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Do NOT judge Tessa Bailey’s superbly steamy rom-com Fix Her Up by its cover image of a cartoon couple demurely kissing. I wouldn’t normally read a novel that gives off a cutesy vibe, but, given Bailey’s reputation as a prolific bestselling romance author, and the sexy series title (Hot and Hammered), I decided to take a chance. And I am so very glad that I did.
Major league baseball player Travis Ford moves back to his home town in Long Island, New York after sustaining a career-ending injury. Forced to retire at twenty-eight-years-old, Travis has spiraled into depression and taken to drink. Georgie Castle has had a crush on her older brother Stephen’s best friend, Travis, since they were children. When Georgie learns that Travis is in crisis, she attempts to rouse him out of his funk with her no-nonsense antics and supportive straight talk. Travis is moved by her efforts and decides to take a construction job with the Castle family’s remodeling company.
While Travis struggles to find his place in the world, Georgie seeks a ‘seat at the adult table.’ As the youngest member of the Castle clan, twenty-three-year-old Georgie is often ignored and dismissed by Stephen and older sister Bethany, a situation that isn’t helped by the fact that she works as a children’s party clown. Determined to grow her business into an entertainment company, Georgie trades in her sloppy baseball caps and thrift store jeans for a brand new wardrobe with a sophisticated edge. Her post-makeover transformation attracts the attention of Travis, who recognizes that Georgie is no longer Stephen’s pesky little sister. As his lust for Georgie grows, the notorious lothario vows to steer clear and avoid ruining any friendships.
Resistance proves futile when Travis and Georgie ‘fake date’ each other so that he can vie for a job with a sports TV network, and she can gain the respect commanded by a mature woman. Although they put on a good show for their family, friends, and the paparazzi, pretending to be in love proves easier than they had both feared.
Fix Her Up is (so far) my favorite romance of 2019. The novel features well-drawn protagonists, who are as incredibly likable as they are lovable, and endearing secondary characters that jump off the page and into your heart. (Honorable mention goes to Georgie’s vibrator, Dale! I’ve never before read a romance novel in which an adult toy delivers both pleasure and laughs.)
Bailey delivers a love story that is appropriately paced. No ‘insta-love’ here! The relationship between Travis and Georgie unfolds in stages that impress upon the reader the intimacy of their bond. The author beautifully captures the euphoria of new romance with heartwarming speeches and sweet gestures that are sure to satisfy even the most cynical of romantics.
I was wonderfully surprised by the frequency of good lovin’ and dirty talk in Fix Her Up. The sex scenes, especially the ones I’ve dubbed ‘grand slam sex’ and ‘lusty limo ride’ are deliciously detailed without crossing the line into hardcore erotic romance. Kudos to Bailey on her superior talent for writing titillating prose and naturalistic dialogue that organically shifts from humor to romantic effusion.
To those like myself who are not huge fans of the fake dating/fake relationship trope, I assure you that Bailey gets it right in Fix Her Up. Romance novels that feature fake-outs often become mired in subterfuge, misunderstandings, and secreted feelings that drag on for way too long, and the resulting insanity often taints the credibility of the romance. However, Bailey successfully creates an uncomplicated faux scenario that drives the plot forward within a reasonable time frame and without becoming absurdly deceptive.
Fix Her Up’s B-story is the most compelling that I’ve read in a long while. The ‘Just Us League’ (clever wordplay on DC Comics’ Justice League) is an informal women’s empowerment group formed by sole members Georgie, Bethany, and mutual friend, Rosie. When the neighborhood ladies find out about the group, membership grows exponentially. A source of big laughs, this subplot espouses the importance of women supporting other women to achieve their goals without shaming each other’s choices.
Fix Her Up is an authentic romance with humor, heart, incredible sex, and a refreshing depiction of female friendship. This is a must-read for all romance fans.
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Grade: A
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 10/06/19
Publication Date: 06/2019
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
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I’m about 2/3 through this book and am overall quite enjoying it. The dialogue between the two characters is genuinely funny and sweet, and Georgie is adorable. I just flat out love her and I can see why Travis loves her. I love the way the two characters want the best for each other.
The sex scenes though in this book seem mismatched from the romance at the heart of the book and from the general tone of the story. I think this particular book would work better if the sex scenes had a less prominent role and were less raunchy. And the dirty talk is kind of silly here too.
The sex scenes are definitely reminiscent of her Line of Duty series with Entangled Brazen line.
Just finished this. Good writing in terms of funny banter, but the story overall was just okay for me.
You guys may laugh, but TBH, I could not get past the hero constantly calling the heroine “baby girl”. (Apparently that endearment is a deal-breaker for me, who knew?)
And considering that said “baby girl” is a 23-year-old who is treated like a child by her family and who spends the whole book campaigning to be treated as a grown-up, did the author not think there was some inconsistency there?
I also HATE THE NICKNAMES. This seems to be a ‘thing’ with Ms. Bailey. My first review for AAR was picked by our publisher & it was a Bailey novel! I think I gave it a C maybe? Anyway, in that one the female was often called ‘doll.’ Look, I call my husband babe sometimes. I don’t hate nicknames, but I find myself cringing every time Ms. Bailey abuses one in her novel! And abuse she does!
I think the reader is supposed to think that nicknames like that are a window into the unique relationship the leads have. (My father-in-law used to call me “doll” and it was the cutest thing ever.) I’m not averse to nicknames if the author can sell me on the nicknamee liking the nomenclature.
Ugh, another ‘romance’ with the same horrible sexual standard – he. slut, she virgin. How is this still a thing? At least, the reviewer should give the readers a warning…
For an old trope that appears in forty million romances a year?
I straight up loved this. She’s hilarious, he’s awkward and sweet and sexy & the story and characters are a refreshing summer treat.
I want more! I’ve read a couple of TB’s – Chase Me & one of the Made in Jersey novels…but I liked this one & would love to know about any of her other books that feel tonally similar that our readers recommend. I enjoyed Chase Me and didn’t care for the Jersey story (it was a bit too dark and gritty).
Or, if you have some other contempt that feel similar to this one – I’d like to know about those too!
I think the Girl series is close in tone to this one. Getaway Girl is the first and it’s pretty good but the second one Runaway Girl blew my socks off.
I’m reading and loving this right now!
Great review! I won a Goodreads giveway of this book and am excited for it to arrive. I’ve read a bunch of really positive reviews already.
i always expect heat from Bailey, so i’m not surprised this is a spicy contemp in sheep’s clothing! Sounds like fun!
I’m so disheartened by the trend of romance novels having cute/cartoony/chick-lit-esque illustrated covers. I understand that publishers are trying to appeal to the type of reader who won’t look at a book with a cover featuring a shirtless guy with six-pack abs, but it still feels like false pretenses. I’ve read enough Tessa Bailey to know her books aren’t meant for this type of cutesy cover—she can be funny, but her books tend toward the raucous and super-sexy, with really hot alpha heroes. Now—the cover of Bailey’s HEAT STROKE? Yeah—that’s the Bailey cover type I know and love.
Eh–I dunno. I think men have written books with lots of sex in them forever and not had that aspect of their book flaunted on the cover. Ultimately this is a love story and I think the cover reflects that.
Ooh, definitely not a fan of shirtless male chests and abs on romance covers. I’ll take the cartoon-ish images over them.
This is a fun read. I laughed out loud again and again.