The Fixer Upper

by Judith Arnold

The Fixer Upper by Judith Arnold released on Jul 12, 2005 is available now for purchase. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0778321932
• ISBN13: 9780778321934
• Release Date: July 2005
• Publisher: Mira Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

I defy anyone ...

...to find an author who is better able to bring the reader into the story than Judith Arnold. What a fabulous story-teller, and "The Fixer Upper" is a true delight! Libby Kimmelman is an Admissions Director for an elite K - 12 school in Manhattan. When admissions season rolls around, Libby finds herself on the receiving end of countless "gifts" of flowers, candy, etc., but she is scrupulous to maintain objectivity. Libby, a single mother with a 13-year-old daughter, is in a financial bind - she has to buy the Upper West Side apartment she has lived in since her daughter was born or else move to Queens (banishment indeed). Her ex, a big-time lawyer, may or may not help with the down payment, but Libby worries that her independence might be at stake if he does. . Ned Donovan, newly relocated from Vermont, is surprised to learn that his 10-year-old son, Eric, has used his credit card to apply to the Hudson School. Eric's not thrilled with his public school, and he when he notices that the students at Hudson leave each day with smiles on their faces, he decides that is the place for him. Since Eric has never asked for anything before, Ned wants to ensure that he gets into Hudson, so he goes to the School to plead Eric's case to the Director of Admissions.... What with truant daughters, gorgeous marble fireplaces, kibbutzing relatives, and a truly hilarious attempt at having a dinner party, Libby and Ned's road to romance is funny, endearing and fraught with anxiety. This is the Upper West Side, after all. Ms. Arnold is without peer in her ability to make the mundane occasions of life fascinating. Her dialogue is utterly believable. She never strikes a false note. And she is funny! She is so descriptive of the environment her characters inhabit that the reader feels she has actually been living in Manhattan right along with the characters who, by the way, are so on target that I finished the book feeling as though I'd made life-long friends. This was a great read - light and amusing; however, don't miss my favorite Arnold title, "Barefoot in the Grass," a lovely, quiet book about two people falling in love despite the fears of one who has been seriously ill and another who must discover if he has it in him to love someone he might lose. Thank you, Ms. Arnold, for another great read. I hope the next one is soon on the way!

A handy man might be every woman's dream man...

...but Libby Kimmelman's not sure that Ned Donovan is for her. She's the admissions director for a private NYC school his son is trying to get into, and she's got a fireplace the man's itching to strip and renovate. She's a bit unsure of his feelings. But then, Libby's feeling unsure about a lot of things. She might lose her apartment, her daughter's infatuated with a street musician, her ex-husband's family is trying set her up with eligible men from their Temple, and... The list goes on. Libby's not sure what's what, but she's pretty sure she could fall for Ned...if she'd let herself. She's just not sure she can let herself. Judith Arnold pens a wonderfully charming story that is sure to captivate!!

fine Manhattan contemporary romance

Director of Admissions at Manhattan's prestigious Hudson School, Libby Kimmelman loves the place and obviously respects it as a center of learning since she enrolled her daughter Reva at the school. The divorced Libby enjoys her job though at times she feels frazzled especially when the bribes to get in and thank you gifts after getting in arrive during open season. Normally she skims over the application essays written by parents who believe hyperbole is the key, but the one written by Eric Donovan intrigues her as he is a ten year old new city resident just in from Woodstock, Vermont. Libby thinks the straightforward preadolescent would make a fine student. His widower father Ned is not pleased as his son used his credit card to pay the application fee over the net without permission and he cannot afford the $25K annual cost. Ned visits the school to withdraw Eric's application and get a refund, but he and Libby surprisingly feel an attraction to one another. She has doubts that he truly desires her instead of just using her to gain a scholarship while he wonders why a beautiful intelligent lady would fall in love with a carpenter. THE FIXER-UPPER is a fine Manhattan contemporary romance in which the Hudson School serves as a matchmaker and potential match breaker bringing the lead couple together, but also school costs linger in their minds. The story line is character driven as the audience sees up close the frustrations of Libby with her job and her daughter, and Ned with starting over and his son's adjustment problems. Though there is little action, fans of urban family dramas will want to read Judith Arnold's astute tale. Harriet Klausner