“If It Makes You Happy” by Julie Olivia – A Review
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
Year Published: 2024
Genre: Rom-Com, Historical Romance (90s Nostalgia)
Page Count: 510
Quick Summary
If you love small-town romances, 90s nostalgia, and slow-burn love stories that actually burn, this one’s for you. If It Makes You Happy follows Michelle, who moves to the tiny town of Copper Run, Vermont, to take over her late mother’s bed and breakfast. She’s fresh off a divorce and not exactly looking for love, but then she meets Cliff—the town’s lovable, cinnamon roll baker and single dad of two daughters. Sparks fly, but so do real-life complications, making for a heartfelt and cozy romance that’ll give you all the feels.
What I Loved
Finally, a romance with mature adults! Michelle and Cliff are both in their 30s, divorced, and actually know how to communicate (gasp). It makes such a difference in the depth of their connection, and I loved seeing characters who had real life experience navigating love again.
That slow burn? Sizzling. I won’t lie, this book took a little bit to fully grab me, but once it did? I flew through the second half. The romance builds naturally, and once they finally get together, it's incredibly rewarding.
No annoying miscommunication trope! I love that when issues popped up, they actually talked things through like adults. Refreshing, right?
90s vibes galore. The nostalgic details were chef’s kiss. Landlines, Blockbuster nights, 90s music references—it all made me feel like I was right there in the late 90s.
The small-town charm. Copper Run is peak cozy vibes, with its quirky townspeople, holiday festivals, and a sense of community that made me want to move there immediately. Think Gilmore Girls but with more emotional depth and romance.
Cliff's daughters were actual characters. So many single-dad romances throw in the kids as background props, but Emily and Britt had their own personalities, struggles, and storylines. It made the family dynamic feel real and added so much warmth to the book.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
The middle dragged a little. It took me a bit to really get into this book. The first 30% was a slow setup, but once the romance kicked in, I couldn’t put it down.
A bit predictable. The small-town, grumpy-sunshine, single-dad romance isn’t exactly breaking new ground, but honestly? I didn’t care. It was so well done.
That ending though. It felt a little rushed after all the buildup, but thankfully, the epilogue was absolute perfection and made up for it.
Who Should Read This?
If you’re into slow-burn small-town romances with 90s nostalgia, single-dad sweetness, and holiday vibes, you’ll love this. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a comforting, feel-good love story with just the right amount of depth.
Final Thoughts
This book gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings. It’s sweet, emotional, and full of heart, with a romance that felt earned. Sure, it was a little slow to start, but once I was hooked, I devoured it. Julie Olivia has a way of making small-town love stories feel special, and I know this will be a book I revisit whenever I need a cozy, happy read. Highly recommend!
