A cozy Small-Town Fall Romance with Gilmore Girls Vibes
Grab your favorite fall candle, cuddle up with a fuzzy blanket, and get ready to head back to 1997 in this cozy, slow-burn romance set in a charming Vermont town. Julie Olivia’s If It Makes You Happy is the kind of book that makes you want to pour a cup of cider, rewatch Gilmore Girls, and lean into all the fall vibes!
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Summary (spoiler free)
Michelle never thought she’d end up running her mom’s beloved bed and breakfast in the small town of Copper Run, Vermont. Fresh off a divorce, she’s only supposed to manage it for a few months before handing it over to her sister and returning to her career in Seattle. But her temporary stay becomes complicated when she meets her next-door neighbor: Cliff, the small-town golden boy, single dad of two daughters, and local baker.
From the start, Cliff and Michelle share an undeniable connection, but they’ve both been burned by love before and are hesitant to open their hearts. Cliff juggles fatherhood with running his bakery, while Michelle struggles to find her footing in a town that feels both welcoming and too small.
As fall settles over Copper Run, Michelle bonds with Cliff’s daughters and finds herself increasingly charmed by the rhythms of small-town life and by the baker next door!
The problem? Michelle is set to leave by December, and her future is waiting in Seattle.
What follows is a tender, slow-burn romance filled with witty banter, cozy fall moments, and a sprinkle of small-town drama.
My Review
⭐ Rating: 4/5 stars
If you love Hallmark movies and wish you could live in Stars Hollow, you’ll LOVE this book!
This book is pure small-town comfort wrapped in flannel and pumpkin spice. Cliff is a single dad raising two daughters (one a teen, one a kiddo) while running his bakery. Enter Michelle, a city girl who moves into the B&B next door after her mom passes away. She’s planning to run it only temporarily before heading back to Seattle to climb the corporate ladder.
Of course, sparks fly. Cliff is the ultimate golden retriever MMC warm, caring, and steady. While Michelle is more of a guarded black cat, still healing from heartbreak and unsure if she fits in.
Their romance is slowww burn, packed with longing looks, banter, and so much pining that I was practically shouting “JUST KISS ALREADY.”
One of my favorite parts? The way Michelle bonds with Cliff’s daughters. It was tender, funny, and gave me all the cozy found-family feels. The book did drag a little toward the end with some unnecessary ex-drama, but honestly, the payoff was worth it. The ending felt straight out of a 90s rom-com, and I was OBSESSED.
This is the kind of book you’ll want to read wrapped in a cozy plaid blanket on the porch!
Read-Alike Recommendations
If you loved If It Makes You Happy, here are five more books that will give you that cozy small-town, slow-burn, fall-in-love feeling:
1. Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow by Victoria Walters
A big-city doctor meets a small-town carpenter in this opposites-attract romance that’s brimming with heart and community.
2. Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman
Ellie Lawson returns to her family’s inn at the apple orchard after losing both her job and boyfriend, only to clash with Aiden, the stubborn son of the orchard’s owners who is now her unexpected roommate. As they’re forced to team up to save the Harvest Festival, sparks fly!
3. The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore
When Jeanie inherits the Pumpkin Spice Café in Dream Harbor, she sees it as the perfect chance to leave her boring desk job behind and start fresh. But her sunny optimism wins over everyone except grumpy local farmer Logan. Nothing says fall like a cozy café setting and a grumpy/sunshine romance. Perfect if you want those pumpkin patch + small-town autumn feels.
4. Falling Like Leaves by Julie Olivia
A city girl forced to leave Manhattan for small-town Bramble Falls, a former best friend (and first kiss!) turned grumpy barista, and all the cozy YA rom-com vibes about family, first love, and finding your place.
5. Lauryn Harper Falls Apart by Shauna Robinson
Lauryn Harper had the perfect plan until a work mishap sends her back to her hometown. Suddenly, she’s tasked with reviving the once-famous Apple Festival and facing the friend she left behind. A witty, heartfelt novel about friendship, forgiveness, and second chances.
What’s Your Fall Reader Vibe?
Pumpkin spice in hand, leaves crunching underfoot… but what kind of fall reader are you? Take our quick Fall Reader Vibes Quiz to find out whether you’re a cozy witchy reader, a pumpkin-spice rom-com lover, or a moody dark-academia type. Plus, you’ll get perfectly matched book recs to fit your vibe! 👉 [Take the Quiz Here]
Final Thoughts
If It Makes You Happy is the perfect book to start your fall TBR with! It’s heartfelt, nostalgic, and packed with cozy vibes. If you love single dad romances, small-town charm, and characters that feel like they could be your neighbors, this one deserves a spot on your nightstand.
Question for you: Do you love fall small-town romances or do you prefer your fall reads to lean spooky and moody?
