For fans of haunted houses, ghosts, and the supernatural Honeysuckle and Bone is for you! It has a Gothic feeling to it and is immersed in secrets. I couldn’t put this one down! Keep reading this book review of Honeysuckle and Bone for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Honeysuckle and Bone immediately begins by serving Gothic Haunted House vibes. We have the au pair situation, a house which is steeped in secrets, and a main character who has a few skeletons in her closet. This horror book has a hint of unreliability as the mystery of Carina’s past is slowly unfurled. Can we really trust anyone Carina meets and even Carina herself? Because anyone who wants a fresh start is always running from something.
And for Carina is her unreliability hiding the fact that she’s hiding her own guilt from herself? Is what she’s hiding too scary, too ugly, too dangerous to meet the light? I loved the atmosphere of Honeysuckle and Bone with the air of suspense meets the supernatural. Tobias manipulates our feelings as we are thrown into this world and this complex family all at once. There’s something dangerous simmering beneath the surface. There’s an atmosphere of complicity. We can get caught between people, the difficult dance of the interpersonal, of friendships, of people we can’t say no to.
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With the shadows of guilt dancing on the wall, how do we move one? Do we even deserve to? Honeysuckle and Bone examines the pains of love, the line between loving someone, being envious of them, and becoming them. Find Honeysuckle and Bone on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.