A family navigates through changes. Babs, a performer of 50 years, celebrates every Christmas with a family gathering. Her daughters, Liv and Birdie, along with her son Rajit, make it a point to visit. The story unfolds around her life and the lives of her children, encompassing joy, drama, and change. It's a sweet and affectionate tale that I would recommend to all readers.

Christmas is here early 🎄🌈
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I almost wanted to wait until December to finish this book! Will def. Be purchasing once it’s out. At the beginning I was worried the multiple POV wouldn’t help with setting up the ambience but it honestly felt like being in the middle of it all.
I ‘gobbled’ this up! Found myself feeling like I was reading some family tea and wanting to find out more about how it all connected and so on. Def a queer holiday must have!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to. I love Georgia Clarks books

"For those who create, seek, or champion queer joy."

This book brings all the holiday joy. A must-read.
The sarcasm. The sense of humor. The witty and heartfelt writing. Tropes for everyone.

What's not to love?

Honestly, perfect holiday read. Liz would call it "colorful organized chaos." Rafi might add that "his heart felt like it'd been stomped on by a rogue herd of reindeer." And Birdie? Well..."What does success have to do with happiness, right?" Be aware, this book is unafraid of hard topics. Add in a famous mom with a holiday inn, and you've got magic.

<i>Thank you to Dial Press Trade and Netgalley for this eARC. This is my honest review.</i>

This was a sweet, intensely queer holiday rom-com. And with 3 love stories going on, it was honestly a lot of juggling to make it flow properly, however Georgia Clark manages very, very well, for the most part. It's also officially the, probably, the second gayest holiday book I've read, after [book:Make the Season Bright|206180603], though with all love to Ashley Blake, I think this one has a smidge more focus.

The Belvedere siblings are great. Immensely flawed, but also completely loveable. In some ways, the oldest, Liz, feels like the central protagonist, at least by typical rom-com standards. We start the book on her POV and end it there as well. Liz's story has the most tropes, as well (spoiler:<spoiler>a full sex scene, the dreaded 3rd act break-up, and a traditional HEA</spoiler>). Liz felt like someone who was forced to be type A by circumstance (although it was implied she took after her father in that way), and it was lovely to see her choosing to be lightly selfish at times. Her love interest, Violet, was obviously fantastic and reminded me of Katie Price from [book:Everyone I Kissed Since You Got Famous|195790770], which I will never hate.

Middle child Birdie was a walking disaster, and I kinda loved her. There was points where I had to put my phone down, just turn away because I could see something she was doing would be terrible and I mildly hoped if I looked away from the page long enough, that would change and/or not happen, yet of course it did and all I could do was cringe. On the flipside, she arguably has the biggest arch of the three siblings. Her opposites attract romance with Jecka was also great. (another spoiler: <spoiler>I like that their story ended on a hopeful note, rather than Clark trying to shoehorn a full HEA in for them. I think that would have done a disservice to Birdie's journey to work on herself.</spoiler>)

Finally, Rafi was just a sweetheart. His story in some ways had the lowest stakes. He fell for his best friend, the equally sweet (albeit apparently ripped) Ash, and it never felt like they weren't going to get together. But in a way, that lets the reader just sit back and enjoy their chapters for what they are.

All that said, every story did feel a little trimmed, like you couldn't get a utterly complete picture just by the very nature of trying to fit 3 love stories into one standard novel, set over a full month (in a bit of an afterword Clark mentions the book being almost twice as long prior to revising and <i>of course it was</i>). I wish we could have had a fuller look at things...it felt like Birdie's story with Jecka may have suffered the most, there seemed to me to be more statements like 'they did this and this and great sex' without much detail (it felt notable that the Belvedere sibling that seemed to have the most sex prior to the start of the book only had off the page sex once she met 'the one', but maybe that contrast was on purpose).

Minor qualms aside, I really loved this book, and can't wait to put it in people's hands for the holiday season! 4.5 stars rounded up.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!!

this was a cute story but overall ended up just being a 3 star read for me. there were a few pacing issues and just not overall a super memorable story for me. I love that there are more sapphic options now and I hope the publishing industry continues to publish more!

Growing up watching copious amounts of Hallmark movies and being disappointed in the lack of queer couples means the premise of this book was a dream come true for me. We follow three queer siblings returning home to their mother's house for a Christmas filled with chaos, tears, and love. This book is great for anyone who is a fan of the classic features of Hallmark movies - cheesy, corny dialogue, too perfect to be real happenstances, and happy endings for all - but make it queer.

In terms of the couples, I really enjoyed the best friends to lovers story of Rafi and Ash, and the coworkers to lovers story of Liz and Violet. All four of these characters felt real and I was rooting for their happiness at the end. Unfortunately I didn't quite feel the same for Birdie and Jecka. I really didn't like Birdie for the first half of the book, and maybe that was intentional, but it made me drastically slow down in my reading and enjoyment every time one of her chapters would come up. By the end of the book, Birdie had grown on me a bit and I did like the conclusion to her story with Jecka, but overall I wasn't a fan of her parts of the book. I felt like Birdie as well as the siblings' mom, Babs, felt like caricatures which stood out negatively against the other characterizations in the book. Despite having so many main couples, I felt like Clark did a great job at balancing all of the characters' page time and development, and they all felt like unique voices.

While I did find there to be too many pop culture references for my liking, I was pleasantly surprised by the way several different serious topics were woven into the story. Things like alcoholism/addiction, depression and anxiety, and parent death were all handled with care.

Overall, I found this to be a cute Christmas read despite its imperfections! Thank you to
Random House, Dial Press, and Netgalley for this eARC!

Most Wonderful is a queer holiday romance perfect for the holiday season! The story centers around three siblings, Liz, Birdie and Rafi who travel home to their famous mother’s beautiful home in Woodstock NY for the holiday season. We follow each of the Belvedere siblings on their journey to finding love.

I love good banter, and the banter between the siblings was spot on and quite funny. Their relationship was really special and I enjoyed how they supported each other through all the trials and tribulations. I also really loved their mom, Babs, she was such a character and really was a fun addition to the family dynamic.

The slow build-up to Christmas really worked for me. The book has a great Christmasy vibe. We have all the parts of a great Christmas story; family gathered together in a big house, picking out and decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies, as well as family fun and of course drama.

I enjoyed each of their love stories, though at times it was a lot to have three separate love storylines going in alternating chapters. My favorite was the romance between Liz and Violet, they have great chemistry. I really thought their story was well done and was the one that I felt most invested in. I know a lot of readers love steam, and if that is your thing this is the book for you! I prefer a closed door romance myself, so those parts were a bit of a struggle for me personally.

Overall a great holiday story and I recommend it if you love a good Christmas romance!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Dial Press Trade Paperback, Georgia Clark, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars
-
This is the perfect kind of book I needed right now in the middle of summer; just when you think you're getting one queer love story, you get three queer sibling love stories. I was a little worried at first as we bounced between the sibling's POVs - but after a few chapters, it was easy to distinguish who was who. I enjoyed that the siblings were SO different, often when you read familial tales, it seems that sibling characters are carbon copies of each other.

In this countdown to Christmas story, we follow the Belvedere siblings as they head to their famous mother's Catskill Manor in hopes of escaping reality to work on themselves. Liz is a Hollywood showrunner who's trying to up the next season of their hit show, Birdie is a comedian but is more focused on ladies and booze and faces the possibility of having her career fizzle, and finally, Rafi the youngest of the three who proposes to his girlfriend in front of all their coworkers and gets rejected. Throughout the story, you learn to fall in love with this trio of siblings and start rooting for them wanting the best.

Although this is penned as a Christmas story, I felt like it was focused more on the family and their lives with a bit of holiday magic sprinkled throughout. This book doesn't shy away from spicy scenes, each of the siblings has a romantic plot that will leave you blushing! You end up falling in love with the siblings and with their mother Babs even more - she's eccentric as can be and doesn't shy away from anything.
-
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback, and Georgia Clark for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book publishes on October 15th, 2024 - preoder yours today!

Most Wonderful was such a delight! I loved the festive, wintry setting of the book. I'm impressed that the author was able to successfully weave the love stories of three very different characters into one story, but she did it and she did it so well. Each of the characters are three-dimensional and so relatable!

Most Wonderful is an absolutely delightful and cozy Holiday romcom. It has real heart and emotional depth while keeping the overall tone of the book light (which is a real feat!) Definitely put this one on your cozy winter reads list!!

I wonderful cozy (and spicyyyy) romcom wrapped in a Christmas bow. Multiple POV, eccentric and queer characters makes this a great read for anyone during the Christmas season!

A fun novel that gives you the heartwarming feeling everyone is looking for at the holidays! I always love a good wintery book during that awkward time between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and I think everyone will want to pick this one up.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Most Wonderful will have you chuckling from the opening pages and is a breath of fresh air….especially as us east coasters experience this June heat wave and dream of a winter wonderland! It might just be fitting for this nice little spicy holiday rom com which is most certainly worth a reread come Christmas time! Christmas with this quirky crew is definitely magical in their escape to the Catskills and each of the three siblings is so relatable as they deal with the inevitable challenges of life and love. It certainly feels like reconnecting with long lost friends as Georgia Clark writes her characters with such ease and familiarity. Most Wonderful most certainly tops the list of holiday reads of the year!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A cute little story with queer love and an eccentric but loving mother! The three Belvedere kids (adults) head back to their (famous) mother's Inn for Christmas, where each are dealing with their jobs, their love lives, and their identities. Oh, it also got spicy.

The number of times the characters say "hi" to each other definitely drove me nuts. We get it, some people roll over and say "hi" in bed or whatever, but I don't think every single couple in the story needs to do it so often. I saw a review on here that said not everyone gets a happy ending in this story, but I don't agree. I think there is more than one way to measure a happy ending!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌶️🌶️🌶️ Georgia Clark’s The Most Wonderful is a festive delight that truly embodies the spirit of the holiday season. The story of the Belvedere siblings, each navigating personal and professional challenges, quickly drew me in with its charm and wit. Liz’s struggles with her crush on Violet, Birdie’s comedic career woes, and Rafi’s public proposal disaster were all relatable and engaging.
The book really picked up in the middle, becoming a fun and heartwarming read. The family dynamics and holiday setting added a layer of warmth, making it a perfect escape.
Clark’s writing is emotional, smart, and sexy, with well-developed characters and a charming holiday atmosphere. The blend of humor, romance, and family dynamics keeps readers hooked, and the steamy scenes are perfectly balanced.
Overall, The Most Wonderful is an emotional, smart, and sexy queer holiday romcom that celebrates love and family in the best possible way. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily rate it 4 stars and 2.5 chili peppers for its delightful blend of humor, romance, and festive cheer.
Thank you to the NetGalley team for providing me with the ARC to review.

It’s 96 degrees outside, but the snow is falling as you’re transported by Georgia Clark’s delightful holiday romance. In addition to capturing the charm, magic and romance of Christmas, Georgia has crafted a beautiful tale about three siblings in a truly dynamic family.

This story intricately weaves together the lives of Belvedere siblings Liz, Birdie and Rafi as they each navigate their romantic woes as the clock counts down to Christmas in the Catskills. Eldest Liz, a Hollywood showrunner is forced to confront her crush on her show’s star, Violet. Birdie, a stand-up comic, is entranced by an artist. Rafi, the baby of the family, must come to terms with who he is after being rejected when proposing to his girlfriend. The crazy glue holding this all together? Their fearless matriarch, Babs Belvedere – a Hollywood icon.

The characters are beautifully developed, with each sibling’s obstacles and growth depicted with emotional depth. The relationships between the siblings are both relatable and heartwarming, showcasing he strength and complexity of family. Their mother’s home provides a unique refuge from the world where each are able to engage in their own journeys of reflection and self-discovery.

The romantic relationships driving each character are also strongly developed and are as warm as they are hot. It is a joy to watch the romance unfold between each couple and each character grow through these relationships.

What also stands out in this book is the witty and snappy dialogue that brings a lively and engaging rhythm to the story. The vividly-painted scenes are peppered with humor, prompting several laugh-out-loud moments. It’s a nice balance to the more serious, introspective scenes and the author does a great job of blending heart with lightheartedness.

Most simply, this is a story about love – all kinds. From romantic love to familial and self, this is a wonderful story that pulls you in and holds you close throughout. It’s a cozy and compelling read that is perfect for the holiday season – especially if you’re craving romance or preparing for your own impending holiday family gatherings.

This is Georgia’s best work yet.

Most Wonderful is a fantastic book about 3 adult siblings falling in love over the Christmas holidays. This book was presented as a queer holiday romcom, and it definitely was! But I felt like the focus of the book was much more familial relationships between the siblings & their mother and on where each sibling was in life. That's not a criticism though, it was a great holiday read!

I appreciated that the relationship drama took a backseat to all of the siblings figuring out who they were and what they wanted in life. I loved all of the different representation! The characters were well fleshed-out & I rooted for all of them. The actress mother, Babs, was a hoot & I was so happy with the direction Georgia took for her.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants some queer holiday joy! Thanks to NetGalley, Georgia Clark, and Random House for the chance to read & review!

Thank you Net Galley, Dial Press Trade Paperback, Random House Publishing Group and Georgia Clark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What is better than 1 queer character and love story? 3 queer characters, all in one family, with interwoven fast moving character development and family ties!

This started out with mild chaos, there were a few pages where I flipped back and forth trying to figure out what I was reading- understanding if it was the same POV, who the new character I was being introduced to was, and how they and the previous character I had gotten to know were connected.

But it was only a fleeting moment of confusion as I quickly learned I would be getting to intimately know 3 siblings as they navigated romance and their romantic attractions alongside their own relationships with each other and their all important mother.

I was quick to find Liz, Birdie, and Raf fun to get to know and excited to follow along with their story as well as their mother, Babs!

Each of the three siblings offered different experiences, equally enjoyable to get to know. Liz navigating romance amongst her career, Birdie finding herself amidst fleeting romances and reflecting on her relationship with her father while she looks as her lifestyle and decisions, and Raf, who dives right into the romantic deep end and somewhat drowns repetitively until we get to join him in looking at how his attraction manifests from his own desire to find his belonging.

The sibling stories carry smoothly, each offering their own trials and tribulations. I found myself wondering– what is going to be the 3rd act turbulence, will it be their individual experiences, or something shared? And we learn that it’s about the string that ties them all together- their mother. I can’t say I was expecting what happened, though there were plenty of hints, I was partially expecting the mother to be in love with her assistant.

I enjoyed reading this winter and holiday set experience in the throws of summer and it’s a perfect holiday romance tied in with family and identity!
4 gooses
3 spicy honks

The Belvedere family has their ups and downs and they all face it together.

The three POVs throughout this book were overwhelming at times, but it was fun to have 3 stories to keep up in one book. I enjoyed that each of the siblings had their own love interest and personal issue to overcome. Their banter with each other was very lighthearted and I could see myself having these same arguments and jokes with my own sibling. This story would've been equally as entertaining if it didn't take place during Christmastime.

I did think that the story took a while to get good, but once it got there, I was hooked and couldn't wait to finish.