I started this book thinking it was going to be a sweet, easy read about two girls who get married in Vegas and figure it out. It was definitely a lot more than that. I related to Porter so much, and I imagine a lot of people likely will. It's a perfect book for all of us in our late 20s who have accomplished so much and still don't know what the hell we're doing. So good. I loved it.

Grace Porter is a 28 year old with a pipping hot PhD in Astronomy and a ton of familial baggage. Raised by her military father, Grace has made it her mission in life to win his approval and followed a life plan to the strictest of her abilities. As a celebration of her graduation, Grace is gifted with a girls’ trip to Vegas. One night she gets absolutely drunk one and ends up marrying an unknown woman. She wakes up the next morning to find a card and a note but no wife.

Grace is having a difficult time post college. Having finished her plan she finds herself lost and not knowing what to do with her life. The job market is difficult and Grace finds herself angry that one wasn't waiting for her after graduation. The one interview she went on was a bust due to racist and bigoted implications of her "fit" with the team so she walks out. She thumbed her nose up at working for a small college because it was not up to her best standards and didn't feel like it would help her grow. I'm sure many of these thoughts she has were an accumulation of her unchecked stress.

This book is marketed as a romance but it is far from one. You don't see a budding relationship between Grace and Yuki. They hang out together for the summer but I never felt any intimate connection. If anything it was an intimate look at mental health and the benefits of entering therapy but it takes a while to get to this point.
While a wonderful and important story, the writing didn't really work for me and I struggled to stay with the book. The constant calling each other by their full names felt repetitive and irksome. Also everyone calling her Porter was strange. I understood it coming from her military dad but not everyone else. She seemed indifferent to it so too each their own I suppose!

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this book.

I really liked how real this book felt. From the academic burnout (it's real and it's brutal okay) to the relationships throughout the novel, everything rung authentic.
My favorite part of the whole thing had to be the coming-of-age theme. As a grown up who loves academia, and would love to get back into it at some point, the burnout and confusion after graduating is extreme. And, for me, that was just with an undergrad. I can imagine that Grace's sudden emergence into the world post-PhD was just as traumatic and confusing for her as it read. Figuring out who you are outside of one thing is so hard, and Grace's struggles hit home.
I also loved the various relationships throughout the book. Ximena and Agnes, Raj and Meera, Colonel and Sharone, and, of course, Yuki. The different ties to people and how they impacted Grace were woven together in such a beautiful way.
Really I think this was the perfect novel for someone in their 20s trying to figure things out. It was sweet, and full of heart, and oh did I mention really gay? Yeah, super gay. That always makes everything better. I think my favorite character overall is probably Agnes but really I loved them all.

I wanted to so badly love this book. Since hearing the author of a book I loved talking about this several months ago I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was thrilled to get a NetGalley ARC. Unfortunately, I struggled with this book. I felt like the storyline was all over the place, the character development was not strong, I found myself more annoyed with the characters than connected. The premise of the story is wonderful. Women trying to figure out her life gets drunk, meets another woman, and gets married in Vegas. Only to wake up alone trying to put the pieces together. It just did not hold up.

Grace has always been a disciplined over-achiever, as evidenced by her new PhD in Astronomy. That’s why she’s surprised by her own actions at a drunken girls’ trip to Vegas that end with her married to a woman she doesn’t know. Struggling to figure out the next move in her career, she spends a summer in New York with her new wife and learns to embrace the unexpected.

I really, really wanted to unabashedly love this one. While I did enjoy it, I don't think it quite lived up to its potential. Grace and Yuki are great foils for each other, and a lesbian Vegas wedding set-up is so fun! But I think the pacing and plot didn't quite work, and the prose was a little forced. I appreciate Rogers' focus on that post-academia-what-do-I-do-with-my-life-now anxiety, but I wish we'd seen Grace and Yuki find a bit more joy with each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I haven't had the best luck with ARCs, I tend to put them off and then have ambiguous feelings about them and feel guilty for not openly praising them. I don’t tend to post about things I don’t love. So I'll just say right off the bat, this wasn't really for me.

First, I requested it assuming it was a pretty tropey f/f romcom, a drunk Vegas wedding between opposites, an academic and a free spirited type. But as other reviews will be quick to point out, it isn't a romcom so much as a somewhat meandering journey of self discovery for Grace, the academic. That’s not automatically a bad thing, and to be fair, I could see where she was coming from, caught between the pressures of her father, a military man, while dealing with the sexism, racism, and homophobia in the academic community. I certainly understand parental pressure on WOC (Grace is Black, the love interest is Japanese American) and the anger and frustration at the unfairness of her lack of career prospects came across quite well, but I suppose my issue is how much I didn’t feel her joys?

I felt her frustrations keenly, often even more angry at her parents and friends on her behalf than she seemed to be, but it when it came to her love for them, I was left colder. Honestly, it’s not the lack of relatability so much as the writing style? I’m a bit too literal-minded for what turned out to be pretty poetic prose, so whenever it veered in that direction, I wasn’t really willing to go along. So this is where I want to point out that though it didn't work for me, it’s a great example of why I’m so against rating something low when I know it's a personal disconnect. If it hits right for you, I think it could be a fantastic read. She has a group of close, interesting friends, when her love interest does show up, she and Grace are sweet and fun together. I personally just spent a lot of time impatient with certain arcs and characters.

I think, for sure, if you’re into f/f, you ought to at least try out the preview/sample when it comes out next week, on February 23rd.

I went into this book not knowing anything about it and I really enjoyed it. I love a good love story and that's exactly what this is. I've read several romance books with this same set up -- wild night in Las Vegas and "how is it that we are married and what are we going to do?" But Honey Girl is definitely a fresh twist on that trope. The main characters are interesting and relatable. The writing carries you along and keeps you interested. Plus, I loved all the STEM content -- girls + science = sexy!
I'm looking forward to what this author does next!

a wonderful debut from an author full of promise. the book was witty, charming, and heartwarming. excellent prose as well. 4/5 stars for this lovely debut.

I had such a blast reading this, thank you for the opportunity to do so! A modern day love story featuring an educated, biracial lesbian who is learning how to navigate life authentically after academia in the ever-present shadow of familial pressure. Passionate writing and interesting characters carry this plot along at a great pace. I am endeared to the presence of different locations across the US, which come alive with the hopes and memories they embody.

Honey Girl is so much more than the romance novel it is pitched as. It's deep, thought provoking and so relatable. ⁣
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Honey Girl follows Grace Porter, an astronomy PhD graduate, on her path to find a job post-grad. In celebration of her degree, he father give her tickets to Las Vegas. While in Vegas celebrating with her two friends, she gets drunkenly married to a woman who lives in New York. We then follow her journey she takes to truly discover what it is she wants in life and WHO she actually is. ⁣
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You ever relate to a character so hard it HURTS? That’s how I felt with Grace. She is surrounded by people who love her, yet still feels completely alone. She feels as thought she is disappointing everyone around her since she's not following the path her friends and family originally expected from her. (AHEM MEEEE!!!)⁣
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Each and every character was so complex and had so many layers. You couldn't help but fall in love with them all. I loved that the book took us to different settings- Portland, Vegas, New York, and Florida. It kept me engaged and kept things interesting. ⁣
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Morgan Rogers had me crying during my hour long lunch break at work. She ruined me, man. I can't BELIEVE this was a debut novel and I can't wait to see what Morgan Rogers comes up with next- it will definitely be an automatic buy for me.⁣
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Thank you to the publisher, Park Row Books, for providing me with an ARC of Honey Girl in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist
Who among us hasn’t felt lost? Lately, because of the global pandemic or just in general? So incredibly lost and untethered to anything solid underneath their feet?

I certainly have. I graduated from grad school while the pandemic and first lockdown were in full swing. And I spent the summer sending out over 50 job applications, only to receive a whole lot of silence.

Where can I go from here? What options do I have?

I get it. A lot of you get it, too. And the author of Honey Girl certainly got it.

It has been a very long time, since I felt this deeply connected to a character in a story. At times I just wanted to curl up and hug this book to my chest.

But I’m jumping ahead.

The Details
I loved the characters. Plainly and simply stated. They were real and flawed and sometimes raw and unapologetically human.

They were well-developed and had dimension. Each character was unique and full of life.

I appreciated Grace a lot. I could identify with her and feel the struggle she was going through in my own bones.

The writing brought these characters to life. I’m probably not the only one to be
pleasantly surprised by the fact that this is the author’s debut novel.

I have to say though, some of the dialogue felt a little choppy. But I only noticed this because everything else flowed so nicely.

Other than that, it felt like I was right there with Grace and the rest of the characters, hanging out, at work, at awkward dinners with the parents. It unfolded like a well-scripted film inside my head.

I’m glad Honey Girl had a LGBT theme and contained characters from all walks of life and nationalities. It’s a contemporary romance that steps outside of those restricting checkboxes.

The Verdict
Overall, Honey Girl is a wonderful read. It’s rich and honest and real.

I struggled with this review, because I really wanted to gush and talk about it more, risking giving things away that should be discovered by each reader.

I would definitely recommend it.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll admit I requested this book out of curiosity (thanks, booktube!!) and it was really good! Grace is 28 and she is struggling to find a job as an astronomer. I loved the fact that for once I was reading about a protagonist who was also struggling with job hunting. It's such a real struggle especially with covid and I liked the fact that Grace is battling with burnout and a lot of angst. Perfect for anyone in their 20s-30s.

Wow this was not at all what I expected, in the best way. I figured this would be another beach read romance and that honestly couldn’t be further from the truth. This book is deep and layered, with characters struggling with love and loss and finding their own place in the world.

Grace Porter is the daughter of a Black army colonel and a white orange grove owner (now divorced). Grace has spent her entire adult life adhering to the plan she and her father laid out, with one giant exception of her choosing to major in astronomy rather than medicine. She went straight from her Bachelor’s to her Master’s and then her Ph.D., and every step of the way she’s been challenged and pushed by her (white) peers and classmates into believing the only way she’ll be successful is by being the best.

After a disastrous interview, she and her two closest friends take off for Vegas for a weekend. Grace has never, ever done anything rash in her entire life, but she wakes up the morning of their departure with a head full of half-formed memories, a fresh indent on the pillow next to her, an unsigned note, and a ring on THAT finger. How could she have gone off and gotten married, to a woman whose name she can’t even remember?

Grace tries to leave everything behind her but her 11 straight years of pushing herself to be the best have taken a toll on her mental health and she decides she needs a break before figuring out the rest of her life. She finds herself in New York, staying in the apartment of her wife and her wife’s lovely trio of roommates. Grace has to do a lot of soul searching and feels like she’s finally at the beginning of something good, but it all blows up when her mentor suggests a teaching job at a small college in upstate New York. Grace needs to be the best and teaching at some small school no one has heard of won’t cut it, even if it means having to leave her wife behind. Push comes to shove and Grace flees to the orange grove of her childhood, where she finally starts focusing on her own mental health and well-being.

I loved these characters, I loved how real and authentic they were, and I love how central mental health was to this storyline. It’s not talked about enough, and especially for BIPOC who carry the weight of their entire race on their shoulders and who are never allowed to be vulnerable lest they cast a shadow on their people. I think this book shows how important it is to see someone’s humanity and that we need to stop asking BIPOC to be emblematic of their entire race and instead let them live as people, with their vulnerabilities and insecurities and strengths and weaknesses. What an amazing story.

I want to start this review by making the disclaimer that as much as I am going to gush about this book, I will never be able to do it justice. I adored this book with every fiber of my being, but I simply lack the ability to properly put into words how much this book meant to me. But I’ll try my best!

So how you’ve probably heard this book pitched as a straitlaced woman named Grace Porter goes to Vegas to celebrate getting her PhD in astronomy, and ends up married to a random woman she met in Vegas. You either heard or assumed that it’s a rom-com, but it decidedly is not. I mean, in a way it is, but that is not the focus of the book.

In reality, this book focuses on Grace and her exploration of what she wants to do with her life now. She just finished 11 years of school, and the path she thought she’d take after is closed to her. And Grace Porter has been trained to stick to the plan. So without a plan, how does she manage? Well, the answer to that question is complex, but she decides to get some space from her current surroundings and move to New York to spend some time and develop her relationship with her wife, Yuki.

This book had so many themes that were so real and raw and powerful. What stuck out to me the most was Grace’s loneliness. She has a support system, she has friends, family, mentors, and yet, she feels so alone in her quest to find her path. She struggles in a variety of ways with that loneliness, and in fact, was drawn to Yuki, because of the fact that she is a lonely creature.

I have read about other lonely people before. I have read about other people trying to find their path in life, yet this book just did it best. The writing was absolutely superb. It starts out in a hazy, dreamy sort of way, and evolves as Grace’s feelings evolve. There was this very calming, comforting quality to the words that made me feel like everything was going to be okay, while the words themselves carried such intense emotions. I don’t tend to notice writing styles much, with the exception being cases like this, where the prose feels more like poetry.

Another thing I noticed was how diverse the cast of characters were. Grace is a Black lesbian, and all of her friends were diverse in all sorts of ways including racially, culturally, mentally, and of course in terms of their sexualities. What I think made all these different identifies feel so seamlessly woven into the story was that it never felt like a character had no purpose besides their diverse background. Each character was fully fleshed out, so while their identities were a part of them and informed their worldview, they were always three-dimensional and had complex relationships with various other characters.

Once we’re already on the topic of complex relationships, let me gush about how much I adored all the relationships in this book. There are Grace’s friends and family in Portland, there’s Grace’s mother in Florida, and her wife Yuki and all of Yuki’s friends in New York. And yet, despite the many relationships that Grace had, each one was developed throughout the book in a nuanced way, and it was absolutely wonderful to read about. Even for characters that didn’t have a lot of page time, you could feel the depth of their relationship with various characters through the smallest of things.

I also quite appreciated how flawed everyone was. This book felt so very realistic because of that. Grace’s parents were flawed, but not vilified. She had a family, but also made her own family through her closest friends. Every character in this book messed up at some point, but always in very relatable, understandable ways.

Another aspect I specifically want to mention is how much I love how therapy is dealt with in this book. Eventually Grace realizes that she needs help to work through some of her ingrained unhealthy behaviors and thoughts, and so she tries out therapy. I really appreciated that Grace went through several therapists that weren’t the right fit until she found one that was right for her. I find that in many other books the main character either easily finds the perfect therapist, or tries out a therapist they hate and so they never try again, and I appreciated the balance in this book with regards to finding the right mental health provider for you.

Lastly, I want to say what a big fan I was of the ending. I obviously am not going to spoil anything, but I think that the amount of resolution that we got was perfect. Not every detail was wrapped up in a bow, because that’s not how life works. We got a snapshot of Grace’s life, and that’s it. I think it was the perfect ending for the book and it just fit so well, even if it does have me wondering about how certain things turned out!

From the big picture to the small details, this book just felt perfectly crafted and so the rating should come as no surprise.

I started this review by saying how much I love this book, and I’ll end my review the same way. This book got 5 stars from me and it deserved each and every one. I highly recommend this book to other people who feel lost or alone, or who are struggling to find their path. I think this book was written about such a character, for readers who can relate. I felt very seen by this book, and I look forward to having this book about loneliness on hand to remind me whenever I feel overwhelmed, that I am not alone.

I have no idea where the Red White and Royal Blue comp is coming from because this was a vastly different story with a completely different tone. There was an element of romance, yes, but this was heavier and absolutely more about Grace's internal character journey to deal with her burnout and get to the root of her issues.

I'm glad to see the space being made to tell diverse queer stories, especially in the late 20s and still figuring things out space, but ultimately this wasn't a read that really grabbed me. The flowery poetic language, while lovely, served to keep me at an emotional distance from all the characters and plot happenings, and the uneven time skips/pacing didn't help with that either. I cared about Grace and her journey, but this wasn't a book that had me itching to pick it back up every time I had to stop reading.

Wow, okay. YES. This book was everything I didn't know I needed and more.

Sometimes when I give too many books 4/4.5 stars, I start to wonder if my expectations are unrealistic and if I should change my ratings. This book reminded me of what a 5-star book looks like.

Honey Girl starts with Grace Porter, a newly minted astronomy PhD, who, one night in Las Vegas, gets drunkenly married to a stranger. Yet despite this setup, Honey Girl is not a romance book. It's the story of Grace Porter finding the girl she married, a part-time radio show host who hunts for supernatural creatures with her roommates in her spare time. It's the story of her finding a family, finding her path, finding her place in the world, and maybe even finding herself, whatever that might mean.

From the first page, this book pulled me in and didn't let go until I had reached the final page. It was quiet and introspective and just delightful. Not to be dramatic but absolutely everything about this book was stunning. I loved the way it portrayed the lost feeling that comes after reaching a goal you've dedicated your life towards achieving. Each and every one of the characters was so easy to fall in love with. I loved the way the friendships in this book were portrayed as well as the element of found family and all the casual queerness that was present. The writing was gorgeous and poetic without being overly flowery. And while this book is light on the plot, I wasn't bored for a single second while reading. Morgan Rogers can WRITE, and I can't wait to read anything else they come out with.

This book is out of this world (pun intended), please, please go read it.

There has been a lot of hype around Honey Girl and after reading the blurb I wasn't able to resist this debut either... I've somehow hardly read any F/F romance and the premise of this own voices lesbian romance story sounded absolutely fantastic and a perfect excuse to remedy this. I'm SO glad I decided to read Honey Girl despite the hype now: hyped books and me don't tend to get along, but this book is the exception to that rule. It turned out to be such a beautifully rendered and captivating read!

The first thing that stands out for me is the writing. Morgan Rogers sure has a way with words! This debut has such lush and lyrical writing that had me fully mesmerized as soon as I read the first chapter (the prologue written in the second person wasn't for me, but that is just a personal pet peeve). This same beautiful writing style can be found throughout the story, and the many descriptions were a true feast for they eyes. Honey Girl has definitely made me an instant fan of her writing!

I also loved that Honey Girl isn't only an own voices story with POC main characters, but also has a focus on the LGBT comunity with multiple characters on top of the lesbian relationship between Grace and Yuki. Both elements were key in the plot and I loved how they were incorporated into the story realistically and flawlessly. The main focus is on Grace and Yuki's relationship after their Las Vegas wedding of course, and I loved seeing their characters develop and connect. This Las Vegas wedding and the main characters not knowing each other at all despite being married is definitely a fascinating premise.

Honey Girl has a wide cast of side characters who all add their little something to the plot. All have their own background and are sufficiently developed to make them come alive and it's really easy to connect to the mayority. The story is told from Grace's POV, but it's quite easy to get to know Yuki very well in the chapters where they are together. Grace can be quite frustrating at times, but as a whole I really liked both main characters, which made it really easy to stay invested in the story.

I liked the development of the plot, and how multi-layered this story is. We not only have the Las Vegas wedding and what happens after, but we also have family issues, Grace struggling with mental health as well as parental pressures, race and discrimination among other things. The plot itself is just as rich as that lush writing and definitely helped turn this story into a success. I also loved that Yuki has her own radio show and how it played a role in the plot instead of being just background.

As a whole I most definitely had an excellent time with this debut, and if you enjoy well developed, beautifully written and diverse romance stories, Honey Girl is an excellent choice.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book gave me all the feels! I swear Rogers just looked into my brain and found all my fears and insecurities about what comes next after grad school and put them in this book. I am a mess. A RIGHT MESS. Easiest five stars I've ever given, and I think i need some therapy after this. Most likely in the form of some other emotionally traumatizing books.

Grace Porter has always had a plan. She's spent the last several years getting her Master's and PhD in Astronomy. She'd never be the type of girl to go to Vegas and get drunkenly married, until she does. This starts a chain reaction of events leading to Grace questioning her plan, her lack of fulfillment at completing her degree, the overwhelming feelings of burnout and struggling in the job market. All of this culminates in Grace fleeing her home in Portland to got to New York and find her wife, Yuki Yamamoto.

Grad school is hard, if you learn nothing but that from this book, let it be enough. The constant scrutiny, the constant self doubt, the constant anxiety of what's next can be overbearing. I'm already feeling it all and more and I still have two ish years left of my PhD. I've never seen the emotional struggle written so plainly on the page before Honey Girl. Granted, Grace has several more barriers to crush due to systemic racism and inherent bias of the scientific community.

I loved the family Grace surrounds herself with in this story. While she has baggage with her parents that she starts to work through, she has the best found family with Ximena, Agnes, Meera and Raj. Then she moves in with Yuki and is adopted by her roommates Dhorian, Fletcher and Sani. I'm pretty sure all of them are queer and several races and ethnicity's are represented. It was such a flawlessly diverse cast, it makes me ask, why aren't more stories like this?

I also loved the good representation this book gave to therapy. Grace eventually decides she needs help sorting through all her emotional trauma and she finds a therapist. But, she goes through a couple different ones to find one right for her. And seeing that so normalized in a book was a breath of fresh air. Therapy does so much good for so many people, but part of it is that you need a therapist suited to you.

Then there's the relationship of Grace & Yuki. God, I loved these two so much. They made my heart ache with every scene together. Their relationship had tense and tough moments, but there was so much more to it than that. I am such a romantic sap but this book delivered on all fronts regarding the romance. I need more of Grace & Yuki, I love them so much.

The only "bad" thing about this book is that I NEED MORE. Please Morgan, write us an extended epilogue like 1-3 years later. *insert puppy eyes* I need to see all my gay babies happy and thriving. I know they're headed there, but I would like to see more. This debut was everything and more that I wanted. I cannot wait to see what Rogers will write next, it will be an automatic add to my TBR.

I finished reading HONEY GIRL in the deep hours of the night, eyes a little bleary from staring at the screen, heart a little heavy from finishing what I cannot describe as anything else other than a masterpiece. HONEY GIRL is a glory to behold. It is exquisite and painful and more than just a love story — at its heart, it is a delicate clockwork of all that holds us together, and the things that kill us, slowly, eating at us from the inside, and about monsters and lonely creatures who sing into the dark, hoping that someone, somewhere, is listening.

I would tell you more about the book, but I think that HONEY GIRLS is one of those books that is best to go into knowing nothing more than the fact that it will change your life. Even as the world moves on, I find myself stuck inside the story, which is spun in honey & stars & songs & champagne bubble dreams — and I just know that HONEY GIRL will stay with me for years to come.

Morgan Rogers spins this tale with love and warm hugs and sweet wine — magic. her writing is nothing short of divine, as it manages to be lyrical and simple and raw, all at the same time. This story tackles mental health and being a woman of color in STEM and what it feels like to hold the responsibility to make everyone happy. It explores the ever-demanding struggle of being a dedicated people pleaser, and what it means to be the best, and how you can be lonely without being alone.

It is about all kinds of love — every shade of it, dull and vibrant, sparkling and stinging, familial, platonic, romantic, searing and everflowing love — and good god, i could not recommend it more. More than anything, it is a beacon of light for everyone who feels like they've been lost for too long, stuck in a foggy mind and the heaving pressures of life — HONEY GIRL tells all of us: You will be found.

conceptually and thematically? fantastic. execution? less than ideal, in my honest opinion. i was left a little disappointed with the dialogue and the characterization. i absolutely loved that the story was more about grace trying to find herself and work through her own complications with self-worth, facing racism in academia, etc. but i think the other facets of the story were impacted because of this. even though yuki is the romantic interest, she never really becomes more than an ideal. you don't even find out until the very last page why she is in las vegas to begin with. and it didn't feel like a big reveal, it felt more like something were i was going "i wish i knew this 150 pages ago." i did enjoy it, but i was SO pumped for it and i feel like it didn't quite live up to my expectations.