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If It Makes You Happy
Grab your favorite fall candle, cuddle into a comfy blanket, and travel back in time to 1997 in this cozy, slow-burn romance set in the autumn glow of small-town Vermont.
Now with exclusive bonus content!
My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.
I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out. Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.
Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.
Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe. Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards. So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.
Now with exclusive bonus content!
My new next-door neighbor seems to have everything figured out. Small town golden boy? Check. Single dad extraordinaire? Check. Hot baker forearms? I didn’t notice them, I swear.
I, on the other hand, don’t–at all–have anything figured out. Trust me, I didn’t think taking over my mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run Vermont was going to be easy. It should be a good place to heal after my divorce. But apparently my scones belong in the garbage with my small talk skills. As pointed out by none other than Cliff.
Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need–always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard.
Friends? I can make friends. That’s safe. Except I’m leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I’ve been working towards. So ask me why I’m thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.
501 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2025
64370 people want to read
About the author
Julie Olivia
25 books1,822 followersJulie Olivia writes cozy love stories filled with humor, spice, and close friend groups that feel like a warm hug. She is a roller coaster fan, avid romance reader, and rainy day enthusiast.
Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.
Sign-up for the newsletter for book updates, special offers, and VIP exclusives!: https://julieoliviaauthor.com/newslet...
She can be easily reached on Instagram at @JulieOliviaAuthor! Come say hi!
Visit her at JulieOliviaAuthor.com
Instagram: @JulieOliviaAuthor
Facebook: @JulieOliviaAuthor
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2NbH7Jy
Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.
Sign-up for the newsletter for book updates, special offers, and VIP exclusives!: https://julieoliviaauthor.com/newslet...
She can be easily reached on Instagram at @JulieOliviaAuthor! Come say hi!
Visit her at JulieOliviaAuthor.com
Instagram: @JulieOliviaAuthor
Facebook: @JulieOliviaAuthor
Bookbub: https://bit.ly/2NbH7Jy
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,492 reviews
September 5, 2025
OKKKK GILMORE GIRLS 🧡🍁🍂🍯☕️🧶🧣🪵
this was exactly what I needed to start off fall szn
this was exactly what I needed to start off fall szn
April 10, 2025
Berkley makes the prettiest/cutest romance covers ever! Look at the upgrade this one got! 😍 Love it!
♡‧₊˚ "...𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓫𝓫𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓯 𝓫𝓪𝓭.
𝓜𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓮'𝓼 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓶 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻." ⋆⭒˚｡⋆ ♡
┊ ┊ ┊ ♡ ┊
┊ ┊ ┊ ˚ ♡
┊ ┊ ♡ ⋆ +
♡ ⋆ ┊ .
+ ♡
Finally getting around to writing some reviews. Sorry I'm being a lazy ass recently. So this one is really more like 3.5 stars for me - mainly due to the length of it. I just don't think a cute hallmarky(ish) romance needs to be any more than 300-350 pages, but this was still super adorable.
If you’re familiar with any holiday Hallmark movie, you’ll know exactly where this book is going from the beginning. A business woman from the city meets a hot single dad, who’s also a baker, in a small town… I mean, the storyline is obvious but I did really enjoy the journey to the happy ever after.
The characters were all well written but I did get tired of the pointless, chapter filling banter. This is a slow burn romance and it is slow. They hang out, he bakes for her and then they just talk… and talk… and talk.
I would say the romance doesn’t get going until around the 50% point and then it doesn’t really get going until around 75%. However, once it does get going, it’s SO good. I loved the flirting, the spice and just them together. The ending was so sweet that I actually teared up a bit and that doesn't happen very often.
Definitely recommend if you're looking for a low stakes, small town romance with all of the 90s nostalgia and the sweetest cinnamon roll mmc ever.
╰⪼ 🍁Single Dad Baker
╰⪼ 🧡Friends to Lovers
╰⪼ 🍁Gilmore Girls ✘ When Harry Met Sally
╰⪼ 🧡Autumn 1997
╰⪼ 🍁Cozy Small Town in Vermont
╰⪼ 🧡Slow Burn
╰⪼ 🍁Opposites Attract
╰⪼ 🥧Pumpkin Pie
╰⪼ 🍁Local Inn Breakfast
╰⪼ 🧡Cozy Flannels
╰⪼ 😱Scream the Movie (1996)
♡‧₊˚ "...𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓫𝓫𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝔂 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓯 𝓫𝓪𝓭.
𝓜𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓮'𝓼 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓶 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻." ⋆⭒˚｡⋆ ♡
┊ ┊ ┊ ♡ ┊
┊ ┊ ┊ ˚ ♡
┊ ┊ ♡ ⋆ +
♡ ⋆ ┊ .
+ ♡
Finally getting around to writing some reviews. Sorry I'm being a lazy ass recently. So this one is really more like 3.5 stars for me - mainly due to the length of it. I just don't think a cute hallmarky(ish) romance needs to be any more than 300-350 pages, but this was still super adorable.
If you’re familiar with any holiday Hallmark movie, you’ll know exactly where this book is going from the beginning. A business woman from the city meets a hot single dad, who’s also a baker, in a small town… I mean, the storyline is obvious but I did really enjoy the journey to the happy ever after.
The characters were all well written but I did get tired of the pointless, chapter filling banter. This is a slow burn romance and it is slow. They hang out, he bakes for her and then they just talk… and talk… and talk.
I would say the romance doesn’t get going until around the 50% point and then it doesn’t really get going until around 75%. However, once it does get going, it’s SO good. I loved the flirting, the spice and just them together. The ending was so sweet that I actually teared up a bit and that doesn't happen very often.
Definitely recommend if you're looking for a low stakes, small town romance with all of the 90s nostalgia and the sweetest cinnamon roll mmc ever.
╰⪼ 🍁Single Dad Baker
╰⪼ 🧡Friends to Lovers
╰⪼ 🍁Gilmore Girls ✘ When Harry Met Sally
╰⪼ 🧡Autumn 1997
╰⪼ 🍁Cozy Small Town in Vermont
╰⪼ 🧡Slow Burn
╰⪼ 🍁Opposites Attract
╰⪼ 🥧Pumpkin Pie
╰⪼ 🍁Local Inn Breakfast
╰⪼ 🧡Cozy Flannels
╰⪼ 😱Scream the Movie (1996)
October 14, 2024
This is THE book to read during the ber months! It was exactly what I needed! 🍂🎃🎄🫶🏼
December 7, 2024
3.75
oh how i love a wholesome indie romance with a cute cover 🥹🫶🏻
if you’re a seasonal reader like myself, this is the perfect romance for the colder ‘ber’ months. there are halloween, thanksgiving, and christmas celebrations. 🥰
this book is the definition of cozy.
selling points:
- slow burn
- small town
- single dad trope (usually i dislike this one, but it really worked in this case)
- based in 1997 (YESSSS. the 90s vibes were so good!!!)
- bed & breakfast, bakery, cozy vibes
- very, very autumnal
* available on kindle unlimited
oh how i love a wholesome indie romance with a cute cover 🥹🫶🏻
if you’re a seasonal reader like myself, this is the perfect romance for the colder ‘ber’ months. there are halloween, thanksgiving, and christmas celebrations. 🥰
this book is the definition of cozy.
selling points:
- slow burn
- small town
- single dad trope (usually i dislike this one, but it really worked in this case)
- based in 1997 (YESSSS. the 90s vibes were so good!!!)
- bed & breakfast, bakery, cozy vibes
- very, very autumnal
* available on kindle unlimited
October 12, 2024
RTC
OMG the epilogue sealed the deal 🥹🥹😭😭
OMG the epilogue sealed the deal 🥹🥹😭😭
September 8, 2025
—— 𝟒.𝟓 ✰ stars. 🍁
𝐈𝐟 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚
🎧/📱|| 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audiobook & Kindle
🏷️ || 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
📆 || 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟡/𝟛/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟡/𝟟/𝟚𝟝
📃 || 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need, always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard. Friends? I can make friends. That's safe. Except I'm leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I've been working towards. So ask me why I'm thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.” 」
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★½
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟹𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️
ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ: 🍂⛄️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʀᴏʟʟꜱ & ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ ☕️
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ✅
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ɪꜰ ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ — ꜱʜᴇʀʏʟ ᴄʀᴏᴡ
1:55 ———♡——— 5:24
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛I come 'round, around the hard way, bring you comics in bed, scrape the mold off the bread and serve you french toast again. well, okay, I still get stoned; I’m not the kind of girl you'd take home. if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad.❜
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🍁 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🧡 90’ꜱ ɴᴏꜱᴛᴀʟɢɪᴀ
🥧 ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴅᴀᴅ
🍁 ʜᴀʟʟᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇꜱ
🧡 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ
🥧 ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🍁 ᴏᴘᴘᴏꜱɪᴛᴇꜱ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
🧡 ɪᴍᴍᴀᴄᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🥧 ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ x ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
💬 || 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• If you’re looking for something that feels like pumpkin pie in book form, look no further. If It Makes You Happy is it. The perfect book for the BER months.
• I went into this one not expecting much, especially since the audiobook narrators made me cringe so bad. I mean come on, why have a narrator for the FMC & MMC’s POV, but never use them together? I can’t stand it. So if you’re going to read this book, avoid the audiobook. You’ll thank me, I promise.
• I was thinking maybe this would’ve been a 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the cringe fest of the audiobook, but there was one more issue I had. As much as I loved Cliff, his self deprecation was such a turn off. I love a man who is confident within himself. Sure, they can have some insecurities, but him talking so much about how annoying he is made him annoying.
• Despite my little critiques, I fell in love with this book; this world, the characters, the town, the vibes, the overall feeling it gave me. And that epilogue was the cream cheese icing on the pumpkin cake.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿
❝ᥲᥒd it hits mᥱ.. i doᥒ't kᥒow whᥱᥒ it hᥲρρᥱᥒᥱd. it sᥣiρρᥱd ovᥱr mᥱ so softᥣყ, ᥣikᥱ thᥱ ᥴhᥲᥒgiᥒg of sᥱᥲsoᥒs. thᥱ sᥱᥱρiᥒg sᥴᥱᥒt of bᥲkᥱd brᥱᥲd first thiᥒg iᥒ thᥱ morᥒiᥒg. ᥲ wistfυᥣ sigh oᥒ ᥲ ρᥱrfᥱᥴt fᥲᥣᥣ dᥲყ.❞
𝐈𝐟 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚
🎧/📱|| 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audiobook & Kindle
🏷️ || 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
📆 || 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟡/𝟛/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟡/𝟟/𝟚𝟝
📃 || 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “Cliff is inescapable. He knows exactly what people need, always. His charm, the way he wears flannel, and even his pastries, make not wanting to be friends with Cliff and his daughters pretty hard. Friends? I can make friends. That's safe. Except I'm leaving in three months to pass the inn off to my little sister and get the promotion in Seattle I've been working towards. So ask me why I'm thinking about kissing my hot neighbor.” 」
❝ "mᥱᥒ doᥒ't wᥲᥒt womᥱᥒ ᥣikᥱ mᥱ."
"ᥣikᥱ whᥲt?"
“υᥒ fυᥒ, too sᥱrioυs, workᥲhoᥣiᥴs. i doᥒ't kᥒow," i mυmbᥣᥱ.
hᥱ givᥱs ᥲ dᥱviᥣish, ᥲbsoᥣυtᥱᥣყ wiᥴkᥱd smiᥣᥱ.
"i thiᥒk mᥱᥒ sᥱᥴrᥱtᥣყ wᥲᥒt womᥱᥒ jυst ᥣikᥱ ყoυ," hᥱ growᥣs, ᥣᥱᥲᥒiᥒg ᥱvᥱᥒ ᥴᥣosᥱr.
"ᥲᥒd thᥱ mᥱᥒ who doᥒ't ᥲrᥱ ᥴowᥲrds." ❞
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
❝i doᥒ't wᥲᥒt to rᥱmovᥱ hᥱr wᥲᥣᥣs bᥱᥴᥲυsᥱ thᥲt'd dᥱstroყ hᥱr strᥱᥒgth, bυt i'd kiᥣᥣ for morᥱ ρᥱᥱks iᥒto thᥱ othᥱr sidᥱ.❞
ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★½
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟹𝟼 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️
ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ: 🍂⛄️
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴄɪɴɴᴀᴍᴏɴ ʀᴏʟʟꜱ & ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ ☕️
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ✅
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
lıllılı.ıllı.ılılıılıı.lllııılı.
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ɪꜰ ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ — ꜱʜᴇʀʏʟ ᴄʀᴏᴡ
1:55 ———♡——— 5:24
⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻
╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛I come 'round, around the hard way, bring you comics in bed, scrape the mold off the bread and serve you french toast again. well, okay, I still get stoned; I’m not the kind of girl you'd take home. if it makes you happy, it can't be that bad.❜
⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰
ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🍁 ꜱʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🧡 90’ꜱ ɴᴏꜱᴛᴀʟɢɪᴀ
🥧 ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴅᴀᴅ
🍁 ʜᴀʟʟᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇꜱ
🧡 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴡɴ
🥧 ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀꜱ
🍁 ᴏᴘᴘᴏꜱɪᴛᴇꜱ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛ
🧡 ɪᴍᴍᴀᴄᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🥧 ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴄᴀᴛ x ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴛʀɪᴇᴠᴇʀ
❝ …iᥒ thᥱ ᥴᥱᥒtᥱr of thᥱ ᥣobbყ is thᥱ oᥒᥣყ womᥲᥒ who ᥴoυᥣd mᥲkᥱ ᥲ rᥲiᥒყ dᥲყ sᥱᥱm ᥒot hᥲᥣf bᥲd. mᥲყbᥱ it's bᥱᥴᥲυsᥱ shᥱ's ᥲ biggᥱr storm ᥴᥣoυd, ᥲᥒd i ᥣikᥱ thᥲt ᥲboυt hᥱr. ❞
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
💬 || 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• If you’re looking for something that feels like pumpkin pie in book form, look no further. If It Makes You Happy is it. The perfect book for the BER months.
• I went into this one not expecting much, especially since the audiobook narrators made me cringe so bad. I mean come on, why have a narrator for the FMC & MMC’s POV, but never use them together? I can’t stand it. So if you’re going to read this book, avoid the audiobook. You’ll thank me, I promise.
• I was thinking maybe this would’ve been a 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the cringe fest of the audiobook, but there was one more issue I had. As much as I loved Cliff, his self deprecation was such a turn off. I love a man who is confident within himself. Sure, they can have some insecurities, but him talking so much about how annoying he is made him annoying.
• Despite my little critiques, I fell in love with this book; this world, the characters, the town, the vibes, the overall feeling it gave me. And that epilogue was the cream cheese icing on the pumpkin cake.
︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿
❝ …hᥱ kᥒows how to mᥲkᥱ ρᥱoρᥣᥱ fᥱᥱᥣ sᥱᥱᥒ. somᥱtimᥱs too sᥱᥱᥒ. hᥱ's so diffᥱrᥱᥒt from mᥱ. if i'm ᥲυtυmᥒ, hᥱ's sρriᥒg.
hᥱ's ᥲᥣᥣ smiᥣᥱs ᥲᥒd gᥣowiᥒg wᥲrmth.❞
February 14, 2025
“...𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒇 𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒏, 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒕𝒉.”
If you love Full Bouse and Gilmore Girls I swear you will adore this book. The combination I mention is because you have that 'full house' atmosphere where everyone knows everyone and treat each other as family and then gilmore because you got that small town aspect that "gossip" spreads like wildfire and its just cozy lol.
“𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆.” “𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?” 𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒏, 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒔. “𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘,” 𝑰 𝒎𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉, 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆. “𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒔, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓. “𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔.
This book is about Michelle, who has to take over her mom's bed and breakfast for a little while and notices that she has a hot neighbor who is a single dad and a baker 😍 OK, that's my review. Thanks for stopping by now go read this book! lmao 🤣🍂
If that doesn't convince you, did I mention it's set in 1997? So, you get all those 90s references and movie feels that we all love in a rom-com✨ A newbie trying to run a business in a small town? who better to help her than Cliff, the hot neighbor who tries to bake her a new pastry every day to find her "favorite" 🥐🍰 AGHHH 😭 because it's just the little things 💕
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.”
꧁☬𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥:
-𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 (𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦)
-𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴
-𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮
-𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴
-𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴
Oh and yes it’s spicy and he is so freaking hot
tropes
🍂 small town
🍂 black cat x golden retriever
🍂 slooooow burn
🍂 neighbors
🍂 autumn season book
🍂 single parent (dad)
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ book club book and tbh im so excited i heard such amazing things!
If you love Full Bouse and Gilmore Girls I swear you will adore this book. The combination I mention is because you have that 'full house' atmosphere where everyone knows everyone and treat each other as family and then gilmore because you got that small town aspect that "gossip" spreads like wildfire and its just cozy lol.
“𝑴𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆.” “𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?” 𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒏, 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔, 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒂𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒔. “𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘,” 𝑰 𝒎𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝑯𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉, 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆. “𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒔, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒓. “𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒔.
This book is about Michelle, who has to take over her mom's bed and breakfast for a little while and notices that she has a hot neighbor who is a single dad and a baker 😍 OK, that's my review. Thanks for stopping by now go read this book! lmao 🤣🍂
If that doesn't convince you, did I mention it's set in 1997? So, you get all those 90s references and movie feels that we all love in a rom-com✨ A newbie trying to run a business in a small town? who better to help her than Cliff, the hot neighbor who tries to bake her a new pastry every day to find her "favorite" 🥐🍰 AGHHH 😭 because it's just the little things 💕
“𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰’𝒅 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆.”
꧁☬𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥:
-𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 (𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦)
-𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴
-𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮
-𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴
-𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴
Oh and yes it’s spicy and he is so freaking hot
tropes
🍂 small town
🍂 black cat x golden retriever
🍂 slooooow burn
🍂 neighbors
🍂 autumn season book
🍂 single parent (dad)
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅ book club book and tbh im so excited i heard such amazing things!
Currently reading
September 8, 2025��ʚ♡ɞ˚ Pre-read
First fall read! The cover is cute and it sounds good 😍 Excited to be reading this one with the book club on booksta 🍂🧡
First fall read! The cover is cute and it sounds good 😍 Excited to be reading this one with the book club on booksta 🍂🧡
April 20, 2025
This book made me SO HAPPY and SAPPY
September 23, 2024
4.5 stars
If you want a book with the most PERFECT Gilmore Girls vibes, look no further. I felt like I crawled into Stars Hallow and I never wanted to leave! Cliff is a single dad to two girls, one who he had when he was a teenager. Now, they're 16 and 6 and he's juggling raising them in their small town while running his bakery. Michelle moves into the Bed and Breakfast next-door to run the business after her mom passes away. Cliff and Michelle immediately hit it off, but they both haven't had the best experience with love and are slow to let anyone in. I loved the slow burn of their romance (and it is slooowww but has soooo much pining, so it was worth it). It was so sweet how much Cliff cared for his daughters and how much Michelle cared for them too. Michelle, though, is leaving at the end of December to go back to the big city while her sister took over the business. Obviously she's going to fall in love with the town and small town life, but can she give up her city dreams?
I do think that the book went on just a bit too long, especially bringing in some drama with Cliff's ex, but I literally had tears in my eyes at the end, which NEVERRRR happens when I read romances. The ending literally played out like the ending of a Meg Ryan romance and I was just so obsessed. This is the perfect fall romance and I couldn't recommend it enough!!
If you want a book with the most PERFECT Gilmore Girls vibes, look no further. I felt like I crawled into Stars Hallow and I never wanted to leave! Cliff is a single dad to two girls, one who he had when he was a teenager. Now, they're 16 and 6 and he's juggling raising them in their small town while running his bakery. Michelle moves into the Bed and Breakfast next-door to run the business after her mom passes away. Cliff and Michelle immediately hit it off, but they both haven't had the best experience with love and are slow to let anyone in. I loved the slow burn of their romance (and it is slooowww but has soooo much pining, so it was worth it). It was so sweet how much Cliff cared for his daughters and how much Michelle cared for them too. Michelle, though, is leaving at the end of December to go back to the big city while her sister took over the business. Obviously she's going to fall in love with the town and small town life, but can she give up her city dreams?
I do think that the book went on just a bit too long, especially bringing in some drama with Cliff's ex, but I literally had tears in my eyes at the end, which NEVERRRR happens when I read romances. The ending literally played out like the ending of a Meg Ryan romance and I was just so obsessed. This is the perfect fall romance and I couldn't recommend it enough!!
September 2, 2025
this book publishes today and i implore each and every one of you add it to your fall tbr!!! 🤍🤍
i say fall starts now and it began with this absolute gem of a book 🍂✨
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
i say fall starts now and it began with this absolute gem of a book 🍂✨
thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc!!
September 8, 2025
“And it hits me. I love this woman. I don’t know when it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons. The seeping scent of baked bread first thing in the morning. A wistful sigh on a perfect fall day.”
i’m not kidding when i say this book feels like when you’re outside at night & see the warm glow of a busy home’s windows, watching a family laugh and bustle around. it feels like the coziest october night from your childhood in the BEST possible way.
i’m not kidding when i say this book feels like when you’re outside at night & see the warm glow of a busy home’s windows, watching a family laugh and bustle around. it feels like the coziest october night from your childhood in the BEST possible way.
September 21, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
I thought I was signing up for a fall vibes, 90s nostalgia fest, sweet, small town romance about two divorced characters finding love. This delivered on those, but also brought the angst and complications. It was about finding your people and place, even in an unexpected way, that squeezed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The writing style and flow wasn’t always my favorite, but these characters and the atmospheric setting felt real to me and I told a friend that from the moment I started the book, I was completely engrossed and rooting for them. I had a hard time putting it down to be an adult.
Michelle (h) starts the book off at the service for her mother, who recently passed away. She’s dealing with complex feelings because of her relationship with her mom and her awful ex wanting to announce their divorce too. She briefly sees a man there before the drama reaches its crescendo. Flashing forward a couple months, because her mother had opened a bed and breakfast on the other side of the country, Michelle puts her successful advertising career on hold to run the B&B for the fall until her younger sister graduates from school and will take over. Cliff (H) is the man she saw briefly at the service and her new neighbor. He’s a single dad of a teen and an elementary-aged child who runs his own bakery and has a snarky sense of humor. He’s also caring, touchy-feely, and frankly overwhelms Michelle. I saw another review mention this had black cat x golden retriever vibes and I can see that, though Cliff didn't quite feel that way to me because of everything he had going on with his little family.
Cliff’s warmer personality contrasted with Michelle’s thick walls, but a partnership and friendship forms that develops into something larger and deeper. They’re both stubborn and messy and totally different spectrums on love languages and expressing themselves but they’re also puzzle pieces that slot together. The progression in realizing they’re in love felt so intense and frustrating with wanting to pick them up and mash their faces together lol. But the struggle bus smacks them because despite their attraction and their longing, both were told negative things about themselves as a partner by their prior spouses, as well as the reality that Michelle is in town temporarily.
Written in first person, dual PoV (with one different POV for the epilogue that should not be missed). No ow/om drama regarding the main characters’ relationships but both are divorced and their exes each appear separately on page, sometimes being awful. The h does set the H up on a date with her sister but the sister quickly realizes they’re into each other thankfully so it’s only nerve-wracking for a tiny moment and I didn’t truly consider it ow drama. Both are experienced but H had only ever been with his ex and it’s been years for him. Some small details about how he loved his ex but they weren’t good together. The h also hadn’t been with anyone for a while and her ex cheated on her.
The beauty of Michelle and Cliff’s romance, for me, was in all the details. From their daily flow with how he’d stop by her B&B and she’d look out for his kids to how he kept trying to figure out what baked item was her favorite and captured her essence (his internal thoughts comparing his daughter’s boyfriend to treats were hilarious btw). There were many little and important moments between them, but also some painful ones. This is also a slow burn, which completely makes sense. There were only a couple of on-page spicy scenes, but they’re good ones and fit their dynamic perfectly.
The supporting characters were crucial in setting the stage for this book. From Cliff’s daughters to Michelle’s family to all the townspeople to Michelle’s ex’s dog who’s expressive and becomes part of their wider sense of family too. Everyone felt like they belonged in this book. There are festivals and trick or treating and people checking in on each other. Plus all the little 90s details mixed in.
The third act is bittersweet with the clock ticking down for when Michelle’s supposed to head back to her “real life” and there’s a sense of longing that I felt jumped off the page. I was crying and then laughing and swooning over how this was resolved. My heart was full reading this book, even with the roller coaster of tension and nerves that this author also took me on. It’s cozy but heavy in places. Then the book ends with an epilogue 8 years later that I’m getting choked up even typing about. It was perfect and beautiful and I hope if friends give this book a chance, it resonates with them as much as it did me, but in case it doesn’t, please at least read the epilogue. I’d been meaning to try this author for a while and her note mentions that this was a passion project for her and I’m so glad this was my intro to her writing, I’ll certainly be reading more from her.
Content warning: grief over loss of a parent, divorce with past partner making toxic comments, discussion of teen pregnancy/parenting, mentions of disconnection between parent/child
I thought I was signing up for a fall vibes, 90s nostalgia fest, sweet, small town romance about two divorced characters finding love. This delivered on those, but also brought the angst and complications. It was about finding your people and place, even in an unexpected way, that squeezed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The writing style and flow wasn’t always my favorite, but these characters and the atmospheric setting felt real to me and I told a friend that from the moment I started the book, I was completely engrossed and rooting for them. I had a hard time putting it down to be an adult.
Michelle (h) starts the book off at the service for her mother, who recently passed away. She’s dealing with complex feelings because of her relationship with her mom and her awful ex wanting to announce their divorce too. She briefly sees a man there before the drama reaches its crescendo. Flashing forward a couple months, because her mother had opened a bed and breakfast on the other side of the country, Michelle puts her successful advertising career on hold to run the B&B for the fall until her younger sister graduates from school and will take over. Cliff (H) is the man she saw briefly at the service and her new neighbor. He’s a single dad of a teen and an elementary-aged child who runs his own bakery and has a snarky sense of humor. He’s also caring, touchy-feely, and frankly overwhelms Michelle. I saw another review mention this had black cat x golden retriever vibes and I can see that, though Cliff didn't quite feel that way to me because of everything he had going on with his little family.
Cliff’s warmer personality contrasted with Michelle’s thick walls, but a partnership and friendship forms that develops into something larger and deeper. They’re both stubborn and messy and totally different spectrums on love languages and expressing themselves but they’re also puzzle pieces that slot together. The progression in realizing they’re in love felt so intense and frustrating with wanting to pick them up and mash their faces together lol. But the struggle bus smacks them because despite their attraction and their longing, both were told negative things about themselves as a partner by their prior spouses, as well as the reality that Michelle is in town temporarily.
Written in first person, dual PoV (with one different POV for the epilogue that should not be missed). No ow/om drama regarding the main characters’ relationships but both are divorced and their exes each appear separately on page, sometimes being awful. The h does set the H up on a date with her sister but the sister quickly realizes they’re into each other thankfully so it’s only nerve-wracking for a tiny moment and I didn’t truly consider it ow drama. Both are experienced but H had only ever been with his ex and it’s been years for him. Some small details about how he loved his ex but they weren’t good together. The h also hadn’t been with anyone for a while and her ex cheated on her.
The beauty of Michelle and Cliff’s romance, for me, was in all the details. From their daily flow with how he’d stop by her B&B and she’d look out for his kids to how he kept trying to figure out what baked item was her favorite and captured her essence (his internal thoughts comparing his daughter’s boyfriend to treats were hilarious btw). There were many little and important moments between them, but also some painful ones. This is also a slow burn, which completely makes sense. There were only a couple of on-page spicy scenes, but they’re good ones and fit their dynamic perfectly.
The supporting characters were crucial in setting the stage for this book. From Cliff’s daughters to Michelle’s family to all the townspeople to Michelle’s ex’s dog who’s expressive and becomes part of their wider sense of family too. Everyone felt like they belonged in this book. There are festivals and trick or treating and people checking in on each other. Plus all the little 90s details mixed in.
The third act is bittersweet with the clock ticking down for when Michelle’s supposed to head back to her “real life” and there’s a sense of longing that I felt jumped off the page. I was crying and then laughing and swooning over how this was resolved. My heart was full reading this book, even with the roller coaster of tension and nerves that this author also took me on. It’s cozy but heavy in places. Then the book ends with an epilogue 8 years later that I’m getting choked up even typing about. It was perfect and beautiful and I hope if friends give this book a chance, it resonates with them as much as it did me, but in case it doesn’t, please at least read the epilogue. I’d been meaning to try this author for a while and her note mentions that this was a passion project for her and I’m so glad this was my intro to her writing, I’ll certainly be reading more from her.
Content warning: grief over loss of a parent, divorce with past partner making toxic comments, discussion of teen pregnancy/parenting, mentions of disconnection between parent/child
June 16, 2025
The Vibe vs The delivery
✨ The vibe? Vibing.
🍂 The delivery? Dragging.
✔️ Small town charm
✔️ Grumpy (her) x sunshine (him)
✔️ Opposites attract
✔️ Late 90s setting
✔️ Slow-burn romance
✔️ Strangers to friends to lovers
✔️ Autumn vibes
✔️ Single dad goodness
Basically, it checked all the boxes. But somehow… it didn’t click.
Amazing vibes. Frustrating delivery. - A five-star aesthetic wrapped in a three-star execution.
Read it if you want the fall feels and 90s vibes and are okay with a little internal chaos.
📼 Great Tropes, But Shaky Execution
The writing is overly descriptive, the pacing drags, and the emotional delivery just lacked and kept being interrupted.
I wanted to love it. I should have loved it. But the way it unfolded left me skimming more than I’d like to admit.
That said, there is a beautiful story here.
Cliff is the single dad with a soft heart and a sense of humour.☀️
Michelle is the black-cat-energy loner convinced she doesn’t deserve love.🐈⬛
Their chemistry? Authentic. Their found family arc? Heartwarming. The slow burn and nostalgia? Beautiful.
But I really wanted to see more character development.
Michelle’s relationship with her mom felt like a side plot that fizzled out, although it’s the main reason the entire book happens. 💢
Cliff is so selfless that he won’t even ask her to stay, he’d rather lose her than risk it. Beautiful in theory, but not fully fleshed out.
🙅♀️ Stop Talking About Your Exes!
I can’t lie. The amount of airtime their exes got was exhausting.
• Allen (her ex) is name-dropped 80 times, shows up on just 3 pages.
• Tracy (his ex) is mentioned 147 times, appears on 15 pages.
• The book is 512 pages long.
They’re practically invisible in the plot, but constantly living rent-free in both main characters’ heads. Even during their first time having sex, they’re still thinking about their exes. That’s when I nearly DNF’d at 76%.
They are constantly mentioned in conversations, MCs are compared to exes (in a good way, albeit annoying and excessive), in internal dialogues. 🔁
Yes, these exes did hurt them and leave some emotional scars, but I mean it wasn’t that traumatic. And the mentions should’ve ended at some points!
🎞️ If You’re a 90s Rom-Com Baby…
You’ll probably enjoy the grand gestures, the aching yearning, and the old-school rom-com vibes that you would’ve found in any 90s movie.
I’m frustrated and soft. I teared up, but I also skimmed through half the book. I kinda want to throw it across the room... but I also still care how it ends.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
--
Pre-read:
Lorena recommended this for my 25 from 25 for 2025, and then Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group gave me the new version as an ARC.
Heard great things, so here I go 🤞🏻
✨ The vibe? Vibing.
🍂 The delivery? Dragging.
✔️ Small town charm
✔️ Grumpy (her) x sunshine (him)
✔️ Opposites attract
✔️ Late 90s setting
✔️ Slow-burn romance
✔️ Strangers to friends to lovers
✔️ Autumn vibes
✔️ Single dad goodness
Basically, it checked all the boxes. But somehow… it didn’t click.
Amazing vibes. Frustrating delivery. - A five-star aesthetic wrapped in a three-star execution.
Read it if you want the fall feels and 90s vibes and are okay with a little internal chaos.
📼 Great Tropes, But Shaky Execution
The writing is overly descriptive, the pacing drags, and the emotional delivery just lacked and kept being interrupted.
I wanted to love it. I should have loved it. But the way it unfolded left me skimming more than I’d like to admit.
That said, there is a beautiful story here.
Cliff is the single dad with a soft heart and a sense of humour.☀️
Michelle is the black-cat-energy loner convinced she doesn’t deserve love.🐈⬛
Their chemistry? Authentic. Their found family arc? Heartwarming. The slow burn and nostalgia? Beautiful.
But I really wanted to see more character development.
Michelle’s relationship with her mom felt like a side plot that fizzled out, although it’s the main reason the entire book happens. 💢
Cliff is so selfless that he won’t even ask her to stay, he’d rather lose her than risk it. Beautiful in theory, but not fully fleshed out.
🙅♀️ Stop Talking About Your Exes!
I can’t lie. The amount of airtime their exes got was exhausting.
• Allen (her ex) is name-dropped 80 times, shows up on just 3 pages.
• Tracy (his ex) is mentioned 147 times, appears on 15 pages.
• The book is 512 pages long.
They’re practically invisible in the plot, but constantly living rent-free in both main characters’ heads. Even during their first time having sex, they’re still thinking about their exes. That’s when I nearly DNF’d at 76%.
They are constantly mentioned in conversations, MCs are compared to exes (in a good way, albeit annoying and excessive), in internal dialogues. 🔁
Yes, these exes did hurt them and leave some emotional scars, but I mean it wasn’t that traumatic. And the mentions should’ve ended at some points!
🎞️ If You’re a 90s Rom-Com Baby…
You’ll probably enjoy the grand gestures, the aching yearning, and the old-school rom-com vibes that you would’ve found in any 90s movie.
I’m frustrated and soft. I teared up, but I also skimmed through half the book. I kinda want to throw it across the room... but I also still care how it ends.
Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
--
Pre-read:
Lorena recommended this for my 25 from 25 for 2025, and then Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group gave me the new version as an ARC.
Heard great things, so here I go 🤞🏻
June 22, 2025
This fabulous book is the kind of warm, comforting romance that feels like stepping into a memory you didn’t know you missed. Set in the golden haze of a 1997 Vermont fall, Julie Olivia wraps you in nostalgia, quiet introspection, and the kind of love story that simmers slowly, patiently, and sincerely—like a pot of cider on the stove that fills the room before you’ve even taken a sip.
Michelle arrives in Copper Run carrying more than just luggage—she’s recovering from a divorce, at a crossroads in her career, and feeling more like a temporary visitor than someone ready to put down roots. She’s there to run her family’s bed and breakfast for a short stint, and then it’s back to her perfectly curated life in Seattle—or so she thinks. Enter Cliff: the handsome, flannel-wearing single dad next door who seems to be the embodiment of the town itself—steady, dependable, a little weather-worn, and impossible not to fall for. Oh, and he owns a bakery and casually tries to guess Michelle’s favorite pastry by baking her a new one each day. Try not to swoon, I dare you.
What really made this story shine was the quiet courage in the characters. Michelle, who struggles to believe she deserves more than just getting by, slowly unlearns her instinct to run from the things that scare her. Cliff, soft-spoken but emotionally grounded, carries the weight of single fatherhood with grace—and watching him navigate parenting two daughters of wildly different ages felt both authentic and heartwarming. The children aren’t just cute background filler; they’re deeply involved in the emotional arc of the story and bring a genuine sense of community and love to the narrative.
Set in a pre-digital era, the book uses its '90s backdrop not for gimmicks but as a grounding element—it’s a world of cassette tapes, handwritten notes, and real-time connections, which suits the story’s themes of reflection, reconnection, and slowing down. It was refreshing to read a romance where the characters take their time to rebuild themselves before they fully step into love. And while it’s packed with cozy vibes and flirty banter, this isn’t just sugar—it deals with grief, emotional walls, and the hard work of choosing love when it feels safer to walk away.
That said, the novel does run long, and while I appreciated the immersive pace, some sections could’ve been trimmed without losing depth. A few emotional beats, particularly related to the characters’ past relationships, were revisited more times than necessary, which slightly slowed the otherwise engaging progression. Still, those moments never eclipsed the beauty of the story—they just made me wish for a little more forward momentum in places.
Overall, this is a beautifully written, autumn-soaked story of second chances, healing, and the quiet magic of finding home in people as much as in places. If you’re a fan of slow-burn romances that feel like long conversations under a starry sky, with just the right touch of humor, yearning, and emotional weight, If It Makes You Happy is one to savor.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me the ARC of this cute, nostalgic small-town second-chance romance in exchange for my honest opinions that I highly appreciate.
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Michelle arrives in Copper Run carrying more than just luggage—she’s recovering from a divorce, at a crossroads in her career, and feeling more like a temporary visitor than someone ready to put down roots. She’s there to run her family’s bed and breakfast for a short stint, and then it’s back to her perfectly curated life in Seattle—or so she thinks. Enter Cliff: the handsome, flannel-wearing single dad next door who seems to be the embodiment of the town itself—steady, dependable, a little weather-worn, and impossible not to fall for. Oh, and he owns a bakery and casually tries to guess Michelle’s favorite pastry by baking her a new one each day. Try not to swoon, I dare you.
What really made this story shine was the quiet courage in the characters. Michelle, who struggles to believe she deserves more than just getting by, slowly unlearns her instinct to run from the things that scare her. Cliff, soft-spoken but emotionally grounded, carries the weight of single fatherhood with grace—and watching him navigate parenting two daughters of wildly different ages felt both authentic and heartwarming. The children aren’t just cute background filler; they’re deeply involved in the emotional arc of the story and bring a genuine sense of community and love to the narrative.
Set in a pre-digital era, the book uses its '90s backdrop not for gimmicks but as a grounding element—it’s a world of cassette tapes, handwritten notes, and real-time connections, which suits the story’s themes of reflection, reconnection, and slowing down. It was refreshing to read a romance where the characters take their time to rebuild themselves before they fully step into love. And while it’s packed with cozy vibes and flirty banter, this isn’t just sugar—it deals with grief, emotional walls, and the hard work of choosing love when it feels safer to walk away.
That said, the novel does run long, and while I appreciated the immersive pace, some sections could’ve been trimmed without losing depth. A few emotional beats, particularly related to the characters’ past relationships, were revisited more times than necessary, which slightly slowed the otherwise engaging progression. Still, those moments never eclipsed the beauty of the story—they just made me wish for a little more forward momentum in places.
Overall, this is a beautifully written, autumn-soaked story of second chances, healing, and the quiet magic of finding home in people as much as in places. If you’re a fan of slow-burn romances that feel like long conversations under a starry sky, with just the right touch of humor, yearning, and emotional weight, If It Makes You Happy is one to savor.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me the ARC of this cute, nostalgic small-town second-chance romance in exchange for my honest opinions that I highly appreciate.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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April 30, 2025
YALLLLL THIS BOOK OH MY GOD!!!
so i had been eyeballing this book for quite awhile seeing all of my friends love it but i was a little hesitant to start due to the size of it, when i found out that it was getting republished i thought “oh what good timing” in the sense of there would probably be minor edits/revamping so better to just wait and man oh man im left with wanting to kick myself for ever waiting but so happy because this book found me at the absolute perfect time. i (unfortunately) reside in florida and i am a cold weather, fall/winter loving, hates living in a big city girl to my core and with summer starting to ramp up this felt like such a wonderful escape into all the cozy vibes i couldve dreamed of 🥰
let me start with this is a MAJOR slow burn, like they dont get together till 70% agonizing (lovingly) slow burn BUT THE BUILD UP IS SOOOO WONDERFUL 😭
there are way too many good things about this book to sit and try to convey to you just how wonderful it felt to read it, usually with larger romance books such as this there are always points where it starts to fall off through out. especially when the romance isnt at the forefront almost the entire time, but dare i say that aspect was what made this book absolutely perfect?
you get to watch cliff & shell through out all of their stages. her reluctance to let him in and help her, the way he slowly but surely chips at those high walls shell surrounded herself by, the way they fall into like with each other and then love, the way shell falls in love with cliffs two girls. the cutest/sassiest dog!!! all of it was pure perfection. theres just enough angst through out but not too much that it gets annoying. the nostalgia factor is done brilliantly, its there and you feel it the entire time but not in a cliche way whatsoever.
lastly, the epilogue of this book 🥹 tears WILL be shed.
so i had been eyeballing this book for quite awhile seeing all of my friends love it but i was a little hesitant to start due to the size of it, when i found out that it was getting republished i thought “oh what good timing” in the sense of there would probably be minor edits/revamping so better to just wait and man oh man im left with wanting to kick myself for ever waiting but so happy because this book found me at the absolute perfect time. i (unfortunately) reside in florida and i am a cold weather, fall/winter loving, hates living in a big city girl to my core and with summer starting to ramp up this felt like such a wonderful escape into all the cozy vibes i couldve dreamed of 🥰
let me start with this is a MAJOR slow burn, like they dont get together till 70% agonizing (lovingly) slow burn BUT THE BUILD UP IS SOOOO WONDERFUL 😭
there are way too many good things about this book to sit and try to convey to you just how wonderful it felt to read it, usually with larger romance books such as this there are always points where it starts to fall off through out. especially when the romance isnt at the forefront almost the entire time, but dare i say that aspect was what made this book absolutely perfect?
you get to watch cliff & shell through out all of their stages. her reluctance to let him in and help her, the way he slowly but surely chips at those high walls shell surrounded herself by, the way they fall into like with each other and then love, the way shell falls in love with cliffs two girls. the cutest/sassiest dog!!! all of it was pure perfection. theres just enough angst through out but not too much that it gets annoying. the nostalgia factor is done brilliantly, its there and you feel it the entire time but not in a cliche way whatsoever.
lastly, the epilogue of this book 🥹 tears WILL be shed.
August 23, 2025
This fall rom-com gave me everything I could want and more! Cliff and Michelle were so perfect for each other, their relationship was just full of banter and undeniable chemistry. I loved that the two became friends before they fell for each other and decided to prioritize their relationship over their hesitation and setbacks. They were just so sweet and understanding, their relationship was built on respect and it was so endearing to see that turn into adoration and eventually love. On top of the swoony romance, the 90s small town setting was so fun and nostalgic, I couldn't get over all the little details and perfect vibes that were brought out with the fall festivities and small town shenanigans. I loved how Michelle took her time to fall in love with the town and we got to fall along with her; the Inn and all the little shops made me so sentimental for simpler times. If you're in the mood for a wistful and charming rom-com full of found family, humor, heart, a little drama, and all the 90s vibes, this romance is the one for you!
Read if you like:
🍂Friends to Lovers🍂
🍂Single Dad MMC🍂
🍂Slow Burn🍂
🍂Forced Proximity🍂
🍂Opposites Attract🍂
🍂Small Town Romance🍂
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Read if you like:
🍂Friends to Lovers🍂
🍂Single Dad MMC🍂
🍂Slow Burn🍂
🍂Forced Proximity🍂
🍂Opposites Attract🍂
🍂Small Town Romance🍂
~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
August 26, 2025
Set in 1997 and Gilmore Girls coded, complete with a quaint little town, quirky side characters, and an inn, but he’s the single parent.
This was really cute! The nostalgia vibes are strong and now I’m wondering if I need more books set in the late 90s.
What’s to love…
- Single dad who is a giant green flag
- divorced FMC
- friends to lovers
- Top notch banter
- themes of grief
- family forward story
- FALL VIBES
- a little emotional and lots of character depth
What’s not to love…
- This was slow to start. It wasn’t until about 40% that I really felt like we were getting somewhere. The first part of the book had a bit too much tell and not show when it came to the feelings developing. I want to see my characters interact ON PAGE, not just be told about it after the fact.
- In a similar vein, this is a bit low angst. Its there, and definitely more so in the 2nd half of the book but they are firmly friends in the first 40-ish%
| TikTok | IG |
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This was really cute! The nostalgia vibes are strong and now I’m wondering if I need more books set in the late 90s.
What’s to love…
- Single dad who is a giant green flag
- divorced FMC
- friends to lovers
- Top notch banter
- themes of grief
- family forward story
- FALL VIBES
- a little emotional and lots of character depth
What’s not to love…
- This was slow to start. It wasn’t until about 40% that I really felt like we were getting somewhere. The first part of the book had a bit too much tell and not show when it came to the feelings developing. I want to see my characters interact ON PAGE, not just be told about it after the fact.
- In a similar vein, this is a bit low angst. Its there, and definitely more so in the 2nd half of the book but they are firmly friends in the first 40-ish%
| TikTok | IG |
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
April 13, 2025
If It Makes You Happy is a joyful romantic comedy! It comes with a lot of spice and everything nice! I absolutely loved this book! It is set back in the late 90’s, with nostalgic references in it and has all the cozy vibes! This storyline is located in a small town in Vermont during the Fall season.
It centers around the main characters, whose names are Cliff and Michelle. Even though these two characters are opposite, they start to become friends that turn into lovers. This book gave me Dawson’s Creek vibes, in the best way possible. Even though they have completely different stories! Be sure to read the content warnings! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cozy, small town romance autumn read! I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Julie Olivia and Berkley Publishing Group for this digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
It centers around the main characters, whose names are Cliff and Michelle. Even though these two characters are opposite, they start to become friends that turn into lovers. This book gave me Dawson’s Creek vibes, in the best way possible. Even though they have completely different stories! Be sure to read the content warnings! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a cozy, small town romance autumn read! I give this a solid 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Julie Olivia and Berkley Publishing Group for this digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
September 1, 2025
tights shredding is something that is so important actually
me: i wonder why this novel is set in 1997
later: this is about airports isn’t it
my rom com senses are always tingling
(yes i read the authors note)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy. full review to come
Bookstagram | Blog
me: i wonder why this novel is set in 1997
later: this is about airports isn’t it
my rom com senses are always tingling
(yes i read the authors note)
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy. full review to come
Bookstagram | Blog
August 24, 2025
nah this book?? TOOO GOOD like i’m so so happy that i picked it up again!
fun little story, i actually picked this book up a couple months ago, and DNF it within the first chapter because i was falling into a slump. i had completely written it off until one day i received it in the mail because it had been picked up by berkley with a brand new cover! and whenever i’m under a lot of stress, i tend to read more and more behold. i’m very stressed so i pick the book up, right? BOOM now it’s one of my favorite reads of the year. my goodness this is the coziest book! i love michelle and cliff and emily and brittany and sara and lars and carol and lisa and her husband (his name escapes me at the moment) and this small town of copper run. i LOVEEEE this book, the pacing, the character development, it’s so character driven, and i absolutely loved every second of it. i cried, i laughed, i squealed and everything in between. what a perfect read.
5 stars obviously.
fun little story, i actually picked this book up a couple months ago, and DNF it within the first chapter because i was falling into a slump. i had completely written it off until one day i received it in the mail because it had been picked up by berkley with a brand new cover! and whenever i’m under a lot of stress, i tend to read more and more behold. i’m very stressed so i pick the book up, right? BOOM now it’s one of my favorite reads of the year. my goodness this is the coziest book! i love michelle and cliff and emily and brittany and sara and lars and carol and lisa and her husband (his name escapes me at the moment) and this small town of copper run. i LOVEEEE this book, the pacing, the character development, it’s so character driven, and i absolutely loved every second of it. i cried, i laughed, i squealed and everything in between. what a perfect read.
5 stars obviously.
September 2, 2025
4.25 stars
A fall romcom with the best fall vibes 🍂🍁
This story has a great FMC that has a lot of great development and an MMC that has endless green flags. The setting was so cozy and I'm a little sad that I didn't actually read this in fall.
I just had a couple of issues with some of the storylines. Michelle (FMC) is treating her stint at the bed and breakfast as temporary because she has this job she supposedly loves, but we don't hear about that job ever. Maybe once toward the middle, but it just wasn't clear why she was so set in her ways about this job when the reader never hears anything about it.
And while Cliff (MMC) has a lot of green flags, he was almost TOO nice. The other scenario with his ex wife was meh and he was just too nice to her and let her get away with too much.
But really enjoyed this overall and would absolutely recommend for a nice fall read 🧡
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
A fall romcom with the best fall vibes 🍂🍁
This story has a great FMC that has a lot of great development and an MMC that has endless green flags. The setting was so cozy and I'm a little sad that I didn't actually read this in fall.
I just had a couple of issues with some of the storylines. Michelle (FMC) is treating her stint at the bed and breakfast as temporary because she has this job she supposedly loves, but we don't hear about that job ever. Maybe once toward the middle, but it just wasn't clear why she was so set in her ways about this job when the reader never hears anything about it.
And while Cliff (MMC) has a lot of green flags, he was almost TOO nice. The other scenario with his ex wife was meh and he was just too nice to her and let her get away with too much.
But really enjoyed this overall and would absolutely recommend for a nice fall read 🧡
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
September 3, 2025
I absolutely LOVED this one yall! What a treat Julie has put together for us. The fall vibes. The 90s vibes. GAHH the nostalgia was REAL! Life before cell phones and Uber. Everything was simpler. I have been enjoying Julie's Never Harbor series so was excited to hear about this one. I read this in almost one sitting. I just was completely hooked and had to see these two find each other. I loved the pacing- everything felt natural. I loved the young single dad aspect and to a teenager AND an elementary school daughter. I loved the setting- going into holiday season with Halloween to kick us off in the north with the leaves. And then of course there were the characters. Michelle (Shelly) and Cliff. Michelle was a 90s black cat to her core. She only knew work. That was what she excelled at. She had never done friends well. She was on the other side of a failed relationship and felt that even her mom didn't think she would be good at running the B&B. And then you have Cliff who has been hit hard with a lot of things at a young age. He had his first daughter young. Then another one. And is a business owner who is also now divorced. He was this ball of glowing energy to Michelle's unsure storm cloud. Watching them come together and then unravel each other was just perfection! Michelle was such a wonderful gooey mess on the inside. She just needed someone to take the time to massage out her layers. And Cliff though he came off as the town clown really wanted someone to take him seriously and love him. Which Shelly did SO well. The angst in this one was KILLER but OMG was it worth it.
Michelle has found herself moving to the other side of the country to take care of her mother's B&B until her sister graduates. It can't be that hard right? She will just stay out of everyone's way and continue to do her job. She will make sure people have what they need while also giving them space. Except that isn't what the guests are used to. Which is how Michelle finds herself asking for help from the one person she said she wouldn't. Her hot single dad neighbor Cliff. Cliff who makes her feel all jittery on the inside. Cliff who has some sort of gravitational pull around him. She can't stay away from him or his daughters. So she asks for help. In return, she will help watch his youngest daughter. Great! They are doing business together. But the more time she spends around Cliff the more comfortable she feels around him. The more she finds herself opening up and telling him things she doesn't tell people like why her marriage failed. Or that she thinks he is cute. And now she is realizing that she likes him. And after the best kiss she has had in EVER she realizes she needs to reign this in. She is leaving in a few months and his whole life is here. Which is how she finds herself trying to set Cliff up on a date with someone else. And then being mad at him when she realizes she wants his first dates. She wants a lot of things with him. And then when she confronts him about it, it's amazing. They are in sync. They want to explore this thing between them while she is still here. But then when it is time for her to go. she finds herself realizing this place has become home.
Cliff has put romance on the back burner for a beat. He has a sixteen year old who is now dating an older boy and an elementary school daughter keeping him on his toes. He has found himself not invested or interested in anything related to romance. Until Michelle. The woman who has taken over for the B&B next door. The beautiful, up tight woman who he finds himself wanting to unravel a little bit. The woman who he wants to help and explore and spend time with which is new for him. So when she asks for help and offers it in exchange he is excited. He likes her. He likes spending time with her. Cliff is not a casual relationship guy. He wants things to mean things which is what he tries to remind himself since she is in fact leaving. But that all goes out the window when they kiss and it is unlike anything he has experienced. Ever. But then lines are drawn. He is back in the friend box and confused because Michelle seems to be setting him up with someone else. But he only wants her. Which is how he finds himself arguing with her about decisions made and then crossing the line and finally having her. And now he doesn't want to let her go. He is in denial that she is leaving. He wants to be enough for her. And so he lets her go. He lets her chase her dream all the while hoping she knows she is his dream.
I just LOVED LOVED this one! I can't recommend it enough. The side characters were great, and I found myself wondering if we would get a sequel- anyone?? I also loved the last chapter in the dog's perspective and how Michelle would have full on convos with her dog- just perfect! It is funny because not a ton actually HAPPENs in this book, but I loved watching Michelle find her place and her purpose. She found her family while finding and reconnecting with her inner self. It was just magical! Pick this up immediately for a nice slice of fall that will make you smile :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Michelle has found herself moving to the other side of the country to take care of her mother's B&B until her sister graduates. It can't be that hard right? She will just stay out of everyone's way and continue to do her job. She will make sure people have what they need while also giving them space. Except that isn't what the guests are used to. Which is how Michelle finds herself asking for help from the one person she said she wouldn't. Her hot single dad neighbor Cliff. Cliff who makes her feel all jittery on the inside. Cliff who has some sort of gravitational pull around him. She can't stay away from him or his daughters. So she asks for help. In return, she will help watch his youngest daughter. Great! They are doing business together. But the more time she spends around Cliff the more comfortable she feels around him. The more she finds herself opening up and telling him things she doesn't tell people like why her marriage failed. Or that she thinks he is cute. And now she is realizing that she likes him. And after the best kiss she has had in EVER she realizes she needs to reign this in. She is leaving in a few months and his whole life is here. Which is how she finds herself trying to set Cliff up on a date with someone else. And then being mad at him when she realizes she wants his first dates. She wants a lot of things with him. And then when she confronts him about it, it's amazing. They are in sync. They want to explore this thing between them while she is still here. But then when it is time for her to go. she finds herself realizing this place has become home.
Cliff has put romance on the back burner for a beat. He has a sixteen year old who is now dating an older boy and an elementary school daughter keeping him on his toes. He has found himself not invested or interested in anything related to romance. Until Michelle. The woman who has taken over for the B&B next door. The beautiful, up tight woman who he finds himself wanting to unravel a little bit. The woman who he wants to help and explore and spend time with which is new for him. So when she asks for help and offers it in exchange he is excited. He likes her. He likes spending time with her. Cliff is not a casual relationship guy. He wants things to mean things which is what he tries to remind himself since she is in fact leaving. But that all goes out the window when they kiss and it is unlike anything he has experienced. Ever. But then lines are drawn. He is back in the friend box and confused because Michelle seems to be setting him up with someone else. But he only wants her. Which is how he finds himself arguing with her about decisions made and then crossing the line and finally having her. And now he doesn't want to let her go. He is in denial that she is leaving. He wants to be enough for her. And so he lets her go. He lets her chase her dream all the while hoping she knows she is his dream.
I just LOVED LOVED this one! I can't recommend it enough. The side characters were great, and I found myself wondering if we would get a sequel- anyone?? I also loved the last chapter in the dog's perspective and how Michelle would have full on convos with her dog- just perfect! It is funny because not a ton actually HAPPENs in this book, but I loved watching Michelle find her place and her purpose. She found her family while finding and reconnecting with her inner self. It was just magical! Pick this up immediately for a nice slice of fall that will make you smile :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 6, 2025
Cliff gave the same vibes as the brother in hocus pocus. Michelle has a black cat girly vibe. I don’t think it was a 90s vibe but it did give crunchy leaves and apple cider for fall vibe.
Overall the vibes were crispy crunchy
Overall the vibes were crispy crunchy
August 15, 2025
i feel like i aged 10 years from how much i cried and that epilogue has to be one of my favorite epilogues… RTC!
----
Oh my gosh, I had no idea this book would destroy me the way it would and it completely took me by surprise. First, the small town vibes in this book was absolutely immaculate. I found myself craving the crisp of fall as my AC was busy humming away trying to fight the humidity. If you are looking for a seasonal escape, this book will be perfect for you.
By the end of the book, I didn't want to leave any of the characters because of the growth I experienced with them. I found myself loving the FMC and her journey as well. The second chance in this book was so adorable and Cliff was the perfect girl dad ugh. I also appreciated that there wasn't really a "bad" character in this book. It explored how we all have different experiences and we don't ever have to change ourselves for anyone, because there are people who are MEANT for you out there.
I also enjoyed how involved Rocket was?! The author did an amazing job incorporating his reactions into the story and the epilogue??????? MY HEARTTTTTT
Thank you so much to Berkley for an e-ARC of this book! I will definitely be checking out more from this author!
----
Oh my gosh, I had no idea this book would destroy me the way it would and it completely took me by surprise. First, the small town vibes in this book was absolutely immaculate. I found myself craving the crisp of fall as my AC was busy humming away trying to fight the humidity. If you are looking for a seasonal escape, this book will be perfect for you.
By the end of the book, I didn't want to leave any of the characters because of the growth I experienced with them. I found myself loving the FMC and her journey as well. The second chance in this book was so adorable and Cliff was the perfect girl dad ugh. I also appreciated that there wasn't really a "bad" character in this book. It explored how we all have different experiences and we don't ever have to change ourselves for anyone, because there are people who are MEANT for you out there.
I also enjoyed how involved Rocket was?! The author did an amazing job incorporating his reactions into the story and the epilogue??????? MY HEARTTTTTT
Thank you so much to Berkley for an e-ARC of this book! I will definitely be checking out more from this author!
September 4, 2025
perfect start to the ber months
August 26, 2025
I swear, this book is like a warm hug for your soul. I literally couldn’t put it down. It is the epitome of cozy. If I could give it 6 stars, I would in a heartbeat.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
Michelle is extremely career-focused in her advertising job, but she’s also fresh off a divorce from her selfish ex. When her mother passes away, she heads to Copper Run to help reopen the bed and breakfast her mom started, at least until her younger sister finishes school and can take it over.
And then there’s Cliff. Oh my gosh, I loved Cliff. He’s Michelle’s next-door neighbor, a single dad to two daughters, and co-owner of the town bakery with his sister. He’s also the attractive stranger Michelle spotted at her mother’s funeral. From the moment he showed up on the page, he had me hooked. He’s charming, funny, warm, and such a good man. Honestly, I fell for him within two chapters and knew right away this was going to be special.
I’ll admit, Michelle took me a little longer to warm up to. She’s misunderstood, always putting others first, and carrying the weight of feeling like second best her whole life. But that made her journey all the more beautiful. I wanted her to finally stop, breathe, and realize she deserves joy and love too, and watching Cliff (and his girls) slowly rock her world was everything. I also loved her dog, Rocket. Even though he couldn’t talk, the way his antics and little “dialogue” moments were written gave him such human qualities and cracked me up every time. 😂 He added so much charm to Michelle’s story and their little family dynamic.
Cliff wasn’t just charming, he was honest in the best way. He gave Michelle new perspectives and encouraged her to open up, to try things, to realize life doesn’t have to be perfect. I loved how even when she was distant or harsh, he stayed patient and kind. He saw her, really saw her, in a way no one else had. And the fact that he wanted their friendship first before anything romantic… UGH 😩 it made my heart swell. He truly wanted what was best for her. The slow-burn tension between them was intense, but even better was the friends-to-lovers aspect— it was out of this world 🥹. I loved seeing them truly get to know each other, laugh together, and grow as friends before the romance fully bloomed. It made everything feel so earned and real.
Now… let’s talk about that slow burn. The tension was off the charts. I was practically BEGGING for that first kiss, choking on the buildup because it felt like it would NEVER. BREAK. And when it did, only for it to be one step forward, two steps back, MY GOSH I swear my heart broke for Cliff. 😭 I almost couldn’t handle it. But the beauty of it was that he never pushed. He respected Michelle, valued their friendship, and wanted her for more than just the sparks between them. (insert dreamy sigh) Then the eventual payoff? Absolutely worth the wait. The fire between them burned so brightly once they let their walls down.
I also really appreciated how he talked about his ex-wife. Even though she hadn’t treated him well, he still chose to speak about her kindly in front of his daughters, not forcing them to pick sides. That kind of integrity spoke so loudly. 🥹 And when he finally broke down near the end… I was a mess. Seeing him vulnerable, knowing how strong he usually is, it hit me right in the feels. And then the grand gesture that followed was exactly the kind of moment I live for in romance.
The setting made this story even more magical. The 90s nostalgia, like when a camcorder was mentioned, gave me such a wave of warmth. Copper Run itself is exactly the kind of small town I adore: close-knit, friendly, and full of people who would drop everything to lend a hand. Of course, that also means everyone knows your business… 😂 but the sense of community makes it all worth it.
And goodness the ending… I can’t even explain it without spoiling it 😭. It was so unique, so moving, and it wrapped up everything so perfectly. I teared up more than once, just sitting there thinking about Michelle and Cliff and their little world.
This book gave me everything: laughter, heartache, nostalgia, tension, and so much love. It’s cozy, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Truly this was a 6 ⭐️ experience for me. I’ll never forget it 🫶🏼
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”I wonder if he was made for me, if he's the only man who will ever see me. I don't believe in destiny or stars, but I have to believe Cliff's constellation would align right beside mine.”
”I search his eyes—the blue eyes that I saw from across the chapel. A man I knew before I even met him. A man who loves me in the same way I love him. For exactly who we are. Flaws and all.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🍂 friends-to-lovers
🐾 single dad
🍂 dual pov
🐾 set in the 90s
🍂 slow burn
🐾 found family
A huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Julie Olivia for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
──────────
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
I wanted to wait further into fall to read this but the review date is coming up 😔 I’m so excited though! I can already tell it’s going to be so cozy!!
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
Michelle is extremely career-focused in her advertising job, but she’s also fresh off a divorce from her selfish ex. When her mother passes away, she heads to Copper Run to help reopen the bed and breakfast her mom started, at least until her younger sister finishes school and can take it over.
And then there’s Cliff. Oh my gosh, I loved Cliff. He’s Michelle’s next-door neighbor, a single dad to two daughters, and co-owner of the town bakery with his sister. He’s also the attractive stranger Michelle spotted at her mother’s funeral. From the moment he showed up on the page, he had me hooked. He’s charming, funny, warm, and such a good man. Honestly, I fell for him within two chapters and knew right away this was going to be special.
I’ll admit, Michelle took me a little longer to warm up to. She’s misunderstood, always putting others first, and carrying the weight of feeling like second best her whole life. But that made her journey all the more beautiful. I wanted her to finally stop, breathe, and realize she deserves joy and love too, and watching Cliff (and his girls) slowly rock her world was everything. I also loved her dog, Rocket. Even though he couldn’t talk, the way his antics and little “dialogue” moments were written gave him such human qualities and cracked me up every time. 😂 He added so much charm to Michelle’s story and their little family dynamic.
Cliff wasn’t just charming, he was honest in the best way. He gave Michelle new perspectives and encouraged her to open up, to try things, to realize life doesn’t have to be perfect. I loved how even when she was distant or harsh, he stayed patient and kind. He saw her, really saw her, in a way no one else had. And the fact that he wanted their friendship first before anything romantic… UGH 😩 it made my heart swell. He truly wanted what was best for her. The slow-burn tension between them was intense, but even better was the friends-to-lovers aspect— it was out of this world 🥹. I loved seeing them truly get to know each other, laugh together, and grow as friends before the romance fully bloomed. It made everything feel so earned and real.
Now… let’s talk about that slow burn. The tension was off the charts. I was practically BEGGING for that first kiss, choking on the buildup because it felt like it would NEVER. BREAK. And when it did, only for it to be one step forward, two steps back, MY GOSH I swear my heart broke for Cliff. 😭 I almost couldn’t handle it. But the beauty of it was that he never pushed. He respected Michelle, valued their friendship, and wanted her for more than just the sparks between them. (insert dreamy sigh) Then the eventual payoff? Absolutely worth the wait. The fire between them burned so brightly once they let their walls down.
I also really appreciated how he talked about his ex-wife. Even though she hadn’t treated him well, he still chose to speak about her kindly in front of his daughters, not forcing them to pick sides. That kind of integrity spoke so loudly. 🥹 And when he finally broke down near the end… I was a mess. Seeing him vulnerable, knowing how strong he usually is, it hit me right in the feels. And then the grand gesture that followed was exactly the kind of moment I live for in romance.
The setting made this story even more magical. The 90s nostalgia, like when a camcorder was mentioned, gave me such a wave of warmth. Copper Run itself is exactly the kind of small town I adore: close-knit, friendly, and full of people who would drop everything to lend a hand. Of course, that also means everyone knows your business… 😂 but the sense of community makes it all worth it.
And goodness the ending… I can’t even explain it without spoiling it 😭. It was so unique, so moving, and it wrapped up everything so perfectly. I teared up more than once, just sitting there thinking about Michelle and Cliff and their little world.
This book gave me everything: laughter, heartache, nostalgia, tension, and so much love. It’s cozy, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Truly this was a 6 ⭐️ experience for me. I’ll never forget it 🫶🏼
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
”I wonder if he was made for me, if he's the only man who will ever see me. I don't believe in destiny or stars, but I have to believe Cliff's constellation would align right beside mine.”
”I search his eyes—the blue eyes that I saw from across the chapel. A man I knew before I even met him. A man who loves me in the same way I love him. For exactly who we are. Flaws and all.”
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
🍂 friends-to-lovers
🐾 single dad
🍂 dual pov
🐾 set in the 90s
🍂 slow burn
🐾 found family
A huge thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Julie Olivia for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
──────────
・❥・⁀➷ pre-read
I wanted to wait further into fall to read this but the review date is coming up 😔 I’m so excited though! I can already tell it’s going to be so cozy!!
September 25, 2024
The H is wonderful and thoughtful man plus great father i don't understand how his ex-wife could leave him. Lol.
Anyway i truly wanted to like this but it was ok!
I enjoyed some chapters but there were a few things that ruined the book for me (it's just personal preference). I'm sure you guys will like this book.
__________
Safety:
— h (30) / H (33)
— Strangers to friends to lovers
— Slow burn
— Push from both in the second half of the book
— No OM / Cheating
— Slight OW (see note below)
— Single dad to two girls (16 yo & 6 yo)
— HFN (Epilogue 8 years later and they have a son)
— Both MCs are divorcees
* The h was married for 5 years, her ex-husband cheated on her with a younger woman.
* The H was married for 14 years to his childhood crush. She got pregnant when they were 16 and they ended up getting married.
— Both MCs are experienced
* The H has been celibate more than 2 years (none manwhore, his ex was the only woman he had ever been with)
* The h has been celibate for a year
— Their exes were mentioned a lot for most of the book specially the H’s ex (there are not much details!).
— They talked once about their love for their exes
The H about his ex :
“The girl I once knew—the perky blonde cheerleader with the sunny smile and cheeky eye rolls—feels so distant now. Sure, Tracy wasn’t bound to be that girl forever. She became a woman. Protective of her children. Strong. Bold. But, God, it only made me love her more. As parents, we had so many sleepless nights, school events, arguments on how to raise them together. Sure, we got into fights, but what couple doesn’t?
Then, it’s like everything got turned on its head all at once. This idea of a perfect home, a perfect family, a perfect life. Our marriage wasn’t perfect, but it was us. I loved us. I loved her.”
**********
“she sat me down one day and said she didn’t like me anymore. Not love—I distinctly remember that. She didn’t like me. I asked how long she knew she didn’t like me, and she said maybe she never did.”
**********
“Tracy is complicated. Flawed. But she spent fourteen years cherishing Emily. The first time she bounced Emily in her arms—the way her face lit up with happiness—is a memory I wish I could revisit countless times. It would be easy to fault her for leaving if I didn’t know how much she adored her children.
Her leaving and our divorce was inevitable. We had gotten married so young with factors beyond our control. It was a time when shotgun weddings were the norm, not the exception.”
The h about her ex :
“My feelings on storybook love suddenly feel dull and unnatural. For the life of me, I can’t seem to remember the fire I had with Allen. Allen and I were so serious all the time. We were two stubborn people who found their stubborn puzzle piece.
I can’t recall passion—at least not the kind of all-encompassing obsession that clouds all judgment and keeps you up at night. I don’t remember whether I felt like Emily, desperately needing to see a guy at every waking moment. I can’t remember the last time I had a zip in my stomach, like when Cliff’s palm was on my knee.”
__________
Note :
The last 20% was slight drama with the ex-wife (It may not be a big deal to most of you but it didn't work for me 🤷🏻♀️)
— The ex-wife (Tracy) in the H's life (Which I hate so much in my books) :
~ She called few times (on-page)
(he gives her updates about their daughters. She lives in New York and left them two years ago. She cares about her little daughter and doesn't pay any attention to the older one and this bothers the H)
~ His ex shows up at Christmas to celebrate with them, she was upset and jealous!! about the H and h's relationship!
She kept saying “my family” in front of the h (I mean wasn't she the one who left her family for 2 years and said she didn't love her ex-husband!! Then why the hell is she upset?)
She started a cold war with the h but it was one-sided (she doesn't really cause any drama between MCs it's all on her side but still not for me)
And this is why i hate the ex-wife in the H's life…
“He’ll always be weak for his daughters, even if it requires more time with his ex. That’s the kind of dad he is.
That’s the weirdest thing of all. Tracy doesn’t like Cliff, but she doesn’t like me with him either.
The three of them walk to the line for Santa. Tracy holds out her hand for Brittany, who eagerly takes it, now gripping one hand from each parent. My stomach twists at the sight. It’s so domestic. Brittany doesn’t have three hands, so where would my puzzle piece slip in?”
~ The ex lives in the H's house during visits (What is this nonsense??? )
and they still do their Christmas traditions
~ Why do they care about the ex feeling?
“Dad, can Michelle and Rocket come over?” Brittany repeats.
Tracy clicks her tongue and sighs.
“If they want to invite Michelle, that’s fine,” she says stiffly.
“You’re kidding. This feels like a trap.”
“She’s nice enough.”
I snort. “It’s your holiday,I’m not here to ruin Christmas with the girls.”
Tracy’s jaw tightens. “And I’m not here to ruin theirs. If they want your neighbor over, I’m fine with it.”
“Cliff.”
“Hmm?”
“Call her.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
**********
“You’re invited to our Burke Family Present-Opening Ceremony.”
“Wow, is that a big deal?”
“Huge.”
There’s a beat before she asks, “Is Tracy fine with it?”
I smile to myself. “It was her suggestion.”
Silently, she murmurs, “This feels like a trap.”
“That’s what I said.”
~ I liked that the H didn't let his ex humiliate the h
“I should know what’s going on with my daughter before someone else does,” Tracy says.
“I should at least know before that … that—”
I rise to my feet without thinking. My heart is pounding. My knuckles are white from clenched fists, painfully forcing my nails into my palms. My chest is on fire.
“I’d watch what words come out next, Trace. Before we all say something we regret. Something the girls shouldn’t hear.”
Words against Michelle?
Not in my house. Not anywhere.
~ There is something that bothers me a lot, the h and the ex-wife are too similar in personality (the H mentioned that a few times even the h mentioned that)
~ The ex-wife didn't cause any drama after that. She will be more present now for her daughters
Don't worry the h is not second best and the H really loves her. I just wish there wasn't anything about his ex 🙄.
(As i said this stuff NOT MY CUPPA).
— Not really OW: The h set up the H on the date with her sister (she believes that the H deserves someone like her sister 🙄). The H didn't want to went on a date but he said yes just to make her happy. He didn't want anything from her sister and he only had eyes for the h. Nothing really happened between them and all they talked about was the h. Her sister realized that they liked each other.
— The h's ex doesn’t appear after their divorce (he only appeared in prologue)
Anyway i truly wanted to like this but it was ok!
I enjoyed some chapters but there were a few things that ruined the book for me (it's just personal preference). I'm sure you guys will like this book.
__________
Safety:
— h (30) / H (33)
— Strangers to friends to lovers
— Slow burn
— Push from both in the second half of the book
— No OM / Cheating
— Slight OW (see note below)
— Single dad to two girls (16 yo & 6 yo)
— HFN (Epilogue 8 years later and they have a son)
— Both MCs are divorcees
* The h was married for 5 years, her ex-husband cheated on her with a younger woman.
* The H was married for 14 years to his childhood crush. She got pregnant when they were 16 and they ended up getting married.
— Both MCs are experienced
* The H has been celibate more than 2 years (none manwhore, his ex was the only woman he had ever been with)
* The h has been celibate for a year
— Their exes were mentioned a lot for most of the book specially the H’s ex (there are not much details!).
— They talked once about their love for their exes
The H about his ex :
“The girl I once knew—the perky blonde cheerleader with the sunny smile and cheeky eye rolls—feels so distant now. Sure, Tracy wasn’t bound to be that girl forever. She became a woman. Protective of her children. Strong. Bold. But, God, it only made me love her more. As parents, we had so many sleepless nights, school events, arguments on how to raise them together. Sure, we got into fights, but what couple doesn’t?
Then, it’s like everything got turned on its head all at once. This idea of a perfect home, a perfect family, a perfect life. Our marriage wasn’t perfect, but it was us. I loved us. I loved her.”
**********
“she sat me down one day and said she didn’t like me anymore. Not love—I distinctly remember that. She didn’t like me. I asked how long she knew she didn’t like me, and she said maybe she never did.”
**********
“Tracy is complicated. Flawed. But she spent fourteen years cherishing Emily. The first time she bounced Emily in her arms—the way her face lit up with happiness—is a memory I wish I could revisit countless times. It would be easy to fault her for leaving if I didn’t know how much she adored her children.
Her leaving and our divorce was inevitable. We had gotten married so young with factors beyond our control. It was a time when shotgun weddings were the norm, not the exception.”
The h about her ex :
“My feelings on storybook love suddenly feel dull and unnatural. For the life of me, I can’t seem to remember the fire I had with Allen. Allen and I were so serious all the time. We were two stubborn people who found their stubborn puzzle piece.
I can’t recall passion—at least not the kind of all-encompassing obsession that clouds all judgment and keeps you up at night. I don’t remember whether I felt like Emily, desperately needing to see a guy at every waking moment. I can’t remember the last time I had a zip in my stomach, like when Cliff’s palm was on my knee.”
__________
Note :
The last 20% was slight drama with the ex-wife (It may not be a big deal to most of you but it didn't work for me 🤷🏻♀️)
— The ex-wife (Tracy) in the H's life (Which I hate so much in my books) :
~ She called few times (on-page)
(he gives her updates about their daughters. She lives in New York and left them two years ago. She cares about her little daughter and doesn't pay any attention to the older one and this bothers the H)
~ His ex shows up at Christmas to celebrate with them, she was upset and jealous!! about the H and h's relationship!
She kept saying “my family” in front of the h (I mean wasn't she the one who left her family for 2 years and said she didn't love her ex-husband!! Then why the hell is she upset?)
She started a cold war with the h but it was one-sided (she doesn't really cause any drama between MCs it's all on her side but still not for me)
And this is why i hate the ex-wife in the H's life…
“He’ll always be weak for his daughters, even if it requires more time with his ex. That’s the kind of dad he is.
That’s the weirdest thing of all. Tracy doesn’t like Cliff, but she doesn’t like me with him either.
The three of them walk to the line for Santa. Tracy holds out her hand for Brittany, who eagerly takes it, now gripping one hand from each parent. My stomach twists at the sight. It’s so domestic. Brittany doesn’t have three hands, so where would my puzzle piece slip in?”
~ The ex lives in the H's house during visits (What is this nonsense??? )
and they still do their Christmas traditions
~ Why do they care about the ex feeling?
“Dad, can Michelle and Rocket come over?” Brittany repeats.
Tracy clicks her tongue and sighs.
“If they want to invite Michelle, that’s fine,” she says stiffly.
“You’re kidding. This feels like a trap.”
“She’s nice enough.”
I snort. “It’s your holiday,I’m not here to ruin Christmas with the girls.”
Tracy’s jaw tightens. “And I’m not here to ruin theirs. If they want your neighbor over, I’m fine with it.”
“Cliff.”
“Hmm?”
“Call her.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
**********
“You’re invited to our Burke Family Present-Opening Ceremony.”
“Wow, is that a big deal?”
“Huge.”
There’s a beat before she asks, “Is Tracy fine with it?”
I smile to myself. “It was her suggestion.”
Silently, she murmurs, “This feels like a trap.”
“That’s what I said.”
~ I liked that the H didn't let his ex humiliate the h
“I should know what’s going on with my daughter before someone else does,” Tracy says.
“I should at least know before that … that—”
I rise to my feet without thinking. My heart is pounding. My knuckles are white from clenched fists, painfully forcing my nails into my palms. My chest is on fire.
“I’d watch what words come out next, Trace. Before we all say something we regret. Something the girls shouldn’t hear.”
Words against Michelle?
Not in my house. Not anywhere.
~ There is something that bothers me a lot, the h and the ex-wife are too similar in personality (the H mentioned that a few times even the h mentioned that)
~ The ex-wife didn't cause any drama after that. She will be more present now for her daughters
Don't worry the h is not second best and the H really loves her. I just wish there wasn't anything about his ex 🙄.
(As i said this stuff NOT MY CUPPA).
— Not really OW: The h set up the H on the date with her sister (she believes that the H deserves someone like her sister 🙄). The H didn't want to went on a date but he said yes just to make her happy. He didn't want anything from her sister and he only had eyes for the h. Nothing really happened between them and all they talked about was the h. Her sister realized that they liked each other.
— The h's ex doesn’t appear after their divorce (he only appeared in prologue)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2024
THIS IS THE FALL BOOK EVERYONE SO GET TO READING
as a long time fan of julie olivia i think it is time for me to stop keeping her as my best kept secret. you guys have got to look through he backlist or start here and read her books because she has the coziest romances ever and i am utterly obsessed with them!!! i was unsure how much i'd love this one because it's quite long and it's set in 1997 but neither of those things bothered me in the slightest. this story was so cute and so fall and just the perfect book to read this holiday season!!
this is the romance between cliff and michelle but it's so much more than just that. this is a story of two people finding their person and that is beautiful. this book may seem intimidating because of it's length but you truly need all the exposition to set up this romance. if you're a slow burn lover, this is for you. cliff is so good with words and making people comfortable but he also finally gets to be with someone who lets him be him. his relationship with his girls is what dreams are made of and all their interactions made me so emotional. the connections michelle made with them, specifically emily, were just so well done and i love their little family. michelle kinda had a lot of discoveries to make about herself but in the end she is truly a happier person and that's all that matters. i am not usually a fan of a character just giving up their old life to move to a small town, sadly it's not plausible. but in this case it made so much sense. there really was nothing tying michelle to seattle and you're just praying that she stays by the end. the airport scene, yeah you heard me, the AIRPORT SCENE..... this is what early 2000's romcoms are made of and it was wonderful.
this book truly felt like a cozy, fall movie and i'm being so serious when i say you neeeeeed to pick it up!! also cliff is the only man who can say "don't get on the plane" and i'll support him, i'm looking at you ross geller.... (rachel should've gone to paris and i don't wanna hear anything about it).. the epilogue actually made me cry again because of whose perspective it's in, that was so unexpected and i've never seen anything like that so i sobbed. anyway pick this up for allll the fall vibes and just read anything by julie olivia!!
as a long time fan of julie olivia i think it is time for me to stop keeping her as my best kept secret. you guys have got to look through he backlist or start here and read her books because she has the coziest romances ever and i am utterly obsessed with them!!! i was unsure how much i'd love this one because it's quite long and it's set in 1997 but neither of those things bothered me in the slightest. this story was so cute and so fall and just the perfect book to read this holiday season!!
this is the romance between cliff and michelle but it's so much more than just that. this is a story of two people finding their person and that is beautiful. this book may seem intimidating because of it's length but you truly need all the exposition to set up this romance. if you're a slow burn lover, this is for you. cliff is so good with words and making people comfortable but he also finally gets to be with someone who lets him be him. his relationship with his girls is what dreams are made of and all their interactions made me so emotional. the connections michelle made with them, specifically emily, were just so well done and i love their little family. michelle kinda had a lot of discoveries to make about herself but in the end she is truly a happier person and that's all that matters. i am not usually a fan of a character just giving up their old life to move to a small town, sadly it's not plausible. but in this case it made so much sense. there really was nothing tying michelle to seattle and you're just praying that she stays by the end. the airport scene, yeah you heard me, the AIRPORT SCENE..... this is what early 2000's romcoms are made of and it was wonderful.
this book truly felt like a cozy, fall movie and i'm being so serious when i say you neeeeeed to pick it up!! also cliff is the only man who can say "don't get on the plane" and i'll support him, i'm looking at you ross geller.... (rachel should've gone to paris and i don't wanna hear anything about it).. the epilogue actually made me cry again because of whose perspective it's in, that was so unexpected and i've never seen anything like that so i sobbed. anyway pick this up for allll the fall vibes and just read anything by julie olivia!!
April 16, 2025
4.5⭐
Awwwwww, may I say that the epilogue is better than the whole book 🥺🥺 this book could be a comfort book tbh. It's so cute for its own good. I found it endearing that the FMC made whole conversations with her dog in her head. And even though she doesn't have kids herself she became a mother figure to those cute girls 🩷 The MMC needs the best dad ever prize
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 34, 36, 43
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Guys I have a confession to make...... I love Berkley so much I might burst. 🥹♥️♥️ Thank you for approving my request for the eARC, love you, bye 🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
Awwwwww, may I say that the epilogue is better than the whole book 🥺🥺 this book could be a comfort book tbh. It's so cute for its own good. I found it endearing that the FMC made whole conversations with her dog in her head. And even though she doesn't have kids herself she became a mother figure to those cute girls 🩷 The MMC needs the best dad ever prize
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕮𝖑𝖔𝖘𝖊𝖉 𝕯𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕸𝖔𝖉𝖎𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
SKIP CHAPTER: 34, 36, 43
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Guys I have a confession to make...... I love Berkley so much I might burst. 🥹♥️♥️ Thank you for approving my request for the eARC, love you, bye 🫶🏻
Find my review on Instagram
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