This was a really touching story about insecurities and trust! Ray goes to an Early Moon destination with his fiance, Kip. Kip recently gave out to his family, but still struggles with being an out gay man due to masculinity issues. I think the author does a fantastic job at portraying the internal struggles that LGBT individuals often experience. Even more so, the author portrays how difficult it is to do normal things like hold hands in public, kiss, or even have a wedding, when you're gay. As an open lesbian who married 10 years ago, we have experienced the same and continue to do so every single day. Throughout the book, I never knew how the ending was going to look. I kept going back and forth about whether I thought they would split up, if Ray would get together with someone else, or if they'd have their happy ending. I was so happy with the ending and the choices the author made. Great read!

Absolutely love this book. I don't think I have ever seen as much of myself in a character before as I did with Ray. His emotions towards dating and romantic life are exactly how I feel and so I was able to connect to this character on such a deep level that this will definitely be a book that I continue to come back to and read. Thank you for this wonderful book.

In this book, you follow Ray Bruno, a millennial writer who has always wanted the perfect wedding. But as he and his fiance, Kip, spend the week of their early honeymoon at the Earlymoon Resort, Ray learns that he would rather have a beautiful marriage with his person (lobster) rather than the perfect wedding.

It was so cute, and there were lots of pop culture references sprinkled throughout, keeping me laughing through the hard discussions and growing that Ray did. Ray wasn’t alone in that; Kip did digging of his own to learn that he wasn’t being himself. Instead, he was being what he thought others wanted him to be.

It was a really beautiful story of two individuals choosing each other and being the best that they can be. Ray had to come to terms with the idea that there’s a huge difference between a relationship that’s perfect on social media and one that is perfect how it is.

This was a great book, and it makes me wish that the Earlymoon Resort really existed! It’s a unique idea and takes on a contemporary romance story. The getting together is cute, but what truly matters is the real life afterward.

This book was... OK. I loved the idea, but Ray was sort of unlikable, but not in a way that made his arc interesting. I had a difficult time staying interested in the story at all, but pushed though and it kind of wrapped up in a decent way, but ultimately wasn't worth the journey. The story was repetitive. It wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't call it a rom-com or even romantic.

As a long time fan of the author’s, I was a bit apprehensive to start Nearlywed. The weird feeling of “What if this is the first book of his that doesn’t work for me?” Well, I am happy to report that my worry was in vain. DiDomizio has done it again in writing another fabulously funny and emotional story.

It is hard to not instantly fall in love with Ray and Kip. Their home life seems sexy, fun and carefree. However, once out of their love bubble, it is quite clear that they aren’t all that compatible. And the carefree nature of their relationship comes from much sacrifice, especially from Ray. Their trip to celebrate their “Earlymoon” unfortunately highlights all of their imperfections.

Per usual, DiDomizio does a fantastic job at fleshing out who these men are at their core. While Ray is the heart of the story, the understanding of Kip and his struggles is what brings Nearlywed full circle. Saying all this, this book is sheer chaos and absolutely hysterical. The setting is idyllic and makes me want to immediately eat lobster by the ocean with a strong cocktail in hand. And if you were raised by a feminist mother who took you to Lilith Fair every summer like I was- trust me, you will appreciate the SUPERB music references.

I could go on and on about this book. This review barely touches the surface but just know that I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend it. For those who long for a bit more depth in a romantic comedy, Nearlywed is the book for you. And for those who just want a damn good book to read this summer- go ahead and grab Nearlywed to pop into your pool bag.

Fun Story

This story was fun to read from the start. I was hooked early on and read it quickly. I enjoyed it a lot.

Holy miscommunication! While this book had so much drama, it hit so many great points. The greatest point is learning to be able to talk to your spouse.

So I love the idea of an early honeymoon. Love that every couple in the book had their own little issues. So many people base their lives and relationships off what they see online( in many ways like Ray), when the things online are what people want to share. I feel a lot of people can learn a lot from this book. Kips growth throughout the book(showing other people it’s ok in the times we live in) just made the book so much better. Who knows how many people could be helped by reading this book.

I am so shocked I enjoyed Nearlywed as much as I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read an advance copy for a honest review.

I enjoyed reading DiDomizio’s Gay Best Friend last year, so I was looking forward to this new book. Protagonist Ray is from a blue collar lobstering family in Connecticut, and his idea of “happily ever after” is based on his parents’ Big 80s Wedding. He’s a journalist for a Buzzfeed style publication and he’s been out since he was 20. He is looking forward to finally getting a Big Wedding of his own with his fiancé Kip.

Kip is an interesting foil for Ray. Not only is he 10 years older, but he’s a doctor. Kip is much more reserved than Ray, who detailed the juicy exploits of his single days in an online column. Ray has not written about the details of his relationship with Ray, but as their wedding approaches, he begins to contemplate the extent of Kip’s reservedness.

The topic becomes unavoidable as Ray and Kip spend a week together at the Earlymoon Hotel, which promotes a unique concept of an “earlymoon”, in which couples spend bonding time together before the wedding. As you might expect, Ray and Kip’s week is not full of rest and relaxation due to all that simmering tension that I mentioned.

The narrative is single perspective, which works well for several reasons. First of all, this is not a traditional romance novel. Ray and Kip are already in an established relationship; they’re not even estranged and in need of a second-chance trope. Second, Kip’s motives and inner thoughts are supposed to be as indecipherable to the reader as they are to Ray. If we knew what Kip was thinking, it would be more difficult for us to empathize with Ray’s frustrations.

On that note: I am much closer in age to Kip than to Ray. I am not a gay man, but I have several friends who didn’t come out until after college, so I do empathize with Kip’s trepidation. Even though Kip likely falls into the microgeneration between X and Millenial, life was very different back then and people weren’t as open. And having said that, I now feel a million years old.

I would absolutely recommend Nearlywed. It was a lot more serious than I was expecting, but that’s part of what made this such a compelling read. Ray is a simply delightful protagonist with the perfect balance of earnest sincerity and snark.

I received a digital ARC of this book from Sourcebooks/NetGalley.

This is a fun, quick read with some amazing insights into what it actually means to get married.

Ray Bruno writes marriage/relationship/celebrity clickbait articles and is a hopeless romantic. He's dreamed about his wedding since he was young. Kip Hayes is a responsible family practice doctor who doesn't really deal in pop culture or social media, and is a fierce protector of his privacy. Ray has always wanted to go on an "earlymoon" (a pre-honeymoon) at a famous resort in his hometown. So when Kip finally relents, Ray goes all in on the booking. What follows are some funny (and some cringe) mishaps and miscommunications.

When Ray is asked by his editor to write a story about the resort, and earlymoons in general, the novel really shines a light on what marriage looks like for each couple, why people get married, and how hard we fight for the love we want, and need. For Ray and Kip, in particular, it's an eye-opener since they really don't seem to be on the same page at all. This is where the character development really starts to show, and for me, elevates the story.

I did the audiobook of this and the narrator was excellent.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is incredibly dry and monotone. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

Thank you Sourcebooks-Casablanca and Netgalley for the review copy. I was thrilled to receive a review copy and absolutely inhaled the story in less than a day.

Kip and Roy are polar opposites on paper but their partnership dynamic works for them. Kip is firmly in Gen-X and doesn’t think every moment of their lives should be documented, where Roy writes celebrity gossip and blogs while having a very public online footprint. Roy’s beachside hometown is known for its unique resort that boasts “earlymoons” - vacations for couples before they get married - so with the stress of their upcoming wedding, they decide to spend a few days at the resort to unwind and build on their connection…

I’m going to leave it there but this book had some super interesting twists and drama. Where Nic’s last book was wild and messy in a light and funny way, Nearlywed had more sincere and tender moments – so much that I actually cried toward the end of the book. The book addresses topics of accepting one’s sexuality and coming out to folks on one’s own terms, and I could see why both Kip felt conservative in this topic and why Roy was craving public recognition of their relationship. This book was beautifully written (to the person who compared it to Emily Henry’s writing - hard agree).

What a beach read!!

Nicolas DiDomizio has knocked it out of the park again, back with his new book Nearlywed.

Ever since Ray was little, he has wanted to get married and have an “earlymoon” (a pre wedding honeymoon) to really solidify his love and marriage. Only now that he is on his…things aren’t going as planned and not only has his past work and other dilemmas resurfaced, but it’s threatening to tear apart the future. Ray and his husband-to-be, Kip, are complete opposites, a hurricane, and the calm — while this has never posed a challenge before…it’s now becoming evident that all the compromises they have made throughout their relationship may have caused some untreated tension…will love be enough to keep this couple together, or is a storm brewing on the coast of this beautiful waterfront resort?

Thank you to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and Nicolas DiDomizio for an advanced reader copy to enjoy and review.

4.5⭐️ - this book snuck up on me in the best way possible. I wasn't sure it was going to be for me at first, as the MC is obsessed with weddings and "perfect love", and that just isn't my jam. Because it's told from a single POV, I wasn't sure exactly where the book was going to take us, which I appreciated. The side characters introduced, the journey the MC takes, and what the book has to say about love and relationships ended up being so much deeper than anticipated and left me with all the feels!

Nearly Wed follows characters Ray and Kip as they embark on an earlymoon prior to their wedding. Throughout their stay at the Earlymoon Hotel, both Ray and Kip come face to face with conflicts within themselves as individuals and within their relationship. What was meant to be a relaxing week turns into a major test on their relationship.

Set at a beautiful seaside New England resort, this romcom is the perfect vacation read. Ray is hilarious and charming as the narrator. Featured tropes are age gap and relationship-on-the-rocks romance. Overall, the book is well-written, along the same vein as Emily Henry. There were parts of this book that I absolutely loved, and others that had me struggling to keep interest. I do think many readers will enjoy Nearly Wed, however. I enjoyed the story overall. It’s just not the kind of book I pick up very often.

Special thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so engaging and well-written. I found myself thinking about the two sides of most issues and trying to understand both characters. While they tried with each other in some ways, I think this book would have greatly benefited from dual POV's. I just found myself rooting for the characters to leave each other and find better-suited people.

I really enjoyed the audio of this LGBTQ romantic comedy. First, the setting of a quaint New England town since I am from New England was perfect. The characters were lovely and overcame many challenges over the story. The ending was perfect and they understood each other. Compromise is important and I think this story did a great job of emphasizing that.

Call me a cynic, but I love reading a romance where the couple are either engaged or married and are going through or will go through a difficult time that will question their relationship. I feel that in those cases, we get to see the love beyond the HEAs & how they survive the real world! Nearlywed was one brilliant example of this.

Ray & Kip are horrible on paper; Ray is a choatoc millennial writer & Kip is a GenX doctor who loves his privacy. But somehow, they make it work. Until Ray convinces Kip to join him for an early honeymoon at a famous lux resort in Ray's coastal New England hometown.

I adored this book so much! The banter, the romance, the humor - it was EVERYTHING. I loved how fiercely Ray & Kip loved each other even through the tough times. And you won't believe how many times I gasped while reading this. There were so many instances when you knew that one of the MCs was going to get hurt & you probably couldn't do anything about it.

My heart melted during the reconciliation chapters; it was so sweet, touching, & heartfelt. One of the best opposites-attract romances I've so far.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nearlywed had me hooked from page one. DiDomizio builds characters that are relateable, hilarious, and impossible not to root for. Another gem of a book from one of my auto-buy authors.

Nic DiDomizio does it again! Another laugh out loud, fall madly, deeply, in love with the characters, cry your heart out book. I loved the premise of an early honeymoon and the setting was absolute perfection. I found myself wishing I could visit this majestic hotel! Ray and Kip were the perfect characters and I loved their mix of personalities. I think what attracts me most to Nic's novels are the sense of realism within the books. This isn't some fairytale romance where everything is unbelievable and too perfect. These characters are messy, chaotic, and downright hilarious. All of that together, along with the perfect setting, just elevates this book to the next level. You find yourself so personally invested in these two and rooting for them until the very end. All in all, this was easily another 5 star read for me! Nic DiDomizio can do no wrong!

Frothy fun. Seriously, there's a lot to love about frothy fun all on its own. I'm not going to criticize anyone for looking to read a plain ol' entertainment.

This book's got the frothy on top, and then a deep well of relationship fiction keeping it up. (So to speak.) The set-up...a prenuptial getaway together...is classic, and introduces the idea that there's something to get away from, which while it's shown as an external...life is always stressful...is really something intrinsic to the couple's couplehood.

That being, in this story, communication skills. Ray is someone who "shares" his entire life online and has used this as a substitute for communicating his deeper emotional reality. After all, he gets the positive reinforcement he needs so badly from his curated, online self's doings, so it's all good. His mom, a deeply indulgent parent who genuinely wants to support her ebullient son, encourages his extroversion without much examination. Then why does he choose older, deep-waters Kip as a partner, the savvy reader notes. Why indeed....

Kip, a buttoned-up young (forties) doctor with a certain kind of background, feels duty-bound to be the man his ancestral expectations lead him to be. The weight of Expectations is, I assume we all know by now, is untenably heavy to carry by yourself. But those expectations make Kip unwilling to ask Ray for badly needed help...it would be All Over The Internet, and what Kip does with Ray should be PRIVATE. (Read: Shame! Shame! Shame!) Kip is, though, loyal to his love, and his love is Ray. How far can Ray push his uncommunicative love before he suddenly, finally sees Ray's essential emptiness?

The stage is set.

What happens between these oddly assorted men at the glitzy resort (a setting that in one stroke assures the reader that shiny, pretty surfaces will be shattered yet the basic architecture will survive) is a very effective communication manual. I do not intend a knock or insult with this! The effectiveness of a story always depends on its logic. The logic of working through communication issues is universally compelling. No one I've ever known has not felt the need to communicate more effectively. These men, one ruled by fear of rejection, the other by shame, discover in their love the support each needs to confront their unique fear.

Because it's the same issue. At heart, "do you love me enough to be with me when I'm just myself?" is the one question every spouse must answer. The good news is, unlike a self-help book or a workbook, reading a novel where each of these two very relatable men answer this question with a resounding "yes, you silly oaf, I always HAVE!" is fun, not a chore. There's a moment in the story where an aperçu is delivered that I think should be part of anyone who's so much as considering the commitment's mental furniture: "The reality of a marriage is all the days that come after." The biggest success of this story is that I believed Ray in all his scattered glory really wanted Kip in all his weighty seriousness to know each of them was loved, accepted, and forgiven in advance for all the mistakes to come.

What fun to find in Nicolas DiDomizio a new gay-fiction writer whose work I want to go back and read, and follow from here on.