Honeybee: The brand new fearless, frank and very funny contemporary fiction novel for summer 2025 from the author of Cat Lady Hardcover – 26 Sept. 2024

Renée and Flo, just a little bit older, a little more adult (but only a little). What a wonderful story about friendship. The two friends return to the island of Guernsey after their adventures in Spain and Uni, and reconnect. I really enjoyed this.

Reading this without any knowledge of Porter's teen novel featuring the same characters, still I was entertained by how the young women worked to reignite their relationship, as well as by the author's familiar portrait of Guernsey.Islands are funny places, wholly themselves but always comparing themselves to the nearest mainland. And so it is for Renée, whose young adult dream of becoming a writer has gone nowhere (yet) and she's forced to return to Guernsey, to find somewhere to live and to find a job.Cue her best friend Flo, professional woman, head screwed on right, her own flat, her place in society going exactly where she wants it to. Until Renée re-enters her life as a flatmate and a workmate, and the chaos that René accepts begins to loosen Flo's control.I can see what O'Porter is reaching for here, even without any knowledge of the previous chapters: dreams meet the real world and the real world always wins. But Renée's impulsive and, let's face it, selfish behaviour isn't redeemed by any charm or kindness; and this makes Flo's slow descent into her own pain even darker, perhaps too dark for this book.However, I don't think I'm the audience for this. I give it four stars as I think O'Porter really does knows her audience and she gives a moment of crisis to a pair of still formative characters, and I feel that there's more to come.Four stars, for the right audience!

Love Dawn O’Porter books and always buy soon as they come out. Was even more pleased when I realised we were back with Renee and Flo!Would give more than 5*’s if I could!Only trouble is there’s not more books from her for me to read as I really enjoy them and end up reading them in no time!

Didn't realise this was a sequel to Paper Planes and Goose, both of which I've read, so was a nice surprise to see these beloved characters pop up again.I've read all of Dawn's books, this isn't as good as her others, but a fitting end to these teenager friends now in their twenties.

Love all her books and this didn't disappoint.

Renee and Flo, characters returning from earlier novels, find that adulthood at 22 isn’t everything they hoped it would be. Each grappling with personal challenges and the weight of dysfunctional families, they journey back to their homeland of Guernsey in search of stability and a fresh start. As childhood friends, they quickly reignite their connection and decide to share a home.Through their experiences, we explore the ups and downs of early womanhood at the turn of the century, filled with humor and heartfelt moments, all tinged with a hint of sadness. The characters are richly developed, with notable mentions like 'Mrs. Mangle' (Lillian) and Renee's Aunty Jo, who happens to be a beekeeper, adding charm and depth to the story.The book is laced with clever analogies—mirrored in its title—symbolizing the quest for the right 'hive' and the supportive 'wingwoman' highlighted on the cover. Both women help guide their younger selves, emphasizing the importance of friendship and empowerment.Celebrating womanhood in all its complexity, the story addresses significant themes such as menopause, alcoholism, and the impact of 9/11, all grounded in real-life settings (including the ferry from Weymouth to the Channel Islands, which I can personally vouch for!). It reads like an intimate diary, making it relatable and poignant. Now that I’ve been introduced to Renee and Flo, I can’t wait to see where their journey takes them next!

Couldn’t put this book down, it reminded me of myself at that age. Easy to read with a lighthearted story. Would make a great holiday read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I've read the whole series and couldn't wait for this installment to be released so I could get stuck in. Dawn O'Porter is one of my favourite authors - her talent of making you feel totally immersed in the story and the character's lives is something that always leaves me wanting more.