Our Take

If It Makes You Happy delivers everything we love about small-town romance with a generous helping of spice and heart. Julie Olivia crafts a protagonist who feels refreshingly real—she's messy, healing from divorce, and hilariously out of her depth running a B&B. The chemistry between our heroine and Cliff crackles from page one, but what makes this romance sing is the slow burn. Olivia doesn't rush the connection; instead, she lets these two wounded souls circle each other, building friendship and trust before the heat turns up. The Vermont setting is cozy perfection, and the single-dad trope is executed with genuine tenderness rather than cliché. Cliff's relationship with his daughters adds emotional depth that elevates this beyond simple rom-com territory. The banter is sharp and genuinely funny, the steam is satisfying without overwhelming the emotional journey, and the stakes feel authentic. Fans of The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren and Beach Read by Emily Henry will devour this charming, heartfelt romance about second chances, chosen family, and finding home in unexpected places.