Most Wonderful

In this lightly holiday-themed outing, Clark (It Had to Be You) braids together three queer romances all full of character and heart. The three adult children of storied performer and oversized personality Babs Belvedere, each from a different father, gather at her home in the weeks before Christmas, each with something on their minds. Liz is struggling both with building the pitch for the second season of her TV show and with her crush on its star, Violet Grace. Stand-up comedian Birdie has just lost her agent due to her partying and womanizing interfering with her gigs, but somehow pivots an embarrassing meet-ugly with a local artist into romance. And Rafi is reeling from his girlfriend’s very public rejection, only to discover that his feelings for his best friend, Ash, might be more than platonic. Clark weaves common themes, like the siblings addressing long-buried feelings about their missing fathers, through all of the stories, to create a sense of cohesion to the three threads. Christmas atmosphere is light, with the holiday primarily serving as an excuse to bring the family together and to throw several drama-filled parties. The result is a solid, feel-good romp that may be just the escapist treat readers need to get through the season. (Oct.)