If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia – cozy autumn romance

If It Makes You Happy is a heartwarming, feel-good, and delightfully cozy autumn romance. It is perfect for anyone craving a comforting read that feels like coming home, with a side of freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

Synopsis

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.

Review

I so loved If It Makes You Happy. It’s been ages since I read a truly feel-good romance, and this book delivers on every promise: the cozy autumn vibes, the 1997 setting, the picturesque Vermont town of Copper Run, and its heartwarming community. Add a tender romance between neighbors, a small-town baker and a city girl, and you’ve got the perfect comfort read.

If It Makes You Happy opens with Mischell attending her mother’s funeral, only to have her ex-husband push her to tell her father about their divorce that same day. Her plan is simple: return to her city life and her career, not take over her mom’s dream bed and breakfast in Copper Run. Her mother left the B&B to her younger sister, Sara, who was more like their mom and much closer to her. But with Sara finishing her last semester at college, Mischell steps up to run Birdy’s Bed and Breakfast for three months until Sara can take over in December.

She assumes it will be easy because her mother left a whole binder of instructions. But reality hits fast. Mischell quickly realizes she doesn’t have the skills for baking, hosting, or being the warm and chatty innkeeper type. The one thing she despises most is asking for help. Yet that is exactly what she ends up doing, especially from her handsome neighbor and the town’s most beloved baker, Cliff.

Cliff is divorced, a devoted father to two daughters, and basically a walking cinnamon roll. He’s charming, friendly, has zero concept of personal space, and his pastries are legendary. It’s impossible not to like him. But as the days go by and sparks start to fly, both struggle to ignore what’s growing between them, especially knowing Mischell is leaving in three months.

It is such a treat to watch how Copper Run, with all its nosy charm and festive warmth, slowly wins over Mischell’s heart. The town gently shows her that happiness isn’t always where you plan it to be, but where you find it.

The writing is engaging, cozy, and effortlessly immersive. I’ve always loved the “city girl falls for small-town life” trope, and this book absolutely nails it. The plot is simple, but the magic lies in Copper Run’s setting: the friendly faces, the sense of belonging, the holiday celebrations, and the characters that feel like home.

Cliff is an absolute sweetheart of a hero. He adores his daughters, is an excellent baker, and stays kind and grounded no matter what life throws at him. What I loved most was how perceptive he was with Mischell. He didn’t try to tear down her emotional walls; he simply looked through them, respecting the strength they gave her while gently finding his way in. And honestly, the way he kept baking new treats just to see which one she would love, without ever asking, made me want a baker man of my own. It was utterly and heart-meltingly romantic.

As a father, Cliff was phenomenal. He was always present for his daughters and never let his personal feelings toward his ex-wife, Tracy, affect their relationship with her. Even when Tracy failed to show up as a mom, especially for their eldest, Emily, he never badmouthed her or used it against her. Meanwhile, Tracy’s habit of threatening to “take the kids” whenever something went wrong drove me nuts, especially considering how much Cliff did for them while she barely contributed. Yet, he always kept her informed, always patient, always decent. He’s a saint, generous and fun and endlessly loving. Watching Mischell realize she deserved this kind of man was such a joy.

Mischell starts off as the quintessential uptight city girl, serious and efficient and allergic to small talk. Life with her self-absorbed ex, Allen, drained her spark and distanced her from her family. But life in Copper Run changes her. Running the inn, being surrounded by people who genuinely care, and spending time with Cliff slowly bring back her laughter, light, and joy.

It takes her a while to open up to Cliff and to the townsfolk, but once she does, there is no turning back. The town she once found too quiet, too nosy, and too upbeat ends up capturing her heart. And Cliff shows her that she was never meant to be alone. She was meant to belong and to love again.

The family dynamics in If It Makes You Happy were beautiful. Cliff’s daughters, Brittney and Emily, added such warmth and charm. And Mischell’s dog, Rocket, with his fiery attitude, often stole the show. His POV at the end was the perfect touch. Both main characters carried emotional baggage: Cliff with his ex-wife, and Mischell with her complicated feelings about her late mother. The way Mischell slowly learns about her mother’s struggles, and finds closure and understanding about her depression, adds incredible depth and realism to the story.

The romance is a delicious slow burn, sweet and patient and full of yearning. The chemistry is there from page one and builds beautifully, sizzling with every interaction. What I loved most was how selfless their love felt. Both wanted each other’s happiness so deeply that they were willing to let go if it meant the other could live freely. Cliff didn’t want to hold her back from her career, and Mischell didn’t want to distract him from his life as a father. That kind of love, steady and respectful and unselfish, made their confession at the end even more rewarding.

Overall, If It Makes You Happy is a heartwarming, feel-good, and delightfully cozy autumn romance. With its picturesque Vermont setting, nostalgic 90s atmosphere, and emotionally layered characters, it is a story about love, family, healing, and finding joy where you least expect it. It is perfect for anyone craving a comforting read that feels like coming home, with a side of freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Have you read If It Makes You Happy or any book by the same author?
What was your favorite cozy small town romance?

Just in case you missed,,,

• The Holiday Fakers (Hideaway Harbor #2) by Evie Alexander – fun and cozy holiday romance
• Fantasy as Literature- Why I Will Always Take Fantasy Seriously
• 2025 in Reading Blog and Life – A quietly fulfilling year

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | YouTube

---