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discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
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
4.5
Wow this book really took me by surprise. Not only was the writing beautiful, and the love story so charming, but I think the thing that I found truly breathtaking was its depiction of friendship.
As someone who struggles to develop and maintain friendships, I tend to find really well-written platonic relationships in books to be especially compelling, and the ones in Honey Girl literally had my jaw dropping as I read. I was like: “This. This is what I want more of in my life.” It choked me up at some points! The casual laying on one another, the forehead kisses, the “did you eat?” Found family.
I also really appreciated that the central tension doesn’t necessarily happen between two people (although there is important interpersonal conflict within the story). Rather, I would argue the main focus is Grace’s internal struggle to overcome the lie that says nothing is worth achieving if she doesn’t tear herself apart working for it. The lie that claims she has to prove herself by being the absolute best at everything she pursues, even if the things she’s pursuing are not what’s right or healthy for her. The central tension occurs when Grace is faced with the urgent need to, for once, ask for help and let others support her.
The backdrop to this entire story, is that Grace has made the disorienting decision to derail her meticulous professional plan when she realizes that all the work she’s put in over the last decade of her life is neither sustainable, nor has it produced the outcome she wanted. I really identify with that broader sentiment, even though it’s important to point out that her challenges are particular to Black women functioning under capitalism within academic spaces.
As someone who struggles to develop and maintain friendships, I tend to find really well-written platonic relationships in books to be especially compelling, and the ones in Honey Girl literally had my jaw dropping as I read. I was like: “This. This is what I want more of in my life.” It choked me up at some points! The casual laying on one another, the forehead kisses, the “did you eat?” Found family.
I also really appreciated that the central tension doesn’t necessarily happen between two people (although there is important interpersonal conflict within the story). Rather, I would argue the main focus is Grace’s internal struggle to overcome the lie that says nothing is worth achieving if she doesn’t tear herself apart working for it. The lie that claims she has to prove herself by being the absolute best at everything she pursues, even if the things she’s pursuing are not what’s right or healthy for her. The central tension occurs when Grace is faced with the urgent need to, for once, ask for help and let others support her.
The backdrop to this entire story, is that Grace has made the disorienting decision to derail her meticulous professional plan when she realizes that all the work she’s put in over the last decade of her life is neither sustainable, nor has it produced the outcome she wanted. I really identify with that broader sentiment, even though it’s important to point out that her challenges are particular to Black women functioning under capitalism within academic spaces.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Self harm
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
mickraine's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Classism
cayls's review against another edition
im honestly stuck on what to rate this book, so i'm just not gonna rate it. it had some good parts, but i feel like there was more parts i disliked than i actually enjoyed if that makes sense. the parts about grace and her dad are so relatable, and i relate to her in some parts. not going to go into detail about what i disliked & liked and so forth, but it was interesting and i'm glad i finally checked it off my tbr
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm
morganperks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, and Sexual content
jachnax's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
This is a masterpiece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Racism
erinoco's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Self harm
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
cleo_wylde'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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a sweet, slow swelling book that had such gorgeous vivid imagery. I really liked the characters and seeing them grow and evolve. A nice easy read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Self harm
bea_adventure's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Self harm
daisycalloway's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
"I think lonely creatures ache for each other because
who else can understand but someone who feels the
same dark, black abyss?"
Who else, Grace wonders, can understand loneliness if
not someone who sits in solitude all their own?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
mateyy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Self harm