Tobias’ take on the gothic genre, while familiar, introduces readers to a plucky heroine and a layered conflict as she battles the ghosts of her past. The setting is lush and appealing, and I appreciated the complex, flawed protagonist.

Thankyou to Zando Projects and NetGalley for an ARC of Honeysuckle and Bone.

Honeysuckle and Bone is a spellbinding gothic slow burn with captivating writing right from the first page and a haunting atmosphere.

I would love to read more from this author, 5*, would absolutely recommend.

Such a spooky and atmospheric book! The writing is evocative and immersed me in the vivid world of Honeysuckle and Bone immediately. The tension is a slow burn that builds up progressively to the big climax at the end, and the twists along the way kept me surprised and interested. I thought the pacing and length of the book worked perfectly; it's pretty rare for a book to keep me on the edge of my seat all along without moments of boredom or feeling overwhelmed by too many twists and revelations. I appreciated the diverse cast of characters with a bit of a found family trope and was impressed by Carina's development throughout the book. It was great to read a non Western centric novel in this genre and of such quality and I will be recommending it to students.

"On the run from her own dark secrets, a teen girl becomes the nanny for a prestigious family on their Jamaican estate, where she quickly discovers even paradise may be haunted.

Carina Marshall is looking to reinvent herself, and what better place to do it than Jamaica, her mother's alluring homeland where she conveniently has access to an au pair gig for the wealthy and powerful Hall family. After months of being the target of vicious rumors and hate online, Carina might have found everything she wants at the luxurious Blackbead House: a world of mango trees, tropical breezes, and glamorous parties - and a place to disappear.

Once there, Carina finds herself settling right into her busy, but comfortable, new life. Yes, the family runs a tight ship, and yes, there is some tension between the Halls, but Carina is content flying under the radar and hanging out with her new friends - not least, the handsome and charming Aaron. But when inexplicable things start happening to her in the house, only getting worse each night, Carina realizes that someone, or something, is out to get her. Is it the Halls? The house itself? Or is her own past catching up with her? With Aaron's help, she must figure out what is haunting her, and fast, before she's forced out of Blackbead House for good.

Honeysuckle and Bone is a deliciously atmospheric and utterly spooky young adult novel following an imperfect yet courageous teen as she seeks to remake herself in the homeland she always idealized, discovering that new beginnings don't always come easy."

A Wide Sargasso Sea vibe that's even more Gothic.

Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias is a captivating and beautifully written novel that blends lush, evocative prose with a hauntingly atmospheric plot. Tobias crafts a world full of mystery, emotion, and rich, complex characters, drawing readers deep into the heart of the story. The intricate layers of tension and intrigue unfold effortlessly, with every twist adding depth and meaning to the narrative. The pacing is nearly perfect, though a few moments of reflection could have been more fully explored. Overall, it's a spellbinding, unforgettable read that showcases Tobias' exceptional talent. A must-read for fans of lyrical, character-driven fiction.

This is my own fault as I didn't realize this book was a YA book. I was wanting more of an intense, fast-burn and this is a slow burn gothic horror. I was not able to connect with the writing style and couldn't get fully engrossed in the book unfortunate.y. This might be due to the ebook format? The cover is so gorgeous and the premise is lovely, but I think I personally as a reader am wanting a book that is not YA and did not realize this was a YA book - my fault!

Thanks so much to Zando Projects and NetGalley for an ARC of Honeysuckle and Bone in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book! The writing was exceptional, and the story was filled with numerous twists and turns. Although I initially expected it to be scarier than it was, I still enjoyed the drama and the diverse cast of characters throughout the narrative. I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering reading this one.

the tension builds up slowly, slowly, slowly, until the very dramatic climaxes. the protag had a cool character, the ghost story aprt was definitely interesting, and in general i really liked this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

This YA ghost story is a nice read. It would benefit from a little more editing in regards to the flow of the book but it's still an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyable YA ghost story. I was hooked from the very beginning of this book and can’t wait to read more by this author!

I tried starting this book a few times and just have no interest in it whatsoever. Every time I pick it up, I put it right back down.

This book is perfect for YA audiences, with a character-driven storyline and plenty of mystery and excitement! Initially, I felt it was a slow burn to read and I wondered when the “horror” or “ghost story” aspects would show themselves, but then boom, they showed up and the tension change in tone was fantastic and hooked me back in! Overall, the characters are well-developed and likeable, the added text messages are genius, and Trisha Tobias should be so proud of her debut novel. I know Gen Z are going to love the thrill, mystery and characters in this one!

I absolutely loved that this book is a Jamaican ghost story! I thought that was unique and very interesting. I thought this book was really good. The main character is running from her past and takes a job as a nanny. She soon finds out that not everything is as good as it seems.

Solid 4. Readers who love exotic settings , ghost stories, and unexpected plot twists need this book! A lot of high school students will love this one. The setting is a welcome escape from most people’s lives. Even though I found Carina annoying at first, her character development is a well done arc. In fact, this book could be a model of strong narrative. The supporting characters are great foils for Carina, and each has a story and life of their own. The unexpected plot twist is a bit unbelievable, but definitely one teen readers will love. I totally enjoyed all the cultural references of Jamaica throughout. We definitely need more nonEuropean cultures in our classroom books! This one is definitely going to be purchased for my students to enjoy!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Alrighty, so on my never ending scrolls for something to read, I spotted a cover that caught my eye on Netgalley. Honeysuckle and bone? Well the title fit my usual interests. Then I read that it was a ghost story, and a Jamaican ghost story! My interest was peaked now, because I’d never read a book set in Jamaica and I wanted to know more!

The tension builds slowly in this book, until it’s almost unbearable. We know the MC, Carina, is hiding things, but exactly what remains a secret until right towards the end. Everyone else in the family seems almost haunted as well, regardless of whether the duppy interacts with them. Finally all that is buried must finally be uncovered, and I’ve got to say I loved the journey there!

I loved the ghost story, and I also loved that Carina is still essentially an 18 year old girl not quite ready for the adult world. She reads young, but I think that works really well for the story. There is a found family aspect I really liked too. The snippets of Jamaican culture Carina discovers was great too, because she was discovering it as the same time as myself.

If you’re looking for a mystery with a bit of chill, and not exactly like other YA horror, then look forward to this book being released! Five stars.

Love this story. It is perfect for halloween. Reading this ghost story will remind you of Haunting of Hill house mixed with the Headmaster. Is she dreaming or is she hallucinating?

Honeysuckle and Bone hooked me right in the first pages. I loved that the book was set in Jamaica and the author talked about cultural aspects, like the duppy. I love a ghost story and this was perfect. I also appreciated the message for younger reader, about mistakes, forgiveness, really enjoyed it.

wow this book was so good. it has everything in this book we follow carina,who is running from her past and end up taking a nanny job in jamacia .really enjoyable story

What a GORGEOUS cover! I loved the way this book looked from the beginning. The story it contained was the icing on top! I highly recommend this book!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.