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A review by hanarama
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.25
Book at a Glance:
• Biracial, Lesbian lead
• W/W romance
• Coming of Age
• Contemporary
After years of tirelessly pursuing her doctorate in astronomy, twenty-eight-year-old Dr. Grace Porter is set adrift in the "real world." Going to Vegas with her friends following a disastrous job interview, she winds up getting drunk married to a girl she doesn't know.
Her new wife disappears the morning after, leaving behind a card with her radio show listed. Grace tunes in and finds herself drawn to the mysterious woman who calls out to all the lonely creatures in the night. She is set on a path of self discovery that would never have been possible had she stuck to "The Plan."
Honey Girl is a solid debut. It is not a true romance. The surprise marriage is rather a catalyst for Grace's coming of age story. Though Grace does pursue a relationship with Yuki, this story has more in common with early mid 2000s indie dramas. The focus is on Grace finding herself after her carefully laid life plan begins to fall apart. As such, Yuki falls into many of the typical tropes associated with manic pixie dream girls. Her quirkiness helps Grace to think outside of the box she's been living in for so long.
Rogers has an gentle and lyrical style. She paints moments in time, weaving in scenes from Grace's past. These moments bring color to her relationships with her strict military father, her carefree mother, mentor and her friends. Though Grace spends much of the book away from her friends and family, these flashbacks provide depth to the characters, allowing the reader to appreciate the importance of them to Grace.
The lyrical prose does not translate as well into dialog. Many of the characters speak in similar ways, with the Colonel, Grace's father, as the most distinct. Yuki's friends suffer the most from this. With less development given to them, it's very easy to forget who is who.
Honey Girl will be deeply relatable for many millennial readers, myself included. The pressure to do well, to be productive is very great amongst this generation. And though a typical romance, this is a charming and comforting read for others struggling with the pressures of adulthood.
• Biracial, Lesbian lead
• W/W romance
• Coming of Age
• Contemporary
After years of tirelessly pursuing her doctorate in astronomy, twenty-eight-year-old Dr. Grace Porter is set adrift in the "real world." Going to Vegas with her friends following a disastrous job interview, she winds up getting drunk married to a girl she doesn't know.
Her new wife disappears the morning after, leaving behind a card with her radio show listed. Grace tunes in and finds herself drawn to the mysterious woman who calls out to all the lonely creatures in the night. She is set on a path of self discovery that would never have been possible had she stuck to "The Plan."
Honey Girl is a solid debut. It is not a true romance. The surprise marriage is rather a catalyst for Grace's coming of age story. Though Grace does pursue a relationship with Yuki, this story has more in common with early mid 2000s indie dramas. The focus is on Grace finding herself after her carefully laid life plan begins to fall apart. As such, Yuki falls into many of the typical tropes associated with manic pixie dream girls. Her quirkiness helps Grace to think outside of the box she's been living in for so long.
Rogers has an gentle and lyrical style. She paints moments in time, weaving in scenes from Grace's past. These moments bring color to her relationships with her strict military father, her carefree mother, mentor and her friends. Though Grace spends much of the book away from her friends and family, these flashbacks provide depth to the characters, allowing the reader to appreciate the importance of them to Grace.
The lyrical prose does not translate as well into dialog. Many of the characters speak in similar ways, with the Colonel, Grace's father, as the most distinct. Yuki's friends suffer the most from this. With less development given to them, it's very easy to forget who is who.
Honey Girl will be deeply relatable for many millennial readers, myself included. The pressure to do well, to be productive is very great amongst this generation. And though a typical romance, this is a charming and comforting read for others struggling with the pressures of adulthood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, and Sexual content