This was a spicy, fun time! I love a tropical vacation setting!! I really enjoyed the plot and the characters individually and this was a very quick read - perfect beach read. But I had a hard time believing that the couple will last long term which is why I wasn’t completely connected to the story. Overall, I recommend.

Given that Meryl Wilsner's Cleat Cute was one of my favorite reads of 2024, I had high hopes for My Best Friend's Honeymoon. Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. On paper I love the trope of two best friends finding love, but the pacing felt off.. Although Ginny and Elsie's close, nearly lifelong friendship is established early on, I wanted more time getting to know their characters before they gave in to their mutual pining. At the heart of the story was Elsie's dependence on those around her--her ex-fiance, her family, Ginny--and her growth as she developed the confidence to live her life on her own terms. The story was strongest when it focused on this inner conflict.

Despite this not being the book for me, it does do a lot of things well:

- non-binary and pansexual representation
- mutual pining between longtime friends is always a fun trope
- Elsie's growth as she learned to speak up for herself
- Ginny's growth as they considered what a life less dependent on Elsie might look like
- Meryl Wilsner is a skilled writer; their prose always flows well and is a delight to read

Oh how I absolutely loved this read. From the very first line I thought “This is for the girlies who are tired of men.” And this did not disappoint on that front. The actual premise is hilarious and I needed a good romcom with phenomenal queer representation. I MEAN who doesn’t absolutely love the idea of getting to go on your all expenses paid honeymoon after calling of your wedding to go with your best friend? It’s a pretty spicy read and explores sex between people of varying experience.

The FMCs were pieces of WORK but I also loved seeing them grow into themselves and away from their obvious codependence due to mutual unspoken pining. I loved how it discussed “unconventional” pathways post high school such as trade schools. On top of that, a major overall theme was doing things for yourself that makes you happy! I feel like with how overwhelming life can be sometimes it was nice to take a step back through their perspectives and be like “Yes, I’m going to acknowledge my feelings”.

There are multiple time jumps across their relationship and we see their story through both of the FMCs perspectives. On the down low… I feel bad for Derrick and hope he finds his own HEA after he works on himself a little longer.

Pub Date April 29 2025

ARC provided by St. Martin Press and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this novel for allowing me to read the ARC!!
I was very excited to read this book when I first read the summary. However, I was not overly impressed after finishing it. I'm sad to say this, especially because other's reviews are so positive. Maybe it was just not my cup of tea, but it fell flat for me. The characters felt flat, the storyline was a bit choppy, and the third-act break-up did nothing to salvage it for me. I am never a fan of this story device, but this particular one was very dramatic for what the rest of the narrative was giving. All in all, I would be up to reading more from this author and giving it another chance.

This was my first book by Meryl Wilsner book and won't be my last! I adored the story between Elsie and Ginny, the friends to lovers trope hits just right here. I enjoyed the backstory given throughout the book and the Honeymoon setting was wonderful, Meryl did a great job at painting the perfect visuals. The LGBTQIA+ representation is strong and very well done. Bravo Meryl!

cute and awesome characters. biggest flaw was that i wanted more depth to their relationship? but still pretty good. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Unfortunately, this was not for me. I did not enjoy the writing and did not feel that the characters had any kind of emotional connection. I felt that it had a lot of potential with the setting and premise, especially because I typically love a friends to lovers story. It is very steamy, which I also typically love, but had a hard time with here because the lack of emotional connection between the two.

As good as her other books, Meryl Wilsner doesn’t disappoint in this friends to lovers HEA story. Even though you can see what’s coming and you know how it’s to work out, it’s still un-put-down-able! Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC

Unfortunately, this book is just a huge no from me. From the very beginning I struggled to get into it and as things progressed I felt myself wanting to DNF. The connection between characters felt weak and unnatural and the pacing was very off. I loved the idea of this book and wanted to enjoy it so badly!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

This book is a fun, spicy romance with a lot of heart and some seriously steamy moments. Elsie, freshly out of an engagement she never really wanted, ends up on her honeymoon with their best friend Ginny—a nonrefundable trip that’s meant to be a getaway but quickly turns into something much deeper. The chemistry between Elsie and Ginny is undeniable, especially once they start making a deal where Elsie gets whatever they want—as long as they ask. It’s a great exploration of how speaking up for what you really want can change everything, and the tension between them builds in such a satisfying way.

I really appreciated how the book not only had the romance but also touched on personal growth, with Elsie learning to find their voice and Ginny showing them the love and support they’ve needed for so long. There’s a lot of sweetness and fun in their friendship-turned-romance, and the dynamic feels real and relatable. If you're looking for a sexy, feel-good romance with a bit of humor and a whole lot of emotional depth, this is definitely one you’ll want to pick up!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press/ St.Martin's Griffen for NetGalley ARC of this book. I really appreciate it.

Elsie Hoffman has been engaged to her college boyfriend for a year and a half. Ginny her best friend has been in love with Elsie for a decade and a half. Elsie discovers that her fiance already planned the wedding and the honeymoon for her as a surprise. She is expected to be in a white dress in seven days, she soon realizes she let herself become too comfortable with a future that she never wanted. She decides to break things off, and then a week later she is on a plane to the Caribbean for her non refundable honeymoon with her best friend Ginny instead.

Ginny thinks it's time for Elise to speak up for herself. So they make a deal with her. For the next week, Elsie can do whatever she wants, wherever, however and whenever she wants, as long as she asks. They never expected Elise to want them. What begins as choosing activities turns into a lot more at the end.

I will say that this book started off strong but did not have a great middle or end. This was okay, it felt pretty fast. Also this felt more like a hook up than a long term type of relationship. We also did not need four chapters of sex, that part was a little much for me. This book could have been so much better if there was one chapter of sex and then they just continued on with their vacation. Like go on with the vacation go swim with dolphins, go on a hike do something. I don't four chapters of sex was a little much for me. Also I felt like the characters didn't have that much chemistry and Ginny has liked her for a decade she hasn't even tried being with anyone else or liking anyone else for that matter. The pacing of this book, the characters that I just didn't really connect with. I think that this book was not for me.

This is a great not thinking book, you can read and not have to think too much about the characters or the plot of the book. Plus the plot isn't that complicated anyways. This is also a great book to take on vacation and read it there, it's more of a summer/ vacation book. I do wish that I read this book on a vacation but alas I have to be at work and make money to go on vacations. Happy Reading!!!!

I thought this was a cute, easy to read story. It’s a great summer read, but I also enjoyed it in the middle of winter. Parts were a bit far fetched, but it left me smiling and happy. And I’m always excited for a non binary main character!


Far fetched parts: how quickly they went from friends to lovers, and on one of their should’ve been honeymoon no less

I’ve loved every Meryl Wilsner book I’ve ever read! This is absolutely the best one. Smart, funny, and a bit sexy. The perfect combination. You can see yourself in every character.

dnf at 13% (originally wanted to stop at 4% but wanted to push through since this was an ARC) this book will definitely have its people, it has great queer representation, a tropical vacation, and friends to lovers. However, I found the use of peoples names absolutely overwhelming as in both of our main characters names are used over 1000 times EACH over the span of a 300 page book. I can see where this book is going and it encapsulates most things I do not enjoy like serious miscommunication between adults and one sided love

I wanted to like this book so much so bad. I loved the description and the premise and I found it had such an interesting concept. Although I enjoyed the book for the most part, I found myself really trying to get through what should have been resolved with a level conversation. I didn’t love the pacing of the book and, I felt the middle of the book dragged a little from scene to scene.

nonbinary lesbian!! thank you Meryl Wilsner! I devoured this book. the obvious chemistry between Ginny and Elsie had me kicking my feet but also silently screaming at them to just KISS already. when they finally do it is everything!! and when I say everything I mean like seven straight chapters of spice🌶️ these two had a lot of time to make up after being best friends who are secretly in love with each other for years. I loved the way Derrick was portrayed as the nice guy who we as a society praise way too much for doing the bare minimum shoutout to Elsie for following her heart. overall fun story about putting yourself first (and having a lot of sex with your best friend).

This was a really fun story. We jump right in with character development, getting to know some backgrounds and the book doesn’t miss a beat on rapid plot development too.
I enjoyed Elsie’s development, learning to speak up for herself and what she wants.
While it was predictable at times, it was very enjoyable overall.

i love a friends to lovers trope! this book made we wish i was on a tropical island. i thought the first half was pretty slow but otherwise it enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC!

This took a really long time to read, and not because it was actually bad - I know this book has a really strong audience out there just representation-wise alone. Meryl Wilsner is an amazing author and I don't think you can go wrong with anything by them. I just don't think it was for me.

I didn't fully buy in to Ginny and Elsie's relationship which is really the heart of the story, so without that it felt very surface level. I'm a sucker for friends to lovers, too, because I also married my best friend after being friends for awhile! I just didn't believe in their relationship on a romantic level. I could tell that Ginny was in love with Elsie, but anything Elsie felt besides horniness came across as an afterthought, especially when they both kept saying they could still be friends constantly. And I get it! Taking the next step in a relationship like that is scary! It just felt like a way to prolong the story instead of taking time to actually develop and show how in love Elsie was with Ginny and what that looked like.

The story also felt rushed on the back end especially with a whole ton of new characters that felt like they could've been mentioned sooner. For example, Sue could have mentioned her friends looking to have a custom bed built by name before Ginny and Elsie go on the not-honeymoon, you know? I like what I think they were supposed to represent - Ginny and Elsie building lives outside of each other - but spending so much time with them instead of the romantic leads left the HEA as almost anticlimactic.

That being said, I did really love the characters of Ginny and Elsie themselves. Ginny forcing Elsie to make a list of things she must do on her not-honeymoon was a little too close to home in a way I think a lot of us can relate to. The supporting characters were also excellent, even if I wasn't a huge fan of how they were introduced.

Like I said, I will always read and support anything Meryl Wilsner writes because they are a great writer and their characters are next level. This one just wasn't my favorite.

this was just not it. I love me a friends to lovers story, but this unfortunately suffered from needing the reader to just assume these two worked well together instead of actually showing and real development or love. Ginny and Elsie could not communicate to save their lives, and the amount of telling vs showing did not make a believable romance. Also, why was the middle 40% of this book mediocre smut? The first time came out of literally nowhere then that was all that happened. I didn’t love cleat cute but I enjoyed it much more than this book. thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.