The Fixer Upper

By: Mary Kay Andrews

Narrated by: Isabel Keating

The delightful New York Times best-selling author returns with a hilarious novel about one woman's quest to fix up her house and her life.

After a political scandal, fledgling lobbyist Dempsey Jo Killebrew is left almost broke, unemployed, and homeless. She reluctantly accepts to refurbish Birdsong, the old family place in Guthrie, Georgia. But, oh, is Dempsey in for a surprise. "Bird Droppings" would more aptly describe the moldering Pepto Bismol - pink dump. There's also a murderously grumpy old lady who has claimed squatter's rights and isn't moving out. Ever.

Furthermore, everyone in Guthrie seems to know Dempsey's business, from a smooth-talking real-estate agent to a cute former lawyer who owns the local newspaper. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the pesky FBI agents who show up on Dempsey's doorstep, hoping to pry information about her ex-boss from her. All Dempsey can do is roll up her sleeves and get to work. And before long, what started as a job of necessity somehow becomes a labor of love and, ultimately, a journey that takes her to a place she never expected - back home again.

©2009 Whodunnit, Inc. (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

unexpectedly charming

If you could sum up The Fixer Upper in three words, what would they be?

charming, heartwarming, funny

Have you listened to any of Isabel Keating’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to any of her other performances but will add her to my list.

Any additional comments?

It is an easy listen, lighthearted story

Nice book for a getaway!

This book was a new nice listen. Isabel Keating does a nice job with accents and varying the characters voices. A nice book for a getaway.

review

Very entertaining book with great characters!! Also enjoyed the narrator, she kept the book flowing.

A Fun, Lighthearted, Not Very Eventful Book

This book was okay, not great; the premise of the book was all right, and the characters were likable and amusing.

If you have a spare credit, this is an okay way to go.

Where I Live

What made the experience of listening to The Fixer Upper the most enjoyable?

I happened to see this title in a book catalog and thought I'd check Audible to see if it was available. Expecting a fluffy, light read, I was happily surprised to find the book was set in middle Georgia, right where I live. To be honest, my enjoyment of the story was centered mostly around trying to figure out exactly where the story was set-- Barnesville or Zebulon-- or a fabrication set somewhere in between. Most of the references were spot on, but others were not realistic. Like stating that the local Walmart had gone out of business. Come on, once we get one, the only thing that's going to happen is building a bigger one!

What did you like best about this story?

This is purely chic lit for the lightweight listener, but there are times when all of us would like to take a brain vacation.

Would you be willing to try another one of Isabel Keating’s performances?

Isabel Keating does just one redneck old lady voice and it sounds a lot like Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies. She mis-pronounces Piggly Wiggly as Pig-gel-ly Wig-gel-ly. Some of the other accents grate on your nerves. I'd rather she didn't try to do the accents at all if she can't get them right, but I must admit that she is not so annoying as to make me stop listening.

Any additional comments?

This was a fun book to listen to driving back and forth to work. In fact, I've listened to several other Mary Kay Andrews books since this one, mainly to enjoy the Southern locales that are the focus of all her novels.

I Never Wanted it to End

I loved this book from beginning to end. The evolution of Dempsey transitioning from an extremely naive "lawyer" to a ballsy real women holding her own. If I had one issue it would be the ending. Please please please do a sequel to this book. Ella Kate is timeless we need more time with her. T and Dempsey is love that we really want more of and his hot dad. There is still so much more to the story left to be told and most importantly we must know the end results of Birdsong. A little my opinion tip: the new book can come from a case Dempsey is working as an attorney now that could include a revenge plot from her old scumbag boss. Bravo to this book.

Feels Unfinished

There are two story lines if you will and to prevent a spoiler one would be the “DC” story and the other is the “Fixer Upper” story. The DC story was the start and end of the book and was therefore finished but the fixer was the title of the book and thus I thought would be the focus. I wanted to visualize the house completed. I wanted that side of the story to be fully and explicitly wrapped up but it wasn’t. That’s why I didn’t prefer it, but reader did a great job!

I Loved It.

I loved getting to know all of the characters. I really loved Ella Kate and Shorty!

I enjoyed this story

I enjoyed this book, especially, the 79 year old, Ella Kate ,she kept me laughing,it was a good book.

stereotypical romance

very predictable plot and one dimensional characters but enjoyed the restoration work and recipes at the end