This book wasn't my favorite by this author, whose work I’ve greatly enjoyed in the past. The conflicts - every single one of them for each character - seemed kind of forced and with very obvious solutions like just speaking up for themselves ever in any area of their lives. Was a bit frustrating and lacked depth. But great setting, great steamy scenes (though rather compacted), and an easy fun enough read overall.

As a fan of Meryl Wilsner, I usually love their signature style—no one crafts slow-burning sexual tension like they did in Something to Talk About, and the tender sweetness of Mistakes Were Made had me hooked. Unfortunately, My Best Friend’s Honeymoon fell a bit short for me. The setup was intriguing: after Elsie breaks off an engagement she’d outgrown, she jets off on her honeymoon with her longtime best friend, Ginny. Ginny’s challenge for Elsie to finally ask for what she wants leads to a week of both playful and steamy moments between them, but the emotional depth that I normally expect from Wilsner was lacking here. The romance felt a bit rushed, and while the concept of finding happiness and self-assurance was strong, I just wanted a little more connection between the characters before the whirlwind romance. Still, it’s a charming read about self-discovery and the courage to pursue the happiness you deserve.

I really adored this f/nb romance by Meryl Wilsner - I think that this is my favorite of their novels. Both of the characters are very well developed and I found them to be very likable. The progression of the romance is also strong and it was beautiful to watch the two of them come together throughout the book. The spice is also on point!

This book had such a strong start! Which is why it truly does pain me to say that it was another "miss" for me. The premise is intriguing enough and I did love all of the representation featured here, but it just felt like.... I don't know, but for starters, the pacing was poor. Once Elsie & Ginny "get together," I felt like the author lost the plot and it was just back-to-back spicy scenes— which, hey, I'm no prude and definitely love spice in my books, but I just thought it was a little excessive in a way that didn't feel organic, nor did it really serve the narrative in any significant way (I suppose other than her ~asking~ for things, but still). The 3rd-act conflict also seemed a bit unnecessary and blown way out of proportion based off the actual issue at hand, so there's that too. I just had a hard time relating to the two MCs, unfortunately. Overall, cute premise, poor execution.

Thank you to St Martin's Press for this aARC! Meryl simply never misses, this book was so addictive that everytime I had to put it down to go be a person I got upset. Elsie and Ginny have such remarkable chemistry and their friendship is so solidly built. And the sex in this book is out of this WORLD addictive. Once they got going, they could not keep their hands off of eachother and I did not want them to it was MAGICAL. And it was really nice to see them both taking time to figure out who they were as people before losing themselves completely in one another. Another absolute win of a book I'm so so happy to have read it.

I was reading this as a buddy read with my bestie and ended up abandoning our schedule because I just needed to read this book. In fact, I accidentally read ahead while I was simply engrossed so I skipped a day to try to get back on track… and then I ended up missing Elsie and Ginny so much that I just plowed through the rest in one go. The vibes are immaculate. I felt like the conflict was resolved in a meaningful way. Their growth, together and apart, felt realistic for the characters. My inner baby bi really related to the memories from their youth when they were figuring out their sexuality. Meryl Wilsner just does not miss for me and I am very grateful that NetGalley initially brought them to me through Cleat Cute and that I was able to get a read-now copy of their latest work. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

For every baby queer that fell in love with their high school best friend, this one is for you. Wilsner takes the spice levels to 100 when Elsie calls off her engagement and takes her best friend on her honeymoon. Ginny, the dreamy, woodworking BFF, promises Elsie she can have anything she wants if she just asks for it. ANYTHING you say?

Even though I would say this book is spice forward, it also hits emotionally - especially for those who are always putting their own needs and wants aside for the sake of others. As always, Wilsner helps expand the genre with a plus-size NB MC. Lastly, slow clap for that gorgeous cover.

3.75/5

Thank you so much for the ARC :)
I really enjoyed the start of this story! It had such a strong beginning, pacing was quick but not too quick...but then we made it to the middle of the book and things started to fall flat for me.
- Spice: I wish the spice was a bit more spread out or if anything limited to one or two scenes. It felt like it was all forced into one section about 50% of the way through and when it started it did not stop and all of a sudden we're hit with the (not random) but also a little rushed argument? It would have been nice to see them engaging in other activities throughout the trip so we have more things to build their relationship on :)
- The conflict: I do think it was realistic, but the timing of it felt rushed. I would have preferred it hapenning a little bit after the trip, with some more examples showing how Ginny keeping that information from Elsie actually affected everything else. A more gradual and subtle realization for both of them would have been better!
- Overall, I think 50-75 more pages would have helped do the book a bit more justice and allow more space for everything to come together in a way that didn't feel so congested. Still such a cute story and will definitely be checking out more books from this author! I love queer romances!

This book started off so strong and I was sure I would love it, possibly even more than Cleat Cute. But then it all fizzled out for me really quickly, it was sex scene after sex scene and then a huge conflict that maybe didn't need to be that huge, and I was missing the romance of it all. I don't mind sex scenes in my romance books, but I prefer them to be in service to the romance, and here I felt like they took over the book completely, overshadowing any emotional depth. That made this story start to feel pretty mediocre, and I'm honestly disappointed after such a strong start.

I've read all of Wilsner's works and this one has my favorite character so far. While I didn't connect with the plot or the other love interest, I simply loved Ginny, the nb character who loves woodworking, fostering dogs, & has been in love with their best friend since they were kids. Their inner narrative was a treat to read and their life felt really fleshed out. This was such a refreshing character to read, both characterization & representation wise.

Unfortunately, I just didn't like them with their love interest or with this plot. I found Elsie to be a wet blanket & unfair to Ginny and the resolution didn't show enough growth from that for me.

Hope, preparing for disappointment, the various ways love can manifest, and learning how to ask for what you need and want are all themes that are interwoven throughout the narrative. Their journey was fascinating, frustrating at times, and all in all, a beautiful tale of queer love and learning to be brave enough to follow your heart, choose yourself, and pursue your goals. It had every aspect of the genre that I liked and was searching for. I was left wanting more by Meryl Wilsner's powerful writing style.

This was a wonderfully done romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall story being told. It was realistic and I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their romance. It was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed about the genre. Meryl Wilsner has a strong writing style and left me wanting more.

Another wonderful romance by Meryl Wilsner - I couldn't put it down! Elsie and Ginny are best friends, and their relationship runs deep and, at times, complicated. The story weaves in themes of hope, bracing against disappointment, the many ways love can show up, and learning how to ask for what you need and want. Following their journey was captivating, at times frustrating, and overall a gorgeous story celebrating queer love and learning how to choose yourself, go after what you want, and be brave enough to follow your heart.

I loved this book especially the spicy parts! It was such a good and quick read for me! I was hooked from the beginning and would recommend this book to others.

Y'all, I struggled with this one. I really do enjoy Wilsner's writing and think that they are at the forefront of Sapphic Romance.... however, this one was a dud for me, I have to admit. Off the bat: If you're here for the steam- you got lots of it. This book offers the steamy romance their fans have come to expect, but it misses the mark on setting realism and pacing. Elsie and Ginny life long friendship was cute and seeing them end up together was the happily ever after we wanted... but the honeymoon setting escalates too quickly -- from platonic to passionate in 60 seconds. While Wilsner’s characters have their usual charm, the Caribbean setting feels oddly conceived. I happened to be reading this during a vacation to the Caribbean, and very little about the world-building made sense in this novel.

The rushed physical progression from platonic best friends to explicit intimacy also feels a bit forced, even within a romance context. Compared to Mistakes Were Made, which addressed the balance between passion and mistakes head on, this novel leans a bit too heavily on the steam factor without the nuance Wilsner’s earlier work delivered. It also feels very unreal.

It’s still an enjoyable read for fans of their writing style, but it’s not quite the knockout many hoped for.

Three stars for a solid erotica book.. not so much for the romance.

My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is the first book I’ve read by Meryl Wilsner and I thoroughly enjoyed both of the main characters and the unusual storyline about a best friend going on a honeymoon versus a spouse. I also appreciated the growth of both Elsie and Ginny as individuals before they truly committed them selves as more than friends. The descriptive writing about Santa Lupita was also wonderful along with the spicy honeymoon scenes. 4 stars

I received an ARC from Macmillan/St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley in exchange for an honest

i really like this one, i just feel the pacing could be better. both the couple agreeing to date and the ending come super out of nowhere, and i feel like this needed more time to breathe. but the smut scenes… thank u meryl wilsner for keeping the lesbians fed

I have a few story-setting critiques that I already sent separately, but overall wilsner always writes a captivating queer book that I voraciously read every time. While this is not my favorite of theirs (that title still goes to cleat cute), it’s a cute story and readers will appreciate it!

My Best Friend's Honeymoon by Meryl Wilsner is a vibrant, romance-filled journey of self-discovery and friendship that blossoms into something much deeper. Known for their engaging storytelling, Wilsner delivers another heartfelt narrative that explores the tension between love and friendship, blurring the boundaries in the best possible way.

The story centers on Hannah and Libby, best friends who unexpectedly embark on what was supposed to be Libby’s honeymoon—without the groom. Wilsner deftly captures their chemistry, portraying a slow-burn romance that feels both genuine and grounded. With charming banter, tender moments, and emotional complexity, the novel provides a satisfying mix of humor and heartfelt revelations.

Beyond the romance, My Best Friend's Honeymoon also shines in its portrayal of personal growth, as both characters confront their insecurities and desires. It's an inviting read for fans of friends-to-lovers stories, offering a fresh perspective on love, friendship, and the courage to follow your heart. Wilsner's latest novel is a delightful, escapist romance with surprising depth—perfect for anyone craving a feel-good love story that resonates.

Thank you for this ARC. I throughly enjoyed this novel.

Whatever this author writes I will read because their books are so bingeable. I read this book in one sitting. It's the perfect vacation rendezvous if you will.