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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.
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!!
AUTHOR INFO
Beck Anderson believes in the power of perfectly imperfect women and in the healing power of love. Her new novel, Fix You, grew out of those beliefs and the time to write afforded by the worst Thanksgiving blizzard she’s ever witnessed in West Yellowstone.
For Beck, the path to published novelist has taken lots of twists and turns, including a degree in anthropology, a stint as a ticket seller at a ski resort, a much-loved career as a high school English teacher, and a long tenure as a member of the best writing group ever, hands down.
Beck balances (clumsily at best) writing novels and screenplays, working full-time as an educator, mothering two pre-teen males, loving one post-40 husband, and making time to walk the foothills of Boise, Idaho, with Stefano DiMera Delfino Anderson, the suavest Chihuahua north of the border.
Good luck everyone
Great review, book sounds so good!
Thanks for the post and your review on this book. I love to read your thoughts, because you never have mislead me on a great book. I am looking forward to reading this one!
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!
Book sounds great. Great review. Added to TBR. Thanks for the chance
Sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway!