What do you think?
Rate this book
The Solo Honeymoon: A Brief Beautiful True Love Story
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26A romantic, life-affirming memoir about a young woman’s solo honeymoon to Europe after her fiancé’s sudden death weeks before their wedding, and the community of hope and wonder she built along the way
When Laura and Devon sat down to plan their honeymoon, Castellina in Chianti, Italy, was the obvious destination. Four months later, Laura found herself standing in a secret spot at the edge of the village watching the sunset. It would have been perfect, if Devon had been there with her. But Laura’s fiancé, the love of her life, had died in her arms a month before their wedding.
The Solo Honeymoon follows Laura as she faces her fears and heartbreak by going alone on the honeymoon she had planned with Devon. From screaming from the mountaintops in Ireland to wandering the busy streets of London to dining on the French Riviera and watching the sun set over Castellina, Laura travels across Europe to find solid ground. Along the way, listeners learn her unique love story and come to know Devon and what made their relationship so special.
The result is a beautiful exploration of what it means to choose life in the face of unimaginable pain. The Solo Honeymoon shines a light on the joy of love, the depths of grief, and all the beauty there is in the world.
When Laura and Devon sat down to plan their honeymoon, Castellina in Chianti, Italy, was the obvious destination. Four months later, Laura found herself standing in a secret spot at the edge of the village watching the sunset. It would have been perfect, if Devon had been there with her. But Laura’s fiancé, the love of her life, had died in her arms a month before their wedding.
The Solo Honeymoon follows Laura as she faces her fears and heartbreak by going alone on the honeymoon she had planned with Devon. From screaming from the mountaintops in Ireland to wandering the busy streets of London to dining on the French Riviera and watching the sun set over Castellina, Laura travels across Europe to find solid ground. Along the way, listeners learn her unique love story and come to know Devon and what made their relationship so special.
The result is a beautiful exploration of what it means to choose life in the face of unimaginable pain. The Solo Honeymoon shines a light on the joy of love, the depths of grief, and all the beauty there is in the world.
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 14, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 22, 2026
After her fiancé’s sudden death, Laura sets off alone to discover what makes life worth living after tragic loss.
What worked:
The descriptions of the places she visits are beautifully vivid. Laura is a likeable narrator - even writing this review, I’m afraid to hurt her feelings. Several chapters near the end are powerfully written and genuinely moved me. Without getting too specific to avoid spoilers, I deeply related to her anger when her wedding day came and went, and I was especially inspired by her interaction with the woman from Toronto. Throughout the book, there was an overall touching message of the importance of family support as one endures life after loss.
What didn’t work for me:
I so wanted to love this book. I was drawn in by the pretty cover and inspirational title, and the idea of a solo honeymoon felt tragically romantic. However, I spent most of the reading experience wondering what the purpose of this book actually was.
Some of the quips and commentary mirror the voiceovers from the author’s TikToks, so if you’re familiar with her online story, parts can feel repetitive. At times, it felt less like a memoir and more like the story of how someone became TikTok famous. It’s endearing to read about her online community, but much of this content might have worked just as well staying there.
Laura seems to walk on eggshells when writing about her family and friends. She goes above and beyond to compliment and toast them directly in the pages. It sometimes feels like the book is written with their reactions in mind rather than the reader’s. As a result, it lacks the brutal honesty that makes memoirs compelling. Or perhaps she is simply too kind to say anything negative about the people in her life.
Laura and Devon share a quirky, somewhat nerdy love story. Both seem exceptionally nice. Unfortunately, two very nice, cookie-cutter people falling in love doesn’t always translate into a gripping narrative. I smiled for them, but I didn’t feel deeply invested in their relationship. The one moment of betrayal and conflict is glossed over, lacking detail and emotional weight. I kept waiting to feel something - but aside from the final stretch (around the last 15%), I mostly felt disengaged. Even the honeymoon explorations felt anticlimactic.
This story clearly means a great deal to Laura, and I respect the vulnerability it took to share it. There are moments of genuine beauty here, but they aren’t enough to carry the whole. For a story rooted in devastating loss and self-discovery, I expected to feel more. Instead, I finished it wondering why it needed to be a book at all. Two stars.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
What worked:
The descriptions of the places she visits are beautifully vivid. Laura is a likeable narrator - even writing this review, I’m afraid to hurt her feelings. Several chapters near the end are powerfully written and genuinely moved me. Without getting too specific to avoid spoilers, I deeply related to her anger when her wedding day came and went, and I was especially inspired by her interaction with the woman from Toronto. Throughout the book, there was an overall touching message of the importance of family support as one endures life after loss.
What didn’t work for me:
I so wanted to love this book. I was drawn in by the pretty cover and inspirational title, and the idea of a solo honeymoon felt tragically romantic. However, I spent most of the reading experience wondering what the purpose of this book actually was.
Some of the quips and commentary mirror the voiceovers from the author’s TikToks, so if you’re familiar with her online story, parts can feel repetitive. At times, it felt less like a memoir and more like the story of how someone became TikTok famous. It’s endearing to read about her online community, but much of this content might have worked just as well staying there.
Laura seems to walk on eggshells when writing about her family and friends. She goes above and beyond to compliment and toast them directly in the pages. It sometimes feels like the book is written with their reactions in mind rather than the reader’s. As a result, it lacks the brutal honesty that makes memoirs compelling. Or perhaps she is simply too kind to say anything negative about the people in her life.
Laura and Devon share a quirky, somewhat nerdy love story. Both seem exceptionally nice. Unfortunately, two very nice, cookie-cutter people falling in love doesn’t always translate into a gripping narrative. I smiled for them, but I didn’t feel deeply invested in their relationship. The one moment of betrayal and conflict is glossed over, lacking detail and emotional weight. I kept waiting to feel something - but aside from the final stretch (around the last 15%), I mostly felt disengaged. Even the honeymoon explorations felt anticlimactic.
This story clearly means a great deal to Laura, and I respect the vulnerability it took to share it. There are moments of genuine beauty here, but they aren’t enough to carry the whole. For a story rooted in devastating loss and self-discovery, I expected to feel more. Instead, I finished it wondering why it needed to be a book at all. Two stars.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Heart breaking.
The author, Laura Murphy's fiancé (who was in his early 30's) died in Laura's arms while they were at work. Laura decided to proceed with her honeymoon.
As the cover of the book says ... a brief beautiful true love story
Laura - wishing you the best.
Many thanks to author Laura Murphy for sharing her story. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for approving my request to read the advance read copy of The Solo Honeymoon in exchange for an honest review.
Approx 256 pages; release date is July 14, 2026.
The author, Laura Murphy's fiancé (who was in his early 30's) died in Laura's arms while they were at work. Laura decided to proceed with her honeymoon.
As the cover of the book says ... a brief beautiful true love story
Laura - wishing you the best.
Many thanks to author Laura Murphy for sharing her story. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for approving my request to read the advance read copy of The Solo Honeymoon in exchange for an honest review.
Approx 256 pages; release date is July 14, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This story is a heartfelt memorial for the author’s finance. I can definitely see how the process of writing it would be cathartic for her as well as to readers who had experienced a similar loss.
Like most memories, the chapters often jump back and forth between the past and the present, which made it a little harder for me to follow. I find it much easier to comprehend the timeline when things are in chronological order.
Like most memories, the chapters often jump back and forth between the past and the present, which made it a little harder for me to follow. I find it much easier to comprehend the timeline when things are in chronological order.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book is painful, unflinchingly honest, and an inspiration to anyone who has lost their person in life. I wish the very best in the future for this writer. Thanks for sharing your Devon with us.
Want to Read
April 28, 2026Just won this book through the GoodReads giveaway page. Thanks for selecting me
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews