Reviews - If It Makes You Happy

844 reviews for:

If It Makes You Happy

Julie Olivia

4.42 AVERAGE

buchstabeneintopf's review against another edition

4.5

emotional lighthearted

paytonovels's review against another edition

4.5

This literally felt like being transported back into the autumns of my youth. I could smell the leaves and feel the crispness of the air and taste the delicious fall flavors. And I also could feel the YEARNING.

Michelle is more kind and loving and earnest than her guardedness gives her credit for. She (and others) mistake the way she prioritizes duty over flash for coldness - but she compartmentalizes the way she does because it allows her to be the person she thinks those around her need the most - everything is rooted in care.

And Cliff is a phenomenal father wrapped in baked goods and flannels. He’s open and unflinchingly honest and expressive in a way that draws the same out of his girls - Michelle included - and allows them the security to be vulnerable too.

Now I want to go make a pumpkin pie and listen to the crinkle of leaves blowing down the street in the wind, ttyl.

libraryofsapphire's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I think this makes it to the top of my favorite friends-to-lovers list! This was such a beautiful story and love-letter to 90’s nostalgia!

Michelle is a closed off divorcee and city girl when she shows up in a small town in Vermont to run her parents bed & breakfast. Cliff is a people-pleaser single dad who runs the bakery in town. What starts as “people lessons” turns into a beautiful story about friendship, loss, and love.

This is an immediate add to my favorites list.

daydreamingreviews's review against another edition

4.0

This was such a great cozy fall book for me to read at the end of the summer. I adored the town, the characters, and the side characters meddling; it was all so much fun.

I am always going to like the dynamic of a black cat and a golden retriever main character. Cliff breaking down Michele's walls was so heart-warming to watch. I loved the relationship that Michele created with his kids as well. And Michele growing to love the town made my heart so happy.

I do wish there was more Cliff and Michele romantically, it felt like I ended wanting more in that aspect. But overall, a fun read and a GREAT fall, cozy vibe read. And the timeline taking place in the 90s was also fun and different from what I have been reading lately.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in a copy in exchange for an honest review.

hannah_lostinbooks's review

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Take a trip to Copper Run this fall for a perfect, romantic, and nostalgic small-town romance that will make you feel all of your feelings.

September 1997. Recently divorced Michelle is taking over her recently deceased mother's bed & breakfast in quintessential small town Copper Run, Vermont. She thinks she has everything handled - but doesn't expect that running the B&B will require more interpersonal skills than she is equipped with. Offering to help is next-door neighbor, single dad, town baker, Cliff. As he helps Michelle learn the people side of running the B&B, they slowly get to know each other. Michelle is only in Copper Run for three months - until her sister can take over. But the undeniable chemistry between Michelle & Cliff have them wondering if there is a future possible for them where they're happy . . . together.

🍂🍂🍂

This was my second read of If It Makes You Happy, and just like the first time, I absolutely adored it. The small town community, autumnal vibes, and late-90's nostalgia were perfect, but I think the best pieces of this book were the emotional connections Michelle built with the members of the Copper Run community. Michelle was so isolated in her marriage, learning to depend only on herself, but the people of Copper Run showed her what a community and family can be and feel like. Michelle's relationships with Cliff's daughters, especially her relationship with snarky and angsty Emily, were sweet. The romance between Cliff and Michelle was a super slow burn, but very much worth the wait - everything in their relationship development felt natural and true to who they were as individuals.

This is a must-read fall romance! Julie Olivia has written some of my favorite romances, and this one is certainly up at the top. I can't wait to see what comes next from her.

If It Makes You Happy releases 09/02/2025.

Thank you to Berkley for this advance reading copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.