Scan barcode
A review by mezzano
Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's rare to find a book which captures the millennial experience as fully as Morgan Rogers' Honey Girl does. Within its pages features Grace Porter, a Black lesbian who just acquired their doctorate degree in astronomy. When the declined job and interview requests begin rolling in, Porter goes from the overachieving star pupil to an undesirable company match. Suddenly, everything from her work's integrity to who she is is questioned and scrutinized by companies and universities who do not want to make space for anyone but their own. Porter responds to this quarter life crisis in an interestingly uncharacteristic way: she goes to Las Vegas and gets married. The rest of the book follows the fallout and lessons Porter learns from her past decisions. At the core is one single action: Porter must ask herself if she wants the best or what's best for her.
Grace Porter is 28 years old and facing a world which doesn't have the opportunities for her she was promised. After nearly a decade of additional schooling and nothing to show for it, this book delves deeper into what it means to make life tolerable in a very fraught and lonely world. While it does have it's share of light-hearted conversations and romantic intrigue, at its core, Honey Girl is about the decisions people make while coping. It's not just Porter who feels as though she is falling behind. Porter has friends who are stuck in jobs they never wanted, whether it be out of obligation or the paycheck. The stress of maintaining appearances wears on each person differently, and its fascinating to see how each character copes and makes sense of the life they are given. The end of the book is particularly rewarding, as lapses in understanding are fixed with honest communication.
On a personal note, this book was particularly relatable in ways I was not expecting. Porter's experience was not too unlike my own, excluding the clear difficulties that systematic racism plays in academia. I had also lived in the world of STEM research and academic grinding, wearing myself out at the cost of my mental and physical health. Honey Girl starts at the beginning of Porter's independent life, and I related strongly to the emptiness the main character felt when the research opportunities and university classes ran dry. There is a great emptiness that comes with selecting a job field which does not make space for you. Like Porter, I had also had to evaluate what the best truly meant and what was important to me to have in my life moving forward. After finishing the book, I was astounded that Rogers had no documented experiences in either STEM or graduate programs. In either case, Morgan Rogers' debut is a strong and realistic entrance into the realm of literature.
Grace Porter is 28 years old and facing a world which doesn't have the opportunities for her she was promised. After nearly a decade of additional schooling and nothing to show for it, this book delves deeper into what it means to make life tolerable in a very fraught and lonely world. While it does have it's share of light-hearted conversations and romantic intrigue, at its core, Honey Girl is about the decisions people make while coping. It's not just Porter who feels as though she is falling behind. Porter has friends who are stuck in jobs they never wanted, whether it be out of obligation or the paycheck. The stress of maintaining appearances wears on each person differently, and its fascinating to see how each character copes and makes sense of the life they are given. The end of the book is particularly rewarding, as lapses in understanding are fixed with honest communication.
On a personal note, this book was particularly relatable in ways I was not expecting. Porter's experience was not too unlike my own, excluding the clear difficulties that systematic racism plays in academia. I had also lived in the world of STEM research and academic grinding, wearing myself out at the cost of my mental and physical health. Honey Girl starts at the beginning of Porter's independent life, and I related strongly to the emptiness the main character felt when the research opportunities and university classes ran dry. There is a great emptiness that comes with selecting a job field which does not make space for you. Like Porter, I had also had to evaluate what the best truly meant and what was important to me to have in my life moving forward. After finishing the book, I was astounded that Rogers had no documented experiences in either STEM or graduate programs. In either case, Morgan Rogers' debut is a strong and realistic entrance into the realm of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Racism, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Biphobia, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts