Fix Her Up

Georgette "Georgie" Castle works as a children's party clown in Port Jefferson, New York, living in the shadow of her successful real estate developer family. When former Major League baseball player Travis Ford returns to their hometown after an injury ends his career, Georgie proposes they help each other rebuild their images through a fake relationship. Travis needs to transform his reputation from playboy athlete to serious sports commentator, while Georgie wants to shed her reputation as the family baby and establish herself as a legitimate businesswoman. Their pretend romance quickly becomes complicated as they navigate family expectations, career ambitions, and their growing attraction. The story takes place against the backdrop of a small-town renovation project, combining elements of family dynamics, career reinvention, and romance. The novel explores the tension between public perception and authentic identity. This contemporary romance examines themes of personal growth, self-worth, and the courage to pursue dreams despite others' expectations. The narrative challenges assumptions about family roles and second chances.

Readers see Fix Her Up as a spicy rom-com that leans heavily into tropes like fake dating and age gaps. Liked: - Strong chemistry between leads - Mix of humor and steam - Character growth throughout story - Supporting cast/family dynamics - Construction/renovation details - Sex-positive themes Disliked: - Baby talk/childish nicknames - Clown profession feels unrealistic - Male lead's possessiveness - Female lead described as too immature - Explicit scenes too frequent for some Reader quotes: "The spice level goes from 0 to 100 real quick" - Goodreads "Couldn't get past the 'Butterscup' and baby voice" - Amazon "Travis and Georgie's banter made the book" - BookTok review Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (198,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (9,400+ ratings) StoryGraph: 3.75/5 Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (900+ ratings)

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🔧 Tessa Bailey wrote Fix Her Up in just six weeks, which is remarkably fast for a full-length romance novel. 💝 The book sparked a trend in romance novels featuring home renovation themes, leading to what some call the "toolbelt hero" subgenre. 🏠 The Port Jefferson setting is based on a real Long Island town, where the author spent time researching local architecture and community dynamics. 👔 The male protagonist's career as a former MLB player was inspired by Bailey's fascination with sports retirement stories and athletes' struggles to reinvent themselves. 🎭 The heroine's profession as a clown was a deliberate choice to challenge romance novel stereotypes and explore the contrast between public perception and private identity.