"Being gay is not really my forte" declares Max Moody in Karger's breezy rom-com debut. He's referring to his lack of interest in party planning, flower arranging, and the like, skills which are put to the test when his best friend, Paige, asks Max to be "man of honor" at her wedding. Infuriatingly, Paige's future brother-in-law, Chasten--who also happens to be Max's one-time anonymous hook-up--excels at arranging bachelorette parties and bridal showers. Max fumes as Chasten inserts himself into every aspect of wedding planning and sets out to take down his "best man rival." As they get to know each other better, however, Max starts fantasizing about his frenemy, especially after Chasten, a chocolatier, takes Max to his factory. Unfortunately, Karger shortchanges the sweet romance to focus instead on drama between Paige and Max: she's angry when he misses her dress fitting, and he resents her always calling him her "gay best friend." There's also an almost pointless subplot about layoffs at Max's job. Still, the writing is filled with fun pop culture references and Karger can turn a phrase ("I'm hit by the early evening humidity like a nonconsensual embrace"). This appealing debut tries to do too much, but it still offers plenty to enjoy. Agent: Dan Lazar, Writers House. (May)

DEBUT A journey of self-discovery for the gay best friend of a bride overshadows the rom-com vibes for most of this debut novel by screenwriter Karger. The book follows Max Moody, who moved to New York City with his BFF Paige years ago and still doesn't quite have it all figured out yet. His life basically revolves around the chaos of Paige's life--until she announces that she's getting married, and she wants Max to be her man of honor. Paige clicks with her future brother-in-law Chasten, who is gorgeous and gay and seems to have it all together. But Max and Chasten don't hit it off. As they get to know each other a little better, however, a connection begins to form. It takes a long time for Max and Chasten to get to that point, though, and a lot of the book focuses on Max's journey and Paige's antics. VERDICT Karger tells a good and ultimately compelling story, but readers seeking a romantic tale may be disappointed by the focus on the main character's internal struggles.--Jenny Kobiela-Mondor

It's a battle of the best men in screenwriter Karger's debut romantic comedy. Max Moody is not what most people think of when they hear the phrase "gay best friend," and he's fine with that. No, he'll never call you "fierce" or gush about Britney Spears, and so what if he unironically wears New Balance sneakers and has a soul-sucking HR gig? Max's best friend, Paige, has been perfectly content with his basic take on being a GBF...that is, until she gets engaged. Paige enlists Max to be her best man, her "gay of honor," and, much to his chagrin, her wedding planner. Max always assumed he'd be first of their duo to get married, but the closest thing he has to a relationship is hooking up with his ex or embarrassing himself with strangers in dark corners. Unable to deny Paige, though, Max reluctantly agrees to help her wrangle up her dream wedding in just three months. It turns out that Paige has also recruited her fiance's brother and best man to help, and sexy chocolatier Chasten Benchley is the ultimate example of a gay best friend. He curbs Paige's indecision with ease, throws her a fabulous Fire Island getaway with homemade brunch, and hobnobs with New York's finest in their penthouses. Not only is Chasten a wedding planner extraordinaire, but he's also one of Max's embarrassing dark-corner hookups...so basically, he's enemy No. 1. And yet, Max can't help but hate to love Chasten: He's hot, thoughtful, and genuine--and yeah, Max wouldn't mind staring at his "perfect" lips a little while longer. Try as he might to resist Chasten's charms, when Paige's indecision threatens to turn into cold feet, the two best men must band together to save their bride. Karger's debut is laugh-out-loud funny, and Max is the epitome of millennial dry humor: "What's a group of bridesmaids called? A school? An army? Let's go with a cackle." Max and Paige's friendship is ultimately the star of the show, and readers will find their banter reminiscent of fan favorites like Amy Poehler and Tina Fey or Dan Levy and Annie Murphy. A charming debut filled with cocktails, chocolate, and comedy. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.