Review Detail

From the annoying neighbor girl, to a wig-wearing hairdresser, and a secret-keeping father, Honey is a novel that oozes with character and intrigue. Add Melody Bishop to Sarah Weeks’ colorful cast of characters, and you have a book that delights from start to finish.

In the small town of Royal, Indiana, it’s hard to keep secrets, but Melody finds that her father’s been keeping one from her. A big one. After living as just the two of them for ten years, Melody discovers that her father has a “honey.” Melody and her best friend, Nick, set out to find answers to the secrets Melody’s father has been keeping.

Weeks’ story is told from the alternating perspectives of Melody, and a dog named Mo. Both girl and dog have shared pasts and lost someone they love, and both are searching for something: For Melody, it’s answers. For Mo, it’s the girl from his recurring dreams.

I wasn’t sure I would enjoy the perspective of Mo, but, just like the rest of this novel, it was charming and I didn’t mind getting necessary information from a dog’s point of view. However, it was Melody’s point of view that made me feel all the feels. Her voice was spunky, and the love she demonstrated for her family and friends was refreshing.

I fell in love with the people of Royal, Indiana. Sarah Weeks has a distinct writing style that welcomes the reader into the story and makes you feel right at home. The small-town persona is carried out through vivid descriptions, (such as Bee-Bee’s hair salon that is as quirky as its owner), and are brought to life by the people who live there. None of the characters felt contrived, but rather every single person had his or her own strengths and flaws that I was able to glimpse throughout the entire story. Considering that this novel isn’t a long read, it’s a testament to Weeks’ skill. Weeks draws on the theme of individuality with her fun side stories, such as Bee-Bee’s custom line of nail colors, all which give Melody an outlet for her creative way with words.

During several sections, the flow of the story was interrupted by lots of information, but those moments were minor and even necessary to the plot. Overall, the story held my interest throughout and made me hungry for more. Honey is a fun, family-oriented mystery with an amazing cast and a sweet ending.