Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the gothic elements of this story (mysterious house and family, haunting secrets) and the setting. The plot really pulled me in and I ended up devouring this book! I would have loved to hear more of the Jamaican lore, but overall this was a great book if you love mysteries.

» I can’t give this enough praise🙌🏻
This story was so unique, warm, and chilling, and heartfelt.
I loved this, I loved the narration, the cultural support, the characters, the twist.

» This unsettling haunting reminded me softly of the movie Skeleton Key.
The similarities of being an inhome worker with a secret; and the mystery of the house and all the unspoken questions, made me get involved in this so much more.

» The audio to this was 🤌🏻✨
The ending😩, this might just be my favorite read yet.

It took me a few chapters to fully get into this book, but I decided to stick with it because of its intriguing focus on Jamaican folklore and the vibrant setting—and I’m so glad I did. This is a story about self-discovery intertwined with uncovering long-buried secrets.

Our main character, Carina, is messy and imperfect, but by the end, she’s incredibly relatable and easy to root for. As a young adult struggling to find herself while navigating the complexities of the adult world, her journey feels authentic and engaging.

I especially enjoyed reading about Carina settling in with the other young staff members and the dynamics of their budding friendships. Her partnership with Aaron as they teamed up to solve the mystery of their resident ghost added a fun and captivating element to the story.

Overall, this is a unique and enjoyable read with a rich cultural backdrop and a compelling mix of mystery and personal growth.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF the audiobook version of Honeysuckle and Bone. While the plot and storyline were compelling and piqued my interest, I couldn't connect with the narrator's style, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story.

That said, I enjoyed the premise enough to plan on picking up a physical copy to give it another try. I’m looking forward to diving back into the world and characters in a format that works better for me!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this book. I’m hopeful it will shine even more in print!

“Honeysuckle and Bone” is Trisha Tobias’ debut YA novel.

Thank you Dreamscape Select and Netgalley for review copy of the audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Carina is a teen girl on the run that is hired as nanny for a rich and prestigious Jamaican family. It’s not long before inexplicable and scary things start to happen and Carina realizes that someone (or something) is after her. The book is full of mystery and has a gothic thriller vibe with a lot of suspense combined with Jamaican folklore about ghosts. I liked the found family side of the book and the Young Birds group.

The audiobook is narrated by Laura Edwards and she managed to switch easily from a character to another with different accents.

The ending was interesting and surprising for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was fantastic! I loved learning about the Jamaican heritage woven into the story—it made the setting so rich and immersive. The audio was a standout, especially with the accents that brought the characters to life.

Carina is a perfectly messy, angsty teenager, which fits the YA vibe so well. The twist was completely unexpected, and the ending tied everything together in such a satisfying and emotional way.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape, for the gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

3.75⭐️

I’m trying to put my thoughts into words but finding it difficult. The description of the book pulled me in easily and I was expecting an “edge of your seat” spooky thriller but I found it a bit “fluffy” However, that’s ok as it was enjoyable! This was definitely a YA book with appropriate with the low spice and teenage behavior.

I listened to the audiobook which the narrator did an ok job as long as you sped it up. At 1x speed it was painfully slow where it would have been impossible to connect with the story.. I’ll admit that listening to that narrator I questioned the choice due to the characteristics of her voice but after some research I found that she was a person of color herself which was a relief as I some of the accents needed made me uncomfortable with how they were recited. Anyway, I had to put it at 1.75x speed rate to make it listenable.

The story itself was interesting. A bit repetitive and predictable but I enjoyed hearing about the Jamaican Lore and the ceremony of it all. I will say that it was a bit far fetched, not the ghost content but a teenager up and leaving the country, presenting to be someone else and all that went with it was completely unbelievable but again entertaining enough.

This book is out now so if you’re looking for something a little different go check it out!

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Dreamscape Select and Sweet July Books through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias is a captivating blend of ghost story, Jamaican culture, and mystery. The narrative weaves together the haunting presence of a ghost with a deep exploration of grief and loss. The journey to uncover the ghost’s identity is both intriguing and emotional, pulling at the heartstrings, especially toward the end. I received an advance audiobook from Zando - Sweet July Books for free, and I’m sharing this review voluntarily. Highly recommend this moving and unique story!

Unfortunately, Honeysuckle and Bone wasn’t the right fit for me, and I ended up DNFing it at 20%. The story failed to grab my attention, feeling slow and uneventful, which made it hard to stay engaged. While I was initially intrigued by the premise, the pacing and lack of compelling development left me uninterested.

Additionally, the audiobook narrator's nasally tone didn’t work for me and made it even more difficult to stay invested in the story. A good narration can elevate even slower-paced books, but in this case, it detracted from the experience.

While this might appeal to readers who enjoy a more subdued or introspective tone, it simply didn’t resonate with me.

This is lovely! Our girl is trying to escape her own drama and ends up in scarier place, albeit beautiful. She's on an estate in Jamaica. Things start getting out of hand.
The narration is perfection! I had so much fun with this one.