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Honeysuckle
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26The Bear and the Nightingale meets Weyward in this enchanting, deeply compelling debut about love and power, autonomy and consent.
Once upon a time, on the edge between meadow and forest, there was a lonely child with only his older sister for company. In exchange for being left in peace, his sister made him a playmate-Daye, a girl woven from flowers and words. And for the first time, this boy, Rory, had a friend.
Rory couldn't be happier, until he learns that Daye is a short-lived creature. At the end of each season, she must be woven back together or fall gruesomely apart. And every time Daye falls apart might be her last.
As Rory and Daye grow older and the line between friendship and romance begins to blur, Rory becomes desperate to break this cycle of bloom and decay. But the farther Rory pushes his research and experiments to lengthen Daye's existence, the more Daye begins to wonder just how much control she really has over her own life.
As a loose reimagining of the story of Blodeuwedd from Welsh mythology, Honeysuckle is an entrancing, inventive, and unsettling debut.
Once upon a time, on the edge between meadow and forest, there was a lonely child with only his older sister for company. In exchange for being left in peace, his sister made him a playmate-Daye, a girl woven from flowers and words. And for the first time, this boy, Rory, had a friend.
Rory couldn't be happier, until he learns that Daye is a short-lived creature. At the end of each season, she must be woven back together or fall gruesomely apart. And every time Daye falls apart might be her last.
As Rory and Daye grow older and the line between friendship and romance begins to blur, Rory becomes desperate to break this cycle of bloom and decay. But the farther Rory pushes his research and experiments to lengthen Daye's existence, the more Daye begins to wonder just how much control she really has over her own life.
As a loose reimagining of the story of Blodeuwedd from Welsh mythology, Honeysuckle is an entrancing, inventive, and unsettling debut.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 24, 2026
13 people are currently reading
8439 people want to read
About the author
Bar Fridman-Tell
1 book55 followersBar Fridman-Tell has a BA in art history and an MA in English literature. (She gleefully wrote her thesis about Victorian vampires.) She has worked as a bartender, a bookseller, a translator, and a library assistant. She is currently studying for a master's in library and information sciences, hoping to stay in a library for good. She lives in Toronto with her professor husband and two very fluffy cats. Honeysuckle is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 18, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC! All opinions are my own.
My heartstrings have snagged on this timelessly simple, yet emotionally intricate tale. This will stick like a burr to me for many years to come.
Fans of botanical horror, character-driven stories, and folklore, this is not one to miss.
(BTW, if you pre-order this and you’re in the US, you can get a lovely bookplate by yours truly!)
CW: abusive relationship, dubious consent, sexual content, animal death and violence, blood & gore, absent parents, bullying, alcohol, emesis
My heartstrings have snagged on this timelessly simple, yet emotionally intricate tale. This will stick like a burr to me for many years to come.
Fans of botanical horror, character-driven stories, and folklore, this is not one to miss.
(BTW, if you pre-order this and you’re in the US, you can get a lovely bookplate by yours truly!)
CW: abusive relationship, dubious consent, sexual content, animal death and violence, blood & gore, absent parents, bullying, alcohol, emesis
November 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan / Tor Nightfire for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date 2 Apr 2026
I wasn't familiar with the myth of Blodeuwedd. It was so fascinating reading about a girl woven from flowers. The story has some vague dark academia vibes, magical skills and practices that are unfortunately not fully explored. But this reality was very intriguing, and it kept me in awe the whole time. I was very invested in the plot lines, the relationship between Daye and Rory, his sister and their routine. I wanted his sister to be more present, but she only appeared in the beginning and for a bit towards the end of the story.
I cannot put this book in any genre, it has fantasy elements, some horror vibes, and a romance of some sort. It is a coming-of-age story and an emancipation journey. Multiple themes are explored, but the main plot revolves around Rory’s abandonment issues, his toxic ownership of Daye and their friendship. I found his misogynistic teenage boy sexuality to be disgusting, mostly because of the lack of consent. Being with someone who is bound to you and cannot contradict you in any way is just inhumane.
I love what happened to Daye at the end, but I needed to see Rory suffer more or at least to acknowledge his toxic possessiveness and selfishness. There was one character that appeared on two occasions, and I was expecting him to have a bigger impact, but unfortunately most of the background characters weren't fully developed. 4.5 stars
Pub Date 2 Apr 2026
I wasn't familiar with the myth of Blodeuwedd. It was so fascinating reading about a girl woven from flowers. The story has some vague dark academia vibes, magical skills and practices that are unfortunately not fully explored. But this reality was very intriguing, and it kept me in awe the whole time. I was very invested in the plot lines, the relationship between Daye and Rory, his sister and their routine. I wanted his sister to be more present, but she only appeared in the beginning and for a bit towards the end of the story.
I cannot put this book in any genre, it has fantasy elements, some horror vibes, and a romance of some sort. It is a coming-of-age story and an emancipation journey. Multiple themes are explored, but the main plot revolves around Rory’s abandonment issues, his toxic ownership of Daye and their friendship. I found his misogynistic teenage boy sexuality to be disgusting, mostly because of the lack of consent. Being with someone who is bound to you and cannot contradict you in any way is just inhumane.
I love what happened to Daye at the end, but I needed to see Rory suffer more or at least to acknowledge his toxic possessiveness and selfishness. There was one character that appeared on two occasions, and I was expecting him to have a bigger impact, but unfortunately most of the background characters weren't fully developed. 4.5 stars
October 13, 2025
Honeysuckle is the aching, gothic fairy tale of our time — fantasy horror, done to perfection. I must applaud her for creating the next must-read piece of feminist literature. A gleaming exposition of consent and the right to bodily autonomy. Beautifully written and paced, the whole book rolls off the tongue.
I was hooked from the start, making every gut-wrenching detail that much more invasive. This book serves morose cottage-core in a way that both complements its characters and setting, and leaves behind the subtle tinge of feminine resentment. My heart broke in so many ways I wasn’t prepared for, both for Rory and for Daye. In the end, the grand crescendo melted away all suspense and tension within.
In short, this is the perfect book for your next book club read, something all genders could take from.
I was hooked from the start, making every gut-wrenching detail that much more invasive. This book serves morose cottage-core in a way that both complements its characters and setting, and leaves behind the subtle tinge of feminine resentment. My heart broke in so many ways I wasn’t prepared for, both for Rory and for Daye. In the end, the grand crescendo melted away all suspense and tension within.
In short, this is the perfect book for your next book club read, something all genders could take from.
September 19, 2025
4.5 stars
This was such a beautifully written and haunting debut with a hint of horror. Daye, built from flowers as a friend for Rory, changes with each season but always remains the same at her core. The story grew darker and more unsettling with each page as we explored the deepening relationship between Daye and Rory, blurring the line between control and obsession. I was fascinated by the world crafted here, and as I read, I found myself wanting to know more about it outside the little bubble Rory and Daye lived in, like some of the side characters or Rory and Wynn's parents. But, as the story unfolded, I realized it wasn't really necessary - I became so captivated (and also kinda horrified) by the main characters and their dynamic instead. I feel like this is a perfect atmospheric/spooky read for all year round!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC!
This was such a beautifully written and haunting debut with a hint of horror. Daye, built from flowers as a friend for Rory, changes with each season but always remains the same at her core. The story grew darker and more unsettling with each page as we explored the deepening relationship between Daye and Rory, blurring the line between control and obsession. I was fascinated by the world crafted here, and as I read, I found myself wanting to know more about it outside the little bubble Rory and Daye lived in, like some of the side characters or Rory and Wynn's parents. But, as the story unfolded, I realized it wasn't really necessary - I became so captivated (and also kinda horrified) by the main characters and their dynamic instead. I feel like this is a perfect atmospheric/spooky read for all year round!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC!
October 20, 2025
The writing is gorgeous, no doubts about that. The descriptions of the seasons are all stunning. But unfortunately the story wasn’t what I was expecting. It turned into a dark academia, a story about sex, consent and growing up. It just personally wasn’t for me.
Thank you PanMacmillan for the ARC
Thank you PanMacmillan for the ARC
December 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and PanMacmillan for the eARC
3,5/5
Between the cover and the inspiration (Frankenstein x Blodeuwedd), I was intrigued, especially with the mix of horror, love story and botanical elements. I can't really say I am disappointed but there is something that didn't click with me.
Let me start off with the basic story. Rory, then a eight year old boy, was lonely, so his sister created a playmate for him so he wouldn't bother her anymore. That playmate was made of flowers and plants, but wouldn't last more than a season, so she needed to be rebuild at every seasonal turn.
It started off really well, with a nice prose and fairytale atmosphere. There is purity in the first part of the story, following Rory and Daye childhood and eary teenaged years. Understandably, Rory is quite distressed by Daye crumbling down if not rewoven each season, especially after the time when her sister didn't get home on time (she is at university). So, like a reasonable young man, he sets off to learn how to make the transition himself, then seeks a way for Daye to be more and more independant. Or at least that's what he tells himself. Because Rory slowly drift farther and farther from their countryside home, spending more time at the university, trying and failing to create a balance in his life. He is guided by fear and control, in the end, and has a great deal of struggle coming to term with that.
Daye, for her part, has to learn to be alone, to have her own identity aside from Rory, the person she was made to play with.
The book as a lot to deal with : childhood friendship turning into romantic love, boundaries, consent, control and power dynamics. And it does its best to tackle each of these topic, with a distinct fairytale vibe turning into a more dark, horror tale. Lots of good ideas but in the end, something felt off to me, and not in the good way.
I don't know what it is, maybe a sense of lack of something, of discussion, of break through for the characters despite the breakage at the end. It feels like threads hanging, unfinished. Maybe it is meant to be that way, but... yeah, I am not convinced.
Another thing that bothered me a bit was the worldbuilding. I was quite unclear for a long time if the story was set in our world but in an alternate history, or in a secondary world reminding us of England. More importantly, I would have liked to know more about other constructs, about power dynamic in the world, challenges in thought etc. We have glimpses, but not enough for me to really get a good taste of how it all work, and I wanted that.
Still, a nice try at complicated love, growing up and letting go.
3,5/5
Between the cover and the inspiration (Frankenstein x Blodeuwedd), I was intrigued, especially with the mix of horror, love story and botanical elements. I can't really say I am disappointed but there is something that didn't click with me.
Let me start off with the basic story. Rory, then a eight year old boy, was lonely, so his sister created a playmate for him so he wouldn't bother her anymore. That playmate was made of flowers and plants, but wouldn't last more than a season, so she needed to be rebuild at every seasonal turn.
It started off really well, with a nice prose and fairytale atmosphere. There is purity in the first part of the story, following Rory and Daye childhood and eary teenaged years. Understandably, Rory is quite distressed by Daye crumbling down if not rewoven each season, especially after the time when her sister didn't get home on time (she is at university). So, like a reasonable young man, he sets off to learn how to make the transition himself, then seeks a way for Daye to be more and more independant. Or at least that's what he tells himself. Because Rory slowly drift farther and farther from their countryside home, spending more time at the university, trying and failing to create a balance in his life. He is guided by fear and control, in the end, and has a great deal of struggle coming to term with that.
Daye, for her part, has to learn to be alone, to have her own identity aside from Rory, the person she was made to play with.
The book as a lot to deal with : childhood friendship turning into romantic love, boundaries, consent, control and power dynamics. And it does its best to tackle each of these topic, with a distinct fairytale vibe turning into a more dark, horror tale. Lots of good ideas but in the end, something felt off to me, and not in the good way.
I don't know what it is, maybe a sense of lack of something, of discussion, of break through for the characters despite the breakage at the end. It feels like threads hanging, unfinished. Maybe it is meant to be that way, but... yeah, I am not convinced.
Another thing that bothered me a bit was the worldbuilding. I was quite unclear for a long time if the story was set in our world but in an alternate history, or in a secondary world reminding us of England. More importantly, I would have liked to know more about other constructs, about power dynamic in the world, challenges in thought etc. We have glimpses, but not enough for me to really get a good taste of how it all work, and I wanted that.
Still, a nice try at complicated love, growing up and letting go.
October 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of the gothic/fairy tale retellings by authors such as T. Kingfisher or Ava Reid. The lush botanical writing was gorgeous and offset by the horror in the text..
I want to start off saying that I was pleasantly surprised by this gem of a book. Truly the real horror is having no freedom or autonomy.
I'd say I give it a 4.5 stars but I round up for Goodreads ;)
My only issue was I found it a bit hard to get into at first, the early sections didn't pull me in as fast as comparison to the latter half of the book, but boy am I glad I kept with it.
This was a botanical, academic, romantic (kind of) horror of a lonely boy named Rory who's older sister makes him a playmate out of flora so he'll stop pestering her. Both siblings having since been all but abandoned to a house in the countryside by their parents and left under the care of tutors and housekeepers.
Daye is borne of sticks, leaves and flowers but they soon find she needs to be changed as the seasons progress or she falls sick to the rot of falling out of season. This becomes an issue as only the older sister knows how to remake her and spurs Rory into a lifetime of research into how to keep Daye alive on his own. As the seasons come and go and Rory grows up and it becomes apparent that there are things separating Daye from a real girl. He begins making more and more radical changes to Daye as he also spends more time apart from her learning about this type of magic at an academy a several hour train ride away.
The relationship between the two veers into the romantic and physical as they get older, but what consent can there be between a creation and their creator, especially when Daye seems to not be able to refuse an order from Rory. Daye seeks the ability to make her own choices free from influence, and to go where she chooses.
The beauty I found in this writing is how my opinions on the characters changed as the plot progressed, and though I feel pity for Rory in his cold upbringing, his codependency on Daye to fulfill his needs can not be excused. He's a complicated antagonist in the way that he's not truly evil and wholly uncaring, but in that in his misguided way he both abandons and manipulates Daye.
I'm looking forward to this book coming out as I've already recommended it to a few friends, and as someone local to the Toronto area I'll be looking out for any book release events.
I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of the gothic/fairy tale retellings by authors such as T. Kingfisher or Ava Reid. The lush botanical writing was gorgeous and offset by the horror in the text..
I want to start off saying that I was pleasantly surprised by this gem of a book. Truly the real horror is having no freedom or autonomy.
I'd say I give it a 4.5 stars but I round up for Goodreads ;)
My only issue was I found it a bit hard to get into at first, the early sections didn't pull me in as fast as comparison to the latter half of the book, but boy am I glad I kept with it.
This was a botanical, academic, romantic (kind of) horror of a lonely boy named Rory who's older sister makes him a playmate out of flora so he'll stop pestering her. Both siblings having since been all but abandoned to a house in the countryside by their parents and left under the care of tutors and housekeepers.
Daye is borne of sticks, leaves and flowers but they soon find she needs to be changed as the seasons progress or she falls sick to the rot of falling out of season. This becomes an issue as only the older sister knows how to remake her and spurs Rory into a lifetime of research into how to keep Daye alive on his own. As the seasons come and go and Rory grows up and it becomes apparent that there are things separating Daye from a real girl. He begins making more and more radical changes to Daye as he also spends more time apart from her learning about this type of magic at an academy a several hour train ride away.
The relationship between the two veers into the romantic and physical as they get older, but what consent can there be between a creation and their creator, especially when Daye seems to not be able to refuse an order from Rory. Daye seeks the ability to make her own choices free from influence, and to go where she chooses.
The beauty I found in this writing is how my opinions on the characters changed as the plot progressed, and though I feel pity for Rory in his cold upbringing, his codependency on Daye to fulfill his needs can not be excused. He's a complicated antagonist in the way that he's not truly evil and wholly uncaring, but in that in his misguided way he both abandons and manipulates Daye.
I'm looking forward to this book coming out as I've already recommended it to a few friends, and as someone local to the Toronto area I'll be looking out for any book release events.
November 25, 2025
Rory loves Daye. This much is clear. But what does it mean to love someone you literally created? Someone who exists because you made her exist? As the line between friendship and romance blurs, Fridman-Tell forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about the power dynamics inherent in their relationship.
Daye's seasonal death and rebirth isn't just a magical constraint - it's a metaphor for control. Rory must weave her back together, or she falls apart. He literally holds her existence in his hands. And as Rory becomes "desperate to break this cycle," we have to ask: is he doing this for Daye, or for himself? Is this love or ownership?
The brilliance of the novel lies in Daye's growing awareness. She begins to "wonder just how much control she really has over her own life" - a question that resonates far beyond the fantasy setting. How many relationships, in our world, involve one person holding the power while the other exists at their mercy?
The Blodeuwedd myth provides the perfect foundation. In the original Welsh tale, a woman created from flowers eventually rebels against her creator. Fridman-Tell's loose reimagining asks: what happens when something created for someone else's happiness develops its own desires?
Honeysuckle succeeds because it takes a childhood fantasy - having a friend made just for you - and follows it to its logical, disturbing conclusion. It's enchanting and inventive, yes, but also deeply unsettling in its exploration of how love can become a form of imprisonment.
Daye's seasonal death and rebirth isn't just a magical constraint - it's a metaphor for control. Rory must weave her back together, or she falls apart. He literally holds her existence in his hands. And as Rory becomes "desperate to break this cycle," we have to ask: is he doing this for Daye, or for himself? Is this love or ownership?
The brilliance of the novel lies in Daye's growing awareness. She begins to "wonder just how much control she really has over her own life" - a question that resonates far beyond the fantasy setting. How many relationships, in our world, involve one person holding the power while the other exists at their mercy?
The Blodeuwedd myth provides the perfect foundation. In the original Welsh tale, a woman created from flowers eventually rebels against her creator. Fridman-Tell's loose reimagining asks: what happens when something created for someone else's happiness develops its own desires?
Honeysuckle succeeds because it takes a childhood fantasy - having a friend made just for you - and follows it to its logical, disturbing conclusion. It's enchanting and inventive, yes, but also deeply unsettling in its exploration of how love can become a form of imprisonment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
4.5 stars:
Honeysuckle pulls you in from the first page. It has that gothic fairy tale feel, but what really makes it stand out is how deeply it digs into desire, identity, and the will of man. The author created a story that feels intimate, tense, and emotionally sharp.
Daye, a girl made from flowers, is impossible to forget. The way she changes with the seasons while trying to hold on to who she is felt both soft and powerful. Her relationship with Rory becomes more complex with every chapter and the shifting balance between affection, control, and longing is written so well.
The theme that struck me most is the need for self fulfillment and how far someone will go to feel whole. The book shows how easily purpose and desire can twist into something consuming, especially when it comes from insecurity or fear. It makes the entire story feel heavier and more intentional.
The setting is small and eerie which makes every moment feel close and personal. By the end, I realized the contained world made the emotional turns hit harder.
The ending completely caught me. It was bold, emotional, and full of meaning for both Daye and Rory.
Honeysuckle is sharp, atmospheric, and full of depth. A thoughtful look at desire, purpose, and the cost of trying to shape your own destiny.
Thank you to netgalley for the galley
Honeysuckle pulls you in from the first page. It has that gothic fairy tale feel, but what really makes it stand out is how deeply it digs into desire, identity, and the will of man. The author created a story that feels intimate, tense, and emotionally sharp.
Daye, a girl made from flowers, is impossible to forget. The way she changes with the seasons while trying to hold on to who she is felt both soft and powerful. Her relationship with Rory becomes more complex with every chapter and the shifting balance between affection, control, and longing is written so well.
The theme that struck me most is the need for self fulfillment and how far someone will go to feel whole. The book shows how easily purpose and desire can twist into something consuming, especially when it comes from insecurity or fear. It makes the entire story feel heavier and more intentional.
The setting is small and eerie which makes every moment feel close and personal. By the end, I realized the contained world made the emotional turns hit harder.
The ending completely caught me. It was bold, emotional, and full of meaning for both Daye and Rory.
Honeysuckle is sharp, atmospheric, and full of depth. A thoughtful look at desire, purpose, and the cost of trying to shape your own destiny.
Thank you to netgalley for the galley
December 2, 2025
Honeysuckle is a beautiful, aching fairytale turned to something like horror. Rory is a lonely boy, constantly left behind by every person in his life when his sister makes him a playmate out of flowers and branches, one meant to love him and stay by his side always- Daye. This debut is so poignant and heart wrenching as it tackles a love turned toxic and control over consent and autonomy. It was a slow build up as the story encompasses years of their lives and what started as a sweet childhood friendship morphed into something far more unnerving and obsessive.
The writing itself is gorgeous, each page dripping with evocative detail. You can feel the heat of summer and the aching loneliness of time. Daye is also such a unique character. She is a ship of Theseus of a girl, remade each season with new plants and flowers, each piece of her new but still the same girl. I cared so much for her and it made me loathe Rory more and more as the story progressed. The pacing was a little slow in the middle but the ending had me so desperate to finish it that I stayed up way too late and I'm writing this at 2am after having just finished it. I can happily say that the ending was very satisfying and that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
The writing itself is gorgeous, each page dripping with evocative detail. You can feel the heat of summer and the aching loneliness of time. Daye is also such a unique character. She is a ship of Theseus of a girl, remade each season with new plants and flowers, each piece of her new but still the same girl. I cared so much for her and it made me loathe Rory more and more as the story progressed. The pacing was a little slow in the middle but the ending had me so desperate to finish it that I stayed up way too late and I'm writing this at 2am after having just finished it. I can happily say that the ending was very satisfying and that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
December 10, 2025
Im grateful for the opportunity to have read Honeysuckle as an ARC from Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
I know this gothic fairytale will be a hit for so many and people will be able to fall into this psychological fantasy world. There were things from this book that positively stuck out for me and I'll stick to those reasons (because I will recommend to check it out if your intrigued by the concept) but overall I think it just wasn't for me.
Honeysuckle follows the story of Daye and Rory as they grow up. Beginning in an isolated village and spanning through the trials and tribulations of growing up alone, the plot stretching critical ages throughout the early years of life. The whimsical aura of a flower girl and a world away from the city was what initially intrigued me upon reading the synopsis. The author did an amazing job of writing the characters to aid the reader through the world and the techniques used showed strong writing.
This book for me was a case of preference. I think I personally imagined something else when assuming the direction the plot would follow and that is not the fault of the novel or the author. I would be intrigued to read other books by this author even though the plot we followed through this one wasn't for me.
I know this gothic fairytale will be a hit for so many and people will be able to fall into this psychological fantasy world. There were things from this book that positively stuck out for me and I'll stick to those reasons (because I will recommend to check it out if your intrigued by the concept) but overall I think it just wasn't for me.
Honeysuckle follows the story of Daye and Rory as they grow up. Beginning in an isolated village and spanning through the trials and tribulations of growing up alone, the plot stretching critical ages throughout the early years of life. The whimsical aura of a flower girl and a world away from the city was what initially intrigued me upon reading the synopsis. The author did an amazing job of writing the characters to aid the reader through the world and the techniques used showed strong writing.
This book for me was a case of preference. I think I personally imagined something else when assuming the direction the plot would follow and that is not the fault of the novel or the author. I would be intrigued to read other books by this author even though the plot we followed through this one wasn't for me.
October 21, 2025
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH.
The genre is hard to pin down - I'd say a dark academia romantic horror fairytale. Which sounds like a chaotic mess but it's perfect.
It reminded me of Anne of Green Gables, because the writing is gorgeous, with its atmospheric descriptions of each season, creating a painting you just sink into. It made me love and long for each season as we rotated through them.
This was like Frankenstein, as Rory obsessively studied and experimented with prolonging his girlfriend made from flowers, but the Monster is Rory as we watch him shift from innocent boy to controlling, objectifying man.
It reminded me of Sally Rooney's Normal People, as Rory and Daye blossom together, become codependent, but then grow apart, with Rory bringing about the very thing he aims to prevent through his crazed obsession.
Rory and Daye are captivating as you watch them either sink into monstrosity or expand into freedom. You understand and weep for both of them. The story is incredibly surprising and well done, especially for a debut book, and I can't wait for more from this author.
The genre is hard to pin down - I'd say a dark academia romantic horror fairytale. Which sounds like a chaotic mess but it's perfect.
It reminded me of Anne of Green Gables, because the writing is gorgeous, with its atmospheric descriptions of each season, creating a painting you just sink into. It made me love and long for each season as we rotated through them.
This was like Frankenstein, as Rory obsessively studied and experimented with prolonging his girlfriend made from flowers, but the Monster is Rory as we watch him shift from innocent boy to controlling, objectifying man.
It reminded me of Sally Rooney's Normal People, as Rory and Daye blossom together, become codependent, but then grow apart, with Rory bringing about the very thing he aims to prevent through his crazed obsession.
Rory and Daye are captivating as you watch them either sink into monstrosity or expand into freedom. You understand and weep for both of them. The story is incredibly surprising and well done, especially for a debut book, and I can't wait for more from this author.
October 22, 2025
*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
Honeysuckle follows Rory who lives with his sister after their parents abandoned them. His sister makes him a friend out of flowers called Daye. Daye is a seasonal creature so when the season changes and the flowers die, Daye must be put back together or she will fall apart. One autumn, his sister doesn’t return home from university in time so Rory decides to learn how to put Daye back together. Rory and Daye grow older together but Rory lives in the real world with real people. He frequently leaves Daye on her own and Rory starts experimenting on Daye and she wonders how far he will go to make her real.
This wasn’t really for me, it took me ages to read because I just wasn’t really feeling it. That said, this is written well and it has some unique elements. This book deals with questions of bodily autonomy and power differences which are important topics so whilst this wasn’t really for me, I would recommend this.
Honeysuckle follows Rory who lives with his sister after their parents abandoned them. His sister makes him a friend out of flowers called Daye. Daye is a seasonal creature so when the season changes and the flowers die, Daye must be put back together or she will fall apart. One autumn, his sister doesn’t return home from university in time so Rory decides to learn how to put Daye back together. Rory and Daye grow older together but Rory lives in the real world with real people. He frequently leaves Daye on her own and Rory starts experimenting on Daye and she wonders how far he will go to make her real.
This wasn’t really for me, it took me ages to read because I just wasn’t really feeling it. That said, this is written well and it has some unique elements. This book deals with questions of bodily autonomy and power differences which are important topics so whilst this wasn’t really for me, I would recommend this.
November 12, 2025
🥀 Arc Review 🥀
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Comes out - March 24th 2026
I am absolutely obsessed with this one. I was hooked from start to finish and have been thinking of it nonstop ever since. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful, the writing was breathtaking and exquisitely detailed.
Our main characters Rory and Daye were so captivating and beautiful, it was such a lovely, heartbreaking experience to watch them grow together. I loved every second of it.
This story was everything I hoped it would be. From the plot of the story to the unique characters within it.
this amazing authors has created such a beautifully unique story and I absolutely cannot wait to see what else they will do.
I cannot wait for you all to be able to jump into this fantastic world and fall deeply in love with it!
Thank you SO much @netgalley , @bloomsburypublishing and @barfridmantell for letting me read this amazing story!
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Comes out - March 24th 2026
I am absolutely obsessed with this one. I was hooked from start to finish and have been thinking of it nonstop ever since. This book was heartbreakingly beautiful, the writing was breathtaking and exquisitely detailed.
Our main characters Rory and Daye were so captivating and beautiful, it was such a lovely, heartbreaking experience to watch them grow together. I loved every second of it.
This story was everything I hoped it would be. From the plot of the story to the unique characters within it.
this amazing authors has created such a beautifully unique story and I absolutely cannot wait to see what else they will do.
I cannot wait for you all to be able to jump into this fantastic world and fall deeply in love with it!
Thank you SO much @netgalley , @bloomsburypublishing and @barfridmantell for letting me read this amazing story!
December 8, 2025
Okay I LOVED this one. Reading Honeysuckle was like watching a train slowly speeding towards an inevitable collision and not being able to look away--I was filled with an ever-increasing sense of horrified dread but could not put the book down.
A haunting gothic retelling that manages to also be an unsettling fairytale horror with dark academia vibes, it's one of those books that slips its way fluidly across genre lines. With delicious prose, it deftly deals with nuanced, important themes of consent, bodily autonomy, power differentials within romantic relationships, patriarchal entitlement to the female body, and the snarled-up emotional complexity that can happen when someone you love turns into someone who hurts you. Highly highly recommend.
A haunting gothic retelling that manages to also be an unsettling fairytale horror with dark academia vibes, it's one of those books that slips its way fluidly across genre lines. With delicious prose, it deftly deals with nuanced, important themes of consent, bodily autonomy, power differentials within romantic relationships, patriarchal entitlement to the female body, and the snarled-up emotional complexity that can happen when someone you love turns into someone who hurts you. Highly highly recommend.
December 5, 2025
Honeysuckle is an intriguing horror/fantasy novel with shades of Frankenstein. Rory, a young boy who is annoying his much older sister, is gifted a magical friend made out of sticks and summer flowers but who appears like a real girl. Daye can't remain more than a season as the seasonal flowers she is made of die off. So Rory's sister remakes Daye with new flowers until she finally teaches Rory how to do it himself. This sets him on a dysfunctional path in the style of Dr. Frankenstein. What's interesting to me is you can also read into the story themes of domestic abuse and a woman trying to earn her freedom. Fascinating! Review from e-galley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would first like to thank netgalley for sending me this to read.
I went into this book with the idea that I would get a story along the lines of frankenstein and I did but it was much less of a horror feel.
this book had wonderful descriptions of the world around the main characters and how they used their surrounding, I really enjoyed these parts.
I found it a bit repetitive for the first half and grew tired of how selfish Rory was and Im not sure that feeling ever left me, although you kind of felt sorry for him I think the victim was daye.
I liked how the story ended and it gave a feeling of days finally becoming empowered after being controlled for so long.
I went into this book with the idea that I would get a story along the lines of frankenstein and I did but it was much less of a horror feel.
this book had wonderful descriptions of the world around the main characters and how they used their surrounding, I really enjoyed these parts.
I found it a bit repetitive for the first half and grew tired of how selfish Rory was and Im not sure that feeling ever left me, although you kind of felt sorry for him I think the victim was daye.
I liked how the story ended and it gave a feeling of days finally becoming empowered after being controlled for so long.
August 18, 2025
Utterly and achingly beautiful! Honeysuckle sank beneath my skin. Truly, I could feel this story vining through me, fresh spring blooms bursting with joy and awe, brittle autumn branches cracking with sorrow and longing. In this dark and hopeful fairy tale, there was this thread throughout of yearning—for someone, for something. For self. There was this exploration—of consent, of autonomy, of what it means to be real. This book held everything I love most in storytelling and made my quick-beating heart stutter and soar.
October 23, 2025
The cover alone is reason enough to buy this book. Absolutely stunning.
The story lives up to it.
It starts off innocently enough, but by the time I finished that last page, my thoughts on the characters had changed completely.
The whole idea of a Blodeuwedd is fascinating in its own right, but all the experiments add another element.
I enjoyed the voice of Faye being used more as the story progressed.
A little bit dark and unnerving at times, a whole lot of good though, I very much enjoyed this one.
The story lives up to it.
It starts off innocently enough, but by the time I finished that last page, my thoughts on the characters had changed completely.
The whole idea of a Blodeuwedd is fascinating in its own right, but all the experiments add another element.
I enjoyed the voice of Faye being used more as the story progressed.
A little bit dark and unnerving at times, a whole lot of good though, I very much enjoyed this one.
November 13, 2025
A beautiful, heart wrenching (loose) retelling of the Welsh tale of the Blodeuwedd. Following their relationship from children to young adults, Rory and Daye both experience the moral throes of Daye’s existence. Can she have independence and agency, or is her very being tied to Rory’s will? Can Rory exist as his own person outside of his obsession with the magic that sustains Daye? In the end, only the birds know.
Read simultaneously alongside Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger- a book about plant intelligence.
Great read after C.G. Drew’s Don't Let the Forest In and Hazelthorn.
Read simultaneously alongside Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger- a book about plant intelligence.
Great read after C.G. Drew’s Don't Let the Forest In and Hazelthorn.
Read
December 19, 2025Thank you NetGalley for the eArc!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is hard to pin down the genre of this book but it is like a gothic fantasy. We follow the point of views of Rory and Daye. Rory being human and Daye being a construct out of plants. It really highlights the importance of consent and what actual consent is then just assuming. It was lighthearted in the beginning but as the story unfolds it turns dark and sinister. It was really captivating and I was rooting for Daye the whole way through the story.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is hard to pin down the genre of this book but it is like a gothic fantasy. We follow the point of views of Rory and Daye. Rory being human and Daye being a construct out of plants. It really highlights the importance of consent and what actual consent is then just assuming. It was lighthearted in the beginning but as the story unfolds it turns dark and sinister. It was really captivating and I was rooting for Daye the whole way through the story.
October 5, 2024
I was lucky enough to read this manuscript and was blown away. A sweet story about a boy and his blodeuwedd that develops into a horror story about control, abuse, and agency, Fridman-Tell writes with such nuance that my feelings were never straightforward. The beautiful language, the unique turns of phrase, the incredible world-building, and the complicated interpersonal dynamics were so incredibly engrossing. I also loved how this novel made me consider my own relationship to the changing seasons -- the ways I fall apart and am knit back together again. An epic achievement from an amazing story teller.
October 23, 2025
This book is beautifully written. I’m not usually one to read dark academia books so at times I had to slow down reading a bit to get a grasp of what was going on. I love how to love Rory feels for Daye is so strong and burns so bright, but starts off with a slow burn. It was more a dark story, but quite enjoyable.
Thank you Bloomsbury, NetGalley and Bar Fridman-Tell for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Thank you Bloomsbury, NetGalley and Bar Fridman-Tell for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This wasn’t even on my radar, but it arrived on my doorstop and immediately I knew it made it to the right person. Gothic romantic horror, coming of age, with academic and creator/creature vibes. This is 100% my style. I loved everything from the writing to the pacing. It felt like I was slowly racing towards a cliffs edge. And talk about just dropping me off it with the ending.
Want to read
September 23, 2025"An entrancing, inventive and unsettling reimagining of the story of Blodeuwedd from Welsh mythology, Honeysuckle is a feminist Frankenstein with flowers; a deliciously dark, twisted, horror-tinged fairytale with rot at its heart . . ."
say less, when i can preorder
say less, when i can preorder
Review of advance copy
A powerful mix of darkness and light, of love and control, of joy and sorrow, of captivity and the path to freedom. A unique coming of age story that will stay with me.
Thanks to libro.fm for the advanced listening copy!
Thanks to libro.fm for the advanced listening copy!
October 9, 2025
A brilliant, imaginative look at power, consent, and how love complicates it all
December 10, 2025
an eerie and unsettling (yet riveting) tale of a boy who makes a friend out of flowers and refuses to let her go.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I didn’t like Rory. Also, I wish the book had been about more than it was.
Review of advance copy
It starts off sweet and descends into disturbing. I really liked Daye's self discovery and Rory gives me Frankenstein vibes...also, and 'ick' feeling.
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