4 stars.

"Most Wonderful" by Georgia Clark is a deceptively profound Christmas novel full of interesting characters, hot spice, compelling conversations, and intensity. It's about three relatively messy siblings and their encounters with love during the holidays. In telling three separate but conjoined stories, sometimes, one or more of them get lost in the fray. That does not happen here. Liz, Birdie, and Rafi all get equal time, their stories and backstories perfectly explained and never feel thrown in or forgotten. The dynamics between these siblings are the best parts of this book. Their personalities clash, but they still love each other nonetheless. Their interactions with their prospective romantic partners are all so different but feel meaningful for each of the siblings. It's delightful, deep, unabashedly queer, just an all-around good read. Lots of banter, smiles, and drama. I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Georgie Clark, Random House Publishing Group, and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I love Christmas and books of Christmas so I had to read this one. It was cute and cozy and had all the winter vibes I could have asked for. Definitely recommend this book. Would make a cute book club book.

All the world's a stage for Babs Belvedere, and her three children- Rafi, Liz, and Birdie - end up back at Bab's Catskills estate a few weeks early where they fall back into their familiar familial roles. Baby of the family Rafi is coming off a failed proposal to his girlfriend Sunita who didn't even know they were dating; Hollywood writer Liz is harboring a crush over her lead actress Violet; and stand-up comedienne Birdie's career is languishing after her Netflix special three years ago. All three Belvedere siblings hope to hide out at their mother's house and avoid the real world, but hilarity, drama, and maybe even love have followed them upstate!

It took me a little bit of time to get into this story, but I ended up loving it so much. There was so much humor and warmth in this story. It reminded me of some of my favorite Christmas films, like Love Actually or The Holiday, following different but intertwined love stories. Each Belvedere siblings was really going THROUGH. IT. and I loved watching them figure things out with each other's support. The romances were fun, funny, sweet, and tender. I'd definitely recommend this ensemble, LGBTQIA+ holiday romance!

This book was really cute! Georgia Clark has such a specific, recognizable writing style IMO so if you enjoyed her previous books you’ll def enjoy this one.

Most Wonderful is an queer ensemble romance that follows the three children of a A-list actress, who all find themselves finding an extended amount of time at her Woodstock, NY mansion for an extended amount of time around Christmas for various reasons.

I struggled slightly with the story, mainly because I didn't think the characters individual stories were all that compelling. Rafi's story is the most interesting but you spend significantly less time on him than his sisters. Babs also wasn't someone I found all that endearing or charming either, so as a whole I struggled to put the entire story together. So maybe others may enjoy it but it didn't just click for me.

Thank you Dial Press and NetGalley for an arc of Most Wonderful.

I really loved this queer holiday romance, despite some minor issues I had with the ending. It can be tricky to write a story with 3 main characters and make sure each gets enough page time. Clark does a great job giving Liz, Birdie, and Rafi full backstories and personalities so the reader is invested in each of them. While I found Birdie to be annoying, I think she was written that way so we can see the growth she has. My favorite storyline was Liz and Violet (maybe because I'm a fan of the most bonkers TV show ever, Riverdale) but I though their relationship was the most earned. My biggest issue was I felt the ending was too quick and everything wrapped up in a way that was begging for an epilogue. I wanted to see these characters at next year's Christmas. Other than that, I very much enjoyed this book and will read other books by Clark in the future.

I absolutely adored this book! It is full of festive cheer and the gayest yuletide ever. Clark manages to seamlessly weave together the stories of the 3 Belvedere siblings back at home for the holidays - making us cheer for them and yearn with them as they journey into the people they want to be. This is a romance but it's also book chock full of self reflection and discovery for all 3 Belvederes. I was nervous that because we were telling 3 different love stories in one book i might feel like there wasn't enough development or that they would feel rushed. This was not the case at all. Clark manages to build such emotional depth in all 3 storylines. I also loved the Babs storyline and the layers that added to the story, bringing the siblings together and sparking the change they needed. It took this rom-com to another level for me I think
I enjoyed the ways the stories mirrored one another - dealing with friends to lovers, or whether to keep things a secret, or the tendency to self sabotage something good.
This is hands down my new favorite Christmas rom-com.

There are a lot of topics covered in this book, and I don't think each was given the full respect they warrant. The switching between three characters and trying to follow their loves/lives got to be a lot. I didn't get fully invested in any specific plot line. I also wish Christmas releases came out a bit closer to Christmas, or at least Thanksgiving. I don't want to get into the holiday spirit before Halloween.

I've read everything by Clark and this takes the place of my new favorite. Ensemble romcoms hardly ever make you care about every relationship and this one had me over-invested in EVERYONE.

This was such a sweet read! I love stories with wintery, holiday vibes, no matter the time of year—if you feel the same way, MOST WONDERFUL is the book for you. Georgia Clark does a great job of developing the Belvedere siblings as characters, and getting readers invested in their individual journeys and relationships, as well as the bond the trio has with each other. However, I did think the pacing was slightly off, and that the book almost had too much going on at some points? I almost wonder if it would have flowed better as a series of 3 books, which would have still had the love stories and familial relationships at the heart of the story, but would have also given Clark a bit more room to tackle some of the important topics that she does and not have to rush anything pacing-wise. Overall, I still thought MOST WONDERFUL was really lovely and heartwarming, and had such a fun premise! Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and The Dial Press for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this delightful holiday rom-com! This story about the Belvedere siblings is equal parts heartfelt and hilarious, and it truly captured the ups and downs of navigating love, family, and the creative grind during the festive season.

Each sibling brings something unique to the story: Liz, the responsible eldest, faces both career pressures and a surprising romantic crush; Birdie, the chaotic middle child, brings humor and a touch of messiness to every page; and Rafi, the hopeless romantic baby of the family, pulls at your heartstrings with his vulnerable yet hopeful outlook on love. The dynamic between the siblings felt real and layered, and the addition of their famous, unpredictable mother Babs adds a special holiday spark to the plot.

While the book’s pacing lagged at times and some plotlines wrapped up a bit too neatly, it’s hard not to be charmed by the warmth and wit that shine throughout. It’s emotional, smart, and sexy—perfect for cozying up during the holidays. Solid 4 stars for me!

This was such a cute read! I love holiday romances and this book delivered on every aspect. From the struggles of each of the three siblings to their romance to the little family moments... It was such a good time. I adored this and will definitely be recommending it to my friends!!

This book is so darn good!! The author has combined a perfect holiday setting, three romantic plot-lines, a hilarious family gathering, and a diverse set of characters and perspectives. There are heaps of feel-good elements that made it feel like a hug, why still keeping the romance sexy and charming.

The gay Christmas romance of my DREAMS. Three separate storylines and they're ALL GAY! Y'ALL. TUNE IN.

My favorite story was definitely Raf and Ash -- I'm a SUCKER for friends to lovers (if you know, you know). And the whole "I've been in love with you for years I've just been waiting for you to catch up" vibe means SO MUCH TO ME. I love that theirs was based on learning how to better communicate, emotional support and there wasn't /really/ a third act break up for them that didn't make sense/was just there to throw a wrench into something. Their relationship didn't feel too fast because Georgia does such a great job at establishing their friendship before introducing their romance, and their pace feels believable given that the timeline for this book is about three weeks.

I leave the book feeling hopeful for Birdie, even though the romance part for her in the book doesn't work out the way the audience might hope, but I think the best part of it is that she learns that she needs to take care of herself in all the ways she ignored before. She's in therapy, she's starting a road to her sobriety, and she's starting to believe in her own worth which will set her on a path to build a romance in the future and I'm rooting for her because I love, love, love her.

While I love Liz, I wish we could've had more insight to her and Violet's friendship before we were thrown into the relationship. We see little glimpses into their friendship but they're more like throwaway moments that were added just to make their relationship more believable, which it does do, but I still wish there was more depth into those small moments. But considering they spend all three weeks together under the same roof and really only with each other, it does help to believe that they find love by the time New Years comes around.

I also love the inclusion of their relationship with their mom and the inclusion of MS representation. It made me sob at my desk when Liz curls up to her mom when she's in the hospital and just cries. As a momma's girl and the oldest daughter that GOT me.

All in all, I adore this family. 5/5 would read again.

A sapphic holiday romance?? Say less. I absolutely loved this book!! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

A very wonderful queer christmas rom-com! 3 siblings reunite to spend Christmas with their mom in her fancy manor. Each adult sibling is dealing with their own personal or professional drama. Writers block for Liz, getting fired by her manager for comedian Birdie, and poor Rafi is nursing a broken heart due to his gf dumping him while he was trying to propose. In front of their whole office I should add 😵‍💫 They all arrive a few weeks before Christmas in hope for a break but also clarity. Having just one sibling myself, I love the family structure of multiple siblings and really am enjoyed these characters.

I loved this story. Normally holiday books can be so light they are borderline cheesy and I loved that this had depth. The characters were going through real challenges and they weren't magically fixed in a page. It was developed and thoughtful. This is my second Georgia Clark novel and I really dig her style. Looking forward to the next one and also checking out her backlist. Thank you Dial Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗯𝘆 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★★★

This was a fun story of three siblings all at a crossroads in life and going through some sort of transition in their careers and romantic lives while trying to figure out their next steps to take. They all come together at their mother’s home at the beginning of December and stay through the first of the year.

I enjoyed all the character growth that came throughout the story and I enjoyed being able to cover several characters in one story but at the same time, I did feel like some of the characters were hard to connect with more than others. I just couldn’t connect with Birdie, she was a hard one to make sense. It was also hard with this story line, there was so much going on at the same time, so many relationship connections were being covered, career moves, family issues, chronic illness and addiction that it made it harder to really connect with each thing that was taking place. Overall this was a fun story of family growth and gave some fun holiday vibes.

2024’s queer Christmas book to read!

Babs Belvedere’s three children have all come home to her Catskills manor this December. Liz, a writer and show runner, has a severe case of writer’s block for season two after falling for her lead actress. Birdie is a stand-up comic practicing her drinking more than her next act. And Rafi was just humiliated romantically and professionally all at once. The three plan to hide out until Christmas, but when each of their love interests shows up, there’s no hiding from their feelings.

This rom-com emulated queer joy, and I loved it! It’s so nice to find an LGBTQ+ book that doesn’t focus on the anguish of coming out, but rather celebrating characters living their normal up and down lives as queer people. I found myself rooting for everyone in this book!

Last year my favorite LGBTQ+ Christmas book was Kiss Her Once For Me, and this year it’s Most Wonderful. Thanks for being you, Georgia Clark. 💗

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

With Christmas fast approaching and their lives in turmoil, the Belvedere siblings descend on their mother’s estate in upstate New York to pass out gifts and ring in a new year.

There’s buttoned up Liz who just wrapped on a successful first season as a show runner for a popular series, and is trying to deny the crush she has on the star of her show. Next is Birdie, a struggling stand up comedian and classic middle child people pleaser who just lost her agent and has no new material. Her meet cute includes throwing wine on an expensive painting. Bringing up the rear is Rafi, who is looking for love in all the wrong places and was dumped by the woman he proposed to in a fantastically misguided attempt at happiness.

The kids have different fathers but share a mother, an eccentric Hollywood star who is hosting her children, all of whom have seemingly, if not convincingly, sworn off love.

So of course, let’s introduce Violet the TV star, Jecka the artist, and Ash the lifelong best friend, all here to spread holiday cheer and romance to the Belvederes.

But nothing is ever easy and wrenches are thrown into every good thing, of course, until cooler heads - and love - prevails.

It’s a heartfelt, loving family dynamic you’ll embrace, partnered with delightful queer romance in which the weird, the wonderful, the left of center are celebrated.

Thanks to @netgalley and @dialpress for the ARC to read and enjoy. This one came out October 15, 2024, and is the perfect holiday read!

ok this was such a quirky, fun, hilarious Christmas rom-com. I laughed out loud so many times at these outrageous one-liners. Absolutely no depth to this read - was just so light and entertaining!

Big thanks to Random House Publishing and Netgalley for letting me read and rate this ARC.