Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey

2*

From all appearances (namely, cover design and publisher blurb), this rom-com should be a hit. It features two popular tropes that usually progress from growing romantic relationship into passion: best friend’s little sister grows up and the fake relationship. However, Fix Her Up more closely resembles a tamer 50 Shades of Grey with frequent and ultimately boring sex scenes between a rich, chauvinistic, alpha playboy and an innocent virgin, and further strains plausibility when, following a physically rough deflowering, the couple agree that sex can’t happen again if they’re going to fake date. For washed-up, borderline alcoholic baseball “player” Travis, a good girlfriend will clean up his image, making him an attractive candidate for a sports commentator slot. The reason Georgie, a party clown (by choice) with a business degree, perpetuates the fraud is so she will be taken seriously by her family…and because she’s had a crush on Travis her entire life. The one saving grace is that they both mature by the end, Georgie by taking a stand and proving she can be successful and Travis when he acknowledges his faults, faces his demons, and becomes a better man. Readers who stick with it may root for a happily-ever-after, but, for many, the chauvinism and implausibility of the plot will make this one a hard pass.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.