Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me, for many reasons.

I didn’t love the romance.
- the was no build up or tension, just a sudden shift and all of sudden they were having sex, and unfortunately it was mostly just sex for most of the story. I wanted to actually see on page yearning, realizing their feelings went deeper than friendship… it needed time to build a bit, time to feel a bit more real. But all we got was lotsa sex, with very little intimacy outside of that. It made it hard to care, or get invested because I felt like there were no emotional stakes for me.
- it didn’t feel like Elsie cared about Ginny, at least not in the same way as Ginny did for Elsie.
- the spice was meh? I’ve read the authors other book, and the spice was immaculate.. but these two didn’t have enough chemistry. And some of it just wasn’t my taste either, to be honest but that’s just personal preference.
- their “fight” was a bit hard to believe. I don’t think two people who have been best friends for that many years would be that upset over something like that.. even when their relationship is changing into more and they are trying to figure out what all that means. It felt like it was blown way out of proportion and their reactions didn’t feel realistic in their situation.

There’s more, but those are my biggest issues that ended up affecting my enjoyment of the story.

I also felt like the pacing was off. It started off way too quickly.. then dragged too much on the latter half.

On a positive note, I enjoyed reading a queer-centred story, and I loved that one of our MCs in non-binary! It was also great to see friendships that were so inclusive and diverse.

Sad I didn’t love this one.

3.5 stars rounded up. The structure didn't work for me. It almost felt like three books: 1. before 2. sex 3. after. I didn't feel like I knew who Elsie and Ginny were as people, and so I didn't feel a real build in tension between Elsie and Ginny. When they hooked up, there wasn't a big payoff for me.

However, I am rounding up because I love: that this book features a non-binary lead, that the ex-fiancee wasn't an evil or bad guy and was super supportive of Elsie's identity, and that Ginny wasn't lovable in spite of their body but because of it. Not only was it quietly acknowledged, but Elsie found it sexy that Ginny was both fat and strong.

There’s one flaw with this book, it ended. Friends to lovers is a trope I love but childhood friends to lovers is even better. This whole book is so tender and sweet and THEN smacked me in the face with all kinds of sexy things I often want in a book but never get. No. You don’t understand, there are sexy things we don’t usually get in a book…in this book! I enjoyed it so much and really was sad to see it end…especially right when it does. Meryl portrays the loving friendship between Ginny and Elsie that is so charming and trusting. Their inclusion of a main character that is not only non binary but plus sized is icing on the cake of this beautiful friendship romance.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon had a unique premise and was full of amazing representation.

Throughout the story, I enjoyed the representation and different perspectives Wilsner provided. Ginny is a lesbian enby who is STRONG! Both mentally and physically. Elsie’s character is Jewish and pansexual, and I enjoyed the inclusion of the chuppah when discussing weddings!

I thought the premise of the story was also very unique! It was a fun take on the traditional rom com plot.

However, I thought the pacing of this story was a bit off. It went extremely fast at some parts, and I thought the first sex scene was abrupt and didn’t make sense in context. Because of the weird pacing, I also felt like I couldn’t connect well to our main characters. I didn’t understand the main characters, and sometimes even found them annoying because of their lack of communication. Specifically, one character kept jumping to conclusions, which irritated me. The end of the story was extremely sudden, and I didn’t feel like it was a good end for the book. Within what felt like less than ten pages, the conflict was resolved and we got a happy ever after, which made me question whether the conflict was worth it in the first place.

I also did NOT appreciate how Derrick was treated in this book. Although he made some stupid decisions, he came off as one of the most kind people in this book and it was weird that they kept making fun of him behind his back (I understood occasionally but it was too often). I also didn’t like how Elsie kept comparing Ginny to Derrick internally; it felt like her romance with Ginny didn’t stand on its own.

Overall, this wasn’t my favorite of Wilsner’s books—Cleat Cute still has that title by far.

Thank you to Net Galley for an early copy in exchange for a honest review!

4.5 ⭐️Friends to lovers always hits for me. These two have been pining for each other for a long time but learned to shove these feelings down.

A couple of days in paradise and it becomes harder to deny what they truly want. The spice hits hard and quickly but in the context that these two had these feelings for so long it worked for me.

Just as the third act break up made sense. I’m usually not a fan. But both Elsie and Ginny had growing up to do to be honest. It wouldn’t have made sense for them to just walk off happily into the sunset after the trip.

I do wish we got to see them happy together more at the end.

Thank You to the author Meryl Wilsner & NetGalley for the advanced reading copy, all my opinions are my own.

Meryl Wilsner's books always bring the heat, and this one delivered on that front, but the story itself didn't grab my attention like their previous books. Ginny and Elsie are best friends who find themselves going on Elsie's honeymoon after she calls off the wedding, that she knew nothing about.
The romance between the two best friends felt entirely too rushed. I would have liked to have had it move a little slower.
As always with Wilsner, there is laughter and moments of deep introspection and vulnerability. And I really love the nonbinary representation. It just wasn't enough to make this one a favorite. I will, however, eagerly await their next release.

An ARC was received from NetGalley for an honest review.

YES MORE DECENT SAPPHIC REP! The girls can build chemistry too!!

Loved this, after a broken engagement two friends go on the pre booked honeymoon. The way that the chemistry and the pre I’ve built here was just tantalizing, auto buy, please.

This book has such a strong start, and I loved the problem and plot presented. However, I think overall it just fell flat for me.

The romance between Ginny and Elsie was rushed (and dare I say nonexistent). The spice… amazing! 10/10, would read again. But overall, the believability was what was lacking for me. Rated it a 2.5 but will round up to 3.

I love this author and other works I’ve read by her, so I am extremely grateful for this ARC. I just wanted more from the story is all. Still, a large thanks to both the publisher and author!

<b>Ginny knew they were a lesbian before they knew they were nonbinary. It was before they met Elsie. They don’t have a specific ring-of-keys moment so much as there was never a time in their life they remember not being awed by women... <i>Their alarming devotion to Sally from Cars.</b></i>

Honestly, about time Sally from Cars got the proper recognition she deserves. This book was super cutesy and the line about Sally roped me in so hard, I cannot fully put it into words. I hope Meryl’s next book shouts out Fairy Godmother from Shrek 2 for being a the gay awakening icon she is. <i> I need a herooooo!</i>

Ok, icons aside, this was cute. Predictable, but cute. Going to try keeping things as spoiler-free as possible here… Because while I enjoyed this, I found both main characters so absolutely frustrating (specifically and especially during the climax of the book). Elsie became so dreadfully unlikeable, intentionally so. But I <i>did</i> have thoughts of DNFing the book. Glad to say that was not the case though!

Overall, very cutesy quick sapphic smutty read. While I had times of disliking the main characters, I was still thoroughly rooting for them both individually and as a couple. This is probs more of a 3.5-3.75 star read for me but rounding to 4!

<b>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review! </b>

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the arc!

I discovered Meryl's books last year when I read Cleat Cute. At the beginning of the year I read Something to Talk About and Mistakes Were Made and they quickly became an auto buy author. I was so excited to get approved of this one!

This had all the secret pining and friends to lovers vibes. It reminded me of On the Same Page by Haley Cass which was a favorite from last month. I loved seeing the POV's of both Ginny and Elsie and how they pined secretly, but in very different ways.

This was a super easy read. I finished it in less than 24 hours. The plot might've moved a little too fast for me. Especially the spice for the main characters being best friends for so long.

Overall, I'm excited to read more by this author!

Love the nb representation in this one, but truly struggled with the MCs. They're kind of annoying?
Sweet story that doesn't reinvent the wheel. Great spice if you're into that (I am)!!

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, but there was something about it that bugged me the whole time that I can’t quite put my finger on. I think it may be that I found Elsie a little annoying throughout. I did absolutely love Ginny and the storyline. It’s a cute best friends to lovers story with plenty of spice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

This book follows two best friends, Ginny and Elsie, as they go on Elsie's supposed honeymoon. They finally take some time to explore themselves and each other. I identified so much with these characters that I was low-key afraid for them. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I love their separate journeys and I kind of wish it was longer. GIRLLLLLL those two were fucking. Like I was lowkey jealous. For me, I wish certain aspects happened differently. However, I would recommend this book to people.

Thanks to St. Martins publishing for the arc of this book!! Review is below:

This was by far my favorite Meryl Wilsner book I have read so far! I loved Elsie and Ginny's friends to lovers arc. I also love a vacation getaway romance 🌴🥥♥️🥰

Loves:
♥️ Ginny. They were so cool and just seemed like the most calming person to be around. They balanced Elsie so well. Both of those characters were so charming in such different ways.
♥️ Sue - why was she so damn cool? I need to be her friend.
♥️ Santa Lupita - idk if that's a real place but I wanna go there stat
♥️ I loved that a part of Elsie's journey was learning to speak what she wanted instead of appeasing everyone else. At one point she says that Ginny's the only person she feels like she can be real or herself around and I love that.
♥️ Ginny's foster dogs and their grandpa 🥲

Not so much loved:
🖤 Derrick ..ohhhh Derrick lmfao
🖤 I could have used some more time of them talking in Santa Lupita or going on some more adventures.
🖤 Elsie's mom - she was annoying not gonna lie lol
🖤 We didn't get to see Elsie's family react when they finally got together

There genuinely was nothing else I didn't like - this book was such a treat and I will definitely do a reread at some point 🥰

While I am always thrilled and delighted by Wilsner’s novels, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is a pleasantly surprising departure from their norm. Featuring a plus size, non-binary MC, Wilsner creates a very realistic and gripping sapphic romance!

swoon!! so much fun! i loved these characters so much. the writing was fantastic. i was never bored and kept wanting to read all night until i finished

4.5 stars!
Sapphic friendship yearning (where it doesnt end in absolute heartbreak) + ✨aftercare✨ = a book i absolutely will recommend a million times. I would read anything meryl writes.

Absolutely loved this! It's not my usual genre, but the characters were realistic and compelling AND it was super hot.

Wow!

First, I'd like to say that the set up of this romance is so believable. Elsie is putting off her wedding hoping her fiancé gets the hint, he-- like a true golden retriever bf-- decides to plan the whole thing and surprise her with a week's notice since she "never has any time to plan." Ginny is Elsie's best friend and can do nothing to stop this trainwreck. Their job as best friend is to be supportive, after all, and they can't be positive that their objection will come off as purely platonic or if the mega crush they have on Elsie will be apparent. When Elsie breaks things off with the golden retriever, we really get going!

Ginny and Elsie on the honeymoon together was some of the most romantic, fun, and playful writing I've read in a long time. The way that Meryl Wilsner writes inner dialogue should be studied in schools! Both Elsie and Ginny are such fleshed out and believable characters that I came away feeling like I knew them myself.

The spice in this book is also top tier, reminiscent of Sierra Simone & Julie Murphy's Christmas Notch series.

I was SO excited when I got the email that I'd been approved for this book! I'm a big fan of Wilsner's other books, with Mistakes Were Made being my all time fave. This one didn't hit me as hard as Mistakes Were Made, but I had a good time with this one. The set up was immensely classic smutty romcom in the best way and the characters were realistic (and realistically frustrating) when they start reacting and fumbling their way through big feelings. Much love for a nb main character who loves women in a gay way. Really looking forward to whatever Wilsner cooks up for us next!