A review by starrysteph
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

Unsettling, poignant, and riveting - The Honeys has buzzed its way to my all-time favorites list.

This is a YA horror novel that captures the maddening pit of grief, the nuances of gender identity and finding acceptance amidst toxic gender role performances as a teenager, and the hive-like adoration and protection that forms within circles of young girls. 

One summer night, Mars witnesses the horrific death of his twin sister Caroline. Mars has always felt like his sister’s shadow, and his genderfluidity meant his public-facing parents often expected perfection from Caroline alone. Feeling guilty & desperate to uncover everything he can about her life, he takes her spot at the elite Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy.

Mars had vowed to never return to the old-fashioned and strictly-binary sleepaway camp, but he’s compelled to infiltrate the Honeys: a group of girls that had been close friends with Caroline. They’re powerful and elusive - and spend most of their time tending to the beehives by their cabin. Mars has a hunch they know more than they’re letting on, but his memories start to become shaky & he uncovers deeper, messier camp secrets. A summer of grief soon turns into a summer of survival.

The writing is beautiful. Not so lyrical that it’s burdensome to understand - but perfectly elevated in haunting scenes and moments of despair, grief, and even romance. And it’s INTENSE, too. I was hooked from the first chapter.

The grief arc was tender and personal. It’s a journey filled with pain - both unrelenting aches and sharp remembrances. Mars is carrying a lot of guilt & doubts & regrets. And he’s able to fold himself into the gaps Caroline has left in order to understand what the world will be like without her. 

Mars’ genderfluidity is central to the story and is so lovingly and wittingly shared. (I also think I’m a little too old for all the Gen Z slang/humor … but I got most of the quips?!)  This isn’t so much a journey of discovering identity - but instead embracing your full self with confidence, navigating ignorance & bullies, and growing up. The contained space of sleepaway camp (no escape!) and the expectation to ‘fit in’ while distorting yourself were such relatable horror elements. Add in the unspoken deceptions and the teenagers in charge of teenagers and you’re primed for eeriness. 

The atmosphere was delicious. So many terrifying nature moments, insect horror, and all-knowing presences within the aspen trees. And the ending offered just enough explanation to sate curious readers - but left lots of openings for your own rumination. 

CW: grief, death (child), murder, insect horror, body horror, fire, gaslighting, psychosis, sexism, blackmail, sexual assault, queerphobia, deadnaming,  sexism & misogyny, cancer, bullying, cannibalism, suicide, dysphoria

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(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)