Bailey George is burned out from her quiet life in Lanford Falls in upstate New York. She's tired of doing things for everyone else and not for herself. Sometimes people with big hearts lose perspective when they do too much. Now enter Maria Hatcher. She's the always-optimistic little sister of Bailey's best childhood friend. She just got her dream job and is finally able to move back to the hometown she loves. Bonus that the her brother's bestie, who she shared a hot kiss with senior year under the mistletoe, still lives in town, and is still single!

This is an absolutely adorable retelling of the classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life." With fun drag queen angels, dorky but lovable dogs, heroines who are wonderful, warm & fuzzy humans who have lots of chemistry on the page. No steamy scenes (if you're looking / wondering), but this book isn't about that. Just like the movie, this is a feel-good story. Wonderfully written!

4.5 ⭐ Super cute well written retelling of It's a Wonderful Life. I absolutely adore the characters, the drag queen angels, and the chemistry between the Bailey and Maria. I think this is going to be one of my go-to books around the holidays for all the feels!

[Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for the eARC!]

"It's A Fabulous Life" by Kelly Farmer is a super cute Christmas romance book. I've never seen "It's a Wonderful Life", but I can confirm you don't have to have seen the movie to understand this book. I imagine you'd have a better reading experience if you have seen the movie, but it's not a prerequisite. Bailey and Maria have such a sweet, heartbreaking history of a love once shared that was pulled apart. Unlike other second chance romances, this story really felt like there was more than simple miscommunication that split up the MC’s, and I absolutely loved that it was so centered around the magic of Christmas. Bailey and Maria find such love and happiness within themselves and each other, being able to reconcile past issues and differences. The people were annoying at points. Poor Bailey just needed a break, and they would not give it to her. I enjoyed their dogs being a significant part of the book. “It's a Fabulous Life” is a great read, and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a fluffy, cozy, feel-good, inclusive and diverse Christmastime read. Thanks to Kelly Farmer, Netgalley and Alcove Press for an e-arc in exchange for my thoughts. I look forward to reading what Kelly writes next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book. Perfect for fans of Alison Cochrun and Ashley Herring Blake, this sapphic retelling of It’s a Wonderful Life will make the yuletide gay. IT was a super cute and fun retelling. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in return for an honest review!

Sapphic retelling of It's a Wonderful Life - It was super, cute and fun! Truly put me in the Christmas Spirit and has amazing representation in it. The angels are drag queens and hilarious, and I'd love to see a spin of the side characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book, but I wish we got more of an epilogue of Bailey's life/choices she made (trying not to spoil too much!) If you're looking for a cute, Christmas retelling then this is it because it really made me wish Winter Wonderfest was real! Also, heads up - zero spice!

It’s a Fabulous Life is a sweet holiday romance that retells the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, but with a sapphic second chance love story and gorgeous drag queen angels.

Bailey George runs the winter festival in her upstate New York town every year, but after a decade of doing so, she’s bitter, overworked, and contemplating leaving everything she loves for the big city. Enter Maria, her childhood best friend’s sister, who she kissed once as a teenager before an awkward and painful misunderstanding drove them apart. Now Maria is the town librarian, and Bailey finds herself rediscovering what she loved about the town and its lovely returning citizen. But when that alone is not quiet enough to convince Bailey about how her future should go, she requires a little bit of Christmas magic from a drag queen angel earning her wings.

I especially loved the angel part of this; a slightly speculative magical drag queen is exactly the thing we need to spread holiday cheer, and the drag family that travels together in an RV working magic where needed is a delight.

Thank you Alcove Press for the eArc!

DRC provided by Alcove Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly Farmer weaved a beautiful queer romantic comedy that will certainly capture lots of people's hearts.

Do you ever read a book that makes reading a slog and you just hit a wall? And it's not always clear if it's the book or you that's the problem? Anyway that book was this for me.

Let me start by saying that, while i read a lot of romance novels, i prefer ones with snark, sarcasm, etc. And this is not that. This is a Christmas romance in the most classic way.

Imagine a Hallmark Movie crossed with It's a Wonderful Life, a little bit of A Christmas Carol thrown in (note: i haven't watched It's a Wonderful Life so it could honestly just be more of that and i'm reaching), and then add drag queens. But like the least campy, most wholly earnest drag queens to have ever dragged. If that appeals to you, you will love this book! I think i saw drag queens and expected more wink-wink in the book so it didn't work for me.

This was a NetGalley ARC, unbiased review.

This was such a fun retelling of one of my favorite christmas movies, it’s a wonderful life. I LOVED this story!!! Bailey and Maria (objectively, the best name, not just bc it’s mine), have such a sweet, heartbreaking history of a love once shared that was pulled apart. Unlike other second chance romances, this story really felt like there was more than simple miscommunication that split up the MC’s, and I LOVED that it was so centered around the magic of Christmas. Bailey and Maria find such love and happiness within themselves and each other, being able to reconcile past issues and differences, while staying pretty faithful to its classic retelling.
I loved reading the diverse characters and backgrounds in this story, bringing such unique and special perspectives to a classic holiday favorite.
Thank you for the ARC!!!

Thank you, Alcove Press, Kelly Farmer, and NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was a super cute Christmas Romance book. I love the building of the relationship between Bailey and Maria. I loved the intervening of the angels. The town was lovely. However, the people were annoying at points. Poor Bailey just needed a break, and they would not give it to her.

I enjoyed their dogs being a significant part of the book. Some books forget there was a pet, and I'm halfway through, wondering where it is. Lulu and Rosie were very much a part of the story and adorable.

I recommend ready this book.

This one gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings. A cute holiday romp that's perfect for a cozy day curling up next to the fire with a cup of cocoa. I loved to see the WLW rep in this type of novel. Long overdue and beautifully executed!

I received a free copy of, It's a Fabulous Life, by Kelly Farmer, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Bailey is always helping others at the expense of her own life, she had to cancel travel plans to help her town out. I think Bailey needs to learn the word NO! She needs to take care of herself first before helping everyone else, self care is a thing. I thought this was a nice read, a take on It's a Wonderful Life, of course, nothing beats the original.

Thank you to Alcove Press, author Kelly Farmer, and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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When I tell you I screamed when I was approved for this ARC, I am not joking. The customary "thanks for providing this ARC" line doesn't begin to cover it. Seriously, THANK YOU GUYS. "It's A Wonderful Life" is my favorite (live action) Christmas movie and when I saw this cover, and then saw it was a modernized retelling and full of diversity and inclusivity, I lost my freakin' mind. So thank you, oh my gosh, for granting access to this ARC.

This book really does have so much representation. There are characters of color, there are characters of various romantic and sexual orientations, there are characters that are even described as having fashion-colored hair! The town, Lanford Falls, is renown for being a haven for artists and creative types, and has that small-town Americana charm without the small-town Americana politics. Imagine Seattle, Austin, or San Francisco, but with a population of 5,000.

Was it a little weird reading a Christmas-centric book in April? Eh, maybe. Did that stop me? Absolutely not. The universe, or maybe magical drag queen angels, gifted me with an unseasonably chilly and rainy evening this week, and I created a little wintry spirit by making a big pot of chili and putting on It's A Wonderful Life. My sweet partner, bless him, was super on-board with my plan. He made the argument that the movie is more a story about human spirit than Christmas spirit.

It's A Fabulous Life, however, definitely focuses more on the Christmas side of things, as a plot device. Our main character, Bailey George, feels trapped in her small town and like she can never, or will never, escape to see the world. She's got a bad case of wanderlust, but like George Bailey, Bailey George is too dutiful to her family, friends, and community to put herself first. Over time, this blooms into resentment, and culminates with a crisis. Anyone who has ever put their own needs last can certainly relate to Bailey in this situation. If you've ever felt the need to run away, to take a spur-of-the-moment trip, to do something impulsive, to cut your hair with kitchen scissors... you know. You *know*. You know exactly how Bailey feels.

This book was a fairly faithful and very capable retelling of an old classic. I did appreciate that some of the darker elements of the movie were omitted or revised to be less triggering. My one complaint is largely a personal gripe, and I don't expect other readers to really share it. Because this book is a slow burn style rom-com, Bailey George doesn't go into the book's climax with the same family dynamic that George Bailey has in the movie. Mrs. Mary Bailey in the movie, for me, is what *makes* the movie. Her dedication and steadfastness to her husband brings me to tears every single time when she comes running through the front door of that shabby old house after having rallied the town around her husband. Because this is a slow burn, there is no significant other to rally the town around Bailey George, and Bailey has to rally herself, with the help of her fabulous angel friend. I can anticipate some readers would appreciate this twist more, but for me, George Bailey's life is so wonderful largely because of Mary.

Despite that, there were several times I had to put the book down and squeal "This is so stinkin' CUTE!" I kept bothering my partner and bookish friends with updates. There are a few cute little Easter eggs through in the book, and I'd get excited whenever I'd find a reference, either to an obscure part of the movie, a nod to an actor, or a mention of a very famous drag queen's iconic catchphrase.

It's a Fabulous Life is indeed a fabulous read, and one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a fluffy, cozy, feel-good, inclusive and diverse Christmastime read.

Kelly Farmer's It's a Fabulous Life is funny, sweet, and sprinkled with Christmas magic. The story is a retelling of It's a Wonderful Life, featuring Bailey George, who desperately wants a vacation. But being stuck at home isn't so bad when high school crush, Maria Hatcher, shows up on the scene. I loved this sweet romance that turns a classic movie into a tender, hilarious, and wonderfully queer retelling.

This sapphic retelling of "It's a Wonderful Life" is a warm hug of a read.

Bailey George wants to put her hometown of Lanford Falls out of her mind and escape for a long-awaited vacation to New York City when she gets roped into running the town's Winter Wonderfest. Bailey is a people pleaser. She's constantly put aside her own dreams to help others, so she feels like she has to stay to run the festival. When she runs into her high school crush Maria Hatcher, suddenly having to stay in Lanford Falls doesn't seem so bad — until everything goes wrong during Winter Wonderfest. During a low moment, Bailey is visited by a drag queen (!!!), Clara Angel, who helps her see how important she is to the town and what a difference she makes in people's lives.

I've never seen "It's a Wonderful Life." (I know — I've tried watching it a few times, but I could never get into it.) I can confirm you don't have to have seen the movie to understand this book. I imagine you'd have a richer reading experience if you have seen the movie, but it's totally not a prerequisite! Even if I haven't seen "It's a Wonderful Life," I *am* a huge fan of "RuPaul's Drag Race," so I loved the drag queens in this story. They were a whole lot of fun. Clara was a wonderful character. I was so touched by Bailey and Clara's interactions that I cried! And I don't cry at books very often!

I guarantee you'll have a great time reading "It's a Fabulous Life," even if you're reading it well before Christmas. Bailey and Maria have a sweet, tender second chance romance that will leave you full of holiday magic and cheer.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Cute book. Drag queen angels. Started a little slow but picked up a little later on. I felt like more could babe been said about why the bad things were happening (who was behind them and what they thought to gain from it) but it was a nice Christmas drama romance