Nearlywed is a single-POV age gap, opposites attract romance. On paper, Ray and his fiancé Kip couldn’t be more different, but they’re madly in love and planning their end-of-summer wedding. Ray, a millennial writer, convinces Kip, a gen-X doctor, that an “earlymoon” is just what they need. Once they arrive at their idyllic resort, though, things seem to be heading south.

I really enjoyed this book but it definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. I went in thinking it would be a funny little romcom but it was much more introspective. Ray does a lot of reflecting on relationships, his past dating, his failed first marriage, his parents' example, and his relationship with Kip. Heavy at times but well worth the read as the two navigate a rocky week together to ultimately come out stronger and healthier.


Read dates: 04/26/2024- 04/27/2024
Goodreads review: 04/27/2024
Instagram review: 04/27/2024
Blog review: 05/21/2024

I loved this book. So I've already read and enjoyed the gay best friend by this author but Nicolas really knocked it out of the park with this book (unrelated to TGBF, complete standalone). He writes messy interesting characters so well. Characters who are capable of change but never to complete perfection. They admit things to themselves and to others that feels painfully realistic and sometimes they are in such denial we as the reader can see it and it makes them all the more endearing.

The cover of this is so good because this is an engagement in crisis between a bit of an age gap couple (10 years). Our main character Ray is a journalist who at one point was putting alllll his personal secrets online for entertainment. Fast forward to now he's with a very private and recently out doctor, Kip. I feel that the feedback loop Ray built with his reader audience he at times put into his relationship requiring some codependency between him and Kip. This comes into play when they go on an "earlymoon" which is an experience coined by a resort in Ray's hometown where couples come to vacation prior to their weddings. When they are stuck in this same place instead of premarital bliss they are faced to confront insecurities and incompatibilities between them.

The topic of queer expression and "outness" within and about a relationship is a huge topic of this book. Ray and Kip need to confront heteronormative ideals and create their own preferences together. For Ray, he is the ultimate romantic and wants it all and feels threatened when that is questioned by Kip who has been through a hetero relationship and knows that if true love and attraction isn't at the heart of it is it just going through the motions? Or should he work to meet Ray in the middle?

There's a lot of heart in this and definitely drama with some side characters that pop up. It is all so purposeful and comes full circle. And don't worry this is still solidly a romance. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablance for this eARC.

This book was such a plesant surprise. I had a feeling that I would like it and I'm so glad that I was right.

The first thing that made me enjoy the book is Ray. I found him relatable in the way he wants everything to be perfect and even movie-like. which can be more of a fantasy than reality, and as a continuation of that the way things are vs. how he thinks they should be. His way of thinking and even naivity if you will felt extremely similar to mine. And it might be because of that, or thanks to Nicholas DiDomizio's writing, that during the third act conflict, I could really feel how much Ray loves Kip.

Another thing that I loved is that nothing's black or white in the book. The characters and relationships are all complex and flawed, and when hard moments hit the book shows that you don't have to throw everything away, that difficulties and problems can be dealt with (and not in a way that forces someone to change).

A part of me did wish we had Kip's point of view in the book, but I'm also glad we don't. When I started reading, there was a voice in my head that was probably fed by Ray's inner monolgue, that wasn't so sure that he and Kip are made for each other. I obviosuly knew that they'd end up staying together, yet what I loved is that by the end of the book you can see that these two people should be together. Also, the conversations about being gay and being in a gay relationship were interesting to read as a non-gay reader.

I don't know if every romance reader would enjoy this book because it's message might be a bit obvious to some people, and it has conversations that people might see as obvious or very young. Personally, as someone who's 26, I enjoyed it a lot, and for me, it was quite comforting as someone with relationship anxiety, and in general it has a bit of a 2000's romance movie vibe. (Also I magined Roy as Jonathan Bailey and Kip as Matt Bomer so maybe that too made me love this).

Nicolas DiDomizio is a new to me author, I've heard of is previous work and never got the chance to check it out before this arc. I loved the book and I be for sure checking their prior books.

Nearlywed is a great book about communication and how it is a key in every relationship. The characters are well written and you can't help but to empathize with them from the start. I loved seeing how a same subject could have opposite reactions, and how it's easier to see the deep rooted problem for why your partner act and react this way, than to face the fact that your actions are fueled by the same problem. (Sorry to be vague here but I don't want to spoil) and how you could overcome it by communicating.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication! My review will appear on my blog on (5/13/24). I will also feature the review on Instagram that same day and post my review to Goodreads, The Storygraph, Fable, and retail sites.

Review:

I had been looking forward to this book ever since I finished DiDomizio's "The Gay Best Friend" last June. TGBF was one of my top reads from last year, and I still talk about it with anyone who will listen. It's also one of those books where I felt such a solid connection to the characters that I often wonder how they're doing and if they're still together (and if not if maybe Bucky might call me so we can set a date to meet). And then I remember they aren't real and I return to my ho-hum life. When I finally received an ARC for "Nearlywed," I had to force myself to set it aside to get through some other ARCS set to release before this one (and it was a struggle, let me tell you!). Did it live up to my expectations? Read on and find out!

This novel is told from the first-person POV of millennial Ray Bruno - a 30-something-year-old man obsessed with love. He loves love so much that he blindly jumped into a relationship in his twenties. As soon as the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, he and his then-boyfriend, Byrd, immediately got married - and then slowly watched their relationship dissolve until they finally admitted they were not a good match and divorced.

Years later, Ray is engaged to Dr. Kip Hayes, a 45-year-old Family Medicine doctor who was also previously married (but to a woman). While Ray has been out and proud since he was young and has blogged and used social media to post about all of his gay escapades online, Kip is new to this scene and lives a more reserved life. The two are madly in love, though, and Ray feels he will finally get the wedding and husband of his dreams. He also gets to finally visit the luxurious Earlymoon Hotel in Ray's hometown of Seabrook, CT. Ray's parents stayed at the hotel before their wedding, and Ray has dreamt of the day he could stay at the resort as well. That day has finally come.

But as Kip and Ray embark on their "earlymoon", their perfect relationship begins to crumble as Ray's demands of a perfect gay wedding clash with Kip's desire to stay out of the limelight and keep things low-key. Will the couple work out their extreme personality differences, or will the revelations that come to light during their trip drive them apart, dashing Ray's hopes of a forever love once again?

From the get-go, Ray and Kip's dynamic is a comedy of errors waiting to happen. Ray has a penchant for oversharing, and his energy can only be described as chaotic, while Kip is more reserved, prefers to think things through, and, above all else, does all he can to stay out of the spotlight. I will admit that Ray drove me absolutely crazy for a good portion of the book. I am definitely more of a Kip, and I could not, for the life of me, understand how this would work. Since we live in Ray's head throughout the entire novel, and he frustrated me so much, I found it really difficult to connect with him mainly because I found him selfish and attention-starved. One thing that really bothered me was how insistent he was that he wanted Kip to hold his hand, kiss him in public, and basically shout his love for Ray from the rooftops. This was really a personal issue, primarily due to something I experienced when I was younger.

I was with someone in my early 20s who felt that I needed to be just as "out" as he was, and when he found out that I hadn't yet told my family, he took it upon himself to do it for me - without even asking me first. This act was one of the biggest betrayals of trust I have ever experienced, and it did not end well for us or my relationship with some of my family members. I still have a little bit of trauma over that.

I'm of the mindset that there's no one way to be gay - some people are more comfortable living a quiet life without the need for everyone to know, while others are out and proud - and I support both. Ray's insistence that Kip's unwillingness to tell people he was his fiance equated to Kip being ashamed of Ray and trying to push him back into the closet REALLY irked me. It was almost as if there was no compromising with Ray, and I got to the point that I hoped Kip would tell him to GTFO and move on. At one point, I got so frustrated with Ray's selfishness and "poor me" attitude that I considered DNFing the book because it got to be too much. However, I stuck around because I loved TGBF so much and hoped for a wake-up call on Ray's part. In the end, there was much character growth for both Kip and Ray, and I really enjoyed how it all ended. I may have even teared up a couple of times.

One thing that really made this book shine is DiDomizio's writing style. He is sharp and witty and has a keen eye for the absurdities of modern relationships. From awkward encounters with other couples at the resort to miscommunications of epic proportions, Ray and Kip find themselves in one outrageous situation after another. As a reader, you can't help but cringe at their mishaps while cheering them on to overcome their obstacles (even if you might want to smack Ray several times along the way).

In the end, I really enjoyed this one. While I hated Ray for the first 2/3 of the book, he ended up growing on me, and I ended up loving how it all played out. DiDomizio's clever writing and quirky characters make for a refreshing take on the traditional romantic comedy genre. This is the perfect read for Pride Month. Get your pre-orders in now!

3.75/5⭐️


This was cute! It was funny, easy to read, felt like a quick read too. I liked the characters best just didn’t connect to them. I liked the story and the thought of communication being important in a relationship but I just didn’t click with it much! I’m sure if I had connected to the characters more this definitely would’ve rated higher. This is a great book for someone looking for a funny romcom, beachy, MM romance!

Thank you netgalley for the eARC!

I went into this book not knowing anything about it other than it was witty and fun, and that it had great banter. I did NOT expect to sob in the middle there and by the end I had happy tears rolling down my face (swipe for proof of the moments after I read the epilogue).

Ray and Kip are engaged, and about to go on an earlymoon before their wedding so they can relax and enjoy their time together. Ray is a writer who is semi well known online, and Kip is a doctor who is very private. This comes to a head while on vacation, and they start to argue and get frustrated with each other. Can they make it to the aisle?!

*spoilers*

I seriously adored this book. Some of the reasons are listed below:
Ray was just so relatable! As a 35 year old millennial myself, I relate to his online persona and how he views the world around him.
Kip was such a strong and steady presence. I wasn’t super happy with him at first but the more you get to know him, the more his actions made sense. By the end of the book I was sobbing. I mean that scene alone where Ray is stung!? *cries forever*
There is a LOT of vulnerability in this book. It felt like the conversations had were very real.
I loved the line about make up sex being earned.
I highlighted so many passages in this one that I related to on a deep level. Crushing loneliness? Check. Being codependent? Check. Always needing validation? Check.
The side characters were so fantastic and I’m surprised I didn’t catch on to one of them sooner.
It was full of fantastic banter, 90s and 2000s references, and a lot of self reflection.
I loved the quirks of the small town.
Ray’s sister Stef was hilarious and so deadpan, but also incredibly supportive.
The golfing. The sting. The “I’m his fiancé.” The deep conversation. The resort after. The slow dancing. The day after. The lobster fest. The slow dancing.
That epilogue.

This book was amazing and I really really hope you read it!!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read and review. I don't know why this one is so hard for me to star-rate, but I'm going with my intuition: about 3.5 stars. This is a dynamic and extremely well written book, there's the right amount of conflict and backstory, and it flows/reads easily. I've been thinking about it a lot since finishing my read a few days ago, so it certainly lingers - which is amazing. I think I ultimately did not particularly like any of the characters, and was not rooting for any of the couples to be together, which just doesn't hit right as a romance or fun read. But what I thought this book did brilliantly was illuminate a lot of the issues couples on the verge of marriage may face, especially queer couples. The idea of an "earlymoon" provides the perfect amount of pressure - because you may think that this would be the best part of a couple's life together, right before the vows and just enjoying their lives and travels together, but it can be full of societal pressures, doubts, insecurities, and taxing events.

This story wrestles with the question both directly and implicitly: should queer couples proudly chase the same dreamy fairytales and embrace the big wedding traditions that straight couples have always been represented in (like Ray desperately wants), or is even the simple fact of a queer marriage already bucking tradition and inherently going against the societal stereotype that all the joy is in forging a completely new path (like Kip prefers.) I think readers will get a ton of value out of seeing these questions get dissected and challenged, especially under the context of characters in different age groups/generations.

Back to those characters, though: I have never heard of two people both so concerned with Googling themselves as Kip and Ray- each for opposite reasons. I get it: Ray's trying to make a name for himself in the media, as an online writer, and Kip wants to be anonymous and a bit off-the-grid so his patients don't doubt him as a medical professional. I understand Ray a bit more, because I also started out my career writing for random online publications, some of which were total content cultures looking for my own personal essays in exchange for a few bucks and their cheap clicks. I wish Kip understood that BOTH this was just a predatory feature of a lot of 2010s "blogs" and sites (that still happens, but the media landscape has changed a lot) AND that having a following and readership IS a livelihood and your ticket to the next gig (that may be bigger, better paying, more prestigious, etc.) He continued the narrative that Ray was shallow and concerned with his online appearance which, like, there are surely people like that but he just looked down on it so much and expected to be SO separate from this world that was important to Ray's entire personality and career, that I had trouble rooting for them to be together along the way. I love that this book brought up that debate a lot: about shame, about who you deserves your full personality and who you're responsible to be "out" to, etc. Characters don't owe me likability either, their differences just felt more like they posed great sides to an overall debate than well-rounded folks.

Ray Bruno and Kip Hayes seem like an odd match: Ray is an always online writer, and Kip is a doctor who insists on his privacy. Somehow, the two have overcome these differences and are getting married in a few months. But then Ray convinces Kip to take a pre-honeymoon at a luxury resort in Ray's hometown. When Ray and Kip cross paths with another couple staying at the resort, it causes several miscommunications that put increasing pressure on Ray and Kip's relationship—and causes them to question if they are, in fact, a good match or whether they were deluding themselves that they could overcome their differences.

This was a funny and perceptive novel, with strong characters and an engaging story.

Highly recommended!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!

I went into Nearlywed expecting a sweet and summery queer rom-com. And it checked all those boxes and then some, going beyond the expected to some honest and vulnerable places, especially where marriage is concerned.

It was relatable and refreshing to see our MCs, Ray and Kip, make mistakes, take accountability for their actions, and then process those experiences. Generational influence was also a big topic, with the book exploring how Ray being a Millennial and Kip being Gen X shaped their outlooks on life, love, and relationships.

Speaking of Ray and Kip…the endearing characters were another highlight, and I fell especially hard for Ray and his pop culture prowess. However, I was left wishing there’d been more of his mom, who is mentioned throughout the book as having a HUGE influence on his concept of romance and weddings.

Also, bonus points for the idyllic seaside setting! The beachy vibes were so on point. I also loved the concept of an “earlymoon” to celebrate an upcoming wedding.

Have I convinced you to read this book yet? Sea breezes! Wedding bells! More pop culture references than an episode of Gilmore Girls! It has all the things, including relatable romance and queer rep. Be sure to pop it in your beach bag when it’s available on May 21, 2024!

I could not have loved this more! No one does rom-com like Nicolas DiDomizio. He is absolutely brilliant at creating fully formed and complex characters, making it easy to get sucked into their world. I loved the message of how two people can be deeply in love, but still have things to work on in a relationship and learn about each other. I had so much empathy for both Kip and Ray, and the heart-wrenching situation they found themselves in. I also loved the inclusion of a character who came out later in life, who is still struggling to figure out what that means for him and battling his internalized homophobia. This book was just absolute perfection and a must for your summer reading list!

Nearlywed follows Ray Bruno, a millennial writer who is known for his witty and sometimes sassy celebrity coverage and Kit, his fiancé who is a Gen-X doctor. Talk about an unlikely pairing but the two lovebirds are determined to make the most of their second chances at love, starting with an earlymoon.

Getting back to my original point, an earlymoon is exactly what you might imagine. It’s an early honeymoon for couples who are getting married. It’s essentially a way for them to connect and feel closer before the stress of the wedding takes over. I don’t know about you, but sign me the heck up.

Things seem great between the two until they actually decide to go on their earlymoon. From the first day onward, it’s clear they don’t know each other as well as they thought. Kit is dealing with some insecurities and doesn’t know how to handle himself after bumping into an old friend. Ray is dealing with his own insecurites about their relationship and dismantling his previous expectations.

Frankly, I don’t want to talk too in-depth about these characters and their journeys as it plays such a huge role in the book. Even so, I adored how Nicolas DiDomizio wrote these characters as to put it simply, they were hot messes. They were dealing with so much internally and not talking to each other or their loved ones to get help. It was hard to read at times as it felt realistic to how relationship can be.

Aside from the character growth, it felt nice to see how much the relationship between Ray and Kit changed. You see them in a certain light when the story begins and then it slowly starts to morph in the best way. By the end, you’re dying for things to work out between them and I loved that.

Just a quick aside from the main couple to say that I loved Ray’s sister. She was easily one of my favorite side characters. Other than that, this book dealt a lot with unrealistic expectations and simply wanting more for the sake of having it. Even so, I came away from reading Nearlywed with a fresh perspective on weddings, relationships and ready to plan an earlymoon.

This was my first novel by DiDomizio, and boy am I now champing at the bit to continue with his back catalog. DiDomizio's main character is Ray Bruno, a man who has allowed hopeless romanticism to rule his life. Doctor Kip Hayes is a conformist who is out, but maybe not that proud when it comes to his everyday life. The comedy of errors that unfolds thereafter is so heartwarming and relatable that I can't help but to immediately stan the author. I felt myself commiserating with both Ray's and Kip's viewpoints as they navigated the choppy waters of gay identity and monogamy in the 2020s. Fluffy, wholesome, spicy as a bowl of vanilla ice cream, but just as tasty and enjoyable.

Highly-recommended for any gay man in his 30s or 40s wanting a comfy read that makes you remember why you believe in love. I'm molting! Five stars.

This was a 3.5 stars really. I enjoyed the character development throughout this arc and both characters had a busy week learning and changing as people.

Kip is a stoic doctor who is out to people he knows and cares about, Ray is shouting about his relationship from the rooftops. I laughed out loud a few times and I love the small town lobster references.

I guess I just didn't click well with Ray, I found his character whiny and annoying - caring about things that were unimportant and didn't really have any interests outside of the relationship. He just seemed to rehash the same ideas over and over, so I found it a bit tricky to root for them.

It was sweet and fun, with a lovely HEA

I finished this one only because I wanted to know what happened. But I spent the entire book grumpy about reading it. Both MCs were infuriating in their inability to communicate. And I get it, maybe it's the fact I haven't dated in a long time, but like these two have been together for like 5/6 years and are getting married, and they have these very basic aspects of their relationship they haven't worked through?! It just felt unbelievable to me.

3.5 stars

Nearlywed was a bit heavier and more emotional than I was expecting, and I wasn't a big fan of the miscommunication between the MCs, but overall still really enjoyed!

This was a great romance that took place over the course of a week, while following a gay couple on their “earlymoon” - or pre wedding vacation.

This book was a romance, but was heavier than the subject and cover might lead to believe. This book covered the ups and downs of a relationship, the challenges of coming out and homophobia, and dealing with life’s general insecurities.

I really loved how this book embraced the romance and made it feel real life, without using any of the cliched tactics so often found in romance books. I really loved both main character’s, and they are not only a couple I’m rooting on in the book, but seem like they could go the distance in real life as well.

this was really sweet overall with some emotional themes, and i liked it for what it was!! however. unfortunately, it didn't quite hit for me mainly cause of the miscommunication and fallouts. still a fun ride though.

This book was a great read around relationships and the concepts people perceive through social media and "standards"

Ray and Kip are celebrating their early moon. They are complete opposites but compliment each other.

Kip is a doctor who is divorced and coming to his own with accepting himself. Ray is the great millennial writer who is a hopeless romantic.

During their stay, Ray is writing a piece so he is interviewing multiple couples and learning about himself with his views on relationships. The stay doesn't turn out to be what he expected because he puts so much hope into the "perfect relationship" - but what does that even mean for him?

I enjoyed the backstory telling between Ray's life and his relationship with Kip.

There are some LOL moments, but also great reflection about society. I also appreciated the pop culture references.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.