Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Cute, very Christmas-y. I definitely agree that this would be better served as a trilogy with the three relationships each given their own space and story, but overall this was a great Christmas read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a great holiday rom-com! I loved the quirky characters, and I thought Clark did a good job of keeping all of the characters' stories separate while still intertwining them and looking at all of the interpersonal dynamics, not just the romantic ones.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A festive read filled with lots of heart and emotional depth is right up my alley. This book was wonderful in that it let the main characters be human and imperfect and flawed but not so much that you weren't rooting for them all the way til the end.
I enjoyed the humour throughout the book especially Birdie and her sarcastic wit. It helped ease some of the heaviness with the topics explored. I loved the relationship of Rafi and his childhood best friend Ash the most. There was such a beautiful bond between the two and it felt the most explored to me. I also loved Liz and Violet together. Watching them bond over their work and watching Liz slowly come out of her shell and set healthier boundaries with her family was definitely something I was cheering for.
I'll echo what some of the other reviews I've read have said in that there was a lot going on and all dealing in pretty emotionally prickly subject matter like miscarriage, divorce, alcoholism, grief, parental neglect, and more. It felt like too many of these things in one book in that the solutions seemed too instant and easy. For someone that is using alcohol to numb their grief on such a daily basis and at that much, I can't see that they just gave up alcohol and had very little support or struggle with it. At least we didn't get to see that because at this time in the book there were so many other storylines exploding and imploding. I guess if some of that had happened at different times or earlier in the story we could have seen the growth more. I was really hoping for an epilogue at the end but alas there was none.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and found the amount of holiday vibes just right for me. I loved the setting of Belvedere Inn and would want to stay there someday if it were real. I love that it was a big gay holiday romance filled to the brim with love and joy and family. I would love to visit this little corner of Georgia Clark's mind again someday and find out more about these relationships that just started and what happens next for Birdie.
I received an early digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this adorable holiday book!
I enjoyed the humour throughout the book especially Birdie and her sarcastic wit. It helped ease some of the heaviness with the topics explored. I loved the relationship of Rafi and his childhood best friend Ash the most. There was such a beautiful bond between the two and it felt the most explored to me. I also loved Liz and Violet together. Watching them bond over their work and watching Liz slowly come out of her shell and set healthier boundaries with her family was definitely something I was cheering for.
I'll echo what some of the other reviews I've read have said in that there was a lot going on and all dealing in pretty emotionally prickly subject matter like miscarriage, divorce, alcoholism, grief, parental neglect, and more. It felt like too many of these things in one book in that the solutions seemed too instant and easy. For someone that is using alcohol to numb their grief on such a daily basis and at that much, I can't see that they just gave up alcohol and had very little support or struggle with it. At least we didn't get to see that because at this time in the book there were so many other storylines exploding and imploding. I guess if some of that had happened at different times or earlier in the story we could have seen the growth more. I was really hoping for an epilogue at the end but alas there was none.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and found the amount of holiday vibes just right for me. I loved the setting of Belvedere Inn and would want to stay there someday if it were real. I love that it was a big gay holiday romance filled to the brim with love and joy and family. I would love to visit this little corner of Georgia Clark's mind again someday and find out more about these relationships that just started and what happens next for Birdie.
I received an early digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review. Thanks so much for the opportunity to read this adorable holiday book!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Most Wonderful is a gayer Love Actually meets Hollywood in a small town, featuring more family! It follows the story of three siblings of a famous actress, as they try (somewhat successfully) to find love during the holidays, after not having much luck their whole life.
While I enjoyed the premise, it seemed incredibly rushed. I couldn't help but wish this was made into 3 books instead. It also seemed somewhat predictable, in both the act 3 conflict (all three of the siblings having conflict at the same time) and then the "I love you bombs" dropped VERY quickly. I'm somewhat glad that although there were happy endings, it wasn't for everyone. 3 1/2 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for the ARC!
While I enjoyed the premise, it seemed incredibly rushed. I couldn't help but wish this was made into 3 books instead. It also seemed somewhat predictable, in both the act 3 conflict (all three of the siblings having conflict at the same time) and then the "I love you bombs" dropped VERY quickly. I'm somewhat glad that although there were happy endings, it wasn't for everyone. 3 1/2 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press Trade for the ARC!
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When Liz, Rafi, and Birdie all need to leave their homes for a little while, they decide to visit their mom , Bab’s, house a little early for the holiday season. Liz is a show runner who was worrying about how close she was getting to the star, Violet, and Birdie needs to recenter after being dropped by her agent. After Rafi misses all the signs from his girlfriend, he needs a break. While there, Liz realizes there may be something going on with her mom, as she as not as eccentric as she usually is. The other thing she and Birdie notice is that Rafi will need his best friend Ash to get through his heartbreak, so they ask him to fly home; however, Rafi realizes there might be something more with their friendship and is ready to explore that. During her visit, Liz starts to work on her plan for season 2, but Violet is sent there by the show for them to workshop the second season. While working together, their relationship also grows. With help from a local artist, Birdie starts work on her new standup show, while trying to work through the affect her dad’s passing has had in her life: i really like that Birdie’s journey was more self-focused, especially with the realization that maybe it was time for an oil change.
A very fun and festive read. I loved all the Belvederes and their sweethearts. Birdie is hilarious. Only complaint was that the book got a bit too long but that's understandable when you've got 3 love stories going at once.