From the publisher:
An Instant USA Today Bestseller!
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.
This was my first read by this author, and I’m thrilled to discover her extensive backlist waiting to be explored. The book perfectly captures fall vibes (which I desperately miss living in South Florida!), 90s nostalgia, and a tender small-town romance between two divorced characters finding love again. I was completely absorbed in their story and could hardly put it down.
The story opens at Michelle’s mother’s funeral, where she is grappling with complicated emotions tied to their strained relationship. The presence of her awful ex-husband doesn’t help, as he is threatening to announce their divorce at the service. She hasn’t told her family yet, as they’ve been dealing with other crises. During the funeral, she notices a mysterious man attending with his daughters and wonders who he is.
Michelle’s parents had opened a bed and breakfast in Vermont—her mother’s beloved passion project. With her mother gone, Michelle puts her successful Seattle advertising career on hold to run the B&B through the fall, until her younger sister can graduate from college and take over permanently. Her father, too heartbroken to return to the place filled with memories, stays with Michelle’s sister during her final semester.
The mysterious man from the funeral turns out to be Cliff, Michelle’s new neighbor. He’s a single father to a teenager and an elementary-aged daughter, running his own bakery in town. He’s also caring, affectionate, and touchy-feely, qualities that overwhelm Michelle, who isn’t comfortable with physical touch or unsolicited help.
Despite Cliff’s warmth clashing with Michelle’s carefully constructed walls, a friendship gradually forms and deepens into something more profound. Both are stubborn and struggle with communication, yet they fit together like puzzle pieces. Their slow-burn romance creates delicious tension as they realize they’re falling in love. What makes their journey particularly poignant is how both carry wounds from their marriages—harsh words from their exes about their worth as partners—while facing the reality that Michelle’s stay is only temporary.
The conflict reaches its peak when Michelle’s sister and father finally arrive at the B&B. Her sister finds Cliff attractive and asks Michelle to play matchmaker. Despite the pain it causes her, Michelle agrees—partly because she’s been encouraging Cliff to start dating again. The request equally wounds Cliff. Their disastrous date becomes a revelation when Cliff can’t stop talking about Michelle, making it clear to her sister where his heart truly lies.
The beauty of Michelle and Cliff’s romance lies in its intimate details: his daily visits to her B&B, her watchful care of his daughters, his persistent quest to discover her favorite baked good. These small moments build alongside the painful ones, creating a rich tapestry of connection. When they finally come together, their physical chemistry burns off the page with perfect intensity.
The supporting characters brilliantly enhance the story’s foundation. From Cliff’s daughters to Michelle’s family to the colorful townspeople (with definite Gilmore Girls festival vibes!), everyone contributes meaningfully to the narrative. I particularly loved Michelle’s reluctant relationship with her ex’s dog, whom she rescues from being sent to the pound, even though the dog doesn’t particularly like her. Their conversations are amusing moments that lighten the story’s heavier themes.
The ending carries bittersweet tension as Michelle’s departure date approaches, creating heartbreaking longing before the satisfying resolution. This book took my heart on a masterful emotional roller coaster ride—cozy yet weighty in all the right places. The epilogue, set eight years later, provides a perfect and beautiful conclusion. The author’s note reveals this was her passion project, making it an ideal introduction to her writing. I’ll definitely be reading more of her work.
9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY by Julie Olivia. Penguin Publishing Group. (September 2, 2025). ISBN: 979-8217187072. 513p.
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