this was really cute - would be exceptional with a glass of fresh apple cider and gilmore girls in the background 🍂 The ultimate nostalgic rom com, that also tackled some serious themes and feelings!

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia is a heartwarming romance that perfectly captures cozy fall vibes and small-town charm. Set in a picturesque small town, the story follows Michelle, who unexpectedly finds herself running her mom’s bed and breakfast. Her temporary new neighbor? A handsome, single dad named Cliff who owns the bakery next door.
This book is a treat for fans of comforting, slow-burn romance. The setting feels like a warm mug of cider—inviting, nostalgic, and perfect for a chilly evening. Readers who love Gilmore Girls will feel right at home with the cozy small-town atmosphere and the
cast of quirky supporting characters.

While the overall tone and romance are delightful, the pacing in the first half of the book is a bit slow for my taste and I feel as if the story doesn't fully hit its stride until about the middle where the romance starts to kick in more.

If you're in the mood for a sweet, feel-good love story with autumn energy and a touch of baking magic, If It Makes You Happy is worth a spot on your fall reading list.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: If It Makes You Happy

Author: Julie Olivia

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Spice Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: Adult Readers, Romance, 90s, Friends to Lovers, Small Town Romance, Slow Burn

Publication Date: September 1, 2025

Genre: Romance

Age Relevance: 18+ (sexual content, romance, language, parental death, grief, parental abandonment, divorce, cheating, teen pregnancy, depression, slight blood, slight violence)

Explanation of CWs: There is some sexual content and romance in this romance book. There is some cursing. There is a parental death that happens in the book and grief is felt throughout the book. Parental abandonment is mentioned. There is a divorce and mentions of another one in this book. Cheating is mentioned often. Teen pregnancy is mentioned a couple of times. There is some depression in this book. There is slight violence and blood to a child, the violence because she was shoved by another classmate, the blood because she got a bad scrape from a dog dragging her.

If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: Enchanted

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 512

Synopsis: My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear. I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out. Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff. Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard. Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe. Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards. So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.

Review: I was so incredibly happy reading this book. This book, set in 1997 which was a good year, was such a good breath of fresh air. The majority of the book is set in the fall and it is a small town romance. It really plays into that '90s romance movie trope where big city girl comes to a small town and falls in love with it. A book is also multi-pov and it has a grumpy Sunshine romance. I really loved the World building and the character development. I didn't think that the book was going to be so good because the page length of this beast of a book is over 500 pages and I initially thought that that was way too long for a romance book, but to my surprise I devoured the book in almost one sitting and I thought that it was just the perfect length for this story.

My only issue with the book is the epilogue. I did not like how it was written and I wanted more clarity on a couple of other characters, but I still enjoyed the hell out of this book.

Verdict: I loved this one so much.

This book takes place in Vermont! That is one of my favorite places in the whole world and you add in the coziness of the fall vibes! It was perfection! Grab a cup of tea and a scone and settle in for this adorable autumn romcom!

This book completely charmed me! I absolutely loved both main characters-- they were sweet, genuine, and had such a natural connection that felt real from the start. Their dynamic made the story feel cozy and comforting.

The setting was lovely, too-- a small town in Vermont, complete with a bed and breakfast, flannel shirts, and all the Fall vibes. Very Gilmore Girls. Michelle's journey of taking over her mom’s B&B while trying to heal from a divorce was heartfelt and relatable with just the right amount of humor. Cliff, the single dad next door with two daughters, was such a genuine and sweet guy. The scenes with him and his daughters melted me.

There were a few slow spots, but nothing that pulled me out of the story. Overall, I found myself smiling and rooting for them the entire time. This book hit all the right notes—heartfelt, a little swoony, and full of warmth. I’d happily recommend it to anyone who loves a feel-good small town romance with genuine characters and a slow burn that’s worth the wait.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the chance to read this sweet book! I really enjoyed it!

This book honestly had it all. Dual POV of The black cat big city girl finding herself in a small town as she takes over her family's bed and breakfast. The golden retriever single dad neighbor who is the loveable town baker. I don't usually love the single dad trope and well Cliff might be my favorite book boyfriend I've read in a while.

The supporting cast is amazing, family dynamics are written spectacularly, the setting really brought me back to my childhood watching Gilmore Girls or waiting for a small town Disney original on a Friday night.

This is a super sweet rom-com that also deals with learning who you are and dealing with grief. Michelle's journey after her divorce and her mothers death is one that is very realistic and relatable. Cliff's journey of learning how to be himself after his divorce while also being a single dad is very touching. The two of them traversing these waters together makes one want to root for them. Copper Run is a very special town and makes an excellent background for this story. I loved this book and it's a great cozy read either for fall or for when you're missing fall!

3.5 stars — Cozy flannel, small-town charm, and a side of hot baker forearms 🍂

This book is like wrapping up in your favorite oversized sweater, sipping something warm, and watching the leaves fall outside your window. If It Makes You Happy is the coziest small-town, slow-burn romance. And if you loved the ’90s like I did, you’ll catch all the nostalgic vibes that make this such a comforting read.

Michelle stole my heart. Watching her shift from fierce independence to letting people in—especially a swoonworthy single dad and his two sweet daughters—was such a satisfying journey. Cliff is the golden boy next door with hot baker energy, and I adored how much he cared for everyone around him. Rocket’s POV added a fun, quirky twist I didn’t know I needed, but totally loved.

It did take a little while for the story to really grab me, and I found myself wishing Michelle and Cliff had better communication at times. A few moments were predictable, and I wanted just a bit more emotional payoff before the ending. But even with that, the slow build, the warm setting, and the characters’ growth gave me all the cozy feels.

Highly recommend if you’re in the mood for flannel, found family, and a heartwarming romance with cinnamon roll energy and autumn vibes.

What a beautiful and cozy read! I'm always a sucker for a small town romance and this was captured that! Copper Run feels like such a beautiful and close knit community I would love to jump right into. The characters are all incredible and really feel that they have some depth to each one of them. An incredible read with some pretty strong relationships that were constantly changing and being reflected on in some great ways!

I loved this when I first read it and I fell right in love again 🥹

Julie Olivia never fails. She writes such beautiful stories that make my heart so happy every single time. I loved every single thing about it. The fall vibes, the flannel, the 90s, Rocket?! I love that dog so much. Him and Michelle were the sweetest duo! It was so easy for me to envision everything, it read like a movie and I just love when that happens. Julie knows how to make a place feel like home, and she’s done it again with Cooper Run.

Michelle and Cliff were honestly meant to be from the second their eyes met and I LOVED that Julie kept circling back to that moment. Michelle was the perfect grumpy black cat to Cliff’s GOOFY golden retriever and their SLOW burn formed to lovers story was SO sweet! They were both so guarded but in different ways. And watching them slowly but surely opening up to each other was beautiful.

Any man that keeps baking you things until he finds your favorite pastry??! And he just *knows* when it’s not your favorite??!

I loved how much Emily and Brittany were in the book. They were just as important as Michelle and Cliff and I LOVED how quickly and seamlessly they all formed a little unit. It was exactly what they all desperately needed.

Okay listen I love an epilogue. There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing everyone in their happily ever after. THIS ONE WAS PERFECT. Absolute PERFECTION.

Thanks so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

Single dad of two incredible daughters and the beloved town baker. Stubborn eldest daughter who is overly protective of her recently-broken heart and pauses her life to care for her Mother’s B&B until her sister can take over. Sassy Border Collie with a soft spot for a six-year old girl and a grudge against everyone else. Set in a cozy small town before social media and the digital age took over (1997).

Are you sold yet?

You should be.

If It Makes You Happy is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. The charm of this story is the in between moments.

The overcoming of small fears. The times characters let their guards down and bare their hearts. The banter and the loving bickering. The struggles of loss—of those alive and those passed. The struggles of raising a teenager, and the struggles of raising a six-year-old. The struggles of dating after divorce, and of watching your children begin to form romantic relationships.

I love the journey I went on with these characters. This book gave me all the cozy throwback vibes I was looking for and totally hit the spot.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5

Oh my god THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK IS THE FALL ROMANCE IVE BEEN DYING FOR. At first I felt like it was a little too Gilmore Girls, BUT BOY WAS I WRONG. This book takes the best tropes from that show and twists them in a way that will leave you unable to put it down. It is so atmospheric, beautiful, and the found family of Copper Run couldn’t be more wholesome.

The romance in this book is so beautiful and it’s so nice to read a romance about older, relatable FMC and MMC. I want to dive into this book and LIVE THERE. By far my favorite read of the year I see myself revisiting each fall.

Thank you to Berkley Romance & Netgalley for the eARC!

5 stars!!

Um, did I just read the most perfect holiday romance book...ever? If It Makes You Happy truly transported me to fall of 1997, the cozy vibes & atmosphere was EVERYTHING.

First off, I absolutely adored Michelle. I found her so relatable!! & I love a black cat fmc x golden retriever mmc moment and this book truly perfected that trope!

I loved the pacing of this book & getting to follow these characters over the course of the holiday season. I really enjoyed getting to see Michelle fall in love with Copper Run and also get to see little parts of her mom's life that she didn't know about before she passed! The found family aspect of this book was incredible! While her relationship with Cliff was a slooooow burn (🔥), I loved & was rooting for them the whole time!

The grand gesture at the end was PERFECT and the epilogue was the absolute cutest!!! Ahhh I am just so in love with this book & need everyone to read it now!

1000% recommend, especially if you're looking for a cozy seasonal romance!

As someone with a tendency to be a hater, I thought this was really fun!! It definitely was hitting the vibe it was going for without being too annoying (I’m now SO ready for fall and it’s only mid-July 😭). Copper Run was basically Stars Hollow, and even though our main female lead was running an inn it didn’t feel like a Gilmore Girls knockoff, thankfully. Both of our main leads had distinct personalities that fit into tropes but weren’t purely reduced to tropes. I especially liked that Michelle wasn’t just a mean, career-driven city girl—we got to see a lot of her good qualities. There was clear chemistry between Cliff and Michelle, along with realistic obstacles to them pursuing a relationship. Sometimes those obstacles got a little annoying, but usually we moved on quickly so nothing dragged.

This book definitely wasn’t perfect, though. Certain words and phrases were repeated a lot (I got a little sick of Cliff’s “veiny forearms”) and there were some inconsistencies (e.g. Michelle smoothing her hands on her skirt than a page later mention that she’s wearing jeans). Towards the very end things got a little soapy for me, and I totally didn’t buy Michelle randomly discovering a letter from her mom while at the airport. In fact, I was a bit disappointed in the plotline about Michelle and her mom in general; it always felt like we were missing a part of the story. Also, this doesn’t really matter, but I don’t think this is titled very well? Like I guess it fits the story, but it also sounds a little passive aggressive.

The events at the end almost made me downgrade to a 3 star reading, but ultimately I did really enjoy reading this so I’m fine keeping it at 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an eARC! ❤️

If It Makes You Happy is the perfect cozy, fall romance book. Copper Run, Vermont, is now my dream place to be for a cozy bed and breakfast. This book captured the magical feeling of watching Gilmore Girls huddled on your couch with hot cocoa as the leaves turn brown. It is every friends–to–lovers supremacist’s dream!

Michelle arrives to Copper Run to temporarily take over her late Mother’s Bed and Breakfast with nothing but her ex–husband’s dog, a fresh divorce, and a strict timeline of when she must return to her big city Seattle job. Little does she know how the town’s charm will wear down her walls with their holiday festivals and charming next door neighbors (you know, specifically the handsome one who owns a bakery and is constantly bringing you new sweets to try in-between raising his two daughters who happen to think you’re one of the coolest woman alive).

One of my favorite parts about this book was how realistic the conflict was. Often times in romance novels, there is unnecessary conflict or miscommunication between characters. With Cliff and Shelley, their flaws and gripes were real. Rooted in fears from their past and of how their relationship may affect the future, the pair navigate their budding romance with caution.

My only note is that the plot itself progressed slowly. If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy a slow burn, this may not be for you! The romance kicks in more towards the 50%-75% mark. Until then, the banter and soft touches are so worth the wait and will have you kicking your feet and giggling.

AND, the epilogue was the perfect way to end this book. From start to finish, Julie Olivia stayed true to all the characters, even Rocket.

unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this book and had to dnf at 36%. I really tried. the slow burn felt slow all around. I couldn't warm up to Michelle (no hint as to why she is the way she is - incredibly cold and lacks self awareness) and Cliff just seemed insufferable with his constant chuckling. it reminded me a lot of a hallmark movie, but at least those are over in 90 minutes. I don't think the writing was necessarily bad...I think the characters needed to be tightened up and the pace of the story to be a bit quicker.

thanks to NetGalley for the arc!

#netgalley

Thank you for the free book, Berkley Romance!

In this updated version of Julie Olivia’s beloved rom com set in the 90s, Michelle leaves behind her entire life to run her late mother’s bed and breakfast. Cliff, the baker and single dad next door, offers to help her become more personable to guests. In the process of running the B&B, Michelle learns a lot about herself, her family, and taking a chance on finding love.

I loved this book so much! I haven’t read the original version so I can’t say how much it has been changed, but this book is nineties nostalgia at its peak. So many wonderful mentions of things from the nineties, from clothing to toys to songs to celebrities- it was perfectly executed. I also loved the author’s included playlist and managed to annoy my family by listening to it nonstop at loud volume for days on end! Speaking of playlists, the song I chose for this book is Head Over Feet by Alanis Morisette. It’s not the obvious title choice but I feel like it really sums up Cliff and Michelle’s relationship so well, and it’s on the playlist too. Along with the nineties vibes, I loved the fall B&B setting- it felt like a nod to Gilmore Girls but definitely held its own in terms of plot and substance, and was not just a GG copycat. Finally, the epilogue narrator was just adorable. I don’t want to spoil any surprises but it was unexpected and oh so sweet. I loved it and it was a perfect way to close out this warm hug of a book.

It It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia follows recently divorced Michelle who is a busy business woman who only likes business from Seattle after her mother's death when she has to take over her mom's Bed and Breakfast (BnB) in small town Vermont for three months while her sister graduates. In Vermont, she meets Cliff who is a relaxed baking father of two girls who likes to kid around and be the opposite of Michelle. Instantly, I was sat!

What I liked: This book made me laugh out loud, cry, and generally have an emotionally charged amazing time. Michelle and Cliff have nothing in common which I loved. I thought they were so cute together because they meshed really well. I do have to say that the book is a total cliché of the 90s which was excellent, right up my alley. I thought the entire town was endearing and I wish I could live there. Now at first, I was annoyed with Michelle but as a certified self-sufficient independent lady myself, I think it would have been the exact same for me so I was charmed by the end.

What I didn't like/thought was odd: Without spoiling anything, Michelle asks Cliff to do something that neither of them wants him to do and I got really mad at that. The second thing was that for a book that made me feel the way this did, the epilogue took me out. I'm sure others will find the epilogue lovely and sweet, it was not for me. Like what was that? I don't care if there were parts I didn't like because the good was so good that I'm blind to the odd.

Anyway, I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a cozy fall vibes read. This book has been one of my favorite reads of the year. Listen, I loved this book but I would not recommend it for anyone looking for a mystery or thriller vibe because this is not going to be for you. If you enjoy a sweet romance with a little spice, read this! I can't wait for my physical copy to arrive as I've already purchased it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, and Julie Olivia for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If It Makes You Happy was a super cute read! It has the perfect cozy vibes that I look for when picking a fall read. I would highly recommend!

Julie Olivia has been an auto- buy author for me for several years, but this book was not one that really caught my attention when it was initially released. I only lived through 2 years of the 90s and obviously didn't remember it, so there isn't much nostalgia associated with it for me. When I saw it listed in NetGalley as an Arc, I figured this was my sign to take the plunge and read it.

I have to admit I truly struggled to get into this book. I started and stopped reading it several times. I just know it is going to severely mess with my "time it takes to read books" stat on Storygraph lol. But at one point, something shifted and I started thinking about the characters throughout my day, when I wasn't reading. I found myself caught up in the story of the Inn, of Cliff and Michelle. Of the girls and Rocket.

I finished reading this book last night and I bawled as I read Rocket's epilogue. While I didn't really live through the 90s, I feel like I understand the nostalgia. I get it because of this book. This is truly a perfect fall read. It is warm and cozy in every single aspect.