DNF at 10%. Maybe Meryl Wilsner isn’t for me…her writing always rubs me the wrong way for some reason. I found this one particularly jarring. And as much as I like messy FMCs and queer characters, I just didn’t gel with either of the leads.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: April 29, 2025

Thought I’d enjoy this queer (NB/pan) romance but low key hated it.

Lots of smut with zero chemistry, even though they repeatedly say how long they’ve wanted their friendship to be more. This honestly just felt like a “some people might think this is taboo” sex checklist of a book, which made me roll my eyes.

Elsie goes from engaged to broken up to dating her best friend within a week. I don’t care if you’ve been friends for 20 years, you don’t just jump into something like that if you have any sense. You figure out what it means and how it will work. These characters came across so infuriatingly naive and immature, with zero ability to communicate.

Also, Elsie is an A-HOLE. Talking about how she’s wanted Ginny forever and then making digs at Ginny for pining over her forever?! No.

eARC Review - 2.5 stars rounded up.

The concept of this book was what drew me in because I LOVE a friends to lovers story line. However, I was quickly thrown off by how much sex was in this book that took up most of the vacation. It's also one big miscommunication trope plus a third act breakup, two of my least favorite tropes of all time. I actually stopped around 67% because I couldn't get past the miscommunication. The characters were meant to be best friends for years and years, yet couldn't talk to each other about some important things that led to the fight? It felt very unrealistic and awkward to just move the story along.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

*4.5

This was a lot of fun to read. I love a good best friends to lovers book. The fact that they've been in love with each other since middle school, sign me up. Elsie is a little bit annoying because she doesn't know what she wants but she eventually figures it out. The two of them are good together and I wish there was an epilogue.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I tend to enjoy everything I read, and I absolutely adored this queer romance about two best friends who are completely unaware of their feelings for each other until they have the chance to take a vacation together. This is the perfect light read to kick off the season as the weather warms up.

I’m a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers story, even if Elsie and Ginny frustrated me by ignoring their feelings for each other for so long in order to maintain their friendship. This is understandable and relatable in the queer romantic experience, lol. As a queer cisgender woman, I appreciated reading about Ginny's non-binary identity and loved how Wilsner portrayed their experiences from being misgendered in public, with Elsie standing up for Ginny to Elsie asking about their preferred terminology, affirming and respecting their identity. It's the little details that matter so much.

By no means is this the best romance book ever, so please don’t take my review as such. However, it was a wonderful escape from the outside world and a joyful read filled with queer romance. I definitely plan to explore more of Wilsner's work, as they did a beautiful job with this story.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is a spicy best friends to lovers queer romance. Friends to lovers is my favorite romance trope and miscommunication and third act breakups are among my least favorite. This novel is packed with miscommunication between best friends Ginny and Elsie. Ginny has been in love with her best friend, Elsie, since childhood. “All the bests in Ginny’s life have Elsie in them.” Elsie is a doormat who doesn’t feel “adult” enough to know what she wants in life. She also has romantic feelings for Ginny, but doesn’t trust Ginny’s feelings for her. “The only way to solve this situation is to ignore it.” I enjoyed the descriptions of the tropical honeymoon location and wanted to root for Ginny and Elsie’s happy ending, but it was challenging for me to identify with their immaturity and inability to effectively communicate with each other. Queer romance fans may enjoy this book. 2/5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. Available 4/29/25

This best-friends-to-lovers romance is undeniably cute but boring. Elsie, fresh from a broken engagement, takes her best friend Ginny on her nonrefundable honeymoon—where unspoken feelings finally come to the surface. While the premise is promising and the romance has its sweet moments, too many events feel rehashed, making the story feel slow and predictable.

Ginny is an absolute gem of a person. I felt so bad that they had to lust for so long, especially since they clearly have such a huge heart. Honestly though, I think they were way too good for Elsie. I genuinely loved everything about Ginny’s personality, especially the fact that they foster dogs, are comfortable in their own skin, and seem to be a very handy and skilled carpenter. I for one really want to know how the sex bed turned out! Their relationship with their dad and other farmer’s market partner was super sweet and I enjoyed how they both called them out on their faults and also supported them unconditionally. Elsie though, and her entire family were a tough group to get behind. Her father and mother totally ignored her ideas and didn’t seem to care much about her broken engagement. I wish it somehow made sense that Elsie never accepted her feelings for Ginny earlier, but it didn’t. Her inability to make a decision for herself or be an independent person got very frustrating. I would have liked more insight and detail into why Elsie could never gain the confidence to do what she actually wanted to do.

In terms of the spice and sex scenes, they were definitely hot and next level. But, it would have been a lot more believable if there was more chemistry leading up to Elsie’s decision and more thought or emotional depth behind her decision. It just seemed super sudden for Elsie to all of the sudden end her engagement and jump into Ginny’s arms. I wanted more romancing and deep conversation and analysis as to why Elsie felt she had to wait so long and why she could never actually talk to Ginny about her feelings rather than glossing over everything because the sex is so good. Therefore the supposed “conflict” that was so extremely forced and cringe worthy, never felt authentic. Elsie’s character was so weak at that point, her reasoning for essentially dumping Ginny only made things feel dramatized rather than real. The only thing the conflict further established was that Ginny could do no wrong and she handled everything like a pro. Their level of maturity, level headedness, and ability to know what is best for them was the true shinning star of this story. Because let's face it, Elsie was never going to grow on her own unless Ginny made her, and that's the only reason why Elsie finally was able to stand up to her family.

I would have liked to have gotten more information leading up to the honeymoon such as the details and backstory to Elsie and Ginny’s relationship and their family dynamics. Ginny was perfectly crafted, but Elsie definitely needed so much more depth and likeability factor in order to completely support the success of their relationship. The only thing I really ended up appreciating about Elsie was how she stood up for Ginny’s identity and that she never judged or loved Ginny any less because of her size. It was just refreshing not to have to listen to Ginny’s insecurities about their body or make that the reason why Elsie never liked them. I would also suggest making more adjustments to the pacing because you have all the sex and excitement happening during the honeymoon and then everything after just felt dull. Overall, besides the amazing sex and the fact that Ginny could do no wrong, the story itself just didn’t connect with me due to the lack of development in terms of conflict, resolution, depth, and backstory that needed to happen in order to see past the sex that completely overshadowed the story.

ARC review for the ebook and audiobook! I loved this book SO MUCH!
I love Meryl Wilsner books so much and this one did not disappoint! I loved the audiobook and the narrators did an amazing job with this story.
I love a queer friends to lovers story and the ONLY thing I did not love was the third act breakup but that’s typical.

If you’re in love with your best friend, go for it. It could end like this 💕

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Two best friends of over a decade finally give a romantic relationship a shot and strive to pursue their dream occupations. Can they pull it off or will it all go up in smoke?

Thank you Netgalley and Celadon books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Friends with Benefits had a great premise—two best friends, years of mutual interest and wanting, and a romantic getaway that turns spicy. But while the chemistry was off the charts, the emotional depth was lacking. I have a hard time fully getting into books that don't have that element.

Ginny confesses their love, gets rejected, then watches as Elsie calls off her engagement and jumps into bed with them. I loved the spice, but their physical relationship takes center stage, without leaving much room for real emotional growth. Elsie’s struggles with standing up for herself and the overused miscommunication trope didn’t help. Plus, the pacing was off—the conflict dragged on for way too long, making the second half frustrating.

That said… if you’re here for the spice? You will not be disappointed. It’s hot, fun, and easy to read, even if the romance felt underdeveloped. Overall, I liked it but wanted more.

Thank you net galley, St Martin’s Publishing Group, and Meryl Wilsner for gifting me an arc of My Best Friend’s Honeymoon.

What do you do when your fiancé decides to surprise you with a wedding? You’ve had no say in the details, invites, or any of the planning.

Obviously the correct answer is you dump him and take your hot plus sized nb bestie to your non refundable honeymoon destination!

This books was cute, fun, perfect for the summer and LORD THAT SPICE!!! Way, WAY spicier than I would have ever expected.

Overall the book was enjoyable, but didn’t wow me at any point.

4.25🌟
This was my first Meryl Wilsner book, and I am a fan! I saw them at a book fest in February and was blown away by their smarts and hilariousness, so knew I needed to read something they'd written. Imagine my glee when I saw this book available for review. 🤗 This was such a swoony story about how love shows up, even when it's hard. It also proves that some of the most satisfying relationships come from starting out with friendship. And the sexy-times were 🔥🔥!😏

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. i am a big fan of Meryl Wilsner and when i read the premise of this one it sounded right up my alley! i thought the book was light-hearted, sexy, funny at times, and the characters both somewhat relatable. but there were a couple things that made me be like "huh, not what i was expecting!" i think the premise was interesting but not how i would have written it. I think that Elsie should've gotten up to, let's say, the day of her wedding, and left her fiancé jilted at the altar, unable to say yes, and running out of the wedding venue with Ginny kind of rushing after her. they hop in a taxi and Elsie turns to them and is like "let's escape! let's go on my honeymoon!" the way it was written, it was just a bit too easy for elsie to up and leave her engagement. 0 anger or pushback from the fiancé felt unrealistic. also found it frustrating that we don't really learn Elsie even likes Ginny as more than a friend until about 30% thru the book... up until that point Ginny almost reads a little pathetic to be honest; she remains loyally devoted to and in love with her best friend even after they are rejected by her and watch her get engaged to a man.

other reviews have pointed out that the book is light on plot and heavy on the smut but i'm fine with that aspect. the sex scenes are well-written and hot. i found it a little odd that ginny goes by they/them pronouns but in random spots of the book, they are referred to with she/her pronouns within the narrative, not as a plot point. unsure if that was deliberate and ginny is cool with they/she pronouns. if that's the case, it could have been better established; i saw a few other reviews mention it.

I have enjoyed every book by Meryl Wilsner that I’ve read, and this is no different. The tension. The pining. The longing. It wasn’t a slow burn (it was years in the making). The conflict made sense and only added to the story. I just wish there was more of them together in the end. And I did notice some incorrect pronouns near the end that I’m sure will be caught before publication.

This book didn't come together for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters, and I didn't like the queer romance. I thought I was reading a romantic comedy and loved the title. I did enjoy a few parts of the book, like the backdrop of the honeymoon and some of the humorous mishaps and a few heartwarming moments. I felt like the book was trying to convey the strong friendship between the girls, the adventure, and self-discovery. It just missed the mark with me.

I am posting a few of my memorable moments:
Sunset Cruise: One of the most memorable moments is when they take a sunset cruise. The breathtaking views and the serene atmosphere create a perfect setting for reflection and romance.

Beach Bonfire: Another favorite moment is the beach bonfire night. Surrounded by new friends, they enjoy music, laughter, and storytelling under the stars. This night becomes a turning point in the story, where bonds are strengthened and secrets are shared.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin Press for the advanced copy.

Damn queer friends to lovers is where it's at!! Ginny is down bad for Elsie and Elsie similarly can't conceive of a life without Ginny. I totally believed that Elsie and Ginny were best friends and more than that, I understood why they were each other's go-to person for all things. This book was full of delicious pining and some extremely hot sex scenes. My favorite part of the story was how the author didn't let the characters jump into a romantic relationship without considering how that would impact their relationship. Having had close friendships, it is so easy to get caught in rhythms that might make the relationship smoother but might not be what's best for each person in the friendship. I adored the fact that Elsie and Ginny had the space to determine what they really wanted in their lives and how to go and get it. The way they were able to communicate with each other was so satisfying to read about. The yearning in this story made me feel so many things. I had a fantastic time with this book! It's definitely one to check out if you're looking for a light and steamy escape.

Are you a fan of friends-to-lovers and beautiful vacation spots? Then look no further!

This was a fast and cute read, but I didn't quite connect with the characters as much as I wanted to and wish they were a tad more fleshed out. The ending also felt abrupt, and I wish we had gotten to read more after the happy ending. (Maybe that's just me though.)

I love, love, love the LGBTQ+ representation in this book, and the spice scenes were fantastic—a little long for me considering how fast the story goes but still wonderfully written.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

I ended up DNF'ing the book around 60%. For some reason I could not connect with the characters and I found the story boring. Which bothers me since I love books like these, but maybe I'll have to try again at a later time.

Thanks again for the publishers, NetGalley, and the author for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is bliss! I FLEW through this spicy friends to lovers story. I like Wilsner has been branching out with the diversity of characters in her past few books.
I wish our MCs communicated a bit more consistently because I hate a third act break up.
4/5
Thank you to Net Galley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.