This is the second Meryl Wilsner book I have read and from the description I thought this book would be a fun cozy read. However, cozy veered into boring in the sense where I felt that the book lacked conflict in a way that didn't motivate me to finish it, although I did for the sake of the review.

A lot of the conflicts are internal -- Elsie's struggle to speak her mind, Ginny's codepency with Elsie, and although I appreciated the characterization, I felt like the book needed something more to keep it interesting. I think the book relied on Elsie's indecisiveness and lack of confidence for plot so much to the point that I started to find her to be annoying. Since they already are such close friends, there also aren't many interesting discoveries when they begin to fall in love except for Ginny's small deception.

I like Wilsner's writing and I think would still recommend this to someone looking for a low-stakes romance read but I read much more interesting queer romance in 2024. I'm still interested in keeping up with her as an author.

Gulped down in a day. Fun, sweet, and VERY spicy, Wilsner has done it again! I can’t wait to read whatever they write next!

friends to lovers romance does not mean you can under-develop the romance and relationship building between the characters. this felt more like they developed a friends with benefits relationship rather than a romantic relationship. i usually wouldn't say this because i believer smut has a place in romance books, but maybe less face sitting and more character exploration

This is not my first book by Meryl Wilsner. I loved the previous book I read and was looking forward to this books release. It was in my most anticipated releases for 2025! I felt like this book is divided into 3 sections, the first 1/3rd was great. The author establishes the relationships between the main characters as best friends who have been friends since high school. One of which is secretly in love with the other. I thoroughly enjoyed this section of the book. Then it gets into the middle section which is spicy, and the scenes are well written but the plot gets lost here for me. Especially when all the spice comes to an abrupt end with one of them crying. The last 1/3rd of the book does not work for me. It is way less than an actual 1/3rd of the book but it needed more. More self work for both main characters, more connection, and an overall better ending.

This book was disappointing. The premise sounded fun and the representation was appealing, but the plot was lacking, almost entirely. It seemed like 2/3 of the book was sex. I like a steamy romance, but this was over the top. We barely knew the characters, the conflict was incredibly overblown and unbelievable, and I just didn't care by the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I very much enjoyed this book. The writing was great and the characters were well developed. I hope to read more from this author in the future.

Oof. Just, oof.

I don't know what else to say! These characters are villains in their own story but are so wrapped up in each other that they don't care. It was hard to have any sympathy for either of them and they only seemed to get worse as the book went on. I was really, really hoping there would be some sort of reckoning where they would grow, change, maybe even apologize for their actions, but nothing. Crickets (and sex). I think this entire book could have been turned around (and I would've left it feeling as hooked as I did in the first few chapters) if the characters simply acknowledged their horrible behavior and attitudes.

Besides the lack of any character development, the pacing became a bigger and bigger issue as the book progressed, and the constant use of very fanfiction-esque writing styles (ie using the word "all" to describe people/places/things about 100 times) was distracting. Unfortunately, and especially after Cleat Cute, I think I have to stop trying with this author.

The premise of this book is great, and the beginning was terrific. After that, I found the pacing begin dragging a bit. It seemed as though there was not much substance once the vacation actually began, unfortunately. From my perspective, it was a great deal of sex, arguing, sex. Once again, the premise was terrific, and I appreciate the representation in the book. I wish the romantic relationship had been developed more fully.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner; 4 stars

I did not realize until I read this book that I actually own two of Wilsner’s books, Cleat Cute and Mistakes Were Made, that I have yet to read; but after reading My Best Friend’s Honeymoon, provided to me by NetGalley, they are definitely shooting to the top of my TBR. (I read this book in one sitting and I refused to put it down all day!)

This was my first f/nb romance book and I enjoyed it immensely. Sapphic romances are some of my favourites, and I feel like I have unlocked a new sub-genre that I will continue to love! I did really enjoy the story of this book, but one thing that bothered me a little bit was the continued lack of communication for the majority of this book. I get it from the perspective of Elsie, the main point of the book is to help her feel confident in the ability to speak up for herself and ask for what she wants, something that is often difficult for her. I did expect a little more from Ginny though.

Something else that took me a bit by surprise is the amount and level of spice in this book. One thing with reading ARCs is that there are not a lot of people to give you additional information on the book other than the synopsis provided. So I am here to say, there is a lot of spice in this book. Most of the book felt like it was spice. Which is not necessarily a bad thing at all, I personally just was not expecting it.

Overall I did think this was a good friends-to-lovers romance. The last third of the book was what really hooked me to the storyline after the honeymoon and I did really enjoy this book.

A great sunny read in the dead of winter. Readers will be pleasantly surprised at the level of depth and character development. 3 Stars.

Firstly, thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

While I loved that this book had so much great representation, the romance fell flat for me. I enjoyed the first 3rd and found the premise to be really fun but as the story progressed I believed in their romance less and less. To me, it felt like it came out of nowhere and that they only had a physical connection, not a connection that best friends of 15 years would have. I was also not a huge fan of the pacing in general or the 3rd act conflict.

My only complaint is that this book was over too soon!! I have loved everything that I have read by Meryl Wilsner and this is no exception! Elsie and Ginny friends to lovers story is fantastic (and friends to lovers isn't even my go-to trope) and the story still leaves space for them to have their own independent personal growth at the same time which is phenomenal. It was also HOT... I certainly knew going in it was going to be spicy but this went above and beyond! I am forever waiting for Meryl's next book to come out.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is a spicy, sunshine-filled romance with an important message about learning to advocate for your own happiness. The premise is irresistible—two best friends, a non-refundable Caribbean honeymoon, and years of buried feelings coming to light. It's the kind of setup that practically guarantees fun, angst, and a hefty dose of steam.

Wilsner shines in crafting chemistry between Elsie and Ginny. Their bond feels genuine and heartfelt, and watching them navigate the shift from friendship to something more is a treat. The nonbinary representation through Ginny is refreshing and handled with care, adding depth to the romance. Plus, the tropical setting adds an indulgent layer of escapism—cocktails, beaches, and passionate revelations abound.

That said, the story doesn’t always stick the landing. Elsie’s journey of self-discovery feels rushed, with significant character growth crammed into a single week. Ginny’s motivations and internal conflict could have been explored further to balance out the romance. At times, the pacing left me wishing for a bit more time to let the emotional beats sink in.

If you’re in the mood for a steamy, tropical friends-to-lovers romance with meaningful representation, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is worth a read. While it doesn’t quite reach its full potential, it delivers enough heart and heat to leave you smiling.

Ginny and Elsie's story is a sweet and entertaining one. Elsie discovers that there is nothing wrong with asking for what she wants, and that it isn't selfish to want things for her life in the first place. I enjoyed this relatable story about best friends turned lovers—or were they in love all along?! 


Thank you to NetGalley for making the advance copy available; I am certain this "Readers’ Most Anticipated Books of 2025" will be a fan favorite when it comes out on April 29th!

I loved the premise of this book, but I almost quit reading it because of the tense it's written in. But I am glad I pushed through because the story is great. (And - heads up - the book is very explicit.) Also... can we talk about the cover? I love it.

But now I want to book a trip to St. Lucia?

I am sorry to say I didn’t love this one. It was cute but the characters were shallow and there just wasn't any depth. It felt juvenile to me. I might be too old to be the target audience!! They got together too fast and it was too much relentless spice for me. Weird pacing. Positive was good and thoughtful representation.

I thought this book was well written, however there are were a few things I would have enjoyed a little better. I think the main character was a little annoying, I know she's suppose to be getting what she wants. I think the idea this world revolves around her and everyone else is suppose to comply is what what irksome. I do think the storyline felt believable, I've read Mistakes Were Made and Cleat Cute so I'm familiar with their writing. I think since those were so strong this one wasn't as good.

First off I want to say thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC.

I had such high expectations for this book! Meryl Wilsner has done no wrong in the past. And I’m not really saying this book was a complete miss for me but it just wasn’t what I was expecting…

The flip from friend to sex was so abrupt that it felt unnatural, and the conflict seems so out of character for the MC. The story just left me feeling like something was off/missing.

Won’t say I regret reading this book, just left me wanting something different.

Meryl Wilsner’s “My Best Friend’s Honeymoon” presents an intriguing twist on the romantic comedy, mixing themes of friendship, love, and desire in an unexpected honeymoon setting. The story centers on Jo, who is invited on her best friend Katie’s honeymoon after Katie’s marriage takes a turn. What follows is a complicated emotional journey where Jo grapples with romantic feelings that blur the lines of loyalty and attraction.

Wilsner’s writing is engaging, with witty dialogue and a strong focus on character development, particularly Jo, who feels relatable and genuine. The chemistry between her and the other characters is palpable, and the slow-building romantic tension adds depth to the story. However, the pacing can be uneven, particularly in the latter half, where the focus on emotional exploration slows down the plot.

While the book does a solid job of addressing complex relationships and the nuances of emotional boundaries, at times it feels a bit too messy in its handling of these themes. The romantic drama occasionally teeters on being a bit contrived, and some readers may find the central conflict a little predictable.

Overall, “My Best Friend’s Honeymoon” offers an enjoyable, if somewhat imperfect, exploration of love and friendship, with moments of humor and emotional depth, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.

Thank you for the advance read!

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is a spicy, feel-good romance about two lifelong best friends, Elsie and Ginny. When Elsie's fiancé plans their wedding and honeymoon without consulting her, she calls off the engagement and ends up on a non-refundable honeymoon with Ginny instead. As they soak up the sun and explore beautiful destinations, Elsie and Ginny's bond deepens, and they begin to question their long-standing platonic relationship. Their journey is filled with humorous moments, emotional revelations, and an exploration of new feelings and desires. Wilsner's writing is engaging, and the chemistry between Elsie and Ginny is palpable, making this a delightful and heartwarming read.