Thank you to NetGalley and Quinnova Press for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
This book was everything it said it was going to be, everything it set out to be, and everything I needed it to be. The premise was one I had heard before, which is why I was drawn to it initially, and it was done quite well. This is the type of story that I believe can be told 100 times, in various forms, and it will still be good and hold true, because the message is a necessary one for young people to hear. I have had the same conversation recently, more than I would like, telling people that first love doesn’t necessarily mean true love, forever love, and this was a refreshing take on this discussion. I know different cultures value placement on following family tradition and doing what family has set out in front of you to a T, without variation, but since this was written from a very USA-independence oriented culture mindset, it was great watching everyone realize that you can follow your heart with matters important to you.
Honey is a strong character. She is constantly doubting herself, doubting what she should be doing, being told contradictory things, and has no way to tell what she thinks is true or not because of the amount of conditioning she has been given for the past 18 years. I want another book about Honey that takes place after this book ends. I think more girls in her position exist then we maybe realize, and I hope they get a chance to see this book. Bonus – she is in STEM and she loves rocks!
Overall, I enjoyed this, it was an easy read that still had depth. 4/5