This was the coziest, warmest, softest fall romance! At 510 pages, I was nervous going in. It's rare where I feel a contemporary romance needs to be THAT long, but trust me—I easily could have read more. I didn't feel the length at all; I never once felt like it needed to end.

Set in 1997, it spans four months—September through December—and the incorporation of the holidays during that time added such a sense of comfort. I think sometimes authors can overdo the pop culture references, but the 90s nostalgia peeked in at the perfect moments!

Along with his pure Golden Retriever energy, single dad Cliff was the most thoughtful, charming, levelheaded guy. A skilled baker too! He has an irresistible ability to make people feel seen and loved, and he can't help but poke at the deadpan attitude of Michelle, the visiting neighbour temporarily running her family's inn.

The romance was an incredible soft, slow burn with genuine conflicts—the kind that made these characters burst with realness. I could gush endlessly about Michelle and Cliff, but I'll stop here. I was so deeply invested in this story that I cried at the end, purely out of happiness for them!

(heat level: a few open-door scenes, moderate details)