What do you think?
Love Felt Like This
A grumpy rock star and a joyful children’s show creator revive television magic in this cozy small-town romance.
Griffin Harvey lives his life in the spotlight. Reluctantly. The brooding famous singer-songwriter is on the cusp of composing his sophomore album . . . if only he could find the notes. But after gaining custody of his two-year-old daughter, the only music he’s writing is about shapes and counting to ten.
Enter Beverly, who lives her life in the background producing children’s television and laughter. Except joy is hard to find when her nonprofit loses funding. She sinks all of her savings to revive the children’s show by herself, but when her variety show appearance collides with Griffin’s, their banter and chemistry is caught on live television.
Suddenly, Griffin is singing a new tune. He needs a muse, and Beverly needs all the help she can get. With his secret daughter in tow, they hide out in her cozy mountain hometown, attempting to script, compose, and revive television magic. Their dynamic shouldn’t work. He’s all harsh tattoos and rough hands while she’s bright colors and gentle touches. Once their three months of work are done, they’ll return to their separate worlds. But what happens when it seems the true magic might be found in each other?
Griffin Harvey lives his life in the spotlight. Reluctantly. The brooding famous singer-songwriter is on the cusp of composing his sophomore album . . . if only he could find the notes. But after gaining custody of his two-year-old daughter, the only music he’s writing is about shapes and counting to ten.
Enter Beverly, who lives her life in the background producing children’s television and laughter. Except joy is hard to find when her nonprofit loses funding. She sinks all of her savings to revive the children’s show by herself, but when her variety show appearance collides with Griffin’s, their banter and chemistry is caught on live television.
Suddenly, Griffin is singing a new tune. He needs a muse, and Beverly needs all the help she can get. With his secret daughter in tow, they hide out in her cozy mountain hometown, attempting to script, compose, and revive television magic. Their dynamic shouldn’t work. He’s all harsh tattoos and rough hands while she’s bright colors and gentle touches. Once their three months of work are done, they’ll return to their separate worlds. But what happens when it seems the true magic might be found in each other?
495 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Julie Olivia
25 books3,796 followersJulie 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,917 reviews
May 18, 2026
i was super excited for this one, after having loved ‘it it makes you happy’, and i fear this one was even better!!
if you can look past my intense fear of puppets, this was a really sweet story. i always have a soft spot for ‘celebrity’ romances (in this case a singer), so i was hooked from the get go. i usually also have complaints when it comes to child characters in books (specifically romance ones), but Ava read like an actual child and brought so much heart to this story. the small town setting was super endearing as well, and there was plenty of drama. Griffin was a sweetie pie and i loved how intelligent, motivated and headstrong our female lead, Beverly, was. i read this in under 24 hours, i would highly recommend!
if you can look past my intense fear of puppets, this was a really sweet story. i always have a soft spot for ‘celebrity’ romances (in this case a singer), so i was hooked from the get go. i usually also have complaints when it comes to child characters in books (specifically romance ones), but Ava read like an actual child and brought so much heart to this story. the small town setting was super endearing as well, and there was plenty of drama. Griffin was a sweetie pie and i loved how intelligent, motivated and headstrong our female lead, Beverly, was. i read this in under 24 hours, i would highly recommend!
April 10, 2026
“There were feathers cupped in her hands and captured in her hair, like the softest brush against my skin. The lightest touch to my heart. Love felt weightless. Love felt fuzzy. Stitched onto my soul by her needle and thread. Deeply. Desperately. Hopelessly. 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼.”
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
"ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ" x ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ ᴋɪᴛᴇs
0:49 ───♥──────── 3:30
beware... this 100% turned into an essay
(AND ITS THE SHORTENED VERSION 😭)
I genuinely do not know how Julie Olivia does it, but she literally embodies cozy stories. Like HOW are her books this nostalgic and comforting while still feeling so intensely real?? Reading this felt less like reading fiction and more like stepping into an actual place that exists somewhere in the mountains where the air smells like pine trees and coffee and there’s music humming softly in the background at all times. Her stories don’t even feel written to me at this point. They feel lived in.
And this?? Infinity stars. Absolute infinity stars.
This whole book honestly felt like a love letter written between two pieces of a soul who didn’t know they belonged to the same one. Watching them ache for each other while trying to convince themselves they were doing the “right thing” actually made me want to scream. Like my chest HURT for them.
I fell in love with this story almost immediately. I already knew within the first few chapters it was going to own me completely. The premise felt so unique and refreshing too because I have NEVER read about a puppeteer before, and getting insight into Beverly’s world was so interesting from the very beginning. There was something so magical about the contrast between her softness and Griffin’s quieter, guarded nature. And honestly? Calling this grumpy x sunshine almost feels misleading because Griffin is barely even grumpy 😭 he’s just private and overwhelmed and trying his best while the entire world assumes things about him.
One of my absolute favorite things about this book was how much it explored the idea of perception versus reality. Beverly initially thinks Griffin is cold and difficult because that’s the version of him the world sees—this famous rockstar who keeps everyone at arm’s length—but underneath all of that he’s just… a man trying desperately to protect the people he loves. Especially Ava 😭😭 The way he loved her absolutely destroyed me in the best way. Not only was he protective over her in the sweetest way possible, but he was attentive in all those tiny realistic parenting moments that made him feel real instead of idealized. The scenes with her never felt like the author trying to convince us he was a good dad. He just WAS one. You could feel how much he loved her in every exhausted thought and every tiny interaction.
AND HIS BANDMATES??? OBSESSED WITH THEM.
That entire dynamic felt so natural and lived-in and funny. The support they gave him when he was struggling and figuring out fatherhood genuinely melted me. They felt like a real family instead of side characters added for filler, and every interaction with them made the story feel even warmer.
Also THANK YOU for finally writing a toddler who actually acts like a toddler. Ava felt REAL. The exhaustion felt real. The stress felt real. Nobody magically had everything together after one emotional conversation. Beverly and Griffin are both overwhelmed in completely different ways and I loved that the story let them stay messy and tired and human through all of it.
I loved the way Griffin saw Bev so clearly. Like he noticed EVERYTHING. Every little shift in her mood, every uncomfortable moment, every insecurity she tried to brush off. He defended her without making it performative. He was direct and gentle and patient in a way that made every interaction between them feel intimate long before anything romantic even happened. There’s something so intimate about being truly seen by someone, and this book captured that feeling perfectly. He never tried to change who she was. He just quietly reminded her over and over that she deserved care too.
&& the slowburn in this book was genuinely PERFECT because it never relied on huge dramatic moments to make the romance feel intense. It was all built through friendship and trust and small moments that slowly became unbearable in the best way possible. Quiet flirting. Shared looks. Inside jokes. Taking care of each other without even thinking about it. 🥹Watching Griffin slowly realize Beverly was becoming his muse was one of the most romantic things I’ve ever read because music had basically abandoned him emotionally before her. Then suddenly she walks into his life and everything starts waking back up again. 🥹🥹 & the way the book continues building on that idea throughout the story made it even better. Beverly doesn’t just inspire him creatively... she makes him feel alive again. His feelings for her weren’t just attraction. They became woven into everything he created.
Her happiness is pulling music out of him again??? This is literally poetry. LIKE SHUT UP 😭 (no actually don’t. please i beg of you. keep going)🥹😭😭
And the craziest part is that despite how poetic and emotional all of this was, the romance still somehow felt grounded and natural. Nothing about their connection felt rushed or artificial. You could genuinely understand why they became each other’s safe place.
The yearning became genuinely unbearable at some points 😭 like this man was DOWN BAD in the most romantic devastating way possible.
Yeah. Cool. Fine. Whatever. (i’m emotionally ruined)
This book understands intimacy in such a quiet beautiful way. Not just physical attraction, but emotional intimacy too. The kind where someone slowly becomes stitched into every part of your daily life until suddenly they’re everywhere.
&& I can't leave out the freaking emotional destruction phase that dropped out of nowhere 😭 the way they loved each other so selflessly that they were both willing to hurt themselves if it meant protecting the other person’s future 😭😭the kind of pain that hits harder because there’s no villain. (OKAY PAUSEEEEEEEEEEE. BEAU IS TOTALLY VILLAIN MATERIAL THAT PIECE OF GARBAGE. YOULL KNOW WHY WHEN YOU READ IT. anyway 😇) Just two people loving each other so much they’re terrified of becoming the reason the other loses their dreams.
That’s what made the emotional climax of this story hit so hard for me too. By that point, Griffin’s feelings for Beverly had become woven into literally every part of his life. His music, his thoughts, the way he viewed the world around him—she was in all of it. And because he’s such a guarded character overall, every vulnerable thought he had about her felt HUGE
LIKE???????? HOW DO YOU EVEN RECOVER AFTER READING SOMETHING LIKE THAT???
&& Beverly’s feelings for him felt so visceral and just as consuming.😭😭
That line honestly feels like the entire story distilled down into one sentence to me.
Two exhausted people carrying years of loneliness and pressure and responsibility finally finding someone who understands the weight of them completely.
And maybe that’s why this book affected me so deeply in the end. Underneath all the cozy mountain-town charm and soft flirting and found family warmth, this was really a story about two people learning they didn’t have to earn love by overworking themselves or carrying everything alone. They could just be loved as they were.
&& that EPILOGUE????? I’m not okay. Actually not okay. Sweetest thing I’ve ever read. 😭 Such a good wrap up
This story felt like music drifting through an open window. Like laughter in a warm kitchen. A story stitched together with music and love and exhaustion and hope. It was soft and healing and emotional and SO full of heart. 🎶 🎹🎧
Everything I could ever want in a romance wrapped into one beautiful story. ✨🧡
things to know about the book ↓
✨ single dad
✨ musician MMC
✨ forced proximity
✨ friends to lovers
✨ she's his muse
✨ slowburn
✨ dual POV
✨ small town
✨ found family
✨ artistic soulmates
✨ cozy mountain town vibes
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 27, 30
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
And to my most beautiful girl Cara. Thank you for buddy reading this one with me. You made the experience 10x better with our rants and screams 🥹🫶🏼😭💗 ily so much pretty girl!! mwahhhh. i can't wait to read your review 😍🫶🏼
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡✨🎶 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
no. way. I GOT THE FREAKING ARC EEEKKKKK
dropping everything rn!!! + i get to read it with my prettiest girl Cara?!?! YESSSS. So excited for us bestie 😽🧡
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖
oh hello there 🤭
I absolutely adored If It Makes You Happy, so seeing this especially with a cover just as beautiful already has me hooked. Add in music themes + a grumpy rockstar who’s a single dad?? I’m so seated for this
on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ♪ˎˊ˗
"ʙʟᴏᴏᴍ" x ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ ᴋɪᴛᴇs
0:49 ───♥──────── 3:30
beware... this 100% turned into an essay
(AND ITS THE SHORTENED VERSION 😭)
I genuinely do not know how Julie Olivia does it, but she literally embodies cozy stories. Like HOW are her books this nostalgic and comforting while still feeling so intensely real?? Reading this felt less like reading fiction and more like stepping into an actual place that exists somewhere in the mountains where the air smells like pine trees and coffee and there’s music humming softly in the background at all times. Her stories don’t even feel written to me at this point. They feel lived in.
And this?? Infinity stars. Absolute infinity stars.
This whole book honestly felt like a love letter written between two pieces of a soul who didn’t know they belonged to the same one. Watching them ache for each other while trying to convince themselves they were doing the “right thing” actually made me want to scream. Like my chest HURT for them.
I fell in love with this story almost immediately. I already knew within the first few chapters it was going to own me completely. The premise felt so unique and refreshing too because I have NEVER read about a puppeteer before, and getting insight into Beverly’s world was so interesting from the very beginning. There was something so magical about the contrast between her softness and Griffin’s quieter, guarded nature. And honestly? Calling this grumpy x sunshine almost feels misleading because Griffin is barely even grumpy 😭 he’s just private and overwhelmed and trying his best while the entire world assumes things about him.
One of my absolute favorite things about this book was how much it explored the idea of perception versus reality. Beverly initially thinks Griffin is cold and difficult because that’s the version of him the world sees—this famous rockstar who keeps everyone at arm’s length—but underneath all of that he’s just… a man trying desperately to protect the people he loves. Especially Ava 😭😭 The way he loved her absolutely destroyed me in the best way. Not only was he protective over her in the sweetest way possible, but he was attentive in all those tiny realistic parenting moments that made him feel real instead of idealized. The scenes with her never felt like the author trying to convince us he was a good dad. He just WAS one. You could feel how much he loved her in every exhausted thought and every tiny interaction.
AND HIS BANDMATES??? OBSESSED WITH THEM.
That entire dynamic felt so natural and lived-in and funny. The support they gave him when he was struggling and figuring out fatherhood genuinely melted me. They felt like a real family instead of side characters added for filler, and every interaction with them made the story feel even warmer.
Also THANK YOU for finally writing a toddler who actually acts like a toddler. Ava felt REAL. The exhaustion felt real. The stress felt real. Nobody magically had everything together after one emotional conversation. Beverly and Griffin are both overwhelmed in completely different ways and I loved that the story let them stay messy and tired and human through all of it.
I loved the way Griffin saw Bev so clearly. Like he noticed EVERYTHING. Every little shift in her mood, every uncomfortable moment, every insecurity she tried to brush off. He defended her without making it performative. He was direct and gentle and patient in a way that made every interaction between them feel intimate long before anything romantic even happened. There’s something so intimate about being truly seen by someone, and this book captured that feeling perfectly. He never tried to change who she was. He just quietly reminded her over and over that she deserved care too.
&& the slowburn in this book was genuinely PERFECT because it never relied on huge dramatic moments to make the romance feel intense. It was all built through friendship and trust and small moments that slowly became unbearable in the best way possible. Quiet flirting. Shared looks. Inside jokes. Taking care of each other without even thinking about it. 🥹Watching Griffin slowly realize Beverly was becoming his muse was one of the most romantic things I’ve ever read because music had basically abandoned him emotionally before her. Then suddenly she walks into his life and everything starts waking back up again. 🥹🥹 & the way the book continues building on that idea throughout the story made it even better. Beverly doesn’t just inspire him creatively... she makes him feel alive again. His feelings for her weren’t just attraction. They became woven into everything he created.
“I’m crooning new chords that echo memories of Beverly’s laughter that night at the bar. Every strum is my fingers entwining through hers. Every breathy note is the exhalations against her skin on the red carpet.”
Her happiness is pulling music out of him again??? This is literally poetry. LIKE SHUT UP 😭 (no actually don’t. please i beg of you. keep going)🥹😭😭
And the craziest part is that despite how poetic and emotional all of this was, the romance still somehow felt grounded and natural. Nothing about their connection felt rushed or artificial. You could genuinely understand why they became each other’s safe place.
The yearning became genuinely unbearable at some points 😭 like this man was DOWN BAD in the most romantic devastating way possible.
“She stitches puppets, while I dedicate songs to her. She laughs, while I search for excuses to hold her hand. She stares; I ache.”
Yeah. Cool. Fine. Whatever. (i’m emotionally ruined)
This book understands intimacy in such a quiet beautiful way. Not just physical attraction, but emotional intimacy too. The kind where someone slowly becomes stitched into every part of your daily life until suddenly they’re everywhere.
&& I can't leave out the freaking emotional destruction phase that dropped out of nowhere 😭 the way they loved each other so selflessly that they were both willing to hurt themselves if it meant protecting the other person’s future 😭😭the kind of pain that hits harder because there’s no villain. (OKAY PAUSEEEEEEEEEEE. BEAU IS TOTALLY VILLAIN MATERIAL THAT PIECE OF GARBAGE. YOULL KNOW WHY WHEN YOU READ IT. anyway 😇) Just two people loving each other so much they’re terrified of becoming the reason the other loses their dreams.
That’s what made the emotional climax of this story hit so hard for me too. By that point, Griffin’s feelings for Beverly had become woven into literally every part of his life. His music, his thoughts, the way he viewed the world around him—she was in all of it. And because he’s such a guarded character overall, every vulnerable thought he had about her felt HUGE
“I’ve never been a big believer of heaven. But, if I did believe, if I did think that there was a reason for most things, I might–just maybe–believe that Beverly Alice Lark is an angel dropped to this earth just for me.”
LIKE???????? HOW DO YOU EVEN RECOVER AFTER READING SOMETHING LIKE THAT???
&& Beverly’s feelings for him felt so visceral and just as consuming.😭😭
“I can feel my heart beating like fire in my chest. My heavy soul is calling for its match.”
That line honestly feels like the entire story distilled down into one sentence to me.
Two exhausted people carrying years of loneliness and pressure and responsibility finally finding someone who understands the weight of them completely.
And maybe that’s why this book affected me so deeply in the end. Underneath all the cozy mountain-town charm and soft flirting and found family warmth, this was really a story about two people learning they didn’t have to earn love by overworking themselves or carrying everything alone. They could just be loved as they were.
&& that EPILOGUE????? I’m not okay. Actually not okay. Sweetest thing I’ve ever read. 😭 Such a good wrap up
This story felt like music drifting through an open window. Like laughter in a warm kitchen. A story stitched together with music and love and exhaustion and hope. It was soft and healing and emotional and SO full of heart. 🎶 🎹🎧
Everything I could ever want in a romance wrapped into one beautiful story. ✨🧡
things to know about the book ↓
✨ single dad
✨ musician MMC
✨ forced proximity
✨ friends to lovers
✨ she's his muse
✨ slowburn
✨ dual POV
✨ small town
✨ found family
✨ artistic soulmates
✨ cozy mountain town vibes
swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 27, 30
Thank you NetGalley, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
And to my most beautiful girl Cara. Thank you for buddy reading this one with me. You made the experience 10x better with our rants and screams 🥹🫶🏼😭💗 ily so much pretty girl!! mwahhhh. i can't wait to read your review 😍🫶🏼
─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 🧡✨🎶 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
no. way. I GOT THE FREAKING ARC EEEKKKKK
dropping everything rn!!! + i get to read it with my prettiest girl Cara?!?! YESSSS. So excited for us bestie 😽🧡
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖
oh hello there 🤭
I absolutely adored If It Makes You Happy, so seeing this especially with a cover just as beautiful already has me hooked. Add in music themes + a grumpy rockstar who’s a single dad?? I’m so seated for this
September 13, 2026
everyone go read this right now!!! it has been so long since a romance book made me feel like this 🥹 obsessed
Want to Read
February 26, 2026«────── « ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ──────»
˖ ֹ੭୧pre-read:⊹ ࣪ ⑅
I'm in a romance slump, but I am hoping this will take me out of it.
Watch me pretend the MMC is Hozier.
˖ ֹ੭୧pre-read:⊹ ࣪ ⑅
I'm in a romance slump, but I am hoping this will take me out of it.
Watch me pretend the MMC is Hozier.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
REVIEW TO COME😍😍😭😭!!!!!!!!!
👯♀️🧸🎀🍓Buddy reading with my prettiest girl Cat👯♀️🧸🎀🍓!!!!!!
👯♀️🧸🎀🍓Buddy reading with my prettiest girl Cat👯♀️🧸🎀🍓!!!!!!
July 20, 2026
· ˚ 🎹⊹ ⌇ 5 stars.
Easiest five stars I’ve given in a long time. Julie Olivia’s concept for this book was so fresh and exciting and her writing is absolute magic.
The story follows Beverly Lark, a puppeteer trying to revive a children’s TV program. She only needs some time and some new music to prepare her pitch to a big network. Enter Griffin Harvey, the darker-haired, grumpy musician and single dad. During his writer’s block, he joins Beverly in her small hometown to write children’s songs for her new show.
· ˚ 🎹⊹ ⌇ thoughts.
The first few chapters, I felt like I couldn’t read it fast enough. The setup was so charming and funny and I was a like a starving person who needed to inhale every word. The writing was so binge-able and addictive. Julie Olivia writes banter so well. It didn’t feel awkward or stilted like so much of the banter I’ve been reading these days. Beverly was naturally witty and clever and was such a fun companion to Griffin’s dry humor. She was a very easy character to love and root for because she was so kindhearted and funny.
Julie Olivia’s writing feels so nostalgic and so deeply real. The settings are so comforting and the characters so easy to fall in love with. What I really appreciated was how she wrote Griffin’s two year old daughter, Ava. As someone who works with toddlers and preschoolers all day, I can always tell when an author has never been around small children. I don’t know if Julie Olivia is a mom, but it’s obvious from her character work on Ava that she knows a thing or two about toddlers. Ava was such a realistic representation of a toddler. From the meltdowns to the constant giggling, she was so authentic. I also loved how she depicted Ava’s grief. Losing her mom at such a young age, (1 year old) must’ve been extremely difficult . At that age, they don’t have the understanding, but they certainly have the hole in their heart, and Olivia did a great job portraying that.
And I saved the best for last….Griffin Harvey. Oh my days he was so sweet…and hot. 🥵 The dark long hair and the beard just did it for me. Paired with the gruff exterior and the heart of gold, he was just dreamy. And the way he interacted with his daughter was beyond precious. You could feel his fear of not being a good enough dad, and that to me was one of the biggest indicators that he was actually a great dad. There’s nothing sexier than someone who cares so deeply for his kid.
Ultimately, this story has all the elements and more of a five star book. Julie Olivia’s writing is magic and nobody can change my mind. This book is perfect for fans of small town, nostalgic feeling romance. Get ready to fall in love with Bev and Griffin and his daughter Ava. This book was so enjoyable, I honestly don’t have any critiques, which is so rare for me.
Thank you toNetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own.
📆 Publication Date: September 6, 2026
Easiest five stars I’ve given in a long time. Julie Olivia’s concept for this book was so fresh and exciting and her writing is absolute magic.
The story follows Beverly Lark, a puppeteer trying to revive a children’s TV program. She only needs some time and some new music to prepare her pitch to a big network. Enter Griffin Harvey, the darker-haired, grumpy musician and single dad. During his writer’s block, he joins Beverly in her small hometown to write children’s songs for her new show.
· ˚ 🎹⊹ ⌇ thoughts.
The first few chapters, I felt like I couldn’t read it fast enough. The setup was so charming and funny and I was a like a starving person who needed to inhale every word. The writing was so binge-able and addictive. Julie Olivia writes banter so well. It didn’t feel awkward or stilted like so much of the banter I’ve been reading these days. Beverly was naturally witty and clever and was such a fun companion to Griffin’s dry humor. She was a very easy character to love and root for because she was so kindhearted and funny.
Julie Olivia’s writing feels so nostalgic and so deeply real. The settings are so comforting and the characters so easy to fall in love with. What I really appreciated was how she wrote Griffin’s two year old daughter, Ava. As someone who works with toddlers and preschoolers all day, I can always tell when an author has never been around small children. I don’t know if Julie Olivia is a mom, but it’s obvious from her character work on Ava that she knows a thing or two about toddlers. Ava was such a realistic representation of a toddler. From the meltdowns to the constant giggling, she was so authentic. I also loved how she depicted Ava’s grief. Losing her mom at such a young age, (1 year old) must’ve been extremely difficult . At that age, they don’t have the understanding, but they certainly have the hole in their heart, and Olivia did a great job portraying that.
And I saved the best for last….Griffin Harvey. Oh my days he was so sweet…and hot. 🥵 The dark long hair and the beard just did it for me. Paired with the gruff exterior and the heart of gold, he was just dreamy. And the way he interacted with his daughter was beyond precious. You could feel his fear of not being a good enough dad, and that to me was one of the biggest indicators that he was actually a great dad. There’s nothing sexier than someone who cares so deeply for his kid.
Ultimately, this story has all the elements and more of a five star book. Julie Olivia’s writing is magic and nobody can change my mind. This book is perfect for fans of small town, nostalgic feeling romance. Get ready to fall in love with Bev and Griffin and his daughter Ava. This book was so enjoyable, I honestly don’t have any critiques, which is so rare for me.
Thank you toNetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are entirely my own.
📆 Publication Date: September 6, 2026
September 17, 2026
i might be in the minority with this one as this book has a lot of 5 stars, but if i'm being honest, the core concept was really fun and had me hooked early on. the main issue is that it just didn't need to be over 500 pages long. the author definitely could have cut out a massive chunk of the middle without losing anything important. because of all that dragging, i got really bored in between major events and had to force myself to keep reading.
July 17, 2026
Happy pub day to one of my favorite books of the year!!! 🧡
Arc review: This was SO GOOD!! There is just something about Julie Olivia’s writing and storytelling that is so comforting. Her books feel like big hugs and this was no different! I literally loved everything about this story. I thought the puppeteer x musician premise was so unique and I thought it was done so well. I was so entertained and invested in Beverly reviving her grandfather’s show and I loved how Griffin played into that story. Their connection and relationship development felt so real and authentic. I LOVED the small town setting and Beverly’s family. They added so much to the story for me. Beverly was such an easy fmc to like and read about; I thought she was such a sweetheart and I was really invested in her story. Griffin!!!! Oh my. A man down bad. A man terribly in love!!! Truly one of my favorite mmcs I’ve ever read about. He was EVERYTHING. Their romance was SO GOOD. I also loved Ava and the role she played in this book. Truly every character made me happy and brought something special to this story!! I loved them all. This book was just honestly perfect to me. I have no complaints. I loved the writing, the pacing, the setting, the characters, the tropes, the premise. You name it. I loved it. I was literally smiling like a fool with goosebumps on my arms over half of this book. My review doesn’t do this book justice so I just need everyone to pick it up on release day in September to experience how perfect it is. Truly the coziest, sweetest romance that I know will be a huge hit this fall. LOVED is an understatement. Thank you to the publisher for the arc!!
Arc review: This was SO GOOD!! There is just something about Julie Olivia’s writing and storytelling that is so comforting. Her books feel like big hugs and this was no different! I literally loved everything about this story. I thought the puppeteer x musician premise was so unique and I thought it was done so well. I was so entertained and invested in Beverly reviving her grandfather’s show and I loved how Griffin played into that story. Their connection and relationship development felt so real and authentic. I LOVED the small town setting and Beverly’s family. They added so much to the story for me. Beverly was such an easy fmc to like and read about; I thought she was such a sweetheart and I was really invested in her story. Griffin!!!! Oh my. A man down bad. A man terribly in love!!! Truly one of my favorite mmcs I’ve ever read about. He was EVERYTHING. Their romance was SO GOOD. I also loved Ava and the role she played in this book. Truly every character made me happy and brought something special to this story!! I loved them all. This book was just honestly perfect to me. I have no complaints. I loved the writing, the pacing, the setting, the characters, the tropes, the premise. You name it. I loved it. I was literally smiling like a fool with goosebumps on my arms over half of this book. My review doesn’t do this book justice so I just need everyone to pick it up on release day in September to experience how perfect it is. Truly the coziest, sweetest romance that I know will be a huge hit this fall. LOVED is an understatement. Thank you to the publisher for the arc!!
August 12, 2026
When “I know what I like” means every single song on the album is about her.
A puppeteer taking on a major project, a singer behind on the deadline for his next album, and a small town in North Carolina. What do these three things have in common? Only an endearing romance that might just be the coziest book of the fall season. Julie Olivia’s latest is a perfect blend of the odd things finding harmony on unexpected grounds. In Love Felt Like This, Olivia takes readers into the world of kids television programming and the creative endeavors of a puppeteer trying to bring a formerly cancelled TV series back to life. Her unexpected interaction with a moody rockstar sets them both on a path to mutual creativity. The love they foster in between the creative pursuits may just be the one thing worth putting it all on the line for—collaboratively of course. Love for the weird. That’s what one can expect from this gorgeous sophomore romance from romance writer Julie Olivia. The raw, bold authenticity that comes from staying grounded in our passions and the comfort in rooting ourselves wholly in pursuit of them. Love Felt Like This embraces the eccentricities and says: let’s revel in it. Not only that, but let us be loved for them. You’ll learn the ins and outs of puppeteering, children’s show writing, and of course the creation of songs that are impossible to get out of your head. Characters Beverly and Griffin find a quiet kind of understanding and partnership as they work to build lives others may find unconventional. But what is more romantic than doing the weird thing and being loved for all your quirks anyway. Combined with a gorgeous small town setting and lovable family cast, Love Felt Like This wraps you up in a warm embrace of support and unconditional love. Julie Olivia hits the nail on the head in what I am desperate to read more of: romance for the passionate, the obsessed if you will. Love Felt Like This turns that into a mantra: give energy to our passions and the rest will follow. The fact that it’s a rockstar and tv show creator slow burn romance? Just an added bonus for us all.
Thank you to edelweiss for providing the advance copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
A puppeteer taking on a major project, a singer behind on the deadline for his next album, and a small town in North Carolina. What do these three things have in common? Only an endearing romance that might just be the coziest book of the fall season. Julie Olivia’s latest is a perfect blend of the odd things finding harmony on unexpected grounds. In Love Felt Like This, Olivia takes readers into the world of kids television programming and the creative endeavors of a puppeteer trying to bring a formerly cancelled TV series back to life. Her unexpected interaction with a moody rockstar sets them both on a path to mutual creativity. The love they foster in between the creative pursuits may just be the one thing worth putting it all on the line for—collaboratively of course. Love for the weird. That’s what one can expect from this gorgeous sophomore romance from romance writer Julie Olivia. The raw, bold authenticity that comes from staying grounded in our passions and the comfort in rooting ourselves wholly in pursuit of them. Love Felt Like This embraces the eccentricities and says: let’s revel in it. Not only that, but let us be loved for them. You’ll learn the ins and outs of puppeteering, children’s show writing, and of course the creation of songs that are impossible to get out of your head. Characters Beverly and Griffin find a quiet kind of understanding and partnership as they work to build lives others may find unconventional. But what is more romantic than doing the weird thing and being loved for all your quirks anyway. Combined with a gorgeous small town setting and lovable family cast, Love Felt Like This wraps you up in a warm embrace of support and unconditional love. Julie Olivia hits the nail on the head in what I am desperate to read more of: romance for the passionate, the obsessed if you will. Love Felt Like This turns that into a mantra: give energy to our passions and the rest will follow. The fact that it’s a rockstar and tv show creator slow burn romance? Just an added bonus for us all.
Thank you to edelweiss for providing the advance copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
September 17, 2026
This is exactly what I needed right now 💗 4.5⭐️ rounded up!! I love Julie Olivia’s romance books & this absolutely delivered! My favorite part about her books is how she transports you into the world. I can see the places, people and vibes so vividly & it’s the perfect cozy, small town romance.
I was hooked from the beginning - Griffin is a single dad rockstar (who everyone thinks is grumpy) & Beverly is a puppeteer trying to revive her children’s show. He is uninspired with writers block and decides to write music for the show she’s pitching.
This was everything I love in a romance! It was a little long & I wish we saw more time with them actually together as a couple! But I loved it 💗
I was hooked from the beginning - Griffin is a single dad rockstar (who everyone thinks is grumpy) & Beverly is a puppeteer trying to revive her children’s show. He is uninspired with writers block and decides to write music for the show she’s pitching.
This was everything I love in a romance! It was a little long & I wish we saw more time with them actually together as a couple! But I loved it 💗
Currently Reading
September 21, 2026⌗ ── 🧡 .ᐟ pre-read
⤿ start date: sept 19th
aaaa i can't wait to start this like i was waiting for this one to come out and then i have to finish CC first soo it was agonaizing but finally it's timeeee.
i have such high expectations soo finger crossed
⤿ start date: sept 19th
aaaa i can't wait to start this like i was waiting for this one to come out and then i have to finish CC first soo it was agonaizing but finally it's timeeee.
i have such high expectations soo finger crossed
July 30, 2026
[arc review] I can’t even begin to explain just the way julie olivia writes her books. if I could summarise it one sentence, I would say they’re cozy and feel like a warm hug.
the main characters are fleshed out, the world building is incredible, and you connect with the supporting ensemble even if they’re not at the forefront of the story.
it’s a romance at its core, but it’s also a story of characters coming together to better themselves as individuals. it’s seeing traits in yourself represented in these characters.
love felt like this is a masterclass in writing, and it’s one of my top reads of 2026.
one thing about julie olivia is that she’s going to put her heart and soul into her books, and I’m going to pick them up every time.
thank you michael joseph for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
the main characters are fleshed out, the world building is incredible, and you connect with the supporting ensemble even if they’re not at the forefront of the story.
it’s a romance at its core, but it’s also a story of characters coming together to better themselves as individuals. it’s seeing traits in yourself represented in these characters.
love felt like this is a masterclass in writing, and it’s one of my top reads of 2026.
one thing about julie olivia is that she’s going to put her heart and soul into her books, and I’m going to pick them up every time.
thank you michael joseph for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 31, 2026
I cry :)
this was SO FREAKING CUTE
I initially didn’t realize that this wasn’t another 90s romcom like If It Makes You Happy - but it still had the same cozy heart
I loved so much about this story but my no. 1 was how trusting and mature the leads were. They didn’t play games with each other. They didn’t argue over trivial stuff. It felt so comforting to be in this love story where they brought each other so much peace.
Warm. Heartfelt. 5 stars.
P.S. screw Beau forreal that pretentious prick
this was SO FREAKING CUTE
I initially didn’t realize that this wasn’t another 90s romcom like If It Makes You Happy - but it still had the same cozy heart
I loved so much about this story but my no. 1 was how trusting and mature the leads were. They didn’t play games with each other. They didn’t argue over trivial stuff. It felt so comforting to be in this love story where they brought each other so much peace.
Warm. Heartfelt. 5 stars.
P.S. screw Beau forreal that pretentious prick
September 12, 2026
I’m so excited to have this in my hands I could cry 🥹
Two 5 stars read in one week??? And both being my most anticipated of the year??
I’m really in love with this author’s stories I swear. RTC
Two 5 stars read in one week??? And both being my most anticipated of the year??
I’m really in love with this author’s stories I swear. RTC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For some reason, when I first saw this cover (which is absolutely gorgeous, by the way), I thought the MMC would be grumpy and kind of an asshole, but it turned out to be completely different. Griffin is a famous rock musician who writes songs and secretly raises his two-year-old daughter. I honestly wouldn’t even call him grumpy—to me, he’s just exhausted from the weight he carries on his shoulders. Even Beverly tells him that he takes care of everyone, and she wants to take care of him. At the same time, he’s incredibly sweet and kind, very responsible, and the best dad to his little girl. Also, finally a book where a two-year-old actually behaves like a two-year-old! For some reason, authors love giving children behavior that doesn’t match their age. I absolutely adored Ava!
Beverly is a puppeteer on a children’s TV show that’s on the verge of being cancelled. Their first meeting was hilarious. Beverly is also very hardworking and underestimates herself because of her jerk ex.
This romance turned out to be really cozy. I devoured the first half, but parts of the second half felt a little dragged out to me, and the third-act breakup felt slightly overdramatic. The characters didn’t actually break up, but they grew distant because of certain circumstances, and their behavior during that period felt a bit strange to me. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable book with adult characters dealing with adult problems.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓grumpy x sunshine
✓single dad
✓fake dating
✓small mountain town
✓forced proximity
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Beverly is a puppeteer on a children’s TV show that’s on the verge of being cancelled. Their first meeting was hilarious. Beverly is also very hardworking and underestimates herself because of her jerk ex.
This romance turned out to be really cozy. I devoured the first half, but parts of the second half felt a little dragged out to me, and the third-act breakup felt slightly overdramatic. The characters didn’t actually break up, but they grew distant because of certain circumstances, and their behavior during that period felt a bit strange to me. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable book with adult characters dealing with adult problems.
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓grumpy x sunshine
✓single dad
✓fake dating
✓small mountain town
✓forced proximity
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 11, 2025
thank you to the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
4.5***
oh this book is MAGIC!!!!
this was one of the sweetest, most genuine romances i’ve read in a long time. beverly & griffin feel so real and their love for each other was perfectly fleshed out.
beverly is one of my new favorite FMCs and i loved seeing her learn to trust herself and allow herself to love and be loved. her personality is sunshine personified and i love how passionate she is about her dreams and ambitions. she’s thoughtful and considerate and kind (nice AND kind, iykyk) and was such a delight to read about.
griffin is DOWN BADDD!!!! when he said something along the lines of “she stares, i ache” oh i was kicking my feet. i loved how his career was portrayed and had so much fun with that aspect. he is also such a thoughtful person, a great father, and the way he loves beverly was so beautiful to read.
also ava!!! what a sweetheart omg i adored reading about her and the way bev’s family & griffin’s band cared for her. so so cute.
the setting of this was so perfectly cozy. i love a small town romance and i love a quirky family dynamic. elk grove felt so real and i could picture the winter mountains and puffs of cold air.
this is definitely a slower paced book that kind of ambles along in terms of plot, which i personally liked. it reminded me of reading a long cozy fanfiction, in the best way possible.
this had all of the coziness and heart of if it makes you happy & i’m so so excited julie olivia’s magic touch came through in this book as well.
4.5***
oh this book is MAGIC!!!!
this was one of the sweetest, most genuine romances i’ve read in a long time. beverly & griffin feel so real and their love for each other was perfectly fleshed out.
beverly is one of my new favorite FMCs and i loved seeing her learn to trust herself and allow herself to love and be loved. her personality is sunshine personified and i love how passionate she is about her dreams and ambitions. she’s thoughtful and considerate and kind (nice AND kind, iykyk) and was such a delight to read about.
griffin is DOWN BADDD!!!! when he said something along the lines of “she stares, i ache” oh i was kicking my feet. i loved how his career was portrayed and had so much fun with that aspect. he is also such a thoughtful person, a great father, and the way he loves beverly was so beautiful to read.
also ava!!! what a sweetheart omg i adored reading about her and the way bev’s family & griffin’s band cared for her. so so cute.
the setting of this was so perfectly cozy. i love a small town romance and i love a quirky family dynamic. elk grove felt so real and i could picture the winter mountains and puffs of cold air.
this is definitely a slower paced book that kind of ambles along in terms of plot, which i personally liked. it reminded me of reading a long cozy fanfiction, in the best way possible.
this had all of the coziness and heart of if it makes you happy & i’m so so excited julie olivia’s magic touch came through in this book as well.
September 9, 2026
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an ebook!
This was very sweet and fun! This was my first book by this author but I had heard great things about her debut. Good enough things that I picked this up despite my general disinterest in contemporary romance and I'm happy I did!
Of our two leads Beverly and Griffin, Beverly is definitely the more interesting character. While I liked Griffin, I think we can all agree that we see more rock stars with hearts of gold in romance books compared to professional puppeteers! Quick aside, I once was in a position where I was in the same area as a national puppeteer convention, where there was over 400 puppeteers and not a single one was in their 30s, lol. Julie Olivia did a great job making Beverly original and fun while not making her too "quirky", which is great because quirky characters annoy me. She is fun and more light-hearted than Griffin while still being very driven. I love an ambitious woman in a romance novel so I appreciated that aspect a lot. It was also nice to see her interact with her family. There is also a plotline with her bad ex-boyfriend, which I didn't really care that much about. I didn't feel like that conflict had sufficient payoff given how much time he takes up in the book.
As I said, Griffin is a lot more of a stereotype of a male romance lead. He seems grumpy but he's actually sweet! He's protective of the people he loves! And he's a single dad! The character development between these two is also a bit uneven. I felt like I understood a lot better why Beverly wanted to do children's television and very little about Griffin's love of music or even anything about his family or childhood or anything. Given the length of this book, it would have been nice to learn a little more about him. I did like his relationship with his bandmates and his daughter. I did seem like a good portrayal of parenting.
In terms of plot, there isn't a ton, which I expect in contemporary romances and there was enough good character work that I was fine with that. I do wish we had seen a little bit more of both leads performing. We really only see one performance from each of them and the rest is just practice. The set up of this book is that people were so blown away by the chemistry between Griffin and this puppet so it would have been nice to see a bit more of that. This book is also pretty long for a contemporary romance - nearly 500 pages - and I found the last 15% or so really dragged. I just didn't really buy the conflict and then at the end, I felt like that conflict was just kinda hand-waved away instead of truly being resolved. It was still a good read, I just think a plotline or two could have been cut.
I did really enjoy this! I would definitely go back and read Olivia's first book, if I ever get my TBR under control, and I'll be interested in seeing whatever she does next!
This was very sweet and fun! This was my first book by this author but I had heard great things about her debut. Good enough things that I picked this up despite my general disinterest in contemporary romance and I'm happy I did!
Of our two leads Beverly and Griffin, Beverly is definitely the more interesting character. While I liked Griffin, I think we can all agree that we see more rock stars with hearts of gold in romance books compared to professional puppeteers! Quick aside, I once was in a position where I was in the same area as a national puppeteer convention, where there was over 400 puppeteers and not a single one was in their 30s, lol. Julie Olivia did a great job making Beverly original and fun while not making her too "quirky", which is great because quirky characters annoy me. She is fun and more light-hearted than Griffin while still being very driven. I love an ambitious woman in a romance novel so I appreciated that aspect a lot. It was also nice to see her interact with her family. There is also a plotline with her bad ex-boyfriend, which I didn't really care that much about. I didn't feel like that conflict had sufficient payoff given how much time he takes up in the book.
As I said, Griffin is a lot more of a stereotype of a male romance lead. He seems grumpy but he's actually sweet! He's protective of the people he loves! And he's a single dad! The character development between these two is also a bit uneven. I felt like I understood a lot better why Beverly wanted to do children's television and very little about Griffin's love of music or even anything about his family or childhood or anything. Given the length of this book, it would have been nice to learn a little more about him. I did like his relationship with his bandmates and his daughter. I did seem like a good portrayal of parenting.
In terms of plot, there isn't a ton, which I expect in contemporary romances and there was enough good character work that I was fine with that. I do wish we had seen a little bit more of both leads performing. We really only see one performance from each of them and the rest is just practice. The set up of this book is that people were so blown away by the chemistry between Griffin and this puppet so it would have been nice to see a bit more of that. This book is also pretty long for a contemporary romance - nearly 500 pages - and I found the last 15% or so really dragged. I just didn't really buy the conflict and then at the end, I felt like that conflict was just kinda hand-waved away instead of truly being resolved. It was still a good read, I just think a plotline or two could have been cut.
I did really enjoy this! I would definitely go back and read Olivia's first book, if I ever get my TBR under control, and I'll be interested in seeing whatever she does next!
September 13, 2026
Julie Olivia is such a fantastic author - I'm so glad she's on the scene now. I've loved both books I've read from her. This story easily could have felt corny or outlandish or wattpad-adjacent (rockstar romance), but it felt so familiar and nostalgic. The romantic elements & the lost-in-life feelings were so relatable, and the puppet storyline was so reminiscent of sesame street, which was MY show as a kid.
i would recommend this to all romance readers.
i would recommend this to all romance readers.
September 6, 2026
This was such a wholesome, feel-good romance. The kind of comforting book I can sink into and unwind with after a long day at work. When life feels exhausting and a little too much, sometimes you just need a book that feels like a warm hug — and this was exactly that. Love felt like this indeed. This book is intimately soft — it feels almost like a whisper, but somehow that whisper hits you right in the heart. The feelings are delicate, tender and sincere, and Julie Olivia really knows how to make those quiet moments mean so much.
Julie Olivia spun such a soft and magical story around Beverly, a kind, genuine girl who is deeply committed to her passion and job as a puppeteer, and Griffin, a rock star who comes across as grumpy and brooding but is actually so incredibly soft for his girl. 🥹 What I loved most was reading how Griffin help heal the gaping wound left behind by Beverly’s jackass ex, not by sweeping in and “fixing” her, but by giving her the love, patience and tenderness she deserved.
And I was genuinely smiling when I read how Beverly inspired Griffin as he wrote the *E* song. There was just something so quietly romantic about that. The author also absolutely nailed the small-town trope, with a warm family that genuinely cares for one another, and Griffin’s bandmates who are basically the epitome of found family. I’m always a sucker for a good found-family dynamic, and this one delivered. ❤️
And OH MY GOD, that epilogue with Ava. 😭 So ridiculously adorable, and it immediately reminded me of Rocket! My heart.
PRE-READ REVIEW
A couple more days before this drops, and I have a very strong hunch this is going to be an amazing one. I’ve been reading the reviews, and everyone seems to be absolutely GUSHING over it, which is doing absolutely nothing to temper my expectations.
At this point, Julie Olivia has basically marketed herself as the fall romance author after the success and brilliance of If It Makes You Happy—which I loved SO much. That book was everything I want in a cosy fall romance, and now I’m dangerously close to rereading it while waiting for this one.
Anyway, expectations? High. Very, very high. 🍁🍂
Julie Olivia spun such a soft and magical story around Beverly, a kind, genuine girl who is deeply committed to her passion and job as a puppeteer, and Griffin, a rock star who comes across as grumpy and brooding but is actually so incredibly soft for his girl. 🥹 What I loved most was reading how Griffin help heal the gaping wound left behind by Beverly’s jackass ex, not by sweeping in and “fixing” her, but by giving her the love, patience and tenderness she deserved.
And I was genuinely smiling when I read how Beverly inspired Griffin as he wrote the *E* song. There was just something so quietly romantic about that. The author also absolutely nailed the small-town trope, with a warm family that genuinely cares for one another, and Griffin’s bandmates who are basically the epitome of found family. I’m always a sucker for a good found-family dynamic, and this one delivered. ❤️
And OH MY GOD, that epilogue with Ava. 😭 So ridiculously adorable, and it immediately reminded me of Rocket! My heart.
PRE-READ REVIEW
A couple more days before this drops, and I have a very strong hunch this is going to be an amazing one. I’ve been reading the reviews, and everyone seems to be absolutely GUSHING over it, which is doing absolutely nothing to temper my expectations.
At this point, Julie Olivia has basically marketed herself as the fall romance author after the success and brilliance of If It Makes You Happy—which I loved SO much. That book was everything I want in a cosy fall romance, and now I’m dangerously close to rereading it while waiting for this one.
Anyway, expectations? High. Very, very high. 🍁🍂
August 31, 2026
Cute but felt like the author tried to do too much with the story. Plus- this book was criminally too long. Good grief, a romcom should not be 14 hrs on the audio.
September 13, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up✨
I LOVED If It Makes You Happy, so I was so excited to jump into this book. I went in completely blind, and I’m honestly so glad I did because I’m not sure the premise would’ve immediately sold me. But I ended up LOVINGGGG this. Beverly and Griffin felt so unique, and Julie Olivia is so amazing at writing that slow build where you can literally feel the connection and chemistry growing between the characters. I had sooo many butterflies reading this book🦋 I loved it so much, I need more!!✨
I LOVED If It Makes You Happy, so I was so excited to jump into this book. I went in completely blind, and I’m honestly so glad I did because I’m not sure the premise would’ve immediately sold me. But I ended up LOVINGGGG this. Beverly and Griffin felt so unique, and Julie Olivia is so amazing at writing that slow build where you can literally feel the connection and chemistry growing between the characters. I had sooo many butterflies reading this book🦋 I loved it so much, I need more!!✨
Want to Read
December 12, 2025𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-release
release date - september 8th 2026
✧˖°🎸 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ grumpy x sunshine
⤷ single dad
⤷ small mountain town
⤷ children's tv puppeteer
⤷ rockstar musician
⤷ fake dating
⤷ found family
thank you so so much julia for having me on your arc team & berkley for sending the digital arc
___
THIS IS A NEED HELLO
THE COVER.
release date - september 8th 2026
✧˖°🎸 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ grumpy x sunshine
⤷ single dad
⤷ small mountain town
⤷ children's tv puppeteer
⤷ rockstar musician
⤷ fake dating
⤷ found family
thank you so so much julia for having me on your arc team & berkley for sending the digital arc
___
THIS IS A NEED HELLO
THE COVER.
August 18, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This is the perfect book I think if you’re in a slump and need something a little different and a little quirky.
The FMC, Beverly is a puppeteer.
For a children’s show.
Weird but strangely endearing and funny.
70s fashion vibes.
Griffin is the big time rock star.
Secretly he’s a single dad.
Grumpyish.
Elk Grove.
What a quirky little town.
Pancake capital of the world?
Oddest meet cute 🤣
A deal to help each other out.
Her show got cancelled... He can’t write music…
He follows her from LA to Elk Grove.
Where her equally quirky family lives.
Slow burn.
Relationship building.
Realistic timeline and aspects.
Putting in the effort.
Netgalley arc review ✨
This is the perfect book I think if you’re in a slump and need something a little different and a little quirky.
The FMC, Beverly is a puppeteer.
For a children’s show.
Weird but strangely endearing and funny.
70s fashion vibes.
Griffin is the big time rock star.
Secretly he’s a single dad.
Grumpyish.
Elk Grove.
What a quirky little town.
Pancake capital of the world?
Oddest meet cute 🤣
A deal to help each other out.
Her show got cancelled... He can’t write music…
He follows her from LA to Elk Grove.
Where her equally quirky family lives.
Slow burn.
Relationship building.
Realistic timeline and aspects.
Putting in the effort.
Netgalley arc review ✨
Want to Read
September 9, 2026➺ 𝗽𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱:
⤿ started on not yet.
I LOVED "If It Makes You Happy" so much! Such a beautiful, heart-warming and enjoyable read, which is why when I heard we were getting ANOTHER fall release from this author, I was immediately all over it! I have to say the cover is absolutely SO CUTE too. The entire concept has me thinking of warm, cozy fall vibes but the little dog laying down next to them is just something else. I'm sold! <𝟑 .ᐟ
⤿ started on not yet.
I LOVED "If It Makes You Happy" so much! Such a beautiful, heart-warming and enjoyable read, which is why when I heard we were getting ANOTHER fall release from this author, I was immediately all over it! I have to say the cover is absolutely SO CUTE too. The entire concept has me thinking of warm, cozy fall vibes but the little dog laying down next to them is just something else. I'm sold! <𝟑 .ᐟ
September 8, 2026
6🌟 | 3🌶️
This book felt like stepping into the coziest little mountain town and immediately deciding I never wanted to leave.
The setting, nostalgic atmosphere, and unique puppeteer-meets-musician premise had me hooked, but Beverly and Griffin were the real reason I couldn’t put it down. Their connection felt so effortless, especially as friendship slowly turned into something much harder to ignore.
Griffin completely stole the show for me. Beneath his guarded exterior was the sweetest, most devoted dad, and his relationship with Ava was genuinely precious. I also adored his bandmates and the found-family warmth they brought to the story. Beverly was just as wonderful, and watching Griffin notice all the little things she tried to hide made their relationship feel incredibly intimate. Their slow burn was EVERYTHING , built through quiet moments, friendship, trust, and enough yearning to absolutely wreck me.
I also loved how Beverly became Griffin’s creative spark and how deeply their feelings became woven into their everyday lives. Even the emotional parts hit because neither of them was perfect or had everything figured out. They were tired, overwhelmed, and learning how to let someone else carry some of the weight. This was cozy, funny, tender, emotional, and completely addictive, with a romance I wanted to live inside.
Easily one of those books I finished already wishing I could experience it for the first time again.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Julie Olivia, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
This book felt like stepping into the coziest little mountain town and immediately deciding I never wanted to leave.
The setting, nostalgic atmosphere, and unique puppeteer-meets-musician premise had me hooked, but Beverly and Griffin were the real reason I couldn’t put it down. Their connection felt so effortless, especially as friendship slowly turned into something much harder to ignore.
Griffin completely stole the show for me. Beneath his guarded exterior was the sweetest, most devoted dad, and his relationship with Ava was genuinely precious. I also adored his bandmates and the found-family warmth they brought to the story. Beverly was just as wonderful, and watching Griffin notice all the little things she tried to hide made their relationship feel incredibly intimate. Their slow burn was EVERYTHING , built through quiet moments, friendship, trust, and enough yearning to absolutely wreck me.
I also loved how Beverly became Griffin’s creative spark and how deeply their feelings became woven into their everyday lives. Even the emotional parts hit because neither of them was perfect or had everything figured out. They were tired, overwhelmed, and learning how to let someone else carry some of the weight. This was cozy, funny, tender, emotional, and completely addictive, with a romance I wanted to live inside.
Easily one of those books I finished already wishing I could experience it for the first time again.
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Julie Olivia, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
September 13, 2026
I loved every part of this book. It warmed my soul and I didn't want to out it down for anything.
September 15, 2026
Julie did not disappoint!! I fear I am adding yet another auto-buy author to my list! I love how bingeable her stories are. I love that they feel real and deal with challenges that everyday readers might relate to (two people with two jobs they love that require them to spend time away to be successful). Our main characters are EVERYTHING! The side characters only added to their depth of love and I loved every second.
August 14, 2026
I love everything Julie writes, and this was no exception 🥹🥹
Full review to come 💜
Full review to come 💜
September 5, 2026
Thank you so much to Berkley for the arc through netgalley 🫶🏼
“Love Felt Like This” follows Bev, a puppet actor who has lost her gig and is in the process of trying to reboot it and gain attention, when in comes Griffan, rockstar and single dad, who offers to help her with the reboot by making the music for the show
This book includes some of my FAVEEEE TROPES!!!! Small town, isolated little setting with meddling towns people, fake dating, single dad, and forced proximity with INSANE tension. These two had the most delicious tension, i was eating it up.
This book did not feel like its length in the slightest. I was soaking up every second i got with these characters and every crumb i could get of them together. I loved Bev as a character, along with her whole family and their dynamic. It brought so much humor to the story and a little something extra. Griff was also a great MMC & seeing him as a dad, having Ava in the story, made me love him so much more. Beau though? he can get fucked. I love that Julie Olivia included the small towns people meddling in their business, that always so fun for me.
The puppet reboot was interesting to read about because i’ve never read a book about that before. This book gave 70’s vibes, especially with Bev, and it was ultimate coziness wrapped into 500 pgs. A lot of times as well, rockstars in romances make me cringe, but this one wasb’t like that at all!! Loved Griffs band members too and getting to see their friendships.
I love how Julie Olivia switched POVs for her epilogues. I usually never care for epilogues but hers always get me!!!!!!
If you have a chance to read this, please do and go purchase when it comes out because this is THE book of the fall
“Love Felt Like This” follows Bev, a puppet actor who has lost her gig and is in the process of trying to reboot it and gain attention, when in comes Griffan, rockstar and single dad, who offers to help her with the reboot by making the music for the show
This book includes some of my FAVEEEE TROPES!!!! Small town, isolated little setting with meddling towns people, fake dating, single dad, and forced proximity with INSANE tension. These two had the most delicious tension, i was eating it up.
This book did not feel like its length in the slightest. I was soaking up every second i got with these characters and every crumb i could get of them together. I loved Bev as a character, along with her whole family and their dynamic. It brought so much humor to the story and a little something extra. Griff was also a great MMC & seeing him as a dad, having Ava in the story, made me love him so much more. Beau though? he can get fucked. I love that Julie Olivia included the small towns people meddling in their business, that always so fun for me.
The puppet reboot was interesting to read about because i’ve never read a book about that before. This book gave 70’s vibes, especially with Bev, and it was ultimate coziness wrapped into 500 pgs. A lot of times as well, rockstars in romances make me cringe, but this one wasb’t like that at all!! Loved Griffs band members too and getting to see their friendships.
I love how Julie Olivia switched POVs for her epilogues. I usually never care for epilogues but hers always get me!!!!!!
If you have a chance to read this, please do and go purchase when it comes out because this is THE book of the fall
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 stars. I loved If It Makes You Happy by this author last year so I was excited to have an ARC of her newest release. Overall I enjoyed this one but I think it felt a bit long and did slow down for me with the pacing in the middle of the story. I wasn’t as hooked into it as much as I originally hoped.
This is a contemporary romance between Griffin and Beverly. He’s a rockstar who hates everyone but his daughter and his bandmates. He’s a single dad to his 2 year old daughter and keeps that a secret from the public/press. He’s been struggling to write his next album and hasn’t found inspiration, instead he’s been writing silly songs for his toddler instead. Around the same time, puppeteer Beverly is trying to revive an educational puppet show (think Sesame Street meets Mister Roger’s vibes). Griffin runs into her (literally) on a late night show and they banter while she’s doing her puppet routine. It goes viral, he’s familiar with her show, and he wants to get in touch with her to help write songs for her show (since that all he has motivation to do right now). They meet and strike up a friendship that leads into a fake dating plot and him eventually moving home with Beverly to North Carolina with his daughter in tow too! He becomes a part of the small town life with her and they write music together and start to grow closer. His plan is to get all the kids music out of his system so he can then focus on his album but of course they fall for one another along the way and his public life makes things complicated…
This starts off solid, his daughter is cute, it was sweet, there is a lot of drama with her ex who was also a musician and I could have done without a lot of that. This is also on the slower side where you feel the page length at times, especially towards the end. There is a bit of yearning and them both kinda falling quietly and slowly for one another that I kinda wanted ramped up a bit more, but overall it was sweet.
I received an ARC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.
This is a contemporary romance between Griffin and Beverly. He’s a rockstar who hates everyone but his daughter and his bandmates. He’s a single dad to his 2 year old daughter and keeps that a secret from the public/press. He’s been struggling to write his next album and hasn’t found inspiration, instead he’s been writing silly songs for his toddler instead. Around the same time, puppeteer Beverly is trying to revive an educational puppet show (think Sesame Street meets Mister Roger’s vibes). Griffin runs into her (literally) on a late night show and they banter while she’s doing her puppet routine. It goes viral, he’s familiar with her show, and he wants to get in touch with her to help write songs for her show (since that all he has motivation to do right now). They meet and strike up a friendship that leads into a fake dating plot and him eventually moving home with Beverly to North Carolina with his daughter in tow too! He becomes a part of the small town life with her and they write music together and start to grow closer. His plan is to get all the kids music out of his system so he can then focus on his album but of course they fall for one another along the way and his public life makes things complicated…
This starts off solid, his daughter is cute, it was sweet, there is a lot of drama with her ex who was also a musician and I could have done without a lot of that. This is also on the slower side where you feel the page length at times, especially towards the end. There is a bit of yearning and them both kinda falling quietly and slowly for one another that I kinda wanted ramped up a bit more, but overall it was sweet.
I received an ARC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.
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