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grayciouslygreyreader 's review for:
If It Makes You Happy
by Julie Olivia
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!