Im talking with villagers every day. I've been gifting Haley with pink cake but i cant gain any heart with anyone Has anyone encountered this? Im in my frist year, winter.
I haven't experienced being unable to earn hearts with villagers in general, but I was annoyed that I couldn't raise the affection of bachelors/bachelorettes past 8 hearts--until I learned that you have to give them a bouquet in order to raise their affection from 8-10 hearts. I don't know if this is the problem you're experiencing?
Look at the calendar, find an NPC's birthday, google that NPC's likes/dislikes, give them a gift that they like/love. Check to see if that raises it. Let me know what happens.
A Agreed, this is a good way to tell. If you give someone an item they love on their birthday, they gain a little over 2 hearts.