What is the title of your latest release?
IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A newly divorced woman moves to a small town in Vermont to run her mom’s bed and breakfast, only to find an unexpected friendship with the charismatic single dad next door. Set to the backdrop of autumn 1997, this is a slow burn love story exploring friendship, grief, and how to fall in love again.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I wanted that cozy feel of a small, northeastern town with all the perfect fall imagery. During my research, the beautiful autumn leaves of Vermont kept popping up! It was perfect.
Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Honestly, I don’t think so! I absolutely adore Michelle, but she keeps to herself, and only extroverted people like Cliff can break that barrier. I’m far too shy!
What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Driven, private, loyal
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I learned SO many things it’s hard to know where to start! For one, I know a lot more about baking than I ever did before. Cliff is the local town baker so learning recipes, in particular what they taste like, was research I’d happily do again. Also, I now know far too much about the year 1997, including which movies aired and, more specifically, when they were released on VHS.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
A little of both, but primarily the latter. I lightly adjust chapters as I go, but there are big overhauls in draft 2 and 3. I tend to introduce brand new characters or delete subplots altogether. The final book is very different from the messiness of draft 1.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
It’s not anything super special, but if I can get my hands on homemade chocolate covered frozen banana slices, I’m in heaven.
Describe your writing space/office!
It’s a pretty simple setup! It’s mostly just my computer and some bookshelves. I prefer a sit/stand desk so I can choose between the two. I also have some art hung up from some places, like a map of Rockport, Massachusetts which inspired another series of mine. But, here’s my real writing secret: I leave the house in the morning when I write. I mostly go to local coffee shops or my library. I like the daily routine of getting up and driving somewhere in the morning!
Who is an author you admire?
I adore Leigh Bardugo. She writes in a very different genre from me, but I think she’s a master at creating character driven stories. Plus, I went to a talk of hers once, and she’s absolutely hilarious.
Is there a book that changed your life?
Too many to tell. I encounter books monthly that make me rethink how to tell stories, approach characters, or simply reshape how I view the world. Reading is the key to life, in my opinion.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
Most of my career has been indie, so a lot of my core, emotional publishing memories come from there. I remember staring at my very first proof copy back in 2019 and being amazed that months of work was shoved into a little 5×8 book. It didn’t feel real because, at the time, my brain only understood that other people wrote books (I certainly didn’t until then, so what the heck was I holding in my hands?) It’s really surreal seeing your own writing bound for the first time. As for my book being released in stores this fall, I still haven’t fully processed it. Just like when I held that proof, it doesn’t feel real. I keep waiting for my agent to tell me it’s a prank.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Romance. I’ve always sought out love stories. I distinctly remember watching the entirety of Zoey 101 in middle school simply because a specific couple dated in the last season. I’m a sucker a good love story.
What’s your favorite movie?
This changes all the time! My comfort movies are When Harry Met Sally, The Holiday, Pride & Prejudice, School of Rock, Iron Man, and most of the Star Wars franchise. I know I’m forgetting a favorite somewhere in there, though!
What is your favorite season?
Autumn. This book is basically a love letter to it!
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Getting sushi with friends and ending the night with dessert. A good meal with people I love is the best birthday present.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’ve been really into Amy Poehler’s new podcast, Good Hang! It’s so wholesome and funny. Other than that, I’m always binging some season of Survivor in the background.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Sushi. Any and all types. It’s the perfect food.
What do you do when you have free time?
I read a lot! After writing, that takes up the bulk of my time. The idea that I’ll never read all the books I want to genuinely bothers me. I was also an illustrator in a former life, so I still doodle a lot. I love to junk journal, and I play cozy video games from time to time. I’m also very attached to my little Sudoku book.
What can readers expect from you next?
I’m almost finished with my next book, releasing sometime next year! I can’t say much, but it’s going to be a cozy good time!
IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY by Julie Olivia
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.
Romance Small Town | Romance Comedy [Berkley, On Sale: September 19, 2025, Trade Paperback / e-Book (reprint), ISBN: 9798217187072 / eISBN: 9798217187089]
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About Julie Olivia
Julie Olivia writes cozy love stories filled with humor, spice, and close friend groups that feel like a warm hug. She is a roller coaster fan, avid romance reader, and rainy day enthusiast.
Before writing romance novels, Julie moonlighted as an illustrator and worked in Human Resources, in which she still maintains a SHRM-CP certification. However, she decided writing about office romances where they break all the policies was far more enjoyable than enforcing them.
Julie lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and their very opinionated pets.
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