I enjoyed reading this book by Meryl Wilsner.  Best friends to lovers, a beautiful island, both ling time attracted. 

The story seemed predictable.  It was an easy read. 

The book has non-binary and pansexual representation. 

I look forward to more books by this author in the future.

Hellllloooooooooo it wouldn’t be a Meryl Wilsner book without some idiots falling in love and 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Mostly though, it wouldn’t be a Meryl book without me getting my emotions wound tight in a hug and feel sad when I have to step away. Meryl keeps you wanting more and that’s magical. This book is a 10/10 recommend!

When Elsie’s fiancé attempts to surprise her by planning their wedding she realizes she’s been coasting in her relationship. After calling off the engagement, she takes her best friend Ginny with her to the nonrefundable honeymoon getaway. What starts as a fun escape quickly turns into something much more when Ginny challenges Elsie to finally start asking for what she wants. But once the trip is over, will they be brave enough to ask for more?

I flew through this book in five hours! The setting was pure vacation escapism, and I definitely found myself wanting to book a trip to that resort. The friends-to-lovers romance was fun, the spice was well done (no surprise from Meryl Wilsner), and I loved the character growth—especially how Elsie and Ginny worked on how to be themselves without each other to build a stronger relationship.

However, I found myself wanting more emotional and romantic connection between Elsie and Ginny while on the trip to balance out the physical side. I also wasn’t totally sold on Elsie’s response to the whole proposal/wedding/honeymoon situation (or any of her interactions with Derrick, really), and her response to Ginny’s job situation. That said, I really appreciated the pan, lesbian, nonbinary and plus size representation and that cover? Obsessed. Overall, I was entertained and this would be a great read by the pool or at the beach. 3.5⭐️

Meryl Wilsner continues to establish their place in the sapphic romance genre with My Best Friend’s Honeymoon, a heartfelt, emotionally rich story that explores the blurry lines between friendship and love. In this novel, Wilsner delivers not only a swoon-worthy romance but also a deeply affirming portrayal of platonic intimacy evolving into something more—seamlessly blending drama, charm, and authenticity.

The story centers on two lifelong best friends who unexpectedly find themselves sharing a honeymoon—one that was never meant for them as a couple, but becomes a pivotal space for self-discovery and emotional reckoning. Wilsner masterfully captures the tender tension between the protagonists as they navigate long-suppressed feelings, moments of confusion, and the fear of changing a relationship that has meant everything to them.

One of the standout features of the book is its portrayal of supportive friendships and family dynamics. Rather than relying on the trope of external conflict or disapproval, Wilsner offers a refreshingly affirming environment in which the main characters are buoyed by a close-knit, understanding community. It’s rare and meaningful to see this kind of emotional support system, especially in queer romance, and it adds a grounded, hopeful layer to the narrative.

The audiobook edition further elevates the experience. The narration captures the emotional nuances of the characters’ internal journeys while keeping the pace and tone engaging throughout. The narrator’s ability to differentiate characters and convey their vulnerabilities adds a rich dimension to the already strong writing.

Ultimately, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is a beautifully told story about the deep, sometimes imperceptible shift from friendship to romantic love. It’s a celebration of connection, honesty, and the courage to embrace love in all its unexpected forms. Highly recommended for fans of queer romance who appreciate both heart and humor.

After suddenly breaking off with her over controlling fiance, Elsie Hoffman finds herself stuck with a non-refundable honeymoon trip. Since she HAS to use it and it's for two, she invites her best friend along.

Ginny Holtz has loved Elise forever, but had no intention of letting her know. Agreeing to go along she suggests that they could do anything Elise ewants, as long as she asks. But things take a turn as Elise realizes she wants Ginny.

Of course a holiday is one thing, but what happens back home?

Really solidly good read. As expected from this author. Good characters, good story, good romantic arc...

There was so much I loved about this book - the characters, the representation, the growth, the relationships, the vibes. I haven’t finished a romance this fast in a long time - this was so cute!

My one complaint is that for me the third act conflict happened too soon and ended up being a large portion of the 2nd half of the book. I loved the growth that both of these character’s went through individually but I would have loved to have seen more of Elise and Ginny’s relationship as a couple.

This was my first time reading a book by Meryl Wilsner and I really like their writing style. I will be checking out their other books in the future.

This was a book I had read a blurb about prior to seeing on NetGalley, so I was super excited to get the chance to receive an ARC of this.
Elsie is about to get married! Except, Elsie doesn't know it, as her fiance has planned an elaborate wedding without telling her for the following week. When this surprise doesn't go the way her fiance expected, Elsie is left with a non-refundable honeymoon to a tropical getaway. Enter her best friend Ginny, who Elsie begs to tag along. Unbeknownst to Elsie, Ginny has harbored feelings for Elsie forever. And UNBEKNOWNST TO ELSIE AND GINNIE....maybe that's not unrequited!
The writing was fun, and the breakup of past and present chapters really helped to flesh out both characters. Even when I'd find myself frustrated with one of them, I'd be hit with a chapter explaining what led to that behavior/reaction, and it made me more empathetic to each main character. The representation in this book was done excellently, and it made me breathe a sigh of relief there wasn't rampant homophobia as a consistent plot line of the book.
I will say I found the weakest part of the book to be the conflict that set them apart for the final third of the book. I actually really liked the chapters that focused on them pursing their aspirations separately, I felt as though the basis for the time apart to be a bit frivolous and out of character for Elsie. But overall the writing was fantastic, the chemistry between Elsie and Ginny was 10/10 and the spice was fun without taking away from the overarching story. I really enjoyed this read, and recommend it to anyone who loves a good friends-to-lovers rom-com with a bit of angst.

This is one of those books where the miscommunication made me want to pull my hair out. I LOVED being in Ginny's POV, and I completely understood their hesitancy to approach a romantic relationship with Elsie after being rejected -- like 100% understand them and their entire thought process. Elsie on the other hand?? PISSED ME OFF. Like wtf do you mean you now realize you're in love with Ginny, your BEST FRIEND who YOU rejected, and you still lowkey string them along? HUH. also you JUST got divorced with your college boyfriend, who you were engaged with for over a year, and the only reason you broke up with him was because you weren't vibing with him any longer (never ever did imo) and you broke off the engagement and immediately started f*cking your BFF........ like I just don't get it and honestly felt bad for him because he was a little clueless but harmless. The sex scenes were fine. Like some were hot, some were cringey. And I just really hated Elsie. and the third act breakup was DUMB AF.

I really enjoyed this book, it was such a fun and flirty read with a heartfelt center. The premise of two best friends turning a ruined wedding into a romantic getaway was both playful and emotional, and I loved how the author balanced the spice with tenderness. Elsie and Ginny had great chemistry, and watching Elsie come into her own and learn to ask for what she truly wants was a satisfying journey. The character development felt honest and earned, especially as their relationship shifted from friendship to something deeper!

This week saw the release of Meryl Wilsner‘s fourth novel, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon. When Elsie ends her engagement to Derrick, he encourages her to go on the the non-refundable honeymoon to Santa Lupita that he’d booked. Elsie takes her best friend, Ginny, who makes her promise to speak up for what she wants the whole trip. This leads to the two of them hooking up… and considering finally dating after all these years as just friends.

Why I Chose This Book:
I enjoyed Meryl Wilsner’s first book, Something to Talk About, and have been wanting to read more from them. My Best Friend’s Wedding looked like it would be cute, and I also liked that this one features a nonbinary person as one of the two main characters.

The way everything plays out was not quite what I expected, though…

What I Liked:
- Nonbinary representation. Ginny mainly uses they/them pronouns and I really liked their character overall. I enjoyed seeing how they navigate situations when gender assumptions are made vs. how Elsie reacts. Elsie always stands up for her best friend!
- Pansexual representation. Elsie often jokes about being the silent ‘P’ in ‘LGBTQ.’ Though she’s only had relationships with men, largely due to some homophobic bullying she experienced in school, she’s long had a crush on Ginny.
- Flashbacks to earlier times in their relationship. Every so often, we get looks at events in Ginny and Elsie’s adolescence that shaped them and prevented them from pursuing a romantic relationship earlier. They were randomly placed and infrequent, but helped build up a bit more of their relationship.
- Learning to speak up for yourself. Elsie needs to learn how to have an opinion and actually state it. Her character was hard to like sometimes, but I did appreciate the lessons in learning to have a voice and use it. Ginny, too, learns a thing or two about following their own dreams. Good on them!

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Too much sex. I’m used to reading spicy romances, but here it actually started to feel gratuitous. Multiple consecutive chapters were basically just them having sex. For me, this was unfortunately to the detriment of building up the emotional connection between the characters. They’ve been in love with each other for years, but the readers don’t get to see that bond so much. It felt like the sex *was* the connection, but I need more for the relationship to feel believable.
- The breakup seemed like an extreme overreaction? Other characters call Elsie out for it, but still. It seemed forced.
- Not enough Santa Lupita. When I see a Caribbean honeymoon, I want to get to know the island! I want to see them doing fun activities there! Who ignores an entire tropical location to just have sex? Not me!
- Poor Derrick! I hope he finds his happily every after someday. He’s nice and wants to be better, and I support him in that.

Final Thoughts
While there was a lot I liked about My Best Friend’s Honeymoon, I felt like it needed a lot of work to make it fully enjoyable. The overdone spice and forced third-act breakup just didn’t work for me. It was cute but not my favorite. Still, I would like to try out more of Meryl Wilsner’s books in the future.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

This f/nb romance is a steamy, emotional, and beautifully inclusive love story that explores friendship, desire, and self-discovery in a tropical paradise. Elsie and Ginny’s dynamic is both heartfelt and hot, with a slow build that pays off in all the right ways.

Adjusting to the use of “they” for Ginny took a little getting used to at first, but it’s a necessary and important shift- stories like this are vital for broadening the definition of love and representation in romance. The emotional depth of Ginny’s long-standing love for Elsie, paired with Elsie’s journey of finding her voice and realizing what she truly wants, made the story stick with me. The friendship between these two characters and the chemistry between them makes it so special. It’s a reminder that asking for what you want- especially in love- is brave, beautiful, and sometimes exactly what you need.

This was, for my personal tastes, too much spice. I think some people will absolutely love that, though! I would say the spice scenes are approximately 25% of the book, and they are maybe medium detailed, with fairly adventurous acts described. So if that sounds like it is your scene, definitely pick this one up.

This follows a trend I've been seeing in sapphic romance lately where the two characters are already know each other and, arguably, are already in love before the book starts. (See, also, Anywhere You Go). The plot of the book therefore follows them realizing what they've been feeling, expressing it to each other, getting together, and then facing hurdles they had not previously anticipated. This is a fairly common layout in romance novels, and I think this book follows it in a way that is fairly standard without a ton of surprises. I did enjoy the exploration of careers and family dynamics, and I particularly liked Ginny as a character. I do wish a little less of the plot was miscommunication/failure to communicate based and the main conflict... did not make a ton of sense to me. But I generally liked the writing style and there were some funny moments throughout as well.

This was very cute! I absolutely love the friends to lovers trope, and I think Meryl Wilsner executed it well. I really enjoyed getting to see Ginny and Elsie's relationship blossom over the course of the book.

While the characters seemed a bit impulsive at times, it made sense because they were young and with the book being so fast-paced, things had to happen quickly. This gave all the spicy rom com vibes you'd hope for, with enough heart to make it meaningful.

All in all, I'd recommend to anyone looking for a fun, emotional, spicy time! A quick read that you'll get through before you know it.

ARC provided by SMP via NetGalley.

Amazing romance, this book doesn't disappoint.

When you fall in love, chemistry is the best and this book shows it.

A must on your TBR for 2025

Wilsner is an automatic read for me and I always enjoy their books. While this wasn't one of my favorites, it was still a great read. The sex scenes are some of the hottest I've read in a while, and the romance is a perfect balance to those scenes. Ginny and Elsie complement each other and I loved seeing how their relationship developed. This is a perfect beach read or a book to read by the pool.

I think I only liked the beginning and very end of this one. There wasn't enough build-up - just suddenly they're hooking up. Then there's no clear communication about how they feel and suddenly there's the conflict that didn't have to be a conflict. I just didn't enjoy it.

This book was a little disappointing for me. The bones were there for a great story but it just fell a little flat for me. The couple for me just didn't really seem like they had any romantic chemistry. I'm a spicy girl bit The amount of amount of spice in this book just didn't work for me. The couple just felt like they were all about sex and didn't really get into much depth with each other. The third act conflict was so unnecessary and didn't feel genuine to the couple and the amountbof time apart they took from each other.

Long time BFFs become lovers and while
Denial is a river in Egypt, it is also a main character in this book. Be prepared for some whiplash, because every time the characters would make leaps and bounds in their relationship, they would slide backwards to deny their feelings - pretending things were fine and that they were only “friends”. In some truth, it was hard to really LIKE the characters at times because they were just frustrating beyond belief. Like all of Meryl’s books, this has great queer representation and we loved that one of the MC’s was nonbinary. Also want to give kudos for allowing them to take a step back and focus on individual growth (even if it was briefly). NOW— the smut was kinda wild not gonna lie. The author really explores some kinks in this and damn it was spicy!

3.5/5 stars. Ginny is nonbinary and has been in love with their best friend, Elsie, for a long time. They’ve resolved to just be happy with being friends while Elsie is getting closer to marrying her fiancé Derrick. When the engagement ends, Elsie and Ginny go on the nonrefundable honeymoon together. Ginny starts a game with Elsie during the trip to do anything Elsie asks which leads to some romance.

The writing is super fast paced and the tropical location make this a perfect summer beach read. It doesn’t get too deep into feelings, but it is a bit swoon worthy. Ginny does little acts of service for Elsie.

Right off the bat, I was loving the writing style and Ginny’s voice. Ginny seems like exactly what Elsie needs. Elsie goes along with whatever she is told and doesn’t have the courage to stick up for herself and what she wants. At first, I was worried that would annoy me, but I loved to see such strong character growth. Elsie is given a chance to really think about and act on what she wants. I think this would really appeal to any people pleasers (and that includes me!)

I love that Ginny and Elsie have a long history of being best friends even if they weren’t together before. It almost has a second chance romance vibe to it even if they weren’t together before. I just love that they start the book knowing so much about each other and have a strong relationship going in.

Even with the fast pace of the book, it still managed to have moments where the writing really packed a punch. Like a simple “That was why Elsie said no, years later, when Ginny asked her to the winter formal.” That almost killed me.

If I had any complaints, it would be that the relationship went 0 to 100 really quick. I personally like a little more time spent on longing or building tension between the main characters.

The logic behind the main conflict of the book was a little flimsy. It really seemed blown out of proportion. But it does keep the book pretty lighthearted, and gives some reason for Ginny to do some introspection too. I do like that they get a bit of time to both reflect on themselves at such big times of change in their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. I am voluntarily leaving this comment and the honest opinions I am expressing are my own.

Review to come but absolutely SOLID book

Update:
Hi hello I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this book.
Ginny has been in love with their best friend, Elsie, long before they even knew what they really meant. When Elsie’s engagement disastrously falls through, she invites (who else?) their best friend to come (ayyyyyeeeee) on a non-refundable honeymoon. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?
I did not expect this book to have the chokehold it currently has on me. I have yeeted it at no less than 3 people since I have finished it. The romance was amazing and I’m not really a friends-to-lovers kind of gal but Meryl, you have converted me.
Do yourself a favor and pick this one up NOW.