Book Review: If It Makes You Happy – 7 Drags That Killed the Vibe
G’day, mates – buckle up for a cheeky dive into If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia, where the most dramatic bit hits like a soggy Tim Tam: Michelle’s endless internal monologues about her mum’s death and divorce drag on forever, turning what should’ve been a cozy autumn romance into a slog through Vermont mud.
Picture this – a single dad baker named Cliff tries to charm her socks off, but the plot twists? More like plot snoozes, with festivals and family drama that fizzle out before they ignite. Reckon it’s the ultimate slow-burn fail, leaving you yelling at the page for something – anything – to happen.
Impressive Numbers This Book Nabbed
Blimey, let’s crunch the digits on this one. No massive sales blowouts from what I dug up, but here’s the cold hard facts straight from the sources – nothing made up, just the raw data.
| Stat | Number | Source |
| Goodreads Average Rating | 4.37/5 | [1] |
| Total Ratings | 6,236 | [1] |
| Reviews Count | 1,532 | [1] |
| Page Count | 512 | [2] |
| Audiobook Length | 13 hrs 47 mins | [3] |
| Second-Hand Sales Recorded | 10 | [4] |
| Average Resale Price | $15.30 | [4] |
These numbers scream “popular on paper,” but don’t let ’em fool ya – high ratings often hide the yawns underneath.[1][4]
Detailed Summary – Broken Down by Parts
Righto, here’s the yarn spun out act by act, no fluff. I split it into three chunks like the book’s slow trudge: setup, middle drag, and limp finish. Spoiler alert – it’s all set in 1997 Vermont, with Michelle ditching her Seattle ad job to run a B&B after her mum carks it.[2][1]
- Part 1: The Setup (Chapters 1-10ish) – Michelle’s at her mum’s funeral, dodging her ex’s divorce drama, spots Cliff (the baker bloke with two ankle-biters). Flash forward: she takes over the inn, clashes with small-town vibes, and Cliff pops in as the nosy neighbour. It’s all grief, baked goods, and awkward chats – think black cat meets golden retriever, but the cat’s too moody to play.[1]
- Part 2: The Middle Muddle (Chapters 11-30ish) – Slow burn kicks in (or crawls). Michelle fixes up the B&B, bonds with Cliff’s kids and even his ex’s dog. Festivals roll by – Halloween spooks, Thanksgiving feasts, Christmas cheer – but it’s repetitive as a broken record. Cliff chips at her “walls” with compliments and treats, yet she keeps running hot and cold. Angst builds over her impending exit, but it loops on emotional beats like a bad mixtape.[1]
- Part 3: The Fizzle-Out (Chapters 31-End + Epilogue) – Clock ticks down; Michelle debates staying. Third-act breakup feels forced, resolved with tears and a sappy eight-year flash-forward epilogue that tries to tie bows on everything. Ends with family reconnections, but it’s bittersweet without the bite – more hallmark than heartbreaker.[1]
Why I Picked This Book to Read
Reckon I grabbed it ’cause mates on Reddit were banging on about the ’90s nostalgia and cozy fall feels – saw a post calling it a “nostalgia fest” and thought it’d be a ripper for a rainy arvo read. Plus, I’m a sucker for small-town romances after bingeing Virgin River, and the single-dad trope hooked me from the blurb. But crikey, the hype from Goodreads (that 4.37 rating) promised warmth without the waffle – turned out to be a letdown, as the slow pace killed my buzz quick smart.[5][1]
My Rating
2/5 stars – bloody dragged like a wet weekend in Wollongong.[1]
My Thoughts
Strewth, this book’s a proper fizzer – all promise, no punch. The slow burn? More like no burn; it takes yonks for anything to happen, with Michelle’s endless wallowing in grief and self-doubt repeating like a bad echo, making sections feel bloated and unnecessary. Cliff’s “caring” comes off as overwhelming, not charming – his constant pop-ins and compliments scream pushy rather than swoony, and the ’90s vibes?
They’re shoved in without adding zip, just cassette tapes and no mobiles that feel tacked on. Even the family drama with his kids gets lost in the shuffle, turning what could’ve been heartfelt into filler – I skimmed chunks ’cause the emotional beats looped too much, killing any momentum. No laughs, no sparks, just a cozy trap that left me cold.[5][1]
- 😩 Pacing Woes: Clocked in at 512 pages, but half could’ve been axed without missing a beat – those revisited ex-relationship rants? Snooze-worthy overkill.[2][1]
- 🙄 Character Flatness: Everyone’s “real” but reads like cardboard cutouts; the town’s festivals are cute on paper but land as bland as vegemite without toast.[1]
- 🤦♂️ Missed Opportunities: The autumn setting screams potential for fun twists, yet it’s all surface-level nostalgia without depth – reckon it needed more grit to stick.[5]
What do you reckon, legends? Did the slow pace grind your gears too? Drop a comment below and let’s yarn about it!
Influential Quotes – My Deep Dive
Pulled these straight from the book via Goodreads – analyzed three that stood out, but crikey, they highlight the cheesiness more than anything. Logical breakdown with evidence, keeping it snappy.
- “I don’t want to remove her walls because that’d destroy her strength, but I’d kill for more peeks into the other side.” – Cliff’s inner thought on Michelle. This tries to be deep, showing his respect for her barriers, but it flops ’cause it romanticizes her prickliness without real growth – evidence? The plot drags on her “walls” for chapters without payoff, making it feel manipulative rather than insightful.[6][1]
- “Men don’t want women like me… I think men secretly want women just like you, and the men who don’t are cowards.” – Banter between Michelle and Cliff. Aims for empowering flirtation, but lands as clichéd – her self-doubt repeats ad nauseam, and his “wicked smile” response? Over-the-top cheesy, backed by reviews noting the dialogue’s lack of spark. It’s meant to build tension, yet it underscores the book’s repetitive emotional loops.[6][1]
- “And it hits me. I love this woman. I don’t know when it happened. It slipped over me so softly, like the changing of seasons.” – Cliff’s realization. Poetic on the surface, comparing love to seasons, but evidence from the slow pacing shows it creeps in too late and too subtly – by then, the reader’s checked out, turning a potential swoon into a shrug.[6][1]
Content Warnings
Fair dinkum, this one’s got some heavy bits that could rattle sensitive readers – logical heads-up with specifics from the plot. Grief over a parent’s death hits hard right from the funeral scene, with Michelle’s complex mum issues revisited endlessly, potentially triggering for those dealing with loss. Divorce drama includes emotional abuse vibes from her ex, plus single-parent struggles that feel raw but overdone.
Mild spice in a couple scenes, but nothing graphic – still, the angst around family reconnections might stir up abandonment feels. Skip if you’re after light fluff; it’s heavier than it lets on.[1]
- ⚠️ Grief and Loss: Detailed funeral and mourning.[1]
- ⚠️ Divorce Trauma: Ex-related conflicts.[1]
- ⚠️ Emotional Intensity: Repetitive heartbreak loops.[1]
Who I’d Recommend This Book To
I’d chuck this at die-hard slow-burn fans who don’t mind a slog – suits folks into cozy ’90s nostalgia without needing pace, like if you’re chilling with a cuppa and no rush. Perfect for autumn readers craving Vermont vibes, but only if repetition doesn’t bore ya. Not for adrenaline junkies or those after quick rom-com laughs – unsuitable for blokes (or sheilas) wanting snappy plots, as the drag will drive ya bonkers. Evidence? Reviews rave about the setting but slam the length, so it’s niche for patient types.[5][1]
- 👍 Suitable For: Cozy romance addicts with time to kill 🕰️.[1]
- 👎 Unsuitable For: Fast-paced thriller lovers – it’ll feel like watching paint dry 🎨.[5]
Standout Traits of the Main Characters
Michelle and Cliff are the stars, but their “special” bits? More quirks that grate than glow. Logical rundown with evidence.
- Michelle: Black cat energy – prickly, workaholic divorcee with high walls, special in her “quiet courage” to unlearn running away. But it’s her repetitive self-doubt that stands out (negatively), like fighting every compliment, making her exhausting rather than endearing.[6][1]
- Cliff: Golden retriever single dad, baker with a “snarky sense of humor” and caring overload. His special trait? Navigating fatherhood gracefully, but it comes off pushy – evidence in how he overwhelms Michelle with touches and treats, turning charm into cheese.[1]
| Character | Special Trait | Evidence |
| Michelle | Reluctant vulnerability | Walls up, slow to open[1][6] |
| Cliff | Overly affectionate dad | Constant compliments, family focus[1] |
Comparison to Other Books in the Genre
Stack this against similar cozy romances, and it pales – think Pumpkin Spice Cafe but with less fizz, as one review nails it: “This was everything I wanted Pumpkin Spice Cafe to be and more” – wait, no, flip that for crit; actually, it drags more than PSC’s light fluff.
Versus Virgin River by Robyn Carr, the small-town single-dad vibe is there, but VR packs more drama and pace without the repetition – Julie’s feels bloated at 512 pages vs. VR’s tighter arcs. Or take The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan: both cozy with bookish charm, but Colgan’s got wit and momentum this lacks, making If It Makes You Happy the weaker brew.[2][1]
- 📚 Pumpkin Spice Cafe: Slower, less magical – no enchanting twists here.[1]
- 📚 Virgin River: Similar tropes, but VR’s got heart without the yawns.[1]
- 📚 The Bookshop on the Corner: Cozier setting, but Colgan wins on humor.[1]
Bonus: Why the ’90s Setting Flopped for Me
Just had to add this – the retro cassette tapes and no-internet life? Sounded ace, but it’s underused, feeling like a gimmick rather than a boost. Evidence: Reviews love the nostalgia, but I reckon it bogs down the plot without adding laughs or depth – more missed chance than magic. What say you? Comment your take below, ya legends![5][1]
Keen to hear if this book’s drag hit you the same – or am I being a grumpy bugger? Spill in the comments, share your rating, and let’s keep the convo going
Quick Info Box Feature Details Author Jennie Godfrey Genre Historical Fiction / Coming-of-Age Mystery Series Standalone Tropes Child Detective, True Crime Backdrop, Best Friends Investigation, Silent Mother Mystery, Loss of Innocence, Small Town Secrets, Racism ...
G'day, mates! Ever wondered what happens when a bunch of posh uni sheilas kidnap their old mate over a dodgy book portrayal? That's the bonkers hook of We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad – ...