Absolutely obsessed with this one! The cover and storyline is adorable. I have been recommending this one to all my friends now that it is out.

It's always an amazing read if you're the target demographic of a book, and this one hit all the right marks for me. If you love books with a slice of life plot and the reality-affirming angle of how queer relationships in their 30s look like, this book is for you!

He did it again!! The book I read from this author was a lighthearted comedy. But this is a more serious emotional story and I absolutely loved it. Relationship on the rocks stories can be hit or miss but when done well they tug on those heart strings and this one did just that!

Ray Bruno is an internet writer/journalist. Throughout his 20s, he lived the life of an out and proud and fun gay man living large in NYC. He’s always been obsessed with getting married – pushed by his mother who constantly shared her wedding album his entire childhood. Ray is a blogger/writer for internet clickbait and entertainment sites. When marriage first became legal, he and his boyfriend got married like it was an assignment. They were looking for someone not just compatible but exactly like themselves. Needless to say this didn’t work out. The marriage crashed and burned with Ray’s husband cheating on him and then leaving him. Embarrassing and crushing.

Kip Hayes is also divorced – finally admitting to himself (after his ex-wife said it for him) that he’s gay. He’s nearly 40 and he and Ray have a chance meeting at a bar while waiting for a delayed train at Grand Central. Kip is just getting into dating after living his entire existence in the closet, so Ray is a revelation to him. There is 10 years between them but sometimes it feels like they are from different world rather than different generations. Kip has no online presence and he wants to keep it that way. Surprisingly Ray goes along with it because this is the best relationship he’s ever been in.

Fast forward 6 years and it’s two months before their wedding and they are going on their “Earlymoon” before the wedding – a chance to get away from everything wedding pressure provides. This is a tradition and a resort in Ray’s home town has pioneered this and so that’s where they go.

But when they get there, Ray’s sister is having business issues. An old friend of Kip’s shows up who doesn’t know Kip is gay and divorced. Then things go from bad to worse when Ray’s past also shows up and causes even more trouble. Can these two get past the earlymoon and make it to the altar?

This is my first book from this author. I really enjoyed the whole book. It’s told from Ray’s first person POV which is both good and a little frustrating, but I think in the end, NOT hearing Kip’s every thought when he struggles to articulate them is probably a good thing. There are soooo many things in this story that I think are really interesting points. How do queer people navigate things like weddings which have such a hetero history and raises certain expectations about what those types of ceremonies/celebrations should look like? How do gay couples navigate their relationships when most likely the relationships they’ve been raised observing are straight relationships? Then there are the universal themes of opposites attracting and then having to compromise so that both parties get what they need from the relationship and navigate some of these “performative” rituals of society in a meaningful way for them. The surprising amount of action takes place over a week of the Earlymoon for Kip and Ray and it’s packed full of landmines that they needs to negotiate and figure out so that they can have their dream wedding – whatever that looks like. I loved the secondary characters and mostly I really loved how Kip and especially Ray grow to recognize their own blind spots and weaknesses and learn how to better support and love each other in a way that works for them. Recommended.

I really enjoyed this book for its unique take on romance, focusing on a marriage on the rocks and the challenges that come with it. It also explores gay themes, particularly the fear of coming out, adding emotional depth to the story.

While the drama surrounding Kip felt a bit overblown at times, and the conflict toward the end seemed more dramatic than necessary, the book remained engaging and thought-provoking. It offers a refreshing break from traditional romance novels and provides insight into both relationship struggles and personal identity.

I went into this with little expectations and I was pleasantly surprised! The perfect blend of emotion and romance. I’m usually not one for the miscommunication trope but this book is so much more than that. Go read it!

2.5 stars
I was super excited for this when it came out especially since I'm a sucker for age gap romance and especially if it's LGBTQ+ rep. I am sad to say though that this book did not deliver as a romance, I felt very little chemistry between the main characters. Then most of the book was them trying to fix issues that were never addressed in the first place in their relationship which I just find odd.

First of all I would not call this a romance. Yes there is a couple and the story centers on their conflicts as their wedding looms.
Second of all the fact they are supposed to be 35 and 45 is WILD. Because shooting first and asking questions second is such a childish response to relationship conflict.
The fact that Kip is so quick to jump on ray about the flirting when he literally isn’t willing to be out is just.. whatever.
I didn’t even want them to end up together. I think ray needs therapy to address his insecurity and constant need to over share and desperation for love . But Kip also needs therapy to address why he wants to hide behind heterosexuality and is so quick to distrust his fiance.

I actually really enjoyed this one, and I thought that it was a great reminder that relationships aren't always perfect, nor should they be. The characters are different, but together they are just right. I loved the premise of an early honeymoon, and I loved how it all came together. The setting was a lot of fun as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio!

This was pretty good! Heavy on the miscommunication trope which is not my preference (and tends to really frustrate me, but not so much in this book), but did provide a nice escape from real life for a bit. Cute love story!

4.5/5 ⭐️ I truly cannot love this book enough. It was a cozy, quick read from the very beginning but I soon found myself loving the main characters and the side characters! I caught myself multiple times laughing out loud or gasping during certain parts. I felt fully immersed as if I was their loyal best friend and was learning the story behind how they came to be. This is the sort of feel good book that just makes you love, love.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for receiving this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Nearlywed, Nicolas DiDomizio crafts a witty and heartfelt exploration of love and commitment through the eyes of Ray and Kip. As they navigate the final weeks before their wedding, both face unexpected challenges that put their relationship to the test. DiDomizio expertly balances humor and depth, with relatable characters and sharp dialogue that keep readers engaged. Overall, Nearlywed is a charming and insightful read that captures the rollercoaster of planning a wedding while staying true to oneself.

"Nearlywed" by Nicolas DiDomizio is a charming tale of love and miscommunication. Its witty prose and engaging characters make for an entertaining, lighthearted read. Highly enjoyable!

If it takes an "earlymoon" for an engaged couple to figure out their problems before the wedding, then so be it lol I knew going in this was going to be one huge miscommunication trope, but I actually didn't mind this one. You follow Ray and Kip along as they tread through their relationship issues. This also had some really good laugh out loud moments.

Overall 3.75

This was one of my first M/M romance and it didn't disappoint. Please keep in mind some tough topics will be addressed, but it's done with the most respect as possible. I wish I could visit this resort in real life. (Someone please work to make a reality). Biggest take away is life on social media isn't what really happens in real life.

Super cute summer read! So many rom-com vibes in a beachy resort. Full of mishaps and misunderstandings.

An intriguing look into marriage, particularly gay marriage, and the heteronormative expectations gay couples face going into marriage

Great summer read! Glad to see more LGBTQ+ love stories out there! Nicolas really takes readers on a journey with a his one. The topic of rocky relationships isn’t always the most fun thing to consume, so for it to work, you’d need to be invested. Nicolas does a great job digging deep and making you feel the feels with Kip and Ray.

This is the first MM romance that I’ve ever read and I stumbled into it quite inadvertently. The plot was super interesting, talking about an “earlymoon”, a honeymoon that engaged couple take before they get married. The story covers the earlymoon vacation of Ray, a journalist for an online magazine and Kip, a doctor. I loved that the setting allowed for deep reflective conversations that only ever occur after the Happily Ever After and are usually glossed over in traditional romances. The book was also structured like a diary with chapters dedicated to each day of the trip, making it all feel very real!

On the other hand, I did feel like the book was maybe just a tad bit too long. I think the story could have been satisfactory at maybe 3/4th length.

If you’re like me and have never read a queer romance, I think this would be a great one to start with. It addresses some of the societal challenges of being gay and being in a relationship so well IMHO.