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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
LOVED! audio was so fun and i loved the vibes. it didn’t feel as long as it seemed before i started. great cast of characters and romance build. not really sure julie has ever been to vermont though bc where is the maple and the donuts
Small town romance? 90’s nostalgia? Gilmore girls vibes? Yes, yes, and yes!
When I saw this book pop up on social media I just knew I had to read it and ugh I’m so tempted to book a trip to Vermont!
If you're craving a book with Gilmore Girls vibes, this is it. Cliff is a single dad running a bakery in a small town, raising two daughters—one of whom he had as a teen. Enter Michelle, who moves into the Bed and Breakfast next door after her mom passes away. There's instant chemistry between her and Cliff, but both are hesitant about love due to past hurts. The slow-burn romance is worth every bit of tension.
What really stands out is how deeply Cliff cares for his daughters and how quickly Michelle becomes part of their lives. But she’s planning to leave for the city at the end of the year, so the question is: can she give up her city dreams for this small-town life?
This book isn’t just about their romance; it’s about two people finding their place in each other's worlds. Cliff’s relationship with his daughters is so heartwarming, and Michelle’s connection with them, especially with Emily, is beautifully done. By the end, Michelle is a much happier person, and though I’m not usually a fan of characters leaving city life for small towns, it makes sense here—and you're really hoping she stays. The airport scene is total rom-com magic, too.
It’s like the coziest fall movie in book form, and I’m not kidding when I say you need to read it. The epilogue had me sobbing, and the unexpected perspective it’s told from made it even more special.
When I saw this book pop up on social media I just knew I had to read it and ugh I’m so tempted to book a trip to Vermont!
If you're craving a book with Gilmore Girls vibes, this is it. Cliff is a single dad running a bakery in a small town, raising two daughters—one of whom he had as a teen. Enter Michelle, who moves into the Bed and Breakfast next door after her mom passes away. There's instant chemistry between her and Cliff, but both are hesitant about love due to past hurts. The slow-burn romance is worth every bit of tension.
What really stands out is how deeply Cliff cares for his daughters and how quickly Michelle becomes part of their lives. But she’s planning to leave for the city at the end of the year, so the question is: can she give up her city dreams for this small-town life?
This book isn’t just about their romance; it’s about two people finding their place in each other's worlds. Cliff’s relationship with his daughters is so heartwarming, and Michelle’s connection with them, especially with Emily, is beautifully done. By the end, Michelle is a much happier person, and though I’m not usually a fan of characters leaving city life for small towns, it makes sense here—and you're really hoping she stays. The airport scene is total rom-com magic, too.
It’s like the coziest fall movie in book form, and I’m not kidding when I say you need to read it. The epilogue had me sobbing, and the unexpected perspective it’s told from made it even more special.
My 90s heart loved going back in time! I need a physical copy right now.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book. It was nostalgic and sweet without hitting you over the head with the fact that it's set in the 90's. The little subtle nods were so perfect and I loved the cozy romantic feel of the whole story.
Michelle's journey was heartbreaking and beautiful. How she handled the aftermath of her mom's death felt so realistic and the complicated feelings she had about their relationship was represented really well. It was wonderful watching her go from totally closed off and prickly to someone who genuinely wanted to make connections and also accept herself for exactly who she is.
I also loved Cliff as a character. He was so sweet and he just made me happy whenever he was on the page. I loved his relationship with his kids and just adored whenever they were together being a sweet family. I think he was a bit too kind to his ex-wife (he's clearly more mature than me) but I loved how gracious he was when discussing her with his kids. It was amazing to see him heal from the toxic thoughts he often had about himself and know that people want him around and would choose him.
Overall, I was so happy to read this. It was tender and beautiful and the perfect fall read. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!
Michelle's journey was heartbreaking and beautiful. How she handled the aftermath of her mom's death felt so realistic and the complicated feelings she had about their relationship was represented really well. It was wonderful watching her go from totally closed off and prickly to someone who genuinely wanted to make connections and also accept herself for exactly who she is.
I also loved Cliff as a character. He was so sweet and he just made me happy whenever he was on the page. I loved his relationship with his kids and just adored whenever they were together being a sweet family. I think he was a bit too kind to his ex-wife (he's clearly more mature than me) but I loved how gracious he was when discussing her with his kids. It was amazing to see him heal from the toxic thoughts he often had about himself and know that people want him around and would choose him.
Overall, I was so happy to read this. It was tender and beautiful and the perfect fall read. Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for the eARC - all opinions are my own!
If It Makes You Happy | Julie Olivia
4☆
*ARC review*
Releasing tomorrow, September 2nd!
🧡👨🍳🍪🐶🍂🏘️⏳
I’ll be honest, I applied for the ARC based on the cover alone. Not only did it fit the vibes of the cover, but it was such a sweet, nostalgic story.
Our FMC Michelle is recovering from a divorce, and temporarily moves to small-town Copper Run, Vermont to run her mom’s bed and breakfast. While she doesn’t think it will be a walk in the park, it turns out to be much harder than she bargained for.. and when hot neighbour/town baker/single dad Cliff enters the picture, he adds a whole ‘nother layer of complexity.
“𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘣𝘢𝘥? 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘴? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭?”
The nostalgia in this book was swoon worthy. 😍 Set in 1997, it felt like my childhood wrapped up in a book, which probably made me love it more. The characters are real & relatable, and the setting cozy. It is a very slow burn but is worth it at the end, such a tender read heading into the ‘ber months!
+ the sweetest little POV at the end 🐶
“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.”
A huge thank you to @julieoliviaauthor, @berkleyromance & @netgalley for this ARC!
4☆
*ARC review*
Releasing tomorrow, September 2nd!
🧡👨🍳🍪🐶🍂🏘️⏳
I’ll be honest, I applied for the ARC based on the cover alone. Not only did it fit the vibes of the cover, but it was such a sweet, nostalgic story.
Our FMC Michelle is recovering from a divorce, and temporarily moves to small-town Copper Run, Vermont to run her mom’s bed and breakfast. While she doesn’t think it will be a walk in the park, it turns out to be much harder than she bargained for.. and when hot neighbour/town baker/single dad Cliff enters the picture, he adds a whole ‘nother layer of complexity.
“𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘣𝘢𝘥? 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘴? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭?”
The nostalgia in this book was swoon worthy. 😍 Set in 1997, it felt like my childhood wrapped up in a book, which probably made me love it more. The characters are real & relatable, and the setting cozy. It is a very slow burn but is worth it at the end, such a tender read heading into the ‘ber months!
+ the sweetest little POV at the end 🐶
“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.”
A huge thank you to @julieoliviaauthor, @berkleyromance & @netgalley for this ARC!
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A cute, fall-themed romance novel, set in 1997.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing (PRH) for the free eARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing (PRH) for the free eARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes