This is a follow on in the relationship of Renee and Flo into their early 20s, I don’t think reading the previous books are strictly necessary. I love reading Dawn O’Porter’s books like Cat Lady and Cows but I feel that Goose (previous Renee and Flo book) was more for teenagers. Unfortunately I felt the same whilst reading this book. It was a good enough read but I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend.

I went into this book expecting a typical Dawn O’Porter heartwarming, funny, relatable easy read. To some extent I got that but ultimately felt a bit underwhelmed.

The book follows Renee and Flo, two friends in their early twenties who find themselves back on their home island of guernsey and move in together. The marketing doesn’t make it clear that this is actually a follow-up to two of Dawn’s previous YA books, which I haven’t read, so I found myself a bit confused. Which bits of plot were from before? Was I missing something?

Some plot points also felt a bit underdeveloped. Flo struggles with her mental health and describes feeling ‘the rat’ inside her…but we never get the context for the metaphor and I found myself getting annoyed with it. It also felt that perhaps too many plot points were being shoehorned in. We got 9/11, infidelity, addiction, grief, menopause, fraught family dynamics and loneliness. I think I would’ve preferred to have less but better developed.

It was overall a decent quick read, and I think fans of Paper Aeroplanes will love getting to meet Renee and Flo again, but as an outsider, I didn’t feel it was Dawn’s best.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this in advance.

I love everything that Dawn O'Porter writes. She has a marvellous way of creating characters that although not perfect draw you in. Whenever I put this book down (not often) I had the feeling that I'd just finished talking with really good friends. The book is also set beautifully on the island is Guernsey, you can see the author's connection with the island shining out from the page.
Please write more, if you write it I will read it!

This is raw and honest and feels intimate, this is a deep look into the warts and all of Flo and Renee. The book is a few photos of their time together as flat and work mates and how they deal with life. Both women are scared and working out what life actually is and how to live it whilst being true to themselves. They make idiots of themselves and hurt each other however somehow, with much laughter and care, seem to grow and keep taking steps forward, Flo and Renee are stripped bare and give their all in this book and it makes it quite beautiful somehow

I love the way Dawn O'Porter writes about women, and in this book she has 2 wonderful female characters to explore -Renee and Flo. We see their friendship from the beginning at school and we meet up again with them when they're in their 20's and life isn't turning out as they'd expected or hoped for! There's so much to empathise with and their experiences and encounters really strike a chord!

When they both end up back in Guernsey, they find themselves facing very different challenges but seem to seek comfort from the safety of the past and the place they know so well. they meet up again at the funeral of a schoolfriend and seem to fall straight into the orbit of one another again, despite being very different characters and having had lost contact for a few years.

There's a line in the book 'grown ups, we ruin everything don't we? and it really hit home!! Losing track of the simple pleasures in life and letting overthinking and conforming take over and you see it with these 2 women as they face up to where they are in life and trying to decide what they really want from life!

You get to see the friendship tested when they're in such close contact and that's something that many of us can connect with! Scraping beneath the surface of the confidence, there's some trauma there that maybe hasn't been faced and I really enjoyed the changing POV's so you'd see life from 2 very different angles.

Relationships of both the romantic and friendship kind are explored, as well as female issues and there's many moments that had me laughing out loud, and I also enjoyed the roles that fringe female characters played - mainly Lillian and Aunty Jo - as they added different dimensions to the storyline. Another great story from the author!

A beautifully crafted, feel-good story that takes readers on an emotional journey back to the picturesque island of Guernsey. We follow two childhood friends, Renee and Flo, who find themselves returning to their hometown in their early twenties, disillusioned by the paths their lives have taken. Neither living the glamorous life they once envisioned—Renee is far from the high-flying socialite and award-winning author and Flo is struggling with the harsh reality that her dream career is far from realised.

As they navigate the challenges of returning home, old wounds resurface, and are forced to confront the disappointments and unresolved issues they've long buried. Despite their friendship not being as strong as it once was, the deep, unspoken bond between them still holds firm. Through laughter and tears, they discover that true friendship means being there for each other, even when life doesn't turn out as planned.

I found myself laughing out loud at Renee's romantic misadventures and deeply moved by Flo's ongoing grief over the loss of her father and her strained relationship with her mother.

Honeybee is a lovely read that beautifully illustrates the enduring power of friendship and how it can help us through the toughest times. Highly recommended for anyone in need of a heartwarming and uplifting story.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I hadn't actually realised that Honeybee was somewhat part of a series but the author did a good job of catching you up if it was your first time meeting the characters. Unfortunately the book did feel quite YA to me which I hadn't anticipated and I struggled to not get frustrated with the characters (especially Renee) and their struggles. Both of the main characters felt a lot younger than their 22 years and I found myself eye-rolling a lot at their immaturity.

The book does cover some big topics which is commendable but I didn't feel they were covered as in depth or as strongly as they could have been, especially when laced with humour which all just felt a bit odd. I also found the Renee/Ben storyline really bizarre and unbelievable. It just seems to come from nowhere and had no real substance.

I've read Dawn's books previously and loved a couple of them but sadly this just wasn't the same experience.

This is a hilarious romp from childhood to adult for Renee and Flo as they attempt to transition from quiet island life to the buzz of London. In between overindulgence and one night standards the more serious issues of bereavement, menopause and alcoholism are woven into the story. Some brilliant characterisation and fast pace make this an interesting read.

I have read some of Dawn O' Porter's previous work and enjoyed it so I was pleased to be accepted for this ARC on netgalley.

This book resists Flo and Renee from Paper Airplanes as they embark on adulthood in the early 00s. They reunite after a rift at the funeral of their arch nemesis from school.

Both characters are lost and experiencing their own demons. The book touches on delicate themes such as death of a parent, grief, fractious relationships, infertility and alcoholism and these are addressed well. There are some comical moments but I would say it isn't for the faint of heart.

I had not read Dawn's previous novels about the characters so I'm not sure if reading them beforehand would have helped me relate to the characters more. I was a similar age to Flo and Renee in the time the novel was set but I struggled to relate to them or find their voices authentic. There were lots of themes crammed into this novel but they werent explored as much as I would have liked. Aunt Jo is struggling with the menopause and her relationship with her husband, other than hot flushes and being teary we don't learn anymore about her experience, its all made better by Renée telling her aunt to talk to her husband. Flo is dealing with a drink problem and although the novel alternates between her voice and Renée's there isn't much depth. I didn't feel I got to know the pair of friends very well at all. A quick read that really celebrates Guernsey and its beauty and community.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Dawn O’Porter the author for this ARC. I have always loved Dawn’s writing style and this book did not disappoint. Funny, witty, a bit naughty and sad all at once, I enjoyed following the next chapter in the life of Flo and Renee. I lived Aunty Jo and the story of menopause as well as the complicated life stuff that the girls were going through. Lillian was a gem! So many aspects of this book that I enjoyed. Thank you for a great read

A buzzy new novel from Dawn o’Porter following the trials and tribulations of Renee and Flo. This time we join them at 22, moving back to Guernsey at coincidentally the exact same time as each other.

They’ve been apart for a while but rekindle their long time friendship at Sally’s funeral. I loved Paper Aeroplanes but wasn’t drawn into Goose as much so I was really excited to get stuck into Honeybee. All changed in this book though and I loved their story, their ups and downs at Magic Marketing, loves and losses, friendship and fights. All is not always well between Flo and Renee, Flo has some pretty hefty demons surrounding alcohol, sex, her mum and the death of her dad. Renee is looking for something, but I think even she doesn’t always know what.

It’s a fab book, full of strong female characters. They’re a total side note but I loved Georgina and Chloe.

Such an easy summer read, but some powerful messages at times and an enjoyable viewpoint from the two girls.

Wow , I have never laughed so much from book before, The Honeybee is awesome and you will laugh out loud from reading this, I did. I read both books about Flo and Renee and was so happy to read this. Flo and Renee are brilliant and I must admit Renee is my favourite. Just because she makes me giggle and seems like a lovely person. The story is about them being 22 years old and coming back to Guernsey . You follow them trying to be adults and dealing with their own problems and trying to become close friends again. Dawn Porter is excellent writer and I was hooked. And I read the book in 5 hours because it was so addictive and funny and sad in places I could not put it down . I was sad when it ending because they brilliant characters and they feel like friends. Fabulous and laugh loud book that I strongly recommend 5 stars.

I read this in one day travelling! I am so glad I did and didn’t have to wait for the ending.

I have preferred other books by this author, however this was lovely and included lots of different topics, love, menopause, infidelity, friendship

I loved being in Guernsey too, now I really want to go

Initially tricky to follow which character is which (but this could be partly down to formatting issues with the review copy) but I was quickly hooked into the story and couldn't put it down. The two girls' dilemmas and demons buzzing around my head like the honeybee of the title.

A coming of age story set between Guernsey and London, a love letter to the beauty of island life, a deep dive into the experience of alcoholism in youth - this book has many themes and threads.

Dawn O'Porter has always been a comfort author for me. There's something so relatable and charming about her books and her writing, that leaves you feeling comforted and safe. Unfortunately this really fell flat for me. I absolutely hated both of the characters, particularly Renee. I found her to be so frustrating and I wanted to jump into the book to ask her what the hell she's doing. Flo started off better, but slowly became unlikable to me too. The storyline was just a bit all over the place, it felt unrealistic. Overall it was just quite disappointing and flat for me, which is a shame as I was so incredibly excited when I was chosen to read this early.

I loved this book! I am a bit of a fan of Dawn OPorters books but this one didn’t disappoint.
I won’t say too much but it’s the story of two friends returning to Guernsey in their early 2000s. As a uni student at the same sort of time, I thought it captured that era and feeling well. I also loved the characters and wanted them to be my friends too.
The only thing I found a bit confusing was about the time line was a bit hard to follow at times. This might of just been the layout of the copy I had though.
I read this through netgalley but would have bought it anyways and in fact think I still have it on preorder.

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.