Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - Honey Girl

This book has a lot going for it. The main character kept making choices that I couldn't fathom making myself and that made it hard for me to connect with her, but I think it was good for me to practice empathizing with her perspective.

I assumed I would connect with her more because I also burned out as an overachiever trying to be the best version of myself. I know what it's like to feel like there's one true plan that you have to follow to stave off disaster. To desperately want to make a parent proud of you.

I think my therapist would point to the differences in our core motivations. I'm fairly certain Grace Porter is an Enneagram 8w7 who goes to 5 in stress, and as an Enneagram 2w3 who goes to 8 in stress, I see some of my most frustrating qualities in Grace's personality. As frustrating as that was, and as baffling as her core motivations were to me, I still think it was good to read it and sit with that discomfort. And to remember that just because I have similar goals, experiences, and struggles as someone, doesn't mean I can read their mind, know what they want, or predict their behavior.

Anyway. This was an interesting read and has some lovely moments with good character development.

Content Warnings

kickitupanotch7's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The narrator has a slight lisp, that initially made it hard for me to get into the book. I stuck with it and the lisp became less noticeable as the story progressed.

This story is super diverse with characters of many colors, cultures, and sexualities. Though the main character has a somewhat traditional family, she and Yuki also form several found families. The relationships she has with each of them are dynamic and interesting.

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etoilexlune's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really love it

I identify with the mc
triple found family
astronomy theme
DEVELOPED side characters
mental health issues representation
it has the “mine” factor

however

what parents force their 29-year-old children to fulfill their grand plan for them

it would makes sense if she was a teen, early 20s TOPS

but almost 30?

it’s not realistic

her father acts as if she owes him sharing her whereabouts, career plans and even stupid phone calls

it feels like she stopped when time went on, stayed in her bubble and doesn’t realise she is a grown adult making her own decisions about her own life

quotes

“maybe there is not a specific half destined for us. maybe we have to keep trying to fit ourselves together until we find the pieces that fit”

“you spent 11 years ignoring that your mind and body said «stop, breathe, be kind to yourself» and you punished yourself for even thinking it”

🙋🏻‍♀️

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paigeisinabook's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Once I figured out this book was not just about the whirlwind Las Vegas marriage to a stranger but Grace's descent into depression and a quarter-life crisis, I was all in.

Once I learned that Grace had a terminal degree and was lost as to what her next steps were to be, I was sold.

Once Grace broke down and caved to hiding and then finding herself, I felt seen.

I think many people should read this book and they may find themselves.

But all I know is, this book was for me.

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sugarcainn's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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heisiiri's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This is a sweet book! It absolutely delived on the cutesy lesbian romance I was hoping for - reading this book gave me the same warm and fuzzy feels as watching a nice rom-com. The main romance plotline was lovely and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I also liked the explorations of identity, complex family dynamics, finding yourself, dealing with mental illness and healing from past struggles.

That being said, I felt this book had a bit of an issue with being overstuffed with characters and plotlines. There are so many characters whose plots and journeys the reader is supposed to get invested in, and a lot of them don't really get resolved. I had trouble being attached to any of the side characters. When highly emotional scenes were happening, I would often find myself rolling my eyes like "god these people are dramatic" or "why are these people being so stupid" instead of connecting with the character's stuggles and really feeling for them. I think this book could have really benefitted from some of these characters simply being dropped from the narrative completely - the concepts were interesting, but could have been saved for another story.

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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

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hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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