Arc Review !!

Tropes: small town, slow burn, single dad, friends to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract

I went into this book expecting a simple cozy fall romance read and this not only delivered but exceeded by expectations! I absolutely adored the main characters and watching them work through their struggles with one another as well as some of the other characters as well! The kids were written very well here which is sometimes hard to find in many of these books. I will say that the name Clifford took some getting used to though lol (I can admit Cliff is better as a nickname)! Loved the Pearl Jam references!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Julie Olivia for the e-ARC!

(Bookstagram post soon hopefully 07/10 to 07/11 through link provided)

Sweet, uplifting, and charming

If It Makes You Happy is a delightful contemporary romance that balances humor and heart beautifully. Julie Olivia’s writing is warm and engaging, bringing the characters and small-town setting to life in a way that feels cozy and real.

The story shines most in its moments of self-discovery and the gentle message about following what truly makes you happy—even if it means taking risks. While some plot points are a bit predictable, the heartfelt tone and lovable cast make this a feel-good read perfect for a weekend escape.

The perfect romance does not exi… wait… Julie Olivia, your book is fantastic and I am both sad that I didn’t read it sooner but also grateful that I received an ARC before its re-release. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

If It Makes You Happy is a cozy, small town romance set in Fall 1997, following two divorcees who are complete opposites but fit so well together. After her mother’s death, recently divorced Michelle returns to Vermont to temporarily run the family Bed & Breakfast. Guarded and work-focused, she struggles to connect with the guests. She turns to her new neighbor, Cliff, for help. Not only is he the charming, well loved baker in town, but he also happens to be very attractive.

This book is a beautiful slow burn romance that truly delivers. The bond between Michelle and Cliff is heartwarming, and they bring out each other’s best traits. Both Michelle and Cliff are healing from painful divorces, and their connection helps them rediscover their worth and open up emotionally. Their chemistry, both emotional and physical, is undeniable and builds naturally throughout the story.

The supporting cast of characters are also wonderful. Cliff’s daughters, Brittany and Emily, and Michelle’s dog Rocket add emotional layers and drama that deepen the story. Julie Olivia creates powerful parallels between characters that make the story more meaningful and emphasize the complexities of parent-child relationships. The serious conversations and emotionally-charged conflicts between different sets of characters also feel incredibly realistic.

As a millennial who grew up in the 90s, I appreciated every nostalgic reference this book threw at me: the flannel, video store, Scream costume for Halloween, and disposable cameras. The epilogue is also brilliant, and the story left me both laughing and crying.

This is officially my new Fall comfort read. If you enjoy small town romances with humor, heart, and depth, don’t miss this one when it releases in September!

Solid feel good read! The way Michelle and Cliff’s relationship progressed was sweet and believable especially when considering their own personal baggage. I appreciated how Cliff was always respectful of Michelle’s boundaries and how the author did not shy away from certain topics regarding parental favoritism. Only a 3 star for me because it didn’t necessarily change my life but it was still an enjoyable read with cozy fall and small town vibes!

Also, the epilogue was fantastic!!!

A rom-com set in a small Vermont town in the 90s - I can’t even emphasize how much this book was written for ME specifically!!!

This story was such a breath of fresh air. I could’ve read 500+ more pages of these characters. The found family, hit SO hard.

I loved the slow burn of watching Cliff and Michelle become best friends first and develop their relationship over time, it felt so earned when they finally got together.

I just sobbed my eyes out re-telling the epilogue from the dog’s perspective to my husband, so yeah I’m not ok.

I will be purchasing the physical copy for my shelf as a trophy. Julie Olivia - please write more books set in this universe!

Thank you Berkley & NetGalley for the e-ARC!

Oh god, where do I even start?! I'm so thankful to have received an ARC of If It Makes You Happy because I absolutely LOVED it. This book had me laughing, crying, and feeling all the feels. When it says slow-burn romance, they mean itttttttt so prepare yourself cause I swear I was GNAWING at my knuckles lol.


As one of my besties would say “Liz when aren’t you the main character in one of the books you’re reading”. Michelle?? felt so real and raw… I saw so much of myself in her, especially during that devastating “tell me I deserve to be alone” fight. That scene gutted me. I WAS CALLED OUT.

And Cliff? Cliff is the golden retriever single dad of my dreams. The way he cares for his daughters, bakes like a literal angel, and wears flannel like it’s his job honestly I never stood a chance. I fear I loved every single character in this book.. Julie could’ve written a rock and I would’ve loved it. AND DONT GET ME STARTED ON THE EPILOGUE. FROM ROCKET’S POV?!?!?! I was NOT okay. I had to sit in silence and process my emotions like I’d just finished a 12 part miniseries.

This is the perfect fall read with just enough heartbreak to make the happily ever after feel earned. If you're a fan of heartfelt, emotional romances with a side of cozy charm and found family, run (don’t walk) to pick this up.

I LOVE THEM 😭😭😭

(I do have beef that this man’s name is in fact Clifford though. I’ll never forget)

Things I liked about this book:
- The setting! Small-town Vermont in the fall, in 1997! It will scratch your Gilmore Girls itch.
- Two great kid characters. Sometimes supporting characters who are children can drag a plot down. This is not the case in this book!
- Good believable chemistry between the MMC and FMC.

My main quibble is the length!! For me personally this book could have been 100 pages shorter. Even with the length, it still felt to me like the ending wrapped up just a little too neatly, especially with Michelle's job.

I had so much fun with this nostalgic Gilmore Girls style romance! The characters were meant for each other and I really enjoyed not having cell phones and new technology. This was such a bingeable book and I can’t wait to reread in the fall!

First off, thank you very much for this eARC that was generously provided by the publisher and author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book! Easy 5 stars from me. Between the cozy seasons, the family drama, the slow burn romance, and most importantly, the highly nostalgic 90’s references?! I was absolutely hooked. I laughed, I cried, and I felt like crying even more because we can’t ever go back to that incredible time period.

Also, that epilogue?! It was cute, it was sad, and it was very unique. I really appreciated that fun little addition at the end. Could this book have been any more perfect?!

The author did an incredible job with this one and I highly recommend it, especially during the -ber months ;) Definitely checking more books out by this author!

Okay I LOVED this book. The character dynamic and growth of both of the main characters is incredible. They give me almost like “virgin” vibes with their childish/inexperienced nature but I know they’re both divorced. Michelle is such a good character and her insecurities are so relatable #ScrewAllen and I love her growth throughout this book. Cliff’s happy-go-lucky personality is very clearly a cover for his own deep rooted insecurities and I love how the two are able to overcome all of their issues to embrace what makes them unique and truly find what makes them happy. The title of this book is so fitting! The girls are also some of my favorite characters, I love how they interact with their dad (I want that type of relationship with my kids in the future) and I love how they each have such real personalities for their ages and real struggles. The other characters in the town really help to emphasize the quirky small town, cozy vibes of this book and I love it. The time period is also so nostalgic and I love thinking back onto the late 90s. Overall the characters are so well scripted, the plot line is so well done with immense growth and love and happiness, and I love it. Having the epilogue be from Rocket’s POV and him describing the girls growing up and Cliff and Michelle having a son together is just so precious and made me tear up.

This was the 𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 autumn slow burn romance. 𝗜𝗳 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 is set in the late 90s and has major Gilmore Gils vibes- so perfectly nostalgic!

I loved that this story is about two divorcees. I think there should be more romance novels focusing on love after divorce because this was so relatable and authentic. I think there are many readers who could connect with Cliff and Michelle’s love story. Not to mention, I’m a sucker for a single dad who can bake- looking @ you, Cliff.

This is a perfect read for those chilly -ber months. You should go right on ahead and add it to your TBR! 𝗜𝗳 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆’s expected publication date is September 2, 2025! 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

4.5 ⭐️
This book was so cute and had amazing small town fall vibes. In the beginning I didn’t like the name Cliff it really annoyed me but once i got used to it I didn’t have complaints about the book. The plot was very well balanced between her story and their romance, and I loved the progression of their connection and how natural it felt. Their feelings felt real and I do love how they became friends first, it really set a beautiful tone to the remainder of their relationship. While many would characterize it as a slow burn, the progression was slow but it didn’t really feel like the traditional “slow burn” to me. Their “conflict”/ struggle felt so real to me, not overly dramatic or unrealistic. The portrayal of children in the book was very well done, and the “single dad” trope actually added to the story and Cliff’s personality, instead of just fulfilling a trope . Many seem to love the epilogue it was personally my least favorite part of the book and i did deduct 0.25 ⭐️ from my original review because of it. It was very cringy to me and not cute in the slightest.
Thank you Netgalley for the eArc!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc copy. This was a slow burn cozy romance for the fall and I can see a lot of romance lovers loving this one. Cliff and Michelle kept having the push and pull effect so often that brings slow burn romance to life. The pov at the epilogue was really sweet and endearing for a dog’s purpose. The vibes of the whole book gave me Gilmore Girls with the exception of a single dad trope.

This was such a sweet and cozy small town romance book. After her mother passes away and her divorce is finalized and announced to her father and sister, Michelle moves temporarily from her advertising job in Seattle to run her parent’s bed and breakfast in Vermont. Copper Run has such Stars Hollow (a la Gilmore Girls) vibes with everyone in everyone else’s business in the best ways. Michelle quickly becomes befriended by the B&B’s single dad next door neighbor and local baker, Cliff. Heartfelt story about finding happiness where you least expect it. Perfect for Fall as it hits all the “ber month” holidays.

Never would I have ever thought I'd say that a 500 page romance should be a thing again. Mariana Zapata is the only author I've accepted it from and now I can add Julie to that list.
After Michelle's mom passes away, her dad moves temporarily to her sister's and Michelle agrees to take a hiatus from work to run her parents' B&B. With her type A personality and knack for organization, she quickly adapts to the scheduling and running of the inn but struggles with the nuance of playing the part of friendly-somewhat-meddling innkeeper. She reluctantly leans on her neighbor, Cliff, to keep calm and carry on.
This is the epitome of a comfort fall read... that I read at the beginning of summer. The cozy, small town, Nora Ephron/Gilmore Girls mash-up vibes were everything I didn't know I wanted. I loved the 90s throwbacks and thoughtful incorporation of it all. It's my first Julie book and certain to not being my last.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is such a cute and cozy read! Perfect for fall. The settings, the romance and the found family gave 100% Gilmore Girls (my all time favorite TV shows) and 90’s vibes and I loved it!

The MMC is a baker and single dad and the FMC is a city girl that has to move to this small town to take care of her mom’s inn for a while after the passes. It’s emotional and also so heartwarming.

Cliff and Michelle are the perfect opposites attract and the way their friendship evolved to something more was beautiful. Their connection and pull were inevitable. His kids and Rocky the dog made such a great addition to the story too! Their little found family warmed my heart and I finished it feeling like I wanted to spend every fall season in their town and at Michelle’s inn 💖

I was so excited to read this one. This cover is everything & I really enjoyed the town & how this was written

Cliff & Shelly’s story reeled me in from the beginning & I loved all the little moments between them. I also loved how big of a part in the story rocket had & his relationship with Britt🥹 cliff making food for Michelle was everything!! He was so attentive to her feelings throughout this whole story. This is the perfect cozy, small town single dad romance.

🍂 Small Town
🍂 Single Dad Baker
🍂 Cozy Fall Romance
🍂 Friends To Lovers
🍂 Opposites Attract
🍂 Next Door Neighbors
🍂 Slow Burn

This book was a solid 4/5 for me. If you love fall vibes and all things 90's, then it's for you! This book is the literary equivalent of a warm mug of cider on a crisp autumn day—cozy and nostalgic. Set against the backdrop of a charming 1997 Vermont town, it captures the golden glow of fall in the slow burn of a second chance romance. Michelle’s journey from heartbreak to healing is layered with emotion, humor, and tender moments, and Cliff—flannel-clad, cinnamon-roll single dad that he is—makes resisting connection nearly impossible. Their evolving bond, the endearing side characters (special shoutout to Rocket the dog!), and all the ‘90s throwbacks make this story so fun and enjoyable. It’s the perfect read for anyone craving comfort and romance.

This book was a time portal to the best parts of 1997. The Spice Girls, movie rental shops, “Rachel Green” fashion, tamagotchi, portable CD players, and more things from my pre-teen years. I loved Michelle and Cliff, their stories were very believable and, yes, I found somethings about their relationship a little frustrating, but I liked how it all came together. The epilogue 🥹 10/10 would recommend just for the characters, their story, and the 90’s vibes.

YES YES YES!!! Absolutely ADORED this book!! It’s the perfect cozy fall romance read that makes you feel like you live in the small town and know the characters. I may do a reread in the fall for ultimate fall vibes🍂
Set in autumn in the late 90s, Michelle goes to a small town in Vermont to fulfill her mom’s wish of running her bed and breakfast while her sister finishes school. She shows up in the wake of her divorce and mother’s funeral with her walls built high and no plans on making connections or staying, but her persistent neighbor plans to change that.
It was so refreshing to read Cliff snd Michelle’s story, seeing them both overcome internal issues they’ve had as a result of their divorces and learn to trust and love again. You get to see a beautiful relationship form between Michelle and Cliff as well as her relationship with Cliff’s two daughters turn into something so special. And the epilogue truly killed me it was so precious😭😭
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC, I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this!!