FULL. STOP. SIX STARSSSS.

WOW! I don’t even know where to start! You know that giddy, first crush feeling? That’s this book. Like the whole entire time. Like, how? How is this so freaking well written.

Guys, I wondered what these characters were doing during the day! Like they were actually REAL and living their lives. That’s how included I felt in Michelle and Cliff’s story. Gosh, I’m just…wow. Blown out of the water.

Set in 1997, Black cat Seattle city girl loses her mom and moved to small town Vermont to run her mom’s B&B until her sister finishes school and can’t take over. Queue golden retriever, single dad, baker. Both characters cooked. to. perfection. Oh! And, they’re next door neighbors.

Michelle Cadell is quite possibly my most favorite black cat FMC I’ve read which is a big deal because I don’t often relate but I LOVED her! Annnddddd I usually don’t fall for golden MMCs either but Cliff Burke is my new favorite MMC! He is the captain of communication and master of maturity. Just outstanding.

This was a sloooooooow burn and I was so freaking obsessed. Like I couldn’t get enough! And the spice is so tactful, it’s amazing!

And seriously, I’d recommend this book for the epilogue alone because how it freaking had me in tears!

I absolutely couldn’t recommend this book enough!

Tropes:
🐈‍⬛ Black cat FMC
🐕 Golden Retriever MMC
🏡 City girl x Small town guy
🥖 Baker MMC
🤍 Single Dad
🔥 Slooooooowest of burns


Rating: 6 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

DNF. I'm not feeling this book, and there's too much ex drama. I also feel like it's too long with a lot of filler. Cute cover though.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC copy! This book was perfection of fall and everything I loved about 1997! It was cozy fall vibes and found family. I loved the character develop of Michelle and reading finding love in a new place. I just finished reading and for some reason the epilogue did me in. I love this books so much!!!! The nostalgia, the references…it’s amazing. Perfect book and captured all the things I love about the 90s. The last few chapters played in my head like a movie, it was a moment. I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen to be talk about this book. If you love the fall, new found family, owning an inn, a dog and 1990s romance movies this one is for you.

Welp. I loved this. I loved everything about this. This slow burn between friends is just a chefs kiss for me.

I loved all the characters and the vibes. The kids don't feel immature which can happen very easily. The nostalgia was real. There were times when I remembered things I haven't thought about in a long time and how things have changed.

There were minor plot points I would have liked to explore more but nothing that made me enjoy the story less.

I would love to reread this in the fall.

Okay, listen. If It Makes You Happy is basically a warm hug wrapped in flannel and served with a side of 90s nostalgia and pure serotonin. I went in expecting a sweet little romance, and instead I got Cliff, the human equivalent of a golden retriever boyfriend, and Michelle, whose stubborn streak could rival a brick wall in a staring contest.

Cliff. Ohhh, sweet, sweet, Cliff. Swoon city, population: everyone who reads this book. The man was a saint for loving Michelle through all her hard-headed chaos. He’s patient, kind, and honestly? Probably deserves a medal. Their dynamic had me screaming at the page like, “Just kiss already!” and then melting into a puddle when they finally did.

And speaking of melting—Rocket. The dog. The unexpected MVP. Getting little snippets of his doggy thoughts during Michelle’s POV was such a cute, clever touch. Like, who knew a dog could provide comic relief and emotional insight? And that epilogue from Rocket’s point of view? I was not prepared. That was the literary version of a surprise cupcake—completely delightful and slightly tear-inducing.

The airport scene? Total Ross and Rachel moment. If you know, you know. I could almost hear “I’ll Be There for You” playing in the background. It was peak 90s rom-com magic and honestly, the perfect payoff for a deliciously slow burn.

All in all, this book is like your favorite cassette mixtape: cozy, nostalgic, and full of heart. Would recommend to anyone who loves friends-to-lovers, small-town vibes, or just needs a reminder that sometimes the dog really does know best.

This was such a cute book!

It’s what I would imagine if Gilmore Girls was made into a late 90s romcom, mixed with hints of SO. MANY. classic movies, shows, and vibes from the time.

Julie Olivia wasn’t kidding when she said this was a love letter to fall & the late 90s. This was such a fun, lighthearted read.

Very cute and adorable!!! I really enjoyed the characters and the setting of the book. I loved the vibes

Cozy Romance | Small Town | Single Dad
Perfect for: Fall vibes, rainy days, warm drinks, and lovers of slow-burn romances.

I loved this book! It’s the kind of romance you curl up with on a rainy day under your softest blanket with a hot coffee in hand. The small-town charm, the emotional warmth, and the slow-burning love story. Everything hit just right.

Cliff, a single dad and baker (yes, golden retriever energy and all 😍), and Michelle, the ultimate eldest daughter, strong, capable, and always taking care of others. I adored how their relationship wasn’t insta-love, but a slow, meaningful build grounded in mutual care, support, and respect. Their love grew out of what they needed and what they gave to each other, and it felt so natural and earned.

The prologue hooked me, and from there I fell for Cliff's warm, funny, dad-joke personality. Michelle was a beautiful balance of confidence and vulnerability, and I loved seeing her ask for help and grow into her independence. Their chemistry is in the details—shared glances, thoughtful gestures, the presence of family and community. Cliff’s daughter and the entire cast of town characters added so much heart.

And the epilogue eight years later? Pure joy. It made the ending feel even more satisfying.

This one’s a gem—highly, highly recommend!

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Cozy, Nostalgic, and Full of Heart
If It Makes You Happy is the perfect read for when you’re craving that small-town charm and all the warm, fuzzy fall vibes. Think cozy cafés, nosy but well-meaning neighbors, and a slow-burn romance that sneaks up on you. I’ve never seen Gilmore Girls, but I imagine this book captures that same essence—comforting and drama-filled in the best way.
The story pulls you in from the first chapter, with a relatable heroine navigating grief, emotional baggage, and a messy ex-husband who drops a truth bomb at the worst time (seriously, he deserved a slap). The characters feel real—flawed, emotional, and tangled in complicated pasts and relationships.
Talking to the dog? Completely understood. The ‘90s nostalgia hit just right, and the emotional depth had me questioning whether it was the book or just my own mood—probably both. The romantic tension builds beautifully, with a delicious slow burn and a chef’s kiss epilogue that ties it all together.
A heartfelt, feel-good story that’s perfect for sweater weather and anyone who believes love can be found even in life’s most chaotic moments. Definitely recommend!

This was such a fun read for fall! It reminded me so much of Gilmore Girls and I loved the small town relationships. It gave all of the 90s-00s rom-com feelings I needed!

Julie Olivia did an AMAZING job of describing things, a lot of times in a way I wouldn’t think to describe them. The characters were so mature and easy to like. I really enjoyed the relationship that Michelle had with Cliff’s kids, it felt so natural. I didn’t even mind the slowburn because it made Michelle and Cliff’s relationship feel more real. This was so fun and it will be a perfect read to get into the fall spirit! Also bonus points for the GORGEOUS cover!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

The best closet book to give you Gilmore Girl vibes! Takes place in the 90s and brings all the nostalgic vibes and a small town named Copper Run, Vermont. We have a very slow sweet burn and adorable story. I honestly couldn’t get enough of this book.

This is my first Julie Olivia book, and I can say it won’t be my last.

This books is lovely, pure autumn cozy vibes.
If you like small town, slow burn, friends to lovers, single dad x city girl, this is the book for you!

I really enjoyed reading it.
I loved the characters and their journey to find who they are in new situations of their life, how little by little you can see how they grow.

This is a beautiful slow burn romance, that I can guarantee I will re read this book in September with my hot cocoa and blanket ready dig in to this book. for a full 90s autumn romance experience.

This book is the ultimate cozy fall hug in story form! Set in the heart of the '90s, it delivers the perfect blend of nostalgia, warmth, and slow-burn romance that had me hooked from page one.

The story centers around two recently divorced characters finding love again in the most heartwarming way. Cliff, a small-town baker and devoted dad of two, is kind, steady, and completely swoon-worthy. When Michelle moves into the bed & breakfast next door after the loss of her mother, she’s overwhelmed with the task of keeping the place running. Cliff steps in to help, and what starts as a simple partnership slowly (and I mean glacially slow—delightfully so!) turns into something so tender and real.

The chemistry is subtle but builds beautifully. Their friendship is the foundation, and by the time that first kiss rolls around (halfway through!), it feels earned. There’s a hint of spice toward the end, but it never overtakes the sweet emotional core of the story.

Michelle’s border collie, Rocket, absolutely stole the show—what a scene-stealer with so much personality! And the epilogue? Utter perfection. It brought unexpected tears and wrapped the story up in the most touching way.

This is a story for fans of:
🏡 Small town charm
🧁 Single dad sweetness
🍁 Autumn vibes galore
🫶🏼 Second chances
💫 That golden-era rom-com feel

If you love romances that simmer, characters who grow through grief and healing, and a dash of 90’s magic, definitely add If It Makes You Happy to your TBR. It’s tender, nostalgic, and full of heart.

Cute, short, and a quick enjoyable read! I love the autumn/fall vibes and it made me feel nostalgic about the season even though I hate being cold, haha.

If you are looking for the perfect book to get you in the fall mood, look no further than If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia. Let me tell you the fall vibes were perfect!
Michelle and Cliff are so absolutely precious and endearing from the very beginning. The natural progression to them from neighbors to friends to more was so effortless with just the right amount of angst to really hit you in your feelings. Both are seen finding who they are at new chapters in their lives and what they can be together. I adored the relationships both Michelle and Cliff had with his daughters especially during some trying times.
The little town of Copper Run is precious with all the quirkiness you need in a small town romance.
My friend mentioned Neve Campbell in Party of Five and Matthew Perry in the early to mid Friends seasons are who she kept seeing at Michelle and Cliff and I couldn’t agree more!

I am in love with the premise of this book. A cozy autumn book set in the 90s with all of the millennial references my heart could desire. This book was super cozy and I appreciated the small touches that painted a picture of life in the 90s. And the cover art??? Stunning! This book is for people who like slow paced novels with a lot of descriptive writing. If you enjoy knowing every little detail in a scene, you will like this. The author does a great job of painting a clear picture of the scene at hand.

This was such a cozy small town romance with so many amazing tropes all set in the 1990s giving the best nostalgic vibes. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the love interests going from neighbors (who are strangers), to friends, and then eventually lovers. It’s a beautiful slow burn romance rooted in friendship and navigating life after divorce and the death of a parent. Cliff being a single dad with two daughters added so much life and balance to the couple. I adored Michelle’s border collie, who had an arc of his own throughout the book.

I loved this fall romance! It felt like stepping into Stars Hallow which I’m a sucker for. I also loved our two main characters they were so mature. The issues/obstacles they dealt with in their relationship were very real and believable. This book did a great job of pulling at my heart strings with the complicated mother/daughter relationships presented. Highly recommend picking up this book when it comes out this fall. I already preordered a signed copy so I can reread in the future to enjoy all over again.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC!

This is an absolute cozy read! I enjoyed this book so much! It gave me the same feeling as every girl feels when it hits fall time and they curl up with coffee or hot chocolate and rewatch their comfort show. It didn't have a lot of spice which I like (I know is an unpopular opinion) but I love when books are over powered by spicy scenes being on every other page. Characters can still here have a love story without that and this book is a perfect example!! Already recommended this to my best friend to read!!