A gem of a setup for a cosy fantasy, let down for me by sketchy, inconsistent world-building and more telling than showing.  Needed the love of a fierce editor.

Patrick, 43, gay, is an ex-sitcom star, living a quietly unfamous life until his sister-in-law / best friend Sara dies.  His brother is having health isssues too, so their children go to stay with Patrick in Palm Springs for the summer.  Maisie, 9, and Grant, 6, are obviously coping with a lot, and the story is a really warm, caring look at Patrick's approach to caring for them as everyone grieves.  

That intro sounds heavy, but it's also genuinely funny -- the kids are age-realistic, Patrick very quickly realises he can't joke his way through everything, and seeing how he handles things in a mature way is great. A couple of situations that in other books would have been milked to death for drama, are here realistically de-escalated and I so appreciated that.

Would make a lovely beach read, or just let it bring a bit of sunshine into your life for now!