A delicious slow burn, a unique ghost story, a bevy of Jamaican heritage and influence. This book is so so so good.

Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias offers a unique telling of a ghost story combined with Jamaican culture and the mystery of the identity of the ghost. It pulled on my heartstrings near the end. Such an interesting story and tale of grief. I received an advance review copy from Zando - Sweet July Books for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A slow burn, but the best kind. The kind that feeds you morsels with every chapter, keeping you hanging on the edge with anticipation for the thing that will finally tip you off as to just what the hell is going on.
Honeysuckle and Bone kept me guessing throughout, with theories circling my head constantly. The internal and external stories married together so perfectly and made for great conflict from the MC.
Just loved every moment of it!

This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. I really really enjoyed it; I found it to be something different from other novels I've read of the same genre. Honeysuckle and Bone sets itself apart from those because it mixes in some humour and also makes use of Patois in the banter between the characters - I've never seen this before in a novel.

Carina is a young girl with a big secret who becomes the au pair for a wealthy family in Jamaica. She comes to the island to work on the family's estate over the summer but quickly realizes that there is something haunting the place. With the help of Aaron, the gardener, she sets out to reveal what - or who - is haunting Blackbead before she messes up and is found out by her employers, Mr. and Mrs. Hall.

Truthfully the writing drew me in from the very beginning; it was fast paced but not too fast that the plot is lost. The character develop and scene-setting helped me really immerse myself into their world. 4 stars from me and I will definitely recommend this to all my horror/mystery/thriller loving pals!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the advanced reader copy of this book!!

Have you asked your library to order this one yet? 👀

HONEYSUCKLE AND BONE comes out next week and is the perfect YA for a reader who wants:

🐂 a book set in Jamaica
🐂 during a summer au pair gig for an ultra rich family
🐂 in a creepy gothic mansion where scary things happen
🐂 with: secrets! twists! dark truths!

I really enjoyed myself with this one & hope Trisha's debut finds all the right readers. I'd recommend it to fans of It Waits In the Forest, And Don't Look Back, Something Kindred, They Thought They Buried Us & The Girl You Know ❤️✨.

Thanks to Netgalley and Zando for the ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. It is about a young Jamaican American woman who takes her friend's place as an au pair in Jamaica for the summer for a prominent politician's family. She soon becomes haunted by duppies (Jamaican ghosts) in the family's mansion. She is never sure about what she is experiencing because she keeps confusing it with the guilt and shame she feels from her behavior towards her friend while in high school. Over time, she realizes the duppy is trying to talk to her, and the book really starts to get going when the protagonist tries to interpret the clues the ghost is giving her. The description of modern-day Jamaica and the splits between the politician's family (the ruling class) and their servants provide the context for what is happening, and parallels to Jamaica's history are interesting. The characters and the beauty of the island itself are believable and well-drawn. Highly recommend.

This is an interesting read. It’s a new type of story that I have never read.

I definitely figured out who was like “the main bad guy”, but not until right at the end. No spoilers, but this story is more than just a paranormal story, it truly is about love, loss, and coming of age.

Hey, hey, my favorites 😁💚. #annieethebookiee is back with another book review!

📚 Book: Honeysuckle and Bone
🗓️ Release Date: January 14,2025
⭐ Rating: 4/5

This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I have to say, I was impressed! The book starts off slow, but don’t let that fool you — the suspense builds steadily, keeping you on edge and guessing the whole time.

I loved Carina’s bravery. She’s one of those characters who stays with you because of her determination to push through even when everything around her is falling apart. And her relationship with Aaron? Absolutely beautiful. It felt real, raw, and authentic. Their bond added a much-needed softness to the otherwise dark and mysterious story.

The best part? Everyone had secrets — and uncovering them made this book worth the read. Every twist revealed a new layer of the characters’ lives, making it impossible to put down. If you’re into slow-burn mysteries with plenty of surprises, Honeysuckle and Bone is a must-read!

Until next time, happy reading!
💚 Anniee Bee

I picked this book up immediately after downloading it on my kindle because I was so freaking excited and I just knew that it was something I was going to love. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me. There was something about the writing that kept pulling me out of the story. I do think this will be a widely loved book, it just didn’t work for me.

The cover is absolutely beautiful. This is an amazing debut. It’s atmospheric and beautifully written.
The first few chapters felt a bit repetitive but once you get in, it’s evens out and is so engaging I could not put it down

Thank you Netgalley and Zando for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Trisha Tobias’ “Honeysuckle and Bone” is an enthralling debut that creates a gothic atmosphere and focuses on Jamaican folklore into order to create a gripping story about redemption and the ghosts—both literal and metaphorical—that haunt us. You will find much to love in this suspenseful and character-driven story, especially if you enjoy unique folklore.

Carina, reeling from a personal tragedy, flees to Jamaica to start fresh as an au pair for a wealthy, influential family. At first, her new job and the vibrant, unfamiliar culture seem like a perfect escape. However, the house where she now lives holds dark secrets, and so does Carina herself. As supernatural occurrences grow more intense, Carina joins forces with Aaron, a fellow staff member, to uncover the house’s haunted past. But the deeper they dig, the closer Carina comes to confronting truths she’s long buried—truths that could either free or destroy her.

One of the standout features of this book is its setting. The lush, hot, and vibrant Jamaican backdrop feels alive, bringing an added richness to the story. The incorporation of Jamaican folklore, particularly the duppy (a malevolent spirit), adds a unique and chilling layer to the narrative. I don’t think I’ve read a YA book that focused on Jamaican folklore before, and I absolutely loved learning more about the culture. It’s a refreshing departure from more conventional ghost stories, adding depth and originality to the genre. Tobias also paints the house itself as a character, filled with secrets and a menacing, almost sentient presence that keeps readers on edge.

Carina’s characterization is messy and raw, which makes her relatable, if not always likable. As an 18-year-old grappling with adulthood, her flaws and questionable decisions feel authentic to her age and circumstances. This complexity adds depth to her character arc as she struggles to reconcile her past actions with her desire to move forward. Carina’s flawed nature, while intentional, might not resonate with everyone, especially with some of her actions, particularly those that hurt others. However, for those who appreciate imperfect protagonists, her growth by the end of the story will feel rewarding.

The supporting cast is equally compelling, with standouts like Ora, Simone, and Josh adding warmth and vibrancy to the story. The “found family” dynamic among the staff is heartwarming and provides a contrast to the eerie atmosphere. The gradual unraveling of the house’s mysteries, paired with the interplay between Carina and Aaron, delivers a steady tension that keeps you hooked.

I did find the pacing to be a bit uneven at times, especially with a stilted start. However, the story picks up and delivers on its eerie premise though the final twist feels overly reliant on coincidences, requiring a level of suspended disbelief.

Overall, “Honeysuckle and Bone” is a story about self-discovery and redemption. Carina’s journey mirrors the house’s own haunted history, as both must confront buried truths to move forward. This gothic thriller will appeal to readers looking for a ghost story that’s more suspenseful than terrifying, with layered characters and an evocative sense of place. Trisha Tobias establishes herself as a bold new voice in YA fiction, and fans of atmospheric, culturally rich stories will eagerly anticipate what she writes next.

i received an eARC from netgalley and am giving my honest review!

i’ll be honest, i wasn’t the biggest fan of this book. the plot was pretty good, but as i continued to read, i just disliked carina more and more. her actions just kept getting more and more unforgivable, and while at first she showed remorse, she ended the book almost seeming happy for what she’d done? it was pretty infuriating seeing her continuously hurt the people around her and somehow get apologized to? i loved ora however and simone and josh, they were definitely the highlights of the book to me. i also quite enjoyed dante as well. but carina just really bothered me the entire time, and it only got worse and worse. the plot was good, a bit too much packed into one book. too many plot lines going on at once, but still enjoyable nonetheless

This was wonderful. Especially for a debut? Amazing. I really, really loved this one.

Some small parts of the first few chapters felt a bit repetitive, just with her internal monologue, but once things really got rolling, that was not an issue anymore. The cast was amazing, the young birds were SUCH a fun group. The setting was written so well, the author really nailed that. An ending I didn't see coming, it kept me guessing the entire time. Really fun with some good scares.

Trisha will definitely be an author I watch for.

The writing at the start felt a little stilted and awkward the first few couple chapters, but it hits its stride at a certain point. All around beautiful story with some really great scares. The cast was SO fun!! I loved the young birds.

Carina herself was messy and less than perfect but I think that's why she resonated for me in the end.

The Jamaican folklore and setting was so vibrant, hot and beautiful. Made me want a mango real bad.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for the copy!

I really enjoyed this book!

Honeysuckle and Bone is a YA supernatural mystery about a teen girl who goes to Jamaica to work for this wealthy couple as a nanny for their two young children. Once she settles in, she starts experiencing eerie supernatural events.

This was a well written debut novel. I really enjoyed the story, especially the mystery and the supernatural elements. I really liked the setting in Jamaica. The atmosphere was creepy and chilling. I thought the main character was very interesting and I liked reading from her perspective.

This was a pretty quick read, and I felt the pacing was perfect. There was a little bit of teen drama that I wasn’t a fan of, but this is a young adult book, so that’s to be expected. I loved the ending.

I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of YA paranormal mysteries. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC of this book via NetGalley for review.

A gothic horror that is more geared towards young adults. It was so amazing! If I could give this more than a five star I would! HIGHLY recommend for YA!

60/100 or 3.0 stars

The synopsis of this story gathered my interest enough to request the book. I have not get read from the author either, so I was excited when I was able to get approved for this one. The problem was as I was reading this story, my interest with it and the characters dwindled quickly. I always want to be honest with my reviews, which is why I don't pretend to like something that I am not vibing with. I was able to make it to 16% before putting this down. The writing style was fine, so I might try to pick something else up by the author in the future and give them a second chance...perhaps this book just wasn't working to get my interest.
I can see how other people would be interested in the story, so I might try to find a physical copy for this once it is released and put it in my library at work.

This book was incredible. I saw it on Goodreads as a "you may like this" option, and I was so excited to see it was approved on Netgalley.

It's atmospheric, beautifully written, and sucks you in. I truly forgot I was reading and loved how well each of the characters were developed. I think upon a second read, it'll be interesting to go through the beginning and middle of the story with knowledge of the ending, so I'm excited to see what I missed before.

Highly suggest you pick this up if you're looking for a gothic, almost Haunted Mansion-ish type of story!

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.