Second Chances in New Port Stephen

A pleasant end of year surprise, a new to me author with a thoughtful, occasionally humorous romance between transmasc unemployed, recently sober comedy writer Eli and his cishet former BFF/boyfriend Nick, general manager of a restaurant and divorced dad. Eli hasn't visited his hometown of New Port Stephen, Florida in many years for a variety of reasons, hateful anti-trans legislation being only the most recent. The plot invests an equal amount of space to Eli's relationship with his inadvertently hurtful parents, Nick's love for and fears about his four year old daughter, and the peculiarities of a second chance at love with someone whose whole identity has changed.

Could have used fewer Big Misunderstandings, but there were plenty of scenes with the two MCs being kind to each other, which frankly goes a long way for me these days. The action takes place around the holidays but they're not the driving force for the plot. The real happy ending is that Eli and Nick's future together lies in a better, bluer state.