Second Chances in New Port Stephen

This playful and sweet second-chance romance from Alexander (Chef’s Choice) sends trans comedian Eli Ward to his parents’ Florida home for Christmas—a visit he’s dreading both because of the state’s growing list of antitrans laws and because of his recent career implosion. An unexpected bright spot comes in the form of restaurant manager Nick Wu, Eli’s high school best friend and pretransition boyfriend, who’s still living in New Port Stephen to coparent his delightful four-year old, Zoe. When the men see each other again, attraction reignites—despite both of them believing Nick to be straight. The tone throughout is humorous, from Eli’s easy banter with Zoe to an expedition to Eli and Nick’s former high school that ends with their escape as it falls into a sinkhole, but Nick’s struggle to redefine his sexuality is given the weight it deserves. Meanwhile, both men deal with complex family dynamics: Alexander leaves most of the transphobia in the hands of Nick’s cartoonishly difficult ex-mother-in-law, giving Eli’s family only a vague cluelessness where gender is concerned that is ultimately redeemed through a delightful photo-shoot redo of childhood photos. Readers wishing for breezy, reassuring queer romance will take joy in Eli and Nick’s love. Agent: Larissa Melo Pienkowski, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Dec.)