Fresh Paint, Fresh Start
There’s just something about a good makeover story—especially when it’s not just the house getting a fresh coat of paint, but the person living inside it too. These stories are for anyone who’s ever looked around their living room and thought, “If I move that chair and buy one cute lamp, my whole life will feel different.”
This month’s picks are fiction reads where renovations, restorations, or home projects play a big role in the story. Think charming fixer-uppers, second chances, and women figuring out who they are while they rip out old carpet and pick paint colors. Curl up with a cup of something warm and get ready to mentally remodel right along with them.
The Homewreckers, by Mary Kay Andrews
St. Martin’s Press
A young widow who restores old houses for a living gets the chance to star in a home-renovation TV show, but the “simple” beach house flip comes with secrets, surprises, and a little romance.
Why read: It feels like watching your favorite HGTV show in book form—demo day drama, design decisions, and a heroine you can’t help but root for.
Fixer Upper, by Mary Kay Andrews, Harper Publishing
After a political scandal tanks her career, a woman escapes to a run-down Victorian house she’s inherited in a small Southern town and decides to fix up both the property and her life.
Why read: This one blends small-town charm, real-life messiness, and plenty of satisfying renovation scenes that will have you eyeing your own “project” room.
The House on Mermaid Point, by Wendy Wax, Thorndike Press
A group of women who host a renovation TV show are sent to overhaul a crumbling estate on a private island—owned by a reclusive former rock star with issues of his own.
Why read: It’s friendship, found family, and big project energy, all wrapped up in sawdust, sunshine, and a seriously ambitious makeover.
Bricking It, by Nick Spalding, Lake Union Publishing
Two siblings inherit a falling-down farmhouse and decide to renovate it and sell for a profit, discovering that turning a wreck into a dream home is a whole lot harder—and funnier—than it looks.
Why read: If you like your renovation stories with plenty of laughs and “oh no, what now?” moments, this one reads like a sitcom with power tools.
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy, MIRA Publishing
After a breakup wake-up call, Savvy sets out to upgrade her kitchen, her home, and her whole life—and the cute neighborhood contractor keeps popping up right alongside the new tile and countertops.
Why read: It’s a confidence-boost plus renovation story, with a strong emphasis on self-worth, fresh beginnings, and finally creating a home that feels like you.
How to Love Your Neighbor, by Sophie Sullivan, St. Martin’s Griffin
A design student fixing up a quirky beachside cottage finds herself in a tug-of-war with her slick real-estate developer neighbor, who wants her property for his next big project.
Why read: Think light, closed-door romance meets paint chips and property lines—the renovation backdrop keeps it fun, breezy, and very “weekend escape.”
Maggie Moves On, by Lucy Score, Forever Press
A traveling home-renovation YouTuber lands in a charming town to overhaul a historic mansion, only to find herself tangled up with a flirty landscaper and a community she might not want to leave.
Why read: It’s for every woman who’s ever said “I’m not staying” and then promptly fell in love with the people — and the house — that changed everything.
The Co-Op, by Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin’s Griffin
Former almost-lovers inherit a rundown building together and have to live in and renovate it side by side, turning peeling walls and broken fixtures into something beautiful.
Why read: The forced-proximity, shared-project setup makes every trip to the hardware store feel like a step toward healing old wounds.
Beach House Rules, by Kristy Woodson Harvey
Gallery Books
A woman dealing with a crumbling marriage and big life changes heads to a beloved beach house and faces the literal and emotional renovations it desperately needs.
Why read: It’s sun, sand, and second chances, with the kind of “fixing up the house as I fix up my heart” storyline that pairs perfectly with porch reading.
