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Fix You #1
Fix You
When Kelly Reynolds’s husband died, he left her—the awkward, cautious one—to raise their two young boys. She’s pieced herself back together, barely. Now she takes refuge in her routine: running her kids around and running the trails near her Idaho home.
Two years after her husband’s death, a chance encounter on a run brings Andrew into her life. But Andrew is Andy Pettigrew, the Andy Pettigrew, famous actor. Kelly hates risk, and a love affair with Andrew is certainly tempting fate. She doesn’t fit into his Hollywood world. She doesn’t own a pair of Louboutins, and she couldn’t walk five paces in them if she did. Andrew oozes cool. She reeks of dork.
But despite this, they click. It may be inexplicable, but it works. However, it’s also becoming clear that Andrew struggles with the pressures of his fame. Kelly’s hold on a so-called normal life is already tenuous, and as much as she might want to indulge the fantasy, she doesn’t know how either of them is supposed to cope with stalkerazzi and tweet-happy fans with camera phones. She and Andrew both have secrets that seem impossible to keep.
Beck Anderson’s witty, engaging writing yields an emotional tale of love, loss, and all the little things that make up a life. In the end, what is it that really holds us together? Kelly must decide if love can fix two people who might be broken beyond repair.
Two years after her husband’s death, a chance encounter on a run brings Andrew into her life. But Andrew is Andy Pettigrew, the Andy Pettigrew, famous actor. Kelly hates risk, and a love affair with Andrew is certainly tempting fate. She doesn’t fit into his Hollywood world. She doesn’t own a pair of Louboutins, and she couldn’t walk five paces in them if she did. Andrew oozes cool. She reeks of dork.
But despite this, they click. It may be inexplicable, but it works. However, it’s also becoming clear that Andrew struggles with the pressures of his fame. Kelly’s hold on a so-called normal life is already tenuous, and as much as she might want to indulge the fantasy, she doesn’t know how either of them is supposed to cope with stalkerazzi and tweet-happy fans with camera phones. She and Andrew both have secrets that seem impossible to keep.
Beck Anderson’s witty, engaging writing yields an emotional tale of love, loss, and all the little things that make up a life. In the end, what is it that really holds us together? Kelly must decide if love can fix two people who might be broken beyond repair.
258 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2013
23 people are currently reading
802 people want to read
About the author
Beck Anderson
6 books233 followersBeck Anderson writes about perfectly imperfect people. She is a firm believer in love and its power to transform. She also believes firmly in naps and procrastination.
Beck is usually found chasing after her husband and youngest son, who are often out mountain biking, or cheering on her oldest son, a competitive figure skater.
She is a fan of: all dogs (even eighty-pound chewers of aglets), paddle boarding on Lake Tahoe, hiking the foothills of Idaho, and eavesdropping in neighborhood coffee shops (you've been warned).
Learn more at authorbeck.com.
Beck is usually found chasing after her husband and youngest son, who are often out mountain biking, or cheering on her oldest son, a competitive figure skater.
She is a fan of: all dogs (even eighty-pound chewers of aglets), paddle boarding on Lake Tahoe, hiking the foothills of Idaho, and eavesdropping in neighborhood coffee shops (you've been warned).
Learn more at authorbeck.com.
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March 1, 2015
4.5 - "I can't fix you, and you can't fix me." Stars!
I went into Fix You expecting one thing, and came away having had delivered up something totally different. Let's face it the famous face/unknown entity trope has been done to death. But like all those other recycled to death tropes, as long as it is well written and keeps me interested I don't particularly care.
When you start this book you immediately assume that the Fix part of the title relates to Kelly, a young widowed mother to two boys, trying to pick her life up two years on from the loss of her husband...
"Some things hurt to remember."
Some days are better than others, but bone-crushing depression is still only a heart-beat away from incapacitating her on any given day. No rhyme or reasoning to it, a memory, a smell, a random occurrence and Kelly is right back to where she was right after the death of her husband. This is where Andrew Pettigrew steps in, after a random jog sets off a reaction, that produces an impromptu melt down...
Younger guy 'famous' no less and a slightly different take on the usual themes in a story like this, made me forget I was reading for a while and just enjoy. I started the book with the expectations of a light albeit, tad emotional read of a woman getting back onto her feet with the help of the current 'star of the moment', and what I got was something completely out of the ordinary.
But I think what makes this book so special is I didn't really see it coming, the 'Fixing' is something that as the book progresses kind of turns on it's head the perceived weak become the strong, whilst the believed to be strong begin to show their weaknesses.
"Don't look for reasons why this shouldn't be, or why it shouldn't work."
I think we sometimes click with a book for no apparent reason. I certainly did with Fix You, although I have to say that Beck Anderson has a beautiful writing style, she could of gone for the 'woe is me' approach in relation to the issues the H/h are dealing with throughout the story, not to mention full on drama/angst overload, but she didn't she focused on other aspects of the story as a whole; grief, healing, your children, your family, and essentially accepting that it is ok to move on.
Sometimes the reward is worth the risk.
This book took me by surprise, the author will now be someone I keep an eye out for in relation to new releases. I look forward to reading more by her in the future, this is a book you certainly want too add to your 'TBR'.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I went into Fix You expecting one thing, and came away having had delivered up something totally different. Let's face it the famous face/unknown entity trope has been done to death. But like all those other recycled to death tropes, as long as it is well written and keeps me interested I don't particularly care.
When you start this book you immediately assume that the Fix part of the title relates to Kelly, a young widowed mother to two boys, trying to pick her life up two years on from the loss of her husband...
"Some things hurt to remember."
Some days are better than others, but bone-crushing depression is still only a heart-beat away from incapacitating her on any given day. No rhyme or reasoning to it, a memory, a smell, a random occurrence and Kelly is right back to where she was right after the death of her husband. This is where Andrew Pettigrew steps in, after a random jog sets off a reaction, that produces an impromptu melt down...
Younger guy 'famous' no less and a slightly different take on the usual themes in a story like this, made me forget I was reading for a while and just enjoy. I started the book with the expectations of a light albeit, tad emotional read of a woman getting back onto her feet with the help of the current 'star of the moment', and what I got was something completely out of the ordinary.
But I think what makes this book so special is I didn't really see it coming, the 'Fixing' is something that as the book progresses kind of turns on it's head the perceived weak become the strong, whilst the believed to be strong begin to show their weaknesses.
"Don't look for reasons why this shouldn't be, or why it shouldn't work."
I think we sometimes click with a book for no apparent reason. I certainly did with Fix You, although I have to say that Beck Anderson has a beautiful writing style, she could of gone for the 'woe is me' approach in relation to the issues the H/h are dealing with throughout the story, not to mention full on drama/angst overload, but she didn't she focused on other aspects of the story as a whole; grief, healing, your children, your family, and essentially accepting that it is ok to move on.
Sometimes the reward is worth the risk.
This book took me by surprise, the author will now be someone I keep an eye out for in relation to new releases. I look forward to reading more by her in the future, this is a book you certainly want too add to your 'TBR'.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
September 14, 2013
I’m not one for romance novels. I don’t want to escape into a world of the clearly impossible, be wooed by cheesy pickup lines, and read about a relationship that is so passionate it borders on violence. There’s just too much disappointment and fodder for fun-poking in that.
But I loved, Fix You. Maybe because I walked away from it affirmed that people can’t “fix” one another. Maybe because the protagonist is vulnerable in a way that doesn’t make me gag. Maybe because there was so much about it that would make this great book into a great movie. Maybe because this unlikely circumstance is really more likely than we would think.
Maybe all of those reasons put together, but I’m certain that one reason I loved Fix You is that I haven’t stopped thinking about the characters since I finished reading it. I keep scouring the Internet for some indication that there might be a sequel. Come on, Beck Anderson! Give us a sequel!
But I loved, Fix You. Maybe because I walked away from it affirmed that people can’t “fix” one another. Maybe because the protagonist is vulnerable in a way that doesn’t make me gag. Maybe because there was so much about it that would make this great book into a great movie. Maybe because this unlikely circumstance is really more likely than we would think.
Maybe all of those reasons put together, but I’m certain that one reason I loved Fix You is that I haven’t stopped thinking about the characters since I finished reading it. I keep scouring the Internet for some indication that there might be a sequel. Come on, Beck Anderson! Give us a sequel!
March 14, 2021
A widow with two young kids and a movie stars fall in love, and their both goes through some hardships and secrets. It wasn't bad but I didn't feel the connection between these two and I felt like they could have been more supportive with each other. But it was a decent romance
September 28, 2015
2/9 - This didn't work for me. The writing was fine, but the connection between Andy and Kelly was more friends than lovers. I felt like Andy was too immature for Kelly - deciding on a whim that he didn't want to go skiing with friends as planned and instead calling Kelly to come and pick him up from the airport, without any kind of warning. What if she'd had something to do? What if the boys had afternoon activities that she needed to drive them to? You can't just turn up and expect a single mother to entertain you without prior notice.
I hated that Andy smoked and can't believe that Kelly could put up with it. We're not told exactly what Kelly's husband died of but it certainly sounded like some kind of cancer, possibly even lung cancer considering his first symptom was breathlessness. My grandma died from complications of bone cancer (when her bones began to degrade they released calcium into her bloodstream which poisoned her), but she was 80, it's not like the cancer took her early (which it could have, she'd already survived a decade with bone cancer, had a double mastectomy and complete hysterectomy due to cancer being found in both her breasts and ovaries). Grandma was already at the end of her life, but I can't imagine watching someone I loved die of cancer long before their time (I'm going with cancer as his cause of death) and then being around a smoker. I'd constantly want to scream at them that my father/brother/best friend/whoever died of cancer and that I can't be around someone who is voluntarily sucking in air of cancer, like they want to die of cancer.
I think Kelly and Andy would do better as running buddies than lovers. I felt like they had nothing in common, except the running. I have so many more interesting books to read that I just couldn't continue with a passionless couple like these two. I gave up at page 80. I won't be reading the sequel, if I can help it.
PopSugar 2015 Reading Challenge: A Book that Made You Cry
I hated that Andy smoked and can't believe that Kelly could put up with it. We're not told exactly what Kelly's husband died of but it certainly sounded like some kind of cancer, possibly even lung cancer considering his first symptom was breathlessness. My grandma died from complications of bone cancer (when her bones began to degrade they released calcium into her bloodstream which poisoned her), but she was 80, it's not like the cancer took her early (which it could have, she'd already survived a decade with bone cancer, had a double mastectomy and complete hysterectomy due to cancer being found in both her breasts and ovaries). Grandma was already at the end of her life, but I can't imagine watching someone I loved die of cancer long before their time (I'm going with cancer as his cause of death) and then being around a smoker. I'd constantly want to scream at them that my father/brother/best friend/whoever died of cancer and that I can't be around someone who is voluntarily sucking in air of cancer, like they want to die of cancer.
I think Kelly and Andy would do better as running buddies than lovers. I felt like they had nothing in common, except the running. I have so many more interesting books to read that I just couldn't continue with a passionless couple like these two. I gave up at page 80. I won't be reading the sequel, if I can help it.
PopSugar 2015 Reading Challenge: A Book that Made You Cry
May 3, 2015
3.5 Stars
This is my opinion and what I felt worked and did not work for me.
I really liked this story and was enjoying it a lot until about 75%. I love these type of stories...regular woman falls in love with a famous and hot actor.
I usually do not care for stories where the heroine pines, but the author did an AMAZING job helping me understand Kelly's pain over losing her husband and then being open to Andrew. Excellent job with that!!!
I loved how we were introduced to Andrew immediately. The story did not drag. I loved that Kelly did not brag the minute she met the famous and hot actor, Andy Pettigrew. I liked how she kept their "relationship" a secret. I loved that Kelly's kids loved Andrew. They were not spoiled brats at all!! Her boys were amazing.
Kelly loses her husband and then two years later meets the famous Andy Pettigrew on the street. Kelly does not know that it is the famous Andy when she first meets him which makes their encounter more special. This story is not inst-love. I loved how the story continued through several months.
What I did not like...that it felt like to me that towards the end it was Kelly who was "fighting" for their love.
I would have rated this book by just the first 60% a solid 5 if not for the issues below....
Spoilers below - scroll down to see
Just because Kelly told Andrew not to call her anymore after that one incident, does not mean he had to give her up like she was nothing. He hurt her!!!! Yes he called to say "sorry" but his apologies were pathetic. He did not grovel at all. Maybe the author should have provided one chapter in Andrew's POV just so I could understand what the hell he was thinking. (Was he over that other girl?!?!?! The ending was not believable to me. It felt like a "sorry and oh I gave up the booze" type of conversation to me. And honestly towards the end, I did not understand why Kelly wanted to be with him anyway. Andrew was pining for someone who died 10 years before and he had issues with alcohol that Kelly already dealt with with her late husband.
Double standard, but I can deal with the heroine pining more than the hero pining. Andrew, in my opinion, did not fight for their love. He gave up the alcohol in the end, but really that was weeks after Kelly left. After 80% or so, I did not believe in their love. That love in my opinion was one sided. I already forgot if he was over the deceased girl he was pining over. I think Kelly was right...Andrew was immature with certain things (like keeping that stupid friend of his around) and she was past that behavior. Been there...done that. I wish she would have stayed to that mind set to the end. That last 20% was disappointing for me. I love a man who grovels...REALLY GROVELS and the "groveling" that Andrew did was pathetic.
I know there is a sequel TROUBLE ME, but I feel that it will just be Kelly trying to make the relationship work and Andrew dealing with whatever Andrew has to deal with...not really thinking about Kelly.
This is my opinion and what I felt worked and did not work for me.
I really liked this story and was enjoying it a lot until about 75%. I love these type of stories...regular woman falls in love with a famous and hot actor.
I usually do not care for stories where the heroine pines, but the author did an AMAZING job helping me understand Kelly's pain over losing her husband and then being open to Andrew. Excellent job with that!!!
I loved how we were introduced to Andrew immediately. The story did not drag. I loved that Kelly did not brag the minute she met the famous and hot actor, Andy Pettigrew. I liked how she kept their "relationship" a secret. I loved that Kelly's kids loved Andrew. They were not spoiled brats at all!! Her boys were amazing.
Kelly loses her husband and then two years later meets the famous Andy Pettigrew on the street. Kelly does not know that it is the famous Andy when she first meets him which makes their encounter more special. This story is not inst-love. I loved how the story continued through several months.
What I did not like...that it felt like to me that towards the end it was Kelly who was "fighting" for their love.
I would have rated this book by just the first 60% a solid 5 if not for the issues below....
Spoilers below - scroll down to see
Just because Kelly told Andrew not to call her anymore after that one incident, does not mean he had to give her up like she was nothing. He hurt her!!!! Yes he called to say "sorry" but his apologies were pathetic. He did not grovel at all. Maybe the author should have provided one chapter in Andrew's POV just so I could understand what the hell he was thinking. (Was he over that other girl?!?!?! The ending was not believable to me. It felt like a "sorry and oh I gave up the booze" type of conversation to me. And honestly towards the end, I did not understand why Kelly wanted to be with him anyway. Andrew was pining for someone who died 10 years before and he had issues with alcohol that Kelly already dealt with with her late husband.
Double standard, but I can deal with the heroine pining more than the hero pining. Andrew, in my opinion, did not fight for their love. He gave up the alcohol in the end, but really that was weeks after Kelly left. After 80% or so, I did not believe in their love. That love in my opinion was one sided. I already forgot if he was over the deceased girl he was pining over. I think Kelly was right...Andrew was immature with certain things (like keeping that stupid friend of his around) and she was past that behavior. Been there...done that. I wish she would have stayed to that mind set to the end. That last 20% was disappointing for me. I love a man who grovels...REALLY GROVELS and the "groveling" that Andrew did was pathetic.
I know there is a sequel TROUBLE ME, but I feel that it will just be Kelly trying to make the relationship work and Andrew dealing with whatever Andrew has to deal with...not really thinking about Kelly.
September 15, 2013
Fixated on This Story!
How does a woman move on after the death of her husband? Having two adorable sons and supportive parents helps. But what really does the trick is falling in love with a humble movie star who needs some fixing of his own.
So goes the romance of Kelly and Andrew, who meet when Kelly breaks down sobbing on a run. Andrew's in town for a film shoot, and he feels sad to learn it's the two year anniversary of Kelly's husband's death. They gradually get to know each other. Can a famous actor and a down-to-earth widow make this long distance relationship work? It'll be tough, given Kelly's lovable neuroticism, Andrew's shady past, and initial exchanges like this:
He fishes his cell phone and sunglasses out of the car. "Can I get your number?"
"You don't want my number."
"Yes, I do."
"No, you don't." Seriously, is he kidding?
"Do too." He shakes his head. "This is insane. Why not?"
"Look at you. Come on."
He stares at me with those very blue eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Give me your number."
I loved the unique setting of Boise (said with an "s", not a "z"!) and the realistic characters. But what I loved most of all was the humor. MAJOR props for the mention of that Saturday Night Live skit "Master Thespian!" As well as these quotes:
Starting the first day I get little texts each day:
"Development meeting in 90210. Lady across from me has taken 'bee stung' lips to a horrifying new level."
"You'll fly down here. A quick visit. Now go, make the phone calls. Make it so."
"I will see what I can do, Jean-Luc Picard. You're a huge nerd."
"You're the one who knows the name of the captain."
The salesgirl is done giving me the up and down. "Size six is the largest we go."
"I'm sorry, I missed it. Did the sign above the door say Big Heads on a Toothpick R Us?"
If my life were a movie this'd be the part where the montage begins. You know, they'd play a kicky song like "Walking on Sunshine," and there'd be shots of Andrew and me getting ice cream, riding bicycles through the park, playfully doing lots of things as a happy couple.
Ha ha ha!
The only part of the story I didn't eat up was when Kelly reveals something about her deceased husband Peter toward the end of the novel. That part of the story didn't quite seem to fit as essential, unless I'm missing something.
Kelly and Andrew admire Ernest Hemingway, and it appears author Beck Anderson does as well, evidenced by her short sentences and overall clean writing.
Spend some time with Kelly and Andrew and you'll enjoy them as much as I do!
How does a woman move on after the death of her husband? Having two adorable sons and supportive parents helps. But what really does the trick is falling in love with a humble movie star who needs some fixing of his own.
So goes the romance of Kelly and Andrew, who meet when Kelly breaks down sobbing on a run. Andrew's in town for a film shoot, and he feels sad to learn it's the two year anniversary of Kelly's husband's death. They gradually get to know each other. Can a famous actor and a down-to-earth widow make this long distance relationship work? It'll be tough, given Kelly's lovable neuroticism, Andrew's shady past, and initial exchanges like this:
He fishes his cell phone and sunglasses out of the car. "Can I get your number?"
"You don't want my number."
"Yes, I do."
"No, you don't." Seriously, is he kidding?
"Do too." He shakes his head. "This is insane. Why not?"
"Look at you. Come on."
He stares at me with those very blue eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. Give me your number."
I loved the unique setting of Boise (said with an "s", not a "z"!) and the realistic characters. But what I loved most of all was the humor. MAJOR props for the mention of that Saturday Night Live skit "Master Thespian!" As well as these quotes:
Starting the first day I get little texts each day:
"Development meeting in 90210. Lady across from me has taken 'bee stung' lips to a horrifying new level."
"You'll fly down here. A quick visit. Now go, make the phone calls. Make it so."
"I will see what I can do, Jean-Luc Picard. You're a huge nerd."
"You're the one who knows the name of the captain."
The salesgirl is done giving me the up and down. "Size six is the largest we go."
"I'm sorry, I missed it. Did the sign above the door say Big Heads on a Toothpick R Us?"
If my life were a movie this'd be the part where the montage begins. You know, they'd play a kicky song like "Walking on Sunshine," and there'd be shots of Andrew and me getting ice cream, riding bicycles through the park, playfully doing lots of things as a happy couple.
Ha ha ha!
The only part of the story I didn't eat up was when Kelly reveals something about her deceased husband Peter toward the end of the novel. That part of the story didn't quite seem to fit as essential, unless I'm missing something.
Kelly and Andrew admire Ernest Hemingway, and it appears author Beck Anderson does as well, evidenced by her short sentences and overall clean writing.
Spend some time with Kelly and Andrew and you'll enjoy them as much as I do!
September 11, 2013
4 1/2 stars!, Fix You is a beautiful and engaging story about loss and love and relationships. I truly did not know what to expect going into this book, and found myself immediately drawn into Kelly and Andrew’s story. I read it in one sitting. The writing is crisp and well-paced, and the author takes time developing both the characters and their relationship with each other. We meet Kelly, who is still dealing with the loss of her husband while raising two young boys. Andrew is a movie star with his own personal struggles but who very much wants to have a life with some normalcy. This is a beautifully written, very real story, about learning to overcome your personal demons and opening yourself up to love.
Kelly and Andrew have something honest and true, but the question is whether Kelly is strong enough to be there for Andrew when he needs her most. There is not a lot of steam or graphic sex in Fix You, instead we are treated to a great storyline and lots of dramatic developments. The areas in and around Boise, Idaho also play an important role in the story and the gorgeous mountain setting is a big part of the storyline in Fix You.
It is nearly impossible for Andrew to have a normal life and a normal relationship in the world of stardom and Hollywood fame, but he desperately wants to be with Kelly. You need to read Fix You to see if both Kelly and Andrew can overcome all the obstacles in their path and be together. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from Beck Anderson.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
Kelly and Andrew have something honest and true, but the question is whether Kelly is strong enough to be there for Andrew when he needs her most. There is not a lot of steam or graphic sex in Fix You, instead we are treated to a great storyline and lots of dramatic developments. The areas in and around Boise, Idaho also play an important role in the story and the gorgeous mountain setting is a big part of the storyline in Fix You.
It is nearly impossible for Andrew to have a normal life and a normal relationship in the world of stardom and Hollywood fame, but he desperately wants to be with Kelly. You need to read Fix You to see if both Kelly and Andrew can overcome all the obstacles in their path and be together. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from Beck Anderson.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review*
September 10, 2013
Fix You is an incredible story about loss, love and how to love again. This story had me crying and yelling at my kindle the entire time because I was so sure there was not going to be a HEA. I mean how can there be one when everyone around you is fake and you have secrets that should stay buried but may come back to haunt you and destroy your relationship.
Kelly Reynolds is a broken woman trying to get through life for the sake of her boys. She lost her husband and her life has not been the same since his death. Alone she has to raise her boys and keep her broken heart guarded. At first it was hard but she had to pick up the pieces and move on. So she throws herself into her boys lives and running.On one of her runs she meets a guy Andrew and they become friends. As their friendship grows Kelly realizes she has feelings for Andrew but their is one things that has her hesitating Andrew is The Andrew "Andy" Pettigrew who is the famous actor. He lives his life in the fame light and she lives her life in the quiet lame light.
But Kelly can't deny her feelings for Andrew and Andrew can't hide his feelings for her. They know it is going to be hard but they want to work it out. They want to be a couple. Kelly hates to take risks but Andrew is one risk she is willing to take. Will she make the right decision or will she walk away before getting hurt again? Will Andrew be able to handle the spotlight and fame and his love for Kelly?
Kelly Reynolds is a broken woman trying to get through life for the sake of her boys. She lost her husband and her life has not been the same since his death. Alone she has to raise her boys and keep her broken heart guarded. At first it was hard but she had to pick up the pieces and move on. So she throws herself into her boys lives and running.On one of her runs she meets a guy Andrew and they become friends. As their friendship grows Kelly realizes she has feelings for Andrew but their is one things that has her hesitating Andrew is The Andrew "Andy" Pettigrew who is the famous actor. He lives his life in the fame light and she lives her life in the quiet lame light.
But Kelly can't deny her feelings for Andrew and Andrew can't hide his feelings for her. They know it is going to be hard but they want to work it out. They want to be a couple. Kelly hates to take risks but Andrew is one risk she is willing to take. Will she make the right decision or will she walk away before getting hurt again? Will Andrew be able to handle the spotlight and fame and his love for Kelly?
May 22, 2021
I'll be the first to admit that I enjoy a modern-day retelling of the classic fairy tales, so it was a no-brainer that I jumped at the chance to read Beck Anderson's Fix You.
Kelly is dealing with the loss of her husband and now being a single mother to two boys. Andrew is a movie star who only wishes to have some normalcy in his otherwise hectic life. Kelly and Andrew have an amazing chemistry, and it was a treat to watch the two of them battle and overcome their demons and open themselves up for love.
What I loved about the book is that the author took her to develop the characters. I love that! I love when characters are given space to grow through the novel. It adds more depth and dimension to them and makes them seem more human.
I am excited to read how Kelly and Andrew's story progresses in Book 2.
Kelly is dealing with the loss of her husband and now being a single mother to two boys. Andrew is a movie star who only wishes to have some normalcy in his otherwise hectic life. Kelly and Andrew have an amazing chemistry, and it was a treat to watch the two of them battle and overcome their demons and open themselves up for love.
What I loved about the book is that the author took her to develop the characters. I love that! I love when characters are given space to grow through the novel. It adds more depth and dimension to them and makes them seem more human.
I am excited to read how Kelly and Andrew's story progresses in Book 2.
September 9, 2013
I was given an ARC for an honest review:
This is a story about an unlikely pair that somehow works. Kelly Reynolds is a 30ish widow with two young boys and lives a mundane life after the loss of her husband two years ago. She is pretty boring to say the least and doesn't know the first thing about having a social life. Her idea of a crazy night is reading a book. While out on a run, she meets the famous actor, and much younger, Andy Pettigrew and they develop a friendship of sorts that ends up turning into more. Andy is part of a plastic world where he and everyone else pretends for a living. Kelly struggles with making sense of how she fits in his world. They are both keeping secrets from each other though, which threatens to destroy them.
This book lacked something and I'm not sure what. I felt like the characters were explained to me more than experienced by me. I felt more like I was reading an article about how they are and not necessarily being part of their world. I couldn't sense or experience their heat or their romance-it was basically told. I didn't really understand how they loved each other when they said they did, and it felt awkward when they said it. I liked how Kelly was real and like the rest of us- she couldn't cook, she didn't keep her house spotless, was often covered in dog hair and had more bad hair days than good. She wasn't glamorous and didn't have a real outgoing personality either, but Andy loved her because of that. The secrets didn't really seem like secrets either, just hang ups. This book makes you think though. It makes you think a lot about how many of us won't fish in the swamp (you have to read it to get it..lol) and how we don't really live till we at least try the swamp. This book covered tough stuff, but didn't leave you mentally exhausted after reading it either, which I appreciated. It was light and made you believe in second chances.
This is a story about an unlikely pair that somehow works. Kelly Reynolds is a 30ish widow with two young boys and lives a mundane life after the loss of her husband two years ago. She is pretty boring to say the least and doesn't know the first thing about having a social life. Her idea of a crazy night is reading a book. While out on a run, she meets the famous actor, and much younger, Andy Pettigrew and they develop a friendship of sorts that ends up turning into more. Andy is part of a plastic world where he and everyone else pretends for a living. Kelly struggles with making sense of how she fits in his world. They are both keeping secrets from each other though, which threatens to destroy them.
This book lacked something and I'm not sure what. I felt like the characters were explained to me more than experienced by me. I felt more like I was reading an article about how they are and not necessarily being part of their world. I couldn't sense or experience their heat or their romance-it was basically told. I didn't really understand how they loved each other when they said they did, and it felt awkward when they said it. I liked how Kelly was real and like the rest of us- she couldn't cook, she didn't keep her house spotless, was often covered in dog hair and had more bad hair days than good. She wasn't glamorous and didn't have a real outgoing personality either, but Andy loved her because of that. The secrets didn't really seem like secrets either, just hang ups. This book makes you think though. It makes you think a lot about how many of us won't fish in the swamp (you have to read it to get it..lol) and how we don't really live till we at least try the swamp. This book covered tough stuff, but didn't leave you mentally exhausted after reading it either, which I appreciated. It was light and made you believe in second chances.
September 13, 2013
Wow! Fix you is almost a dream, well at first....
Then we really get into it and realize just how messed up both of our main characters lives have been.
Kelly is a widow and mother of two. Two years later and she is still heavily affected by her husband's death. She does realize when she meets Andrew that she may be ready to at the least open herself up again.
Little did she realize at first, Andrew is none of than one of the hottest actors out there. His life is the complete opposite to hers. There is no possible way he could want an older woman with two kids.
"He scoots next to me, and I feel his hand on my shoulder. "In ten years? In ten years I may not still have a career. I may or may not still have my hair. And you don't think I've ever screwed up? God, lets not start in on that list. Despite what everyone in the world thinks I'm real. I want a partner who's real. A real woman who's raised two boys alone for two years. I want you. I want you,flaws and all. I can only hope you'll want my very flawed self in your life too." ~ Andrew
When this relationship becomes more work than Kelly bargained for, will she stick around or will she run? Can she really handle loving and risk losing again? Should she even risk allowing her sons get attached to Andrew?
Fix You is written in Kelly's point of view. It is truly an amazing story. This story is filled with so much love, and yet a ton of pain. Kelly's character is such a strong person, although even she questions her strength. It is always great to watch our characters grow struggles and all.
Then we really get into it and realize just how messed up both of our main characters lives have been.
Kelly is a widow and mother of two. Two years later and she is still heavily affected by her husband's death. She does realize when she meets Andrew that she may be ready to at the least open herself up again.
Little did she realize at first, Andrew is none of than one of the hottest actors out there. His life is the complete opposite to hers. There is no possible way he could want an older woman with two kids.
"He scoots next to me, and I feel his hand on my shoulder. "In ten years? In ten years I may not still have a career. I may or may not still have my hair. And you don't think I've ever screwed up? God, lets not start in on that list. Despite what everyone in the world thinks I'm real. I want a partner who's real. A real woman who's raised two boys alone for two years. I want you. I want you,flaws and all. I can only hope you'll want my very flawed self in your life too." ~ Andrew
When this relationship becomes more work than Kelly bargained for, will she stick around or will she run? Can she really handle loving and risk losing again? Should she even risk allowing her sons get attached to Andrew?
Fix You is written in Kelly's point of view. It is truly an amazing story. This story is filled with so much love, and yet a ton of pain. Kelly's character is such a strong person, although even she questions her strength. It is always great to watch our characters grow struggles and all.
September 14, 2013
This book starts off very depressing. Kelly loses her husband Peter in the very beginning of the book and then you have to watch her struggle through her depression and shock of being a single mother. I was already crying at the beginning of the story so I was prepared for more. Surprisingly, there were only a few more parts in the book where I cried. This storyline is very different. Kelly is a 36 year old widow who by chance meets a man by the name of Andrew. He is a little mysterious and there was instant attraction. It turns out he is a famous actor and she had no idea since she really doesn't watch a lot of TV or read tabloids. When she finds out who he really is she doesn't treat him any different. One of the reasons Andrew is attracted to Kelly is because she treats him like a normal person and not a fake person that is only with him because of his money. There is an age difference because he is 29 years old, but he has an old soul. The Andrew that Kelly gets to know is nothing like the one the media knows. They start healing each other and it is just a very romantic story that you will fall in love with. There are some things that Kelly doesn't know about Andrew, and she is also scared of having her two boys getting attached to him. Watch the struggle between Kelly and Andrew while they try to see if they can be together. This was a great read and I think other people would enjoy it as much as I did.
December 7, 2013
***** I receive an ARC copy for an honest review *****
Let me just say that this is the first book I read from this author.
OH Wow I just finish reading this book, and it is not what I was expecting at all, This is such a sweet story, that will break your heart, heal your heart and break it again, and I love every single page of it from beginning to the end,This story is about two broken souls coming together to mend each other, And To make each other whole again.
The story beginning with Kelly Reynolds, Kelly and her husband are on a ski trip, what she would had not know is that few months from that trip, she was gone end up in a hospital watching her husband die, after that she put everything in to raise both of her kids, She’s pieced herself back together, barely. Now she takes time to run her kids around, she also take time to run a trail around her home, one day while she is running she ends up coming across Andrew, but what she was not expecting was that Andrew is really Andy Pettigrew a famous actor, Andy and Kelly click right away but Kelly is not ready for a relationship, what they both did not know is that their life was gone be turned up side down.
I really enjoy reading this book, and I hope that once you read it that you get to enjoy it cried and love it as much as I did.
Author Beck Anderson THANK YOU for introducing me to this great characters and this amazing story cant wait to read more of your book.
Let me just say that this is the first book I read from this author.
OH Wow I just finish reading this book, and it is not what I was expecting at all, This is such a sweet story, that will break your heart, heal your heart and break it again, and I love every single page of it from beginning to the end,This story is about two broken souls coming together to mend each other, And To make each other whole again.
The story beginning with Kelly Reynolds, Kelly and her husband are on a ski trip, what she would had not know is that few months from that trip, she was gone end up in a hospital watching her husband die, after that she put everything in to raise both of her kids, She’s pieced herself back together, barely. Now she takes time to run her kids around, she also take time to run a trail around her home, one day while she is running she ends up coming across Andrew, but what she was not expecting was that Andrew is really Andy Pettigrew a famous actor, Andy and Kelly click right away but Kelly is not ready for a relationship, what they both did not know is that their life was gone be turned up side down.
I really enjoy reading this book, and I hope that once you read it that you get to enjoy it cried and love it as much as I did.
Author Beck Anderson THANK YOU for introducing me to this great characters and this amazing story cant wait to read more of your book.
October 15, 2016
This is an interesting story of an unlikely pairing. Kelly is self-deprecating, funny, and real. I couldn’t help but like her—and neither could Andrew. For a while the relationship seems almost a little too perfect, but the way Kelly continually ignores Andrew’s references to his troubled past hints that their sweet romance will take a sharp downturn at some point.
Though the story deals with some heavy issues, swift pacing and humor throughout keep the overall tenor of this book light. The way it ended definitely has me curious to see where things go from here.
Though the story deals with some heavy issues, swift pacing and humor throughout keep the overall tenor of this book light. The way it ended definitely has me curious to see where things go from here.
February 21, 2015
.....How can you mend a broken heart? A story of loss, love, survival after something unimaginable happens and how we love again. It lacked some intensity between Kelly and Andrew, I would have liked more spark, but overall I really enjoyed it.
December 3, 2013
PEPPER & MICHELLE'S JOINT REVIEW
MICHELLE: OMG I loved this book so much.
PEPPER: Yay!! Me too. So good!
MICHELLE: So this is not erotic in any way- purely a romantic book. Most of the sex is implied. But I personally don't mind that at all and for this book it was perfect.
PEPPER: I agree 100%. And you know me, I love my steamy sex scenes. But this book didn't need that. I like that the sex was implied. I think a crazy torrid love affair may have been too much for this particular book. Everything about it was sweet and perfect and I loved it. I was like:
MICHELLE: Yes! However, maybe the reason we didn't miss the sex is because this book was so damn good.
PEPPER: I definitely think that was part of it. I was enthralled, so I wasn't like - where the hell is my sex to get me through this - At. All.
MICHELLE: So you have Kelly- a widow with two kids that I think are pretty awesome. She is just starting to come out of the slump of losing her husband 2 years ago. She meets famous movie star Andy Pettigrew but doesn't know it right away. And because of that they seem to be able to start a very solid friendship.
PEPPER: I loved that she didn't recognize him right away. And even after she did, she did such a great job of being like:
I mean, of course she was dying a little inside, but she played it cool for the most part - and I really appreciated that about her.
MICHELLE: I know! It's remarkable because their relationship just happens. It is totally natural and fits in such a way that makes total sense. As if there is no logical solution for them to be together.
PEPPER: I actually thought this was so great about the book. BeckAnd did such a wonderful job of making us all think, yeah this is never going to work. But what was so great is that Kelly would think that exact thing, and then quickly push it out of her mind. I loved how she didn't dwell on the "why this isn't going to work" and just went with it. God, so good.
MICHELLE: Exactly. They begin their relationship in such a way that it's slow but perfect. it really has nothing to do with Andrew's fame at all. In fact, that is his biggest flaw really. She falls in love with the man and he falls right back in love with her.
So, at this point everyone might be thinking this is just the same old concept of hot famous guy meets everyday single mom but it really wasn't.
PEPPER: I totally agree. When I first read the synopsis I was worried. Although I love these kinds of books, it's always hard to do things different. And I really feel that BeckAnd nailed it.
MICHELLE: Yep, so for one thing, Kelly is one tough cookie. She doesn't even realize but she is. There was nothing about her that I didn't like. She was funny, accepted her flaws but didn't get hung up on them and she was just all around likeable.
PEPPER: OMG. I loved Kelly. I think that is why this book has such a different feel. She was super down to earth AND kick ass. Even in her slump, she kept going because she had to. I really related to her a lot. I remember thinking several times, God, this sounds just like me. Like how she can't cook - but laughs about it. And how she runs around in her workout gear, but doesn't care. She was so relateable and lovely. LOVED HER!!
MICHELLE: I agree. But more importantly, she doesn't put up with Andrew's shit. So often you feel like the women just act like wet blankets around the guy because he's sexy and famous and says and does all the right things. Kelly knows what she will and won't put up with and she puts her foot down. What's even better is that Andrew makes the changes he needs to make for her on his own and in a way that makes you really feel his love. But even then, it's not all black and white. They both have to find their way to each other in a way that works for them.
PEPPER: I loved their entire story. And we can't forget to mention that hot sexy man - Andrew. I mean, of course he is a God. But I just appreactied his honesty and need for normalcy with Kelly. I liked that he was somewhat self aware about what he needed to do within the Hollywood lifestyle to stay sane. I loved how he wasn't like this at all:
Both of these characters were so complex - I could go on all day.
MICHELLE: Right?! And the ending isn't rushed at all which I love! The last few chapters are filled with angst but not in a way that is uncomfortable or aggravating. It's just enough to keep you hooked and makes you want to keep reading.
PEPPER: God, I wanted to eat that ending. So. Perfect. The only complaint I have is that I want more!
MICHELLE: OMG, I know! I seriously read this in just a few hours because I loved it!
PEPPER: Well lovers, we could go on all day. This book is so great. Not only are the 2 main characters so fantastic, the supporting cast add so much as well. The setting is perfect. Everything. This book is everything!!
September 11, 2013
"Andrew, I am so beyond fixing. I can't fix you, and you can't fix me."
Fix You is a heartwarming book about self discovery a bit later in life. It introduces us to 36 gear old Kelly. She's had a terrible few years that sees her crying. A lot. Sleeping. A lot. And trying to find her way out of her depression for her two young boys Hunter and Beau. She needs to start living again after losing her husband to cancer. Kelly has immense strength and internal character. She is a lady that you read about and want to know. She doesn't realize it but everyone else knows that she's remarkably strong and independent and a light that shines so bright even after living through something so heartbreaking.
There's always an ache under my collarbones, but every day that I brush my teeth and put on pants instead of pajamas, I call a good day.
29 year old Andy Pettigrew (and total cereal connoisseur) is a movie star and a long stretch from where Kelly is sitting in her life. He's younger, doesn't have the kind of ties that Kelly has, but just as much baggage and responsibility with his movie career, publicity and paparazzi dramas. Even though he's insanely famous and well known he's so down to earth and life gets to him the same as it does for us little people. He was a wonderful man despite his shortcomings.
"...we're all about creating a false impression. I guess you can't expect people to be very honest when they lie for a living."
These two meet unexpectedly when Kelly loses her composure on one of her runs, the one of the 2 year anniversary of Peters death. This is where I started giggling. Kelly is uber awkward in social situations. Almost to the stage she needs cue cards. There were so many times I laughed at just how badly she coped in social situations. One of those times was when he showed up randomly in her home town, but she had to get the boys from school. Omg. So funny.
Talking to him while he's next to me is easier. I can run and look straight ahead and feel much more functional as a human. I don't know when I turned into such a crazy person.
So much goes against this pair. Neither can cook, they need decoys when they go out, and people can Google Andrew and know more than she does. Andy's got a ridiculous media clause and a co-star that bears resemblance to a coat hanger. Kelly has nightmares what-ifs that plague her night and day. Can Kelly overcome her past heartache and go where life, and Andy takes her?
"Despite what everyone in the world thinks, I'm real. I want a partner who's real. A real woman who's raised two boys alone for two years. I want you. I want you, flaws and all. I can only hope you'll want my very flawed self in your life too."
Can Andy be the man that Kelly needs to by her side as her boys grow older and she loses her purpose? You will have to read about the discovery of themselves and each other to find out. What I will say is, it's not all smooth sailing for this pair of nearly complete opposites.
We can sleight-of-hand it all we want, but I'm a non-famous, nondescript woman dating a handsome, charismatic famous person. It's ridiculous.
The author did a brilliant job of taking us to Boise, on set, and the Red Carpet. The descriptions transported us to each location and made me feel as if I were a fly on the wall. The grief was handled beautifully and I even felt like I had pain under my collarbones as I was reading certain moments.
Depression is a terribly mundane way to exist. It's like death by paper cut. Or non-death by paper cut.
Kelly's sons (Hunter and Beau), her best friend Tess, her security friend Tucker and her parents were great additions to the story. I adored how real life this story was, even though it included a famous hot movie star. The dog fur, messy house and exercise clothing was just so ordinary. Could easily have been a friend down the road.
Well done on your debut Ms Anderson. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Life can crush you, ruin you, kill you.
Or it can break you and make you stronger in the process. You are strong Kelly Reynolds. And you are strongest in your broken pieces.
February 25, 2015
Review by Trinette Dungee
Two years after Kelly Reynolds’ husband dies and leaves her to raise their two young sons, she’s still trying to cope. Although things are better than they were, it’s still a bit of a struggle. She’s never even contemplated loving another man until an impromptu melt down; while out on a run has her crossing paths with Andrew, a shade wearing stranger with a sympathetic ear. Color Kelly surprised with when she realizes that the Andrew behind the shades is infamous actor Andy Pettigrew.
Kelly’s life is very normal; nothing compared to Andrew’s Hollywood lifestyle where paparazzi, twitter, and tabloids are a part of his everyday life. So when Andrew shows interest in her she’s more than a little hesitant…not to mention she’s about five years his senior. Figuring a relationship with Andrew won’t go anywhere and this might be what she needs to move her life along Kelly decides to give it a chance. It doesn’t take Kelly long to realize that Andrew’s lifestyle is not only too much for her but it may be too much for him as well.
I LOVED this book! It wasn’t a romance story, it was a true LOVE story. It wasn’t all about the hot sex, smoking bodies and the instant lust at first sight. It was all about mutual attraction, getting to know each other and falling head-over-heels with an imperfect individual. And that’s what did it for me. Both Kelly and Andrew were far from perfect.
When we meet Kelly it’s two years after the loss of her husband and she still hasn’t quite bounced back despite her friends and family telling her it’s time and encouraging her to move on. While it may not be all that “normal” for a “regular” person to catch the eye of a Hollywood movie star, the way this book was written it seems very normal. Kelly is not your “June Cleaver – Super Mom”. Her house is a wreck, she’s not the best cook…in fact her kids may eat more veggies than she actually does…and she basically has no clue what she’s doing. She just lives day by day hoping not to damage them too much in the process.
Andrew may be a Hollywood hunk but he comes with his own set of baggage. Throughout the book Andrew constantly eludes to an issue that he has and that he sometimes doesn’t know what to do with himself if he’s not busy. It made me think he was undiagnosed ADHD or him might be bi-polar. Getting to his issue dragged out a little too much for me but along the way I started to understand that it wasn’t all about just figuring out what was going on with Andrew. It was realizing that Kelly has some coping issues of her own and how they both have a tendency to “deflect” when it comes to facing their issues. But I did love how they both called the other one out on their issues.
I loved that even though they were so different they really connected. A lot of their relationship was long distance but despite that they still worked and even though there was distance between them, they were very attentive to each other’s emotional needs.
Andrew’s connection with Kelly’s kids was wonderful. To me, he made them feel like they were a part of the relationship; he was as invested in her boys as he was with her. I loved Kelly’s need to make sure that the people in Andrew’s “camp” were good for him and had his best interest at heart. They really looked out for one another. At one point I got very nervous because I really wanted an HEA and I was realizing that this might not be that type of book. This book very well may end with Andrew and Kelly going their separate ways. I won’t say if they did or didn’t end up together but I will say that I would have been okay with either ending because of what each of them learned about themselves and each other and that they really did love each other.
While it didn’t hook me right away it had my interest enough to keep going and boy I’m so glad I stuck it out. If you’re looking for book with hot sex, multiple orgasms and the “smack-it up, flip-it, rub-it down”, then this is not the book for you. But if you want a real love story where it’s all about connection, understanding and compassion then I highly recommend it. Although, I love my steamy books, this was a nice departure and with the romance market being what it is today not everyone can pull it off but Beck Anderson managed to do it and do it quite well. This was definitely a four star read for me.
Two years after Kelly Reynolds’ husband dies and leaves her to raise their two young sons, she’s still trying to cope. Although things are better than they were, it’s still a bit of a struggle. She’s never even contemplated loving another man until an impromptu melt down; while out on a run has her crossing paths with Andrew, a shade wearing stranger with a sympathetic ear. Color Kelly surprised with when she realizes that the Andrew behind the shades is infamous actor Andy Pettigrew.
Kelly’s life is very normal; nothing compared to Andrew’s Hollywood lifestyle where paparazzi, twitter, and tabloids are a part of his everyday life. So when Andrew shows interest in her she’s more than a little hesitant…not to mention she’s about five years his senior. Figuring a relationship with Andrew won’t go anywhere and this might be what she needs to move her life along Kelly decides to give it a chance. It doesn’t take Kelly long to realize that Andrew’s lifestyle is not only too much for her but it may be too much for him as well.
I LOVED this book! It wasn’t a romance story, it was a true LOVE story. It wasn’t all about the hot sex, smoking bodies and the instant lust at first sight. It was all about mutual attraction, getting to know each other and falling head-over-heels with an imperfect individual. And that’s what did it for me. Both Kelly and Andrew were far from perfect.
When we meet Kelly it’s two years after the loss of her husband and she still hasn’t quite bounced back despite her friends and family telling her it’s time and encouraging her to move on. While it may not be all that “normal” for a “regular” person to catch the eye of a Hollywood movie star, the way this book was written it seems very normal. Kelly is not your “June Cleaver – Super Mom”. Her house is a wreck, she’s not the best cook…in fact her kids may eat more veggies than she actually does…and she basically has no clue what she’s doing. She just lives day by day hoping not to damage them too much in the process.
Andrew may be a Hollywood hunk but he comes with his own set of baggage. Throughout the book Andrew constantly eludes to an issue that he has and that he sometimes doesn’t know what to do with himself if he’s not busy. It made me think he was undiagnosed ADHD or him might be bi-polar. Getting to his issue dragged out a little too much for me but along the way I started to understand that it wasn’t all about just figuring out what was going on with Andrew. It was realizing that Kelly has some coping issues of her own and how they both have a tendency to “deflect” when it comes to facing their issues. But I did love how they both called the other one out on their issues.
I loved that even though they were so different they really connected. A lot of their relationship was long distance but despite that they still worked and even though there was distance between them, they were very attentive to each other’s emotional needs.
Andrew’s connection with Kelly’s kids was wonderful. To me, he made them feel like they were a part of the relationship; he was as invested in her boys as he was with her. I loved Kelly’s need to make sure that the people in Andrew’s “camp” were good for him and had his best interest at heart. They really looked out for one another. At one point I got very nervous because I really wanted an HEA and I was realizing that this might not be that type of book. This book very well may end with Andrew and Kelly going their separate ways. I won’t say if they did or didn’t end up together but I will say that I would have been okay with either ending because of what each of them learned about themselves and each other and that they really did love each other.
While it didn’t hook me right away it had my interest enough to keep going and boy I’m so glad I stuck it out. If you’re looking for book with hot sex, multiple orgasms and the “smack-it up, flip-it, rub-it down”, then this is not the book for you. But if you want a real love story where it’s all about connection, understanding and compassion then I highly recommend it. Although, I love my steamy books, this was a nice departure and with the romance market being what it is today not everyone can pull it off but Beck Anderson managed to do it and do it quite well. This was definitely a four star read for me.
August 12, 2014
Fix You, by Beck Anderson, took me by surprise.
I'm not going to regurgitate the story. Suffice to say two people are going through emotional turmoil. They are tragically wounded, deeply. By staying busy they manage to fool themselves that they are fine. However, when a crisis occurs, their demons resurface. No spoilers here. I was never sure how the conflict would be resolved until the final chapter.
I've been experimenting with reading books of genres other than romance and thrillers. Romance has been getting boring - same old formula. Thrillers often lack in deep characters. Fix You, in my opinion, is largely character driven. The two main characters are thoroughly brought to life, warts and all. I fell in love with them, as well as the minor characters.
With every chapter, the personality and soul of Andrew and Kelly became more intensely revealed. I became hooked on their woundedness and their brave struggle to find the path out of their pain. I liked the metaphors Beck used in the book's Kelly (main female character) reads, the songs she likes, and her pursuit to maintain physical fitness, albeit alone. She is unable to let go of her grief following the death of her husband.
The main male character, a famous actor, Andrew hides behind an army of support staff and managers. Only sporadically does he reveal his dark side. Finally his wall of success crashes.
Though the reader can see both falling into a truly dark and troubling path, you also see their courage and integrity. You want them to not just survive, but thrive. They became my sister, my brother. Beck's talent is tremendous in that she immerses the reader under the skin of the characters. You feel the depth of their grief and fears as if the emotion is your own. The conflict is yours. The struggle to resolve the conflict is in your lap.
I loved this story. I'm a thriller, plot driven addict. However, this character focused novel kept me hooked right from the beginning.
I will be reading all of Beck's novels.
Beck Anderson's website: http://authorbeck.com/
I'm not going to regurgitate the story. Suffice to say two people are going through emotional turmoil. They are tragically wounded, deeply. By staying busy they manage to fool themselves that they are fine. However, when a crisis occurs, their demons resurface. No spoilers here. I was never sure how the conflict would be resolved until the final chapter.
I've been experimenting with reading books of genres other than romance and thrillers. Romance has been getting boring - same old formula. Thrillers often lack in deep characters. Fix You, in my opinion, is largely character driven. The two main characters are thoroughly brought to life, warts and all. I fell in love with them, as well as the minor characters.
With every chapter, the personality and soul of Andrew and Kelly became more intensely revealed. I became hooked on their woundedness and their brave struggle to find the path out of their pain. I liked the metaphors Beck used in the book's Kelly (main female character) reads, the songs she likes, and her pursuit to maintain physical fitness, albeit alone. She is unable to let go of her grief following the death of her husband.
The main male character, a famous actor, Andrew hides behind an army of support staff and managers. Only sporadically does he reveal his dark side. Finally his wall of success crashes.
Though the reader can see both falling into a truly dark and troubling path, you also see their courage and integrity. You want them to not just survive, but thrive. They became my sister, my brother. Beck's talent is tremendous in that she immerses the reader under the skin of the characters. You feel the depth of their grief and fears as if the emotion is your own. The conflict is yours. The struggle to resolve the conflict is in your lap.
I loved this story. I'm a thriller, plot driven addict. However, this character focused novel kept me hooked right from the beginning.
I will be reading all of Beck's novels.
Beck Anderson's website: http://authorbeck.com/
September 15, 2017
A lovely fairytale romance that reminded me a lot of the equally wonderful Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper.
September 23, 2018
Excellent Story! Couldn't put it down. it's about a widow struggling who is in a major depression and tries to get on with her life such a great read I could not stop turning the pages- read it within 2 days.
I am an aspiring writer I have taken good notes from a great author.
I absolutely will follow this author. The writing was stunning and beautiful.
I was very touched at the end. Somewhat of a tearjerker, in a good way. Lovely Romantic Addicting Story. I will go buy this book- as I MUST own it!
I will follow the author.
5 Stars!
I am an aspiring writer I have taken good notes from a great author.
I absolutely will follow this author. The writing was stunning and beautiful.
I was very touched at the end. Somewhat of a tearjerker, in a good way. Lovely Romantic Addicting Story. I will go buy this book- as I MUST own it!
I will follow the author.
5 Stars!
June 28, 2015
Since Kelly's husband died, every day has been a struggle to get back to something resembling normal. She's managed to keep it together for her sons, but after two years, the pain is still fresh. But when a stranger finds Kelly crying in the midst of her morning run, it's not long before Kelly finds herself in the odd circumstances of spending time with a famous — and available — movie star. But they each live in different worlds, and even as they come to depend on each other and develop deeper feelings, the grief for their pasts and the demands of their present threaten to come between them.
The Verdict: The prologue was simply heartbreaking, detailing the moments leading up to Kelly's widowhood with an indefinable clarity that even someone who's never experienced that great loss can't help but understand. It perfectly set the stage for the rest of the story, picking up two years later as Kelly is still grieving the loss of her husband and trying simply to get through each day without losing hope.
Kelly's life has been pretty empty and rather boring since losing Peter, and when she runs into Andrew on the second anniversary of Peter's death, she doesn't even recognize him. But as uneventful as her life may be, she hasn't been living under a rock, and when they meet again, realization dawns. However, there's a silent understanding between them that Andrew doesn't want a big deal made of his presence, and Kelly goes along with it, trying to treat him like just another person and not a famous movie star.
Where most romances that start the way Fix You did focus on grief and guilt and an inability to move on, Kelly and Andrew's story was refreshingly different. While Kelly was certainly still mourning her husband, she wasn't closed off to the possibility of a future with someone new — though she did feel like she was in some kind of parallel universe to be casually hanging out with a movie star. And Andrew, for his part, wasn't running away from fame or pushing Kelly away out of some misplaced sense of responsibility; instead he relished the time he had with her, the ability to live a relatively unknown and normal life for whatever few days they had together, and while he didn't hide his attraction to and interest in her, he also didn't rush things.
Unfortunately, past the prologue, it began to feel like I was missing something, like some of the connection to the characters was lacking. I liked Kelly, and her kids kept even the everyday routine situations entertaining without going over the top. But after the romance between Kelly and Andrew began to slowly develop, it felt like my emotional connection to them sort of stalled out. I think part of what was missing was the chemistry — and not just because of all the fade-to-black moments. I've read plenty of clean romances that dealt up passion without ever taking readers along for a step-by-step ride. But even as it was obvious that Andrew and Kelly cared deeply for each other, something about their relationship never felt like they couldn't get enough of each other — even when the characters said exactly that.
There was still plenty to like about the story. Kelly was very real — couldn't cook to save her life, lived in a somewhat messy life, and felt out of place in the rather glamorous world that Andrew was stuck in. And Andrew had faults as well, namely dealing in all the wrong ways with an event from his past and not always keeping Kelly in the forefront of his mind when he was feeling especially low. Fortunately, even with the sadder aspects of both their pasts, not to mention the issues that Andrew's fame brought to the table, the story remained grounded and for the most part upbeat, not a study in drowning angst and unbelievable drama like so many books with this general theme fall prey to. Overall, Fix You is a sweet love story about second chances for an unlikely but well-matched pair, and while I didn't entirely feel the connection, it was still a very enjoyable read.
***FicCentral received this book from Simon & Schuster (via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2015
Book Review: 4,5 stars
This book was awesome! Loved the plot, loved the characters - Andrew *sigh* -, loved the writing. I read The Jeweler last year and I totally loved it. Beck has a freshly writing style that makes her books easy to read, her characters easy to love and her storylines easy to enjoy.
This book is about a young widow, Kelly. She lost her husband when she was only 34, and after 2 years of trying so hardly to keep herself alive, she met Andrew, and everything seemed to be better for her. But Andrew isn’t a regular guy, he is a famous movie star, and he finds the normality of Kelly’s life perfect for what he is looking for his life. How will the make everything work? Will she survive to his fame, to the papz, to his agent?
Kelly was a character that gained my heart from the beginning of this book. She loved his husband so much, and when he died, a little part of her died too. Her dreams, and nightmares, about her husband were very important for her relationship with Andrew. I believe that sometimes our loved ones who are dead communicate with us through dreams. There was one particular dream that I am sure Peter was saying to Kelly to let him go.
I didn’t fall in love with Andrew right away. But with every moment they had together, with every detail, every word, every kiss, he won my heart. He was so sweet and understanding with Kelly. He was amazing with her kids and her family. Despite his secrets, he was always so sure about his feelings for her. When Kelly doubted, he was always ensuring her. I understand why this book doesn't have his POV, but it’d be awesome to have this story told from his POV.
Thank God for her kids, parents and best friends, they were great support for Kelly right after she lost her husband, and I love them so much for how much they accepted Andrew in her life.
Amazing book. 100% recommended.
Side note: Peter was Kelly’s husband, and Andres’s last name was Pettigrew. I was shock by those names, because one of the most awful characters in Harry Potter Series was Peter Pettigrew, so I was a little unwilling about those characters. But Kelly’s love for those two men made me love them so much that I totally forget about the death eater who betrayed Harry’s parents.
July 15, 2014
Another review Goodreads is policing. Such garbage. To read the joint review- head to All Romance Reviews.
OMG I loved this book so much.
So this is not erotic in any way- purely a romantic book. Most of the sex is implied. But I personally don't mind that at all and for this book it was perfect.
And the reason we didn't miss the sex is because this book was so damn good.
So you have Kelly- a widow with two kids that I think are pretty awesome. She is just starting to come out of the slump of losing her husband 2 years ago. She meets famous movie star Andy Pettigrew but doesn't know it right away. And because of that they seem to be able to start a very solid friendship.
It's remarkable because their relationship just happens. It is totally natural and fits in such a way that makes total sense. As if there is no logical solution for them to be together.
They begin their relationship in such a way that it's slow but perfect. it really has nothing to do with Andrew's fame at all. In fact, that is his biggest flaw really. She falls in love with the man and he falls right back in love with her.
So, at this point everyone might be thinking this is just the same old concept of hot famous guy meets everyday single mom but it really wasn't.
Kelly is one tough cookie. She doesn't even realize but she is. There was nothing about her that I didn't like. She was funny, accepted her flaws but didn't get hung up on them and she was just all around likeable.
She doesn't put up with Andrew's shit. So often you feel like the women just act like wet blankets around the guy because he's sexy and famous and says and does all the right things. Kelly knows what she will and won't put up with and she puts her foot down. What's even better is that Andrew makes the changes he needs to make for her on his own and in a way that makes you really feel his love. But even then, it's not all black and white. They both have to find their way to each other in a way that works for them.
And the ending isn't rushed at all which I love! The last few chapters are filled with angst but not in a way that is uncomfortable or aggravating. It's just enough to keep you hooked and makes you want to keep reading.
OMG I loved this book so much.
So this is not erotic in any way- purely a romantic book. Most of the sex is implied. But I personally don't mind that at all and for this book it was perfect.
And the reason we didn't miss the sex is because this book was so damn good.
So you have Kelly- a widow with two kids that I think are pretty awesome. She is just starting to come out of the slump of losing her husband 2 years ago. She meets famous movie star Andy Pettigrew but doesn't know it right away. And because of that they seem to be able to start a very solid friendship.
It's remarkable because their relationship just happens. It is totally natural and fits in such a way that makes total sense. As if there is no logical solution for them to be together.
They begin their relationship in such a way that it's slow but perfect. it really has nothing to do with Andrew's fame at all. In fact, that is his biggest flaw really. She falls in love with the man and he falls right back in love with her.
So, at this point everyone might be thinking this is just the same old concept of hot famous guy meets everyday single mom but it really wasn't.
Kelly is one tough cookie. She doesn't even realize but she is. There was nothing about her that I didn't like. She was funny, accepted her flaws but didn't get hung up on them and she was just all around likeable.
She doesn't put up with Andrew's shit. So often you feel like the women just act like wet blankets around the guy because he's sexy and famous and says and does all the right things. Kelly knows what she will and won't put up with and she puts her foot down. What's even better is that Andrew makes the changes he needs to make for her on his own and in a way that makes you really feel his love. But even then, it's not all black and white. They both have to find their way to each other in a way that works for them.
And the ending isn't rushed at all which I love! The last few chapters are filled with angst but not in a way that is uncomfortable or aggravating. It's just enough to keep you hooked and makes you want to keep reading.
March 15, 2015
Fix You, is one of those sweet and easy reads that still manage to pack a bit of an emotional punch.
I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of this story. Andrew and Kelly meet by pure chance. It’s been two years since Kelly’s husband, Peter, passed away. She’s trying to take things one day at a time and when she’s runs into Andrew during a vulnerable moment, he offers her comfort in a time of need.
“I want to trust, to risk, to take a chance… And not have to take a tumble because of it. Sometimes the reward is worth the risk. Let this be on of those times.”
Andrew is a famous Hollywood actor, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to peruse a normal relationship with Kelly. You could sense they had a bit of a spark between them but I loved that this wasn’t an insta-romance. They truly got to know one another. I loved their casual talks and visits with each other. Kelly’s sons liked Andrew and they all had to get to know one another. Their connection was truly built up over time.
As Kelly and Andrew navigate through the difficulties of a new relationship, they also have to deal with their individual issues. It was both honest and emotional seeing Kelly work through the pain of losing her husband. She wanted to move forward but every now and then, she had insecurities about her new relationship. Andrew, also had to deal with both consequences of his fame and battling his own inner demons.
“I want you. I want you flaws and all. I can only hope you’ll want my very flawed self in your life too.”
I loved Kelly’s character. I felt I could relate to her. She was seemed real; she was confident in some ways, awkward in others, but she was generally fun, sweet, and honest. Andrew was a nice guy and I loved how easy going and fun he could be.
On the surface, this book came across as a light read but there were deeper issues that had to be dealt with. The story flowed very well and the characters were enjoyable. The only reason I didn’t give this story a full 4 stars was because I would have loved to see a bit more depth to certain parts of the story. This is still a wonderful read and I love to see more about these characters.
I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of this story. Andrew and Kelly meet by pure chance. It’s been two years since Kelly’s husband, Peter, passed away. She’s trying to take things one day at a time and when she’s runs into Andrew during a vulnerable moment, he offers her comfort in a time of need.
“I want to trust, to risk, to take a chance… And not have to take a tumble because of it. Sometimes the reward is worth the risk. Let this be on of those times.”
Andrew is a famous Hollywood actor, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to peruse a normal relationship with Kelly. You could sense they had a bit of a spark between them but I loved that this wasn’t an insta-romance. They truly got to know one another. I loved their casual talks and visits with each other. Kelly’s sons liked Andrew and they all had to get to know one another. Their connection was truly built up over time.
As Kelly and Andrew navigate through the difficulties of a new relationship, they also have to deal with their individual issues. It was both honest and emotional seeing Kelly work through the pain of losing her husband. She wanted to move forward but every now and then, she had insecurities about her new relationship. Andrew, also had to deal with both consequences of his fame and battling his own inner demons.
“I want you. I want you flaws and all. I can only hope you’ll want my very flawed self in your life too.”
I loved Kelly’s character. I felt I could relate to her. She was seemed real; she was confident in some ways, awkward in others, but she was generally fun, sweet, and honest. Andrew was a nice guy and I loved how easy going and fun he could be.
On the surface, this book came across as a light read but there were deeper issues that had to be dealt with. The story flowed very well and the characters were enjoyable. The only reason I didn’t give this story a full 4 stars was because I would have loved to see a bit more depth to certain parts of the story. This is still a wonderful read and I love to see more about these characters.
September 15, 2013
This review and others can also be found here: http://brittanyandbiancablabbooks.blo...
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I read the synopsis of this story, I knew it was a must read for me. While I like steamy romances like any other girl, I also look for a romance novel where I can deeply connect to the characters and their story. This was my first read from this author, therefore I did not know what to expect. I found that I was quickly engaged in her story.
Fix You is an emotional read. While the synopsis tells you that her husband dies and leaves her a widow, I still teared up. I think there’s a difference between being told something versus experiencing it. The small part we get of Kelly’s husband allowed me as a reader to connect with her past life and fully understand how she feels as she raises her two boys alone. This gave the story more depth.
When Kelly meets Andrew, I instantly felt the connection between the two. I loved watching (or reading) them fall in love. The story had a great pace which allowed the story to flow nicely. I read this book in one sitting as I had to find out how their story would end.
There’s a small twist in the story that I did not see coming. Everyone has secrets. Even famous people, like Andrew. There’s not too many stories where the movie star is sad and broken. This made the story so much more relatable. Love is hard. It is especially hard when the person you love lives in a different world than you. I loved Andrew’s passion for Kelly and her boys. I loved that he wanted normalcy despite his Hollywood life style.
I went back and forth on the rating of this story, between 3 and 4 stars because I wanted more! I'm greedy I know! However, I will settle wit four stars. It was an emotional story about loss and love. It reminded me that everything happens for a reason, and that we may not know why at the moment. I wish this story was longer. I was not ready to say goodbye to Kelly and Andrew. I really hope there is more in store for their future.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I read the synopsis of this story, I knew it was a must read for me. While I like steamy romances like any other girl, I also look for a romance novel where I can deeply connect to the characters and their story. This was my first read from this author, therefore I did not know what to expect. I found that I was quickly engaged in her story.
Fix You is an emotional read. While the synopsis tells you that her husband dies and leaves her a widow, I still teared up. I think there’s a difference between being told something versus experiencing it. The small part we get of Kelly’s husband allowed me as a reader to connect with her past life and fully understand how she feels as she raises her two boys alone. This gave the story more depth.
When Kelly meets Andrew, I instantly felt the connection between the two. I loved watching (or reading) them fall in love. The story had a great pace which allowed the story to flow nicely. I read this book in one sitting as I had to find out how their story would end.
There’s a small twist in the story that I did not see coming. Everyone has secrets. Even famous people, like Andrew. There’s not too many stories where the movie star is sad and broken. This made the story so much more relatable. Love is hard. It is especially hard when the person you love lives in a different world than you. I loved Andrew’s passion for Kelly and her boys. I loved that he wanted normalcy despite his Hollywood life style.
I went back and forth on the rating of this story, between 3 and 4 stars because I wanted more! I'm greedy I know! However, I will settle wit four stars. It was an emotional story about loss and love. It reminded me that everything happens for a reason, and that we may not know why at the moment. I wish this story was longer. I was not ready to say goodbye to Kelly and Andrew. I really hope there is more in store for their future.
December 7, 2013
I'm a sucker for romances that involve the "everyday" person catching the eye of someone famous and falling in love. Make it a bit of an uphill battle and I'm all in. In FIX YOU, we have both of those elements and Beck Anderson gives us a story that was engaging with two broken characters who needed each other to finally start living.
Kelly Reynolds meets movie star Andrew Pettigrew quite accidentally in Indio. In that brief meeting, they leave an impression on the other but Kelly writes it off as nothing more than a chance meeting. She goes back to her life and her boys in Idaho, living one day at a time since the death of her husband. But when Andy reaches out to her when he's in Idaho, an unlikely friendship develops. Kelly discovers there is much more to Andy than what's portrayed in the gossip pages. He's broken, just like her, but they might be able to fix each other.
Kelly and Andy were both fighting demons from their past. Kelly's was the untimely death of her husband. For Andy it's the past his running from. Neither of them take great strides to hide the fact that they are hurting from something in their past, but they are able to start building a relationship anyway. Things don't always go smoothly, especially with Andy being a huge Hollywood star, but they manage to navigate those rough waters by talking through their issues. But with anything, when you ignore the elephant in the room, it tends to get bigger and become a problem rather than going away. Kelly's inability to let go of her dead husband and Andy's inability to moderate his excesses and deal with his past threaten what they have built. They have to own their demons and understand how to deal with them, by themselves, before they can get to the point of being each other's rock.
A beautifully crafted story that had me thoroughly engrossed from the very beginning. Definitely one to pick up.
Kelly Reynolds meets movie star Andrew Pettigrew quite accidentally in Indio. In that brief meeting, they leave an impression on the other but Kelly writes it off as nothing more than a chance meeting. She goes back to her life and her boys in Idaho, living one day at a time since the death of her husband. But when Andy reaches out to her when he's in Idaho, an unlikely friendship develops. Kelly discovers there is much more to Andy than what's portrayed in the gossip pages. He's broken, just like her, but they might be able to fix each other.
Kelly and Andy were both fighting demons from their past. Kelly's was the untimely death of her husband. For Andy it's the past his running from. Neither of them take great strides to hide the fact that they are hurting from something in their past, but they are able to start building a relationship anyway. Things don't always go smoothly, especially with Andy being a huge Hollywood star, but they manage to navigate those rough waters by talking through their issues. But with anything, when you ignore the elephant in the room, it tends to get bigger and become a problem rather than going away. Kelly's inability to let go of her dead husband and Andy's inability to moderate his excesses and deal with his past threaten what they have built. They have to own their demons and understand how to deal with them, by themselves, before they can get to the point of being each other's rock.
A beautifully crafted story that had me thoroughly engrossed from the very beginning. Definitely one to pick up.
March 10, 2015
You can find this review along with others on my blog: http://talkwordy2me.blogspot.com/
Fix you by Beck Anderson brings us a story about a widow, Kelly, who is trying her best to raise her two sons after losing her husband. Kelly quite literally runs into Andrew one morning and it instantly changes her life. One would think that Andy Pettigrew has it all with his movie star status but really he is heading towards a dark path when he meets Kelly. Andy pursues Kelly even though she has reservations about disrupting her families lives and fitting into his world. Andy has been having trouble coping with his fame and even though his efforts are great even Kelly might not be able to help him.
I did enjoy this book a great deal. It was a very quick read and I liked the journey the two characters had to go through to find their own happiness. I enjoyed Kelly's kids they were just awesome. I think that Kelly went into this relationship with equal measures of reluctance and pure blindness. Andrew clearly threw out clear warnings that his world wasn't exactly stable but Kelly ignored it until she couldn't anymore. Andrew needed help for far to long and shame on the people in his life for not trying harder to get him to want it. I don't really like the way Kelly handled after the scene on the beach, even if I understand some of her reasons. Throughout the book Kelly mentions his young age and maturity level compared to hers but I don't think she really was as mature as she touted she was. Overall this was a good book showing that you really need to fix yourself and that although that's your job it can't hurt to have someone else there for support. Life is hard and sooo many things can complicate it but it's all in how you choose to handle it.
I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
Fix you by Beck Anderson brings us a story about a widow, Kelly, who is trying her best to raise her two sons after losing her husband. Kelly quite literally runs into Andrew one morning and it instantly changes her life. One would think that Andy Pettigrew has it all with his movie star status but really he is heading towards a dark path when he meets Kelly. Andy pursues Kelly even though she has reservations about disrupting her families lives and fitting into his world. Andy has been having trouble coping with his fame and even though his efforts are great even Kelly might not be able to help him.
I did enjoy this book a great deal. It was a very quick read and I liked the journey the two characters had to go through to find their own happiness. I enjoyed Kelly's kids they were just awesome. I think that Kelly went into this relationship with equal measures of reluctance and pure blindness. Andrew clearly threw out clear warnings that his world wasn't exactly stable but Kelly ignored it until she couldn't anymore. Andrew needed help for far to long and shame on the people in his life for not trying harder to get him to want it. I don't really like the way Kelly handled after the scene on the beach, even if I understand some of her reasons. Throughout the book Kelly mentions his young age and maturity level compared to hers but I don't think she really was as mature as she touted she was. Overall this was a good book showing that you really need to fix yourself and that although that's your job it can't hurt to have someone else there for support. Life is hard and sooo many things can complicate it but it's all in how you choose to handle it.
I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
September 15, 2013
This scrumptious morsel had me hunkered down like it was a cold winter’s night—with an uber-soft blanket and a steaming mug of thick hot chocolate. However, the storyline was so highly entertaining by the time I took a break, I was on the final page and my chocolate cold from neglect. Now, the heat of this cup of goodness wasn’t steaming enough to burn my tongue—no one took off their wrappers…a la another oh-so-hot read that’s been popular in the headlines…but it left this Chick to do her own imaginative confectionary work.
It was easy to lose myself in the character of Kelly; her voice, mannerisms, and self-doubt were highly relatable. She also had an edge to her way of thinking and reactions that made her a gal I would split a cupcake with or be myself. That once-in-a-lifetime lottery moment she finds herself winning by crossing paths with a smoking-hot movie star is actually realistic. That’s the beauty of Anderson’s writing; it pulled me in and was so smooth that I didn’t realize how deeply I had delved into this lip-smacking read until the final page when I looked around and said, “What? Wait! I can go back for seconds, right?”
What was especially fresh and delectable were the split settings and locations. I found myself wound up in the typical Hollywood glitz associated with a popular movie star, but it was tempered with the peaceful backdrops of a western state—Idaho—a place a reader often doesn’t get to travel to on the printed page. The other half to the dynamic duo of main characters, Andrew Pettigrew, was easy on the palette both in description and personality as well. Again, when I was finished, I wanted sequel seconds.
5 Bars (stars, yo')
It was easy to lose myself in the character of Kelly; her voice, mannerisms, and self-doubt were highly relatable. She also had an edge to her way of thinking and reactions that made her a gal I would split a cupcake with or be myself. That once-in-a-lifetime lottery moment she finds herself winning by crossing paths with a smoking-hot movie star is actually realistic. That’s the beauty of Anderson’s writing; it pulled me in and was so smooth that I didn’t realize how deeply I had delved into this lip-smacking read until the final page when I looked around and said, “What? Wait! I can go back for seconds, right?”
What was especially fresh and delectable were the split settings and locations. I found myself wound up in the typical Hollywood glitz associated with a popular movie star, but it was tempered with the peaceful backdrops of a western state—Idaho—a place a reader often doesn’t get to travel to on the printed page. The other half to the dynamic duo of main characters, Andrew Pettigrew, was easy on the palette both in description and personality as well. Again, when I was finished, I wanted sequel seconds.
5 Bars (stars, yo')
March 11, 2015
I've always loved stories about celebrities. I'm not sure if it's what's left of my childhood desire to be famous, or if it's something else, but they're always fun to read. What I love most is when they fall for everyday people; who they could be if they didn't live in the limelight. I've read one other novel by Beck Anderson and so I knew the caliber of her writing, but I was interested to see how'd she handle this subject matter.
In all honesty, I think she did a fantastic job. This story wasn't all hearts and roses. It was often real and raw. I laughed and cried, but I loved what I was reading. Kelly is one strong woman. She's had to face some real challenges and I think she's faced them with dignity and resolve. Andrew was a bit of mystery. I wasn't sure what it was that initially caused him to be attracted to Kelly. I do like how their relationship slowly developed. I also think he was fantastic with Kelly's kids and family.
I think what surprised me were the twists the story took. Both Kelly and Andrew had pasts that had a great amount of bearing on their present. I do wish more time and pages had been dedicated to it. I also wish the book had been longer, just so I could have a better sense of resolution. I just feel like there was too much that wasn't addressed. Perhaps Beck Anderson will consider writing a sequel or a novella giving readers, Kelly and Andrew, just that. Either way, I'm looking forward to whatever Beck writes next.
In all honesty, I think she did a fantastic job. This story wasn't all hearts and roses. It was often real and raw. I laughed and cried, but I loved what I was reading. Kelly is one strong woman. She's had to face some real challenges and I think she's faced them with dignity and resolve. Andrew was a bit of mystery. I wasn't sure what it was that initially caused him to be attracted to Kelly. I do like how their relationship slowly developed. I also think he was fantastic with Kelly's kids and family.
I think what surprised me were the twists the story took. Both Kelly and Andrew had pasts that had a great amount of bearing on their present. I do wish more time and pages had been dedicated to it. I also wish the book had been longer, just so I could have a better sense of resolution. I just feel like there was too much that wasn't addressed. Perhaps Beck Anderson will consider writing a sequel or a novella giving readers, Kelly and Andrew, just that. Either way, I'm looking forward to whatever Beck writes next.
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