Book ~ "The Solo Honeymoon: A Brief Beautiful True Love Story" (2026) Laura Murphy and Bret Witter

From Goodreads ~ Laura and Devon were on the cusp of their wedding. Both young professionals, they lived a full life in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, where they were often found hiking the rugged and beautiful coastline with their two Bernedoodles.

When they sat down to plan their honeymoon, Chianti, Italy, was at the top of the list. Four months later, Laura found herself standing at the edge of an Italian 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 Tuscan sunset, Laura travels across Europe to find solid ground. Along the way readers learn her unique love story with 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.

This is a memoir about love, loss and the journey that follows an unexpected tragedy. The book tells the story of the author's relationship with her fiancé, Devon, from the day they met through their engagement and plans for their future together. Just weeks before their wedding, Devon dies suddenly, leaving Laura to face a future she never imagined. 

Rather than canceling the honeymoon they had planned, Laura decides to take the trip on her own. As she travels through England, Ireland, France and Italy, she reflects on the life she and Devon shared while experiencing the places they had hoped to visit together. Along the way, she reconnects with friends and family, meets new people and documents her travels on TikTok, where her story resonates with others. 

I like reading memoirs and bios/autobios and I thought this one was okay. Not surprising it's not a happy read. It moves between memories of their relationship and her solo travels, showing how she navigates grief while learning to carry forward the life and love they shared. I hadn't heard of her story before (I found this book on a top 10 list) but apparently it's been covered extensively in the media and on her TikTok account as she was traveling, which she talks about in the book.