Biography coming soon.
Archivist's Choice
Fix Her Up
Tessa Bailey (2019)
Genre
Romance
Reading Time
12 Minutes
Key Themes
See below
Track Your Reading
Sign in to track this book
A party planner, eager for respect, enlists a retired baseball star to fake a romance, only to find their staged kisses spark a real, passionate attraction.
Synopsis
Georgette Castle, a children's party planner often underestimated by her home renovation mogul family, is determined to shed her 'little sister' image and be seen as a sophisticated 'Woman of the World.' To achieve this, she embarks on a self-improvement journey and concocts a plan: a fake relationship with Travis Ford, her older brother's best friend and a former pro baseball player whose career ended due to injury. Travis, who is trying to rebuild his life flipping houses and escape his past glory, agrees to the charade, hoping it will help him secure a new job by making him appear more stable.
What starts as a mutually beneficial arrangement quickly blurs the lines as their undeniable chemistry and genuine affection begin to surface. Georgie finds herself falling for the man she's always secretly crushed on, while Travis realizes the 'kid sister' he used to tease has grown into a vibrant, desirable woman. Their fake romance forces them to confront their true feelings, navigate family expectations, and decide if their pretend love can become a real-life happily ever after.
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Funny, heartwarming, steamy, lighthearted
Plot Summary
The Proposal
Georgette 'Georgie' Castle feels her family, who run a successful renovation business, underestimates her. She decides to change her image from 'town clown' to 'Woman of the World'. Her plan involves modernizing her party planning business, updating her wardrobe, and proving she is desirable. She has secretly liked Travis Ford, her older brother Stephen's best friend, for years. When she overhears Travis struggling to find a new job because of his 'bad boy' image from his baseball days, Georgie sees an opportunity. She suggests a fake relationship: they will pretend to date to shock her family into taking her seriously and help Travis appear more stable to potential employers. Travis, at first unsure, agrees, seeing the benefit for both of them.
Operation: Fake Dating Begins
Their fake relationship starts with a public display of affection at a local diner, meant for the town's gossip to notice. Georgie's family, especially her brothers Stephen and Ben, are shocked and disbelieving, which Georgie enjoys. Travis, used to public attention from his baseball career, plays his part well, amused by Georgie's reactions. They set rules for their 'relationship,' mainly to keep their hands off each other. This rule becomes harder to follow as their closeness blurs the lines of their agreement. The town quickly notices, and the 'relationship' becomes the talk of the town, pleasing Georgie and begrudgingly amusing Travis.
Beneath the Surface
As Georgie and Travis spend more time together, their fake dates begin to feel real. Travis looks past Georgie's 'clown' persona, seeing her warmth, humor, and intelligence. Georgie discovers Travis's kind and vulnerable side beneath his rough exterior. They share personal stories and support each other. Travis helps Georgie with her business website, offering advice, and Georgie encourages Travis to pursue his interest in flipping houses. Their physical attraction, initially dismissed as part of the 'act,' becomes clear, leading to moments of tension and accidental touches that suggest something more than a charade. They both start to question their agreement's limits.
The First Crack in the Facade
A public event, like a local festival or charity gala, forces Georgie and Travis to intensify their performance. During this event, their 'act' becomes convincing, blurring lines for them and for observers. They share a public kiss that feels real to both, leaving them confused. Later, a jealous ex-girlfriend of Travis's or a rival from Georgie's past tries to expose their relationship as fake, but Travis instinctively defends Georgie, strengthening their public image and private bond. The incident makes them both realize the strength of their feelings, making it harder to maintain the pretense and their no-touching rule. They begin to wonder if what they are doing is still just an act.
Conflicting Desires
The growing closeness between Georgie and Travis leads to clear sexual tension. They find themselves in situations where their boundaries are tested, often leading to near-kisses or lingering touches that leave them wanting more. Travis, still dealing with his career-ending injury, struggles with the idea of a real relationship, fearing he might hurt Georgie or not be 'enough' for her. Georgie, though drawn to Travis, is also afraid of getting her heart broken, especially if he does not truly feel the same way outside their agreement. Their internal struggles create a push-and-pull, making their fake relationship feel real yet out of reach.
Family Interventions
Georgie's brothers, Stephen and Ben, initially doubtful, become protective and suspicious of Travis's intentions. They confront Travis, warning him not to hurt Georgie. These confrontations make Travis express his respect and growing affection for Georgie, even as he keeps up the fake relationship. Georgie, seeing her brothers' concern, feels both validated and annoyed, still wanting to prove her independence. The family's interventions, though well-meaning, complicate Georgie and Travis's dynamic, making it harder for them to deny their true feelings, especially when they have to defend their 'relationship' to others. The pressure increases as their secret becomes harder to keep.
A Real Date
Unable to deny their connection, Travis takes Georgie on a 'real' date, separate from their public performances. This date is personal, showing a deeper side of Travis that Georgie has only hinted at. They share vulnerabilities and dreams, and the evening ends with their first truly passionate kiss, one not for show. This moment breaks the pretense of their fake relationship, forcing them to acknowledge the romantic and sexual chemistry between them. They both realize their feelings have grown far beyond the initial agreement, and the idea of returning to just being 'friends' or ending their 'relationship' becomes painful.
The First Intimacy
After the real date, Georgie and Travis finally give in to the strong attraction they have been fighting. They spend their first night together, which is tender, passionate, and emotional. This intimacy solidifies their connection, making it impossible to go back. However, the question of whether this is truly a 'real' relationship or just temporary remains. They both feel vulnerable and scared, unsure how to handle this new, genuine stage after starting with a lie. Despite the uncertainty, their physical and emotional bond deepens, leaving them both overwhelmed by their feelings.
The Truth Comes Out
The truth about Georgie and Travis's fake relationship is exposed, perhaps by a nosy family member, a jealous acquaintance, or an accidental slip-up. Georgie's family feels betrayed, especially her brothers, who had come to accept Travis. Travis's job prospects are at risk, as the deception reflects poorly on him. Georgie is upset by her family's reaction and the potential harm to Travis's career, feeling guilty for starting the plan. The exposure forces them to face the results of their actions and the depth of their true feelings for each other, now without any pretense.
Rebuilding and Reaffirming
After the truth comes out, Georgie and Travis work to regain trust and prove their genuine feelings. Georgie apologizes to her family, explaining her reasons, while Travis takes responsibility for his part in the deception. They openly acknowledge their real love for each other, showing through actions that their relationship is no longer fake. Travis works to improve his professional reputation, and Georgie continues to build her business with new confidence. They support each other, showing their bond is strong enough to withstand the initial lie and its aftermath, leading to reconciliation with Georgie's family and a stronger, more honest foundation for their relationship.
A Future Together
With their relationship now public and accepted by Georgie's family, Georgie and Travis commit to a future together. Georgie's business grows, and she earns the respect and recognition she wanted from her family, who now see her as a capable and successful woman. Travis successfully establishes his house-flipping business, finding new purpose and happiness outside of baseball. They continue to support each other's dreams, their love deepened by the challenges they have overcome. The story ends with them happily together, having built a real relationship from a fake start, showing that sometimes the best things come from unexpected beginnings.
Principal Figures
Georgette 'Georgie' Castle
The Protagonist
Georgie transforms from seeking external validation to finding self-acceptance and confidence, realizing her worth is inherent and not dependent on others' perceptions.
Travis Ford
The Protagonist
Travis moves from feeling lost and defined by his past to finding new purpose and embracing genuine emotional connection and love with Georgie.
Stephen Castle
The Supporting
Stephen gradually comes to accept Georgie's maturity and her relationship with Travis, moving past his initial skepticism.
Ben Castle
The Supporting
Ben, like Stephen, learns to see Georgie as an independent woman capable of making her own choices and finding love.
Brenda
The Supporting
Brenda remains a static character, serving as a catalyst for plot progression through her gossip.
Themes & Insights
The Quest for Self-Acceptance and Validation
Georgie's plan to 'fix herself up' comes from her desire to be taken seriously and seen as a mature, desirable woman, not just the 'town clown' by her family and community. Her journey is about learning that true validation comes from within, not from outside opinions or a fake relationship. She finds confidence in her unique qualities and her career, rather than trying to fit a mold.
“She wanted to be a Woman of the World. Whatever that meant. Most likely, it meant no more leggings. And definitely no more crushing on her brother’s best friend.”
Finding New Purpose After Loss
Travis's story centers on his struggle to find meaning after his baseball career ended due to an injury. He feels defined by his past success and lingering 'bad boy' image. His time with Georgie and his growing house-flipping business help him discover new interests and self-worth not tied to his athletic achievements. This theme explores the challenges of starting over and moving on from a major life change.
“He’d been major league baseball’s hottest rookie when an injury ended his career. Now he’s flipping houses to keep busy and trying to forget his glory days.”
The Blurring Lines Between Pretense and Reality
The main idea of a fake relationship becoming real is a core theme. Georgie and Travis initially agree to a charade, but as they spend more time together, their manufactured intimacy turns into genuine connection, attraction, and eventually, love. This theme explores how actions and shared experiences, even when faked at first, can create real emotions and change how people see themselves and others. It shows that sometimes, what seems 'fake' can lead to something true.
“It’s not like it’s real. But the girl Travis used to tease is now a funny, full-of-life woman and there’s nothing fake about how much he wants her...”
Family Expectations and Independence
Georgie's relationship with her family, especially her older brothers, is a key theme. Her family, though loving, often treats her like a child and does not take her party planning business seriously, always pushing her towards their renovation business. Georgie's fake relationship is partly a rebellion against these expectations and a way to assert her independence and maturity. The story explores the difficulties of breaking free from family expectations while keeping loving relationships.
“Georgette Castle’s family runs the best home renovation business in town, but she picked balloons instead of blueprints and they haven’t taken her seriously since.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Fake Relationship Trope
A pretense of dating leads to genuine romance.
This is the central plot device of the novel. Georgie and Travis agree to pretend to be in a relationship for mutual benefit: Georgie wants to gain respect and prove her maturity to her family, and Travis needs to clean up his image for potential employers. The fake relationship creates immediate conflict, humorous situations, and allows the characters to spend significant time together, gradually developing real feelings and undeniable chemistry that ultimately transcends their initial agreement. It's a classic romance trope used to explore themes of identity, perception, and unexpected love.
Best Friend's Sister Trope
Forbidden attraction between a man and his best friend's sibling.
Travis is the best friend of Georgie's older brother, Stephen. This dynamic creates an inherent tension and a sense of 'forbidden' attraction, as Travis has always seen Georgie as Stephen's 'little sister.' This trope adds layers of conflict, particularly through Stephen's protective instincts, and heightens the emotional stakes when Travis's feelings for Georgie become genuine. It also plays into Georgie's desire to be seen as a woman, not just a kid, especially by someone from her brother's circle.
Small Town Setting
A close-knit community where everyone knows everyone's business.
The story is set in a small town where gossip travels fast and reputations are hard to shake. This setting is crucial for the fake relationship plot to work, as the characters rely on the town's rumor mill to spread the news of their 'romance.' The close-knit nature of the community also means that Georgie's family is constantly aware of her actions, adding pressure and scrutiny to her efforts to 'fix herself up.' The small-town atmosphere enhances the humor and the eventual emotional impact of the truth being revealed.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
Quiz
Test Your Knowledge
Ready to see how well you understood this book? Take our interactive quiz with 10 questions.
10
Questions
~5
Minutes
?
Best Score
Key Questions (FAQ)
Fix Her Up follows Georgette 'Georgie' Castle, who wants to prove to her family she's more than just the 'little sister' by fixing herself up and getting noticed. She enlists Travis Ford, a former baseball star, to pretend to date her to achieve this, but their fake relationship starts to feel very real.
About the author
