This is a sloooooow burn, and the “twist” was pretty clearly telegraphed from the beginning. That might’ve been intentional, not every novel needs to have an M Night plot twist! It EXCELS in atmospheric dread and world building… Santa Cruz as a preapocalyptic tech desert is vividly terrifying… and there are some incredibly profound lines in here about girlhood and patriarchy and all that good stuff. I don’t think I’d read this again— the first 30% was a bit of a slog— but I’m very glad I read it once!

"Whoever You Are, Honey" by Olivia Gatwood is a breathtaking collection of poetry that delves deep into the complexities of identity, womanhood, and the search for belonging. Gatwood, with her raw and unapologetic voice, invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, exploring the joys and struggles of navigating a world that often seeks to limit and define us.

At the heart of "Whoever You Are, Honey" is Gatwood's fearless exploration of femininity and the female experience. Through her evocative language and vivid imagery, she captures the beauty and resilience of women in all their forms—mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, and warriors. From the quiet moments of introspection to the fiery declarations of defiance, Gatwood celebrates the multifaceted nature of womanhood with honesty and grace.

Gatwood's poetry is both deeply personal and universally relatable, touching on themes of love, loss, trauma, and healing with sensitivity and insight. She mines her own experiences and emotions with a fearless honesty, inviting readers to confront their own vulnerabilities and embrace their authentic selves. Through her words, she offers a message of empowerment and self-acceptance, reminding readers that their voices matter and their stories deserve to be heard.

Moreover, "Whoever You Are, Honey" is not just a celebration of womanhood—it's also a call to action for social justice and equality. Gatwood tackles issues of misogyny, violence, and discrimination with a fierce urgency, challenging readers to confront the injustices that persist in our society and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future. Her poetry serves as a rallying cry for change, inspiring readers to stand up and speak out against oppression in all its forms.

The collection is also notable for its stunning imagery and masterful use of language. Gatwood's poetry is rich with vivid descriptions and powerful metaphors, painting a vivid portrait of the world around us and the emotions within us. Her words linger in the mind long after the page is turned, leaving a lasting impression on readers and inviting them to reflect on the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

In conclusion, "Whoever You Are, Honey" by Olivia Gatwood is a tour de force of poetry that will leave readers breathless and inspired. With its fearless exploration of womanhood, its passionate advocacy for social justice, and its stunning imagery and language, it's a collection that demands to be read and celebrated. Gatwood's voice is one of courage, compassion, and resilience, and her poetry is a testament to the power of words to change hearts and minds.

4/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

**NetGalley provided copy** I have to admit, I chose this book because of the cover. I read the synopsis after that and was definitely interested. I haven’t read any of the author’s poetry so this was my first exposure to her.

It seems like a straightforward book and premise but there is a lot of underlying intrigue and suspense. Given some of the complex books out there where the characters can be confused with each other, I found this really refreshing. There are really only two main characters (Mitty and Lena) with three side characters (Bethel, Sebastian, and Patricia). The story is told from Mitty’s and Lena’s perspectives, alternating between the two. The story is slow to develop and it ends up building the suspense really well.

One thing to note is that there are no chapters in this book. It does have well defined sections though so it was easy to find a place to pause. There are a couple sections from “before” for Mitty’s story.

I can’t for other people to read this so I can ask about their thoughts on the ending!

i adore olivia gatwood with all my heart. i have read all of her works and i was so excited since the first hint at her debut novel. IT CERTAINLY DID NOT DISAPPOINT. i love books that explore women and female relationships and you can definitely tell the author is a poet because of the beautiful beautiful writing style. i loved it

Whoever You Are, Honey is my first book by this authour and I am officially a Gatwood fan! This was a unique look on the lives of women in a slice of life story that had a surprising number of thriller techniques strewn throughout. It made the story incredibly quick to read with undertones of suspicious behaviours and a tone that had me questioning certain characters, desperate to know more.

Possible spoilers (I recall reading aspects of this being AI in the synopsis and think it would’ve hit harder if I didn’t know that going in. It unfolded in a lovely way and looking at the updates I think this decision was changed and prefer it).

My only critique here is that I wanted more from the ending. I didn’t dislike it but desperately wanted to know what happened with Lena as she was the one I identified with most. This was very much slice of life and it has a solid structure of how it’s ending and I don’t have many questions besides that. I get it’s most likely the point here and was a creative choice but I hated filling in a definitive answer to Lena’s “end.” For that I’d give it a solid 3.5 ⭐️

I would like to thank NetGalley and The Dial Press for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on July 9, 2024.

I like Gatwood's work and I can see elements of her poetry in some of the writing here. I do think the pacing was off. About 75% of the way in, I realized what the big reveal would be and put the pieces together of those loose strands throughout the book. I loved that feeling- not realizing there was this build up even happening until that point, and then it really took hold of my interest. However that actual reveal itself was a little disappointing. It feels like it happens extremely quickly, where she reveals her suspicion that she is an AI creation, they quickly seem to just accept that and then Mitty drops her off in a field.

It was a middle of the road experience for me, overall. There were also some editing errors, but I understand this may be pre-debut stuff still being worked out!

Thanks for including me in this release.

I really enjoyed the writing in this book and felt the pace of the book was steady. It kept me guessing as to where everything was going. While overall I enjoyed the book the ending was just a teeny bit lackluster for me

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. Whoever You Are, Honey is darkly strange in a very good way. Mitty, a 20-something lives on the coast with her mother's friend, Bethel. Bethel is somewhere in her mid-70's but she and Mitty live companionably in an older house at the ocean's edge. Sebastian and Lena move into the modern glass McMansion next door and the changes begin. Mitty has a troubled past and was sent to live with Bethel on her mother's directive. Sebastian and Lena are a shiny, spectacular couple - he's big, fit and weathly and she's every man's trophy - beautiful, petite, fit. This book is a somewhat dystopian look at awakenings for Mitty and Lena. This is the perfect story for the A.I. generation that is coming soon. If you are looking for a bizarre but wonderful read Whoever You Are, Honey is the book for you.

I have been pining for this book since the first hint Olivia Gatwood dropped of writing a novel years ago, so yeah you could say MY LIFE IS COMPLETE! What a beautiful transition from poetry to fiction! I love Mitty and Lena and Bethel, and I loved learning about their histories and thoughts and seeing them learn about each other. And wow the ending got me!

3.5 stars. There is no doubt that Gatwood is a talented writer. The writing in this book was both lyrical and contemplative. However, I was expecting more from the plot. I had already figured out exactly where it was going by the 30% mark so I thought that surely something else would happen to develop the story further. But nothing did. So Lena and Mitty’s inner monologues and conversations became a bit too repetitive for me.

Thank you to Random House / The Dial Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think my expectations were too high for this one. The set up was interesting enough but it just dragged and dragged and then I felt ended too abruptly without exploring any of the things I felt it needed to. I also felt like the names Mitty, Lena, and Bethel were too samey and it took a bit for me to stop confusing them. They weren't very distinct as characters early enough in the book. It wasn't bad, I just was expecting to love it and it was kind blah.

I did love the cover so much!

really interesting fic for teh age of ai. felt like one part thriller, one part litfic, one part scifi. it worked amazingly. tyssm for the arc.

I enjoyed this book! I especially loved the writing. I didn't know that Gatwood is a poet, but it doesn't surprise me at all; her command of language is exquisite. It's also interesting in terms of content - it's got mysterious elements, though it's not really a mystery, but it's also not 100% not? (I'm not clear on whether a discovery at the end was meant to come as a surprise to the reader or strike them as inevitable.) At times it reminded me of Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, which was also beautiful and not easy to pin down. Overall, I'd describe it as atmospheric, evocative, and eerie, and at times more of a meditation than a narrative (which I enjoy!). Thanks to Random House / The Dial Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this little strange book! There was just enough mystery to keep me interested that I couldn't put it down. I so badly wanted to learn Mitty's story and I loved Lena's character. Lena seemed so at ease on surface level, and I loved that we got to dive into why she was the way she was, or what her perceived herself to be. Overall, I really enjoyed this book a lot and will recommend to friends!

I think this book is really well written. but it just wasn't for me. Clunky intros always deter me but I trudged ahead. This one stood out because the premise was truly unique.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. Whoever You Are, Honey was pretty interesting and very mysterious. I was 50% in and still had no clue what was going on, which kept me wanting to read to find out what was happening. I felt the pace of the book was good, not too slow. The entire book was building up to something shocking that I was waiting for, but when it was revealed, it wasn’t explored more. I did enjoy the book; however, the end didn’t satisfy me at all. It felt rushed, and I wanted to know more. I was left with so many unanswered questions.

I was not familiar with Gatwood but the title and cover made me want to read this book. I liked the descriptions of the characters and the way the story flowed. It was easy to stay interested because of the plot and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

3 stars

This is a pretty good book. It’s not quite what I was expecting from the description but I still found myself enjoying it for the most part. It is a bit slow though.

I loved this. I was sucked in from the beginning. I love the depictions of loneliness for our character. The setting was so vivid and crisp.