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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
First thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars
Synopsis: Michelle is type an and married to a doctor and working an executive job when life throws her a curveball. Her mom dies and she gets divorced and her dad needs help with the bed and breakfast her mom opened. Michelle agrees to help out temporarily but will the handsome neighbor next door change her plans?
What I liked: this book is fall, set in Vermont in the fall and holiday season in the late 1990s, perfection. Michelle and cliff had great chemistry and like how their relationship grew. Michelle and cliff both took some time to figure out what they wanted. The kids were handled well. I recommend you get your blanket and tea and comfy chair and settle in with this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars
Synopsis: Michelle is type an and married to a doctor and working an executive job when life throws her a curveball. Her mom dies and she gets divorced and her dad needs help with the bed and breakfast her mom opened. Michelle agrees to help out temporarily but will the handsome neighbor next door change her plans?
What I liked: this book is fall, set in Vermont in the fall and holiday season in the late 1990s, perfection. Michelle and cliff had great chemistry and like how their relationship grew. Michelle and cliff both took some time to figure out what they wanted. The kids were handled well. I recommend you get your blanket and tea and comfy chair and settle in with this book.
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia is the perfect fall vibes book to kick start the season if you are looking for a good old comfy read. Set in 1997, newly divorced Michelle heads to Vermont to run her mother’s bed and breakfast after her passing. She’s only there for three months until her sister can take over. Next door is the hot single dad of a teenager and six year old, Cliff. He’s the local town baker. Michelle thinks she can run the Inn, but quickly finds herself receiving help from the locals, including Cliff and his teenage daughter. Michelle is good at advertising, but her people skills could use some work. Michelle offers to watch Cliff’s youngest after school as she is obsessed with her dog, Rocket, who is also quite fond of her as well. Cliff helps her around town and gives her helpful suggestions. Many of the people in the book were already part of the daily events at the Inn, so being there to help is second nature to them.
If you look at the cover of this book, it looks a lot like Stars Hollow, and I can tell you this book has the same vibes. It has layers on layers of the story building of everyone in town, and then you have all the events. Fall festival is just ending when Michelle arrives, but soon after it’s Halloween night. I got a kick out of reading about two characters dressed as Steve Austin and The Undertaker. Cliff also dresses up as Ghostface. Then we have Thanksgiving, and Christmas morning, which both bring the challenges of separated parents with their kids.
Everything was well developed, and overall it’s a really cozy book. It’s perfect if you are a Gilmore Girls fan and want the same kind of mood in a book. Although it’s a romance, it’s not spicy at all. It’s the definition of a slow burn. It really focuses on the friends aspect before they become lovers. This is the kind of book many of us romanticize, living in a small town, where everyone knows everyone, everyone is there to help you out, and the celebrations go big. And although I am comparing it to Gilmore Girls, the story itself is original and nothing like the show. I really enjoyed all the details with the nostalgic 90s memories, like going to the local VHS rental to grab a movie to watch at home. So if you want any of these vibes, then this book is for you!
At first I really struggled with this book. Boundaries are constantly pushed with the fmc and they would not listen when she expressed her wishes. I found this hard to read and almost dnf. I had to keep reminding myself that they were just trying to be ‘nice’ to the new girl in town. But overall it had a nice ending and the autumn/cosy vibes were spot on. I also like that it was set in the 90s
hopeful
slow-paced
slow-paced
𝖳𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗈 𝐏𝐑𝐇 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗎𝖽𝗂𝗈． 𝖠𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗆𝗒 𝗈𝗐𝗇．
🎧𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆: 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨， 𝘌𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘌𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯，
𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘙𝘢𝘣𝘺， 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘴
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
🍁𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🍂𝚂𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟽
🍁𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚜
🍂𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚍
🍁𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙲𝚊𝚝 𝙵𝚖𝚌
"𝗜𝗳 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆" has all the cozy fall vibes, but imagine it in 1997. This story breathes '90s nostalgia, and I absolutely loved it. It was a charming slow-burn romance that reminded me of Gilmore Girls, but with a sunshiny single dad, a female main character with black cat energy, and a sassy dog with an endearing attitude problem.
𝗜𝗻 the story, Michelle takes over an inn that her sister inherited from their mother. Despite her busy job in the city, she offers to help her sister while she finishes school. There, she meets her friendly neighbor, and they quickly become friends. Over time, their friendship blossoms into something more, intertwining their lives in ways they never expected.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 the story had moments that moved at a slower pace, once the plot picked up, I found myself very invested in the romance and family dynamics. The dual narration certainly adds to the overall experience.
𝗜𝗳 you enjoy slow-burn romance with a cozy fall feel, then you won't want to miss out on this story!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰⭐️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟰.𝟮𝟱🎧 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝟮/𝟱🔥
🎧𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆: 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨， 𝘌𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘌𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯，
𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘙𝘢𝘣𝘺， 𝘚𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘴
𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
🍁𝙵𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
🍂𝚂𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝟷𝟿𝟿𝟽
🍁𝙽𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚋𝚘𝚛𝚜
🍂𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚍
🍁𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙲𝚊𝚝 𝙵𝚖𝚌
"𝗜𝗳 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆" has all the cozy fall vibes, but imagine it in 1997. This story breathes '90s nostalgia, and I absolutely loved it. It was a charming slow-burn romance that reminded me of Gilmore Girls, but with a sunshiny single dad, a female main character with black cat energy, and a sassy dog with an endearing attitude problem.
𝗜𝗻 the story, Michelle takes over an inn that her sister inherited from their mother. Despite her busy job in the city, she offers to help her sister while she finishes school. There, she meets her friendly neighbor, and they quickly become friends. Over time, their friendship blossoms into something more, intertwining their lives in ways they never expected.
𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 the story had moments that moved at a slower pace, once the plot picked up, I found myself very invested in the romance and family dynamics. The dual narration certainly adds to the overall experience.
𝗜𝗳 you enjoy slow-burn romance with a cozy fall feel, then you won't want to miss out on this story!
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝟰⭐️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝟰.𝟮𝟱🎧 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝟮/𝟱🔥
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2nd read:
this was just as incredible and cozy and romantic as the first time i read it last year!!!! i'm so happy to have had to opportunity to reread this book as in it's final form - about to be trad published!!! i've been a fan of Julie Olivia's work since i read an arc of this book last September, and it's such a full circle moment to get to read it before it's trad publishing date!!!!
Cliff and Michelle are my babies!!!!! i love them and their romance so much. they fit so well as best friends and support each other through everything! getting to revisit Copper Run and all its colorful cast of characters felt like coming home!
i hope we get more books set in this world because i never want to say goodbye!!
thank you Berkley Romance and netgalley for this e-galley! it's out everywhere 9/2!!!!!!
this was just as incredible and cozy and romantic as the first time i read it last year!!!! i'm so happy to have had to opportunity to reread this book as in it's final form - about to be trad published!!! i've been a fan of Julie Olivia's work since i read an arc of this book last September, and it's such a full circle moment to get to read it before it's trad publishing date!!!!
Cliff and Michelle are my babies!!!!! i love them and their romance so much. they fit so well as best friends and support each other through everything! getting to revisit Copper Run and all its colorful cast of characters felt like coming home!
i hope we get more books set in this world because i never want to say goodbye!!
thank you Berkley Romance and netgalley for this e-galley! it's out everywhere 9/2!!!!!!
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Gilmore Girls vibes are ABSOLUTELY ON POINT with this one! The 90s setting, the tiny Vermont town with the inn owner and the baker, cultural references left and right without being an absolute overkill was such a cozy read!
I also loved seeing a grumpy/sunshine pairing where the girl is more of the grump than the other way around as typically written! Cliff and Michelle's banter was so well done too where I wanted to highlight practically every interaction between them! Every character has their own quirky personality and story and I especially loved the epilogue in Rocket's POV to tie things up so sweetly!
I also loved seeing a grumpy/sunshine pairing where the girl is more of the grump than the other way around as typically written! Cliff and Michelle's banter was so well done too where I wanted to highlight practically every interaction between them! Every character has their own quirky personality and story and I especially loved the epilogue in Rocket's POV to tie things up so sweetly!