Nearlywed was everything I wanted it to be and more. Ray and Kip have found each other after each has gone through a divorce. Kip came out later in life and likes to lead a life of privacy whereas Ray, who always been out and proud, made a living documenting his life and his relationships.

The story is based on a five day vacation that the two take to Seabrook Connecticut to enjoy an "earlymoon" at the aptly named Earlymoon Resort. During their visit, the two encounter blasts from the pasts, bees, and questions about if they are really prepared for their impending marriage. Ray needs to figure out if he can really live with the caution Kip seems to need, but Kip needs to ask himself how much he is willing to give up to maintain his shield of privacy. Throw in Ray's ex-husband and his flirty fiancee as well as Kip's collegiate buddy who still thinks his friend is straight, and the plot is guaranteed to suck you in.

Sidenote: I loved the concept of an earlymoon that the author discusses. Does everyone do these now? Did I just miss out?!

I absolutely loved this book. The ups and downs were a true journey of love. I really enjoyed the easiness of the read.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the early ARC of this book.
I fell in love with Ray and Kip. Truly opposites, this book navigates how much of themselves they are willing to compromise for the other. This is not a spicy read, but instead a story full of depth, honesty, and love.
Ray is an internet writer who chronically overshares and often seeks validation from the internet and those around him. While he isn't insecure, his gayness has always created a sense of inferiority in which he overcompensates for. Ray is absolutely hilarious and provides much of the humor throughout the book.
Kip on the other hand is an ultra-private physician. He has no social media and has slowly been coming out of the closet after his divorce to a woman.
The two of them are engaged and go on a pre-honeymoon at a fancy beach resort. During their stay, the differences between them become glaringly obvious and cause a rift between them. They have to figure out how to address their differences, accept them, and learn what they can compromise without losing themselves.
This book is about living authentically and what that really looks like in an internet driven world. Our online persona versus who we really are. How the public views us versus the people we love the most.
I found this to be such an interesting look at coming out, hiding behind our fears, and owning our true self.

I would highly recommend this book.

This book had me hooked from the BEGINNING! Ray and Kip are on the “early moon of their dreams” when they realize the early moon itself is not what makes their soon-to-be marriage magical, it is LOVE. But it will take hardships, confrontations and lots of character development to understand that! Absolutely loved the acknowledgment for the LGBTQ+ community and what their lives and relationships may entail from different spectrums and didn’t people. Absolutely LOVED every part of this book! 5 ⭐️ all around!!!

Ever since childhood, Ray has had a borderline unhealthy obsession with the perfect relationship and a fairytale wedding. And of course no wedding would be complete without an earlymoon at The Esrlymoon Resort in his hometown.

Kip, on the other hand lived the majority of his life in the closet, married to a woman and living the life his parents would approve of.

On paper, Ray and Kip could be less perfectly suited, they are complete opposites, a deeply private doctor and an over sharing internet journalist. But they work. Their relationship for all intents and purposes is prefect, and the wedding will be a grand affair.

But when they get to The Earlymoon Resort things start to go down hill after they run into an old school friend of Kip’s. Will their relationship be stronger after their earlymoon, or will they fail to make it to their wedding…

This was fun! It was just lighthearted enough, funny, but also serious when it needed to be. The way that the author bookends the story with an article of Ray’s on love really makes you understand him a bit more.

The meet cute between Ray and Kip is unexpected, but is a direct contrast to how Ray met his ex-husband. Kip is also the type of person Ray never thought he would date, but their differences make them better together.

There is an expectation surrounding the earlymoon from Ray as it is one areas where things start to go downhill, he wants it to be perfect, as perfect as his parents was. But throw in an article he needs to write for work, an extremely attractive man flirting with him every time they talk, and you know things are going to get crazy.

As someone who is heading towards the tail end of planning a wedding (only 70 days to go) I could definitely use an earlymoon. But not one as eventful as Ray and Kip’s. But, I throughly enjoyed the way that everything resolved itself and the characters displayed a realistic amount of personal growth that didn’t make me cringe 😂

Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes seem like an imperfect match—where Ray is an chronic oversharer, Kip keeps his life close to the vest. As they go on an “earlymoon” ahead of their wedding, some of those differences come to a head and suddenly the romantic week they had planned might be the cause of their breakup.

The generational difference between Ray (millennial) and Kip (gen X) is the root of a lot of their issues, centering most specifically around what they’re comfortable sharing, both online and with those around them. There’s a lot of discussion about one’s identity and image, and how even uneventful things done by a straight couple often hold much more weight when done by a queer couple—and whether that’s cause to back away from them, or to lean in. The book examines what it’s like to come out later in life, how that can change people’s opinions, and how it can make it harder to accept yourself.

There are some fun side characters, and surprising stories from some of the other guests at the hotel on their own earlymoons. I was pleasantly surprised by the various shades of queer identity and relationships that were depicted, and that they were all shown respect, driving home that what works for someone doesn’t have to work for others, as long as it works for them and their partner.

I really enjoyed this! It’s a nice change to read a romance where the initial relationship is already established, and we as readers get to see how they work together, how they succeed (and fail!) to communicate with each other, and how they trust each other to work through it together. It would be perfect to read by the pool or at the beach!

Thanks to NetGalley for making this ARC available.
Pub date: 21 May 2024

“What do you think makes for a successful earlymoon?”
“Hmm! That’s a good one.” He strokes his gray beard for several moments, careful not to rush his response. “If you’re still engaged by the end of it, then it was a success.”

The minute I saw the author's name on NetGalley, I snagged the book without a second thought. I liked his previous work titled "The Gay Best Friend" very much and I just knew I wouldn't be disappointed with this one. And I was right - loved it from the beginning til the end, devouring it almost in one sitting.

I'm a bit tired of wedding themed romances, but give me gay wedding any day! And Mr. DiDomizio delivers: I enjoyed the unexpected angles and curious insights about relationships and marriage, I loved the main characters, Ray and Kip, how different they were, yet completing each other. And the writing style is just my cup of tea - clever, witty, evocative and a perfect balance of angst and humor.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest opinion.

Ray Bruno is a child of the internet, an over sharing, out and proud millennial who turned personal stories into clickbait as a journalist in his 20s, never once thinking it might catch up to him. He also grew up in a house where his mother constantly spoke about true love, her dream wedding and all the trappings. Young Ray wanted nothing less for himself.

Kip Hayes is a well established doctor from a prominent family, recently divorced from his wife of twelve years. He is meticulously private, having been born ten years before Ray, he never had the desire to over share, or share at all. But maybe that’s because he was in the closet until his late 30s.

They’re terrible on paper.

But engaged and in love, Ray convinces Kip to have an “earlymoon”, something cooked up in his hometown on the shores of the Atlantic in Connecticut where harried couples get away before the wedding.

Everything is perfect — Ray will accept no less — until it isn’t. A run in with another couple leaves Ray and Kip questioning everything. Are they truly meant for each other?

Here’s what worked for me:
•Ray’s insecurities are universal, I think, and touched on my own making him relatable, something missing from some romcoms.
•Kip initially seems strong and infallible but slowly his own insecurities are revealed, making him more human.
•The cast of supporting characters are used perfectly.
•A bee! Anaphylactic shock! Two things you would not expect to be instrumental in a romcom and yet serve as a perfect catalyst.
•Guys, even the third act break up works!

Here’s what didn’t work for me:
•The epilogue didn’t plop me down where I expected it to, and I was a tad disappointed.

This is my first 5 star ARC read. You should definitely pick this up when it becomes available!

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the e-ARC to read and review. Available May 21, 2024.

Nearlywed follows the trials of a couple on an early honeymoon in a coastal Connecticut town. Ray Bruno is a self proclaimed chaotic millennial and romance journalist who has chronically overshared his love life throughout the years. His fiance, Kip Hayes, is a private Gen X doctor who did not come out until later in life. While Ray romanticizes the concept of an "earlymoon," the reality turns out to be far from what he expects. The couple is forced to delve into issues that have yet to arise throughout their relationship.

Nearlywed was a quick and entertaining read that touches on the effect of social media on relationships and internalized homophobia. I did not necessarily agree with all of the conclusions that the characters came to and had trouble rooting for them at certain points throughout the book. Many of the characters felt one dimensional and I would have liked to see them a little more fleshed out. Ultimately, I appreciated the realistic take on relationships and shame in the queer community.

Nearlywed comes out May 21st, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review!

cute and mostly fun. there's some great supporting characters and some cool little moments, along with a heaping dose of miscommunication and/or misunderstanding that make these sorts of rom-com books work.

no tea, but parts of this book definitely feel like the author working through his own relationship issues just by writing it out. and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it does make certain parts feel a bit repetitive....

I definitely recommend it and liked it; it's great for you romantics out there in a world where you constantly temper your own enthusiasm for love in order to not scare away the normies...

and I got a free early copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ps. Kip says hello.

I am not going to lie, when I asked for this arc, I, hundred percent, judged the book by it’s cover and it’s title. I had no idea what kind of whirlwind I was going to throw myself into. As my first queer romance book of the year, I was extremely excited to read this.

I had expected to read this book in two days, but it took me a little longer than that, because this book was not your ordinary queer romance book. Nearly Wed was a story about a gay couple who had decided to do a honeymoon before their marriage, where they ran into quite a number of issues.

This book proved the multiple layers that we possess, as humans, and how we use those layers to our abilities. It proved that being queer is not easy, even today, despite all that we see on social media. Nearly Wed beautifully portrayed the difficulties that a queer person goes through in the process of coming out, and accepting who you are, especially when you’re at a later stage in life. It proved how we are shaped by our parents actions, and how an incident that would seem forgettable to most, makes us who we are today. Every moment of our lives is important to us, and to live with the fear of never being accepted leads us to navigate through life in the best possible way we think we know.

It also proved how complicated love is. As a concept, “love” is really easy to understand, but to live with it every day, we realise just how hard it is, and this book showed it perfectly. There can never be just one form of love, even in romantic relationships, and it’s really important for us to understand that we cannot expect everyone to conform to our ideas of love.

One of my favourite things in the book was the comparison of the most mundane things done by a straight person or couple versus if it were done by a queer person or couple. It is extremely true that anything and everything that a straight person does, no one bats an eye, except when the same thing is done by a queer person, it is forced to become a part of their personality, of their identity.

I agreed with every part of the book, and I think this book is a really important read, especially for queers. This book is proof that we are not alone in our insecurities, our internalised belief of being “defective”, and in our pride.

For a lighthearted, fluffy LGBT beach read, this book is great. It’s so easy to root for Ray, with lots of quirks and the best intentions. The resort setting is gorgeous and immersive, giving the vibe that you’re actually on an earlymoon vacation. (Which I LOVE the idea of. Honeymoon, babymoon, earlymoon. If it’s got a moon behind it, it’s for me!) The conflict felt a bit forced at the 75% mark, but in the end, the premise is so well pulled off. A very cute, easy pickup, if a little forgettable. However, if you’re an avid romance reader, your rating might resonate so much higher with you. Definitely a happy 3.5 stars for me.

Ooooh... a romantic comedy that is neither very romantic or very funny, but is an insightful look into marriage and the challenges that couples face trying to create their happily ever after. This book wasn't what I was expecting, but I still found it an enjoyable and interesting read.

Nearlywed is a summer romantic comedy that kept me engaged from start to finish. It has an interesting storyline, basically the engaged couple's compatibility is put to the test during their honeymoon. Ray and Kip are some of my favorite characters, their banter, vulnerabilities, and connection kept me rooting for their love story. This book has a perfect blend of humor and magic, it kept me smiling from start to finish. It's a must-read if you love romantic comedies.

This was an easy read that flowed pretty well all the way through. I did find it a little difficult to connect more with the characters because we didn't see enough of them together, and even then most of it was them arguing. That being said, I still really enjoyed it and would love to read more!

I went into this novel blind, only knowing it was a gay romance. Although, at times, it seemed to be an anti-romance.

This wasn't because it was enemies to lovers, or something like that. It was because one character was obsessively in love with his fiance, and his fiance was in love, but not to the point of wanting to be out for all the world to see. They agree to go on a pre-honeymoon, at a resort called the Earlymoon. The theory is that you get the honeymoon out of the way, before the wedding, so you don’t have to stress about it later.

That is the theory. Though, as we go through the story, that is not always the result.

It took me a while to warm up to Ray, who was so obsessively in love with his fiance was it was almost gag-worthy, though I did agree that he should be out more. But that is me, and my generation, I suppose.

It is actually a cute story, showing how different people at the resort delt with being thrust together before their wedding. And there was a great line by the resort owner who said that a successful earlymoon was “If you are still engaged by the end of it, then it was a success.”

Another great line from the book, which stood out was: The reality of a marriage is all the days that come after.

Good story, though, as I said, I wasn’t sympathetic to the main character, as I found him a little obsessive. But the people around him were able to see that too, and make him see it as well.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 21st of May 2024.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC

WOW, where do I even start with this?? I expected this to be a cute little rom-com read to keep me going while I decided what I wanted my next big read to be. And while I was right about that, I didn't quite expect it to hurt as much as it did.

I felt the chemistry between Kip and Ray from the very beginning, I knew instantly that despite their differences they genuinely loved each other. Though it soon became apparent that they had a HUGE issue with communication. Because of their differences, they obviously needed to compromise a lot. However, rather than doing what they should be doing and talking things through - <i>communicating</i> - and finding a true middle ground, they were constantly giving up their end to let the other have their way entirely. And that's far from healthy. They both clearly had a fucked up perspective of love and relationships, and I was scared at multiple points throughout this that they wouldn't be able to work through their differences and get the happy ending they both deserved.

This was SO well written!! It was such an easy read, and both Kip and Ray were very relatable. I laughed and cried right along with them, and there were multiple times I found myself so frustrated with one or both of them, that I had to book the down and take a break before I did sometime drastic. If it had been possible for me to reach into the book and give them both a good shake, I would have done multiple times.

I can't wait to go and read more of Nicolas DiDomizio's work after this!

This one is for you if you’re in a relationship and sometimes have difficulties communicating with your partner. Or if you just want to read about all the things communication-wise could go wrong. The ‘will I tell, or hmmm, maybe not’. The ‘you did that or you did not’. This story is so, so relatable!

Sometimes, I just need a story to lighten the heaviness in my heart. Right now, because I finished a very raw but beautiful book and knew I needed something to let go. And this one definitely delivered!

Ray and Kip, the main characters in Nearlywed, could have been stereotypes in an average rom-com full of miscommunication—Ray, the outgoing, social media-loving journalist, and Kip, the introverted, private doctor—but gladly, they weren’t.

Instead, this story is about not communicating in relationships. About the topics that really matter, like your biggest fears. Ray and Kip are madly in love with each other, but hardly talk about their differences and their fears. Ray who grew up between lobster catchers with a mom who did everything for her Prince Charming, Kip in a traditional doctor’s family with a dad who has certain dreams for his son.

So Ray clings to Kip and sets his own life on hold, focusing on quality time with his fiancé, afraid the love of his life will find out he’s not enough. Kip doesn’t want everything to be about his sexuality and always conforms to anything his Dad wants. Like I said, their way of communicating is so relatable, instead of listening and staying calm, Ray hissed and throws all his grievances onto the table, and Kip just defends himself or shuts the conversation down and falls asleep like nothing happened.

Smiles pulled at my lips so hard while reading, and at other times, I wanted to shout at those guys to start listening to the other and start talking, really talking. But I also know from my own experience how hard it can be to put your fears fully on display with the ones you love the most. Those two guys were perfectly flawed and should have opened up much sooner, but I also understood why they didn’t.

I already loved The Gay Best Friend and I felt in love with Nearlywed even a bit more. Highly, highly, highly recommended!

Thank you so much to SOURCEBOOKS casablanca for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book is a DNF for me. I feel like the characters all bothered me and I was not interested in the story because I didn't like the characters. I didn't get too far into the story before I knew that this book was not for me. The plot wasn't hooking me and I just didn't think I could finish it.

I think the premise was an interesting idea and the cover is cute. This book was just not for me.

I hope this book finds the right audience and others enjoy it!

This story was so sweet and beautiful. I loved Ray from the very beginning. I loved Kip’s gentle and calm demeanor. They are definitely opposites, which sometimes results in a match made in heaven. It was funny, great banter, and thought provoking. I recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc!
Pub date: 5/21/24