A review by caughtbetweenpages
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
The vibes of this book were simply to die for. Mars is a protagonist I can't help but love (not that I'd want to do anything else; she's fantastic). His grief over the loss of his sister and only ally in a household where perfection is the bare minimum standard and queerness does not meet the "perfect" bar would be enough to make anyone sympathize with Mars, but the fact that her death happened at his hands... in self defense because she was trying to kill Mars in the first place? Gut wrenching. And that's just the opening scene, folks!
La Sala took me on an absolute journey with this story, one of seeking community amongst those who rejected you, even as you resent them for their closemindedness and hatred, because part of you is inexplicably drawn by the idea of fitting in to a specific subset of this community. It was really important to me that Mars never questioned their own identity as a genderqueer person, that of all the mysteries they set out to solve about why their sister died, their own personhood was not one of the big twists of gotchas. His distrust of the Honeys at the start of the novel, at what they seem to represent (mean-girl attitudes, standoffishness and gatekeeping, a sinister collective at a remove from everyone else) shifts when they let themself find comfort in people who loved their sister too... but perhaps not in the way that Mars themself did. Or perhaps exactly in that way? Or perhaps in a different, but no less profound way, but one that Mars gains access to by seeking it out.
And then! The commentary on misogyny, classism, the exploitation and decay inherent to capitalism! The mindfuckery and self-gaslighting and other-people-gaslighting! The body horror! The messy relationships! The claiming of power! The BEES <3 !!!! I don't want to say any more, for fear of spoiling things. Was the pacing just right for all the story elements? Maybe not. Maybe the end felt a little too fast. But doesn't that just match how it feels to be a teenager and become disillusioned with literally everything? I posit it does!
Maybe the story isn't perfect. But damn, the vibes, the vibes, the vibes. Those are perfect, for me.
La Sala took me on an absolute journey with this story, one of seeking community amongst those who rejected you, even as you resent them for their closemindedness and hatred, because part of you is inexplicably drawn by the idea of fitting in to a specific subset of this community. It was really important to me that Mars never questioned their own identity as a genderqueer person, that of all the mysteries they set out to solve about why their sister died, their own personhood was not one of the big twists of gotchas. His distrust of the Honeys at the start of the novel, at what they seem to represent (mean-girl attitudes, standoffishness and gatekeeping, a sinister collective at a remove from everyone else) shifts
Spoiler
into an exhalation and celebration of the feminine, profound community and welcome, and so so so much power that was always Mars's by rightAnd then! The commentary on misogyny, classism, the exploitation and decay inherent to capitalism! The mindfuckery and self-gaslighting and other-people-gaslighting! The body horror! The messy relationships! The claiming of power! The BEES <3 !!!! I don't want to say any more, for fear of spoiling things. Was the pacing just right for all the story elements? Maybe not. Maybe the end felt a little too fast. But doesn't that just match how it feels to be a teenager and become disillusioned with literally everything? I posit it does!
Maybe the story isn't perfect. But damn, the vibes, the vibes, the vibes. Those are perfect, for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Transphobia
Moderate: Rape