Lifelong best friends Ginny and Elsie are forced to confront their attraction to one another when they decide to go on Elsie's nonrefundable romantic honeymoon together after Elsie calls her engagement off. This may be Meryl Wilsner's best best romance to date. It was especially exciting seeing Wilsner write a nonbinary main character being nonbinary themselves. This is the first romance I've read with a nonbinary lead so I got to enjoy a romance and learn a bit which is always nice.. Anyone who is a sucker for friends-to-lovers or pinning will eat this up. It is EXTREMELY spicy, so keep that in mind if that isn't your cup of tea. The inevitable fight/misunderstanding towards the end feels silly, but I come to romances accepting sometimes plot contrivances need to be created to push the characters apart again. This is a spicy f/nb romance that has some great representation and messaging for queer readers who are in need of a happy ending right now.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon 🏝️🪵🛠️ ~ ARC Review ~
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
I was really looking forward to My Best Friend’s Honeymoon, especially after loving Mistakes Were Made and Cleat Cute. While Wilsner delivered on the steamy scenes, I felt that Elsbeth and Ginny’s friendship could have used more depth. We get mentions of their shared history, but the emotional foundation didn’t feel fully realized. Moving from friendship to romance should have had more nuance, and I felt Ginny, who’s always supported Elsie, deserved more reciprocity. Watching them grow individually after they returned to Minneapolis after the vacation was the most powerful part of the story—it was great to see the characters pursuing their own interests like woodworking and business, which gave them more dimension.

The island setting was dreamy, and I loved the way Wilsner handled Ginny’s nonbinary identity, with Elsie consistently using their pronouns and non-gendered terms of endearment. Ginny’s character was easy to root for, while Elsie’s journey felt slightly lopsided since Ginny has always given her what she wanted. I wish there had been an epilogue to deepen their connection, but I’m grateful for another queer romance from Wilsner and am excited to see what they’ll write next!

Gosh I really wanted to like this book but man, it was ROUGH. They went from “I think I love my best friend” to immediately having the most graphic sex. It was just a lot.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon centers on Elsie, who has just called off her engagement with her fiancé, Derrick, who has steamrolled her into a surprise wedding. With her BFF, Ginny, at her side, the two of them take the would-be honeymoon trip together as they encourage Elsie to figure out what she wants out of life and her own relationships. This is a delightful, sexy, queer second chance romance/best friends to lovers.

I really appreciated seeing the growth that came from both Elsie and Ginny figuring out what they each individually wanted out of life after being entangled with each other and their respective paths that they felt were carved out for them. This was coupled with the -intense- longing for each other followed by some excellent smutty scenes. The balance between the personal growth & smut I feel is a definite rarity in the romance genre. The author clearly put so much thought & care into illustrating queer relationships and sex while making it so much fun.

If you are looking for a sexy romance where the main characters work on becoming their own persons while also figuring out their own complicated relationships with themselves and their families, I definitely recommend.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy.

Thank you @netgalley for giving me an advanced copy for Meryl Wilsner's next book! I'm a big fan, l've read all of their books so I couldn't wait! Elsie & Ginny's friendship turned romance was hot & heavy yet so soft and beautiful. Getting to read their story was so special and I can't wait for everyone else to read it!

I can always count on Meryl Wilsner to deliver a spicy and heartfelt queer romance! I’ve read all their works and have honestly never been disappointed and My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is no exception. The premise was laugh out laugh funny and a perfect set up for friends who have been in love for years but haven’t said anything to lovers. Ginny was the supportive and good with their hands character that gave this book so much heart. I loved Elsie as well and thought her family dynamics and storyline with the mom and pop shop was an interesting addition to the story. I low key wanted a liiiittle bit more of them as a couple back in their hometown and not just on the trip but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this fun and spicy romance by Wilsner. Will definitely recommend this to my friends, it made my little queer heart very happy.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really thought this would be great and I enjoyed the first part but then they lost me. No connection, no real romance, annoying confining. All just very abrupt.
Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second book by Wilsner, and while I didn't enjoy it as much as the first, I did enjoy it quite a bit! Elsie decides to call it quits with her fiance before their wedding and ends up taking her honeymoon with her NB best friend, Ginny. Things heat up and well, you get the picture! It was steamy and cute.

I really enjoyed this. It's always a treat to have a story take place in your hometown but it also means you're hyper aware of any mistakes and there are no steak and shakes in the cities - i wish there were but that one line really pulled me out. The subplots about fostering dogs and finding yourself outside of relationships were really well done. Can't wait to share this one with friends on release date!

I really liked the premise of this book, but I struggled a bit with the execution. I really liked Ginny and their journey/growth throughout the book. Elsie I struggled with a bit. I know the whole idea is that she can't communicate what she wants, and you can understand that through her backstory, but something in it just grated on me.

**spicy spoilers ahead**

I found the like 0 contact/intimacy to almost fisting slightly jarring (not the act itself, but the speed with which it happened). And Elsie's repeated comparisons to her ex while actively getting it on with Ginny was weird. They happened too much and went on for too long, it just took away from what should have been exciting and new intimacy between Ginny and Elsie.

I think this is very much a "it's not you, it's me" situation. The book wasn't bad, I just wasn't feeling it. It was the first book I've read by Meryl, so maybe that's just their style? I don't know. I'll read some of their other books before making that decision.

But I think a lot of people will like this and I'll still recommend it.
Also, I really love seeing more queer and nb characters in ridiculous romcom settings like this. We need more of that!

- DNF , this book was just not for me. Pronouns started getting confusing to me, I was skimming.. & you can only read so much of the finger banging & oral. I was over it!
But I appreciated the opportunity from NetGally for this ARC.

My new obsession. As always Meryl created a beautiful story that kept me engaged and squealing “awww” all the way through. Pick this one up it’s fun, it’s exciting, and you can’t help but root for the main characters. This is such a sweet romance, I didn’t even realize how much I needed a friends to lovers trope in my life, but chefs kiss. 💋

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins press for the earc copy of My Best Friends Honeymoon. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book that I’ve read by Meryl Wilsner and let me just say, she can write some spice!!
I have never read a f/nb book before this one. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the genre but it was so good!! The spice was well written and definitely SPICY. Then characters were entertaining and relatable (hello Elise- the chronic people pleaser). The book moved at a fast pace but I actually enjoyed that. It never felt dull or boring.

I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author.

The writing was fine but the story wasn't my cup of tea. Even though the main characters are queer, the romance felt cliche and predictable. I think it's good if you're looking for an easy comfort read.

I honestly really loved this story. The writing was amazing and the spice was amazing. But the pacing felt off. in the beginning it seemed to move at hyper speed and I struggled to keep up. But then it was moving so slow that I was like okay already let's move on. But I was happy with the ending.

My Best Friend's Honeymoon

I've read all of Meryl Wilsner's books, and they have a talent for portraying characters that feel realistically imperfect, giving them obstacles, and then resolving them. I especially loved Cleat Cute (sports romance! Neurodivergent rep!). While My Best Friend's Honeymoon doesn't quite rise to the Cleat Cute bar, it's still another strong effort by an author that's quickly become and "auto-buy."
Elsie and Ginny have been best friends for over a decade. Their friendship has been the fixed point in each other's lives; it even survived Ginny asking Elsie out and Elsie turning them down at fifteen. Even though Elsie's engaged, she has lunch with Ginny every day. They both live in their hometown. And yeah, Elsie's engaged but she's not wedding planning so Ginny can feel as if nothing has changed.
But then things have to change, because Elsie finally breaks up with Derrick (oh sweet dumb but trying Derrick) after he plans a surprise wedding and Elsie realizes she doesn't want to get married to him. Derrick still gives Elsie the prepaid all-inclusive honeymoon to Santa Lupita, which is but isn't Santa Lucia. He even changes his ticket into Ginny's name. So the two best friends go on a honeymoon. And the only rule is that Elsie has to say what she wants. And what she wants is to hook up with Ginny. So they do all vacation.
The plot is relatively simple, but that's not a bad thing. As much as the vacation scenes are dreamy and steamy, the best part of the book happens at the 3/5 mark, when they get home to Minnesota in January and have to figure everything out. In Ginny, Wilsner has created such a lovely character, a nonbinary woodworking dog fostering ball of goo who loves their grandfather and has pined for Elsie for years. Even though the book is dual perspective, it takes longer to get to know Elsie, probably because Elsie doesn't know who she is. She's been choosing the path of least resistance and breaking up with Derrick is the first time she's really done something so definitive. But we learn to love Elsie too as she tries to sort things out. Which makes the reunion more satisfying, because we're finally sure that Elsie deserves Ginny.
Despite having drama, this book felt cozy and reassuring. Probably because, as several characters point out, Elsie and Ginny have been in love with each other for a long time; the main thing that changes is them acting on that. Their friends and family aren't going to disapprove. They're not in any danger. It's safe to be queer and out and in love in their world.
The one thing I wish is that there was an epilogue so we could see into Ginny and Elsie's shared future. Largely because they're so young (23!) that I want to make sure that they figure out how to grow together. What will they be doing a few years down the road? Still, glad to have read this friends-to-lovers story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to receive an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Talk about fast paced, honkin’ steamy, full throttle! WOW!
I have to say, the cover of this book had me honkin’ around like a goosey girlie gone wild and it did not disappoint.
Elsie and Ginny’s relationship has had many layers to it- Ginny has been in love love with Elsie for quite some time and Elsie has been together with her boyfriend turned fiancee– purely what seems to be out of convenience? Not because she thinks it easy, or because she thinks it necessary, but because she doesn’t see a reason why not? Or, more importantly, she doesn’t see anyone else that might deter her from being with him.
But- then her boyfriend decides that Elsie has enough on her plate and plans her a whole ass wedding– out of good intentions- but still- flashing red flags.
Obviously Esie is overwhelmed and calls it off realizing they are on different pages and more importantly she wants to figure out what she really **wants**!
BUT here’s the kicker, her very well intentioned now ex-fiancee prepaid the honeymoon so she is going to jet set to the tropics, ready or not- solo, or, not!
Enter- Ginny- her go to bestie of forever who she relies on, looks forward to, and has a deep connection with. Ginny joins Elsie on the trip with the understanding that it is basically a YES trip- but- Elsie needs to ask for what she wants in order to get the YES.
So- Elsie takes a moment and realizes what she wants is GINNNYYYYYY- so, the clothes are thrown off, the physicality is through the roof, and they are IN IT IN IT- BUT Ginny low key doesn’t mention that in order for them to have attended this all expense paid galavant in the tropics they had to quite their job.. Which, yes, I agree is a bit of a wowza moment- but, in their defense it was a dead end job that brought them 0 joy and they had planned for financial stability to be able to afford a bit of time without work.. They just don’t mention it to Elsie until Elsie finds out herself and whaboom their little love bubble is desiccated. They return from their love fest broken hearted. Elsie is met by her former fiancee who has now started to attend therapy- too little too late- and Ginny dives head first into a bit of denial and bit of self discovery- adopting a rescue dog and connecting with other queers in the woodworking industry, one they have always been interested in exploring more permanently.
So- I’ll pause there because I have likely already gone too far but I think you get the gist!
The first bit of the book was full on hot tamales, and then it simmered out a bit. I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it quickly, it was over almost faster than I started! I loved Ginny and I got frustrated with Elsie but I also had a lot of compassion for her.
4 geese
3.5 spicey honkin’ peppers

Thank you netgalley and smp for the e-Arc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I have enjoyed the authors previous work however I could not make it past chapter 1. I have tried to pick it up a few time and just wasn't for me.

Dnf @ 7%

I enjoyed this. I promise. However, it wasn’t anything special. Meryl Wilsner has a talent for writing spicy scenes, which I love, but I’ve yet to be blown away by their plot writing and character development. A lot of the character development and their epiphanies happen behind the scenes, but I would much rather read about them!! I wasn’t particularly drawn to Elsie or Ginny because of this.

I was really excited to get into this one, and I found the premise to be very promising! Like Elsie, I am also a chronic people pleaser and I was excited to see parts of myself in her.

However, I did feel underwhelmed by certain aspects of this book. The pacing was a little awkward at times, and I feel the romance of it all left a little to be desired. I would have loved to see more of a slow burn and more of the build up to the turning point in their relationship- it all ended up happening very abruptly. I was then excited for Ginny & Elsie to grow and experience life on their own and without each other, but I thought the circumstances behind the third act breakup that got them to that point didn't really make sense and felt out of character.

There is a LOT of spice (which I expected based on the description), but it didn't feel very organic and I was not ready for the stuff that these two would be getting into. But that's simply my preference and I can see where others would really enjoy it!! This is my first Meryl Wilsner novel, and I can definitely see how they have made their way to the forefront of sapphic romance.

Overall, I did find this to be a fun read. It was fast-paced, and entertaining, and I was excited to see Ginny & Elsie succeed in their professional goals. I was just hoping for more in their romance and in their relationship with each other.