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msrae89's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Self harm
Moderate: Racism, Medical content, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Alcohol
ehoustonmyatt's review
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Sexism, and Racism
clemrain's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This review is a therapeutic rant. Not worth the read. But was worth the write after struggling through the pages of Honey Girl.
The cover art is gorgeous and that alone can give the book one star, but the rating goes down a star because this gorgeous cover lead me to a terrible novel.
I really wasn’t expecting to give this a 0 star rating. I have a point system that I calculate my star ratings on, and then change the number based on gut feeling. Not super mathematical, but my points added to 0 and so did my gut.
I want to say I’m disappointed because this novel wasn’t what I wanted it to be. But I didn’t have any expectations going in. So, it truly just wasn’t a book for me.
There are too many characters. None of them are fleshed out. I don’t think the author thought about the characters past what type of POC, LGBTQ+ or mental illness rep they were going to be. Most characters feel redundant, and between all of them there is no plot. A character based novel is good too, but this book wasn’t that either. It ran on a singular theme (loneliness) and read like a first draft.
The main character, Grace Porter, is truly so annoying. The entire time she complains about being a WOC and that’s the only reason she’s supposedly not succeeding. While simultaneously, having a picture perfect beginning to a romance, parents that support her financially, and friends that love her so much. She’s also explicitly stated as attractive. She’s on the cover and she’s gorgeous. A good solid foundation in succeeding. It almost comes across like internalized racism that she can only name her being half black as the reason to why she didn’t get a job offer.
Maybe the point flew over my head.
As a WOC myself, I understand very well how looking a certain way can cost opportunities. But majority of those losses come in bigger systematic issues which Grace doesn’t face in this novel—let’s say, in a greater extent. There are micro aggressions detailed in the novel and they did a good job illustrating what it is like being a WOC in STEM. However, it’s hard to relate to a supposed systemically oppressed main character that can easily afford trips to New York and Orange groves when they want to runaway from their very small problems like not succeeding in the very first job interview they went to.
She gets called out on her BS by her brother but the brother retracts the statement, says sorry a million times and Grace doesn’t learn anything from it. Where’s the character development?
Grace says she doesn’t even care for astronomy and it was a decision made to have individualism from her overbearing father but in the end she resolves to stay in the field. How does that make sense? I felt that her taking over the tea shop and jumping into a passion for herself while having her waitress wife run it with her would have been a great resolution to not only the big question of career, but also her brother’s only presented hardship plus the romance. The ending we got instead was “guess I’ll teach, so I can be with this hot stranger and leave behind my friends and family who have supported me my entire life for a woman who’s only ever gotten aggressive with me when I asked her why she hunts monster for fun.” Like girl where are your priorities?
I’d talk about the other characters, but honestly they’re all annoying too and I can’t actually distinct them from one another.
The writing style is so millennial. There’s no other way to describe it. Even that though, isn’t a death sentence to its writing. What really kills it for me is the the utter loss of literary technique. There’s repetition, but it isn’t used effectively enough to evoke emotion. There are metaphors, but truly too many and they lose their significance and don’t cause a pang. Etc. every literary devices I picked up on just wasn’t effectively used. The dialogue is unnatural. Does this author have siblings? Because siblings do not converse like that. In short, the writing style wasn’t for me.
The pacing was slow. Unbearably slow. The plot jumped in directions that made no sense. One scene didn’t naturally bridge to the next. Truly, I thought I was missing pages at points. The entire time I was reading this I wanted the book to be over. I don’t DNF books, which is the only reason I finished it. But I was close to making this my first DNF.
The themes of loneliness are some of my favourites to read. However, this book was so corny. The radio show starting by asking if someone is out there. A bit on the nose. Comparing loneliness to shunned creatures is a beautiful concept. But it’s terribly executed in the book and hardly a new concept. Frankenstein is bicentennial.
I’ve seen this book described as a coming of age. I think the reason I’m so harsh with this book is because it’s about a 29 year old. Girl you’re not having a coming of age. You have a whole ass PhD.
Loneliness in your 20s is a concept not much written about. Or at least not much I’ve read on in nonfiction. I wish the author had focused on the age group she was writing and wrote her story true to that. This read like YA about 12 year olds.
Ending had literally nothing to do with the novel and didn’t conclude the story at all.
I really want to add a positive in here. I really really do. But the pretty cover compliment is all I have.
I hope the author writes their next novel with good research, a plot chart, and many revisions. Maybe even get a new editor.
The cover art is gorgeous and that alone can give the book one star, but the rating goes down a star because this gorgeous cover lead me to a terrible novel.
I really wasn’t expecting to give this a 0 star rating. I have a point system that I calculate my star ratings on, and then change the number based on gut feeling. Not super mathematical, but my points added to 0 and so did my gut.
I want to say I’m disappointed because this novel wasn’t what I wanted it to be. But I didn’t have any expectations going in. So, it truly just wasn’t a book for me.
There are too many characters. None of them are fleshed out. I don’t think the author thought about the characters past what type of POC, LGBTQ+ or mental illness rep they were going to be. Most characters feel redundant, and between all of them there is no plot. A character based novel is good too, but this book wasn’t that either. It ran on a singular theme (loneliness) and read like a first draft.
The main character, Grace Porter, is truly so annoying. The entire time she complains about being a WOC and that’s the only reason she’s supposedly not succeeding. While simultaneously, having a picture perfect beginning to a romance, parents that support her financially, and friends that love her so much. She’s also explicitly stated as attractive. She’s on the cover and she’s gorgeous. A good solid foundation in succeeding. It almost comes across like internalized racism that she can only name her being half black as the reason to why she didn’t get a job offer.
Maybe the point flew over my head.
As a WOC myself, I understand very well how looking a certain way can cost opportunities. But majority of those losses come in bigger systematic issues which Grace doesn’t face in this novel—let’s say, in a greater extent. There are micro aggressions detailed in the novel and they did a good job illustrating what it is like being a WOC in STEM. However, it’s hard to relate to a supposed systemically oppressed main character that can easily afford trips to New York and Orange groves when they want to runaway from their very small problems like not succeeding in the very first job interview they went to.
She gets called out on her BS by her brother but the brother retracts the statement, says sorry a million times and Grace doesn’t learn anything from it. Where’s the character development?
I’d talk about the other characters, but honestly they’re all annoying too and I can’t actually distinct them from one another.
The writing style is so millennial. There’s no other way to describe it. Even that though, isn’t a death sentence to its writing. What really kills it for me is the the utter loss of literary technique. There’s repetition, but it isn’t used effectively enough to evoke emotion. There are metaphors, but truly too many and they lose their significance and don’t cause a pang. Etc. every literary devices I picked up on just wasn’t effectively used. The dialogue is unnatural. Does this author have siblings? Because siblings do not converse like that. In short, the writing style wasn’t for me.
The pacing was slow. Unbearably slow. The plot jumped in directions that made no sense. One scene didn’t naturally bridge to the next. Truly, I thought I was missing pages at points. The entire time I was reading this I wanted the book to be over. I don’t DNF books, which is the only reason I finished it. But I was close to making this my first DNF.
The themes of loneliness are some of my favourites to read. However, this book was so corny. The radio show starting by asking if someone is out there. A bit on the nose. Comparing loneliness to shunned creatures is a beautiful concept. But it’s terribly executed in the book and hardly a new concept. Frankenstein is bicentennial.
I’ve seen this book described as a coming of age. I think the reason I’m so harsh with this book is because it’s about a 29 year old. Girl you’re not having a coming of age. You have a whole ass PhD.
Loneliness in your 20s is a concept not much written about. Or at least not much I’ve read on in nonfiction. I wish the author had focused on the age group she was writing and wrote her story true to that. This read like YA about 12 year olds.
Ending had literally nothing to do with the novel and didn’t conclude the story at all.
I really want to add a positive in here. I really really do. But the pretty cover compliment is all I have.
I hope the author writes their next novel with good research, a plot chart, and many revisions. Maybe even get a new editor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: War, Lesbophobia, and Grief
matheo's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism, Grief, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Drug use, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Misogyny, Sexual content, and War
boba_n_books's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
This was such a sweet romance! Starting off with a Vegas wedding between two strangers certainly caught my attention.
Grace’s journey of self-discovery in her 20s is relatable and realistic. Like so many of us, she is lost after spending years chasing her degree. Through letting go, she finds herself and her family, both blood and found. This is truly a beautiful story.
Grace’s journey of self-discovery in her 20s is relatable and realistic. Like so many of us, she is lost after spending years chasing her degree. Through letting go, she finds herself and her family, both blood and found. This is truly a beautiful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Addiction, and Panic attacks/disorders
frantic_vampire's review
emotional
funny
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
You know when you read a book at just the right time and everything just clicks? That was this book for me. I’m at a loss for words right now and I want to just sit in all the feelings that this book brought with it.
I loved that this book was messy and didn’t shy away from all the scary and hard things that life has to offer. It was also filled with so much love and the space to find yourself. And Grace was just the character that I needed in this story. I loved that she was allowed to have an existential crisis (I felt that all the way to my bones). I loved that Grace was able to let herself sink as far as she needed to before finding the help she needed. And while I might not have agreed with her cutting all communications with her support system, I think she did what she needed to.
One of my other favorite things about this book was the friends/roommate! All of them were amazing and I loved that they just created their own little queer family. Also, Yuki is so cool! I would give anything to listen to a podcast like hers.
All in all, this was an amazing book. And it fully deserves every ounce of praise its gotten and so much more. Honey Girl is getting a five out of five stars from me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, and Grief
aexileigh's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Racism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, and Medical trauma
hannahrogers's review
emotional
hopeful
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, Self harm, and Racism
Moderate: Alcohol, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
kbissmeyer's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
This book was sweet and a little twisted. It hit me in way I did not expect. I loved how real the characters were and how open the discussion of mental health was. This is not a picture perfect romance, but I loved it all the same.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Self harm, Medical content, Abandonment, and Racism
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Alcohol, and Racism
Minor: Grief, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Death of parent, and Suicide attempt