I'd hit request for this book without realising that it was a follow on to Paper Aeroplanes and Goose, it was such a delight to know that I was jumping into the world of Renee and Flo once more. Disclaimer, you don't need to have read Paper Aeroplanes or Goose to enjoy this read, Honeybee reads just fine as a standalone book.
It was incredibly easy to get wrapped up in the girls' friendship once more. The book tackled some interesting subjects, however I felt the discussion on menopause was a throwaway addition to the plot. All in all a fun read but not as good as some of Dawn's other books - So Lucky and The Cows are standouts.
3.5 stars.

A quick easy read. Two friends who have grown up together in Guernsey. Both have lost a parent and both are trying to fight inner demons.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I have to say, it was a struggle to finish. The author attempts to use humor to address serious topics like alcoholism, infidelity, 9/11, and menopause, but it often feels tone-deaf and uncomfortable.

The portrayal of the main characters, Renee and Flo, was particularly frustrating. Both repeatedly claim they want to live “adult” lives, but their actions are far from mature. Renee, a 22-year-old, begins an affair with her married, 32-year-old boss, Ben. The book paints Ben as the perfect man, describing him as desirable and talented, with all the women at his workplace coveting him. Predictably, Renee, who starts a temporary job at Flo’s workplace, becomes his choice. Despite being described as a “perfect” partner, Ben’s behavior is equally problematic—he sleeps with his receptionist while married and unrealistically idealizes Renee. He praises her as a talented writer despite her having no writing experience and is impressed by a trivial cheese slogan she comes up with in a meeting, calling it “brilliant.” This idealization of Renee seems more about her being a younger version of his equally blonde wife rather than any genuine recognition of her abilities.

Renee’s romanticization of the affair with Ben as “true love,” despite their minimal connection and his clear infidelity, highlights her emotional immaturity. Her inconsistent behavior is evident as she reacts with disgust towards a 33-year-old ex while finding her 32-year-old boss acceptable. Additionally, Renee’s attempts to justify her promiscuity by claiming that if there’s no intercourse, it isn’t “sex,” come across as shallow and misguided.

Flo is depicted as an alcoholic who frequently drinks to the point of blacking out. The book’s constant references to drinking—whether it’s grabbing drinks, going out for shots, or partying excessively—reinforce a tired stereotype about 22-year-olds. While Flo’s alcoholism is addressed with some seriousness, the lack of exploration into its causes leaves her character feeling incomplete.

The book also addresses menopause, which is a commendable topic to include, but it is handled poorly. Renee’s discussions with her Auntie Jo about menopause often feel exaggerated, making Auntie Jo seem somewhat unhinged. More troubling is Renee’s lack of basic understanding of menopause. At 22, it is unrealistic and surprising that she would be so uninformed about such a fundamental aspect of women’s health, diminishing her character’s credibility and relatability.

Additionally, the book suffers from poor editing, with numerous typos and a general sense of being unfinished. The contrast between the characters’ claims of wanting to be adults and their juvenile behavior is exhausting. Whether this was intentional or not, it only served to make the characters seem immature and unrelatable.

In the end, the humor in this book did not work for me, and its handling of important topics felt careless. If you’re seeking a thoughtful and nuanced exploration of complex issues, this book is likely to disappoint.

Paper Aeroplanes 3 - Honeybee follows Renee and Flo at the age of 22.
A great summer read from Dawn O' Porter, a five-star because the book made me go through so many emotions, shocking moments, that make you laugh out loud, sweet moments, moments that make you tear up - fantastic balance.
I love Renee and Aunty Jo and Lillian AKA Mrs Mangel (from Neighbours), excellent role models for any young girl, It was lovely to see Aunty Jo and Lillian share their stories with Renee at their different stages in life.
Another masterpiece from Dawn O'Porter, this book will be going in my favourite reads this year.
I thought this book could have been read without having read Paper Aeroplanes and Goose.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction for the ARC in return for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

Dawn O’Porter’s writing never fails to draw me in. Her writing explores the characters and plot in equal amounts and she does it so well.

I was so invested in these characters because they both just felt so real and normal. They seemed like young women trying to figure out who they are whilst making such messy mistakes that they managed to learn from and that’s the epitome of your early 20s. To do all the things, eveyrbinf that you’ll laugh and reminisce on in years to come.

I felt a sense of nostalgia whilst reading on thinking about being 30 and looking back on my early 20s and how I’ve evolved since.

A solid read, definitely one I’ll recommend

Having read and greatly enjoyed Dawn O'Porter's novel The Cat Lady, I was thrilled to be pre-selected by the publisher to read her latest book Honeybee. It's another triumph! I was sucked straight into the story from the very first page. The characters are zany and overly dramatic, bordering on histrionic, which is hilarious at times. The novel reads like a soap opera, so if you like that dramatic tone of register, then you will probably enjoy this book. There are ups and downs, bickering and an old grudge simmering beneath the surface, but these two best friends are locked into a relationship that is at times toxic, at other times heart-warming. I really enjoyed reading it and I will be looking out for more of Dawn O'Porter's work in the future. Her work is great for when you just want a light-hearted read, with a few laughs along the way. Perfect for festive holidays and beach days.

It’s my first Dawn O’Porter book so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I enjoyed it, took a bit to get into it but I’d definitely recommend.

It’s about the highs and lows of your twenties and finding you way in life. Heartbreaking at times and so so joyful in others. You’ll recognise those years and smile wistfully, cringe in embarrassment and laugh at those moments that only happen in your twenties, good or bad- give it a read!

Not for me, two 22 year olds navigating jobs, friendship and memories. I am not the target audience which is a shame.

Following Paper aeroplanes and Goose, this book is Flo and Renée’s story as they leap into adulthood. At 22 years old they both find themselves back on Guernsey at a turning point in their lives. They have much to learn and overcome and it’s helped along by their friendship.

This book is different to the first books as we’ve moved on from the teen angst and into all that comes with growing up and finding yourself and who you are. It was a great read that still held nostalgic moments, one particular point something happened that really took me by surprise and had me shed a tear with the memory of it. A brilliant book that as with the first two I’ve read super quickly and in future I would love to see where Flo and Renée end up in the years that follow.

Two best friends whose relationship faltered reconnect on the island where they grew up, and they both realise they need one another more than they care to admit.
Flo and Renee meet in Guernsey at an unexpected funeral and move in together amidst awkwardness. They wrestle through an argument that caused their strong friendship to break a few years ago.
Renee dreams of leaving her childhood home and becoming a writer in London.
Flo is escaping London with a secret that she battles to hide.
Then, they both end up working at the same marketing company and living together, which puts additional strains on their friendship and gives them an opportunity to be there for one another once again.
It's funny but tragic, too, at times—the kind of humour you expect from a Dawn O'Porter book.
I enjoyed reading this, an easy summer read filled with more serious topics and humour.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC.

Renèe and Flo become best friends at school when they share a mutual grief after Renee's Mother dies and Flo loses her Father.. They however drift apart during College years
Coming back together when they both return to their beloved Guernsey at 22.
They both have huge personal issues which strains their friendship almost to breaking point. Can they overcome these problems and finally become adults?
A lovely interesting book from start to finish set in the beauty and peace of Guernsey.

At times fun but also peppered with angst. Set on the island of Guernsey in 2001 featuring best friends Flo and Renee who have both returned to their childhood homes. I must admit I didn't totally take to either of the main characters who had quite complex issues between them whilst supposedly trying hard to be more mature and adult. However, absolute gold in Auntie Jo, struggling with the menopause and Lillian a feisty woman in her 80s who lives in the ground floor flat below the two girls. A lot of extreme immature behaviour with drinking and lack of awareness of others with the girls but liberal amounts of humour throughout plus some totally cringe worthy moments. The story is told alternately between the voices of Flo and Renee.

Honeybee is one of those kinds of books that perfectly encapsulates the struggles of being a woman in her 20’s. O’Porter stole my heart with Cat Lady and has once again, stolen it with this fantastic, relatable read.

Womanhood is hard enough, but finding your place in the world as a young 22 year old living on the tiny island of Guernsey is not easy. Renée and Flo’s struggle in adapting to adult life whilst simultaneously dealing with grief and the pressures of the world of work are written in a way that will have you both laughing and crying.

The age old question of “am I supposed to have my life together by now?” or “should I just continue to live my best life?” seems like the main premise of the story but of course, O’Porter dives deeper into the chaos and difficulties of the main characters lives, having you relating and empathising throughout.

Love, work, adulthood, friendships. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Flo and Renée navigate rekindling their years-long friendship whilst attempting to handle the bumps in the road. But can they stick together and be honest with each other to help weather the storm?

This was a 5 star read for me, without a doubt. It had me crying, laughing out loud and gasping in shock at the plot twist thrown in. It also had me wanting to hold my loved ones that little bit tighter and tell my friends I loved them. I didn’t expect a book to put me through the emotions that it did. So round of applause Dawn, you created yet another masterpiece!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in return for an honest review!

As a fan of all Dawn's previous books, I was excited to read this book and I was not disappointing. The highs and lows of your twenty and finding you way in life. Heartbreaking at times and so so joyful in others. Would recommend.

I adored this book. I loved the complex, messy characters and the ups and downs of their life. I thought it showed how you can sometimes miss what’s right in front of you when you’re having fun with flow’s drinking, even though it was so obvious to the reader. It’s a brilliant coming of age story. The only negative for me what that I don’t think the ending with flo getting help for her drinking was very realistic. It was very sudden, she just stopped of her own accord as if it was the easiest thing.

Well done Dawn, a humorous book that had me laughing out loud! Loved Flo and Renee and the way their friendship spanned over many years! With lots of good and bad times! Definitely a holiday read!

**advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
This is actually the third of the “paper aeroplanes” series, although for some reason it’s not being marketed like that (at least on Amazon). I’ve read and loved the previous two books and was a little disappointed that a third one wasn’t in the works - thankfully after picking this up I realised what it was.
That said, you probably could read this as a stand alone novel as there’s enough backstory provided (without overwhelming the current narrative) to understand motives and plot.
I really enjoyed this - the two girls are, over the course of the books, growing up and sometimes it’s heartwarming and sometimes it’s cringe and sometimes it’s concerning. These books should appeal to any women who remember those awkward teen and young adult years, where you’re trying to figure out the world and where you fit into it. There’s something really truthful and honest - sometimes brutally honest - about womanhood, growing up and how difficult it all can be.
O’Porter really gets to the heart of these characters and they feel very real.

Thank you to the publisher for this one! I have loved all the books I've read by Dawn O'Porter so as soon as i saw this one on Netgalley I knew i needed to read it! This book was amazing, I loved Flo and Renee so much! They both faced different challenges in their lives and i loved reading them face them all. Reminds me not to be down that my life isn't altogether yet. A great book!!

Two old friends find themselves back on the island of Guernsey, not only living together but also working together.

Both in their early twenties, the girls are already navigating what life is like as a 'grown up' and making mistakes along the way. At times I found this uncomfortable reading, neither girl has got their life together and do make mistakes along the way. But then I remember that I was in my twenties once and started to find this very relatable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book in a very long time that I stayed up to read.

HONEYBEE follows the stories of Renée and Flo as they investigate their own identities when they both end up back in their hometown (or rather, home island) of Guernsey. Each with their own demons to battle and mistakes to make, one of the things I loved most was their friendship and, honestly, all the female friendships in this book were top tier.

But, make no mistake, this is not a fairytale story. Dawn O' Porter tackles bad parent-child relationships, grief, menopause, marriage, alcoholism, and the after-effects of real-world traumatic events - oh, and what to do when you cut your own fanny when experimenting with a bit of pube-topiary. (Hoping that doesn't get this review flagged).

Filled with heart, laughs and more than a couple wince-inducing moments, this is a book for anyone in their 20s who has no idea who they want to be or feels like they should have it all figured out by now. Dawn O' Porter simply does not miss.