"Best Woman" is Rose Dommu’s debut novel, and if this is her first offering, I eagerly anticipate what she will create next. The story follows Julia, a late-twenties trans woman and wonderfully chaotic bisexual, as she returns home to Florida to be her brother’s Best Woman at his wedding.

Throughout the novel, we see Julia navigating her coming-of-age experience in New York City while reconnecting with her quirky Jewish family and high school friends. She confronts past relationships and old crushes, all while dealing with her loving brother, divorced parents, and more.

Although this book pays homage to the hilarious and unforgettable rom-com "My Best Friend’s Wedding," it transcends typical rom-com boundaries. It offers a witty exploration of family dynamics, self-esteem, the quest for acceptance, and the importance of being loved for who we are.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it—think "My Best Friend’s Wedding" meets "Home for the Holidays." Fans of Torrey Peters, Nicola Dinan, Anna Dorn, Emma Cline, and Jen Beagin may find this messy but lovable story appealing. Thank you to Random House Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I devoured this book and enjoyed every minute! It hits all the emotional beats you expect from a romantic comedy while brining fresh perspective and twists to the idea of people from a wedding party falling for each other. Julia is a vibrant, relatable, very real character with flaws and desires that made me feel like I knew her and was part of her NYC inner circle. Dommu perfectly captures the feeling of returning home when your life has changed in such enormous ways, and the immense complexity of emotion that comes along with seeing the people who knew you before you got out. Dommu also spoke to the difficult experience of being queer with a vaguely supportive family who doesn’t truly “get it” and all the ways big and small that they can do harm while sincerely loving you. This book is a romance, but there are so many beautiful love stories between siblings, parents, and friends that it’s hard to pick my favorite sub-plot. I can’t wait to recommend this book.

3 stars- An enjoyable quick read! Thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a chaotic, hilarious, and deeply heartfelt rollercoaster that had me grinning, cringing, and fully invested in Julia’s mess. The writing is sharp, the humor is biting, and beneath all the wedding mayhem and questionable choices, there’s a story about self-discovery, longing, and the complicated relationships that shape us. Julia is a disaster in the best way, and I adored every second of her flailing attempts at romance, her sharp wit, and her painfully relatable family dynamics. The chemistry with Kim crackles with tension and nostalgia, and every interaction is laced with that delicious mix of yearning and ‘oh no, what have I done?’ chaos. This book is vibrant, wildly entertaining, and impossible to put down. I loved every second of it.