager, he must work closely with local building inspector Alice Abbott, who has a reputation for being inflexible with the town's strict codes and regulations. Their professional relationship starts with friction and disagreement over the resort renovation plans. Outside of work, Alice and Gannon keep crossing paths in the small town, forcing them to see different sides of each other beyond their work personas. The story centers on two people with strong principles learning to find middle ground while navigating small-town dynamics and their growing attraction. The renovation project serves as both a point of conflict and a metaphor for the ways people can rebuild and restore what's broken. The novel explores themes of compromise, healing from past wounds, and the balance between preserving tradition and embracing necessary change. Through the central romance, it examines how rigid rules and control can sometimes mask deeper vulnerabilities.

Readers describe Mr. Fixer Upper as a romantic comedy with strong chemistry between leads. The story follows standard romance tropes but delivers satisfying emotional payoff according to many reviews. Readers liked: - Snappy, humorous dialogue - Small town setting details - Development of side characters - Balance of romance and home renovation plotlines - Spicy scenes that fit naturally in the story Common criticisms: - Predictable plot progression - Some found the male lead too perfect/unrealistic - Pacing drags in middle sections - Too much internal monologue Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (29,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (13,000+ ratings) Representative review: "The banter is fantastic and made me laugh out loud multiple times. However, the constant back-and-forth of 'will they won't they' got tedious after a while." - Goodreads reviewer BookBub: 4.4/5 (2,800+ ratings)

Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey A female house flipper and a construction company owner clash and connect while competing in a home renovation reality show.

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey A former baseball player returns to his hometown and forms an unexpected relationship with his best friend's sister while renovating houses.

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez Two people heal from past relationship trauma through music and home repairs in their journey to find love again.

The Simple Wild by K.A. Tucker A city girl moves to rural Alaska and falls for a rugged pilot while fixing up her father's old property.

Beach Read by Emily Henry Two writers with opposite genres swap writing styles and repair an old beach house while discovering their feelings for each other.

🏠 Mr. Fixer Upper is part of Lucy Score's successful Bootleg Springs series, which features interconnected romance stories set in a small West Virginia town. 💝 The book reached #1 on Amazon's Contemporary Romance bestseller list within its first week of release in 2019. 🔨 The renovation theme in the book reflects a massive trend in romance publishing, with "renovation romance" becoming its own popular subgenre following the success of home improvement TV shows. 📚 Lucy Score wrote this book while also working on her Blue Moon series, often writing up to 5,000 words per day to maintain her rapid release schedule. 🌟 The story features a unique twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope by incorporating home renovation competition elements, setting it apart from traditional small-town romances.