The Honeys
Books | Young Adult Fiction / Horror
4.1
(145)
Ryan La Sala
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.
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More Details:
Author
Ryan La Sala
Pages
352
Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
Published Date
2022-08-16
ISBN
1338745328 9781338745320
Community ReviewsSee all
"2.75 ⭐"
Max Edge
"Exciting from page 2 and full of twists and turns, especially the ending. "
Megan Jungers
"This was overall an excellent book! I loved the queer rep, especially since I haven't found a lot of genderfluid characters. I do wish there had been more horror scenes, because there was only one scene that I found actually scary. The ending was a little confusing to me also. "
bookfrog
"Ooooh this was good! I listened to the audio, and enjoyed it the whole way through. It ended up being different than what I expected, which I appreciate. I do wish we would have had more time with what was going on at the end of the book, but the way the story was laid out worked for setting everything up. This is a new favorite!"
Emily
"I am absolutely in LOVE with this book. I checked it out from the library and I know I have to buy it after reading. I love magical realism and I’m trying to read exclusively queer stories because they’re just so much more relatable. This book combines both of those aspects and made me feel seen/understood in a way that only a queer author can accomplish. I cried A LOT during this book but also was genuinely creeped out which is such a huge accomplishment for a book. I cannot rec this enough "
Lauren Fahrner
"Interesting plot, but wasn’t a fan of the execution. "
Brittani Heath
"5/5 super twisty entertainment "
Kristine gonyon
"In the wake of their twin sister Caroline’s strange and tragic death, Mars is grief stricken but determined to retrace her steps and understand what happened - even if it leads back to the exclusive, prestigious academy that Mars swore they’d never return to. There, Mars learns more about Caroline’s friends, the elusive Honeys. With each passing day, it becomes clear something at Aspen is not what it seems. Behind the beauty and sticky-sweetness, there’s a growing hint of rot…
This story ended up giving so much more than I was expecting. It was odd yet entirely alluring. A surreal and dizzying fever dream, though I enjoyed the ride. "
CB
"Absolutely amazing slow burn thriller with a protagonist that has my name so extra points for that. It does get a bit horrorish but I could NOT put the book down until I finished it. 10/10"
Mars Venus
"A atmospheric, queer, and suspenseful horror novel. This novel had a terrifying start, and while in the middle some parts were slow, the ending really redeemed the story. The horror also involves some great social commentary (mostly about gender and identity), and is probably worth reading twice to understand it more. And there is so much LGBTQ+ representation: the main character is gender fluid, and gets into a relationship with a male identifying character. Also, The Honeys themselves are great “villains” while also being supportive characters towards Mars. While in parts entertaining, this is also a horrifying novel with important themes about the real world."
Isabella Quinn
