What do you think?
Rate this book
Fixer Upper #1
Betting on the House
“I’m going to be gone in a week. You’ll never hear from me again.”
Bonnie tilted up Natalie’s chin with one, manicured finger.
“Then let’s have some fun.”
Natalie Roche has made it. She has her life, her independence, and her rock-and-roll dream job: a talent manager in L.A., at the world’s largest music management firm.
But when Natalie’s grandmother dies and leaves her the family house in Appalachian Maryland, she has no choice but to trek her way back east and confront the past she’s worked so hard to escape. But luckily for her, family drama isn’t the only thing she finds in the mountains.
A luscious lawyer, a heartthrob handyman, a mediocre mom, and an absolute asshole of a half-brother… This road trip might be more than what she’d bargained for.
Bonnie tilted up Natalie’s chin with one, manicured finger.
“Then let’s have some fun.”
Natalie Roche has made it. She has her life, her independence, and her rock-and-roll dream job: a talent manager in L.A., at the world’s largest music management firm.
But when Natalie’s grandmother dies and leaves her the family house in Appalachian Maryland, she has no choice but to trek her way back east and confront the past she’s worked so hard to escape. But luckily for her, family drama isn’t the only thing she finds in the mountains.
A luscious lawyer, a heartthrob handyman, a mediocre mom, and an absolute asshole of a half-brother… This road trip might be more than what she’d bargained for.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2022
288 people are currently reading
1136 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
May 12, 2022
There was no resolution to this book and the main characters were kind of insufferable. Also I don’t think this should be marketed as a romance because they barely interact. Definitely more about family dynamics, finding yourself than romance. The side characters were a lot more interesting than the mains. Just overall disappointing.
September 9, 2022
When I saw that this was narrated by the author, I was concerned because most author-read books that I've listened to have not been great. I'm happy to say that Cassandra Medcalf did a great job with the narration, no glaring issues to detract from the story. The plot itself was alright, nothing that blew me away or had me super invested. The characters were likeable enough, though I would've been more drawn to their romance if there'd been a bit more contrast between them, perhaps - they seemed fairly similar and weren't all that deep. I also felt like the "feelings" were a bit too quick and shallow, given how few times the MCs actually interacted in the book!
It was an enjoyable listen if you want something light, and while I could go back to if I had a few hours to kill, I won't likely remember it a month from now.
It was an enjoyable listen if you want something light, and while I could go back to if I had a few hours to kill, I won't likely remember it a month from now.
September 26, 2022
Absolutely loved! So engaging and sweet and perfect narration too!
May 19, 2025
Helped pass the time on a delayed work trip
January 21, 2023
What a nice read. I wasn't sure I was going to like it after the first few chapters but the characters really grew on me. I do love a coming home story and this one will absolutely be a re-read for me. The author does the narration and does a great job.
April 24, 2024
*3.5
This was actually a really fun Lgbtia+ story 🫶🏻 I loved how the romance wasn’t the central part but realistically just part of the main characters story.
When Natalie’s grandmother passes away, she leaves Natalie her home. As she moves back to the small town she grew up in to renovate the house, she doesn’t expect to have a one night stand. Especially not with the lawyer organising her grandmothers will.
My favourite part of this book was definitely the friendship between Natalie and Sean 🤭
Going into this book I had no idea what to expect, I ended up having a fun time and enjoying my reading experience. There are 3 books in this companion romance series and I’m intrigued to continue onto the other books.
This was actually a really fun Lgbtia+ story 🫶🏻 I loved how the romance wasn’t the central part but realistically just part of the main characters story.
When Natalie’s grandmother passes away, she leaves Natalie her home. As she moves back to the small town she grew up in to renovate the house, she doesn’t expect to have a one night stand. Especially not with the lawyer organising her grandmothers will.
My favourite part of this book was definitely the friendship between Natalie and Sean 🤭
Going into this book I had no idea what to expect, I ended up having a fun time and enjoying my reading experience. There are 3 books in this companion romance series and I’m intrigued to continue onto the other books.
March 16, 2023
This was a fun contemporary romance. It felt a lot like The Simple Wild in that it is focused a lot on the FMC's family and her coming into herself, and the romance second. Sapphic and fun, loved the small town vibes and the random contracter best friend. There were times when it felt too short, the plot moved too quickly and too conveniently forward. However, still enjoyable and I definitely still recommend.
April 7, 2023
I loved this story so much! Honestly I didn’t want it to end! I love the friendship between Shawn and Natalie, as well as the way Bonnie and Natalie navigated everything! Such a great story!
June 24, 2024
“i wasn't mad at you. i just couldn't bring myself to be.”
February 21, 2024
Que libro más fome.
January 15, 2022
Betting on the House is an adult, sapphic romance following Natalie, a talent agent from LA, who travels to the rural countryside of the East Coast to deal will her grandmother’s will. She has to decide if she wants to keep the house her grandmother left her, or go back to her life in LA. Things are further complicated by a one night stand with Bonnie whom Natalie can’t seem to get out of her head.
This book was an easy read, albeit a bit cheesy at times. There were some fun troupes in the book that reminded me of rom-com movies. I liked diving into Natalie’s family dynamics and her struggle with what she wanted to do with her life.
The storyline seemed more like a contemporary than a romance, with most of the plot focusing on Natalie’s family life, blossoming friendship with a contractor, and her job. For this book being a romance, there wasn’t a lot of page time dedicated to the romance itself and I didn’t really feel a lot of chemistry between two characters. The conclusion also wrapped up a quicker than I would have liked.
ARC provided by the author
This book was an easy read, albeit a bit cheesy at times. There were some fun troupes in the book that reminded me of rom-com movies. I liked diving into Natalie’s family dynamics and her struggle with what she wanted to do with her life.
The storyline seemed more like a contemporary than a romance, with most of the plot focusing on Natalie’s family life, blossoming friendship with a contractor, and her job. For this book being a romance, there wasn’t a lot of page time dedicated to the romance itself and I didn’t really feel a lot of chemistry between two characters. The conclusion also wrapped up a quicker than I would have liked.
ARC provided by the author
September 20, 2022
There are so many things I can say about this book, but I will just give you my highlights. 1. I am not sure if the sex scene is Fade to Black, but it was super disappointing. 2. How can you get into a relationship with someone and you don't even know them or even spend any time with them. 3. This whole book was just confusing, seems like she was better suited to be with her friend she met at McD. Anyway, I made it through the book. 2.5 stars.
April 7, 2022
Great Find!
This was such a great story! It was easy to see how relatable and loveable the characters are. It is a great reminder to connect with loved ones and be open to new experiences.
I cannot wait for the sequel!
This was such a great story! It was easy to see how relatable and loveable the characters are. It is a great reminder to connect with loved ones and be open to new experiences.
I cannot wait for the sequel!
May 12, 2022
lovely
This is a charming book. I would definitely recommend it to a friend or family member. Can’t wait for the follow up.
This is a charming book. I would definitely recommend it to a friend or family member. Can’t wait for the follow up.
May 26, 2022
A fun, charming book! I'm looking forward to others by this author, which is notable because this isn't even my normal genre for reading.
June 9, 2024
.
2.25 which I think is generous. This whole book read like a bad fanfic. All of the relationships in this book lacked development and depth. The main character was near insufferable because of the very odd/near manipulative actions toward another one of the other characters. The one good thing was that this was only 200 pages because I don't think I could have taken much more of this.
2.25 which I think is generous. This whole book read like a bad fanfic. All of the relationships in this book lacked development and depth. The main character was near insufferable because of the very odd/near manipulative actions toward another one of the other characters. The one good thing was that this was only 200 pages because I don't think I could have taken much more of this.
October 30, 2024
I LOVE this book (and the second one). The journey is so enjoyable and while there isn’t a whole lotta romance in this one, there is a second one that has more of the relationship flare you’d expect in a romance book. I read them back to back (they’re very short) and that was the best experience. I do get why they needed to be separate books, but be warned that you may find that their story isn’t totally swoony until you read their Christmas sequel.
August 24, 2024
I found this cute story on my TBR shelves. A fantastic love story!Natalie is home from California and on semi leave from her music marketing job, to take care of the will of her grandmother. While there and before her appointment with the lawyer she meets Bonnie. They spend a torrid night together. Then when she goes to the lawyer's office, it's Bonnie. She had also met Shawn a contractor and a now a good friend.
Part of the will leaves her the house, if she wants it, or it's to go to her half brother, Ethan. This is a fun read, and goes by quickly. 5 stars!
Part of the will leaves her the house, if she wants it, or it's to go to her half brother, Ethan. This is a fun read, and goes by quickly. 5 stars!
May 27, 2023
It was a nice story. Unique with a bi woman main character. The story felt more women’s fiction than romance, because the romance had abrupt developmental points but the returning to “home” plot was totally solid.
March 5, 2023
This was so cute 😭😭
January 26, 2024
This was like reading a story someone typed to me through text messaging. Awful.
April 1, 2023
The story was well-written, and it kept me interested.
My main complaints would be the pacing and the lack of screen time for the two main characters.
For example, the 'bet' is not mentioned until the middle of the book. And Bonnie's POV didn't really add anything to the story. Honestly, it could have easily been edited out without changing the main story. With that being said, romance seemed more like a subplot than the main plot. Which is totally okay, but if that's the case, I would suggest that the author workshop the blurb and cover since those point to a romance as the main part of the story. Or better yet, classify the book as woman's/LGBTQ+ fiction, not romance.
By the end, I was rooting for Shawn, the handyman, and Natalie to get together because they had more on-page time and chemistry. Aside from Natalie and Bonnie's insta-lust, mutual pining, and two steamy scenes, there wasn’t any relationship build-up.
It wasn’t until the Climax that the two mains really had a heart-to-heart.
Overall rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: 3/5
Prose: 4/5
Plot: 2/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
My main complaints would be the pacing and the lack of screen time for the two main characters.
For example, the 'bet' is not mentioned until the middle of the book. And Bonnie's POV didn't really add anything to the story. Honestly, it could have easily been edited out without changing the main story. With that being said, romance seemed more like a subplot than the main plot. Which is totally okay, but if that's the case, I would suggest that the author workshop the blurb and cover since those point to a romance as the main part of the story. Or better yet, classify the book as woman's/LGBTQ+ fiction, not romance.
By the end, I was rooting for Shawn, the handyman, and Natalie to get together because they had more on-page time and chemistry. Aside from Natalie and Bonnie's insta-lust, mutual pining, and two steamy scenes, there wasn’t any relationship build-up.
It wasn’t until the Climax that the two mains really had a heart-to-heart.
Overall rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: 3/5
Prose: 4/5
Plot: 2/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
May 3, 2023
I put this down partway through. A rare DNF for me.
I didn't like the character development in the book, and the chemistry was just lacking between people. It was a huge disappointment as a romance.
I didn't like the character development in the book, and the chemistry was just lacking between people. It was a huge disappointment as a romance.
July 27, 2024
Loved this book, it was so cute, I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
December 6, 2022
An easy light read, hallmarky in the best way. I like the idea of the book and how all of the characters met. It was cute and enjoyable with a few steamy scenes. There were a lot of drama points that were skipped over, like, would Bonnie’s partners or Natalie’s half brother have an issue with their romantic involvement? Does Bonnie know about the kiss with shawn? How does she feel about their close friendship and work agreement? What else has happened with the band, will Natalie explain her self and apologize to the band members, will she tell the truth to the public? So I wouldn’t have minded if the book was a bit longer to work those things out but it was a stress free book without it, just left me the questions. It has all the right tropes & a little bit of cheese 🧀 without making your eyes roll. Just the book I was looking for, 5 stars from me!
June 26, 2022
it wasn't awful, but i'll probably forget this within the week. i personally found the characters to be lacking of depth and cringe, aside from possibly nat.
nothing in the story really grabbed me, and i finished it out of principle rather than because i really wanted to. the dialogue in particular felt clunky and awkward most of the time, and for me, dialogue is such an important part of the dynamic between characters as it's a way of showcasing the personality of the character without having to spoon-feed the reader.
nothing in the story really grabbed me, and i finished it out of principle rather than because i really wanted to. the dialogue in particular felt clunky and awkward most of the time, and for me, dialogue is such an important part of the dynamic between characters as it's a way of showcasing the personality of the character without having to spoon-feed the reader.
September 13, 2022
Very good book, could not put it down.
I really enjoyed this book. I don't usually read this type of stuff ( same sex inter action) but the book was well written and not too much inter action from the main female characters. All in all a good book.
I really enjoyed this book. I don't usually read this type of stuff ( same sex inter action) but the book was well written and not too much inter action from the main female characters. All in all a good book.
September 25, 2022
Cute and sweet romance
Super cute story with easy to love characters. No struggle no surprises, just a fun beach (well, mountains) read. I highly recommend this story. And look forward to checking out the other books by this author.
Super cute story with easy to love characters. No struggle no surprises, just a fun beach (well, mountains) read. I highly recommend this story. And look forward to checking out the other books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews