Random House Publishing Group
Most Wonderful: A Christmas Novel
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It's the most romantic time of the year. Three adult siblings, each at a personal and romantic crossroads, reunite with their larger-than-life mother at her Catskills manor for an unforgettable Christmas in "the funny queer holiday rom-com [we've] always wanted to read" (Self).
"Perfectly captures the glimmering magic of love at the holidays."--Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners
The holidays are fast approaching, and the Belvedere siblings are a mess. Liz, a Hollywood showrunner and responsible eldest, has no idea how to follow up her hit show's first season, or how to deal with her giant crush on its star, Violet Grace. Birdie turned her chronic middle-child syndrome into a career as a stand-up comic, but since she spends more time wooing women than working on new material, she's facing one-hit-wonder status, especially once she gets axed by her manager. And Rafi, sensitive romantic and the baby golden boy, proposes to his co-worker girlfriend in front of their entire company, only to be turned down by the woman he thought was the love of his life.
Born to three different fathers, the three adult children share one mother: famed actress and singer Babs Belvedere. Seeking direction and holiday cheer, all three siblings head up to their mother's house in the country, determined to swear off love and focus on themselves and their work. But the spirit of the season seems to have different plans for them, and their best intentions are quickly derailed in the most delightful and festive of ways.
Emotional, smart, and sexy, this queer holiday rom-com celebrates love, family, and the wild creative life―perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Casey McQuiston.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780593729083
EAN:
9780593729083
Binding:
Paperback
Pages:
432
Authors:
Georgia Clark
Publisher:
Random House Publishing Group
Published Date: 2024-15-10
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Georgia Clark’s Most Wonderful is like biting into a holiday sugar cookie and realizing halfway through that it’s spiked with tequila. It markets itself as a cozy Christmas rom-com, and sure, it checks those boxes—there’s tinsel, mistletoe, and the required amount of emotional turbulence to earn the ending. But what makes it stick isn’t the sweetness—it’s the edge.The story follows Win, a queer woman who returns to her small hometown for a classic Hallmark-style Christmas, only to get tangled up in the chaotic family dynamics she left behind. And then there’s Leo, the guy from her past she never quite let go of. Except now? He’s trans. And the book doesn’t flinch from that—doesn’t make it a tragedy or a spectacle. It’s just part of the reality, and Clark handles it with nuance, humor, and care.What I appreciated most was how queer the entire world of the book is. Not just the leads, but the side characters, the conversations, even the town itself—Clark isn’t writing queerness as a side dish here. It’s the whole damn meal. And it’s messy in the way real families are messy. People say the wrong thing, they bristle, they try again. There's vulnerability, apology, and actual growth—which is rare for a book that could’ve easily coasted on charm.Does it follow some familiar beats? Sure. But Clark isn’t trying to reinvent the genre—she’s trying to queer it from the inside out. And she succeeds. Most Wonderful is warm, funny, occasionally cringey in a very human way, and not afraid to dig deeper under the holiday glitter. If you’re into queer joy that’s earned, not airbrushed, this one’s worth curling up with—hot drink optional, but recommended.
This was a fun, festive read full of messy family drama and queer holiday chaos—but I’m not sure I liked any of the characters all that much. 😅Most Wonderful brings plenty of big feelings: career meltdowns, awkward romantic entanglements, and a larger-than-life stage mom hosting Christmas in the Catskills. The concept is great, and I loved the idea of a queer holiday rom-com centered on adult siblings trying (and failing) to get their lives together. There are some genuinely funny, heartwarming moments—and lots of drama if that’s your thing.But honestly? Everyone felt a little too self-involved for me to fully root for. There were sparks of charm, but I kept waiting for a bigger emotional payoff that never really came.Still, if you’re in the mood for something festive, chaotic, and full of queer messiness, this could be a good seasonal pick. Just don’t expect to fall head over heels for the characters.Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy!
Georgia Clarks Most Wonderful is a touching, emotional, romantic queer holiday romance novel that has absolutely resulted in a standing ovation from me.. The writing style was absolutely wonderful and the storyline was very fun and festive. I loved the characters and their backstories and I was excited to see love bloom a the holidays (I think I am in my queer holiday romance era).This is a must read of you love queer romance, holiday romances and family dynamics.
I love a book with a clear sense of place -- and this one delivers. Immersive and cozy, it was a perfect winter read. Also, as someone with a lot of siblings, I'm always attuned to those relationships and these felt spot on. Combined with a triple-romance, one late in life? Delightful stuff. I rarely re-read, but I know I will with this one.
4/5 Star Christmas Read!Such a sweet Christmas Romance!! As she said... Gay with a Capital G & I LOVED IT!! I felt like the timeline of the story was very predictable, but it rounded together very nicely in the end. I really enjoyed the different ways characters dialogue and thoughts were depicted- I could feel the differences in their personalities and it connected me more to the story. These characters were so relatable! Everyone is imperfect and a bit more "hot mess" than put together. There were a few times when I got so much secondhand embarrassment I had to slow down- but that just shows how connective the story is! It was very refreshing. The setting was so romantic and picturesque for “Christmas time in New York” I really enjoyed this read and I really enjoyed reading it during the Holidays!
