632 reviews for:

Most Wonderful

Georgia Clark

3.89 AVERAGE

andrealynn05's review

4.0

I loved this holiday family story - drama, self-discovery, people coming together / growing apart, LGBTQ romance, small town winter setting.

Siblings Liz, Birdie, and Ravi all have been unlucky in love - but in very different ways - and come home together. What starts as a black hearts club over the holidays takes them in unexpected directions - and their reunion with their famous mother brings more surprises.

I have enjoyed all of Georgia Clark's stories and this was no exception. Highly recommend to read this during a cozy afternoon in!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House for the ARC.
millhousethecat's profile picture

millhousethecat's review

4.0
adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted sad 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

With Christmas fast approaching and their lives in turmoil, the Belvedere siblings descend on their mother’s estate in upstate New York to pass out gifts and ring in a new year.

There’s buttoned up Liz who just wrapped on a successful first season as a show runner for a popular series, and is trying to deny the crush she has on the star of her show. Next is Birdie, a struggling stand up comedian and classic middle child people pleaser who just lost her agent and has no new material. Her meet cute includes throwing wine on an expensive painting. Bringing up the rear is Rafi, who is looking for love in all the wrong places and was dumped by the woman he proposed to in a fantastically misguided attempt at happiness.

The kids have different fathers but share a mother, an eccentric Hollywood star who is hosting her children, all of whom have seemingly, if not convincingly, sworn off love.

So of course, let’s introduce Violet the TV star, Jecka the artist, and Ash the lifelong best friend, all here to spread holiday cheer and romance to the Belvederes.

But nothing is ever easy and wrenches are thrown into every good thing, of course, until cooler heads - and love - prevails.

It’s a heartfelt, loving family dynamic you’ll embrace, partnered with delightful queer romance in which the weird, the wonderful, the left of center are celebrated.

Thanks to @netgalley and @dialpress for the ARC to read and enjoy. This one came out October 15, 2024, and is the perfect holiday read!

okay wow I loved this!

i went into this expecting a silly, gay romcom that doesn’t take itself too seriously, which this absolutely was, but it was also rich with sensitive discussions of heavy topics 

clark managed to discuss mental health, sibling dynamics, physical health, relationship problems, and many other weighty subjects with a delicate hand. 

I LOVED this cast of characters. all of the different siblings and partners were complex and distinctive. the entire ensemble had well crafted character arcs and development that had you rooting for every one of them. 

this was cheesy! so so cheesy! and it was at times a tiny bit cringy, but in an endearing, hallmark-movie-but-make-it-so-very-gay kind of way. there are a lot of culture references, specifically queer pop culture references, which I personally really enjoyed.

I was expecting to have fun with this, but I didn’t expect to be physically giggling and kicking my feet during the last chapters. so sweet, so funny, such an enjoyable read!! I may have to reread this during the winter season!!

thank you so much to netgalley and random house for this uncorrected proof!
adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“Most Wonderful” by Georgia Clark is a fun queer holiday romance set in the Catskills. The main characters are the three Belvedere siblings, including perfectionist and workaholic Liz, irresponsible Birdie and sensitive Rafi. Each sibling is dealing with romantic and career dilemmas as well as health issues of their bohemian and famous mother. This is a romantic and funny Christmas read that shows different types of love, family and being in the world. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC. 

emotional funny medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

 Thank you to Dial Press for the advance reader copy and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own. 

First, I have to start with how much I appreciated the amazing dedication, "For those who create, seek, or champion queer joy."

I knew this book was for me right from the start. Georgia Clark writes books that follow a variety of characters, often within the same family. And she explores queer relationships in such unique ways. 

This book was no exception, as she included three complicated and nuanced siblings as the main characters. I definitely had my favorite, but I enjoyed their interactions as much as any one storyline. Liz is a Hollywood show runner, trying to make her successful show remain so for a second season. Birdie was a middle child struggling with addiction and finding her path. Rafi was the youngest and dealing with romantic disappointment. 

All of their love interests were incredibly wise and emotionally mature. They actually felt a little less realistic than the siblings until the end. But I felt each relationship reached exactly the appropriate place for the book.

Patti Murin, Kristen Sieh, and Shawn K. Jain narrated the audiobook incredibly well. Having three narrators helped immediately set the tone for each chapter with easily distinguishable voices for Liz, Birdie, and Rafi. 

CW: pregnancy complications, alcoholism, chronic, debilitating illness 
juanat77's profile picture

juanat77's review

3.5
emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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

Most Wonderful is a queer rom-com written in three perspectives. It is based on three siblings who are very complicated and their relationships. There was a lot going on with family drama and complex characters but it is heartwarming and has feel good moments.  I did find one of the siblings unlikable— more so how she was a bit obsessed with her love interest. 

The story did not have an epilogue and made me feel like I was left hanging. Perhaps, the author did that purposely so that readers could imagine the epilogue theirselves. 

I appreciate how the author blended the heavy topics with humor as well as the mental health and chronic illness rep. I have the chronic illness that is touched upon in the story and it was a great feeling to see it mentioned as I feel it is rarely ever referred to in novels.

FYI: Most Wonderful is an open door romance. The story is very character driven and there is strong character develop throughout the story. 

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys queer romance with a side of humor, family drama and steamy times. 

Thank you NetGalley and Dial Press Trade Paperback for the eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

3.5 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

okay, I'll start this by saying that when I started the book is when I realized I had tried to read another book by this author and It was a DNF for me. I still went in with an open mind, and I think this was okay.  It had like a Love, Actually vibe with siblings going through different things while finding love. So I got it, and I enjoyed parts of it. I just always had the being outed without their consent. It just bothers me, a tiny bit. I know it happens and it's a part of life but I don't actively enjoy it most of the time. 

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Please keep in mind the following content warnings: Alcoholism, Mentions of Miscarriage, Character Fainting, Mentions of Trauma, and Sexual Content.

To say I loved this book is a bit of an understatement. I loved all three love stories, from their moments of absurdity, horniness, and joy, to their moments of realness, vulnerability, and uncertainty. It's not a secret that I'm a sucker for stories with strong familial bonds and I haven't seen such a strong trio of siblings like Rafi, Birdie, and Liz. I loved how different they were from each other, it made their stories unique and fresh. It's hard to pick my favourite sibling, but if I really have to I'm still between Rafi and Birdie. 

I loved how complicated their mum was throughout the whole story, yet impossible to not love her and see the love she had for her children. Each of the love interests has my heart. I don't want to go too much into detail about what I loved about each one of them to not risk any spoilers, but they were all perfect. There were only two explicit sex scenes, but they both had me at the edge of my seat. I have read way spicier things but it was still satisfying and it felt right for the characters. 

Honestly, I loved this book so much that I almost went to look for fanfiction until I remembered this is not out until October 15. I beg more people to read this book so I can have people to yell with.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No