Reviews with content warning for Rape - The Honeys

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

caughtbetweenpages's review

dark emotional 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

4.5

The vibes of this book were simply to die for. Mars is a protagonist I can't help but love (not that I'd want to do anything else; she's fantastic). His grief over the loss of his sister and only ally in a household where perfection is the bare minimum standard and queerness does not meet the "perfect" bar would be enough to make anyone sympathize with Mars, but the fact that her death happened at his hands... in self defense because she was trying to kill Mars in the first place? Gut wrenching. And that's just the opening scene, folks!

La Sala took me on an absolute journey with this story, one of seeking community amongst those who rejected you, even as you resent them for their closemindedness and hatred, because part of you is inexplicably drawn by the idea of fitting in to a specific subset of this community. It was really important to me that Mars never questioned their own identity as a genderqueer person, that of all the mysteries they set out to solve about why their sister died, their own personhood was not one of the big twists of gotchas. His distrust of the Honeys at the start of the novel, at what they seem to represent (mean-girl attitudes, standoffishness and gatekeeping, a sinister collective at a remove from everyone else) shifts

into an exhalation and celebration of the feminine, profound community and welcome, and so so so much power that was always Mars's by right

when they let themself find comfort in people who loved their sister too... but perhaps not in the way that Mars themself did. Or perhaps exactly in that way? Or perhaps in a different, but no less profound way, but one that Mars gains access to by seeking it out.

And then! The commentary on misogyny, classism, the exploitation and decay inherent to capitalism! The mindfuckery and self-gaslighting and other-people-gaslighting! The body horror! The messy relationships! The claiming of power! The BEES <3 !!!! I don't want to say any more, for fear of spoiling things. Was the pacing just right for all the story elements? Maybe not. Maybe the end felt a little too fast. But doesn't that just match how it feels to be a teenager and become disillusioned with literally everything? I posit it does!

Maybe the story isn't perfect. But damn, the vibes, the vibes, the vibes. Those are perfect, for me.

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amyhasel's review

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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e28rika's review

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dark emotional tense 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

what an incredible read, this book broke my heart in so many places

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thatbookmarkbabe's review

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dark mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.5

I'm not generally one who reaches for YA often, and I'm often disappointed when I do... But The Honeys is just as strange and captivating as its cover. A slow burn that keeps you turning pages - deliciously weird, queer fun. I'll keep it short and sweet and say pick this one up for The Last Time I Lied x Bunny x Mexican Gothic vibes.

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mega_reader's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense

5.0

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dawhit's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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esme_may's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Beautifully written and unbelievably visceral. I just wish it had been a little shorter

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witchythey's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

a gripping story from the beginning. nothing makes sense until it does. the twists kept me turning pages. as a trans person i can see the continual discussion of gender getting annoying and over explained at times, but gendered environments like camp are literally just like that sometimes, making the tension and exposition necessary. other than that i thought this book was a great read! i enjoyed the lyrical qualities it had at times, and the plot was nothing short of phenomenal.

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