If It Makes You Happy

By: Julie Olivia

Narrated by: Blair Young, Emily Eiden, Alex Raby, Sean Patrick Hopkins

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.

©2024 Julie Olivia (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“If It Makes Your Happy is pure romcom magic. For the nostalgic girlies who want a hit of 90’s romance comfort, you’ll be kicking your feet and giggling. Get ready for Julie Olivia to be your new favorite.”—B.K. Borison, New York Times bestselling author

“Julie Olivia’s If It Makes You Happy made me oh-so-happy! Every page of this brilliant book is filled with tenderness, warmth, and nostalgia that will wrap readers up in a giant, cozy hug. Highly recommend for fans of gentle love stories with heart, wit, and spice in equal measure. I’ll forever read anything Julie Olivia writes.”—Hannah Bonam-Young, USA Today bestselling author

"Julie Olivia has written the perfect cozy romance. In If It Makes You Happy, Julie has distilled the best parts of the autumn season and paired this with the ultimate small town setting that will have every reader wanting to pack a bag and travel to Copper Run. All of this is a beautiful backdrop to the heartwarming, swooniest love Olivia crafts between the most endearing opposites attract couple I've read. I adore this book!"—Lauren Connolly, author of PS: I Hate You

Just so cute!

OK this book is totally outside my normal genres that I read. I’m a huge horror fan and this is definitely not horror lol. All the fun 90s references were just so nostalgic and it was even a little steamy! Highly recommend reading, the end of the book had me in tears in the best way possible!!

Cute fally hallmarky read!

I would say 3.75 overall. I definitely would have rated it higher if it wasn’t so long. It was much longer than it needed to be. It was a cozy fall read though and a great one to end September with!

Great fall vibes

This book was perfect! Being thrown back to 1997 brought back great memories. The epilogue made me cry so much 💕💕💕 as a dog mom I wish I could see my life thru my babies eyes .

Absolutely charming!

As an elder millennial, I adored spending time in 1997 Copper Run with Michelle and Cliff! It was a cozy, charming escape!

My favorite book this fall!

If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia is a delightful contemporary novel that had me smiling stupidly and laughing to myself throughout the entire read. Olivia’s warm, witty prose and genuinely relatable characters create a story that feels both comforting and refreshingly honest about the pursuit of happiness.

One of my favorite lines perfectly captures the spirit of the book: “Happiness isn’t a destination; it’s the art of finding peace in the chaos.” It’s a simple yet profound reminder that stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

This book is a perfect pick for anyone who loves character-driven stories filled with humor, heart, and moments of quiet reflection. I found it impossible not to be charmed by Olivia’s writing and the authenticity of her characters.

Overall Ratings:
★★★★★ (5/5) ⭐️
3/5 🌶️

Super Cute 90s romance!

After her mom passes away, Michelle takes some time away from her job, and to heal after her divorce, to run her parents' bed and breakfast in Vermont. When she gets there, she isn't sure about this whole thing and why she isn't getting great feedback from guests. She meets Cliff, a single dad who lives next door with his two daughters who spent a lot of time with Michelle's mother. Michelle realizes Cliff's charm is exactly what's missing from this B&B and he agrees to help with a few things. Michelle only has three months in Vermont, so she's not going to put down any roots, but realizes that she just might be falling for Cliff.

We did a fall colors trip two years ago and included Vermont. It was one of my most favorite trips ever. This book totally nailed that vibe. It's like being wrapped in a blanket drinking hot cider. There was one kind of small thing I didn't like towards the end, but I don't want to say it to avoid spoilers. I loved how Michelle was with Cliff's kids. I loved all the 90s references. All the little details. I've read recent books set in the 90s before and this one has to be a favorite of all of them. I'm definitely going to look into more books by this author!

THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: You love everything fall!

Cute fall read!

I thought this was such a cute fall read! I loved it!! Nicely paced. A little long for an autumn read but not bad

Fun fall back in time 🧡

This was so fun! The 90’s setting was perfect and the characters were great. I loved the story line and had a blast being along for the ride in this rom-com that felt like a movie. The dog had me ❤️🤣 and all the cozy feels made for the perfect fall read.

A Sweet Taste of Home

What a sweet story to enter this new Fall season. The nostalgic storyline painted the familiar faces, places and tastes of my childhood decade, the 90’s! Thank you for giving me a place to escape to during these stressful times of 2025.

all the fall vibes!!

I love how long this story is — it's a great fall book! I really enjoyed the plot; it's one of my favorite fall reads so far!