I wanted to love this. I adored Meryl's other books, and the writing is stellar as usual, but I HATED Elsie. Not only is she a doormat with everyone, she is also extremely selfish and self center with Ginny, putting her wants, needs and emotional well being first without ever considering Ginny's even though they have at least made it clear once that they were interested in them. Another issue was that there was almost no yearning or longing, the best part of a friends to lovers. There was no buildup it was just bang. Let's have sex and then misunderstanding and breakup. I wish the relationship had been better paced

3 stars

Meryl Wilsner consistently puts out books I enjoy. The characters are fun, the relationships are charming, and the romantic elements are not overly syrupy.

This book has some great moments, but it doesn't quite come together as I'd hoped, and I honestly think that would have changed with some reordering.

Elsie is in the thick of breaking up with her fiance when the book begins, and the circumstances surrounding this make it impossible to understand how they were together in the first place. The titular honeymoon is still on, though, and Ginny, Elsie best friend, is the one who will join. Their relationship changes on this trip.

The narrative begins with this bizarre relationship breaking up and then dives so quickly into lengthy scenes of intimacy between another couple. It's not until after the trip that readers really get to know more about the characters, which feels out of order. The early events happen fast (in a way), and I wasn't yet invested enough in the characters to pick up on much more than their physical connection, which is nice for them but not as compelling for me. I'd have loved to learn more about the central relationship BEFORE the present day and then continue to move chronologically. I think this could have made all the difference.

I'll still be enthused to read whatever this writer puts out next, but I'll admit that this one wasn't my favorite.

I suppose you could call me a Meryl Wilsner stan at this point. After reading “Cleat Cute” last September I was immediately hooked on Meryl’s writing. I went into this book blind to give it an open and honest review. “My Best Friend’s Honeymoon” was an amazing listen but it did have its moments where I was left expecting more.

The spice scenes—as per usual—were amazing, but at some points felt forced. I also don’t personally feel the chemistry between Elsie and Ginny was fully there, and that was something I felt from chapter one all the way to chapter thirty-four.

I’d still give this book a 3/5 stars because of the excellent nonbinary representation as well as the amazing use of the found family trope.

Overall, this was still a fun listen and I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

This is a spicy romance done well. And even better because its on audio. Loved the cast and plot. The characters were a hot mess, but very comical.

This is a cute story but I didn’t love that it was told in third person POV.

The story has good plot and was mostly enjoyable. Narration was really good.

A non bionary rep was nice to see and there was lots of spice.

I tried listening to this one over the last few days and I really could not get into it. It just wasn't for me, I was very confused within the first 5 minutes and that just put a sour taste in my mouth.

A sweet. nostalgic queer friends to lovers romance that hits all the right notes! For those who like spice, there's plenty, as our best friends Ginny and Elise decide that what happens on vacation is whatever Elise wants, and maybe that's Ginny!

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is a cute, sexy romcom and my first f/nb romance. I loved the premise of these two lifelong best friends going on a honeymoon together after one’s wedding was called off. Unlike many other Meryl Wilsner books, I would not classify this one as a slow burn. In fact, it almost crosses into erotica. The narrator was great, though I did have trouble differentiating the voices at times. A solid 4 star read for me.

I loved the story, friends to lovers. It was set up well with background information, etc. The setting was great from Minneapolis to an all-inclusive in Mexico. The love story was great. The love scenes were really spicy for my taste but some may love that level of spice! It was just a lot for this girl to handle!

I had to listen to this in one sitting, just so I could hear what happens next. There was the right amount of smut that went along with the story of Elsie and Ginny, I just don't love the poor communication trope. I want to see characters who can speak about their feelings and not have the conflict be due to a miscommunication. Otherwise, I loved the dynamic of their relationship and the nonbinary representation.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with both a digital ARC and a digital ALC in exchange for an honest review. The moment I received the email, I downloaded the book and began reading while listening along.

From the very beginning, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon pulled me in. Elsie’s decision to call off her engagement is a pivotal moment, and her ex’s unexpected gesture of sending her on the nonrefundable honeymoon sets the stage for an emotionally charged, deeply satisfying romance. Ginny, who has harbored feelings for Elsie for over a decade, proposes a simple deal: Elsie can have anything she wants, as long as she asks. What unfolds is an intoxicating mix of trust, passion, and self-discovery.

The spice in this book? Absolutely top-tier. Because of their long-standing friendship, Ginny and Elsie bring a deep sense of trust into every intimate moment, making for some incredibly steamy scenes. The sheer intensity of their chemistry, combined with their willingness to explore and push boundaries together, makes for a honeymoon that is unforgettable in every way. This is not a slow burn—it’s years of pent-up desire exploding in a few passionate, indulgent days.

That being said, I struggled with Elsie as a character. While I could empathize with her journey toward self-discovery, she often felt milquetoast compared to Ginny’s quiet, steadfast devotion. I found myself far more invested in Ginny, likely because I relate to their years of unspoken longing. Both characters, at times, bordered on feeling two-dimensional, but I was willing to forgive that when it came to Ginny. With Elsie, however, I wanted more—more depth, more agency, more personality beyond her indecision.

Experiencing this story through dual narration only enhanced the experience. Each narrator brings their respective character to life, capturing the emotional nuances of their personal struggles—Elsie’s uncertainty and Ginny’s patient but aching love. The performances added layers to their conflicts, making the heartbreak hit harder and the resolution even more rewarding.

Then comes the third-act conflict. Ginny’s secret comes out, Elsie reacts badly, and they break up. Was Elsie overreacting? Absolutely. Was Ginny’s response frustrating? Yes—because it didn’t feel entirely in character. That said, their time apart wasn’t just about moping. Both characters actually grow, and that growth makes their eventual reconciliation feel earned.

Meryl Wilsner has cemented themselves as a must-read author for me. Alongside Ashley Herring Blake, they continue to deliver some of the most engaging sapphic romances out there. While Mistakes Were Made remains a favorite, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is up there, delivering a story full of longing, heat, and well-deserved happiness.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon is about Elsie, whose fiance thinks it's a great idea to surprise her with a wedding (surprise, it's not). The honeymoon is nonrefundable, so Elsie goes with her best friend, Ginny. While Elsie is trying to figure out what she wants in life, will she realize it's her best friend?

I struggled a bit with the pacing of this book. We know they are best friends, but there was little romantic relationship development beyond the physical aspect. I still read it all in a morning. It was a quick and easy read, and it was great to see a non-binary rep! LOTS of spice.

I loved that the audio had two narrators (this is my preference for romance). Both narrators spoke very clearly and I was able to speed it up to 2.5x without an issue.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this audiobook for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read and left me yearning for my own Caribbean getaway. While I enjoy a friends-to-lover read, I felt the conflict was forced and unreasonable, however valid the self-reflection it produced. The narration was great and I enjoyed the queer representation in the friendship and love story.

This book was enjoyable in the first couple of chapters but fell flat at the half way point. I didn't care for the two characters and their personalities. I tried to finish it twice and I just could not get into the story. It was a DNF for me.

This book was so fun. I loved the premise, and the overall story. It was a fun, best friends to lover, honeymoon swoon fest. I couldn't get enough.

Overall, 2.5 stars. I usually love the friends to lovers trope, but this this story was not for me. I did like a few parts of this book. I enjoyed was Ginny, her support of Elsie, and her encouragement to Elsie to finally start asking for what she wants. I also really enjoyed Derrick's reappearance in Chapter 33, that was refreshing to see. Ginny and Elsie's time apart from each other to figure out who they were and what they wanted was so needed and helped them in the long run.

Two best friends who hid their true feelings for each other. I understand Ginny, but Elsie? How do you go from being engage to Derrick and hiding all of her feelings for Ginny to all of a sudden asking Ginny for sex? She missed a few steps there. The honeymoon sex overwhelmed the story. I hated how Elsie reacted to Ginny quitting her job, that was excessive and unnecessary. Parts of this book made me irrationally angry and made me want to yell at Elsie's family, especially her parents.

While this book was not for me, I encourage readers to check it out, you may love it!

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and St.Martin's Press for the advance audiobook and the arc!

Format: audiobook/ebook

While I liked the two main characters, I felt like the surrounding characters were far-fetched and caricature-like. The representation was great. I felt seen through some of the scenarios in this book. Sadly, the sex was cringe and I had trouble getting through it. Ultimately, this was a fun little vacation romp where two besties finally acknowledge the repressed feeling they have for one another. Miscommunication ensues, but it wasn't intolerable. This was pretty cute.