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The Seven Bosses of Honey Malone
Honey Malone is all business. She always has been. No one has ever told her otherwise.
This poignant, shrewdly told, and unexpectedly funny coming-of-age story opens our eyes to what is absurd and moving about a woman’s daily existence in the corporate cubicles and fraught families of contemporary America.
A college honors student, all Honey wants is for her powerful businessman Dad to feel proud of her. She enters the working world with no compunction, starting at the bottom of the totem pole, sharpening the pencils of her OCD first boss, Mr. Meloso (sweet in Portuguese), who is decidedly NOT meloso.
As Honey rises through the ranks and becomes a formidable opponent, the cutthroat world of business (and family) doesn’t leave her unscathed. From sexist remarks to handsy bosses and drunk clients to an adored father who takes a steep fall from grace, Honey lets it all roll off her back—
—But she doesn’t forget.
And boy does she get her reward. Our girl Honey Malone charges into her future with courage and impatience.
The Seven Bosses of Honey Malone rips the white male privilege out of the hands of the bosses who, for better or worse, shape the career of a smart, young, determined woman.
Honey Malone is every woman you’ve ever seen interrupted, talked over, underestimated, and undermined by a man in the workplace, as the rest of the women in the room look on in unadulterated rage. She is you. And you. And me. And all of us.
This poignant, shrewdly told, and unexpectedly funny coming-of-age story opens our eyes to what is absurd and moving about a woman’s daily existence in the corporate cubicles and fraught families of contemporary America.
A college honors student, all Honey wants is for her powerful businessman Dad to feel proud of her. She enters the working world with no compunction, starting at the bottom of the totem pole, sharpening the pencils of her OCD first boss, Mr. Meloso (sweet in Portuguese), who is decidedly NOT meloso.
As Honey rises through the ranks and becomes a formidable opponent, the cutthroat world of business (and family) doesn’t leave her unscathed. From sexist remarks to handsy bosses and drunk clients to an adored father who takes a steep fall from grace, Honey lets it all roll off her back—
—But she doesn’t forget.
And boy does she get her reward. Our girl Honey Malone charges into her future with courage and impatience.
The Seven Bosses of Honey Malone rips the white male privilege out of the hands of the bosses who, for better or worse, shape the career of a smart, young, determined woman.
Honey Malone is every woman you’ve ever seen interrupted, talked over, underestimated, and undermined by a man in the workplace, as the rest of the women in the room look on in unadulterated rage. She is you. And you. And me. And all of us.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2024
13 people are currently reading
5752 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 3, 2025
I worked with the author Juli Herren as a contractor 15 years ago, and I was excited to see she wrote a novel! Juli is a fabulous human, and I congratulate her on accomplishing something I've wanted to do.
This book definitely has a rom-com vibe, and despite the title being a riff of "The Seven Husbands of Eleanor Hugo," this novel just didn't flow for me. The heroine Honey (or as the narrator refers to her as "our girl") is likeable enough; smart, independent, and beautiful. The chapters are divided up by the seven bosses/work experiences but feel very choppy. For a portion of the book, we were learning about Honey's seven suitors more than her bosses. There were sections that were entertaining (her boyfriend who mixed up common phrases and words that Honey endearingly documented) and moments of empowerment (walking out on an agency job when she discovered that she really didn't have managerial authority with a failing employee; walking out of jobs where promised bonuses didn't materialize). There was an attempt to give Honey's family backstory some significance in her fierce striving, and I think fleshing this out would've made the story stronger and built out her character more. I feel like a strong editor could have created more continuity (and corrected some of the typos) to pull these work "war" stories into a more compelling read.
This book definitely has a rom-com vibe, and despite the title being a riff of "The Seven Husbands of Eleanor Hugo," this novel just didn't flow for me. The heroine Honey (or as the narrator refers to her as "our girl") is likeable enough; smart, independent, and beautiful. The chapters are divided up by the seven bosses/work experiences but feel very choppy. For a portion of the book, we were learning about Honey's seven suitors more than her bosses. There were sections that were entertaining (her boyfriend who mixed up common phrases and words that Honey endearingly documented) and moments of empowerment (walking out on an agency job when she discovered that she really didn't have managerial authority with a failing employee; walking out of jobs where promised bonuses didn't materialize). There was an attempt to give Honey's family backstory some significance in her fierce striving, and I think fleshing this out would've made the story stronger and built out her character more. I feel like a strong editor could have created more continuity (and corrected some of the typos) to pull these work "war" stories into a more compelling read.
June 27, 2025
The Seven Bosses of Honey Malone examines the career of “our girl” as she develops into a highly successful career woman. The story is engaging, especially the insights of different bosses,friends, and dating partners. At times I felt scenes were cut short or the development of characters not drawn out sufficiently. One of my favorite characters was a boyfriend, Joe. His”Joe-isms” were on par with one of my former coworkers, who liked to “hold up the fort “ and “throw people under the wolves”.
February 2, 2025
So conflicted by this book. It reads so artificially blunt- like huge chunks of it were written by AI with specific directives. It also feels very much like a thinly disguised autobiography written by an amateur (at fiction anyway) who has been told by her friends she should write down her stories.
The novel has many jarring scene changes that are incomplete, open ended, or just puzzling, and the last 25 pages are just... awful.
BUT. Having said all that, I read it in one sitting (not hard given the double spacing between every paragraph), and I enjoyed the improbability of the main character's exceptional, unerring talent for management, and her unlikely ability to just walk every time someone disappoints her or misbehaves.
The names of her 7 bosses are hilarious, many of the interactions are satisfying in a way only women can understand. This is not a book for men- even my feminist husband would glaze over, never having endured the sort of behavior described here, and men who are more like the characters in this book would (and probably have) start spewing hate and insults about a woman who would portray them in this fashion. Because... men.
I have no doubt the pointless 1 star sans review was spitefully posted, probably by a man. I never put any faith in a 1 star rating that doesn't explain itself, and I recommend you don't either.
This was an entertaining read with a lot of problems a good editor could have helped her with. Definitely worth a look.
The novel has many jarring scene changes that are incomplete, open ended, or just puzzling, and the last 25 pages are just... awful.
BUT. Having said all that, I read it in one sitting (not hard given the double spacing between every paragraph), and I enjoyed the improbability of the main character's exceptional, unerring talent for management, and her unlikely ability to just walk every time someone disappoints her or misbehaves.
The names of her 7 bosses are hilarious, many of the interactions are satisfying in a way only women can understand. This is not a book for men- even my feminist husband would glaze over, never having endured the sort of behavior described here, and men who are more like the characters in this book would (and probably have) start spewing hate and insults about a woman who would portray them in this fashion. Because... men.
I have no doubt the pointless 1 star sans review was spitefully posted, probably by a man. I never put any faith in a 1 star rating that doesn't explain itself, and I recommend you don't either.
This was an entertaining read with a lot of problems a good editor could have helped her with. Definitely worth a look.
March 24, 2025
Strangely, I liked this story! It follows Honey Malone, a straight-out-of-college student, as she navigates the world of a working woman through her middle-aged years in the workforce. She's young, smart, and creative; she has found and lost in love; and she also discovers the ones we love the most just might be the people we thought they were.
There's not a ton of action in action and dialogue, but Honey Malone's story deserves to be told. The author does a good job of describing a changing workforce and the creativity needed as jobs evolve.
I usually don't give 5-star ratings, but this one comes close to deserving one. If possible, I'd give it a 4.75 rating.
There's not a ton of action in action and dialogue, but Honey Malone's story deserves to be told. The author does a good job of describing a changing workforce and the creativity needed as jobs evolve.
I usually don't give 5-star ratings, but this one comes close to deserving one. If possible, I'd give it a 4.75 rating.
February 24, 2025
Unique book
I ended up liking the book more than I thought I would. It has a unique, abrupt writing style that I was able to adjust to and then found served the story well. It’s quite witty and a good commentary on the experience of working women.
A small note, though—the copy editing missed quite a few errors and there are many extra words and missing words throughout the book.
I ended up liking the book more than I thought I would. It has a unique, abrupt writing style that I was able to adjust to and then found served the story well. It’s quite witty and a good commentary on the experience of working women.
A small note, though—the copy editing missed quite a few errors and there are many extra words and missing words throughout the book.
February 19, 2025
I love a strong female lead, but the story is choppy. I feel like the writer was going for a cross between Lessons in Chemistry and the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but lacked the level of skill to compare.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews