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bookswithsoumi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
In an attempt to diversify my bookshelf, I picked up Honey Girl. This is my first lesbian fiction, but I’m hesitant to call it a romance. Honey Girl is more of a coming-of-age story for Grace Porter, a 29 year old newly minted Ph.D is astronomy. She has yet to find a job after graduation, no thanks to the institutional racism embedded in the predominantly white field. The story opens with Grace waking up in her Vegas hotel room after a night celebrating her graduation with her two friends. Grace’s adventure starts off with a bang when she slowly remembers she married a beautiful girl named Yuki during her drunken night out.
Honey Girl shares Grace’s quest to start her next chapter in life while struggling with her strict father’s expectations, her original plan for her career, and now this woman she spontaneously married in Las Vegas. I found the beginning to be a bit slow, which laid the groundwork for Grace’s familial relationships and friendships. While I did enjoy getting to know Grace’s multiethnic friend group, the story got really juicy once Grace met up with Yuki in New York City for the first time after their wedding about 100 pages into the book. I loved getting to know Yuki and her friend group , and she helps Grace become more conformable with herself and how life doesn’t always have to go to plan to still have fun.
The book has a lot of relatable themes that make it a joy to read, including: being a conventionally “successful” 20-something but having no idea how to shape your career (or what that even means) while being a woman of color; how to incorporate family values and expectations; and how to be spontaneous and have romance in our busy lives. Grace deals with her mental health issues in a very logical manner, which can help readers relate back to their own anxieties. The author has a writing style that allows the audience to immediately reflect upon what they are reading. I would definitely say this book is on the heavier side, and you should not read it if you are in the mood for a light read.
I had a lot of fun getting to know Grace, Yuki, and all their friends. While there were elements of romance, Yuki and Grace’s marriage was not at the forefront of the story, and I really want a sequel to explore more of their relationship!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Self harm, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
casleiloke's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Racism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
Minor: Cancer
bigheartedbibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
- Grace Porter works harder than most people. She has to, as a queer, black woman in the astronomy field. Her whole life, she’s been planning for her dream career. She has been in school nearly her whole life, and now with her PhD. in hand, finding a job should be easy right? When she wakes up in Vegas to find that she’s married to a random girl, and doesn’t get the job her professor basically said she was a shoo-in for, Grace realizes she needs a break. She leaves her entire plan behind to truly get to know the woman she married - and herself. This book is about self-love, mental health, and finding your own place in the world. It’s about being okay with not being perfect, finding your family, and choosing who you want to be.
- I laughed. I cried. I'm still crying. This book was so well written and so relatable. This book will rip your heart out and sew it back together. ❤
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Lesbophobia
saratonin_stories's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
The way the story is weaved is beautiful. As a 23 year old just coming out of academia I have never related more to a book. It discusses heavy topics with care and eloquence, while still showing how messy it can be to experience all of it. I highly recommend listening to the book because it will bring to life the stories of lonely creatures, the podcast that Yuki brings to life in parallel with the story of Grace Porter. I hope everyone will dive into the beauty of this story. I wish I was a good enough writer to capture the beauty of this story and how much I love it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Self harm
kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Drug use, Lesbophobia, and Self harm
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