Most Wonderful

by Georgia Clark

A charming queer holiday romance about three adult siblings, each at a personal and romantic crossroads, who reunite at their larger-than-life mother’s Catskills manor for an unforgettable Christmas, from the author of It Had to Be You.

It’s the most romantic time of the year.

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 coworker girlfriend in front of his 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 Catskills, 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 romcom celebrates love, family, and the wild creative life, and is perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Casey McQuiston.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, LGBT, Fiction, Lesbian, Queer

432 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Hello! I'm a Brooklyn-based novelist and host/founder of the popular storytelling series, Generation Women. I love improv, being cozy, and fun snacks that are salty.

My next book is a queer Christmas rom-com called MOST WONDERFUL (2024). I also wrote ISLAND TIME, IT HAD TO BE YOU, THE BUCKET LIST, THE REGULARS, and two YA novels.

I teach romance writing, mentor up-and-coming writers, host weekend writers’ retreats, and create the monthly author newsletter, Heartbeat. You can connect with me on Insta, @georgialouclark. Sign up for a class at georgiaclark.com!

Reviews

[Mary Robbins · Rating 2 out of 5]

the vibes were fun and did make me excited about christmas. there were elements i enjoyed but having to follow three different love stories in one made it really difficult for me to get invested in these couples. birdie was a bit insufferable to me. rafi was a sweetheart. liz’s romance was really the only one i was somewhat interested in unfortunately. i did enjoy the writing style though!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star holiday romance. If Love Actually and The Family Stone had three gay babies. A lot of people complain that there’s just too much going on with three different relationships and povs but I didn’t have any trouble. I would watch and rewatch this movie every single year.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, I've loved Georgia Clark's stories. She has that great knack for turning stories about women and love into ones filled with hope, joy, and resilience in so many situations. And the same can be said with her newest book.

Most Wonderful is Georgia Clark's foray into a very popular genre of books: holiday romances. I honestly believe she's delivered a story that's reminiscent of all your favorite holiday romances. With its multiple relationships, Georgia Clark's story has the elements of Love, Actually with the family depth of The Family Stone. I had such a blast reading this one.

The story follows three siblings of the famous actress Babs Belvedere and their holiday together in upstate New York. Liz is an overworked showrunner who just kissed her show's star and not sure how to feel about it. Birdie is a comedian who hasn't had a laugh since her Netflix comedy special, but among the lost gigs and sleeping around, there's something darker lurking below Birdie's breezy comedy style. Rafi has always felt different from the rest of his family and after the impulsive move to propose to his sorta girlfriend (and get rejected), he's working to reconsider all the life choices he's ever made.

As they approach the holidays, they decide to get together at their mother's home in upstate New York to celebrate their loneliness together. However, this self-proclaimed "Black Hearts Club" is about to have a Christmas worth remembering. I loved how each of the siblings had their own story and their own set of challenges they had to face. It was obvious that none of them were afraid to love, but it's just that the adversity they've come across has made them a little hesitant to throw themselves right into it. And as each of the siblings meet their cute, they discover something deeper about themselves at the same time.

Which is what I love about Georgia Clark's writing. It's not just the romance, but that deep human component that makes Georgia's characters so interesting to follow and root for. I think at one point or another I was rooting for each of the siblings to follow their hearts and have their happy ever after.

The story is also full of fun little moments. I found myself laughing and gushing over these relationships and even shocking myself at the end!

If I could nit-pick about one thing, it would be the fact that there's a lot going on throughout the book. All three siblings have something going on in their lives and while Georgia does touch on them lightly, I wish they were dived into deeper. But I also understand that she's writing a lot of different story lines in one book and there's not enough room to fit all the ins and outs of one person's psyche and not become a behemoth of a story.

Overall, absolutely darling and a perfect addition to any of those holiday reading lists you've got going for yourself. Highly recommend falling in love with the Belvederes as much as I've fallen in love with them.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian]

DNF

These characters are not clicking with me. I find Birdie and Rafi borderline insufferable, actually. I loved the idea of three queer adult siblings gathering at their mom's house for Christmas and fixing their romantic / career lives but I have to care about the characters for it work. Oh well!

[Cortney - Bookworm & Vine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute holiday romance 🎄❤️🎄

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I was hoping it would be and more. It's equal parts messy and charming, larger than life and real and authentic at the same time. All three perspectives drew me in immediately, and I felt like I got to know the characters very well. All three of them were flawed, complex characters who went through a lot of growth throughout the story. I didn't always like them, but I did find myself rooting for them and feeling invested in their stories. I could easily see myself rereading this book every December, it's definitely a new favourite holiday read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret I love and adore holiday romances and most of the time the ones I read tend to be light and fluffy with not much depth. That’s not a dig, it’s part of what I enjoy about them but this one was a nice change because while yes, it has light and fluffy moments it also deals with many serious issues and has a complexity that was a pleasant surprise for me.

This follows three siblings and their mother in the weeks leading up to the holiday and then shortly after so you get all the cheerful vibes and wintertime charm. Each sibling has a romantic subplot and I so enjoyed all of their stories. I’ve seen some complaints that there was too much going on and it was hard to keep track of but I didn’t have any issues. The secondary characters were just as wonderful as the main ones and I was charmed by how quirky and likable they all were. If you like family dramas set around the holidays this was so much fun!

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark is a queer holiday romance featuring 3 distinctive siblings finding love during Christmas. The family drama features the Belvedere siblings Liz, Birdie and Rafi as they reunite for the holidays at their famous actor mother’s home in upstate New York. They are each at a crossroads emotionally and professionally, and exploring new relationships. This is the gayest book I’ve ever read, and it’s funny at times, but also extremely ambitious. There is so much going on, including miscarriage, alcoholism, depression, bisexuality and chronic illness, that I think each topic isn’t given quite enough focus. Overall an entertaining, generally well paced, ambitious holiday family romcom. 3.5/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun with this one. It’s really funny and sweet with a whole lot of family dynamics. This story follows three (very different) siblings as they navigate life and love during the Holiday season. This would be a perfect addition to anyone’s December TBR list to get into the spirit. 4 STARS!

Thank you to NetGalley, Georgia Clark, & Random House for this ARC!

[Ashley]

I almost DNFed this one but I'm glad I stuck it out. It wasn't perfect, but it did some things a lot better than many of the Christmas romances I've read before.

[3.5 stars, not sure if rounding up or down yet]

[Tate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second hand embarrassment that I felt reading this was unbearable. I have previously really liked some of Georgia Clark’s work so I think it was just this specific cast of characters. Birdie and Rafi both had the potential to be characters I would have liked but holy moly Rafi continuously made just mortifying decisions and Birdie was so immature and cringy. I did like the oldest sister Liz and her story line.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Matt Chisling (MattyandtheBooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snuck in one more book before the ball drops, and it’s one that a) ends on New Years Eve b) would make an incredible holiday film and c) is just so much fun. I really loved the intermingling of Romance and Contemporary Fiction elements, specifically looking at how the romance in these characters stories informed their character development, versus the other way around. I was most drawn to Rafi and Ash's story, but what was great about having a trio of romances was that they ensure that any reader (especially queer readers) will connect deeply to one of the strands of development taking place in this tale.

[Abby Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

In Most Wonderful, siblings Liz, Birdie, and Rafi are back home for the holidays at their mother’s inn, each struggling with their careers and their love lives. I really enjoyed reading about the relationships between the siblings and seeing the differences in how they interacted with their mother Babs. Many Christmas romance novels tend to stay surface level, but the author did well balancing the light, holiday moments with the deeper family drama.

Overall, the family relationships felt more fleshed out than the romantic relationships. I enjoyed being able to see the love life of each sibling; however, the length of the story did not allow for each romance to be explored as deeply as I would have liked.

Most Wonderful embodies the most wonderful time of the year while delving into the deeper themes of family, mental health, and finding purpose in life. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a queer, cozy, holiday read for the upcoming season!

[tillie hellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was really most wonderful (haha…)!! three different queer siblings (so my siblings and i coded) and their various life problems and romantic plot lines during the pre christmas to new years. eccentric mom (also very us coded), lots of fun stuff about art (comedy, show writing / acting, painting), and identity (queerness obvs but also some stuff about being mixed white and indian!! so true!). a lovely and different christmas book that i thoroughly enjoyed!

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Wonderful is a beautiful story about blended families and imperfect characters with huge queer representation.

I absolutely loved this family, every single one of them. I was able to listen to audio (thanks to PRH audio) and I highly recommend that format.

[Ashton Reads]

DNF @ 6%. Two of the three siblings are already irritating me with their lack of awareness (both of themselves and those around them) and I’m not in the mood for such messy characters right now.

[Britt Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quirky, heartfelt and laugh outloud queer Christmas. Could not put this rom com down, loved every single character. No notes! 12/10

[laurel! · Rating 2 out of 5]

things i liked:
- violet and liz (up until the third act breakup)
- rafi and ash (after the third act breakup)
- babs being so goofy

things i did not like:
- birdie and jecka’s meet disaster (i had to put the book down)
- rafi’s failed proposal (had to put the book down)
- jecka being barely a real character and just being a foil for birdies capital-I Issues
- THREEEEEEE third act breakups (TOO MANY)
- everyones weird thing about talking in ridiculous similes it drove me nuts. it was kind of okay for birdie because shes SUPPOSED to be trying to be funny but i could not do it for rafi or babs
- liz and violets age gap but it actually wasnt the age gap that was problematic its just that i cant understand dating someone younger than your youngest sibling. as an older sibling.
- everyone is just so awkward all the time

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the crisp winter air of the Catskills, where snowflakes dance and holiday lights twinkle, Georgia Clark's "Most Wonderful" unfolds like a beautifully wrapped gift. This enchanting queer holiday romance brings together three siblings, each grappling with their own personal and romantic dilemmas, under the roof of their larger-than-life mother's manor. As the Belvedere clan navigates the festive season, readers are treated to a delightful cocktail of humor, heart, and the kind of cozy warmth that only the best holiday stories can provide.

Meet the Belvederes: A Family Full of Surprises

Liz: The Responsible Showrunner with a Secret Crush

Liz Belvedere, the eldest sibling, is a Hollywood showrunner riding high on the success of her hit series, "Sweet." But as the pressure mounts for a spectacular second season, Liz finds herself creatively blocked and hopelessly smitten with her show's star, Violet Grace. Clark masterfully portrays Liz's internal struggle between professional ambition and personal desire, creating a character that resonates with anyone who's ever had to choose between their head and their heart.

Birdie: The Comic Caught in a Punchline

Middle child Birdie has turned her life experiences into stand-up gold, but her career is teetering on the edge of one-hit wonder status. With a penchant for wooing women rather than writing new material, Birdie's charm is as undeniable as her self-sabotaging tendencies. Clark infuses Birdie's journey with equal parts wit and vulnerability, making her quest for both professional and personal growth utterly captivating.

Rafi: The Romantic Reeling from Rejection

Youngest sibling Rafi, the family's golden boy, finds himself facing an unexpected plot twist when his public proposal to his coworker girlfriend ends in humiliating rejection. Clark deftly explores Rafi's journey of self-discovery, as he learns that sometimes the love we're looking for has been right in front of us all along.

Babs: The Matriarch with a Secret

At the center of this familial whirlwind is Babs Belvedere, a famed actress and singer whose magnetic personality draws her children back home for the holidays. But even as she dispenses wisdom and martinis in equal measure, Babs harbors a secret that threatens to shake the family's foundations.

A Festive Tapestry of Love and Growth

Clark weaves these individual storylines into a rich tapestry of family dynamics, personal growth, and romantic entanglements. As the siblings swear off love and focus on their careers, the magic of the holiday season—and Clark's deft storytelling—has other plans for them.

Highlights That Sparkle Like Tinsel:

- Queer Representation: Clark's portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and relationships is authentic, nuanced, and joyful. From Liz's blossoming romance with Violet to Birdie's journey of self-discovery, the queer narratives are central to the story, not mere subplots.

- Family Dynamics: The Belvedere siblings' interactions are a delightful mix of love, rivalry, and shared history. Their banter feels genuine, and their support for each other shines through even in moments of conflict.

- Character Growth: Each sibling undergoes significant personal development throughout the story. Clark doesn't shy away from their flaws but instead uses them as stepping stones for growth.

- Holiday Atmosphere: The Catskills setting is vividly brought to life, with Clark painting a picture-perfect winter wonderland that will have readers longing for a snowy getaway of their own.

- Humor and Heart: Clark strikes a perfect balance between laugh-out-loud moments and touching emotional beats, creating a story that feels both light-hearted and deeply meaningful.

A Feast of Festive Feels

"Most Wonderful" by Georgia Clark is a holiday buffet of emotions, serving up generous portions of:

🎄 Cozy winter vibes
💖 Heartwarming romance
😂 Laugh-out-loud humor
👪 Touching family moments
🌈 Authentic queer representation

Unwrapping Clark's Gift for Storytelling

Georgia Clark, known for previous works like "It Had to Be You" and "The Bucket List," once again demonstrates her talent for crafting compelling characters and weaving multiple storylines into a cohesive and satisfying narrative. Her writing style is as warm and inviting as a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter's night, drawing readers in and making them feel like part of the Belvedere family.

Clark's dialogue sparkles with wit and authenticity, capturing the unique voices of each character. From Birdie's sharp comedic timing to Liz's more reserved introspection, every conversation feels genuine and adds depth to the story.

A Few Ornaments Out of Place

While "Most Wonderful" shines brightly overall, there are a few minor issues that might catch a discerning reader's eye:

- At times, the multiple storylines can feel a bit overwhelming, with some subplots getting less attention than they perhaps deserve.
- The pacing in the middle section of the book occasionally slows, though it picks up again for a satisfying conclusion.
- Some readers might find the resolution of certain conflicts a bit too neat, though this is in keeping with the hopeful spirit of holiday romances.

Wrapping Up: A Gift Worth Giving

"Most Wonderful" by Georgia Clark is a holiday treat that readers will want to unwrap again and again. Georgia Clark has crafted a story that celebrates love in all its forms – romantic, familial, and self-love – while also exploring themes of personal growth, acceptance, and the power of following one's passions.

[jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love holiday book season! It's always fun to see just how many themed novels come out each year and how many I'm able to enjoy as the year comes to a close.

Most Wonderful is a lovely addition to the 2024 holiday book collection. It tells the story of three siblings, Liz, Birdie, and Rafi, and each of their respective Christmas romances. Overall, this started off really promising! I loved how the main characters were the children of a famous comedic film star, and all found various reasons to need to escape to her getaway in the Catskills. The issues arise when you have three different storylines fighting for attention, and your interest level is not equal in all of them. I personally wished that this was just Liz and Violet's story, and it's a bit frustrating that this wasn't pitched as three separate but intertwined novels or novellas.

The writing is witty and charming and Clark does do a great job developing each character even with limited time to devote to each one. I just personally didn't enjoy some of the characters which dampened my overall experience.

Many thanks to Dial Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! i loved this soooo much! maybe my favorite christmas book?? need this to be a movie so bad! loved how gay it was, made me laugh out loud a few times! the siblings were compelling and when they did annoy me, it was only because they felt human. even when it was cheesy i was enjoying it. exceeded my expectations!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite Christmas book I’ve read to date!

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! The three siblings were so different and each had a unique romantic storyline—I thoroughly enjoyed each one. Even more, I loved the relationships between each of these siblings and their mother and the exploration of who each of these people used to be and who they hope to become. This was such a hopeful book with a great christmas atmosphere without being overly cheery or cheesy. I recommend it so much!

[Billette Ripy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! The author did such a good job bringing these characters to life and juggling multiple plots. I feel like balancing multiple romance plots is tricky but Clark manages to capture each character and their struggles/success beautifully! I also really liked how this book is more than 'a romance' - I showed up for the romance, but the characters each had their own personal journeys that made the book that much more enjoyable. I definitely recommend this one!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just might be my new favorite Georgia Clark book yet! Three half-siblings spend the holidays together with their mother and get second chances at love.

Told from alternating POVs of each sibling, we get to know Liz, a hotshot LA show runner who is crushing hard on the show's star, Birdie, a standup comic who drinks too much and sleeps around a lot and Rafi, who recently had his marriage proposal rejected.

Each sibling grows in this book in important ways, learns a secret about their mother and finds love, making for a heartwarming holiday queer romcom full of laughs, heart and great mental health rep!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

⚠️CW: parental abandonment, MS diagnosis, alcoholism, therapy, depression

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most Wonderful was such a delight! And I absolutely love Christmas — so I loved the festive, wintry setting of the book — but this is so much more than a holiday novel. I'm so impressed that the author was able to successfully weave the love stories of three very different characters — and also, the beautiful, evolving relationships each of these characters had with their mother! — into one story, but she did it and she did it so well. Each of the characters are three-dimensional and so relatable (even though I am absolutely a Liz, I had quite the crush on Birdie, and really fell in love with all of them); the romance is real, sexy, and joyfully queer; the internal evolution of each main character is so evident and realistic. And it was just so much fun to read! I'm really excited to read this one again come Christmastime :)

[emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

i adore holiday romances (please, let it once be me) and while most wonderful was a cosy read, i struggled to spread my investment across three couples, particularly when some felt more developed than the others. there is so much going on to the point where sometimes it felt like georgia clark had bitten off more than she could chew. chaotic but fun, action-packed but needed further development.

[Coralie Michon · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 third act breakups? that’s a no

[Phoebe (readandwright) Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Dial Press for my copy! All thoughts are my own.

If you’re looking to read a book with multicast POV, you have to start reading Georgia Clark. This is my fourth book by the author and I love her work more and more with each story. This book reminded me of the movie The Family Stone, with all the children returning to their childhood home with different circumstances keeping them from their full happiness.

Synopsis:

“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.” —NetGalley

What I Liked:

The Setting—We know I love the mountains, especially in New York State, but I haven’t read many books set in the Catskill area. It’s an area I know very well and I thought it was captured perfectly.

The Premise—I am a sucker for stories about famous people and actors, so I loved the idea of this very famous mother and all her children grown up and trying to find their own path outside of her fame.

The Characters—I loved them all! Especially Liz. I loved her passion for her work, how she was figuring herself out, and all the moments she learned to ask for help.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

Some of the Pacing—With so many POVs, I felt like a couple moments were rushed and a few were too slow. But I’m picking about pacing cause i’ve had less time to read lately so I want to be sucked in every time I sit down with my book!

Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 4/5

Content Warnings:

MS, hospital, sick parent, abandonment, estranged parental relationships, alcoholism/addiction, mental illness (depression), miscarriage, death of a parent, pregnancy, homophobia/lesphobia

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully heartfelt story about family, self discovery, and love. As we countdown to the holidays, we follow the three Belvedere siblings as they come to stay with their famous mother for the holidays. Each is grappling with their own personal struggles and we get to witness their character development as well as watch them be strong supporting characters in each other’s lives. I loved their family dynamic and enjoyed getting to meet their love interests along the way! There were so many wonderful characters with relatable storylines-I guarantee you’ll find someone in this book to relate to, root for, and empathize with.

The only downside to so many characters was that it became a bit overwhelming at times trying to remain invested in each sibling, especially since some characters seemed further developed than others. This book could definitely have been broken down into three books in a series-each following a Belvedere sibling and their romantic journey. Each character had a lot of self discovery and growth to do which while I appreciated, I also think could have been further explored. Plus, each romantic interest also came with their own backstory so there was really a lot going on despite truly loving them all! My personal favorite was Liz!

I feel like this story would translate exceptionally well to a screen and I loved going the audiobook route with this because the multiple narrators really helped bring these characters to life! If you need a cozy, heartfelt story, with unique characters and family dynamics, along with a charming holiday setting, then add this to your holiday tbr!

•𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 •
+ heartwarming family dynamic
+ “fun facts” afterward narrated by author
+ LGBTQIA+ rep
+ mental health rep (depression)
+ physical disability diagnosis
+ trigger (miscarriage, substance abuse)
+ spicy, open door scenes
+ three siblings navigating love
+ childhood friends to lovers
+ set in the Catskills
+ alternating POVs

𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: October 15, 2024
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Queer Holiday Romance • Contemporary Fiction
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audiobook 🎧 (12h 32m)
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Patti Murin, Kristen Sieh,
Shawn K. Jain
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: Multi-Cast
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★☆ 𝟒
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: I enjoyed it!

✨Thank you so much PRHaudio and Dial Press for my #gifted ALC! 🎧