If It Makes You Happy Book Review - No Spoilers
Introduction
Last evening, as I was switching laundry loads and listening to rain patter on the windows (Colorado Springs is flirting with fall already), I found myself craving something nostalgic, emotional, and warm to read. I grabbed **If It Makes You Happy** and settled into the couch with a mug of tea, grateful for a story to carry me through the gray evening. This book ended up being exactly what I needed: a balance of heart, reflection, and cozy small-town charm.
Plot Summary
If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia is a standalone contemporary romance set in the fall of 1997 in small-town Vermont. Michelle, reeling after sudden changes in her personal life, agrees to temporarily run her mother’s bed & breakfast in Copper Run. She expects a quiet few months while she decides her next move. But when Cliff moves in next door — a charming single dad who already seems integrated into the fabric of town — Michelle finds the quiet life upended. She and Cliff form a friendship, share baking, awkward moments, and genuine connection. As she confronts her past, her grief, and her uncertain future, the boundaries between friendship and romance blur. The story crafts a gradual shift from safe companionship to a deeper, more vulnerable bond.
Why I Love This Book
I love how much this book leans into autumnal comfort without skirting emotional depth. The setting—leaves turning gold, crisp Vermont air, the routines of small town life—felt like its own character. I also love the slow burn between Michelle and Cliff: their conversations, their shared silences, the small kindnesses that made me lean forward. The “friends first” foundation lets their shift toward romance feel earned. Michelle’s inner struggle—reconciling who she was, who she wants to be—is genuine, and the book doesn’t shy from her flaws or her fears. Cliff is warm, steady, and real, with his own burdens. Their chemistry is grounded: I felt it in the small gestures more than in splashy declarations. And while the romance builds gradually, the emotional payoff is satisfying. The pacing gives me space to breathe. I laughed, I sighed, I teared up. It’s not perfect, but I felt immersed, invested, and comforted by the end.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy contemporary romance with slow-building tension, cozy small towns, and emotional intimacy over sweeping drama, this book will likely appeal to you. If the idea of a friends-to-lovers transition, fall vibes, and characters dealing with life changes resonates, this is a comfortable read. Because it’s more character driven than plot driven, readers who prefer internal conflict and emotional arcs will connect.
⚠️ Trigger warning: The book references grief, parental loss, emotional upheaval, and hinted past infidelity. Some discomfort may arise from Michelle’s internal struggles. Use discretion if those themes are sensitive for you.
Tagged As
small town, contemporary romance, friends to lovers, single dad, fall vibes, slow burn, emotional healing, dual POV (or multiple perspectives), healing romance, cozy read, stand-alone, HEA
Steam Level
The romance includes open-door intimate scenes, but the heat is balanced with emotion. The focus remains on connection, emotional stakes, and character growth rather than explicit content.
