I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Macmillan Audio.

Elsie Hoffman has been engaged to her college boyfriend for a year and a half. Ginny Holtz has been in love with Elsie for almost a decade and a half.

When Elsie discovers her fiancé already planned their wedding and honeymoon as a surprise and she is expected to be in a white dress in seven days, she swiftly realizes she has let herself become too comfortable with a future she never wanted. She breaks things off, and a week later is on a plane to the Caribbean for her non-refundable honeymoon with her best friend Ginny instead.

Ginny thinks it is high time Elise learned how to speak up for herself. So, they make a deal with her. For the next week, Elsie can have whatever she wants, wherever, however, and whenever she wants it, as long as she asks. They never expected Elsie to want them.

What starts as choosing activities and taking selfies soon turns to toe-curling kisses and much, much more. But what happens when the honeymoon is over?

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is about not only learning to ask for what you want, but for the happiness you deserve. This book was extremely fast paced which I appreciated. I loved the foundation of their relationship being rooted in years of friendship. I thought Ginny and Elsie were great characters and were well fleshed out. Watching them grow both emotionally and romantically was really sweet. It was totally believable. I enjoyed seeing them support and uplift each other’s goals and passions. And the banter. The only downside in my opinion is that I did appreciate Elsie’s growth in standing up for herself, but it came at the detriment of them spending a significant portion of the book apart, which was kind of upsetting. But Ginny also had a bit of growing up to do and I appreciated how they handled the situation. My first book by Wilsner and definitely will not be my last.

Rating: 3.5/5

Did not finish. I’m sorry I just couldn’t connect to this story or the characters. It was cringy more than it wasn’t and I couldn’t stand the narrators.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

This looks like such a cute story where two lifelong best friends find out that they both feel the same way about each other after one calls off her engagement. I think the premise was really great and I was excited about the representation in the book. However, I feel that the communication was lacking, some of the conversations that really should have been had before this discovery would have made for a better connection between the characters, that really just depended on spice. If you are looking for a deep and meaningful romance, this is probably not this, but if you're looking for a fun and cute spicy romance then this is the book for you.

This was a no from me. I don’t mind spice/smut - many of the books I read include that and I enjoy reading it. Something about a book that is nothing but smut and imo masquerades as a romance is bothersome. This book felt like a thin plot to write out a personal fantasy. I felt nothing from the characters and some of the dialogue was off-putting. All of the characters were insufferable.

This story was amazing, and the narration was even better! I loved the story the first time that I read it, and the narration added d so much to the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked the representation in this book!! Each character felt really thought out and really well rounded. The only thing I didn’t like was the whole 3rd act break down. Not that there was anything wrong with it I just don’t think it was necessary lol.

I sometimes struggled to understand Elsie. He character could be a little obtuse but I loved Ginny. I loved the plus-sized masculine representation. They were such a great character!!

Overall this was an enjoyable listen!! Blair Barker and Emily Shaw are great narrators!!

“My Best Friend’s Honeymoon” was another fantastic book from Meryl Wilsner. The pace was perfect- the audiobook the perfect companion for a ride into work or listening to around the house.

The story itself was a brilliant take on a friends to lovers trope without feeling tired or overdone, and the use of language, respect for pronouns (as commonplace and not something to be othered), and general exploration of queer culture helped uplift this book and create dynamic worlds for main characters Elsie and Ginny. There are definitely spicy scenes as well- also well written and real, that speak to real, queer, and fat experiences. Overall a great read! Thank you for the opportunity to read/ listen early!

Great love story and I loved the narrator. I also felt like I was at the all-inclusive with them, great description and detail!

I really enjoyed this queer romance read - perfect for the start of Spring weather! These best friends turn into lovers and live out their "honeymoon-phase" quite literally on a honeymoon. The erotic scenes were primarily in the middle of the book - creating a good pacing in the book overall. I genuinely liked Elsie and Ginny as characters. As for their dynamic in a caring, careful, connected sapphic relationship - couldn't have been written better. The narrators were good - I preferred the "Ginny" narrator more than the "Elsie" narrator, who could sound a little too .... simple (?), passive (?) - not sure how to describe exactly what was off but it wasn't anything too distracting. Overall 3.75/5!

Thanks to #NetGalley and to the publisher for access to the audiobook ARC!

I went into My Best Friend's Honeymoon expecting a light, romantic comedy with some heart, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite deliver. The premise was promising—an accidental honeymoon with a best friend has so much potential for charm and chemistry—but the execution fell flat.

The characters felt one-dimensional, and their dialogue often came across as forced or clichéd. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of little happening, followed by rushed emotional developments that didn’t feel earned. I found it hard to root for the romance when the connection between the leads felt more like a plot device than genuine chemistry.

There were a few funny or sweet moments, and the setting was nice, but overall, the story lacked depth and originality. I really wanted to like this more than I did.

I loved Meryl Wilsner’s “Mistakes Were Made” so I was so excited to see this new book coming out with more queer representation!

Elsie and Ginny have been best friends forever and when Elsie’s wedding is called off, they decide to go on the non refundable honeymoon together. One thing leads to another and pretty soon they’re both confessing their mutual attraction and feelings. And it gets SPICY. Very, very spicy. I love how Ginny helps Elsie feel more confident in her wants and desires. The romance moves really quickly-understandably since they have been best friends and have been attracted to each other for awhile.

Both of these characters are messy, with their own faults. I can definitely see some readers might feel frustrated with their actions but remember…real people miscommunicate and make mistakes all the time so it’s normal that fictional characters do too.

Overall, it was a cute, cozy and spicy story. The narration by both Blair Baker and Emily Shaw was wonderful. Their voices really fit the characters.

Thank you Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for early access!

Read if you like:
🏖️Friends to Lovers
🏖️Queer representation (nonbinary & pansexual)
🏖️Miscommunication
🏖️Self discovery & growth
🏖️Hot & Spicy

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner was so fun! Friends to lovers with a non-binary main character...just delightful!

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.

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 week saw the release of Meryl Wilsner‘s fourth novel, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon. When Elsie ends her engagement to Derrick, he encourages her to go on the the non-refundable honeymoon to Santa Lupita that he’d booked. Elsie takes her best friend, Ginny, who makes her promise to speak up for what she wants the whole trip. This leads to the two of them hooking up… and considering finally dating after all these years as just friends.

Why I Chose This Book:
I enjoyed Meryl Wilsner’s first book, Something to Talk About, and have been wanting to read more from them. My Best Friend’s Wedding looked like it would be cute, and I also liked that this one features a nonbinary person as one of the two main characters.

The way everything plays out was not quite what I expected, though…

What I Liked:
- Nonbinary representation. Ginny mainly uses they/them pronouns and I really liked their character overall. I enjoyed seeing how they navigate situations when gender assumptions are made vs. how Elsie reacts. Elsie always stands up for her best friend!
- Pansexual representation. Elsie often jokes about being the silent ‘P’ in ‘LGBTQ.’ Though she’s only had relationships with men, largely due to some homophobic bullying she experienced in school, she’s long had a crush on Ginny.
- Flashbacks to earlier times in their relationship. Every so often, we get looks at events in Ginny and Elsie’s adolescence that shaped them and prevented them from pursuing a romantic relationship earlier. They were randomly placed and infrequent, but helped build up a bit more of their relationship.
- Learning to speak up for yourself. Elsie needs to learn how to have an opinion and actually state it. Her character was hard to like sometimes, but I did appreciate the lessons in learning to have a voice and use it. Ginny, too, learns a thing or two about following their own dreams. Good on them!

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Too much sex. I’m used to reading spicy romances, but here it actually started to feel gratuitous. Multiple consecutive chapters were basically just them having sex. For me, this was unfortunately to the detriment of building up the emotional connection between the characters. They’ve been in love with each other for years, but the readers don’t get to see that bond so much. It felt like the sex *was* the connection, but I need more for the relationship to feel believable.
- The breakup seemed like an extreme overreaction? Other characters call Elsie out for it, but still. It seemed forced.
- Not enough Santa Lupita. When I see a Caribbean honeymoon, I want to get to know the island! I want to see them doing fun activities there! Who ignores an entire tropical location to just have sex? Not me!
- Poor Derrick! I hope he finds his happily every after someday. He’s nice and wants to be better, and I support him in that.

Audiobook:
Blair Baker and Emily Shaw narrate as Ginny and Elsie. Both do a wonderful job in their own right… but to be honest, their voices sound similar enough that I had a hard time telling who was who. I wish the voice actors chosen would have had more distinct timbres or speaking styles.

Final Thoughts
While there was a lot I liked about My Best Friend’s Honeymoon, I felt like it needed a lot of work to make it fully enjoyable. The overdone spice and forced third-act breakup just didn’t work for me. It was cute but not my favorite. Still, I would like to try out more of Meryl Wilsner’s books in the future.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon

WOW this is a spicy friend's to lovers meets pringles journey - once they pop, the fun don't stop. I don't usually describe a book as horny but this one certainly was.

Two platonic best friend's go on Elsie's honeymoon when she calls off the wedding right before. When Elsie learns she can have anything she wants as long as she asks for it, Elsie starts asking for whatever Ginny is willing to give her. They happily oblige, having been in love with Elsie for most of their lives. The week in paradise takes a spicy turn, only for reality to hit when they return home.

While I don't love a third act breakup, I do think it was important for Elsie and Ginny to spend that time apart and define themselves outside of their relationship with each other. It worked well in this story, and I was happy to see the growth each character went through.

In general, I wanted a bit more from this book. I felt like too much of their stumbles fell to miscommunication, and I just wanted them to TALK to each other and be honest. It was hard to root for them as a couple when the extent of their relationship felt like just the physical aspect. Their bonds were formed as friends, off page, so it was hard to be bought into them.

The audio was HEATED, but the dual narrators kept it easy to follow along between the two characters. It made me blush to listen to, but brought the two characters thoughts to life.

Check this one out if you're looking for:
A SPICY friend's to lovers ride
Lots of typical honeymoon activities despite the lack of a wedding LOL
Third act breakup
Nonbinary main character
Queer romance

Thank you to Macmillian Audio for the ALC! My opinions are my own.

HOW was this my first Meryl Wilsner book? I have no idea how I missed this author, because they are everything I have been looking for.

The chemistry between Ginny and Elsie was perfect in this book, I loved watching them stumble between best friends to romantic partners. I think what made this romance stand out from others I have read this year was the authenticity shining through as these people found themselves. Friends to lovers is a favourite trope of mine, but this one felt so real because the genuine fear of losing the friendship and the willingness to put the romance aside because you love someone that much was right there. What an amazing book, this author is an instant recommend by me from now on.

I think this also captured friendship dynamics really well, especially for young people today. I just loved how they took time apart (SO REAL) and figured themselves out before figuring out what they needed. Normally this is framed as just a third act break up, but this wasn't as negative because it really captured the growth journey in my opinion.

One of the best books I'll read this year, and there are 8 months left. Total standout.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

loved this LGBTQ cozy friends to lovers romance. the personal growth our two main characters experience broke my heart just to put it back together.

This was a light and charming read, but I found myself wishing for more emotional substance in the relationship. The title is spot-on—one of the protagonists breaks off their engagement and ends up getting involved with their best friend. Once they arrive at the resort, the story quickly turns into a string of intimate moments without much exploration of their feelings or where they stand emotionally. That part dragged a bit for me, as I was hoping for deeper conversations and growth between them. The emotional payoff doesn't come until everything unravels. Still, I really liked the queer representation and the bond between the two leads was sweet. Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy!