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thepetitepunk's review against another edition
3.0
Check out my full spoiler-free BookTube review here!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honey Girl was my most anticipated release for 2021. My favorite type of character is one who is awkward, overachieving, and trying to find their place in the world, and Grace Porter seemed to fit that description when I read the synopsis. Although I enjoyed the book, it was not exactly what I was expecting. There were definitely some clear strengths and weaknesses here.
The Good:
If you're looking for a book with great mental health representation, this one is for you. I thought the portrayal of anxiety, depression, and overworking oneself in order to uphold the expectations of others was very relatable. I appreciated the conversations Grace had with her friends and family about her mental health, and thought it was great that she openly discussed having a therapist. The family relationship dynamics were also well done. Grace and her family have very different expectations for her life, which causes Grace to really struggle with her sense of self. I liked that Grace was able to allow herself to get angry over time, because it is not always easy to go against your parents' wishes. Furthermore, if you love fun, quirky side characters, there are plenty in this book. I loved that the cast of characters were diverse and real. I kind of wish we got to see more of them because they were all so lovely.
The Not So Good:
With the way this book is marketed, I was expecting it to be a romance. I think the book itself was expecting it to be a romance too. But this is not a romance. Sure, there is a romantic relationship in it, but this book is about mental health and family--which is a good thing! But I do wish the romantic relationship was further explored. I don't mind books without romance, and actually tend to prefer books without romance, but I felt like the relationship kept getting referenced without it truly being explored. It was like it was supposed to be a big plot point...but wasn't. More glaringly though, this book struggled with writing style. I would point to this being the biggest flaw of the book, and the main reason why I didn't fall in love with it like I was expecting. The book was so boring and slow at the beginning, that it took me weeks to finish. After I got past the first half of the book, I finished it in a day, but the beginning part was almost enough to make me quit. Furthermore, the writing was incredibly repetitive. This was especially evident in the dialogue, which came off as unrealistic and forced. For example, the main character is almost exclusively referenced by her full name Grace Porter, or just by her last name. This came off as awkward and clunky, especially since the name was used so often. In real life, when two people are talking, they rarely use each other's names in conversation. It isn't necessary. The people know they are talking to each other. The repetitiveness of name usage might seem like a minor detail, but it was very distracting while actually reading the book. I was overly aware of it, and found myself focusing more on the writing style.
A Little Note:
One thing that I wish was discussed more was Grace's self harm. This was briefly mentioned in the book, but I think it was a more serious issue than it was made out to be.
Overall, Honey Girl is a great book if you're looking for an adult contemporary about mental health and family. You won't find too much romance here, but it is openly discussed that Grace is sapphic. Although I really struggled with the writing style, this is Morgan Rogers's debut, so I'm excited to see more in the future.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Honey Girl was my most anticipated release for 2021. My favorite type of character is one who is awkward, overachieving, and trying to find their place in the world, and Grace Porter seemed to fit that description when I read the synopsis. Although I enjoyed the book, it was not exactly what I was expecting. There were definitely some clear strengths and weaknesses here.
The Good:
If you're looking for a book with great mental health representation, this one is for you. I thought the portrayal of anxiety, depression, and overworking oneself in order to uphold the expectations of others was very relatable. I appreciated the conversations Grace had with her friends and family about her mental health, and thought it was great that she openly discussed having a therapist. The family relationship dynamics were also well done. Grace and her family have very different expectations for her life, which causes Grace to really struggle with her sense of self. I liked that Grace was able to allow herself to get angry over time, because it is not always easy to go against your parents' wishes. Furthermore, if you love fun, quirky side characters, there are plenty in this book. I loved that the cast of characters were diverse and real. I kind of wish we got to see more of them because they were all so lovely.
The Not So Good:
With the way this book is marketed, I was expecting it to be a romance. I think the book itself was expecting it to be a romance too. But this is not a romance. Sure, there is a romantic relationship in it, but this book is about mental health and family--which is a good thing! But I do wish the romantic relationship was further explored. I don't mind books without romance, and actually tend to prefer books without romance, but I felt like the relationship kept getting referenced without it truly being explored. It was like it was supposed to be a big plot point...but wasn't. More glaringly though, this book struggled with writing style. I would point to this being the biggest flaw of the book, and the main reason why I didn't fall in love with it like I was expecting. The book was so boring and slow at the beginning, that it took me weeks to finish. After I got past the first half of the book, I finished it in a day, but the beginning part was almost enough to make me quit. Furthermore, the writing was incredibly repetitive. This was especially evident in the dialogue, which came off as unrealistic and forced. For example, the main character is almost exclusively referenced by her full name Grace Porter, or just by her last name. This came off as awkward and clunky, especially since the name was used so often. In real life, when two people are talking, they rarely use each other's names in conversation. It isn't necessary. The people know they are talking to each other. The repetitiveness of name usage might seem like a minor detail, but it was very distracting while actually reading the book. I was overly aware of it, and found myself focusing more on the writing style.
A Little Note:
One thing that I wish was discussed more was Grace's self harm. This was briefly mentioned in the book, but I think it was a more serious issue than it was made out to be.
Overall, Honey Girl is a great book if you're looking for an adult contemporary about mental health and family. You won't find too much romance here, but it is openly discussed that Grace is sapphic. Although I really struggled with the writing style, this is Morgan Rogers's debut, so I'm excited to see more in the future.
morgggsss's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
fspikener's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
treehugger513's review against another edition
4.0
Very good. A beautiful coming-of-age-in-your-late-twenties story. Gave me Queen vibes with the whole coming to terms with your mental health and getting help when you need it trope. The writing was truly beautiful and the relationships were even more beautiful. Not necessarily a romance, though there is romance involved.
laysbookdncoverd's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so relatable and so soft and touching. It made me heart yearn and ache in the best way! Mental health, love, and acceptance is literally the whole theme of this book and I LIVE for it!
karzy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
readingafrica's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the storyline, but something about the writing (or audiobook narration--I listened to the audiobook) just seemed off. I mean I kept reading it, but some of the dialogue just didn't seem believable, plus the narration was choppy and even robotic in some parts.