I've enjoyed Meryl Wilsner's other books but this one was not for me.

The book starts out with a good premise Elsie breaks of her engagement and ends up going on the honeymoon with lifelong best, Ginny. On trip Ginny says the two of them will do whatever Elsie wants as long as she asks for it. I did the love the LGBTQ+ representation. I loved how Elsie corrected people who used the wrong pronouns for Ginny.

The switch from friends to more happens about 1/3 of the way into the book, and then the flip happens and that's all you get. And then it gets SPICY and the middle third of the books is all spice and nothing else. I wanted more depth to their relationship and discovery of each other. everything felt very surface-level which made it hard to connect with the characters.

I am a huge fan of Meryl Wilsner. Their books have been great to read. That being said this is probably my least favorite. I am excited to see nonbinary representation and a best friend romance. I just feel that the book had emotional pieces missing within it. It came across like the intimate scenes were out of place and forced. I hope that their next books are more similar to their earlier books. I would still recommend this book to people looking for a non-binary romance.

This is a story I thought I would like. I didn't realize I would LOVE it. I'm always thrilled when a book takes tropes I'm not crazy about and makes me eat my words.

Elsie and Ginny are great friends. Ginny's been pining for her since middle school, but a life with Elsie as friends is better than one without her at all. While the broken engagement is a major plot point, I appreciate that Meryl didn't make Derrick a villain in this story. It kept the tone light, and made Elsie and Ginny's relationship believable. I felt like he deserved a little bit better than the final conversation he had with Elsie, but for the stake of the story I get it.

Back to Ginny and Elsie. You can see the holding pattern that they've both been in. Ginny in love with Elsie. Elsie holding onto Ginny the only way she thinks she can. Ginny wants what's best for Elsie. They push Elsie out of their comfort zone on this trip. I love the rule of whatever Elsie wants as long as she asks for it. It feels like Elsie has been coasting in her life. Allowing people to tell her what to do without taking stock of her own wants and needs. Her relationship with Derrick was just one of the many ways she coasts. Having to express her wants and needs with Ginny makes her ask the hard question "what do I want?" The, of course, is Ginny.

I'm going to pause and say, WHAT IN THE EVER LOVING SPICE?! I was not expecting the shift from pining friends to pages and pages of spice. I'm not complaining. I loved it!!! Watching their friendship evolve into their intimacy was incredible. It reassured them that they were in a safe space, but also gave me, the reader, the feeling of rightness. They were meant to be together. Their soul deep connection as friends gives them permission for no holds barred sex when they finally give into it.

The emotions of the trip lead to some rash decisions, but ultimately being in a relationship is not the same as being best friends. They have to change. They have to break the patterns they've been holding onto. It's not easy realizing that what has been letting you coast for years is not what will keep you moving forward. I appreciated that their path wasn't emotionally easy. Commitment isn't easy. Life isn't easy. They need to evolve so that they could be ready for the long term.

The queer rep and body positivity was on point. The only book of Meryl's I've read is Cleat Cute. With two soccer players, you're not getting a lot of plus sized characters. Meryl wrote Ginny's experience as a plus sized person well. There are struggles that people in smaller bodies don't experience, or even have to think about. (Like bringing seatbelt extenders for an airplane.) These are part of life, but rarely shown in media. These moments aren't "unsexy." They are real.

Adored this book. Great for big fans of the Friends to Lovers trope.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is the kind of romance that makes you want to book a vacation just for the excuse to fall hopelessly in love. It’s soft, steamy, and achingly tender—packed with moments that will make you grin into your pillow one minute and absolutely combust the next. And honestly? Wilsner nailed the combination of spice and emotional stakes.

Elsie and Ginny’s dynamic is a classic case of mutual pining with a tropical twist. Elsie is the kind of character who sneaks up on you—reserved and maybe a little too good at blending into the background of her own life until she’s forced to take the reins. Breaking off her engagement (to a guy who planned a surprise wedding without her input, I mean… really?) is the first brave thing she’s done in a long time. And who better to whisk her away on the nonrefundable honeymoon than her best friend Ginny, who has been quietly, devastatingly in love with her since forever?

Ginny, meanwhile, is the perfect foil—bold where Elsie is hesitant, steady where Elsie is uncertain. Their chemistry is undeniable from the second they step foot in the Caribbean. Wilsner’s decision to introduce the “ask for what you want” rule is genius—not just because it’s the perfect excuse for some slow-burn tension and, let’s be honest, ridiculous levels of steam, but because it turns the story into something deeper. It’s not just about physical attraction (though, wow, the spice in this book is next level); it’s about Elsie realizing she’s allowed to want things, to claim joy and pleasure without guilt or hesitation.

And speaking of the spice—Wilsner writes intimacy in a way that feels authentic, inclusive, and wildly sexy without ever losing the emotional throughline. There’s something so satisfying about seeing Elsie step into her desires, and Ginny’s softness beneath their swagger makes every moment between them feel earned. It’s not just about the heat—it’s about trust, communication, and knowing that sometimes your best friend has always been the one.

If there’s a nitpick, it’s that the conflict toward the end felt a little too predictable—miscommunication and fear of rejection rearing their heads, as they tend to do in romance stories. But even then, Wilsner handles it with such care that it doesn’t feel like unnecessary drama, just two people who have spent their lives protecting themselves finally learning how to be vulnerable.

Four stars because it’s fun, emotional, and scorching in all the right ways. It’s not just a swoony honeymoon fling—it’s a love story about finding yourself in the messiness of what you’ve always wanted. If you’re here for best-friends-to-lovers with tropical beaches, heart-melting declarations, and unforgettable heat, this one’s a must-read. And honestly, we all deserve someone who will book the excursions and remind us we’re allowed to take up space—and maybe kiss us senseless while they’re at it.

This was everything I thought it would be and I loved it. The chemistry was fantastic and I was just so entertained the whole time. I love a good rom com but this kind of trope is new for me. Definitely unique and something I would seek out in the future. It was well paced, entertaining and irresistible!

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Mary Wilsner is an LGBTQ romance about main characters Elsie and Ginny. Elsie, having been engaged to her boyfriend for a year and a half, suddenly breaks off their engagement. This leaves Elsie with a whole honeymoon planned, and no one to go with. Enter her best friend: Ginny. Ginny (they/them) has been Elsie’s best friend for years, and yet has never told Elsie their true feelings for her. What will happen when Ginny agrees to go on the trip with Elsie? Will their feelings for one another change, or will they decide it is best to remain friends?

Wilsner presents this book with a question: what do I want and will it make me happy? I appreciated the way Wilsner wrote Ginny as a nonbinary character. Being nonbinary myself, I didn’t feel as if their identity was over the top (as it sometimes tends to be). It felt like a very realistic experience. The book doesn’t focus too much on Ginny’s gender identity (which I appreciate) and instead presents it as a fact, and moves on with the story.

I didn’t feel entirely interested in the overall story. I can appreciate a casual romance, but there aren’t many events that moves the story along. Instead, we are often told Ginny’s thoughts and Elsie’s thoughts as well, nothing too complex. The story is fast paced which I can appreciate, but didn’t allow for me to feel entirely connected to the characters. We don’t exactly know how they both have acted prior to the honeymoon vacation. I would’ve been interested in seeing their friendship more before the vacation, and compare that to how they develop throughout the book.

This is good if you want a very casual romance to read, but this isn’t something I would exactly go out of my way to read. I appreciated reading a romance starring LGBTQ+ characters, and I especially appreciate the publisher (St. Martin’s Press) for lending me this as an advanced copy.

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!