The Honeys follows Mars, who’s always seen himself as the lesser twin, a shadow to his sister Caroline’s radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is determined to learn all he can about the sister he used to be inseparable from but who’d grown increasingly distant. Mars’ genderfluidity means he’s often excluded from his political family’s traditions—including attending the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister disappeared to during the summers. Grieving, Mars insists on attending the summer academy in her place. But what Mars finds when he gets there is not for the faint of heart—prestigious appearances try to hide the die-hard gender roles and toxic traditions. When his sister’s old friends, a group of girls dubbed The Honeys, take him in, Mars is determined to find out whether and how they’re connected to Caroline’s death—but there is something dark hunting him down in broad daylight at the summer academy and if Mars can’t find it soon, it will eat him alive.
The Honeys is, in a word, intense. La Sala sure knows how to craft a deeply atmospheric, creepy and twisted story. Many a reviewer has called this “dark academia but in broad daylight” and I definitely agree with that. If you enjoyed Lee Mandelo’s Summer Sons, I think The Honeys might really appeal to you. From the very first chapter, the reader is drawn in by the eerie vibes of the story, the unspeakable horror of the way in which Mars’ twin dies and the ineffable grief she leaves behind for Mars to figure out and work through. And once Mars arrives at the summer academy, things are turned up a notch. La Sala doesn’t shy away from exposing toxic masculinity in this novel and it’s at times hard to read Mars being truly on his own as it seems that he can’t trust anybody. Of course, there are characters that end up being a solace for Mars and while I won’t spoil anything, I loved all the interactions Mars has with The Honeys, his sister’s friends. There were so many complex moments that not only offered insight into who Mars’ sister was but also gave him the opportunity to find closure in unexpected ways.
It’s hard to talk about the setting without giving too much away, but let me just say that Mars in that setting was what makes this story so great. Mars is gay and genderfluid, which is definitely not something the summer academy accepts. They pretend to have changed and to be more inclusive but Mars learns relatively early that those are just words and that sexism and toxic masculinity are still at an all-time high at the academy. Yet Mars never gives in and refuses to conform to the antiquated, superfluous standards of the academy—which causes a lot of trouble for him, of course, but also shows how headstrong and amazing he is.
La Sala also balances the mystery and horror aspects of The Honeys really well. Though this is definitely not a book for the faint of heart (there is body horror and gore, violence and a lot more, so do read the trigger warnings before diving in), there was never a moment where I felt it was gratuitous and instead gave more depth to the story and helped me understand some characters’ motivations. Likewise, the mystery aspect is slowly unfolded without dragging and I think the foreshadowing of the twists will leave readers satisfied. All in all, if you think you can stomach the darker parts of this novel and like intricate, well thought-out mystery plots, then this one’s for you!
Delivering chills on chills and a mystery that will have you biting your nails, The Honeys is an intense, LGBTQIAP+ inclusive YA horror, perfect for fans of The Dead and the Dark and Summer Sons.
The Honeys is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 2nd 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
