Reviews

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Only show reviews with written explanations

bratatouille's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.75

Thrilling, haunting, gorgeous. I am a sucker for eerie fucking creepy cult-ish stories. Every time I thought I knew where this was going it would subvert my expectations with slight and startling jabs. This is queer horror, but the horror isn’t tied to the queerness. Likewise; there’s trauma, but it isn’t based in uncertainties or insecurities about queer identity. I will admit to thinking that the gender conversation is a little bit funky in this. However, I don’t turn to my YA entertainment reads for fleshed out criticisms on gender structures.

The novel starts off sprinting and oscillates between a trot and a sudden mad dash. I quite enjoyed how sporadic it could feel. This is a tantalizing and destructive ode to grief and nature. There are so many bees. I’m trying to be less up my ass about rating books so this gets five stars and I’m sticking by it. I haven’t felt this way while reading a book in a while. Did I mention it’s surreal? Bc it was gonna be.

boyswillbeboxes's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

cryptidluna's review

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3.0

3.5 ⭐️

Nothing REALLY happened, it was more like me watching someone have a terrible time at summer camp. But maybe that was the point.

I liked Mars as a character but respectfully they are so dumb for going to Aspen. Like the VIBES WERE BAD WHY DID YOU GO????

Won’t lie the bee based body horror was kinda cool and interesting. And I’m not surprised the rich were being the terrible people they are.

It was a Mars slay that she killed her parents tho I won’t lie

pipcorn's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Overall I loved this, it was my favorite blend of lyrical and lovely and fucking weird. Unfortunately it dragged on a bit too much leading to the climax. The inclusion of every day camp life was effective but there didn't need to be quite so much of it.

sophiarosem's review

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emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

cici_sadie's review

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dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

megs369's review against another edition

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dark tense slow-paced

3.5

xxroosixx's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I think this book had much more potential, I really liked the beginning and then the book just kinda became boring. The ending was much more exciting

summyrenea's review against another edition

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4.0

I’m not a big horror fan really. I read this for state book awards committee. The audiobook had sound effects, which was sometimes startling. It’s a mystery that says important things about greed and power and exploitation of children. I don’t know if I would recommend it to many of my students though.

queerreaderchaos's review

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dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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