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Oh Honey
"Hello, my name is Esther. I am calling on behalf of Krippler Incorporated, a market research institute. Today we are conducting a survey on feline diabetes. Do you, or any member of your household, own a cat?" They hang up. "Hello. My name is Joan. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello. My name's Doreen." Jane is a telemarketer. She uses a different name each time, and soon it becomes clear that she is calling the same man again and again. Each call is a new battle between them, with him becoming angrier and more threatening. But Jane isn't calling him at random; Jane has a purpose; and Jane has a past which seems to change each time she tells it. A sharp, funny and dark novel about identity and connection.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2017
33 people are currently reading
6813 people want to read
About the author
Emily R. Austin
8 books3,620 followersEmily Austin is the author of EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WILL SOMEDAY BE DEAD, INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE, GAY GIRL PRAYERS, WE COULD BE RATS, and IS THIS A CRY FOR HELP. She currently resides in Ottawa/the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
December 22, 2022
everyone in this room will someday be dead's scarier darker more upsetting ancestor.
and it's still good.
i would urge everyone who is interested in reading this to look up trigger warnings, develop a strong stomach, and consider if you need to read it at all.
but if you determine yes:
bottom line: it's awful but it's good!
---------------
currently-reading updates
finding a new potential favorite author feels like joining a cult
---------------
tbr review
i have once again let a singular five star rating change my entire brain
and it's still good.
i would urge everyone who is interested in reading this to look up trigger warnings, develop a strong stomach, and consider if you need to read it at all.
but if you determine yes:
bottom line: it's awful but it's good!
---------------
currently-reading updates
finding a new potential favorite author feels like joining a cult
---------------
tbr review
i have once again let a singular five star rating change my entire brain
April 13, 2018
A quick funny read, the story is dark and disturbing. A bit like if one of the minor characters from Trainspotting managed to work at a call center.
June 23, 2019
"Oh Honey" by Emily R. Austin is one the weirdest and coolest novellas I've had the pleasure of reading. Wow. The main protagonist, Jane is a little firecracker - she's also deeply troubled. This book deals with some heavy subject matter: drug abuse, alcohol dependency, self-mutilation, depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, sexual assault, and attempted suicide. "Oh Honey" is dark but also funny. I like stories that can make me laugh one minute, and then the next, make me want to cry a river. It's less than 200 pages, but I feel like this novella is going to stay with me for a long time. I couldn't even sleep last night, because the ending was so....INTENSE. Buy, borrow, or steal, just do me a favor and read "Oh Honey" as soon as possible. Totally bitchin'. Enjoy!
September 22, 2017
A "post it" with a phone number and hearts is affixed to a cubicle. She will make this call at least eleven times a day. This number is the man who vehemently hates her. She is the telemarketer named Jane. Or is she?
WOW!
Oh, Honey is a laugh out loud at times albeit dark short story. Recounted in the present day Jane, a drug popping telemarketer narrates her story. She is on probation for possession and has regular meetings with her officer. And Jane knows how to push people's buttons. Especially, one client's phone number. But suddenly, the roles are reversed, and someone is playing her at her own game. The author takes us down a twisty path that has no good outcome.
The characters in Oh Honey evoke many emotional reactions for the reader. They are three-dimensional and cringeworthy. Jane is witty and sarcastic and a spin master. She is also an unreliable story teller. Each time she makes a phone call, she is someone else. Belle. Ariel. Pocahontas. Or the ladies in Jane Austin's Emma. She is on lithium, a cutter, and living life on the edge. And in constant suicidal rumination. About midway in the narrative, we get a deeper insight into a child's life in poverty buttressed with a mother's abuse and neglect.
Central to Jane's life are her three friends. The conspiracist and roommate Keats. Ivy, Keat's loquacious girlfriend. And Frank, the pen coveting, and thieving artist. All these characters are so insanely simple and yet unpredictable. Except they may be her only salvation.
Oh, Honey gives you a glimpse into an unmotivated young adult's struggle with bipolar disorder and drug abuse. It is dark and frightening as Jane always seems to find the edge of the cliff.
The brief description of the book is vague and perhaps on purpose. It was not what I expected. I started reading this book in the morning and finished it by the afternoon. Gritty and awesome. In this well-written narrative, I laughed and felt morose all on the same page over and over.
For a quick, powerful and unconventional novel that will make you sit there and wonder what you just read, Oh Honey is your book! Highly recommend. Eh?
Thank you, NetGalley and Holland House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
WOW!
Oh, Honey is a laugh out loud at times albeit dark short story. Recounted in the present day Jane, a drug popping telemarketer narrates her story. She is on probation for possession and has regular meetings with her officer. And Jane knows how to push people's buttons. Especially, one client's phone number. But suddenly, the roles are reversed, and someone is playing her at her own game. The author takes us down a twisty path that has no good outcome.
The characters in Oh Honey evoke many emotional reactions for the reader. They are three-dimensional and cringeworthy. Jane is witty and sarcastic and a spin master. She is also an unreliable story teller. Each time she makes a phone call, she is someone else. Belle. Ariel. Pocahontas. Or the ladies in Jane Austin's Emma. She is on lithium, a cutter, and living life on the edge. And in constant suicidal rumination. About midway in the narrative, we get a deeper insight into a child's life in poverty buttressed with a mother's abuse and neglect.
Central to Jane's life are her three friends. The conspiracist and roommate Keats. Ivy, Keat's loquacious girlfriend. And Frank, the pen coveting, and thieving artist. All these characters are so insanely simple and yet unpredictable. Except they may be her only salvation.
Oh, Honey gives you a glimpse into an unmotivated young adult's struggle with bipolar disorder and drug abuse. It is dark and frightening as Jane always seems to find the edge of the cliff.
The brief description of the book is vague and perhaps on purpose. It was not what I expected. I started reading this book in the morning and finished it by the afternoon. Gritty and awesome. In this well-written narrative, I laughed and felt morose all on the same page over and over.
For a quick, powerful and unconventional novel that will make you sit there and wonder what you just read, Oh Honey is your book! Highly recommend. Eh?
Thank you, NetGalley and Holland House for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2025
Have you ever thought about making men miserable? Maybe not men in general, but one specific man? It was with something along these lines that I first saw this book on TikTok (you guys might hate romance booktok, but lit-fic booktok is one of the best things I've found online), and I was immediately interested. But it was when I searched it here and saw the top review mentioning you should consider if you really want to read this book, that my curiosity got so strong I had to pick it up immediately. I haven't seen anyone linking or giving a list of triggers for this one, so I'll do it at the end of my review, but whew, a lot happened here.
Through her life at home with her roommate and his girlfriend, conversations she has with her coworkers, meetings with her probation counselor, and all the (mostly failed) calls she makes at work, we learn about our main character; and when I tell you she's gone through terrible things, I mean it. But as disturbing as it was to read about them, the simple but effective writing style sucked me into the story so much that the only reason I didn't read it in one-sitting was because I got interrupted.
It's an especially addictive story because our main character is a liar. She lies to everyone about everything, including changing her name every time she makes a work call. It's like you have to work for the truth, like she has to be at her most vulnerable or too tired to think about a lie; only then do you get to learn about her past. It wasn't a light read; it made me uncomfortable, sad, and sick over everything she went through, but I can't say I regretted it. I just wished I could get inside this book and relieve her from her pain.
trigger warnings : self harm, suicidal thoughts, abortion, rape, pedophilia, drug abuse, child neglect, coercion, and gun usage
There is a kid doing cartwheels in the snow. Her parents are sitting on a bench and watching her. Both parents are drinking out of takeout coffee cups and they are holding each other’s hands.
"Watch me mom!"
"Watch me dad!"
"Watch me! Watch me! Watch me!"
Her father moves his arm to sit on her mother’s shoulder.
"Watch me!"
The mother leans her head to rest on the father’s chest.
"Watch me!"
I feel really angry.
Through her life at home with her roommate and his girlfriend, conversations she has with her coworkers, meetings with her probation counselor, and all the (mostly failed) calls she makes at work, we learn about our main character; and when I tell you she's gone through terrible things, I mean it. But as disturbing as it was to read about them, the simple but effective writing style sucked me into the story so much that the only reason I didn't read it in one-sitting was because I got interrupted.
It's an especially addictive story because our main character is a liar. She lies to everyone about everything, including changing her name every time she makes a work call. It's like you have to work for the truth, like she has to be at her most vulnerable or too tired to think about a lie; only then do you get to learn about her past. It wasn't a light read; it made me uncomfortable, sad, and sick over everything she went through, but I can't say I regretted it. I just wished I could get inside this book and relieve her from her pain.
trigger warnings : self harm, suicidal thoughts, abortion, rape, pedophilia, drug abuse, child neglect, coercion, and gun usage
July 13, 2018
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
A year or so ago I would have had trouble trying to figure out who to recommend Oh Honey to (well, aside from the usual suspect, that is). If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it is that the main character Jane is strange and unusual. However . . . . .
So I immediately was smitten with her. But after the breakout success of Eleanor Oliphant and the overwhelmingly positive response from all sorts of different peeps to that endearing little oddball, I have no problem book pushing this one.
As said above, the story here focuses on Jane. She works at a place like this . . . .
And . . . .
“Whenever I feel especially downtrodden at work I call the man who hates me. I call the man who hates me at least once per shift. I once called him twenty-two times.”
Bibliophiles might enjoy some of her alter egos . . . .
"Hello my name is Scout Finch. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Jo March. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Hester Prynne. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Sara Crewe. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Anne Shirley. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up.
I appreciated her humor . . . .
"Hello my name is Mattie. I am calling on behalf of Krippler Incorporated. Today we are conducting a survey on feline diabetes. Do you, or any member of your household, own a cat?" The respondent breathes heavily down the phone. "What are you wearing?" they ask in a moan. "You’re disgusting," I say, "but nothing, you?"
To the point where I laughed out loud at work a couple of times . . . .
"How was your day?" I query politely. "Well, I didn’t get that job at Taco Bell," he answers, dejected. "But you know what? I am almost sure it’s because Taco Bell is run by the same people who are responsible for the Armenian genocide."
"You think that the Germans are responsible for the Armenian genocide?" He taps his nose. I then say quietly, mostly to myself, "You think that Germans are responsible for Crunchwrap Supremes?"
But much like Eleanor, Jane’s story is not all fun and games. There’s some darkness contained in this tiny little sleeper of a story and that ending????
Wowza.
A year or so ago I would have had trouble trying to figure out who to recommend Oh Honey to (well, aside from the usual suspect, that is). If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it is that the main character Jane is strange and unusual. However . . . . .
So I immediately was smitten with her. But after the breakout success of Eleanor Oliphant and the overwhelmingly positive response from all sorts of different peeps to that endearing little oddball, I have no problem book pushing this one.
As said above, the story here focuses on Jane. She works at a place like this . . . .
And . . . .
“Whenever I feel especially downtrodden at work I call the man who hates me. I call the man who hates me at least once per shift. I once called him twenty-two times.”
Bibliophiles might enjoy some of her alter egos . . . .
"Hello my name is Scout Finch. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Jo March. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Hester Prynne. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Sara Crewe. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up. "Hello my name is Anne Shirley. I am calling on behalf of—" They hang up.
I appreciated her humor . . . .
"Hello my name is Mattie. I am calling on behalf of Krippler Incorporated. Today we are conducting a survey on feline diabetes. Do you, or any member of your household, own a cat?" The respondent breathes heavily down the phone. "What are you wearing?" they ask in a moan. "You’re disgusting," I say, "but nothing, you?"
To the point where I laughed out loud at work a couple of times . . . .
"How was your day?" I query politely. "Well, I didn’t get that job at Taco Bell," he answers, dejected. "But you know what? I am almost sure it’s because Taco Bell is run by the same people who are responsible for the Armenian genocide."
"You think that the Germans are responsible for the Armenian genocide?" He taps his nose. I then say quietly, mostly to myself, "You think that Germans are responsible for Crunchwrap Supremes?"
But much like Eleanor, Jane’s story is not all fun and games. There’s some darkness contained in this tiny little sleeper of a story and that ending????
Wowza.
November 24, 2023
5/5
Jauna mergina dirba skambučių centre ir vis skambina tam pačiam vyrui. Kartais per dieną 10, 20 kartų, vis kitu vardu, bet vis su tais pačiais žodžiais: „Atliekame tyrimą apie kačių diabetą, ar namuose turite kačių?“ Skaitytojas įmetamas į veiksmą ir jam kyla milijonai klausimų – kas ši jauna mergina? Kodėl tekstas, toks beprotiškai keistas, bet dažnai ir gana šmaikštus, iš tiesų turi tokią stiprią katastrofos nuojautą? Ir ar tikrai priežastys jos elgesiui ir sprendimams yra juokingos ar nereikšmingos, kaip kad ji nori, jog tikėtume? Knyga tokia unikali, kad sunku ją su kuo nors sulyginti. Ir nors trumputė, veikėjai tokie ryškūs, tikri, jų neviltis, siaubas, baimės, skausmas – viskas taip aiškiai jaučiama. O ir skaitytojas puola abejoti visais ir kiekvienu, spėlioja, kai realybė ir dabartis persipina su prisiminimais (kas tikra, o kas – išgalvota?), galiausiai ima nebepasitikėti net pačiu savimi.
Knygą perskaičiau po puikios „Everyone in this room will someday be dead“ ir rekomenduoju „Oh honey“ tiems, kuriems nėra svetimos psichinių sutrikimų, priklausomybių, sunkios vaikystės temos literatūroje. Ir po šios knygos, Austin debiutinės, neabejotinai autorė tampa vienu įdomesnių mano 2024-aisiais atrastų balsų ir nekantrauju, kol kitais metais pasirodys jos romanas „Interesting Facts about Space“. Todėl keisto humoro jausmo ir gilaus skausmo derinių literatūroje gerbėjams rekomenduoju atrasti Austin, kad kai ji taps fenomenu, galėtumėt sakyt, kad ją skaitėt before it was cool.
Jauna mergina dirba skambučių centre ir vis skambina tam pačiam vyrui. Kartais per dieną 10, 20 kartų, vis kitu vardu, bet vis su tais pačiais žodžiais: „Atliekame tyrimą apie kačių diabetą, ar namuose turite kačių?“ Skaitytojas įmetamas į veiksmą ir jam kyla milijonai klausimų – kas ši jauna mergina? Kodėl tekstas, toks beprotiškai keistas, bet dažnai ir gana šmaikštus, iš tiesų turi tokią stiprią katastrofos nuojautą? Ir ar tikrai priežastys jos elgesiui ir sprendimams yra juokingos ar nereikšmingos, kaip kad ji nori, jog tikėtume? Knyga tokia unikali, kad sunku ją su kuo nors sulyginti. Ir nors trumputė, veikėjai tokie ryškūs, tikri, jų neviltis, siaubas, baimės, skausmas – viskas taip aiškiai jaučiama. O ir skaitytojas puola abejoti visais ir kiekvienu, spėlioja, kai realybė ir dabartis persipina su prisiminimais (kas tikra, o kas – išgalvota?), galiausiai ima nebepasitikėti net pačiu savimi.
Knygą perskaičiau po puikios „Everyone in this room will someday be dead“ ir rekomenduoju „Oh honey“ tiems, kuriems nėra svetimos psichinių sutrikimų, priklausomybių, sunkios vaikystės temos literatūroje. Ir po šios knygos, Austin debiutinės, neabejotinai autorė tampa vienu įdomesnių mano 2024-aisiais atrastų balsų ir nekantrauju, kol kitais metais pasirodys jos romanas „Interesting Facts about Space“. Todėl keisto humoro jausmo ir gilaus skausmo derinių literatūroje gerbėjams rekomenduoju atrasti Austin, kad kai ji taps fenomenu, galėtumėt sakyt, kad ją skaitėt before it was cool.
May 17, 2025
This is by far my favourite Emily Austin! Although I guessed most of the twist, the execution was really impressive and gripping for such a short book. The wittiness in Emily Austin's writing was very reminiscent of Dolly Alderton in this book. But from a plot perspective, I would recommend this to fans of Gillian Flynn.
September 2, 2024
Very bizarre and dark, but still funny. What the actual heck is this story though 🫠
September 10, 2022
This is one oddly hilarious and satisfying dark, twisted book. There hardly is a disturbing, trigger topic that isn't regarded and yet that didn't make it feel cringey or upsetting. The protagonist is brilliantly written.
July 6, 2023
wild.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
June 1, 2018
Disclaimer: Received a free digital copy of the book through Netgalley.
Read Harder 2018: 20. A book with a cover you hate.
The BookBum Club: Apr theme - Short And Sweet – Read a book that's under 200 pages.
(Trigger warnings mentioned below)
First off, the cover of the book is very fitting for the story and the protagonist but I dislike it nevertheless. Now that that's aside, let's talk about how this under 200 pages novella is a FREAKIN' BOMB!
The writing was absolutely gorgeous, filled to the brink with wry humour, exaggeration and perfect flow. However, I'll argue that the strange, human premise and plot made the writing shine. I hardly describe the premise of books in my reviews but for the sake of what I'm promoting which is READ THIS YOU GUYS, I'll make an exception. Our pill-popping protagonist, Jane, is a telemarketer with mental health issues who calls people using different names every time and one particular man is her target everyday despite his vehement disgust for her. I, for one, was instantly drawn to the synopsis.
There was a constant sense of mystery around who the man is and why Jane calls him. I liked how Austin constantly connected the angry calls with calling someone you like, it was hilarious. Admittedly, I was expecting something darker than the reason we got but never mind that. The calls didn't just add mystery but revealed Jane's character to the reader in a way no description could possibly have. And boy oh boy was Jane a character. Her sass and sarcasm literally gave me life. All the other characters were fully-fleshed and unique and when I use the latter word BY GOD I MEAN IT. They were all crazy. This book was crazy.
Moreover, I'm pretty sure most of us reading the book have nothing in common with Jane or with any other characters (at least I didn't) because as I mentioned they are all unique but I literally was reading this with as much interest as I would have reading my best friend's diary which she burned after her sisters-mom read it. LIKE I WANTED TO READ THAT THING SO BAD.
This story is dark, full with exploration of mental health and how it produces discriminating labels (Psychology people, Rosenhan would've loved this!!), drug abuse, the faulty rehabilitation process of people with mental illness, dehumanising conditions of psych wards, self-destruction, suicidal ruminations, discriminations against disabled people and angst (so much of it) but Austin maintained humour vigilantly and had me chuckling throughout.
Overall, this book is unconventional, succinct, angry but with "humour which offsets the madness brilliantly" (as an other awesome reviewer said). It is no bullshit, no nothing just pure amazingness of a well-crafted tale accompanied with amazing writing. BUY IT, READ IT, GET THE AUTHOR TO PRODUCE MORE WORK!
On a less caps lock note Austin's voice is definitely worth checking out and this will make you laugh and feel morose simultaneously. At the end you'll sit wondering what the hell you read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you didn't get it by now.
Read Harder 2018: 20. A book with a cover you hate.
The BookBum Club: Apr theme - Short And Sweet – Read a book that's under 200 pages.
(Trigger warnings mentioned below)
First off, the cover of the book is very fitting for the story and the protagonist but I dislike it nevertheless. Now that that's aside, let's talk about how this under 200 pages novella is a FREAKIN' BOMB!
The writing was absolutely gorgeous, filled to the brink with wry humour, exaggeration and perfect flow. However, I'll argue that the strange, human premise and plot made the writing shine. I hardly describe the premise of books in my reviews but for the sake of what I'm promoting which is READ THIS YOU GUYS, I'll make an exception. Our pill-popping protagonist, Jane, is a telemarketer with mental health issues who calls people using different names every time and one particular man is her target everyday despite his vehement disgust for her. I, for one, was instantly drawn to the synopsis.
There was a constant sense of mystery around who the man is and why Jane calls him. I liked how Austin constantly connected the angry calls with calling someone you like, it was hilarious. Admittedly, I was expecting something darker than the reason we got but never mind that. The calls didn't just add mystery but revealed Jane's character to the reader in a way no description could possibly have. And boy oh boy was Jane a character. Her sass and sarcasm literally gave me life. All the other characters were fully-fleshed and unique and when I use the latter word BY GOD I MEAN IT. They were all crazy. This book was crazy.
Moreover, I'm pretty sure most of us reading the book have nothing in common with Jane or with any other characters (at least I didn't) because as I mentioned they are all unique but I literally was reading this with as much interest as I would have reading my best friend's diary which she burned after her sisters-mom read it. LIKE I WANTED TO READ THAT THING SO BAD.
This story is dark, full with exploration of mental health and how it produces discriminating labels (Psychology people, Rosenhan would've loved this!!), drug abuse, the faulty rehabilitation process of people with mental illness, dehumanising conditions of psych wards, self-destruction, suicidal ruminations, discriminations against disabled people and angst (so much of it) but Austin maintained humour vigilantly and had me chuckling throughout.
Overall, this book is unconventional, succinct, angry but with "humour which offsets the madness brilliantly" (as an other awesome reviewer said). It is no bullshit, no nothing just pure amazingness of a well-crafted tale accompanied with amazing writing. BUY IT, READ IT, GET THE AUTHOR TO PRODUCE MORE WORK!
On a less caps lock note Austin's voice is definitely worth checking out and this will make you laugh and feel morose simultaneously. At the end you'll sit wondering what the hell you read. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you didn't get it by now.
July 10, 2017
dark, intriguing, binge-able
January 26, 2022
emily i have a crush on u
November 6, 2023
in this house we stan emily r. austin
June 30, 2025
What the hell
February 15, 2025
“if you, for whatever deviant reason, feel compelled to sexualize that, then that indignity is on you.”
such an authentic, captivating and hilarious character voice. this one is dark, and i would absolutely recommend checking for trigger warnings (miscarriage, drug abuse, alcohol dependency, self-mutilation, depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, sexual assault, and attempted suicide to name a few) before starting.
it speaks broadly about the cracks existing in the rehabilitation process, and what can happen when things go unchecked. such a memorable story for sure.
such an authentic, captivating and hilarious character voice. this one is dark, and i would absolutely recommend checking for trigger warnings (miscarriage, drug abuse, alcohol dependency, self-mutilation, depression, anxiety, childhood trauma, sexual assault, and attempted suicide to name a few) before starting.
it speaks broadly about the cracks existing in the rehabilitation process, and what can happen when things go unchecked. such a memorable story for sure.
Read
October 18, 2024 I would read her grocery list
September 12, 2022
4.25 stars
If you must know, this was an impulse read.
The kind where you’re scrolling through your GR feed and your interest gets piqued by one of your friend’s reviews (shout out to Anna Avian for this one because I never even had this on my radar) alongside the almost Microsoft Paint vibes of the cover and the thoroughly engaging synopsis that goes along with it.
So of course I couldn’t bloody put it down.
This was dark and disturbing but in the way that true crime can be, and it was also gruelling and incredibly tragic at the same time. It’s a deep dive and character analysis of a troubled telemarketer namedSamantha Jane, who never gives the same name twice when making calls at her job and spends a good portion of her days calling the same aggressively vulgar man over and over in an effort to make his life miserable.
Why?
Because she’s loyal and gets upset at injustice in the world (though it’s often hard to tell) and because of her rather wretched past in her childhood and through the penal system she is more than a little fucked up, so she tends to go to extremes with her actions in order to numb the pain.
This novella contains an almost insurmountable number of triggering content, so I’d advise looking up content warnings prior to picking it up. Some but not all include: depression, self mutilation, sexual assault, sexual harassment, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, denied abortion, emotional abuse, miscarriage, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicidal idealization. It’s not an easy read by any means, so go into prepared for sure.
And yet, despite the entirely dismal nature of much of the story, there’s also such black and dark humour to Jane’s narrative voice. She can be utterly detached but you can still pick up on her underlying emotions throughout the tale, and it makes her understandingly unlikable but also so human that you can’t help but feel for her.
The writing of this story is repetitive, with callbacks to earlier passages and moments in Jane’s past and it is so fluid that I sped through this without even realizing it.
It also, for those mood readers out there who may indulge in a little non-chronological reading from time to time, is rather eclectic in nature; it’s snapshots and vignettes of Jane’s past and present intermingling into a rather chaotic and growing set of knots but my word is it ever enticing. I read the first 50 pages and then read backwards from the end inwards to finish it off and had no problems doing so.
This isn’t really a story that you recommend to other readers unless they’re already a fan of the author’s work, but if I were pitching it, I’d stick with what the synopsis presents because that’s what drew me in at first. Once you start, it quickly suckers you in whether you want it to or not, and by the end, you come away from it with this question as to what the fuck you just indulged in.
All I can really say, is that I started my Sunday with this novella and I do not regret it.
If you must know, this was an impulse read.
The kind where you’re scrolling through your GR feed and your interest gets piqued by one of your friend’s reviews (shout out to Anna Avian for this one because I never even had this on my radar) alongside the almost Microsoft Paint vibes of the cover and the thoroughly engaging synopsis that goes along with it.
So of course I couldn’t bloody put it down.
This was dark and disturbing but in the way that true crime can be, and it was also gruelling and incredibly tragic at the same time. It’s a deep dive and character analysis of a troubled telemarketer named
Why?
Because she’s loyal and gets upset at injustice in the world (though it’s often hard to tell) and because of her rather wretched past in her childhood and through the penal system she is more than a little fucked up, so she tends to go to extremes with her actions in order to numb the pain.
This novella contains an almost insurmountable number of triggering content, so I’d advise looking up content warnings prior to picking it up. Some but not all include: depression, self mutilation, sexual assault, sexual harassment, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, denied abortion, emotional abuse, miscarriage, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicidal idealization. It’s not an easy read by any means, so go into prepared for sure.
And yet, despite the entirely dismal nature of much of the story, there’s also such black and dark humour to Jane’s narrative voice. She can be utterly detached but you can still pick up on her underlying emotions throughout the tale, and it makes her understandingly unlikable but also so human that you can’t help but feel for her.
The writing of this story is repetitive, with callbacks to earlier passages and moments in Jane’s past and it is so fluid that I sped through this without even realizing it.
It also, for those mood readers out there who may indulge in a little non-chronological reading from time to time, is rather eclectic in nature; it’s snapshots and vignettes of Jane’s past and present intermingling into a rather chaotic and growing set of knots but my word is it ever enticing. I read the first 50 pages and then read backwards from the end inwards to finish it off and had no problems doing so.
This isn’t really a story that you recommend to other readers unless they’re already a fan of the author’s work, but if I were pitching it, I’d stick with what the synopsis presents because that’s what drew me in at first. Once you start, it quickly suckers you in whether you want it to or not, and by the end, you come away from it with this question as to what the fuck you just indulged in.
All I can really say, is that I started my Sunday with this novella and I do not regret it.
August 4, 2017
The blurb was definitely what intrigued me. A telemarketer who uses a different name every time she calls? Even though I expected a light, fun read the experience of Oh Honey was eye opening. The books gets dark quite fast, but even through all the madness, through all the spiraling out of control, Emily Austen had me chuckling throughout.
So here I am reading yet another broken character. I don’t have anything in common with Jane but that didn’t keep me from enjoying Jane’s character or the book. What I loved most about Jane was her chameleon like quality.
Oh Honey points the finger at what happens when things go unchecked. It brings into focus the faults in our country’s rehabilitation process and is a definite reminder that there are too many Janes out there that need help.
Oh Honey is a quick, angry read but the humour offsets the madness brilliantly. Emily Austen’s first novel is certainly an eye opener into mental health issues. She’s definitely a voice that is worth checking out.
An e-galley of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for my thoughts and review.
So here I am reading yet another broken character. I don’t have anything in common with Jane but that didn’t keep me from enjoying Jane’s character or the book. What I loved most about Jane was her chameleon like quality.
Oh Honey points the finger at what happens when things go unchecked. It brings into focus the faults in our country’s rehabilitation process and is a definite reminder that there are too many Janes out there that need help.
Oh Honey is a quick, angry read but the humour offsets the madness brilliantly. Emily Austen’s first novel is certainly an eye opener into mental health issues. She’s definitely a voice that is worth checking out.
An e-galley of this novel was provided by the publisher in exchange for my thoughts and review.
February 15, 2024
Our FMC Jane is the newest addition to the large place in my heart for unhinged and unreliable female narrators. 🫶
Jane works in a call centre and spends most of her energy during work hours harassing a man at the centre of a personal vendetta he is none the wiser too, each call becoming more erratic. When she’s not at work, you’ll find Jane meeting with her parole officer, taking anything offered to her and lying about every aspect of her life.
If you enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation or Boy Parts as much as I did, this is definitely a rec for you! In the same fashion, this story gets more strange by the page and I was absolutely hooked. I don’t want to give too much away but if this sounds like your thing and you check trigger warnings beforehand then pick it up!
Jane works in a call centre and spends most of her energy during work hours harassing a man at the centre of a personal vendetta he is none the wiser too, each call becoming more erratic. When she’s not at work, you’ll find Jane meeting with her parole officer, taking anything offered to her and lying about every aspect of her life.
If you enjoyed My Year of Rest and Relaxation or Boy Parts as much as I did, this is definitely a rec for you! In the same fashion, this story gets more strange by the page and I was absolutely hooked. I don’t want to give too much away but if this sounds like your thing and you check trigger warnings beforehand then pick it up!
December 11, 2022
A reminder that everyone has a story. Every person you judge, every lost soul, every addict, every in-patient, every coworker, every customer. They all come from somewhere, and that somewhere is often painful. As sad as this story is it is the small bits of humanity that stand out for me. Ivy who thinks about who everyone might have been as a child. Keats who worries about his troubled roommate in his own messed up way. Frank who likes pens and buys his only friend a piece of cake. The nurse, who can only offer a heartfelt “oh, honey” in the face of so much wrong.
A short and important read that I think more people should check out.
A short and important read that I think more people should check out.
July 25, 2017
Maybe it's because I have a good friend who has mental health problems, does drugs and spent a long time working at a research survey company in Ottawa(haha) and heard many many of his stories, but this book was exactly what I needed today. It was brief, and angry, and perfectly dry humoured like i imagine Jane to be. I love that when she is in a dark and depressed place, Jane comforts herself by reminding herself how low she really is. Too close to home? Perhaps, but I loved it. I loved all of it.
July 29, 2017
An absolutely provoking, unhinged and uncompromising story on mental illness.
It is loosely centred around the main character's soul-crushing (verified through my own personal experience) job in a call centre and the unapologetic 'fun' she tries to derive from it. It also highlights the callous treatment of those with mental illness by the professionals apparently set to 'fix' them which I feel is often missing from books of this nature.
The MC is gripping, impossibly flawed yet in utter self-denial that I couldn't help falling under her spell and having a reluctant affinity with some of her actions and thoughts.
I loved this strange book and because of this it had me (halfheartedly) questioning my decency as a human. There is nothing funny about another being's self-destruction YET their were numerous times I found myself unable to hold back a chuckle. This is a testament to the electric writing which is dark, sardonic and witty. I could visualise everything so clearly in this book that it was as though I were watching a movie. In fact Rooney Mara was whom I cast as the MC!
Great book but not for the light/sensitive hearted.
It is loosely centred around the main character's soul-crushing (verified through my own personal experience) job in a call centre and the unapologetic 'fun' she tries to derive from it. It also highlights the callous treatment of those with mental illness by the professionals apparently set to 'fix' them which I feel is often missing from books of this nature.
The MC is gripping, impossibly flawed yet in utter self-denial that I couldn't help falling under her spell and having a reluctant affinity with some of her actions and thoughts.
I loved this strange book and because of this it had me (halfheartedly) questioning my decency as a human. There is nothing funny about another being's self-destruction YET their were numerous times I found myself unable to hold back a chuckle. This is a testament to the electric writing which is dark, sardonic and witty. I could visualise everything so clearly in this book that it was as though I were watching a movie. In fact Rooney Mara was whom I cast as the MC!
Great book but not for the light/sensitive hearted.
January 23, 2022
emily austin does not miss!!!!!!!!!!! i love unhinged women
August 15, 2017
This was a strange read in which we learn about the MC, Jane, and how she works for a telemarketing company, and is constantly calling one specific customer over and over again. Pretending to be someone else each time she calls, but still effectively driving the man on the other side of the phone to become increasingly agitated as the story goes on.
Jane does not have a great POV to read from. Her life generally sucks. She’s a compulsive liar who has no friends, a drug issue that presents its own sub-list of issues, and a past that doesn’t really come to light till later in the book. I really just felt like she ruined the lives of everyone around her, and honestly didn’t really feel like the story was funny at all. Just really sad because it feels like such a common thread for so many people. There is a slight twist with regards to why she continues to call the same “customer” over and over again, but the knightly reasons that started it were not justified by the despicable person she was herself. And in the end, she ends up hurting the people she was half-assedly fighting for anyway. The ending was only slightly surprising, but even after learning what the “customer” did to gain Jane’s wrath, his comeuppance was way more than what he deserved, and I actually felt like the whole world would’ve benefited from a reversal of the roles we see at the very tale end of the story.
I’m still glad I read the story, and did enjoy it for the darkness that it was, but probably wouldn’t recommend it because I don’t know many people that would truly enjoy reading about this girl’s dumpster dive of a life.
I received this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jane does not have a great POV to read from. Her life generally sucks. She’s a compulsive liar who has no friends, a drug issue that presents its own sub-list of issues, and a past that doesn’t really come to light till later in the book. I really just felt like she ruined the lives of everyone around her, and honestly didn’t really feel like the story was funny at all. Just really sad because it feels like such a common thread for so many people. There is a slight twist with regards to why she continues to call the same “customer” over and over again, but the knightly reasons that started it were not justified by the despicable person she was herself. And in the end, she ends up hurting the people she was half-assedly fighting for anyway. The ending was only slightly surprising, but even after learning what the “customer” did to gain Jane’s wrath, his comeuppance was way more than what he deserved, and I actually felt like the whole world would’ve benefited from a reversal of the roles we see at the very tale end of the story.
I’m still glad I read the story, and did enjoy it for the darkness that it was, but probably wouldn’t recommend it because I don’t know many people that would truly enjoy reading about this girl’s dumpster dive of a life.
I received this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2017
What did I just read?! Darkly funny and disturbing. This is a fast read, that takes a sharp turn.
December 19, 2024
Jane is in her 20's and has a soulless job as a telemarketer. She's used to getting hung up on and taking all sorts of abuse from callers. There's one particular person that she calls on a regular basis just to hear more potent doses of verbal bile. The issue is, Jane has a very difficult past and tends to cover it up with blatant and colourful lies. Impressive novel from a Canadian author I'll be exploring in the future.
July 30, 2025
she is not that small a girl.
January 14, 2022
emily austin u have done it again
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