If It Makes You Happy

by Julie Olivia

Grab your favourite fall candle, cuddle into a comfy blanket, and travel back in time to 1997 in this cozy, slow-burn romance. Perfect for fans Gilmore Girls, autumn and Laurie Gilmore!


'Pure rom-com magic' B.K. Borison, bestselling author of First Time Caller

‘This is the perfect fall romance and I couldn't recommend it enough!’ 5* Reader Review

--
My new next-door neighbor seems to have life completely figured out.

Small-town golden boy? Check.
Single dad extraordinaire? Check.
Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, obviously.

Me? Not so much. Taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run, Vermont was supposed to help me heal after my divorce. Instead, my scones are inedible, my small talk is worse, and Cliff, yes, the golden boy himself, never fails to point it out.

The problem is, Cliff is everywhere. His charm, his flannel, his pastries, and his daughters, make it impossible not to like him.

Friends? Sure, I can do friends. That’s safe.

Except I’m only here for three months before heading back to Seattle for the promotion I’ve been chasing.

So why am I suddenly imagining what it would be like to kiss my hot neighbor?






Single Dad BakerFriends to LoversOpposites AttractDivorcées finding love againAutumn 1997Cozy Small TownSlow Burn
--
Praise for IF IT MAKES YOU

'For the nostalgic girlies who want a hit of 90’s romance comfort, you’ll be kicking your feet and giggling. Get ready for Julie Olivia to be your new favorite' B.K. Borison, New York Times bestselling author

'Julie Olivia’s If It Makes You Happy made me oh-so-happy! Every page of this brilliant book is filled with tenderness, warmth, and nostalgia that will wrap readers up in a giant, cozy hug... I’ll forever read anything Julie Olivia writes' Hannah Bonam-Young, USA Today bestselling author

'Julie Olivia has written the perfect cozy romance. In If It Makes You Happy, Julie has distilled the best parts of the autumn season and paired this with the ultimate small town setting that will have every reader wanting to pack a bag and travel to Copper Run. I adore this book!' Lauren Connolly, author of I Hate You

'If It Makes You Happy is a delicious romance full of yearning, hope, and second chances. Julie’s characters will capture your heart from the very first chapter' Thien-Kim Lam, author of Something Cheeky

'If It Makes You Happy is a nostalgic tale of love, friendship, and finding happiness. A sweet, slow burn that's worth every aching momen' Teagan Hunter, author of Empty Net

'Julie Olivia has created a charming small town romance, with perfectly imperfect characters you can’t help but root for.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2025

About the author

Julie Olivia writes cozy love stories filled with humor, spice, and close friend groups that feel like a warm hug. She is a roller coaster fan, avid romance reader, and rainy day enthusiast.

Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.

Sign-up for the newsletter for book updates, special offers, and VIP exclusives!: https://julieoliviaauthor.com/newslet...

She can be easily reached on Instagram at @JulieOliviaAuthor! Come say hi!

Visit her at JulieOliviaAuthor.com
Instagram: @JulieOliviaAuthor
Facebook: @JulieOliviaAuthor
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2NbH7Jy

Reviews

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

YEA!!!!! (That’s it just yea)

Kidding, this was incredible. The most perfect romance in the most perfect little town with the most perfect characters (and side characters). Send me to Copper Run, Vermont asap please 🍂😭

If you love a small town romance, slow burn, friends to lovers, fall-themed, single father, and a cinematic ending - READ THIS!!! BEFORE FALL ENDS!!!

[Rachel Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

such a cute fall romance set in the nineties! Perfect atmosphere, sweet romance, the cutest little small town!!!! love

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 4 out of 5]

OKKKK GILMORE GIRLS 🧡🍁🍂🍯☕️🧶🧣🪵

this was exactly what I needed to start off fall szn

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berkley makes the prettiest/cutest romance covers ever! Look at the upgrade this one got! 😍 Love it!


‎♡‧₊˚ "...𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓫𝓫𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓯 𝓫𝓪𝓭.

𝓜𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓮'𝓼 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓶 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻." ⋆⭒˚｡⋆ ♡
┊ ┊ ┊ ♡ ┊
┊ ┊ ┊ ˚ ♡
┊ ┊ ♡ ⋆ +
♡ ⋆ ┊ .
+ ♡

Finally getting around to writing some reviews. Sorry I'm being a lazy ass recently. So this one is really more like 3.5 stars for me - mainly due to the length of it. I just don't think a cute hallmarky(ish) romance needs to be any more than 300-350 pages, but this was still super adorable.

If you’re familiar with any holiday Hallmark movie, you’ll know exactly where this book is going from the beginning. A business woman from the city meets a hot single dad, who’s also a baker, in a small town… I mean, the storyline is obvious but I did really enjoy the journey to the happy ever after.

The characters were all well written but I did get tired of the pointless, chapter filling banter. This is a slow burn romance and it is slow. They hang out, he bakes for her and then they just talk… and talk… and talk.

I would say the romance doesn’t get going until around the 50% point and then it doesn’t really get going until around 75%. However, once it does get going, it’s SO good. I loved the flirting, the spice and just them together. The ending was so sweet that I actually teared up a bit and that doesn't happen very often.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for a low stakes, small town romance with all of the 90s nostalgia and the sweetest cinnamon roll mmc ever.

╰⪼ 🍁Single Dad Baker
╰⪼ 🧡Friends to Lovers
╰⪼ 🍁Gilmore Girls ✘ When Harry Met Sally
╰⪼ 🧡Autumn 1997
╰⪼ 🍁Cozy Small Town in Vermont
╰⪼ 🧡Slow Burn
╰⪼ 🍁Opposites Attract
╰⪼ 🥧Pumpkin Pie
╰⪼ 🍁Local Inn Breakfast
╰⪼ 🧡Cozy Flannels
╰⪼ 😱Scream the Movie (1996)

[April (s.i. work is busy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars ★

"I don’t know when it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first thing in the morning. A wistful sigh on a perfect fall day."


This gave me the warm, cozy fall vibes that I was looking for.

If it makes you happy is a standalone that is a small town, single dad, friends-to-lovers rom-com with 90s nostalgia that had the vibes of the Gilmore Girls. It had me reminiscing about my teen years and I was loving it.

We follow Michelle who has had her life turned upside down with recent events. She's tasked to put her career and life on hold for 3 months to run her mom's bed and breakfast in Copper Run until her sister is available to take over. She has no idea what she is doing. Her neighbor Cliff though seems to have everything figured out and offers to help her get a handle on things.


Michelle Cadell is a strong, confident, opinionated woman and I loved her. She has walls that are built up that take time to peel back the layers to find her fun, laid-back side. She's set in her ways, knows what she wants in life, and goes after it. I loved watching her grow and come into her own and find happiness that she didn't think she deserved. I do wish that the relationship with her mom had been touched on more. It's mentioned that it was strained but then she just got over it.

“Men don’t want women like me.”
“Like what?”
"Unfun, too serious, workaholics. I don’t know,” I mumble.
He gives a devilish, absolutely wicked smile. “I think men secretly want women just like you,” he growls, leaning even closer.
“And the men who don’t are cowards."


Cliff Burke is the town's baker who's passionate about what he does. He is funny and always trying to keep things light with a side of sarcasm that I loved. He's just all around charming and selfless. His two daughters are his world and he would do anything for them. The only thing that I didn't love about Cliff was that he talked down about himself. It wasn't entirely his fault as it's how someone made him feel. Aside from that I loved him.

"Burke’s Bakery is both my biggest accomplishment and one of my biggest problems. I love it."


Michelle and Cliff started simply as neighbors until he inserted himself into her life and they began a friendship that turned into being each other's best friend with a slow burn into more. I loved the way that they gave each other little pushes and challenged one another in a fun way. Cliff making her feel seen and baking for her trying to find the perfect dessert for her had me melting. Michelle making sure to compliment him and meaning it so he didn't feel so down on himself had my heart. Gosh, they were opposites in every way and also perfect for one another. The way that they had fun banter, teasing, and yearning for one another was the cutest. They honestly felt like a warm hug. Then you bring in Cliff's daughters and the relationship with Michelle making the cutest little family that supports one another. Let's not forget about Rocket, Michelle's dog who brought joy and fun to everyone. He was so cute and I just loved him and his bond with Cliff's youngest daughter.

"In the center of the lobby is the only woman who could make a rainy day seem not half bad. Maybe it’s because she’s a bigger storm cloud, and I like that about her."


This book all around was cute! I was feeling giddy, smiling, and kicking my feet throughout. There were a couple of times that had me tearing up but that epilogue had me sobbing. If you're looking for a cute fall book look no further.


Favorite quotes and moments

"He knows how to make people feel seen. Sometimes too seen. He’s so different from me. If I’m autumn, he’s spring. He’s all smiles and glowing warmth."

"I don’t want to remove her walls because that’d destroy her strength, but I’d kill for more peeks into the other side."

“I want you to be happy and—” His next words almost come out in a whisper. “Have you ever thought I might be happy with you?”

---------------

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ Pre-read

First fall read! The cover is cute and it sounds good 😍 Excited to be reading this one with the book club on booksta 🍂🧡
🍂🧡

[cherie ^_-★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars ⭐
⤷ spoiler-free review!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

“Copper Run smells like crunching leaves and breezes that bite. There’s a hint of something warm in the air too—baked bread of some kind. Maybe a pie or biscuits in the oven. Mazzy Star hums from my neighbor’s open window.”

🎶 now playing: Fade Into You 🎶

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ main tropes
🍂 small town romance
🧡 small town single dad x divorced city girl
🍂 golden retriever x black cat
🧡 neighbours to friends to lovers
🍂 found family

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ my thoughts
this book deserves all the hype and more!!! i loved it from start to finish and 500 pages was not enough (which is crazy to say) 😫 the fall vibes were immaculate, the characters were loveable, and the romance had me screaming, crying, and throwing up 😭

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ characters
♡.ᐟ michelle
⤿ “Michelle has walls. A lot of them. And I don’t know where they were built—whether it was with Birdie or her ex—but they’ve closed her off to everyone. They’ve made her tough though. Confident. And I kinda like her screw everyone attitude. But she’s also funny. Kind. Gentle even. More generous than she lets on or probably wants anyone to see.”

i am michelle and she is me. the way she acts all nonchalant on the outside but actually feels and overthinks everything on the inside? that’s literally me. of course, because she reminded me so much of myself, i instantly connected with her and loved her (which technically means i love myself… 😬 but hey, #selflove am i right? 😅)

♡.ᐟ cliff
⤿ “There are two sides to Cliff Burke. The goofy town local with a worry-free crooked smile. And the single father—a man who carried his daughter in his arms when she got a cut on her leg. A man who’s protective of his girls. Stressed. Uncomfortable. Clenched jaw.”

and then there’s cliff. i loved him and his humour from the get-go. he’s so easygoing, effortlessly witty, and just radiates that “cool dad every kid wishes they had” energy. but when he’s serious, he’s serious. his love for his kids was so heartwarming, and honestly, can i call him daddy too? WOAHHH who said that?! 👀🫢🤣

♡.ᐟ michelle + cliff
⤿ “I search his eyes—the blue eyes that I saw from across the chapel. A man I knew before I even met him. A man who loves me in the same way I love him. For exactly who we are. Flaws and all.”

michelle’s ex-husband made her feel like she was too serious and underwhelming, while cliff’s ex-wife made him feel like he was too unserious and overwhelming. they’re complete opposites, but you know what they say about opposites—they always attract! i loved how she slowly opened up to him, how they were always there for each other, and as that quote perfectly captured, how they loved one another for exactly who they were—flaws and all 🥹

now yes, there was miscommunication in this book and i know i keep saying this, but i usually hate it unless it’s done right—and this one was for me. it was so angsty, my heart was aching and i almost burst into tears a few times—i was going through a rollercoaster of emotions fr. the way both of them could be avoidant at times but confrontational at others felt so real. and can we talk about how he spent so much time trying to figure out a pastry that perfectly represented HER?! 🥲

♡.ᐟ other characters
almost every single character in this book had my heart (i despised allen and didn’t really like tracy) and the found family aspect was so wholesome—it’s one of my favourite tropes for a reason 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ special mention to rocket and brit brit because they were adorable 🥺

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ overall
i absolutely adored this book! if you can only pick one fall romance to read this season, let it be this one ~ it’s my first fall romance of the year and i already know nothing else will top it 🧡

────────── ⋆⋅end⋅⋆ ──────────

pre-read 🍂
i’m a firm believer that romance books shouldn’t be over 400 pages, but i’ve heard great things about this one so it might just be another one of my exceptions 🤭

(p.s. If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow is stuck in my head rn)

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is THE book to read during the ber months! It was exactly what I needed! 🍂🎃🎄🫶🏼

[chloé ✿ (in my reading slump era) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

oh how i love a wholesome indie romance with a cute cover 🥹🫶🏻

if you’re a seasonal reader like myself, this is the perfect romance for the colder ‘ber’ months. there are halloween, thanksgiving, and christmas celebrations. 🥰

this book is the definition of cozy.

selling points:
- slow burn
- small town
- single dad trope (usually i dislike this one, but it really worked in this case)
- based in 1997 (YESSSS. the 90s vibes were so good!!!)
- bed & breakfast, bakery, cozy vibes
- very, very autumnal

* available on kindle unlimited

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩ 4.5 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Set in the 90s
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Single Dad/Baker
➼ Opposites Attract
➼ Strangers-to-Friends-to-Lovers
➼ Running a Bed & Breakfast
➼ Black Cat x Golden Retriever
➼ Small Town Romance
➼ Cozy Gilmore Girls Vibes
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV

This is the perfect cozy read for fall! This couple didn’t really remind me of any of the couples from Gilmore Girls, but the small town bed & breakfast the FMC was running definitely did! I also loved that it was set in the 90s! I’m a sucker for all things nostalgic so this was definitely a welcome detail for me!

Both characters had been through a divorce and were previously married to people who made them feel unappreciated. It was so lovely watching these two people who were polar opposites in so many ways meet and slowly realize that they were perfectly matched. This was a healing journey for both of them as well as his daughters and it was just beautifully written. The FMC was very closed off emotionally and viewed herself as uptight, but she was fiercely loyal and proved over and over that she would do anything for the people she cared about. Before they were even together she was investing in and supporting his daughters which made their relationship feel even more destined. They fought their feelings for most of the book, mainly because they couldn’t see how their two very different lives would ever fit together, but there’s no stopping true love. ☺️

I had really high hopes for this one and it delivered everything I needed it too! This was really such an adorable book! I’d recommend this to fans of First-Time Caller, The Heartbreak Hotel, and the When in Rome series by Sarah Adams. Such a beautiful heartfelt romance! 🥰

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: I need this to deliver all the Fall vibes! It’s still too hot here and I AM READY for cozy season! 🙌🏻

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[DIVINITY🌙 · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

OMG the epilogue sealed the deal 🥹🥹😭😭

[Salma · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAAAAT WASSSS THATTTT BOOK? IT WAS SO GOOD. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I smiled. I giggled. I teared up. I felt so many emotions reading this book. This book feels like a warm hug on a cozy day.

Was this worth the hype? Yes, yes, it was. Personally, this did not remind me of Gilmore Girls. Dare I say this book is even better? Oops!

Read if you like:
🍂🧡 Small Town
🍁🥧 Single Dad
🍂🧡 Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
🍁🥧 Fall vibes
🍂🧡 90s setting
🍁🥧 Slow-burn romance

This book is a very close 5-star read for me. However, I had some issues with it.
1. Looooooong chapters + miscommunication trope (my least favourite thing in any book). Thankfully, the miscommunication trope wasn't heavy, so I didn't mind it that much. I've read books with much worse. The long chapters, on the other hand, were killing me.
2. Nosy small town. This is the case in every small-town romance book. Thankfully, it didn’t get worse as the book went on. I have come to love everyone in this town. The way they were all so friendly with each other and had a special bond made me love them.
3. Cliff and Sara (explained later in the review)
4. The writing was so good in this book. However, it was repetitive at times (Cliff's smile, description of the town, weather, etc.). These were mentioned in almost every chapter. Like, hey, sure, Cliff has a nice smile and is a guy who smiles a lot. I'm glad he smiles; keep doing it. I don't need to hear about it every time, though 😂.

Cliff:
The single dad to TWO daughters. He made me swoon so much. He's a green forest, not a green flag. I adored his charm and the way he treated everyone. He had known Michelle for a few months when her asshole ex, Allen, didn't in all the years he knew her and was married to her. He always knew the right thing to say to Michelle and how to break through her walls without being too much.

He always thought he was too sarcastic or too much or too irritating, courtesy of his ex-wife (who I hated alongside Allen). He felt no one would love him, until Michelle came along and loved him with all his "flaws". He was the perfect amount of "too much" for Michelle.

I need someone like him in my life.

Michelle:
Some people may say you're uptight, but no one will get you like I do. She has her walls built up. She doesn’t trust easily. She’s not very friendly and grumpy. All within good reason, if I’m being honest. I understood her attitude and actions. I loved her character so much. She was somehow similar to Cliff, yet different. Both were divorcees who felt insecure because of the comments their exes made. Allen, her shitty ex, made her believe she was unfun, too serious, workaholic. She felt like she didn’t deserve to be loved because of what her ex told her. Cliff loved her the way she was. Cliff helped crack her walls bit by bit and showed her that she is worthy of love.

She has this "nonchalant" attitude when she's overthinking, which reminds me too much of myself.

Emily and Brittany:
Emily, the eldest daughter of Cliff. The second choice. I hated how she was treated by her mother, Tracy. I’m glad she gave her a piece of mind. Tracy had Emily when she was 16 years old and seemed to resent Emily for it. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? You were responsible for getting pregnant; you stand up to it and do your job as a mother. She didn’t ask to be born. She is the younger version of Michelle. No one can convince me otherwise.

Tracy was a terrible mother to Emily; she only cared about Brittany, and it made me so mad.

Brittany was adorable, and her relationship with Rocket was so cute. I loved how both daughters treated Michelle and vice versa.

Sara:
MINI SPOILER!!!
Sarah got more annoying as the book went on. I hated that she asked Michelle to set her up with Cliff. I hate that she and Cliff went on a date. Why was this scene even added? It did not feel necessary AT ALL.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fabulous book is the kind of warm, comforting romance that feels like stepping into a memory you didn’t know you missed. Set in the golden haze of a 1997 Vermont fall, Julie Olivia wraps you in nostalgia, quiet introspection, and the kind of love story that simmers slowly, patiently, and sincerely—like a pot of cider on the stove that fills the room before you’ve even taken a sip.

Michelle arrives in Copper Run carrying more than just luggage—she’s recovering from a divorce, at a crossroads in her career, and feeling more like a temporary visitor than someone ready to put down roots. She’s there to run her family’s bed and breakfast for a short stint, and then it’s back to her perfectly curated life in Seattle—or so she thinks. Enter Cliff: the handsome, flannel-wearing single dad next door who seems to be the embodiment of the town itself—steady, dependable, a little weather-worn, and impossible not to fall for. Oh, and he owns a bakery and casually tries to guess Michelle’s favorite pastry by baking her a new one each day. Try not to swoon, I dare you.

What really made this story shine was the quiet courage in the characters. Michelle, who struggles to believe she deserves more than just getting by, slowly unlearns her instinct to run from the things that scare her. Cliff, soft-spoken but emotionally grounded, carries the weight of single fatherhood with grace—and watching him navigate parenting two daughters of wildly different ages felt both authentic and heartwarming. The children aren’t just cute background filler; they’re deeply involved in the emotional arc of the story and bring a genuine sense of community and love to the narrative.

Set in a pre-digital era, the book uses its '90s backdrop not for gimmicks but as a grounding element—it’s a world of cassette tapes, handwritten notes, and real-time connections, which suits the story’s themes of reflection, reconnection, and slowing down. It was refreshing to read a romance where the characters take their time to rebuild themselves before they fully step into love. And while it’s packed with cozy vibes and flirty banter, this isn’t just sugar—it deals with grief, emotional walls, and the hard work of choosing love when it feels safer to walk away.

That said, the novel does run long, and while I appreciated the immersive pace, some sections could’ve been trimmed without losing depth. A few emotional beats, particularly related to the characters’ past relationships, were revisited more times than necessary, which slightly slowed the otherwise engaging progression. Still, those moments never eclipsed the beauty of the story—they just made me wish for a little more forward momentum in places.

Overall, this is a beautifully written, autumn-soaked story of second chances, healing, and the quiet magic of finding home in people as much as in places. If you’re a fan of slow-burn romances that feel like long conversations under a starry sky, with just the right touch of humor, yearning, and emotional weight, If It Makes You Happy is one to savor.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me the ARC of this cute, nostalgic small-town second-chance romance in exchange for my honest opinions that I highly appreciate.

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[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

—— 𝟒.𝟓 ✰ stars. 🍁

❝ᥲᥒd it hits mᥱ.. i doᥒ't kᥒow whᥱᥒ it hᥲρρᥱᥒᥱd. it sᥣiρρᥱd ovᥱr mᥱ so softᥣყ, ᥣikᥱ thᥱ ᥴhᥲᥒgiᥒg of sᥱᥲsoᥒs. thᥱ sᥱᥱρiᥒg sᥴᥱᥒt of bᥲkᥱd brᥱᥲd first thiᥒg iᥒ thᥱ morᥒiᥒg. ᥲ wistfυᥣ sigh oᥒ ᥲ ρᥱrfᥱᥴt fᥲᥣᥣ dᥲყ.❞

📚 || 𝐈𝐟 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚
🎧/📱|| 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 & 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕖
🏷️ || 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
📆 || 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟡/𝟛/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟡/𝟟/𝟚𝟝
📃 || 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “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.” 」

❝ "mᥱᥒ doᥒ't wᥲᥒt womᥱᥒ ᥣikᥱ mᥱ."
"ᥣikᥱ whᥲt?"
“υᥒ fυᥒ, too sᥱrioυs, workᥲhoᥣiᥴs. i doᥒ't kᥒow," i mυmbᥣᥱ.
hᥱ givᥱs ᥲ dᥱviᥣish, ᥲbsoᥣυtᥱᥣყ wiᥴkᥱd smiᥣᥱ.
"i thiᥒk mᥱᥒ sᥱᥴrᥱtᥣყ wᥲᥒt womᥱᥒ jυst ᥣikᥱ ყoυ," hᥱ growᥣs, ᥣᥱᥲᥒiᥒg ᥱvᥱᥒ ᥴᥣosᥱr.
"ᥲᥒd thᥱ mᥱᥒ who doᥒ't ᥲrᥱ ᥴowᥲrds." ❞

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

❝i doᥒ't wᥲᥒt to rᥱmovᥱ hᥱr wᥲᥣᥣs bᥱᥴᥲυsᥱ thᥲt'd dᥱstroყ hᥱr strᥱᥒgth, bυt i'd kiᥣᥣ for morᥱ ρᥱᥱks iᥒto thᥱ othᥱr sidᥱ.❞

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★½
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟹𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️
ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ: 🍂⛄️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʀᴏʟʟꜱ & ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ ☕️
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ✅

⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰

lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ɪꜰ ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ — ꜱʜᴇʀʏʟ ᴄʀᴏᴡ
1:55 ———♡——— 5:24

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛I come 'round, around the hard way, bring you comics in bed, scrape the mold off the bread and serve you french toast again. well, okay, I still get stoned; I’m not the kind of girl you'd take home. if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad.❜

⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🍁 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🧡 90’ꜱ ɴᴏꜱᴛᴀʟɢɪᴀ
🥧 ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴅᴀᴅ
🍁 ʜᴀʟʟᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇꜱ
🧡 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ
🥧 ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🍁 ᴏᴘᴘᴏꜱɪᴛᴇꜱ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
🧡 ɪᴍᴍᴀᴄᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🥧 ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ x ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ
⚠️ TW: death of a parent

❝ …iᥒ thᥱ ᥴᥱᥒtᥱr of thᥱ ᥣobbყ is thᥱ oᥒᥣყ womᥲᥒ who ᥴoυᥣd mᥲkᥱ ᥲ rᥲiᥒყ dᥲყ sᥱᥱm ᥒot hᥲᥣf bᥲd. mᥲყbᥱ it's bᥱᥴᥲυsᥱ shᥱ's ᥲ biggᥱr storm ᥴᥣoυd, ᥲᥒd i ᥣikᥱ thᥲt ᥲboυt hᥱr. ❞

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁.

💬 || 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• If you’re looking for something that feels like pumpkin pie in book form, look no further. If It Makes You Happy is it. The perfect book for the BER months.

• I went into this one not expecting much, especially since the audiobook narrators made me cringe so bad. I mean come on, why have a narrator for the FMC & MMC’s POV, but never use them together? I can’t stand it. So if you’re going to read this book, avoid the audiobook. You’ll thank me, I promise.

• I was thinking maybe this would’ve been a 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the cringe fest of the audiobook, but there was one more issue I had. As much as I loved Cliff, his self deprecation was such a turn off. I love a man who is confident within himself. Sure, they can have some insecurities, but him talking so much about how annoying he is made him annoying.

• Despite my little critiques, I fell in love with this book; this world, the characters, the town, the vibes, the overall feeling it gave me. And that epilogue was the cream cheese icing on the pumpkin cake.

. ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁. . ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁. . ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊ ܁. . ܁₊ ⊹ . ܁ ⟡ ܁ . ⊹ ₊

❝ …hᥱ kᥒows how to mᥲkᥱ ρᥱoρᥣᥱ fᥱᥱᥣ sᥱᥱᥒ. somᥱtimᥱs too sᥱᥱᥒ. hᥱ's so diffᥱrᥱᥒt from mᥱ. if i'm ᥲυtυmᥒ, hᥱ's sρriᥒg.
hᥱ's ᥲᥣᥣ smiᥣᥱs ᥲᥒd gᥣowiᥒg wᥲrmth.❞

[BookishByTammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
WOW! Finally a romance book that wasn’t insta love/lust
A true friendship was built before the romance began
This is my type of romance book
Especially with them being 30 and divorcees, they felt so real to me, they both had insecurities they had to work through due to their previous marriages.

Clif…what a man! And a fantastic dad, just him being the dad he is, was enough for me let alone how freely he complimented her, communicated and made everyone laugh.

Michelle was a tough nut to crack but I saw myself in her in so many ways. As a reformed people pleaser I love seeing a strict woman. It’s aspirational to me haha

I honestly haven’t felt this way about a romance book since reading Just For The Summer 2 years ago!
These characters burrowed their way into my heart and I will never forget them.

Not to mention the dog and his one liners, the idea of a pet that talks with facial expressions was genius and endearing.
Cliff’s daughters were a nice addition to the story, Emily was insufferable but you know…teenagers 😂

SLIGHT SPOILER!!
(The only reason this wasn’t a 5⭐️ for me even though I LOVED this book was because the arguments/not talking after Halloween was dragged out and started to annoy me)

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I love this woman. I don't know how it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first thing in the morning. A wistful sigh on a perfect fall day."

This book was great! It was such a heartwarming and wonderful cozy romance about love, family, finding happiness again and realizing that the little moments matter too. If It Makes You Happy follows Michelle who takes over her mother's Bed and Breakfast in a small town in Vermont after her mother passes away. Cliff is a baker and next door neighbor to Michelle and they meet when Cliff offers her help at the Inn. Michelle is only running the Bed and Breakfast until her sister finishes college but then Cliff and Michelle become very close. Will Michelle go back to Seattle or stay in at the Inn?

"He knows how to make people feel seen. Sometimes too seen. He's so different from me. If I'm autumn, he's spring. He's all smiles and glowing warmth."

After the prologue I was swept away by this wonderful fall book and the characters that brought the book to life. The fall vibes were immaculate, I loved the descriptions of the small town festivities as well as the fall treats. It made me feel that I was experiencing fall in a small town just as the characters were. The plot was interesting and the pacing was nearly perfect. The writing was engaging, witty and descriptive. I loved that this book took place in the 90s it made every moment feel wholesome and the references were perfectly executed. This book felt like a cozy blanket on a breezy fall day.

"I want you to be happy and-" His next words almost came out in a whisper. "Have you ever thought I might be happy with you?"

The characters were relatable and well developed. I loved Michelle, she was intelligent, independent, strong willed, hard working, kind and protective of the people she cared about. Michelle kept her walls up to protect herself but once she took the walls down she was less rigid and had a fun side. I related to Michelle because my sister is one of my favorite people in the world. I wished that Michelle spoke her mind more and reflected what she actually felt. I also hoped for more of an exploration of why Michelle and her mom had a strained relationship before her mom died. I'm in love with Cliff, he was funny, caring, hard working, thoughtful and protective of his kids. Cliff was such a great dad, he was patient and understanding with his kids. I enjoyed the side characters immensely as well especially Emily, Brittany, Rocket and Michelle's neighbors. I wished that Emily's relationship with her mom was resolved more and that she apologized to Emily. The romance was fantastically done, I loved the slow burn and the chemistry was amazing. I'm so glad that the romance was developed slowly, Cliff and Michelle were friends for a long time first and then slowly reflected on their feelings for each other. The sweet and romantic scenes made me smile a great deal. The ending was so wholesome and heartwarming.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves fall romance, awesome characters and engaging writing.

[lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/2/25 this book publishes today and i implore each and every one of you add it to your fall tbr!!! 🤍🤍

i say fall starts now and it began with this absolute gem of a book 🍂✨

thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!

[⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆ Kim ⋆˚୨ৎ˚⋆]

⋆˙⟡ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: Okay, time to see what the hype's all about! I've seen so many people rave about this book on Bookstagram, so I was lucky enough to snag the ONLY copy at Barnes & Noble a couple of weeks ago!🍂🍁🎃 This is giving me all of the fall vibes I've been looking for so I'm hoping this delivers, considering I usually have a bad track record with books that are hyped up heavily on social media (I usually don't end up liking them as much as other people🥹)

[Violet · Rating 4 out of 5]

•Small town setting
•Hallmarkesque
•Opposites attract
•1990's setting
•Single dad
•Close proximity (next door neighbors)
•Slow burn
•Friends to lovers
•Dual POV

If It Makes You Happy is a cute story with a cozy late 90's Vermont setting. Likable cast of characters, lots of pining, and all things fall. Cliff is a single dad, the local baker, and lives next door to the town's bed & breakfast. Michelle is an advertising exec from Seattle set to temporarily take over her mother's bed & breakfast after her sudden death. Michelle is a fish out of water in her new setting & Cliff is a pro at all the things it seems Michelle isn't. Can Michelle fake it for the next three months until her sister comes to officially take over? Or will her true feelings about Copper Run, the bed & breakfast, and her handsome neighbor, become more real than she ever imagined possible?


4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶️

[hailee · Rating 5 out of 5]

“And it hits me. I love this woman. I don’t know when it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first thing in the morning. A wistful sigh on a perfect fall day.”

i’m not kidding when i say this book feels like when you’re outside at night & see the warm glow of a busy home’s windows, watching a family laugh and bustle around. it feels like the coziest october night from your childhood in the BEST possible way.

[Kelsey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: Excuse me?! With that epilogue?! I would have crawled into this book if someone would have let me. I’m mad that it had an ending. If I don’t find this kind of love by the end of my life, I’m coming back to haunt everyone.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
▹Format: 📱 eReader
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Set in autumn 1997, Michelle, freshly divorced and grieving her mother’s death, moves from Seattle to run her mother’s Vermont bed & breakfast until her younger sister graduates art school. Her new next door neighbor, Cliff, is the town golden boy single dad and baker. As Michelle grapples with loss, expectations, and her upcoming move back to the city, her friendship with Cliff deepens into something more. Guys, there’s a dog. And it’s so sweet.
– FMC: Michelle (aka “Shells” or “Shellfish” but only if she allows it). 30-year-old recent divorcee. Not entirely sure what she wants, running her mom’s bed & breakfast AND trying to maintain her career in advertising, dealing with grief and loss, trying to heal.
– MMC: Cliff. 33-year-old single dad to two daughters, local baker, charming and steady, golden boy of town, knows people’s needs (often before they do), kind and warm, reliable.
– Location: Vermont
– POV: Dual first-person (with special POV at the end)
– Spice: 2-3 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: friends to lovers, fish-out-of-water, single dad, black cat-ish FMC / golden retriever MMC, slow burn, second chances at love, small town romance
– Content warning: death of parent (off page), grief, paternal estrangement, divorce, teen pregnancy (off page), cheating (off page; not main characters)
– Representation: the dog ♥

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: There She Goes by Sixpence None the Richer

╰┈➤ ❝There she goes again, racing through my brain; and I just can’t contain, this feeling that remains❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Gilmore Girls, but just the romance between Luke and Lorelai, and their genders are reversed (he’s the town sweetheart and she’s the grump; he has daughters and his ex needed to leave the small town life)
➼ 90s nostalgia through music, movies, and the lack of cell phones (and the height of the video stores)
➼ Baking a pecan pie and sipping on homemade hot cocoa on a fall day listening to Pearl Jam and dancing around the kitchen with your crush and his daughters and your dog (I squealed and said “omg I loved this book so much” after I wrote that just FYI)

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven————✧———————Plot Driven
Fast Burn————————✧———Slow Burn
Sweet———————✧————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

What do you mean that I can’t just shut off my brain forever and live inside this book? It was everything I’ve been looking for. The vibes (90s autumn), the characters (small town charm in every one of them), the romance (no, it’s cool. I don’t need Cliff to exist irl. I’ll just live without him ::sobs in single::).

This book has heart but it’s not too serious. It really did remind me a lot of the charm of Gilmore Girls (just without the fast-talking wit or the mother/daughter bonding). But it was also unique enough to stand on its own. I genuinely wanted to crawl into the pages of this book and take up residence in Copper Run. IDEC if Cliff and Michelle leave me out (though I wouldn’t be opposed to turning this into a why choose if they were interested), I would be satisfied to just exist in this town with these people.

AND ROCKET. Listen. If you ever catch me talking to animals, mind your business—I’m networking. The way I thought maybe I was Brittany with her immediate connection to the dog (Rocket), it might as well have been me. I want to cry just thinking about how amazing pets are and Rocket is the goodest boy.

Allen can choke on a [insert whatever you want that would cause damage]. And I hope Tracey burns her forehead on a curling iron once a year until she gets her shit together.

Would I Recommend?: Not even going to answer that one. Only thing is that the ending was VERY rom-com-y and might not be for all readers, but…just get over it. ☺

Convincing you to read with some of my favorite quotes:

╰┈➤ ❝Anyway, thanks for that.❞ ❝For what?❞ ❝Listening.❞ ❝You talk so much; it’s hard not to.❞

╰┈➤ ❝He’s so different from me. If I’m autumn, he’s spring. He’s all smiles and glowing warmth. His blue eyes are so deep, like the first beautiful clear sky of the season. He likes to rest them on my breeze-blown hair, drift them down to my painted lips or to the cardigan falling off my shoulder.❞

╰┈➤ ❝You’re a kind man with a great personality.❞ ❝People only say that about ugly people. ❞

[naz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“...𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒇 𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒏, 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒕𝒉.”

If you love Full Bouse and Gilmore Girls I swear you will adore this book. The combination I mention is because you have that 'full house' atmosphere where everyone knows everyone and treat each other as family and then gilmore because you got that small town aspect that "gossip" spreads like wildfire and its just cozy lol.

“𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆.” “𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?” 𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒏, 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒔. “𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘,” 𝑰 𝒎𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉, 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆. “𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒔, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓. “𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔.

This book is about Michelle, who has to take over her mom's bed and breakfast for a little while and notices that she has a hot neighbor who is a single dad and a baker 😍 OK, that's my review. Thanks for stopping by now go read this book! lmao 🤣🍂

If that doesn't convince you, did I mention it's set in 1997? So, you get all those 90s references and movie feels that we all love in a rom-com✨ A newbie trying to run a business in a small town? who better to help her than Cliff, the hot neighbor who tries to bake her a new pastry every day to find her "favorite" 🥐🍰 AGHHH 😭 because it's just the little things 💕

“𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.”

꧁☬𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥:
-𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 (𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦)
-𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴
-𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮
-𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴
-𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴

Oh and yes it’s spicy and he is so freaking hot

tropes
🍂 small town
🍂 black cat x golden retriever
🍂 slooooow burn
🍂 neighbors
🍂 autumn season book
🍂 single parent (dad)

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ book club book and tbh im so excited i heard such amazing things!

[Grace Btrs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Vibe vs The delivery
✨ The vibe? Vibing.
🍂 The delivery? Dragging.

✔️ Small town charm
✔️ Grumpy (her) x sunshine (him)
✔️ Opposites attract
✔️ Late 90s setting
✔️ Slow-burn romance
✔️ Strangers to friends to lovers
✔️ Autumn vibes
✔️ Single dad goodness
Basically, it checked all the boxes. But somehow… it didn’t click.
Amazing vibes. Frustrating delivery. - A five-star aesthetic wrapped in a three-star execution.

Read it if you want the fall feels and 90s vibes and are okay with a little internal chaos.

📼 Great Tropes, But Shaky Execution
The writing is overly descriptive, the pacing drags, and the emotional delivery just lacked and kept being interrupted.
I wanted to love it. I should have loved it. But the way it unfolded left me skimming more than I’d like to admit.

That said, there is a beautiful story here.
Cliff is the single dad with a soft heart and a sense of humour.☀️
Michelle is the black-cat-energy loner convinced she doesn’t deserve love.🐈‍⬛
Their chemistry? Authentic. Their found family arc? Heartwarming. The slow burn and nostalgia? Beautiful.
But I really wanted to see more character development.

Michelle’s relationship with her mom felt like a side plot that fizzled out, although it’s the main reason the entire book happens. 💢
Cliff is so selfless that he won’t even ask her to stay, he’d rather lose her than risk it. Beautiful in theory, but not fully fleshed out.


🙅‍♀️ Stop Talking About Your Exes!
I can’t lie. The amount of airtime their exes got was exhausting.
• Allen (her ex) is name-dropped 80 times, shows up on just 3 pages.
• Tracy (his ex) is mentioned 147 times, appears on 15 pages.
• The book is 512 pages long.

They’re practically invisible in the plot, but constantly living rent-free in both main characters’ heads. Even during their first time having sex, they’re still thinking about their exes. That’s when I nearly DNF’d at 76%.
They are constantly mentioned in conversations, MCs are compared to exes (in a good way, albeit annoying and excessive), in internal dialogues. 🔁
Yes, these exes did hurt them and leave some emotional scars, but I mean it wasn’t that traumatic. And the mentions should’ve ended at some points!


🎞️ If You’re a 90s Rom-Com Baby…
You’ll probably enjoy the grand gestures, the aching yearning, and the old-school rom-com vibes that you would’ve found in any 90s movie.
I’m frustrated and soft. I teared up, but I also skimmed through half the book. I kinda want to throw it across the room... but I also still care how it ends.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

--

Pre-read:
Lorena recommended this for my 25 from 25 for 2025, and then Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group gave me the new version as an ARC.

Heard great things, so here I go 🤞🏻

[Estefania · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me SO HAPPY and SAPPY

[aeryn rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

The question of the day: Is this book really worth the hype?
YES!!!! Absolutely this book was so amazing.

My gosh the characters in this book were incredible. They each had such distinct personalities and were written with such depth and care. You could physically feel the cozy fall vibes emanating from this book. The main characters carried deep, unique quirks to them that made them all the more lovable. And don't even get me started on the side characters; they MADE this book!!

The one big issue I had with Michelle and Cliff was the communication. I understand that Michelle was super closed off and had a lot of wall around her heart, but these two really bugged me at times when it came to confessing how they felt. Now, I'm not going to completely hold it against them as I think it was BETTER (not best) suited to their personalities. It was just really hard to think that these thirty plus year olds couldn't talk to save their lives.

Other than that though? Amazing. This book is a bit longer than typical romances but definitely well worth it. It was funny, it was feel-good, it was warming. All of that with just the perfect amount of romance and a small bit of spice. I would have to say that this book is truly the epitome of fall. If you haven't read this yet, pick it up before the seasons over!! You won't be disappointed. 🧡

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🍂🧡

Ya'll better not be lying about how good this book is because I NEED a book with a good fall rom-com vibe 😭

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

If you want a book with the most PERFECT Gilmore Girls vibes, look no further. I felt like I crawled into Stars Hallow and I never wanted to leave! Cliff is a single dad to two girls, one who he had when he was a teenager. Now, they're 16 and 6 and he's juggling raising them in their small town while running his bakery. Michelle moves into the Bed and Breakfast next-door to run the business after her mom passes away. Cliff and Michelle immediately hit it off, but they both haven't had the best experience with love and are slow to let anyone in. I loved the slow burn of their romance (and it is slooowww but has soooo much pining, so it was worth it). It was so sweet how much Cliff cared for his daughters and how much Michelle cared for them too. Michelle, though, is leaving at the end of December to go back to the big city while her sister took over the business. Obviously she's going to fall in love with the town and small town life, but can she give up her city dreams?

I do think that the book went on just a bit too long, especially bringing in some drama with Cliff's ex, but I literally had tears in my eyes at the end, which NEVERRRR happens when I read romances. The ending literally played out like the ending of a Meg Ryan romance and I was just so obsessed. This is the perfect fall romance and I couldn't recommend it enough!!

[RLbooks (in and out) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

I thought I was signing up for a fall vibes, 90s nostalgia fest, sweet, small town romance about two divorced characters finding love. This delivered on those, but also brought the angst and complications. It was about finding your people and place, even in an unexpected way, that squeezed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The writing style and flow wasn’t always my favorite, but these characters and the atmospheric setting felt real to me and I told a friend that from the moment I started the book, I was completely engrossed and rooting for them. I had a hard time putting it down to be an adult.

Michelle (h) starts the book off at the service for her mother, who recently passed away. She’s dealing with complex feelings because of her relationship with her mom and her awful ex wanting to announce their divorce too. She briefly sees a man there before the drama reaches its crescendo. Flashing forward a couple months, because her mother had opened a bed and breakfast on the other side of the country, Michelle puts her successful advertising career on hold to run the B&B for the fall until her younger sister graduates from school and will take over. Cliff (H) is the man she saw briefly at the service and her new neighbor. He’s a single dad of a teen and an elementary-aged child who runs his own bakery and has a snarky sense of humor. He’s also caring, touchy-feely, and frankly overwhelms Michelle. I saw another review mention this had black cat x golden retriever vibes and I can see that, though Cliff didn't quite feel that way to me because of everything he had going on with his little family.

Cliff’s warmer personality contrasted with Michelle’s thick walls, but a partnership and friendship forms that develops into something larger and deeper. They’re both stubborn and messy and totally different spectrums on love languages and expressing themselves but they’re also puzzle pieces that slot together. The progression in realizing they’re in love felt so intense and frustrating with wanting to pick them up and mash their faces together lol. But the struggle bus smacks them because despite their attraction and their longing, both were told negative things about themselves as a partner by their prior spouses, as well as the reality that Michelle is in town temporarily.

Written in first person, dual PoV (with one different POV for the epilogue that should not be missed). No ow/om drama regarding the main characters’ relationships but both are divorced and their exes each appear separately on page, sometimes being awful. The h does set the H up on a date with her sister but the sister quickly realizes they’re into each other thankfully so it’s only nerve-wracking for a tiny moment and I didn’t truly consider it ow drama. Both are experienced but H had only ever been with his ex and it’s been years for him. Some small details about how he loved his ex but they weren’t good together. The h also hadn’t been with anyone for a while and her ex cheated on her.

The beauty of Michelle and Cliff’s romance, for me, was in all the details. From their daily flow with how he’d stop by her B&B and she’d look out for his kids to how he kept trying to figure out what baked item was her favorite and captured her essence (his internal thoughts comparing his daughter’s boyfriend to treats were hilarious btw). There were many little and important moments between them, but also some painful ones. This is also a slow burn, which completely makes sense. There were only a couple of on-page spicy scenes, but they’re good ones and fit their dynamic perfectly.

The supporting characters were crucial in setting the stage for this book. From Cliff’s daughters to Michelle’s family to all the townspeople to Michelle’s ex’s dog who’s expressive and becomes part of their wider sense of family too. Everyone felt like they belonged in this book. There are festivals and trick or treating and people checking in on each other. Plus all the little 90s details mixed in.

The third act is bittersweet with the clock ticking down for when Michelle’s supposed to head back to her “real life” and there’s a sense of longing that I felt jumped off the page. I was crying and then laughing and swooning over how this was resolved. My heart was full reading this book, even with the roller coaster of tension and nerves that this author also took me on. It’s cozy but heavy in places. Then the book ends with an epilogue 8 years later that I’m getting choked up even typing about. It was perfect and beautiful and I hope if friends give this book a chance, it resonates with them as much as it did me, but in case it doesn’t, please at least read the epilogue. I’d been meaning to try this author for a while and her note mentions that this was a passion project for her and I’m so glad this was my intro to her writing, I’ll certainly be reading more from her.

Content warning: grief over loss of a parent, divorce with past partner making toxic comments, discussion of teen pregnancy/parenting, mentions of disconnection between parent/child

[•°Dahlia ( on and off ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

𓏲 ๋࣭  ࣪ ˖5 🌟🍂
Crying cuz wdym am done with this ? 💔

This book was amazing, just what I needed. The 90s cozy autumn ish vibes , the romance , it was chef's kiss , if you asking whether to read this or not , all I can say is GO READ IT NOW .

⤿“Copper Run smells like crunching leaves and breezes that bite. There’s a hint of something warm in the air too—baked bread of some kind. Maybe a pie or biscuits in the oven. Mazzy Star hums from my neighbor’s open window.”

500 pages were not enough yes am surprised because this was a slow burn AND miscommunication romance but please? it was PERFECT , the miscommunication isn't really annoying or like a major trope which made the book so easy to read and fun and SWOONY.

⌗ ⭑  ๋ ࣭Michelle 🍂 ⭑๋
We start with Michelle, newly divorced and still simmering with resentment.
Her ex-husband, Allen, left her for someone “more fun,” the asshole was awful .
When Michelle’s mother dies, she returns home to Copper Run, Vermont, to help run the family bed and breakfast—just until December, or so she says .

⤿ “Michelle has walls. A lot of them. And I don’t know where they were built—whether it was with Birdie or her ex—but they’ve closed her off to everyone. They’ve made her tough though. Confident. And I kinda like her screw everyone attitude. But she’s also funny. Kind. Gentle even. More generous than she lets on or probably wants anyone to see.”

Michelle is me , a Michelle, she was SO relatable that feeling of never being enough and that maybe everyone is just better without you and that you deserve to be alone was so true , I wanted go hug her so tight but I guess Cliff did tye job (lowkey jealous) 🤭

⤿"Men don't want women like me."
"Like what?"
Unfun, too serious, workaholics.
"I don't know," I mumble.
He gives a devilish, absolutely wicked smile. "I think men secretly want women just like you

⌗ ⭑  ๋ ࣭Cliff 🍁 ⭑๋
And then there is Cliff , the single funny dad of the town who owns a bakery . I loved him from the start and how he helped Michelle without really pushing her too much .
he was so funny and witty and yet he cared so much the playful side always there to kick .
All I can say is that I need that guy .

⤿“he knows how to make people feel seen. Sometimes too seen. He’s so different from me. If I’m autumn, he’s spring. He’s all smiles and glowing warmth.”

I loved how they both slowly opened to each other and warmed up , even if they were complet opposites , they loved each other no matter what flaws and all .
The slowburn was so angsty and for me to enjoy a miscommunication trope ? that should be a first , it was so well written and easy to go through, the chemistry and tension were pure torture but I devoured it .

⤿“And it hits me. I love this woman. I don’t know when it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first thing in the morning. A wistful sigh on a perfect fall day. I love Michelle. I’ve loved her for far too long.”

Basically this is the perfect book to read in a cozy Sunday on October 🍂🙏
---
PLEASE be good , and I love the vibes that this is giving

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear, this book is like a warm hug for your soul. I literally couldn’t put it down. It is the epitome of cozy. If I could give it 6 stars, I would in a heartbeat.

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

Michelle is extremely career-focused in her advertising job, but she’s also fresh off a divorce from her selfish ex. When her mother passes away, she heads to Copper Run to help reopen the bed and breakfast her mom started, at least until her younger sister finishes school and can take it over.

And then there’s Cliff. Oh my gosh, I loved Cliff. He’s Michelle’s next-door neighbor, a single dad to two daughters, and co-owner of the town bakery with his sister. He’s also the attractive stranger Michelle spotted at her mother’s funeral. From the moment he showed up on the page, he had me hooked. He’s charming, funny, warm, and such a good man. Honestly, I fell for him within two chapters and knew right away this was going to be special.

I’ll admit, Michelle took me a little longer to warm up to. She’s misunderstood, always putting others first, and carrying the weight of feeling like second best her whole life. But that made her journey all the more beautiful. I wanted her to finally stop, breathe, and realize she deserves joy and love too, and watching Cliff (and his girls) slowly rock her world was everything. I also loved her dog, Rocket. Even though he couldn’t talk, the way his antics and little “dialogue” moments were written gave him such human qualities and cracked me up every time. 😂 He added so much charm to Michelle’s story and their little family dynamic.

Cliff wasn’t just charming, he was honest in the best way. He gave Michelle new perspectives and encouraged her to open up, to try things, to realize life doesn’t have to be perfect. I loved how even when she was distant or harsh, he stayed patient and kind. He saw her, really saw her, in a way no one else had. And the fact that he wanted their friendship first before anything romantic… UGH 😩 it made my heart swell. He truly wanted what was best for her. The slow-burn tension between them was intense, but even better was the friends-to-lovers aspect— it was out of this world 🥹. I loved seeing them truly get to know each other, laugh together, and grow as friends before the romance fully bloomed. It made everything feel so earned and real.

Now… let’s talk about that slow burn. The tension was off the charts. I was practically BEGGING for that first kiss, choking on the buildup because it felt like it would NEVER. BREAK. And when it did, only for it to be one step forward, two steps back, MY GOSH I swear my heart broke for Cliff. 😭 I almost couldn’t handle it. But the beauty of it was that he never pushed. He respected Michelle, valued their friendship, and wanted her for more than just the sparks between them. (insert dreamy sigh) Then the eventual payoff? Absolutely worth the wait. The fire between them burned so brightly once they let their walls down.

I also really appreciated how he talked about his ex-wife. Even though she hadn’t treated him well, he still chose to speak about her kindly in front of his daughters, not forcing them to pick sides. That kind of integrity spoke so loudly. 🥹 And when he finally broke down near the end… I was a mess. Seeing him vulnerable, knowing how strong he usually is, it hit me right in the feels. And then the grand gesture that followed was exactly the kind of moment I live for in romance.

The setting made this story even more magical. The 90s nostalgia, like when a camcorder was mentioned, gave me such a wave of warmth. Copper Run itself is exactly the kind of small town I adore: close-knit, friendly, and full of people who would drop everything to lend a hand. Of course, that also means everyone knows your business… 😂 but the sense of community makes it all worth it.

And goodness the ending… I can’t even explain it without spoiling it 😭. It was so unique, so moving, and it wrapped up everything so perfectly. I teared up more than once, just sitting there thinking about Michelle and Cliff and their little world.

This book gave me everything: laughter, heartache, nostalgia, tension, and so much love. It’s cozy, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Truly this was a 6 ⭐️ experience for me. I’ll never forget it 🫶🏼

-♡-♡-♡-♡-favorite quotes-♡-♡-♡-♡-

”I wonder if he was made for me, if he's the only man who will ever see me. I don't believe in destiny or stars, but I have to believe Cliff's constellation would align right beside mine.”

”I search his eyes—the blue eyes that I saw from across the chapel. A man I knew before I even met him. A man who loves me in the same way I love him. For exactly who we are. Flaws and all.”

-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-

things to know about the book ↓

🍂 friends-to-lovers
🐾 single dad
🍂 dual pov
🐾 set in the 90s
🍂 slow burn
🐾 found family

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and Julie Olivia for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.

──────────

・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

I wanted to wait further into fall to read this but the review date is coming up 😔 I’m so excited though! I can already tell it’s going to be so cozy!!

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fall rom-com gave me everything I could want and more! Cliff and Michelle were so perfect for each other, their relationship was just full of banter and undeniable chemistry. I loved that the two became friends before they fell for each other and decided to prioritize their relationship over their hesitation and setbacks. They were just so sweet and understanding, their relationship was built on respect and it was so endearing to see that turn into adoration and eventually love. On top of the swoony romance, the 90s small town setting was so fun and nostalgic, I couldn't get over all the little details and perfect vibes that were brought out with the fall festivities and small town shenanigans. I loved how Michelle took her time to fall in love with the town and we got to fall along with her; the Inn and all the little shops made me so sentimental for simpler times. If you're in the mood for a wistful and charming rom-com full of found family, humor, heart, a little drama, and all the 90s vibes, this romance is the one for you!

Read if you like:
🍂Friends to Lovers🍂
🍂Single Dad MMC🍂
🍂Slow Burn🍂
🍂Forced Proximity🍂
🍂Opposites Attract🍂
🍂Small Town Romance🍂

~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Alex.andthebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply cute