Many thanks for netgalley for allowing me to review this book. I really enjoyed this book, so much so I listened to it in under 24 hours. It was a perfect way to show the imperfections of young adults and how office culture can be so difficult. Flo and Renee had to find their new place as friends but also when push came to shove, they were each others people and meant to be in each others lives. The book shows so beautifully how important real friendships are and to cherish them. Unfortunately the audio went at the end so I also had to request the book so I got to read the last few chapters to see how this beautiful story all ended.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Have you read Paper Aeroplanes? I don’t think it’s essential as there are plenty of little recaps throughout Honeybee, but having reread Paper Aeroplanes recently I definitely felt really comfortable to be back on Guernsey with Renee and Flo. This time they’re having a go at adulting and finding it all to be a bit of a false advertisement.

For the most oart I really enjoyed Honeybee, I was the same are as the girls when the book is set in 2001, and was also finding adulting to be an ordeal. I think I’d have rated the novel a bit higher if I’d have got the benefit of hearing the end, I hope I do.

Lovely narration.

Unfortunately for me there were some serious sound issues. From around 00:16 until the end of track 6 is silent. All of track 27 is static with no background audio. Then the final chapter until the authors note is silent. To the publishers I’d really love to listen to what is missing. I deleted the copy and re-downloaded to no avail. I’m happy to update if the content is reissued.

Thank you to Harper Collins Audio UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ELC

I really enjoyed listening to this, it was a perfect way to show the imperfections of young adults and how office culture can be so incestious. Flo and Renee had to find their new place as friends but also when push came to shove, they were each others people. Unfortunately the last 2 chapters of the book wouldn’t work for me on NetGalley so I will have to get a copy when it comes out to see how Renee is getting on after her missed period and how flo is getting on after giving up alcohol. I also loved how the girls opinions changed on people like the neighbour and coworkers throughout the book!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy of Dawn O'Porter's new novel Honeybee in exchange for an honest review.

I'd like to say that this review is coming from someone reading their first O'Porter book. This book follows child characters from a previous duology, which I have not read, who are now in their early 20s and navigating the difficulties that comes with.

I have to say this did not impact my enjoyment of the book. I feel it is written is such a way as to allow first time readers to get to know the characters and appreciate their humour and inside jokes.

If you are looking for a book heavy on plot, this is not what this book is. However, if you are looking for a book filled with humour and emotion, centred around exploring female friendships, growing up, and grappling with serious issues such as grief and addiction, then this is the book for you. The characters are amazingly fleshed out, and you can't help but cheer on both Renee and Flo as they do ever more outlandish things.

There were so many laugh out loud moments. And feel good moments. I would thoroughly recommend this book and can't wait to read more from this author.

Wow. I loved this book.

It’s from both Flo and Renee’s points of view. Two girls who are going through early adulthood and figuring life out. They were best friends and had become distant only to move back to Guernsey and rekindle their bond.

Renee dreams of leaving Guernsey and moving to London to pursue her dream of becoming a writer.

Flo has recently escaped the city with a secret and is doing her best to keep it hidden.

It’s funny, it’s sad. It covers deep and meaningful topics in a way that leaves the reader understanding the feeling of loss, grief and love.


Dawn O’Porter has such a distinct style of humour which runs throughout this novel.

Thank you so much NetGalley and HarperCollins for the audiobook. It was beautifully narrated too.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Honeybee by Dawn O’Porter, an audiobook narrated by Céline Buckens and Sarah Ovens is a delightful and fun book to read/listen to! I don't remember when I laughed out loud so much! Seriously, some parts were absolutely hilarious!

The characters Renee and Flo, oh my :D I just loved them in the way they were! Each has its own issues but is presented in such a cute way! They both are finding a way to be an adults and making mistakes like anyone would do! They testing things and trying to survive and the way they do is so cute and reliable!

Céline Buckens and Sarah Ovens did brilliant narration, and their voices greatly suited the characters! I am surprised they managed to get through some parts without laughing!
The First day in the office chapter I listened multiple times, it was so good!

This book is presented from Renee and Flo's points of view in the present time. So it's really easy to follow.

I loved this book!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for this copy!

I’ve read all of Dawn OPorters books so far and enjoyed them all, this is no exception. As always great and enticing cover art. A believable and ace set of characters and a fun and engaging plot. Hope she continues to write many more books. Great job

**Listened to the audio book as well as reading the electronic version**

I have really enjoyed Dawn O'Porters books in the past, and i'm a big fan of her in general.That is why it pains me to write a negative review.

But this book was just so slow!! Nothing happens!! I appreciate it was more of a character driven narrative rather than a plot driven one. I have read Goose and Airplanes - and it still didn't grip me. (Not realising before reading that it was linked to Porter's early books - which I loved by the way!)

It just felt really ploddy and I didn't enjoy my reading experience.

I preferred the audio book than the hard copy as the narrator really tried to bring it to life - which I didn't necessarily get from just reading.

I really hope Dawn O Porter's next book is back to her usual top form and I feel more engaged!

Back in Guernsey after time away two old friends, Flo and Renee in their early twenties, reunite at a funeral and end up flat sharing. They are both fighting different inner demons as they try and navigate their way through early adulthood. Their friendship is tested over and over as they each display questionable behaviour as they strive to obtain what they think they want from life.
I didn't realise this was the third in a series of books involving these characters but there was enough backstory detailed to allow it to be enjoyed as a standalone.
Funny and sad in equal measures with a strong supporting cast of peripheral characters . Ideal for those who love reading about the complexities of female friendships.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the author for an advanced listener copy of this well-narrated audiobook.

Honeybee is told in the two perspectives of Renée and Flo. They are old friends who end up reconnecting when they both attend the same funeral on the island of Guernsey. They end up becoming flatmates and start trying to figure life out.

I listened to the audiobook and it was well performed but I did struggle to remember which POV I was in even though Flo and Renée were narrated by different narrators. Plus the audiobook was missing sound on 3 tracks so I don’t actually know how the book ends because it won’t play the track. For the most part it was enjoyable in that I was listening to it whilst doing other things. However I do think this is a bit dated in terms of it feels like this should have been published in 2012. It feels like classic chick lit but also slightly childish. It was fine but I just think I’ve fallen out of love with this author.

This story was SO good, but it’s frustrating that I have no idea how it ends because the last 3 tracks of the audio are silent. 😭

Loved the unreliable narratation, rawness and intensity of both Flo and Rene’s stories.

This is a funny, sarcastic and heartfelt exploration of womanhood and how sisterhood is intrinsically linked. Flo and Renee are best friends who grew up on Guernsey, a 24² mile island- a place where unfortunately, everyone knows everyone. Theres very few places to hide in an island so small, so when our FMCs encounter coming of age issues, they feel more than a little exposed. Renee is looking for love in the wrong places and Flo is just trying to get through. Buoyed by their shared trauma of parental loss, the women always circle back to one another.

Not only does this novel explore love, loss, body image issues, substance misuse and just plain old 'keep messing up' level antics, it also talks about the terror of the early 2000s in the big city and the scary things that can happen to women. The writing and pacing complement each other perfectly and made for bingeable consumption.

Riotously funny, whip smart commentary and realistic female friendships make Honeybee a showstopper of contemporary women's fiction. Reading like a feel-good comedy of sisterhood, this novel is not to be missed!