OKAY MERYL, I SEE YOU!!!!

This was a really really fun book. I thought Elsie and Ginny were so cute and their connection was undeniable. I found Ginny a little bit of a simp at first but once I understood the plot on a bigger scale I could see where it was going and what needed to happen.

I had so much fun reading about these two, and besties to lovers PLUS dual POV/mutual pining is a new favorite trope combo. It was such a good read and I cannot wait to tell Meryl in person how much I enjoyed their book at their next signing in my city.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

Am I glad I read it? I don't regret reading it, but it also didn't blow me away. I had a really good time with the first half, but the second half is where the story lost me.

One of my favorite romance tropes is friends to lovers because I love the idea of friendship as a strong foundation for the characters' newly ignited romantic relationship. Wilsner wrote a convincing friendship, with the added texture of a past rejection as reason why Elsie and Ginny, despite being obviously in love with each other, were not already *together* together. This last point (the past rejection) was a particular highlight of the book for me because it 1) addressed a frequent weakness of books utilizing this trope and 2) it added some nice depth to Elsie's character. with the backstory driving her rejection of Ginny's advances.

There are plenty of other things I liked: that Elsie's fiance wasn't written as a jerk as justification for her breaking off the engagement; that we have a fat, masc nonbinary MC (Ginny) who uses multiple pronouns and is written as dead sexy to their partner; the ~variety~ in Elsie and Ginny's marathon sexy times (lots of rimming, a near-fisting, degradation).

By the end of the honeymoon vacation early in the second half, though, it became clear that Ginny was less developed as a character than was Elsie. A significant part of that was because the central conflict revolved around their (i.e., Ginny's) codependency and focus on Elsie, which is fine in theory, but the 'whatever Elsie wants' set-up of the first half wasn't ever meaningfully offset with deeper character development for Ginny. During their time apart for ~independence~ and ~figuring out who they are without the other~, Ginny fosters and ultimately adopts a dog (they're a long-time pet foster parent, so this is not a new, Elsie-independent activity for them) and decides to turn woodworking into a job (it was already a long-time hobby and they'd quit their job to go on the honeymoon). So Ginny "grows" by doing things they already did, and any internal, emotional growth happens either off-page or not at all. (I don't actually think Elsie's "growth" during the separation period was much better, to be honest, but it doesn't sit right when the masc character is the one who feels less developed.)

Further, perhaps it's because Wilsner did such a good job convincing me of how strong Elsie and Ginny's friendship is, but I simply did not find the reason for the third act break-up to be even remotely convincing in the first place, despite Elsie's reasoning being explained late (late!) in the book (and this is coming from a reader who DOES appreciate a good one).

For readers who want something spicy, fairly quick, and easy to read, I can definitely see how this could be a winner. For me, though, it just didn't deliver on what I need for a really great romance.

I read this via audiobook and enjoyed the production and narration with the strong exception of the narration of Elsie's dialogue. Whichever narrator this is, their efforts to make this character's voice femme made her instead sound young to me, and that was mildly uncomfortable to listen to given how spicy this book is.

Rating: 🤷🏼‍♀️ (it was fine; 3.5 rounded down)

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advance copy of this title!

My Best Friends Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner

When Elsie Hoffman discovers her fiance and college sweetheart had planned a surprise wedding for her she suddenly realizes that she doesn't actually want to get married and breaks things off with him. Soon she finds herself in the Caribbean with Ginny her best friend after her former fiancee gifted her the all expense paid, non refundable trip.

Ginny decides to boost Elsies confidence and give her whatever she wants - as long as she asks for it. Eventually vacation activities, food choices and photos turns romantic and physical. Will Elsie have the confidence to ask for the one thing she wants most- a real relationship with Ginny after this trip?

While the physical romance was hot and heavy I felt there wasnt much focus on the emotional relationship between the two. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

Read if you love...
❤️Best Friends to Lovers
💔3rd Act Breakup
💬Miscommunication Trope
🏳️‍🌈LGBTQIA+ Main Characters
🌈Non Bionary Representation
🌴Paradise Settings
👨‍👩‍👧Accepting Families
🌶️ Lots of Spice

🚨TW- open door Romance, canceled wedding, misgendering, bullying

I liked My Best Friend's Honeymoon. I do enjoy stories of friends to lovers and of course when friends are secretly both in love with each other. It's a great premise to a book, going on a honeymoon with the best friend you have always been in love with. Of course, cause that is just how life should work. Not working out with your finance, that's okay because you have this best friend who you will have even better time with. I like reading about all kinds of love stories and this was a good one.

I like Meryl Wilsner and so I thought I could get past friends-to-lovers but it just didn't work for me. I wish it felt like the stakes were higher which is almost always my problem with this trope. I did enjoy the non-binary representation and Ginny as a character.

I really enjoyed the audiobook narrators for this one. This book is the perfect beach or summer read.

Derek was so annoying, and Elise’s parents were the worst—but honestly, that worked in the book’s favor because it made me root even harder for the main characters. My only gripe is the lack of communication between two people who consider themselves best friends. I wish we had gotten less conflict and more focus on their actual relationship.

That said, the spice level was high, so if that’s your thing, you won’t be disappointed.

Tropes-
Friends to lovers
Miscommunication
Third Act Break up

I thought I would enjoy this one, but unfortunately this was not for me.

A f/nb romance that if you told me Christina Lauren wrote it, I'd believe you (compliment)! While the physical relationship was all on the page, the reader saw very little of the romantic relationship development which isn't my favorite.

Thank you to netgalley, smp and the author for my advanced reader copy! Out 4/29!

My best friend’s honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner
ARC from Macmillan audio
Release date: April 29th 2025
-I feel like I’m besties with Ginny
-Derek had me slapping my forehead who plans a wedding in a week without telling his fiancé 😭
-I love Ginny and Elsie’s friendship
-I love the non-binary rep and learning more about Ginny’s story
-This book had me giddy and dying of laughter
-I feel like I’m going on the honeymoon with them 🥰
-AHHH I LOVE FORCED PROXIMITY
-this makes me want to go on a tropical trip🌴
-I loved that you learn about their backstories, their friendship and more
-THE TENSION ❤️‍🔥
-the spice was breakfast, lunch and dinner 🍲 👀
-naughty talk ouffffff
-AHHH THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING I love Elsie and Ginny so much 🥹😭😩♥️❤️‍🔥
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was so-so for me. I just couldn't quite get into our main character and so the book overall fell a bit flat for me. I wasn't rooting for the couple either which made it even harder for me to enjoy. I am sure this book will work for some, but it just wasn't for me. That said, I would be open to reading future works by this author.

This book is going to keep you up late finishing it because it is darling! So much fun from chapter one to the end. I loved the characters and their fun story!

2.5/5 rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Ughhhhh i wanted to like this one so much more. It felt so rushed and forced in like every way. The friendship was believable and sweet, but it was so obvious that both of them were just in love with each other their entire friendship without any real reason why they didn’t do anything about it? The internal monologues were repetitive and lacked depth. It’s not often that i think a book should have been longer, but that’s how I feel. The intro felt rushed, the jump into sex felt rushed, the fight and makeup all felt rushed. The spicy scenes were good but intense after a short build up. Those took up too much room in the book as a whole imo. Just not what i wanted out of this one :/

This started off really strong, but this book was a miss for me. My biggest issue was that I never really felt the emotional connection between these characters. Despite their years of friendship, this felt like a largely physical relationship that was lacking in any real depth. We were TOLD they had a connection, but I never felt it. A large chunk of the book was spent in conflict, and the portion that wasn't was pretty much devoted to sex. I read almost exclusively open door romance, so I have zero issue with sex in my stories, but I expect it to serve a purpose and add to the connection between the characters. In this case, the sex scenes overshadowed the rest of the story and were a REASON for the lack of emotional depth vs. being something that added to it.

I had other issues with this one, primarily with Elsie's character, but a lot of it boils down to "me" issues and the type of heroine that I enjoy reading. I did enjoy Ginny's character - so much so that I want better for them than Elsie.

All that said, I have another book by this author on my TBR and I do still intend to read it because there I see a lot of potential in the writing style, despite not enjoying this particular book.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is a light and breezy friends-to-lovers romance. After Elsie calls off her engagement to Derrick, he generously lets her use their nonrefundable honeymoon trip — and naturally, she invites her best friend, Ginny. Known for being a people-pleaser, Elsie is told in no uncertain terms that this trip is all about her desires — and she intends to make the most of it. The pair hike, go horseback riding, snorkel, and most notably, hook up. Their week together is filled with steamy moments, though a few scenes veer into cringey territory for me. The dialogue flows effortlessly, and the setting is richly described, but I found the emotional connection between Elsie and Ginny lacking. Despite the heat, I never quite felt the spark that was supposed to pull them together.

Both narrators did a fantastic job with the audiobook, especially Easy, who fully captured the characters and the overall vibe of the story. Their consistent performances added depth and cohesion to the experience.

If you’re in the mood for a breezy friends-to-lovers romance set against a gorgeous backdrop, this one’s worth a try.

📖 Bookish Thoughts
This was a 5-star read through and through! I’ve read a couple books by Meryl Wilsner before, and if you liked Mistakes Were Made, this one is right up your alley.

I’m still laughing at Elsie’s fiancé thinking he could surprise her with a wedding in seven days?? I’m not over how delulu that man was!

Elsie and Ginny were perfect together. Their chemistry felt so natural, and the spice? 🔥🔥🔥
I also loved that the story didn’t just end after the honeymoon — they had to come home and actually figure things out. It was messy but real. I was a little annoyed with Elsie at one point (girl, breathe), but the ending? Perfection. I was proud of both of them, but especially Ginny. That decision wasn’t easy, but they stuck to it because they knew it was right. That moment hit hard.

Overall, I loved this book. It left me smiling — easily one of my favorite reads this year. The narration was fantastic (I’d definitely relisten), and the plot flowed so well.

🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
🎧 Audio Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a free copy of this audiobook via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. Releases April 29, 2025 from St. Martin’s Griffin.

3.5 stars.

"My Best Friend's Honeymoon" by Meryl Wilsner is a bit of a mixed bag, though it's mostly good. The story is 100% sold on the chemistry between Ginny and Elsie, which is top-notch. Their banter is delicious, sexy, satisfying, and unapologetically queer. I loved their friendship but wanted to pull my hair out soooo many times because they were so clearly in love with each other that it made me sick to see them futz around with other people (Elsie I am looking a YOU!!!!!!!!). They are both a mess. They are both their own biggest enemies. They constantly stand in their way (both of them!) and, subsequently, in each other's way. That being said, I think the friends-to-lovers aspect works here (which usually isn't the case, in my opinion). The spice in this book is spiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicy, y'all, and even a tad k1nky, too! I like how Elsie grew as a character where her s3xuality was concerned, but that stops there. Both of their character growth didn't feel super earned at the end of the day. This is a book that leans waaaay into the physical aspect of the story as opposed to the romantic, emotional one. Ginny and Elsie's characters' relationship is exclusive to a vacation bubble until it's not, and it's obvious what's going to happen when they leave their love nest for the real world. I never felt like their relationship grew on their vacation; I only felt like the physical aspect was explored. Low emotion, high s3xuality. I'm also not sure I loved Ginny and Elsie getting together just two weeks after Elsie broke off her engagement to someone else. I get that they have been lusting after one another for years, but it still felt pretty messed up, considering her ex was a decent, nice dude. Like I said, a bit of a mixed bag! I will say, I loooooved Blair Baker and Emily Shaw's dual audiobook narration. Their voices were perfect for this material. They play off of one another well and kept me engaged throughout the audiobook with their fast-paced, snappy, fun narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, Meryl Wilsner, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

I love Meryl Wilsner and I love this story. But there are so many sex scenes and so much use of the c u next Tuesday word, this was a DNF for me at 56%. I was also a little annoyed about how cis-het relationships were described as seeming less adventurous that LGBTQ+ relationships. If a cis-het person said that about LGBTQ+ relationships, it would be clear how offensive that is.

The audiobook narration was well done. The voices for the main characters were easy to distinguish.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Narration: Amazing. I loved the dual narration and felt like the voices and performance matched their respective characters perfectly. Honestly, the quality of the audiobook was a major high point for me for this book.

Content: I love Meryl Wilsner. They will continue to be an auto-read author for me. Friends to lovers is my favorite trope. Unfortunately, this book just didn't land with me. It actually had me defending a man ?? Elsie ends her engagement at the start of the book and he kindly goes out of his way to suggest she still go on the honeymoon HE planned and he went through the effort of changing his ticket to her bff Ginny, that was his idea to take her. Yes these characters act immature and honestly it makes sense since they are 24ish so there was a lot of messiness I was fine with, but it was just a step too far for me when they are making fun of him and barely discussing this long relationship of Elsie's while they are on said honeymoon. And Elsie never spoke up during their relationship so I don't see why it was so heinous for him to plan a wedding and honeymoon when Elsie never corrected him about being in love, for all he knew it was smooth sailing having communicated with her directly checking in about it throughout the years.

The spice was fun. I didn't mind they spent a lot of the trip exploring that. I even enjoyed the side plots of Elsie's place in her family business and Ginny's work. Overall, I am happy to have read this I just feel overall lukewarm about it. If you want to give it a try and enjoy audiobooks, definitely go the audio route. Thank you to SMP for the eARC and Macmillan audio for the ALC.

I treated myself to reading ‘My Best Friend’s Honeymoon as my first ARC of 2025. Even though it has only been a few months I couldn’t visiting the book a second time as an audio book. Blair Baker and Emily Shaw bring the characters to life. I’ve previously read and given five stars to the author’s 'Mistakes Were Made’ (Oct 2022) and 'Cleat Cute' (Sept 2023). I am attaching my original review for My Best Friend’s Honeymoon below.

Elsie Hoffman calls off the wedding that her fiancé planned for her as a surprise. He offers her the non-refundable honeymoon and she takes her best friend, Ginny Holtz. Ginny wants to help Elsie speak up for herself and offers to do anything during the week as long as Elsie asks. It starts with a hike, swimming and snorkeling but soon takes a more personal tack.

Elsie and Ginny are still figuring out adulting. Elsie has always known she would work for the family hardware store and I like the storyline of her trying to get her dad to hear her ideas for improvement. Ginny likewise is still figuring out what they want to do. They took the first job offered out of college but it isn’t their passion. Elsie is pan but has only been with her college boyfriend/fiancé. Ginny is a nonbinary lesbian. Ginny has had a crush on Elsie but settled for being a best friend after Elsie turned them down when asked to a high school dance. I love that Ginny is described as being solid or sturdy sized but is never shamed for it.

They both care for each other so it is hard to see so much internal struggle about being more than friends, after the fact. The story is light and not overly angsty. And I do appreciate the heat Wilsner brings, especially in a mainstream publication. I like that the cover fits the book. And I found it very quick to read and enjoyable.

When Elsie breaks off her engagement to Derrick, and decides to go on her honeymoon trip with her best friend Ginny one thing leads to another and they both don’t know what will happen once they get back home. For Ginny, all she’s ever wanted is to be with Elsie. But, can Elsie break off her engagement and then start dating Ginny immediately? Elsie has never been on her own, she’s not happy with her job at her family’s hardware store, her life was not bad but she wanted more. Is this the time for a new relationship or should she take the time to decide what she wants out of life?
Elsie and Ginny have been friends for a long time, so it’s not like they just met and hooked up on vacation. But there are things that get in the way of their happiness. These things have the power to ruin the relationship if they are not careful.
This was a great story about friends that were destined to be together. If you are in the mood for a third act breakup, spice, and happily ever after, this is for you.