Cue all the family drama, especially during the holiday season. Both of these holiday romances have some level of family drama, all the feels, and perfect settings for a holiday romance.
Goodreads says, "When Lexie learns of her father’s death, she doesn’t know how to feel; they’ve barely spoken in the last ten years. And she’s even more confused when she discovers he’s left her half of his holiday travel company, a successful niche business specializing in trips that explore the holiday traditions of cultures all over the world.
Meanwhile, the other half of the company has been left to her father’s handsome but bad-tempered young executive, Theo. And the will stipulates that the two of them must find a way to run the company together for a year before they decide its fate.
Lexie intends to leave once the year is over, even though, as a wanderer herself, she finds the company’s mission more compelling than she first thought. And a work trip to sizzling Spain reveals a chemistry between Lexie and Theo that is impossible to deny.
There may have been some snap judgments made about each other. But mixing business and pleasure isn’t always a good idea."
Lexie's father has unfortunately died and Lexie is processing this differently than expected as they haven't talked in ten years. She finds out her father left her half of his travel agency company. At first, Lexie feels resentment and doesn't want anything to do with this, especially after meeting Theo, the executive, who owns the other half of the company. As more time passes, Lexie learns more about her father through her interaction with the company, its employees, and of course, Theo. As she processes all this, she starts to understand her father in a way she couldn't before and feelings start growing for Theo. Emily Stone delivers a heavy holiday tale in A Winter Wish.
My favorite aspect of A Winter Wish was all the gorgeous holiday settings. The travel agency specializes in holiday trips to beautiful European destinations, so hearing all about that and the different traditions was my favorite part of the novel. However, I feel that the relationship between Lexie and Theo fell a little flat at times. It didn't have that spark that I was hoping for. I know that Stone's holiday novels are always a little heavier than the usual fare, but this one felt especially heavy at times. Many triggers in the novel, such as cancer, difficult relationships with a parent, death of a family member, etc. It weighed down the story at times. If you like a heavier story during the holiday season to balance out all the fluff, give this one a try.
Goodreads says, "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."
This is the first queer holiday romance that I've read and I have to say Clark does a great job threading all three sibling's stories together. I really enjoyed her writing style, too. While Most Wonderful touches on some heavier issues at times, especially as the three siblings come to terms with their father issues, Clark keeps it festive and fun. There were a few times I laughed out loud at the sibling antics and dialogue. Also the setting of beautiful upstate New York is perfect during Christmastime so that added to the festive feeling and Hallmark movie vibes. If you are looking for a cozy romance, give this one a try this holiday season.
Have you read A Winter Wish or Most Wonderful? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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