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4.42 AVERAGE
4.42 AVERAGE
lighthearted
Read if you want:
-Hallmark movie vibes (she's the straightlaced woman from the big city, he's the charming guy from a small town!)
-baker x bed and breakfast owner
-everyone in this small town is in each other's business
-single dad
-really strong sense of community
-oh also an airport goodbye scene
I really enjoyed how well the small town was written - it was almost like another main character in the story. There was so much love between the folks! It was seen in how neighbours would watch each other's kids, how everyone was generous with their time and each other
I also liked how motherhood and the mother/daughter relationships were written about: they're not all the same, and they're not always idyllic
The romance was, suprisingly, not the highlight of the story. I did like how Cliff and Michelle's friendship felt so real - based on proximity, and a genuine desire to help each other, and the need for a friend who isn't related to you by blood. But besides that, I didn't care overmuch for their romance
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
This one was everything I’d hoped it would be! I received an ARC through Netgalley and was so excited. I can’t wait for everyone else to enjoy it. The 90s nostalgia and Gilmore Girlesque setting was perfect for my autumn loving self. With some familiar romance tropes like friends to lovers and grumpy/sunshine dynamics Michelle and Cliffs story still had its unique arc. The good balance of cozy and spice. It left me wanting to know more about the town which felt like a a character itself and its residents. This is the second book I’ve read where baking has been a focus and I love what it adds to the story.
funny
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I stumbled across this book while scrolling Kindle Unlimited and it said it had a nostalgic, Gilmore Girls vibe, and oh my goodness did it. It was so cute with Fall, nostalgic for the 90's vibes that had me smiling the whole time reading.
If you miss the 90's and are wanting a little dose of nostalgia, just read it.
If you miss the 90's and are wanting a little dose of nostalgia, just read it.
emotional
funny
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:
No
The perfect cozy read with the best feelings and banter and slow burn steam.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
I requested this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 2.5/5 stars rounded down to 2 for Goodreads.
I was drawn to this title because of the punch-to-the-face autumnal + Gilmore Girls vibes I was getting from the cover design. (Also it was 40 degrees Celsius BEFORE the humidity where I live when I requested this and I was craving escaping into fall over a beach read.)
STRENGTHS
- small town vibes are fun; the Stars Hollow-esque festivals that draw people into this B&B are fun markers of time
- Cliff being a dedicated parent was nice to see; love seeing a great dad on page
- seeing Michelle fail at running her deceased mom's B&B at first was nice; I love that she thinks that she can get away with doing the bare minimum (providing a bed and some food) and has to learn the hard way to earn those good reviews and satisfied customers
WEAKNESSES
- there are almost too many characters that are introduced in such a short span of time; small town vibes means a lot of these characters are quick to insert themselves into Michelle's life and that includes their names; I was trapped on a flight reading this, so no distractions, and WISHING desperately for a piece of paper to start a character cheat sheet; even up until the halfway mark I kept forgetting who Cliff (the freaking MMC) was because it was name soup!
- I started trying to assign them to Gilmore Girls characters to get a visual on each of them to try and keep them straight in my mind and still failed; I'm actually not sure how many characters were actually visually described now that I think about it which is maybe also why I struggled keeping this cast of characters apart?
- the names overlap with Gilmore Girls A LOT: we've got a child Luke, a teen Emily, a gender-swapped Michelle, a Carol (hello Carole King from the beloved theme song), there are probably more but again, NAME SOUP
OPPORTUNITIES
- I'm not sure why this had to be set in the 90s? Like a big part of the marketing for this is the "90s nostalgia" and aside from the occasional throwaway lines -- Josh works at the video rental store, someone getting a page, liking the Backstreet Boys, wearing a hair scrunchie -- I'm not sure what about this necessitated it being set in the 90s
- a small town in the 90s with long-standing traditions is going to still have those in the 2020s
- what does removing everyone having access to the internet from their cell phones in their pockets actually do to the plot of this story: big city gal Michelle takes over deceased mother's charming small-town B&B, makes friends with the sexy single dad Cliff and falls in love?
- I guess the opportunity here is (if this ends up being a series set in this small town) is to hopefully find PLOT reasons that justify this being set in the 90s? Like certain horror stories now fall apart because cell phones exist and we see creators either finding a reason why a cell phone wouldn't work OR setting things pre-cellphone if a simple call or text would solve all the problems; what is that problem in a ROMANCE that necessitates a 90s setting?
- I almost feel like (having been in some small/remote towns this summer) that the small town aspect of this actually is why I don't see the 90s setting justification? Small towns are going to have spotting cell service, they aren't going to have high speed fibre internet, they still often have a video rental store because streaming services don't work well, there is nothing to do so town events actually happen even in 2025
THREATS
- I think this relies heavily on Gilmore Girls familiarity for some of its charm; I'm curious if there is someone who hasn't encountered Gilmore Girls who picks this up, if it feels charming and rich; I do fear I was imaginatively placing this story in Stars Hollow and letting the show do a lot of the world building of the setting
Overall, it was a cozy way to pass time as a Gilmore Girls fan. I do think I would have DNF'd this out of frustration with the name soup if it hadn't been the only book I'd downloaded on my phone for a 6 hour plane ride. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to, other than big Gilmore Girls fans?
I was drawn to this title because of the punch-to-the-face autumnal + Gilmore Girls vibes I was getting from the cover design. (Also it was 40 degrees Celsius BEFORE the humidity where I live when I requested this and I was craving escaping into fall over a beach read.)
STRENGTHS
- small town vibes are fun; the Stars Hollow-esque festivals that draw people into this B&B are fun markers of time
- Cliff being a dedicated parent was nice to see; love seeing a great dad on page
- seeing Michelle fail at running her deceased mom's B&B at first was nice; I love that she thinks that she can get away with doing the bare minimum (providing a bed and some food) and has to learn the hard way to earn those good reviews and satisfied customers
WEAKNESSES
- there are almost too many characters that are introduced in such a short span of time; small town vibes means a lot of these characters are quick to insert themselves into Michelle's life and that includes their names; I was trapped on a flight reading this, so no distractions, and WISHING desperately for a piece of paper to start a character cheat sheet; even up until the halfway mark I kept forgetting who Cliff (the freaking MMC) was because it was name soup!
- I started trying to assign them to Gilmore Girls characters to get a visual on each of them to try and keep them straight in my mind and still failed; I'm actually not sure how many characters were actually visually described now that I think about it which is maybe also why I struggled keeping this cast of characters apart?
- the names overlap with Gilmore Girls A LOT: we've got a child Luke, a teen Emily, a gender-swapped Michelle, a Carol (hello Carole King from the beloved theme song), there are probably more but again, NAME SOUP
OPPORTUNITIES
- I'm not sure why this had to be set in the 90s? Like a big part of the marketing for this is the "90s nostalgia" and aside from the occasional throwaway lines -- Josh works at the video rental store, someone getting a page, liking the Backstreet Boys, wearing a hair scrunchie -- I'm not sure what about this necessitated it being set in the 90s
- a small town in the 90s with long-standing traditions is going to still have those in the 2020s
- what does removing everyone having access to the internet from their cell phones in their pockets actually do to the plot of this story: big city gal Michelle takes over deceased mother's charming small-town B&B, makes friends with the sexy single dad Cliff and falls in love?
- I guess the opportunity here is (if this ends up being a series set in this small town) is to hopefully find PLOT reasons that justify this being set in the 90s? Like certain horror stories now fall apart because cell phones exist and we see creators either finding a reason why a cell phone wouldn't work OR setting things pre-cellphone if a simple call or text would solve all the problems; what is that problem in a ROMANCE that necessitates a 90s setting?
- I almost feel like (having been in some small/remote towns this summer) that the small town aspect of this actually is why I don't see the 90s setting justification? Small towns are going to have spotting cell service, they aren't going to have high speed fibre internet, they still often have a video rental store because streaming services don't work well, there is nothing to do so town events actually happen even in 2025
THREATS
- I think this relies heavily on Gilmore Girls familiarity for some of its charm; I'm curious if there is someone who hasn't encountered Gilmore Girls who picks this up, if it feels charming and rich; I do fear I was imaginatively placing this story in Stars Hollow and letting the show do a lot of the world building of the setting
Overall, it was a cozy way to pass time as a Gilmore Girls fan. I do think I would have DNF'd this out of frustration with the name soup if it hadn't been the only book I'd downloaded on my phone for a 6 hour plane ride. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to, other than big Gilmore Girls fans?
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
If you’re looking for a cozy fall romcom set in the nineties with huge Gilmore Girls vibes (but the MMC is the parent), look no further. I had so much fun with this one.
Thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss for the ARC!
Thanks to Berkley and Edelweiss for the ARC!
I loved this book. It’s gave me all the feels and getting to experience Michelle’s journey with her was so moving. Mourning the loss of her mom and her divorce simultaneously, Michelle moves to small town Vermont to take care of her mom’s beloved B&B. She struggles to connect with the world and people around her, but quickly meets her nextdoor neighbor, Cliff, who refuses to allow Michelle to stay solitary.
Cliff is the type of man every woman needs in her life. Funny, caring, open, honest, loving father and brother and a sexy baker. He’s definitely the whole package and is someone Michelle can’t resist even with her big city life calling her back. One couldn’t imagine two people more pricey complementary of one another. Julie Olivia wrote a beautiful story full of hilarious and deep side characters that add the necessary layers to this rich story. Beautifully well done.
Thanks to Julie Olivia, Berkeley Romance and NetGalley for the ARC.
Cliff is the type of man every woman needs in her life. Funny, caring, open, honest, loving father and brother and a sexy baker. He’s definitely the whole package and is someone Michelle can’t resist even with her big city life calling her back. One couldn’t imagine two people more pricey complementary of one another. Julie Olivia wrote a beautiful story full of hilarious and deep side characters that add the necessary layers to this rich story. Beautifully well done.
Thanks to Julie Olivia, Berkeley Romance and NetGalley for the ARC.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship