Tanvi's Reviews > Mr. Fixer Upper

“You can’t just drag me away from work because you’re turned on or pissed off. I’m not into this caveman shit. Got it?”
“Got it.” He nodded, grinning. “God, I’m so into you.”

Oh, Lucy Score, you’ve done it again! This book is just as addictive as it is frustrating (in the best possible way). I’d had Mr. Fixer Upper sitting on my TBR for ages, but I didn’t give it much thought at first. I figured if it ended up being a dud, I’d just shrug and move on. Well, spoiler alert: it was anything but a dud. In fact, it was completely unputdownable! I found myself so wrapped up in the story, I had a hard time putting it down, even when I knew I should’ve been doing other things. Classic Lucy Score—she’s obnoxiously good at making you keep turning the pages.

On the set of Kings of Construction, it’s a constant tug-of-war between Gannon King, the brooding, tool-wielding heartthrob, and Paige St. James, the field producer who’s got zero time for his drama.

Gannon, the star of the show, has a serious case of camera-phobia. He'd rather be knee-deep in drywall dust than in front of a lens. Meanwhile, Paige’s job is to make sure everything runs smoothly, but managing a temperamental star who acts like he’d rather be anywhere else is giving her a major headache.

But Gannon’s got a mission: get under Paige’s skin. Whether it’s a snarky comment or a roll of his eyes, he’s determined to get a reaction out of her. What he doesn’t expect, though, is that Paige is basically a master of keeping her cool. She’s calm, collected, and totally immune to his grumpy charm.

Still, the more they work together on renovations—long days, tough jobs, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes drama—the more Gannon starts to notice Paige in a way he didn’t before. She’s not just the no-nonsense producer with the killer side-eye; she’s tough, smart, and—okay, fine—pretty cute in that “Princess” t-shirt she wears when she’s not ordering him around.

And when Gannon overhears Paige defending him and his twin sister to a producer trying to milk their lives for ratings? Well, that’s when the whole “ice queen” act starts to crack. Turns out, Paige actually cares about the work, the people, and the stories—things Gannon didn’t think anyone in the industry cared about.

As the season goes on, the chemistry between them is undeniable. He’s starting to fall for her, and it’s not just because of her killer work ethic. It’s her laugh. Her stubbornness. The way she challenges him without backing down. Gannon might not have expected it, but he’s definitely falling for her.

“I’m not interested in being interested in you,” she said, feeling panic slick through her stomach.
“That’s different from not being interested,” Gannon observed.

But Paige’s not about to fall for the famous, heartthrob contractor—especially not when there’s a job on the line. No matter how much he looks at her with those smoldering eyes. She’s seen this movie before.

Still, as the season draws to a close, things aren’t as clear-cut as either of them hoped. Gannon realizes he’s been pushing her buttons because he didn’t want to admit how much he cares. And Paige? Well, she can only resist for so long. But trust isn’t so easy when everything's built on shaky ground.

She shouldn’t have trusted him.
He never should have let her go.
But sometimes, the hardest things are the most worth fighting for.

It was part of what he loved about her. Paige was never just out for Paige. She was a team captain ready to drag the rest of her team into the end zone for a victory. He could count on her, and he hoped she’d learn that she could count on him too.

This is my first Lucy Score book that I absolutely loved! The characters are so well-developed, and their actions are totally understandable—everything they do makes perfect sense given their personalities and past experiences. The setting, a renovation TV show, is a refreshing twist, and it really brings the story to life. Gannon and Paige are a couple like no other. Gannon, the grumpy, brooding hero, is one of those characters you can’t help but fall for. He’s tough on the outside but surprisingly tender underneath. What I love most about him is how he owns his mistakes and genuinely works to fix them. He’s also the kind of guy who knows what he wants—and in this case, it’s Paige.

“Why did you take Marcus’s card?” Paige asked suddenly.
Gannon’s lips quirked. “Because I’m interested.”
“In Marcus?”
“In you, Paige. I’m interested in you.”

He falls in love first and doesn't shy away from it. Gannon is constantly trying to convince Paige that they have a future together, even when things are tough. He truly believes in happy endings and is determined to make that happen with her.

“I like you, Paige.”
She sipped and swallowed hard. “I tolerate you, Gannon.”

Paige, on the other hand, is not your typical swooning heroine. Raised by a mother who firmly believed that a career should always come first (and that no man should ever get in the way of that), Paige has always been laser-focused on her goals. Relationships? She figures they’re just distractions—time-consuming, energy-draining black holes that would steal away her precious work hours. Honestly, I found her so relatable because I’ve always felt the same way. I’ve been the person who avoids relationships at all costs, convinced they’d just become baggage I don’t have the time or energy for. And Paige? She’s right there with me, fully believing that love could turn into an inconvenient, emotional mess.

“You’re not going to cry, are you?” he asked gruffly.
Her lips curved. “No.”
“Good. Save it for when they’re done and burnt and you still have to eat them or you’ll hurt my feelings.”

And then there’s Gannon. Oh, Gannon. He shows up and immediately starts challenging everything she’s built her life around. He makes her feel things that are way out of her comfort zone, and she’s not sure if she’s ready to handle the emotional chaos that comes with him. The man might be irresistible, but he also brings out a whirlwind of feelings that make her want to retreat into the safety of her to-do list.

She snorted. “Are you telling me you’ve been in a relationship with every woman you’ve had sex with?”
“Of course not. I’m telling you we were in a relationship.”
“Well, it couldn’t have been a very good one if I had no idea about it.”

Still, as much as Paige tries to keep her distance, Gannon is relentless. He doesn’t just let her run away from her feelings—oh no, he’s on a mission to conquer her worries, one smoldering glance and earnest gesture at a time. And try as she might to keep her cool, it’s clear that he’s making it awfully hard to keep pretending she’s immune to him.

As I mentioned before, the characters in this book are just fantastic! The main plot is solid, but the side characters really bring it all together, especially Catalina and Becca. Catalina, Paige’s best friend, is a total gem, and I can’t wait for her story in the next book (she’s the FMC in that one!). The dynamic between Catalina and Paige is everything—supportive, no-nonsense, and full of heart. Their friendship is so authentic and relatable, and it added such a warm touch to the story.

And then there’s Becca—Paige’s roommate and unofficial life coach. This girl is hilarious! When Gannon is at a total loss after Paige drops the "I can’t do this" bomb on him (after he says those three little words, of course), Becca swoops in with her golden advice. Becca’s tips are just what he needs to keep things from going completely off the rails—and I couldn’t stop laughing. She’s the perfect mix of tough love and humor, and honestly, I could read a whole book just about her.

Okay, so here's the deal—overall, this book is amazing. But, and I can’t sugarcoat this, as much as Lucy Score is known for pulling off those big, swoon-worthy “grand gestures,” I have to admit… the final chapter? Not for me. It went a little too over the top. I get that it was supposed to be this big, heartfelt moment, but honestly, it felt like a bit much. It was almost cringe-worthy, and I could have totally done without that last chapter.

For me, the book could’ve been trimmed down by about 50 pages. Lucy Score is known for her longer books, and while I didn’t hate it (aside from that one chapter), I think it would’ve had even more impact without dragging on quite so much at the end. That said, the rest of the book was SO GOOD that I’m still giving it a solid 4.5 stars. It was just THAT good overall! So, even though I wasn’t a fan of the grand gesture, it didn’t take away from the amazing story I enjoyed. Just… maybe next time, skip the extra fluff in the final stretch.

I’d recommend Mr. Fixer Upper to anyone who loves a slow-burn romance with plenty of tension, humor, and lots of heart. If you're a fan of grumpy heroes who fall hard and fast (Gannon is the ultimate brooding but lovable guy), and if you enjoy strong, relatable heroines who aren't afraid to hold their ground, then this is absolutely the book for you.

So, grab a cozy blanket, maybe a cup of coffee or wine, and settle in for a book that will leave you smiling (except for that one grand gesture chapter, which we can all just pretend didn’t happen). It’s a fun, heartwarming read that will make you believe in love, flaws and all!