Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio
GENRE: contemporary romance
TROPES & TOPICS: relationship drama, marriage and engagement, mm romance, communications, family ties, age gap, vacation and summer vibes, divorcee
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
REALESE DATE: May 21, 2024

This is the second book from this author that I have read, and while with the first book, I made some conclusions. This book confirmed it. Nicolas DiDomizio is excellent at writing realistic characters.
And I can't tell you enough how that is important. I would even say fundamental in contemporary fiction books.


I also felt the same build-up as before. The story slowly socks you in, and then you just have to keep on reading.

If I didn't get enamored with charcters before, I would totally love them after Ally McBeal mentions. If you know you know!

If you are looking for a summer read that will give you that cozy feeling but also make you think about your relationships, perceptions, and beliefs about relationships and marriage, then READ this book.

Nearly Wed by Nicholas Didomizio is a fantastic read. This book is a quick & witty read about relationships. Roy & Kip,the main characters are a true story of opposites attraction. I truly enjoyed them involving and self-discovery. I wish I got to do a “Earlymoon”. Highly recommended to your summer reading list. Thank you to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing.

Wow! What an incredible book. And why haven’t I heard about this author before? I need to grab their previous books. I honestly went into the book with zero expectations. An earlymoon (early honeymoon) was a cute concept, but I was nervous about the obstacles that Ray and Kip may have to go through. The book flowed so well and was fast paced. Ray and Kip have decided to go on this trip a couple of months before their wedding, There were some serious topics such as Kip not wanting a big wedding to Ray feeling unsecured due to past relationships that made this book really important and interesting to read. I won’t give too much away. There were many hilarious scenes and Ray was an amazing character! Most importantly, I cheered for Ray and Kip. They were an adorable couple that needed to just communicate honestly to each other. The ending was simply perfect. I wondered how the book would end and it was really beautiful. Overall, this was a fun and sweet book that if you love a sweet m/m love story you will love this book. I highly recommend it! A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

A delightful and candid exploration of relationships, validation, sacrifice, and how they all shape one's identity.

Despite what the cover might suggest, Nearlywed is not a sweeping light-hearted romance: there is love, yes, but it is messy and bumpy, crowded with insecurities, and raising multiple question marks throughout: whether any of these nearlywed couples would (or should even) get married.

My favourite part about this book was the realistic growth curve depicted in both Ray and Kip: how they were both flawed humans in their own ways, making a mess of things even while doing their very best not to. I loved how the author handled the “opposites attract”: not merely for the sake of the gap appeal, but also by showing how much work is required of two inherently different people to build something together.

I requested and received an ARC of Nearlywed by Nicolas DiDomizio via NetGalley. Ray Bruno is a millennial online columnist with a very strong sense of what love should look like. He has dreamed of his wedding day since he was a child and after a rather disappointing first marriage he is determined to get it right the second time around. Kip Hayes is a Gen X doctor who doesn’t understand the millennial impulse to share every detail of his private life online. After years of being married to a woman, Kip is ready to love authentically, but still struggles with the constant coming out process. We join Ray and Kip as an established couple, enjoying a “nearlymoon” (a pre-wedding honeymoon) at a resort in Ray’s coastal hometown. Can the pair navigate the differences in their relationship? Or are they too different to make it work?!

What a wild ride! I loved nearly every moment of it. The characters are complex and come alive on the page with easily distinguishable personalities and motives. Ray is a terrific narrator, filling the pages with a quick wit and loaded arsenal of pop culture references mixed with a vulnerability so real that it’s impossible not to want to hug (and strangle!) him at various turns. As a gay man of a similar age, at certain points diving into his thoughts and experiences felt like a mirror. This was both comforting and alarming!

And Kip? Ugh, what a frustrating and wonderful man! I say frustrating because there were moments when he really stoked my blood pressure. I say wonderful, because each time I managed to calm myself down I quickly found myself charmed by him once again. DiDomizio handles the age gap between the men in a thoughtful, realistic way. His view of social media is used as commentary on this generational difference, but also offers insight to a greater issue: the shame and anxiety queer folk face disclosing and celebrating the same things heterosexual folk can scream from the rooftop without batting an eye. Any annoyance I felt because of his character was smoothly transformed into compassion as the men fought and learned to actually listen to each other

Also, a quick word of praise for the well-developed supporting characters! Stef, Ray’s sister, was so fun when she appeared on the page with a unique blend of sarcasm and concern. Lucy was also fabulous. She also provided humor and I absolutely fell in love with her from the moment she arrived. There are a few twists and surprises that I won’t mention, for the sake of spoilers, that round out this narrative and made Nearlywed a book that I didn’t want to put down. DiDomizio writes love that is complicated and messy, but also heartwarming and well worth the investment. I look forward to reading this author’s past (and future!) works.

3.5 rounded up for how much I laughed.

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for supplying this ARC.

I picked up this book because of the description; it sounded like a fun time and it was! I had a great time reading. There were plenty of laughs and some relatable feelings and topics that came up. Ray may be a few years older than me now but in another life I could have been him. A few times I caught myself rolling my eyes and groaning because of some of his behaviors, actions, and thought patterns. Potential for second hand embarrassment in abundance but also a relief that I’m not caught in this cycle of wanting validation through unhealthy means. There were a few times I got so annoyed with him and I’d frequently shout “To therapy! All of you!” at the book. To respond this way and laughing and reading lines aloud to my partner was a treat. Not a lot of books allow me to do that.

At times the book read like an opinion piece which was very fitting since the main character was a writer. It reminded me of the magazines and LONG tumblr posts I’d take the time to read through even if the subjects weren’t anything I was particularly interested in. I felt like the potential of this book only being cringy was high but it was the right amount, and I did enjoy myself.

The exploration of different types of relationships was pretty interesting. Getting to see an already established romance go through the tribulations isn’t something you usually see in romance; so very refreshing. Also get to see a range of different relationships, some a bit frustrating. They reminded me of some of the relationships in the show White Lotus. Nothing is perfect! I wouldn’t want to be these couples but to each their own! Which was one of the points in the book.

My only slightly negative note would have to be the emotional aspect of the book. If the story wanted to pull any tears out of me, it failed to do so. It was a little too cheesy for that to happen, and by the time the 75% mark came along, I was ready to be done with the story.

Despite that, this book makes a good beach read and I would recommend it for something to consume while on vacation, by the pool and sipping on a drink.

I really wanted to love this book. I was immediately drawn in by its cover and synopsis. Upon starting this book and repeatedly trying to continue my journey into this story, I was unable to connect with the characters or the plot line. I believe that this book will be perfect for some readers, but for where I am right now, this is a DNF. Thank you for the e-galley of this book, I appreciate the oppourtunity to continue to immerse myself in different novels!

I went into this expecting a rom-com full of hilarity and hijinks. What I received was more a rom-drama that felt way more real than I anticipated, in the best way too.

Ray and Kip escape off to the Earlymoon Hotel and expect a week of pre-wedding bliss. Almost immediately the trip derails with fights and issues that have been repressed for way too long.

These characters felt real. I was wishing that I could reach in and set the couple down for a heart-to-heart when communication issues arose. The narrative invites you in to the couples life and makes you feel like a friend. I was frustrated by their continuous miscommunication but was also routing for Ray and Kip to have their HEA, whatever form it may take.

✰ 3.25 stars ✰

“Of course love is never perfect, because humans aren’t.”

At some point, while reading Nearlywed, it started to feel like I was reading a relationship manual instead - the do's and don'ts of what to do to make any healthy relationship work. I was actually taking note of what those words of wisdom were rather than appreciating them as actual quotes of the book and that by the end of the book, I was exhausted! 😮‍💨 But, does that mean it's a bad book? Not at all; if anything, it was a very informative one that offers its heart to you in the form of Ray and Kip - polar opposites who while treating themselves to an exclusive and much-needed trip to the EarlyMoon Hotel resort, as is the tradition of Ray's family, discover that perhaps going on the actual honeymoon, there may be parts of their future marriage that need a look, before taking that walk down the aisle that promises forever. 💍

“As basic as it may sound, I genuinely believe that love is love. All romantic relationships have the same foundation at work—two people who want to feel seen, understood, and protected.”

Call me strange, but I always feel a real connection when a character fits the age that I would be at the time that the book is released or portrayed; like we have this unique bond that makes me feel closer to their portrayal. Rae being thirty-five years old made him so much more of a relatable character, because then, okay, yes, even if he was growing up gay, the experiences that he has around him is something that we share, and I can also relate to, as well. ☺️ And Ray really had the best intentions at heart; he did come to this hotel to live out his wedding ideals that he's always aspired to have - the whole blissful shindig that doesn't seem fair that only straight people get to enjoy it.. There is a lot of ground that this book covers and it's impressive how none of those ever seemed to overlap the other, but served their purpose in their own respective way. Because all these factors do have a hand in making a relationship work. Ray and Kip's dynamic is one of an age gap that reflects in not only the lifestyles and careers, but also their conflicting views on the importance of online presence vs. real life goals. 😥

A ten-year-age difference that defines experiences from generations which have differing views in upbringing and expectations of society norms and how you don't need validation from the unknown, and that the opinion that only matters is the ones closest to you. It's mirrored in the insecurities and uncertainties he may have over what Kip may really want from him and if he is enough to be worth his time and affections. 'I know he loves me, but there must be a part of him that believes he knows—or perhaps even is—better than me.' 🥺 Kip is one who prefers anonymity, while Ray feels so much more comfortable in his creative element by being more open and vocal with his social presence. But, that's the magic of being nearly wed; through messy moments and mix-ups, you are given the time to work it out and communicate! And even if it was one of the major causes of the rifts that stirred up between them - it's that inevitable falling apart that finally put them back together - healthier and stronger, and more in love than ever. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

“It’s a song specifically for people who’ve been married and divorced, people who understand that making a relationship work requires a certain toughness, a willingness to get hurt.

The grit to stay committed when things inevitably get hard.”

The story sadly relies on two of my least favorite plot devices - miscommunication and misunderstanding - for the two of them to see the light. But, I'm forgiving of it, because if you take it into account that this really was a helpful means into making something work - then maybe those points were necessary to cover so that we can avoid them and know it's not the right way to go about it! I do think that it wasn't fair that Rae took all the blame on himself. 🙍🏻‍♀️ "That’s the other beautiful thing about letting yourself be seen. Sometimes it can open the hearts and minds of the people you’d least expect.' Yes, he was the narrator and we were not fortunate enough to have the perspective of Kip's, but I still think he was just as much responsible for the many unresolved conflicts that came to light on their early honeymoon.

As much as Ray's self-deprecating and understanding attitude mirrored my own, I didn't like that he was so quick to put all the blame on himself and paint Kip in such a forgiving light, when he deserved to shoulder just as much of a burden for why they were not seeing eye to eye on this fortuitous occasion. I know Kip had his own personal demons to overcome, his own fears and insecurities that also explained his behavior towards Ray, but I think it was forgiven a little too easily on Ray's part. Not that I wanted some groveling, just a little more closure for Ray to know that his feelings weren't completely invalidated. 🙎🏻‍♀️

But, is it fair of me to be so critical and judgmental when I've never been in a serious relationship or I don't know the sacrifices of what it takes to make a marriage work? Maybe. But, I do know that it's not a one-way street; regardless of how many people may be involved in the dynamic, no one deserves to bear the responsibility on their own. It's a mutual give and take, where it doesn't have to be a 'marriage being a resigned compromise based on a lifelong fear of dying alone', but a commitment of understanding and respect to each other's wishes that doesn't require any self-sacrifice from either of them. It was also nice to see the author include various takes on different couples; it showed that no one deserves to be devalued or criticized for what setup works for them. 👍🏻👍🏻

“I’d love you even if you weren’t tougher than the rest,” I quietly tell him. “You can be weak with me whenever you need to. I promise I can handle it.”

Mistakes make us human; but so, too, is learning from them. It comes in the form of us learning to be more empathetic and compassionate of others and to learn from our past views to be better people and treat others better, too. And this rendezvous may have led to disastrous results for the now, but it is what is to come that matters the most in life. 💓 'The reality of a marriage is all the days that come after.' The long run of commitment where you won't live a life of regret and think back that maybe if I had known then what I know now, I could have worked it out before that final stage. And the fact that the two of them were able to realize the potential harm in not addressing these issues now - then I guess, it was a success, after all. 💌

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC!

I really loved this one! It's a story about love and communication. While I'm normally not the biggest fan of the 'miscommunication trope', I felt like it was perfectly executed here and it helped in the character development. Kip and Ray had their struggles and even though I don't necessarily agree with them, I could see where both of them where coming from and sympathise with them.

Also, the setting was really cute and I loved the side characters!

I would definitely recommend this book!!

I looooved this book! Ray Bruno is the most relatable character I personally have ever read and seen through the POV of. As a wedding-obsessed 90s baby/millennial with a solid obsession with social media presence and an older boyfriend who is the exact opposite, I felt myself agreeing 1000% with Ray’s thought processes and questioning myself as Ray begins his introspection into why having his wedding so publicly available is important to him. Breaking down Kip’s strong exterior and realizing that others are sometimes struggling in ways we don’t even realize - this definitely hit home me hard! This romantic comedy had a great pace, laugh out loud one-liners, heartbreaking moments, and great lessons when it comes to IRL relationships. I loved the epilogue and getting Ray’s mom’s POV as well! What a great ARC.

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!