My Best Friend's Honeymoon

by Meryl Wilsner Narrated by Blair Baker, Emily Shaw

Overview

Meryl Wilsner's spicy romance, their first with a nonbinary lead, features two lifelong best friends on a nonrefundable honeymoon together who discover that to find a happily ever after, you just have to ask.

Elsie Hoffman has been engaged to her college boyfriend for a year and a half. Ginny Holtz has been in love with Elsie for almost a decade and a half.

When Elsie discovers her fiancé already planned their wedding and honeymoon as a surprise and she's expected to be in a white dress in seven days, she swiftly realizes she's let herself become too comfortable with a future she never wanted. She breaks things off, and a week later is on a plane to the Caribbean for her non-refundable honeymoon with her best friend Ginny instead.

Ginny thinks it's high time Elsie learned how to speak up for herself. So, they make a deal with her. For the next week, Elsie can have whatever she wants, wherever, however, and whenever she wants it, as long as she asks. They never expected Elsie to want them.

What starts as choosing activities and taking selfies soon turns to toe-curling kisses and much, much more. But what happens when the honeymoon is over?

Meryl Wilsner's My Best Friend's Honeymoon is about not only learning to ask for what you want, but for the happiness you deserve.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

01/20/2025

This escapist queer contemporary from Wilsner (Cleat Cute) takes readers from snowy Minnesota to a tropical and steamy Caribbean island. Elsie’s future is all figured out: she works at her family’s hardware store alongside her parents and siblings, and she’s engaged to her long-term boyfriend, Derrick. But as the wedding approaches, she panics, suddenly unsure if this is the life she wants. Only after calling things off does she learn that their Caribbean honeymoon package is nonrefundable, so she invites her lifelong best friend, Ginny, to come along with her. What follows is a fairly predictable and trope-heavy friends-to-lovers story against a gorgeous backdrop: Elsie and Ginny, it turns out, have been mutually pining for each other since high school, but not wanting to ruin their friendship, have kept their feelings hidden. Ginny, who is fat and nonbinary, makes a refreshing protagonist, especially as, through Elsie’s eyes, Wilsner makes their attractiveness perfectly clear. The matter-of-fact queer representation enhances the solidly constructed, if unsurprising, plot. Wilsner’s fans and anyone looking for nonbinary romance will want to check this out. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary. (Apr.)

From the Publisher

* USA TODAY BESTSELLER! *

Praise for My Best Friend's Honeymoon:

Goodreads Readers’ Most Anticipated Books of 2025

A May Indie Next Pick

Book Riot, "15 of the Most-Anticipated Queer Books of 2025," "Your Most-Anticipated Queer Books of 2025," "8 New Sapphic Romance Books Out in 2025 to Preorder Now," and "17 New April Romance Books to Get with Your Tax Return"

The Nerd Daily, "Swoonworthy 2025 Romance Book Releases You Need"

Goodreads, "Peek Ahead at 2025’s Hottest New Romances" and "54 New Romances to Put a Spring in Your Step This Season"

Bookish, "30 Spring Books to Have on Your Radar"

PinkNews, "Queer books coming in April that we’re excited about"

PureWow, "Books I Can’t Wait to Read in April"

Eulalie Magazine, "7 LGBTQIA Books You Want to Read This April"

Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, "April 2025 Queer Romances"

“Meryl Wilsner is writing some of the best queer romance today, and My Best Friend’s Honeymoon is no exception… I can confidently say that this friends-to-lovers destination romance is their best yet.” – Autostraddle

"[A] trope-heavy friends-to-lovers story against a gorgeous backdrop... Ginny, who is fat and nonbinary, makes a refreshing protagonist, especially as, through Elsie’s eyes, Wilsner makes their attractiveness perfectly clear. Wilsner’s fans and anyone looking for nonbinary romance will want to check this out." - Publisher's Weekly

"Readers looking for nonbinary main characters, sapphic friends-to-lovers romance, and sexy vacation novels will appreciate this heartfelt exploration of what it means to fall in love with someone you have known almost your entire life." - Library Journal

"Romance icon Meryl Wilsner is back with a spicy romance that features a nonbinary main character and a honeymoon full of shenanigans." - Autostraddle

“Wilsner’s fourth queer romance delivers high heat.” - Kirkus

“The true friends-to-lovers story will enchant many. Fans of spice with sweet romance will love Ginny and Elsie, as will any reader searching for queer and/or non-binary romance.” - Booklist

Praise for Cleat Cute:

"This steamy opposites-attract romance from Wilsner is recommended for all collections." - Library Journal

"Wilsner breaks new ground with a sporty twist on the meet-cute trope...Fans of the popular Apple TV show Ted Lasso and the classic sporty romance film Bend It Like Beckham will cheer for this sexy sapphic romcom that fills a gap in the heretofore male-dominated sports-romance genre." - Booklist

"[A] delightfully steamy sapphic romance...class differences are deftly handled throughout, the city setting is vibrant, and there are several secondary characters who shine; most importantly, the romantic journey at the center is fun and entertaining." - Kirkus

"This upcoming romance by Meryl Wilsner is everything I’ve ever wanted in a love story...Do not miss this book!" - Book Riot, "Books About Women’s Soccer to Read During the FIFA Women’s World Cup"

"Wilsner is one of the hottest contemporary f/f romance writers right now, and the anticipation for their latest scorcher is at a fever pitch... USWNT fans who shipped Kristie Mewis and Sam Kerr long before those two made it official: this one’s for you." - Electric Literature, "The Most Anticipated LGBTQ+ Books for Fall 2023"

"Cleat Cute is a fun, sexy read about two women falling in love regardless of what stands in their way." - The Mary Sue

"Meryl Wilsner is a go-to author for sapphic reads." - Culturess, "10 queer romance releases to keep Pride Month going in 2023"

"For anyone in need of more sapphic soccer content post-World Cup, Meryl Wilsner's latest romantic venture, Cleat Cute, is sure to fulfill your craving." - PopSugar, "Best New Romance Novels That'll Make You Swoon"

"Wilsner is such a fun author to follow, because their debut was the slowest of the slow burns, and then bam, their followup was the spiciest of the spicy (within trad pub contemporary romance), and so Cleat Cute really could’ve gone either way… and gives a great compromise by making you think it’s gonna be the former and then. Whew. You will know it when you see it, and you will like it." - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, "September 2023 Queer Romances"

"Cleat Cute’s Sapphic Soccer Romance Will Fill the World Cup-Shaped Hole in Your Heart." - Autostraddle

Praise for Mistakes Were Made:

"Speaking of bangers: Mistakes Were Made is what the author, Meryl Wilsner, describes as their MILF book, a Sapphic age-gap romance where a brash college senior (Cassie) unwittingly hooks up with her best friend’s divorced mom (Erin) before Family Weekend... this one struck just right, with a mix of college-party shenanigans and family-holiday pressure that felt real enough to relate to but escapist enough to enjoy." - The New York Times

"Wilsner proves their serious romance range with a sophomore that laughs in the slow-burning face of their debut by kicking off with a hookup that'll have you fanning your face for days." - Buzzfeed, "26 Highly Anticipated LGBTQ+ Romance Novels Releasing In 2022"

"Wilsner’s steamy, fast-paced secret-lovers contemporary romance features fully realized queer protagonists and secondary characters...It’s not a romantic comedy, but definitely has humor, as well as great dialogue and hot sex scenes." - Library Journal

"A sexy and empowering romance." - Kirkus Reviews

"[A] hilarious, high-heat rom-com...by coupling raunchy humor and genuine connection, Wilsner’s sophomore outing offers plenty to love." - Publishers Weekly

"This book was hot. A MILF dream, if you will. Wilsner did such a great job of twisting together personal drama with relationship drama so that there was always something going on to keep me turning the pages. I would most definitely read another book by them in the future, and I highly recommend you all read this one when it comes out in October." - Write Through the Night, "Mistakes Were Made Was Fun, Flirty, and Extremely Gay"

"Mistakes Were Made is so sexy and compelling, reading it is like being in on the most tantalizing secret. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn't stop reading, smiling, or blushing. Simply delectable from start to finish." - Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer and Home Field Advantage

"A frothy blend of heart, humor, and steam, this story about accepting love and embracing the unexpected will stay with readers far beyond its happily ever after. A vibrant, intoxicating romance." - Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care

"Mistakes Were Made is an absolute delight, both undeniably sexy and incredibly sweet. The story overflows with warmth, friendship, and humor, and Wilsner skillfully ensures that even when Cassie and Erin make their mistakes - big ones - those mistakes are human and understandable. I was rooting for their happy ending the whole time, and when it arrived, I cried happy tears. I think readers will adore this story, and for good reason." - Olivia Dade, author of Spoiler Alert

"In Mistakes Were Made, Wilsner somehow deftly depicts both the messy, exuberant confusion of college life and the messy, bewildering confusion of middle age. Cassie and Erin's journey is taboo and sexy, but ultimately, it is deeply sweet: a story of how love can, and should, transcend societal expectations." - Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters

"Meryl Wilsner's sophomore novel bursts with charm, humor, and heat. Mistakes Were Made left me smiling from beginning to end and you'll fall in love while rooting for this sexy, forbidden, and adorable love story. Wilsner is a storyteller who gently and perfectly steals your heart and hands it back a little fuller. I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone I know!” - Denise Williams, author of The Fastest Way to Fall

Library Journal

02/01/2025

Lifelong best friends consider their relationship in a new light in the latest from Wilsner (Cleat Cute). Elsie Hoffman has drifted into an engagement with college boyfriend Derrick but doesn't seem to want to plan her wedding. It's not until Elsie's fiancé decides to surprise her with an already planned wedding and honeymoon that Elsie finally realizes that this relationship isn't what she wants and breaks up with him. Elsie's best friend, Ginny Holtz, has secretly been in love with Elsie for most of their life and will take whatever Elsie wants to give them. When Elsie and Ginny go on her and Derrick's nonrefundable honeymoon to a gorgeous tropical island, Ginny discovers that what Elsie really wants is Ginny. As the two finally explore their sexual desires, bigger questions emerge, such as whether people so wrapped up in each other's lives know who they are on their own. VERDICT Readers looking for nonbinary main characters, sapphic friends-to-lovers romance, and sexy vacation novels will appreciate this heartfelt exploration of what it means to fall in love with someone you have known almost your entire life.—Sierra Wilson

Kirkus Reviews

2025-02-15
An island resort vacation allows longtime best friends to realize and act on their deeper feelings for each other.

Elsie Hoffman has not been sure about many things in her life, but when her fiancé surprises her by planning their whole wedding and setting the date for one week away, she realizes she doesn’t want to marry him and breaks it off. The planned honeymoon is nonrefundable, so Elsie decides to go on it with her best friend, Ginny Holtz. Even before Ginny figured out their gender, they’d fallen in love with Elsie. In high school, they asked Elsie out, but Elsie said no. Ginny kept on loving Elsie while telling themself friendship was enough. At the Caribbean resort, Ginny tries to help Elsie figure out what she wants in life and find the courage to go after it by setting a rule that Elsie gets whatever she wants on this vacation, but only if she asks for it. Elsie admits to herself that what she wants is Ginny, and their trip turns into a series of sexual encounters. When the honeymoon is over, though, the pair have to figure out how their lives fit together back home, particularly as they each pursue their professional aspirations. Wilsner’s fourth queer romance delivers high heat but suffers from uneven pacing and slight conflict. Elsie and Ginny learn about their sexual preferences through open communication as they explore new territory together. Outside of the bedroom, though, there isn’t much development of them as a couple; there is some individual growth in the latter part of the book, but it feels more tacked on than integral to the story.

Super spicy but lacking a robust romantic relationship arc.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940192469101
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Publication date:	04/29/2025
Edition description:	Unabridged

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