If It Makes You Happy Review: When Sweet Meets Shallow
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If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia promises the kind of cosy fall romance you’d expect to fall in love with—a small-town setting, family drama, and enough pumpkin spice warmth to carry you through October straight into mid-November. But as much as I wanted to adore it, this romance book didn’t quite live up to its charm. What starts as a story about love, family, and self-discovery slowly loses its spark, leaving more frustration than flutter.
In this book review, I’m sharing what worked, what didn’t, and whether this autumn read deserves a place on your fall TBR. Maybe you’ll connect with its message about choosing joy and finding balance, or maybe, like me, you’ll turn the last page wondering what could have been. Either way, if you’re searching for cosy fall romances to add to your October reading list, let’s talk about whether If It Makes You Happy truly delivers—or simply sounds like it should.
Title: If It Makes You Happy
Author: Julie Olivia
Publisher: Berkley
Format: eARC
Genre: Friends to Lovers, Contemporary, Small-Town Romance
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Pages: 513
Star Rating: DNF
Spice Rating: DNF before any spice
The Setup: A Small-Town Fall Romance in Copper Run, Vermont
We meet Michelle, newly divorced and still simmering with resentment. Her ex-husband, Allen, left her for someone “more fun,” and while he’s objectively awful, I hated that I could almost see his point. When Michelle’s mother dies, she returns home to Copper Run, Vermont, to help run the family bed and breakfast—just until December, she swears.
Enter Cliff, a single dad and baker with two daughters and the kind of steady, quiet warmth that makes you sigh. He’s patient, present, and every bit the man we want for a friends to lovers romance story. On paper, it’s perfect: small-town coziness, 90s nostalgia, family dynamics, the whole fall-romance aesthetic package.
Here’s What Worked: Cozy Fall Vibes and 90s Nostalgia Done Right
The world of Copper Run feels like stepping into Hallmark postcard—bunting on lampposts, crisp air, the glow of golden leaves. I could see the gazebo, feel the chill of September evenings, and smell the cinnamon laced air. The writing style is smooth and readable, easy to slip into when you’re not silently screaming at the heroine.
And Cliff? A gem. His relationship with his daughters is tender and grounded; he’s the reason I kept tuning the pages. Watching him navigate single fatherhood made the story feel rooted in something real. The 90s pop-culture touches, *chef’s kiss*—Discmans, camcorders— gave me that bittersweet jot of nostalgia that I didn’t know I missed.
Here’s What Didn’t: When the Romance Loses Its Spark
What absolutely didn’t work was Michelle, and that is terrible when she is the FMC. She is without question, one of the most frustrating heroines I’ve read this year. Grumpy can be endearing—guarded, complex, layered. But Michelle’s grumpiness borders on hostility. She is so bottled up, so convinced the world is against her, that it’s almost impossible to root for her.
Evey moment that could’ve been romantic or redemptive collapses under her attitude. She’s angry at everyone—her late mother, her ex, even Cliff for being happy. And while her ex’s infidelity is inexcusable, I found myself doing the unthinkable: agreeing with a MAN!
By the halfway point, I felt drained. The pacing dragged; scenes repeated emotional beats without growth. I’d get a glimmer of connection—a tender moment, a witty line— only for it to fade back into frustration. Reading started to feel like taking two steps forward, one fall back into the emotional abyss.
Should You Read If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia?
If your ideas of a cozy fall romance leans slow, introspective, and heavy on atmosphere, you might find comfort here. The small-town setting and nostalgic 90s details are perfect for easing into the autumn reading season.
But if you need chemistry that burns or a heroine you can root for, this one might test your patience. I ended up DNF-ing it—not because the writing was bad, but because the emotional connection never stuck.
So maybe read it if you’re in the mood for a quiet, scenic melancholy. Otherwise? There are fall romances out there with the same cosy glow—and a lot more heart.
Final Thoughts
If It Makes You Happy had all the ingredients: love, family, fall, nostalgia, small-town charm. But somewhere between the pumpkins spice and the pain, it lost its flavor. I wanted to be swept away by Copper Run’s magic—instead, I ended up watching the leaves fall and wishing for more spark (or even a spark at all).
Either way I am always one to say make the decision for yourself and read it anyway so pick up a copy on Kindle or through Bookshop.org to support your local indie bookstore.
Thank you to Berkley for sending me a copy of If It Makes You Happy to review. Have you read this one? Did Michelle work better for you? I’m genuinely curious if this story feels different in someone else’s hands.
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This review of If It Makes You Happy had me rolling! Calling Michelle one of the most frustrating heroines is an understatement – shes the kind of grumpy that makes you want to hide from both her and the author! But hey, who hasnt related to that feeling of wanting to agree with the ex-husband, right? Kudos for capturing that cozy vibe though; small-town Hallmark magic is hard to resist. DNF-ing because the spark failed? Tell me about it – sometimes the pumpkin spice just isnt enough to save a story from dragging into emotional quicksand. Good reminder to keep searching for that perfect autumn read!
Haha, so Michelle definitely wasnt my fave! Sounds like her grumpiness was contagious. I think Id rather read about Cliff baking cookies, even if its just for 90s nostalgia vibes. The pumpkin spice warmth sounded great, but maybe I need a different kind of spice in my cozy read! ??
Haha, reading about *If It Makes You Happy* is like looking in a mirror! That Michelle character sounds absolutely *chef’s kiss* frustrating – so grumpy, it’s almost a crime. I can see why the reviewer felt drained, though honestly, I might have just agreed with the ex-husband by the end too. The small-town vibes and 90s nostalgia sound lovely, but maybe a little too much like watching leaves fall without actually feeling the crunch. Glad the reviewer DNF’d it though! It’s always better to DNF than to DNF with regret, right? ? Either way, sounds like a cozy read that might leave you questioning its spice rating.
Haha, totally agree with the Michelle assessment! She was the grumpiest heroine Ive encountered this season – so much so, I felt myself getting *actually* frustrated with her! The cozy vibes and 90s nostalgia sounded lovely, but maybe I need a different kind of spice in my cozy read? Sounds like a book where the pumpkin spice was just *too* much – nice try, though! ? Glad the reviewer DNF’d it though, better to DNF than to DNF with regret!