Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with an eARC of My Best Friend's Honeymoon in exchange for my honest review!

As a fan of Meryl Wilsner's work, I must admit that I like this book, but I don't love it. It's certainly not on the same level as Something to Talk About, Mistakes Were Made, and Cleat Cute. The first two novels in particular show off Wilsner's capacity for creating lovable rom-coms out of tropes that could potentially make for the cringiest and clumsiest tales. Unfortunately, this ability for fleshed-out and nimble storytelling doesn't shine as brightly in My Best Friend's Honeymoon. When it starts off, though, it definitely hooks me in with its lighthearted charisma and the bond between Ginny and Elsie. And of course, yay for a rom-com that stars a non-binary MC! You'd think we would see such representation become significantly more prominent, but nope, we're still struggling to get that going on the mainstream route of publishing.

Once we actually go on the honeymoon and the two MCs officially dive into the romantic side of their relationship, though, that's when the quality declines, oddly enough. I would think that when we focus on the development here, this is when the quality would increase. Instead, we dive into a ton of spice that's fun on the surface, sure, but it also hits me as being an insubstantial part of the book. This only grows when we enter the good old conflict portion of the rom-com, considering that conflict kicks off a bit too early and exacerbates the book's odd pacing issues. Whatever happened to letting that start in the third act? Why we are beginning it before that point? It's a janky decision that makes it harder to become more deeply invested in Elsie and Ginny's relationship, which is saddening, since I do very much want this experience to be a fully heartfelt journey. I'm also thinking that this book's choice to reveal the miscommunication trope early on just might have a negative impact on my feelings here.

Overall, I'm officially rating My Best Friend's Honeymoon three out of five stars. I wish this could have been more of a fleshed-out rom-com, but oh well, I'm still glad to have given it a shot. I'll continue to look forward to more of Wilsner's writing.

At times, this book felt like it was two different stories. I feel like the author lost the plot a bit when the couple returns from the trip. A good chunk of the book was spent with them not speaking to each other then all of the sudden, they reconcile and are happily in love. Not my fave unfortunately.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is another absolute must read by Wilsner!

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book.
It’s funny, steamy and oh so romantic.
The chemistry between Elsie and Ginny was fantastic and the romance and character development made it all come to life. I absolutely loved the characters in this book, even the side characters were funny and entertaining.
And not to mention the book has an incredible premise. Freaking loved it.
The story is strong, the characters are well fleshed out and engaging, the leads are wonderful and memorable, it's uber romantic.
A swoon-fest with laugh out loud scenes, brilliant writing and vivid scenes that made me laugh, swoon and smile.
A fun non-binary romance!

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book. Sadly I DNF about 50% in.
This book has an interesting premise and a wide variety of characters, including a nonbinary main character. However this book wasn’t really for me. The writing felt a little off to me. The characters were a little flat.
The lack of communication from everyone drove me a little crazy. I couldn’t connect with the characters or plot.

While this book was a quick and easy read, it seemed very predictable for me. Right from the beginning you can see their relationship to each other. They were a little too dependent on each other. It was nice to have a quick read as something that I didn't have to concentrate on too much and still have a great time reading.

I absolutely LOVED this book! It was so cute and a wonderful story about the complexities of friendship and discovering your sexuality. The characters were well fleshed-out and felt like real people to me. This is a book that I immediately went out and purchased for my physical shelves after reading it because I felt so seen as a queer person. I know that I will be revisiting this book again and again for years to come!

This was a slow burn and not for me . It had potential but I just didn’t enjoy it .
Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy this author's stories SO MUCH!
They really know how to write HEA for queers who love women. I've read most of their books and enjoyed them. This one is no exception. I enjoyed following the two main characters and couldn't get enough. For me, this is a close second to Mistakes Were Made.

This was a good and comical read! I would recommend this for the pool this summer! The characters were really enjoyable and the plot was pretty creative.

3.75 stars out of 5 stars.

I am not usually a friends to lovers fan but YOWZA did Meryl change my mind with this book.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon is a hilarious and sweet, queer vacation romance staring two life long best friends Elsie and Ginny. Elsie calls off her engagement and decides to take her bestie Ginny on her honeymoon. Little did we know, they both have been secretly pining after each other for years...

This book was the perfect combination of sweet and smutty. Legit, jaw on the floor in some parts in all the best ways. I wish we saw a little bit more of their relationship beyond the spice, but still such a fun read!

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

The romance was queer, the smut was smutty. With a long reader's favorite trope of friends to lovers, we get to see a beautiful deep friendship turn more, and fast. I really enjoyed having snippets of the past so we get to see a lot of pivotal moments in the relationship, and the focus on personal growth!

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is a super spicy friends to lovers!! Did I mention this is super spicy? I love the banter between Ginny & Elise and this was a fun story. Very different but I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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.