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.
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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.
My Review
Michelle,1997, is going through a hard time in the prologue with the recent passing of her mom, her morally inconsistent ex-husband, and her newfound responsibilities like taking care of his dog that doesn’t even like her. Her mom and dad have an Inn in a small town.
We time jump to Cliff, the owner, with his sister of the bakery in Copper Run, Vermont. He is also a single dad of a teenager and a 6-year-old. His interactions are relatable and amusing.
Of course, it all makes sense. He is her new neighbor, and his kids are adorable, at least his younger one. The inn happens to be right next door to Cliff’s home, and their new forced proximity and Neighborhood Things is fun but also coated in some nostalgia and puns.
The story is so enjoyable, especially all the sweet treats, but randomly, through it, “Dear Sara “ appears like starting a thoughtful letter to her sister, then stopping. I love the autumn aesthetic in the book with the Halloween, baked goods, and more.
But whenever Michelle gets a taste of change and happiness, she immediately goes back to being a martyr, like she doesn’t deserve it because of yada yada. It is slightly annoying since she is supposed to be a midlife city girl who has it all together. But she really doesn’t; she is a mess.
This does get steamy finally as they realize they are more than friends or neighbors. They can’t seem to say it, but the actions show it. However, that’s one heck of a holiday awkwardness for Thanksgiving. Who knew he was freak in the sheets with the whole golden retriever vibe out of them, just wow.
The story ends sweetly with a “Sleepless in Seattle” vibe, but on brand for the way the story went. I love that they got their hfn ending, and they matured about it.
We get all the holiday feels in the storyline from Halloween to Christmas and even an epilogue for New Year’s. I didn’t really read the epilogues.
I liked the story; it was a sweet holiday midlife romance, and the single dad charm in it was very well done, as well as the mature characters. It was cozy and honey with the children in the story and all the described baked goods. I think my favorite scenes were the moment on the porch swing that felt very realistic. This story has lots of small-town vibes.
If you would like to read If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.
If you like this story you may also enjoy stories with these tags and categories: Midlife Fiction, Autumn and Small Town.
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