Hello my lovely bookworms. I said I had many reviews to write and here I am writing yet another which is 5 star read. This a book that took me by surprise and I love when that happens. So let’s straight into my thoughts shall we but first here is a little bit more about the book.
The Honeys by Ryan La Sala Published by Scholastic on August 18, 2022
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From Ryan La Sala, the wildly popular author of Reverie, comes a twisted and tantalizing horror novel set amidst the bucolic splendor of a secluded summer retreat.
Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who'd grown tragically distant.
Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions -- and expectations -- of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.
What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying -- and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death.
But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.
The Summer’s hottest YA Horror!
The Honeys follows Mars, when his twin sister, Caroline, is horrifically dies in front of him, he is haunted by it. Ever since attending Aspen Summer Academy, Caroline changed, she grew cold and distant from him and his family especially when she became a ‘Honey’ – the camps royalty. Her death sparked an anger, a revenge in Mars. So he attends Aspen in her place, however his gender fluidity caused the camp problems the last time he were there as he doesn’t quite conform to their traditions. All he wants to do to truly find out what really happened too her whilst also wanting to be accepted and infiltrate the Honey’s. What he doesn’t realise is that this is something is toying with him that is lurking deep within the camp.
What surprised me the most was the narrative of the novel. Ryan La Sala’s writing is unique, beautiful yet horrifying seductive. I loved how stunning and beautoful the world building and locations of the book as he just pulls you right into the story. Like nothing could possibly happen here when there’s this twisted darkness weaved throughout the story. Some aspects of the book especially the last 25% – it has a way of crawling right under your skin, making your hair stand up on end.
I feel the last month, my reading has really diversified and this was my first LGBTQ+ YA featuring a gender fluid character. What I loved was how I felt educated and on reflection we see Mars trying to fit in and how society (the camp) is this instance views him. I loved how we see Mars being true to himself throughout the whole no matter what.
Don’t let this gorgeous, summery cover fool you. It did me as soon you open to the first page, by the end of the first chapter, your reaction as a reader will be priceless. What I thought was something like a lgbtq+ YA thriller I was sorely mistaken. It isn’t until your 75% into the book that you truly see was lurking beneath. Something sinister, toxic and stinging to the core. Intrigued are you not?!
My new favoruite read of 2022! Unique and totally unforgettable!
Rating – ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
