What do you think?
Rate this book
West Side Honey
Cleo has a few things going on. Two beautiful kids and a less beautiful ex-husband, a share house arrangement with her long-term bestie Jude (complete with a third child, also beautiful) and an underperforming florist business. Actually, the shop could be beautiful too, it’s just that Cleo hasn’t got time to think about it.
Her new week-on week-off custody schedule is about to change all that. She can put her own needs first for once—take a dance class, fix up the shop, even think about dating. Not that she’s looking for anything serious, but she’s open to exploring what she wants.
Which, it turns out, is a lot. Maybe too much?
But how can you work out what you really, really want unless you try a bit of everything?
Her new week-on week-off custody schedule is about to change all that. She can put her own needs first for once—take a dance class, fix up the shop, even think about dating. Not that she’s looking for anything serious, but she’s open to exploring what she wants.
Which, it turns out, is a lot. Maybe too much?
But how can you work out what you really, really want unless you try a bit of everything?
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2023
17 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
About the author
Claire Christian
6 books245 followersClaire Christian is a novelist and playwright who lives in Brisbane.
Claire’s debut young adult novel BEAUTIFUL MESS won the 2016 Text Publishing Text Prize. It has been translated into four languages across five different countries – and counting. She is currently working on adapting it to film. In 2019 she secured a three-book deal with Text Publishing, the first of which will be released in October 2020. It’s Been A Pleasure, Noni Blake is a pleasure seeking, queer, romantic comedy.
Claire has written a bunch of plays you can read; TALKING TO BRICK WALLS, LYSA AND THE FREEBORN DAMES, THE LANDMINE IS ME and HEDONSIM’S SECOND ALBUM.
She has had the great joy of directing Michelle Law’s smash-hit play SINGLE ASIAN FEMALE from 2017. Claire is a proud member of the theatre collective THE MAMAS BOYS.
Claire has over fifteen years’ experience teaching, and facilitating, across multiple education and community sectors; where she has mostly works with teenagers helping them to tell excellent stories.
Claire’s debut young adult novel BEAUTIFUL MESS won the 2016 Text Publishing Text Prize. It has been translated into four languages across five different countries – and counting. She is currently working on adapting it to film. In 2019 she secured a three-book deal with Text Publishing, the first of which will be released in October 2020. It’s Been A Pleasure, Noni Blake is a pleasure seeking, queer, romantic comedy.
Claire has written a bunch of plays you can read; TALKING TO BRICK WALLS, LYSA AND THE FREEBORN DAMES, THE LANDMINE IS ME and HEDONSIM’S SECOND ALBUM.
She has had the great joy of directing Michelle Law’s smash-hit play SINGLE ASIAN FEMALE from 2017. Claire is a proud member of the theatre collective THE MAMAS BOYS.
Claire has over fifteen years’ experience teaching, and facilitating, across multiple education and community sectors; where she has mostly works with teenagers helping them to tell excellent stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 25, 2023
4.5★s
West Side Honey is the third novel by Australian playwright and author, Claire Christian. The eighteen months since thirty-seven-year-old florist, Cleo Novak has split from her husband have been filled with work at West Side Honey, and caring for her daughter, Frankie and son, Andy. Luckily she and her best friend Jude have set up what they call their “mummune”, two mums, three kids and lots of fun and support for each other.
Then her ex agrees to a week on, week off arrangement, and suddenly, she has a degree of freedom. Once she overcomes the guilt and worry at handing over her babies into his care, she’s convinced by Jude to get out there and have some fun. Mixed success at hooking up for some much-needed sex sees her friend and employee at her florist, Farida helping her out. Farida jumps at the chance to become her dating app broker, initiating contact on Cleo’s behalf with men she deems have potential.
Damage repair to her front of shop after a car crash yields a hot carpenter, from whom she tries, with difficulty, to maintain a professional distance. Her best dating app outcomes are a non-binary barista and a non-monogamous librarian. Also in the mix are her very supportive parents, a wise counsellor whose advice is always sound, and a dance instructor skilled at empowering the women she teaches.
There’s plenty of dark humour in Cleo’s various dating encounters, which involve both disappointing and highly satisfactory experiences. Because ‘My bar was set so bloody low’ with her terrible ex, it takes Cleo quite a bit of time, and a few life dramas, to discover exactly what she wants, and that she’s allowed to ask for it, that she deserves to be happy. With that honesty comes acceptance that conventional relationships are not her only choice.
Readers should be aware that this is a tale with quite a lot of sex, some of it explicit, and that the characters do freely use expletives. Christian’s latest offering is funny, candid, entertaining, and thought-provoking.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
West Side Honey is the third novel by Australian playwright and author, Claire Christian. The eighteen months since thirty-seven-year-old florist, Cleo Novak has split from her husband have been filled with work at West Side Honey, and caring for her daughter, Frankie and son, Andy. Luckily she and her best friend Jude have set up what they call their “mummune”, two mums, three kids and lots of fun and support for each other.
Then her ex agrees to a week on, week off arrangement, and suddenly, she has a degree of freedom. Once she overcomes the guilt and worry at handing over her babies into his care, she’s convinced by Jude to get out there and have some fun. Mixed success at hooking up for some much-needed sex sees her friend and employee at her florist, Farida helping her out. Farida jumps at the chance to become her dating app broker, initiating contact on Cleo’s behalf with men she deems have potential.
Damage repair to her front of shop after a car crash yields a hot carpenter, from whom she tries, with difficulty, to maintain a professional distance. Her best dating app outcomes are a non-binary barista and a non-monogamous librarian. Also in the mix are her very supportive parents, a wise counsellor whose advice is always sound, and a dance instructor skilled at empowering the women she teaches.
There’s plenty of dark humour in Cleo’s various dating encounters, which involve both disappointing and highly satisfactory experiences. Because ‘My bar was set so bloody low’ with her terrible ex, it takes Cleo quite a bit of time, and a few life dramas, to discover exactly what she wants, and that she’s allowed to ask for it, that she deserves to be happy. With that honesty comes acceptance that conventional relationships are not her only choice.
Readers should be aware that this is a tale with quite a lot of sex, some of it explicit, and that the characters do freely use expletives. Christian’s latest offering is funny, candid, entertaining, and thought-provoking.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.
July 5, 2023
West Side Honey by Claire Christian
Rom-com | Dating
•Cleo is balancing two children between her ex-husband. The balancing act gets even more complicated with her career and searching for her new potential love interest.
•I was giggling with delight with the first few chapters of this book. I adored the struggle of co-parenting portrayed. I like how this book opened up my view of social norms of marriage/relationships. What rocked me was the disappearance of one character which derailed where I thought the story was going and I couldn’t find the thrill after that major plot twist. I’m sure other reader may enjoy the ending. But it was a big flaw for me.
Feels: empowering, inclusive and fun
★★★ 3/5
Rom-com | Dating
•Cleo is balancing two children between her ex-husband. The balancing act gets even more complicated with her career and searching for her new potential love interest.
•I was giggling with delight with the first few chapters of this book. I adored the struggle of co-parenting portrayed. I like how this book opened up my view of social norms of marriage/relationships. What rocked me was the disappearance of one character which derailed where I thought the story was going and I couldn’t find the thrill after that major plot twist. I’m sure other reader may enjoy the ending. But it was a big flaw for me.
Feels: empowering, inclusive and fun
★★★ 3/5
June 8, 2023
Somewhat spoilerish review
I clicked to download the library audiobook due to its cover and hoped it would be the lighter good read I was after.
It was nice to discover it was an Australian romance.
Thirty-something-year-old Cleo is a single mother of two under five-year-olds. She's a florist, owns her own business but she's struggling. Her ex is an alcoholic with many issues. As it seems to be a genetic component of all women, Cleo feels guilt about everything, about divorcing, about not having seen the red flags regarding her relationship with her ex, for giving in too often etc. Many of the single motherhood aspects and the character's qualms and struggles felt very realistic.
Pushed by her best friend and housemate and her employee, Cleo decides to go on Tinder. She's planned to have 20 dates.
There are a few bad dates, but also a couple of promising ones. Cleo is determined to take it easy and just have fun. Lots of sexual encounters occur, some of them, multi-orgasmic. I was, you go, girl, good for you, but also, I didn't want all the sex details - that's on me, I'll admit it.
Lo and behold, Cleo doesn't just find one decent man, there are two in the fold. And they say there are slim pickings out there... ;-) Gabe, a British expat, is a librarian, but not into monogamous relationships. I rolled my eyes.
Archer is a tradie (what we call tradesmen in Australia), he fixed her shop's window and did other repairs. He's hot, kind and quite in touch with his feelings and knows what he wants - incredibly enough, he says he wants a woman who's honest and knows what she wants. Ha! I laughed at that. I also told myself off for take it so seriously, after all, it's a romance, it's not supposed to be realistic, it's aspirational etc.
Both Gabe and Archer are pretty decent men, not to mention so in touch with their feelings and respectful and also very good at sex. Lucky Cleo. It's truth universally known that men are keen on single mothers who aren't in their twenties anymore :-). Sorry, I can't help myself.
I may have been dubious/jealous of Cleo's energy, as a full-time, business owner, and mother of two who's also able to have all-night sex with different men, on different nights.
Anyway, those were some of my grumbles as a curmudgeonly, middle-aged, sceptic woman.
If you're willing to go with the flow, you'll enjoy this as it's a competently written novel, about a woman's empowerment and self-discovery, a novel that tried to break the mould by turning some common scenarios on their head - which I'll have to commend the author for doing so.
I clicked to download the library audiobook due to its cover and hoped it would be the lighter good read I was after.
It was nice to discover it was an Australian romance.
Thirty-something-year-old Cleo is a single mother of two under five-year-olds. She's a florist, owns her own business but she's struggling. Her ex is an alcoholic with many issues. As it seems to be a genetic component of all women, Cleo feels guilt about everything, about divorcing, about not having seen the red flags regarding her relationship with her ex, for giving in too often etc. Many of the single motherhood aspects and the character's qualms and struggles felt very realistic.
Pushed by her best friend and housemate and her employee, Cleo decides to go on Tinder. She's planned to have 20 dates.
There are a few bad dates, but also a couple of promising ones. Cleo is determined to take it easy and just have fun. Lots of sexual encounters occur, some of them, multi-orgasmic. I was, you go, girl, good for you, but also, I didn't want all the sex details - that's on me, I'll admit it.
Lo and behold, Cleo doesn't just find one decent man, there are two in the fold. And they say there are slim pickings out there... ;-) Gabe, a British expat, is a librarian, but not into monogamous relationships. I rolled my eyes.
Archer is a tradie (what we call tradesmen in Australia), he fixed her shop's window and did other repairs. He's hot, kind and quite in touch with his feelings and knows what he wants - incredibly enough, he says he wants a woman who's honest and knows what she wants. Ha! I laughed at that. I also told myself off for take it so seriously, after all, it's a romance, it's not supposed to be realistic, it's aspirational etc.
Both Gabe and Archer are pretty decent men, not to mention so in touch with their feelings and respectful and also very good at sex. Lucky Cleo. It's truth universally known that men are keen on single mothers who aren't in their twenties anymore :-). Sorry, I can't help myself.
I may have been dubious/jealous of Cleo's energy, as a full-time, business owner, and mother of two who's also able to have all-night sex with different men, on different nights.
Anyway, those were some of my grumbles as a curmudgeonly, middle-aged, sceptic woman.
If you're willing to go with the flow, you'll enjoy this as it's a competently written novel, about a woman's empowerment and self-discovery, a novel that tried to break the mould by turning some common scenarios on their head - which I'll have to commend the author for doing so.
January 12, 2023
Sexy and empowering is just the tip of the iceberg of superlative verbs that could be used to describe the superb new contemporary romance novel from Claire Christian in the much anticipated (and not just from me if the conversations I've been having recently have been anything to go by) followup to It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake. What a delight it is to be lucky enough to get my hands on an advanced copy of West Side Honey.
This is a love letter to female friendships, a celebration of single mothers and the sacrifices they make for their children and, because it is a Claire Christian novel, a charming modernisation of the romcom tropes that doubles as a battle cry for fabulous women everywhere to celebrate their inner goddess and embrace their pleasures in whatever form they may take, despite the many soul deadening experiences on dating platforms with people like Drew (you'll see, and possibly cackle-vomit in response at seeing something so authentically awful reflected in our fictions.) Plus it's a romance from the person who brought Noni's viking so vividly to life so you should expect to meet some seriously delightful men along the way and, it should go without saying, this is not a PG-13 time. Insert multiple fire emoji here.
I've been sharing scenes and sentences with friends whilst reading and I don't think I'm alone in marvelling at the accuracy of the authors words in her cutting observations of humans and their relationship habits whilst also feeling warm and fuzzy at the kindness with which she treats her characters, and allows them to show to each other, even in difficult moments. The mirror she holds up to her readers is not to criticise but empower and support, to shine light on their strengths and encourage them to act on their dreams rather than instinctively minimise them. She lets her everyperson protagonist, Cleo, voice those classic internal struggles such as "what's the point in saying what you want when it will all go to shit anyway?" and then demonstrates the flaw in such self-talk.
Claire has already teased on her socials that the only way to followup the viking is to have two vikings so I don't think it would be spoiling anything to say that things can get complicated when you love one woman and have two delightful dreamboat men vying for your affection. Personally, as a librarian, I was cheering for Gabe the hot librarian as the love interest and hopefully when this book gets the success it richly deserves West Side Honey will boost my love life without attracting those women who liked the bookish guy slash serial killer or whatever from that Netflix show You.
I can't wait for other people to start reading this, especially those of you who bought multiple copies for all of the amazing women in your life, because West Side Honey is gonna bring all of the feels and we've got a lot to talk about.
File alongside Emily Henry as the peak of what this genre is currently doing.
This is a love letter to female friendships, a celebration of single mothers and the sacrifices they make for their children and, because it is a Claire Christian novel, a charming modernisation of the romcom tropes that doubles as a battle cry for fabulous women everywhere to celebrate their inner goddess and embrace their pleasures in whatever form they may take, despite the many soul deadening experiences on dating platforms with people like Drew (you'll see, and possibly cackle-vomit in response at seeing something so authentically awful reflected in our fictions.) Plus it's a romance from the person who brought Noni's viking so vividly to life so you should expect to meet some seriously delightful men along the way and, it should go without saying, this is not a PG-13 time. Insert multiple fire emoji here.
I've been sharing scenes and sentences with friends whilst reading and I don't think I'm alone in marvelling at the accuracy of the authors words in her cutting observations of humans and their relationship habits whilst also feeling warm and fuzzy at the kindness with which she treats her characters, and allows them to show to each other, even in difficult moments. The mirror she holds up to her readers is not to criticise but empower and support, to shine light on their strengths and encourage them to act on their dreams rather than instinctively minimise them. She lets her everyperson protagonist, Cleo, voice those classic internal struggles such as "what's the point in saying what you want when it will all go to shit anyway?" and then demonstrates the flaw in such self-talk.
Claire has already teased on her socials that the only way to followup the viking is to have two vikings so I don't think it would be spoiling anything to say that things can get complicated when you love one woman and have two delightful dreamboat men vying for your affection. Personally, as a librarian, I was cheering for Gabe the hot librarian as the love interest and hopefully when this book gets the success it richly deserves West Side Honey will boost my love life without attracting those women who liked the bookish guy slash serial killer or whatever from that Netflix show You.
I can't wait for other people to start reading this, especially those of you who bought multiple copies for all of the amazing women in your life, because West Side Honey is gonna bring all of the feels and we've got a lot to talk about.
File alongside Emily Henry as the peak of what this genre is currently doing.
April 6, 2023
West Side Honey is Brisbane author Claire Christian's latest novel. The story follows Cleo, a divorced mother of two, as she navigates her new normal of shared custody with her hopeless ex and the amount of time she now has on her hands to put her own needs at the forefront. Cleo finally has the time to invest in her flower shop, take a dance class and start dating.
The pacing of this story is quite slow, you often feel like nothing is really happening, you're just going through the paces of every day life. However, it's through this that we see Cleo branch out and work on / add these new things to her life, and subsequently we see how she grows.
WSH might initially come across as a romance novel, however don't be fooled. Whilst there is a lot of story around Cleo's dating life, ultimately it's a side plot. The story is more about navigating life through a new set of challenges. I found some the scenarios the MC faced to be relatable to a similar period in my own life, minus the fabulous mum-mune environment she has with Jude. The characters are likeable, even her ex at times.
If you're looking for a great read about a journey to self acceptance and living life on your own terms, West Side Honey is worth adding to your TBR.
Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for my copy.
The pacing of this story is quite slow, you often feel like nothing is really happening, you're just going through the paces of every day life. However, it's through this that we see Cleo branch out and work on / add these new things to her life, and subsequently we see how she grows.
WSH might initially come across as a romance novel, however don't be fooled. Whilst there is a lot of story around Cleo's dating life, ultimately it's a side plot. The story is more about navigating life through a new set of challenges. I found some the scenarios the MC faced to be relatable to a similar period in my own life, minus the fabulous mum-mune environment she has with Jude. The characters are likeable, even her ex at times.
If you're looking for a great read about a journey to self acceptance and living life on your own terms, West Side Honey is worth adding to your TBR.
Thanks to Netgalley and Text Publishing for my copy.
March 17, 2023
DNF at 70%. Normally I would not DNF a book so late in the game, but I wanted to give this a really good go due to the fact I liked the author's previous It's Been a Pleasure Noni Blake and that they are a Brisbane author. I do think you will like this book if you enjoy stories about women Going Through Something, about searching for meaning in modern life, about friendships and connections and Journey of Self-Discovery stuff. Full confession - I do not and ultimately I think that's why I did not finish it.
Our main character Cleo's got a horrid ex-husband who doesn't even do the bare minimum, a struggling flower shop and a non-existent love-life. She does, however, have great kids and the world's greatest friend - also a single mum who she lives with in a co-habitation situation where they parent their children together (sounds so amazing it could not work in real life?). She also has the coolest employee who is an outgoing, worldly Gen Z who does a drag king act in her spare time. Plus, great parents (everyone loves her dad) who help with babysitting whenever she needs. She starts questioning her life when her ex requests a change to their custody arrangements and she suddenly has childless time to fill.
Unfortunately the story and the main character just didn't hold my interest. Though I was happy enough reading the author's previous book about 20-something Noni on her sex-ventures around the world, I was strangely uninterested in Cleo's very similar story. The only difference between the two? Cleo is a 30-something single mother who decides to join the city's Tinder scene and promptly starts having a string of sexual encounters, but without the glamorous and exciting travel part.
So where's my issue? Perhaps that I was expecting a romance and this is not a traditional romance story. There's not one love interest but several and she is sleeping with all of them - Cleo is playing the field and no judgement, you do you girl. But unlike Noni Blake, these sexy times with multiple different guys are concurrent, not consecutive, and that somehow made a difference to me. She's open about the situation with all her partners, but I can't even compare it to a Why Choose romance (which I also enjoy) because the relationship dynamics are not the same. Again, it's not wrong, just different (unique?) and I don't think I've ever read any book with this kind of sexual relationship web.
Add to that the slow pace, a lot of navel-gazing and therapy-talk and a sub-plot where her ex looks like he's getting a redemption arc and I just wasn't excited to pick up the book each day. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to the the book blurb "how can you work out what you really, really want unless you try a bit of everything?" There's a lot of little bits of everything happening at the same time in the story; from Cleo dealing with her ex's behavior, a crisis at the flower shop, her dating adventures and her career worries, to navigating her relationship with her best friend and even taking up dancing lessons as well.
If you like contemporary fiction focused on women, I think you'll be rewarded by reading this as I can't fault the writing. Ultimately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Thanks to the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC, this book is out in April.
Our main character Cleo's got a horrid ex-husband who doesn't even do the bare minimum, a struggling flower shop and a non-existent love-life. She does, however, have great kids and the world's greatest friend - also a single mum who she lives with in a co-habitation situation where they parent their children together (sounds so amazing it could not work in real life?). She also has the coolest employee who is an outgoing, worldly Gen Z who does a drag king act in her spare time. Plus, great parents (everyone loves her dad) who help with babysitting whenever she needs. She starts questioning her life when her ex requests a change to their custody arrangements and she suddenly has childless time to fill.
Unfortunately the story and the main character just didn't hold my interest. Though I was happy enough reading the author's previous book about 20-something Noni on her sex-ventures around the world, I was strangely uninterested in Cleo's very similar story. The only difference between the two? Cleo is a 30-something single mother who decides to join the city's Tinder scene and promptly starts having a string of sexual encounters, but without the glamorous and exciting travel part.
So where's my issue? Perhaps that I was expecting a romance and this is not a traditional romance story. There's not one love interest but several and she is sleeping with all of them - Cleo is playing the field and no judgement, you do you girl. But unlike Noni Blake, these sexy times with multiple different guys are concurrent, not consecutive, and that somehow made a difference to me. She's open about the situation with all her partners, but I can't even compare it to a Why Choose romance (which I also enjoy) because the relationship dynamics are not the same. Again, it's not wrong, just different (unique?) and I don't think I've ever read any book with this kind of sexual relationship web.
Add to that the slow pace, a lot of navel-gazing and therapy-talk and a sub-plot where her ex looks like he's getting a redemption arc and I just wasn't excited to pick up the book each day. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to the the book blurb "how can you work out what you really, really want unless you try a bit of everything?" There's a lot of little bits of everything happening at the same time in the story; from Cleo dealing with her ex's behavior, a crisis at the flower shop, her dating adventures and her career worries, to navigating her relationship with her best friend and even taking up dancing lessons as well.
If you like contemporary fiction focused on women, I think you'll be rewarded by reading this as I can't fault the writing. Ultimately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Thanks to the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC, this book is out in April.
April 16, 2023
Cleo’s world has changed dramatically over the years. Her priorities being her kids and her business and she’s supported by her best friend and roomie and her child. Navigating co parenting with her ex husband and just trying to live.
Her new custody schedule flips her world and the week on week off arrangement gives her time to focus on herself for a brief moment. Dance classes are the first step, fixing the shop is next and last on the list is putting herself back out there in the dating world.
Cleo’s quickly finds its a lot and leaves her questioning the traditional norms and navigating though finding her happiness. There’s lows and highs, triumphs and heartbreak and a number of solid relationships that build the foundations of this book.
I can’t fault Claire’s writing, Cleo and Jude’s friendship is something close to my heart, navigating sharing a child and dating are challenging and putting ones needs first fall to the wayside. Claire does an incredible job of portraying that fine line between swimming and sinking, the people supporting being a continual life line for the moments when you just need someone in your corner. West Side Honey challenges the social norms and empowers you to believe that you deserve nothing but the best.
Her new custody schedule flips her world and the week on week off arrangement gives her time to focus on herself for a brief moment. Dance classes are the first step, fixing the shop is next and last on the list is putting herself back out there in the dating world.
Cleo’s quickly finds its a lot and leaves her questioning the traditional norms and navigating though finding her happiness. There’s lows and highs, triumphs and heartbreak and a number of solid relationships that build the foundations of this book.
I can’t fault Claire’s writing, Cleo and Jude’s friendship is something close to my heart, navigating sharing a child and dating are challenging and putting ones needs first fall to the wayside. Claire does an incredible job of portraying that fine line between swimming and sinking, the people supporting being a continual life line for the moments when you just need someone in your corner. West Side Honey challenges the social norms and empowers you to believe that you deserve nothing but the best.
April 22, 2023
Exactly what I wanted!! Such a steamy rom com but with the best message; lean into audacity, be true to you, ask for what you want and ‘raise that bar..and do not compromise about where it sits ever again’. My goodness it also gives you SO much to think about…relearning and systematic racism, the patriarchy, and non binary best living…it is so ‘bloody self-aware and lovely’…and how great is the idea that ‘we’re always going to have problems so we better make sure they’re good ones’
Could not put it down!
Could not put it down!
May 11, 2023
I guess it’s ironic to claim a rom com is unrealistic but the key to this genre, for me, is treading that fine line between fantasy & plausibility that keeps things interesting.
May 21, 2023
if I could give it 0 stars I would
February 20, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I really love reviewing Australian releases! (It makes me so proud to see what us Aussies are doing in this genre)
As a single mum in her 30s whose husband recently left her, this book hit me… hard. While it’s badged as romance, I ended up being in this for the therapy (which was quite excellent - thanks for that Claire Christian!)
Things I loved:
- Oh my gosh the friendships with Farida and Jude were sensational. I’ll call it now - Jude and Cleo were the real romance of this novel. I have a friendship like this and reading it on the page made me realise that *that* is true love.
- The very real portrayal of mum guilt. So relatable.
- Any time Cleo met with Dr Bogan (IYKYK).
*spoilers ahead*
Things that I struggled with (this heading feels too tough, but see elaborations below):
- Because I didn’t know that this book was going to end with two loves, I was HUGELY stressed about which one of the incredible leads Cleo would end up with. As an avid romance reader (incl. poly romances) I didn’t know what was going to happen and it seriously gave me sweats. Love triangles with wonderful people HURT! It’s completely badass and fantastic with the way it ended, but maybe the blurb needs to hint even more at the outcome? Anyway. I was stressed to the max for several chapters!
- I would have loved more sense of place - amp up the setting.
- I think I’m more jealous than anything, but Cleo finding Maverick, Archer and Gabe in such a short timeframe… who has that much success with dating so fast?! I don’t know if this lines up with reality - Cleo’s pretty lucky, hah!
In short: this was very empowering, and I think there is an audience of readers (cough me cough) who need to have the messages of self care and discovery in this book reinforced.
Finally. I noticed in the acknowledgments that the author thanked a librarian and mentioned that maybe this book would improve their dating life. I could go for a cute librarian, just saying.
As a single mum in her 30s whose husband recently left her, this book hit me… hard. While it’s badged as romance, I ended up being in this for the therapy (which was quite excellent - thanks for that Claire Christian!)
Things I loved:
- Oh my gosh the friendships with Farida and Jude were sensational. I’ll call it now - Jude and Cleo were the real romance of this novel. I have a friendship like this and reading it on the page made me realise that *that* is true love.
- The very real portrayal of mum guilt. So relatable.
- Any time Cleo met with Dr Bogan (IYKYK).
*spoilers ahead*
Things that I struggled with (this heading feels too tough, but see elaborations below):
- Because I didn’t know that this book was going to end with two loves, I was HUGELY stressed about which one of the incredible leads Cleo would end up with. As an avid romance reader (incl. poly romances) I didn’t know what was going to happen and it seriously gave me sweats. Love triangles with wonderful people HURT! It’s completely badass and fantastic with the way it ended, but maybe the blurb needs to hint even more at the outcome? Anyway. I was stressed to the max for several chapters!
- I would have loved more sense of place - amp up the setting.
- I think I’m more jealous than anything, but Cleo finding Maverick, Archer and Gabe in such a short timeframe… who has that much success with dating so fast?! I don’t know if this lines up with reality - Cleo’s pretty lucky, hah!
In short: this was very empowering, and I think there is an audience of readers (cough me cough) who need to have the messages of self care and discovery in this book reinforced.
Finally. I noticed in the acknowledgments that the author thanked a librarian and mentioned that maybe this book would improve their dating life. I could go for a cute librarian, just saying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2023
As soon as I saw Claire Christian’s new one on the shelves I had to have it! Her first book, It’s Been A Pleasure Noni Blake was one of my favourites of 2021. I loved this one too! It’s contemporary fiction with a romance flavour.
Cleo is finding her feet after her divorce. She’s got two young kids and a florist business that needs some more attention. She lives in her ‘modern commune’ with her bestie Jude and she’s ready to find herself again and get back out into the dating world!
The story was totally fresh, and inclusive. I especially loved how Cleo was able to embrace her sexuality again after being in a toxic relationship, and especially after having two kids. It was a nice reminder for young mums that we’re still there under our Mum role and our pile of responsibilities, we just have to let ourselves have the time and space to just be us. I find Christian great at inspiring readers to find their happy!
I also really loved the strength of Cleo’s relationship with her bestie Jude, and loved that they lived together with their kids. It was such a good representation of how you can build a modern day village!
There wasn’t just one straight storyline in West Side Honey, there was a balance of different themes: female friendships, business, family, marriage, dating and sex, grief and love. It was the perfect book to get me back into the habit of reading after my short maternity leave break! And I’m sure it would do the same for others!
Cleo is finding her feet after her divorce. She’s got two young kids and a florist business that needs some more attention. She lives in her ‘modern commune’ with her bestie Jude and she’s ready to find herself again and get back out into the dating world!
The story was totally fresh, and inclusive. I especially loved how Cleo was able to embrace her sexuality again after being in a toxic relationship, and especially after having two kids. It was a nice reminder for young mums that we’re still there under our Mum role and our pile of responsibilities, we just have to let ourselves have the time and space to just be us. I find Christian great at inspiring readers to find their happy!
I also really loved the strength of Cleo’s relationship with her bestie Jude, and loved that they lived together with their kids. It was such a good representation of how you can build a modern day village!
There wasn’t just one straight storyline in West Side Honey, there was a balance of different themes: female friendships, business, family, marriage, dating and sex, grief and love. It was the perfect book to get me back into the habit of reading after my short maternity leave break! And I’m sure it would do the same for others!
May 3, 2023
Really fun book, cute, inspirational and great characters. Just what I needed to read.
June 5, 2023
Oh Claire Christian! Claire’s novels either break my heart or fill me with joy. There is no in-between!
WEST SIDE HONEY is nothing but joy. I’ve seen the term ‘empowering’ used in so many reviews about this book & I whole heartedly agree! The whole book had me cheering & nodding. For me, it was the literary equivalent of pumping late ‘90s, early ‘00s pop hits to psyche myself up for a good day. Basically, WEST SIDE HONEY is a feel-good jam in a book.
I adored the maturity of the dialogue in this story. Wants & needs are expressed straight up & honestly. There is no miscommunication trope (urgh) in sight.
There were so many words of wisdom for the fantastic characters like Cleo & Jude. The kinds of things that I want the strong, brilliant women in my life to hear &, I realised while reading this, the kinds of things I need to listen to too. I’ve actually already bought & gifted a copy of this book to one such brilliant friend and I really feel like it’s the kind of book women in particular will want to share with the people they love and want to champion.
I’ll admit that the conclusion to WEST SIDE HONEY did leave me a little torn. It challenged me & is something I’m still pondering. I love Claire’s daring to create this story, knowing it will challenge readers, and I loved the exploration of relationships throughout the book.
Sexy & empowering. I adored this brilliant Aussie rom com!
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley.
WEST SIDE HONEY is nothing but joy. I’ve seen the term ‘empowering’ used in so many reviews about this book & I whole heartedly agree! The whole book had me cheering & nodding. For me, it was the literary equivalent of pumping late ‘90s, early ‘00s pop hits to psyche myself up for a good day. Basically, WEST SIDE HONEY is a feel-good jam in a book.
I adored the maturity of the dialogue in this story. Wants & needs are expressed straight up & honestly. There is no miscommunication trope (urgh) in sight.
There were so many words of wisdom for the fantastic characters like Cleo & Jude. The kinds of things that I want the strong, brilliant women in my life to hear &, I realised while reading this, the kinds of things I need to listen to too. I’ve actually already bought & gifted a copy of this book to one such brilliant friend and I really feel like it’s the kind of book women in particular will want to share with the people they love and want to champion.
I’ll admit that the conclusion to WEST SIDE HONEY did leave me a little torn. It challenged me & is something I’m still pondering. I love Claire’s daring to create this story, knowing it will challenge readers, and I loved the exploration of relationships throughout the book.
Sexy & empowering. I adored this brilliant Aussie rom com!
I received an eARC of this book via NetGalley.
April 7, 2023
I absolutely loved this book!! It was everything and had it all. It was hot, flirty, fun, real, funny, relatable and just brilliant! I laughed and I cried. And I binge read!! Couldn’t stop!
It was so empowering. Cleo reminds us that we don’t have to settle, we deserve to have what we want, no one should allow us to feel guilty and we shouldn’t put others before us!
Absolutely adored her friendships with Jude and Farida and how much they helped each other.
Thank you so much @text_publishing for sending me this copy in return for an honest review.
It was so empowering. Cleo reminds us that we don’t have to settle, we deserve to have what we want, no one should allow us to feel guilty and we shouldn’t put others before us!
Absolutely adored her friendships with Jude and Farida and how much they helped each other.
Thank you so much @text_publishing for sending me this copy in return for an honest review.
Read
February 8, 2024The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of West Side Honey
‘This warm, poignant novel is a love letter to what can happen when we take agency of our lives, and to the freedom and joy that waits for us on the other side of fear. If books could talk, Cleo and her charming cohort in West Side Honey would say to readers, you can sit with us, you’re welcome here. I laughed and cried and loved being in their beautiful company.’
Holly Ringland
‘West Side Honey does to your body what a scented bath, a sweaty sparkly dance session, an electric first kiss and an enormous unexpected bunch of flowers do - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. A thundering round of applause for Claire Christian, her brilliant hot-mess protagonist Cleo and excellent cast of delightfully written kids, friends and lovers.’
Kate Mildenhall
‘Claire Christian’s books are a gift to the romance genre. Christian tells big-hearted, super sexy and inclusive stories that leave you wanting more. West Side Honey is as flirty as it is empowering, and Cleo’s journey towards wholeness is one we can all aspire to. This is a book about figuring out what we want, and believing that we deserve nothing less.’
Michelle Law
‘West Side Honey serves up everything you’d want from a bingeable, indulgent rom-com, all the while remaining original and exciting…It is bound to win over many romance fans.’
Books+Publishing
‘Claire Christian [is] a multifaceted artist whose vibrant storytelling illuminates stages and hearts alike…She infuses her work with unapologetic brilliance, exploring themes of body positivity, pleasure, and the unfiltered joy of life. Claire’s stories not only entertain but also provoke reflection, celebrating the beauty of life’s intricacies while resonating deeply with audiences.’
Mackay and Whitsunday Life
‘This warm, poignant novel is a love letter to what can happen when we take agency of our lives, and to the freedom and joy that waits for us on the other side of fear. If books could talk, Cleo and her charming cohort in West Side Honey would say to readers, you can sit with us, you’re welcome here. I laughed and cried and loved being in their beautiful company.’
Holly Ringland
‘West Side Honey does to your body what a scented bath, a sweaty sparkly dance session, an electric first kiss and an enormous unexpected bunch of flowers do - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. A thundering round of applause for Claire Christian, her brilliant hot-mess protagonist Cleo and excellent cast of delightfully written kids, friends and lovers.’
Kate Mildenhall
‘Claire Christian’s books are a gift to the romance genre. Christian tells big-hearted, super sexy and inclusive stories that leave you wanting more. West Side Honey is as flirty as it is empowering, and Cleo’s journey towards wholeness is one we can all aspire to. This is a book about figuring out what we want, and believing that we deserve nothing less.’
Michelle Law
‘West Side Honey serves up everything you’d want from a bingeable, indulgent rom-com, all the while remaining original and exciting…It is bound to win over many romance fans.’
Books+Publishing
‘Claire Christian [is] a multifaceted artist whose vibrant storytelling illuminates stages and hearts alike…She infuses her work with unapologetic brilliance, exploring themes of body positivity, pleasure, and the unfiltered joy of life. Claire’s stories not only entertain but also provoke reflection, celebrating the beauty of life’s intricacies while resonating deeply with audiences.’
Mackay and Whitsunday Life
April 4, 2023
Maybe it’s because I don’t like romance or maybe it’s because the writing is just too cheesy for me.
If you like colleen Hoover (I absolutely don’t) but want a ‘woke’ Australian twist, then this is the book for you.
If you like colleen Hoover (I absolutely don’t) but want a ‘woke’ Australian twist, then this is the book for you.
April 19, 2024
Skim read through the last 2/3 of this one. I found the gratuitous sex scenes a bit unnecessary and graphic. Do women really act like this? Am I out of touch? Is this modern dating?
Sorry but this one was not for me
Sorry but this one was not for me
May 25, 2023
4.5★s
West Side Honey is the third novel by Australian playwright and author, Claire Christian. The audio version is narrated by Nisrine Amine. The eighteen months since thirty-seven-year-old florist, Cleo Novak has split from her husband have been filled with work at West Side Honey, and caring for her daughter, Frankie and son, Andy. Luckily she and her best friend Jude have set up what they call their “mummune”, two mums, three kids and lots of fun and support for each other.
Then her ex agrees to a week on, week off arrangement, and suddenly, she has a degree of freedom. Once she overcomes the guilt and worry at handing over her babies into his care, she’s convinced by Jude to get out there and have some fun. Mixed success at hooking up for some much-needed sex sees her friend and employee at her florist, Farida helping her out. Farida jumps at the chance to become her dating app broker, initiating contact on Cleo’s behalf with men she deems have potential.
Damage repair to her front of shop after a car crash yields a hot carpenter, from whom she tries, with difficulty, to maintain a professional distance. Her best dating app outcomes are a non-binary barista and a non-monogamous librarian. Also in the mix are her very supportive parents, a wise counsellor whose advice is always sound, and a dance instructor skilled at empowering the women she teaches.
There’s plenty of dark humour in Cleo’s various dating encounters, which involve both disappointing and highly satisfactory experiences. Because ‘My bar was set so bloody low’ with her terrible ex, it takes Cleo quite a bit of time, and a few life dramas, to discover exactly what she wants, and that she’s allowed to ask for it, that she deserves to be happy. With that honesty comes acceptance that conventional relationships are not her only choice.
Readers should be aware that this is a tale with quite a lot of sex, some of it explicit, and that the characters do freely use expletives. Christian’s latest offering is funny, candid, entertaining, and thought-provoking.
West Side Honey is the third novel by Australian playwright and author, Claire Christian. The audio version is narrated by Nisrine Amine. The eighteen months since thirty-seven-year-old florist, Cleo Novak has split from her husband have been filled with work at West Side Honey, and caring for her daughter, Frankie and son, Andy. Luckily she and her best friend Jude have set up what they call their “mummune”, two mums, three kids and lots of fun and support for each other.
Then her ex agrees to a week on, week off arrangement, and suddenly, she has a degree of freedom. Once she overcomes the guilt and worry at handing over her babies into his care, she’s convinced by Jude to get out there and have some fun. Mixed success at hooking up for some much-needed sex sees her friend and employee at her florist, Farida helping her out. Farida jumps at the chance to become her dating app broker, initiating contact on Cleo’s behalf with men she deems have potential.
Damage repair to her front of shop after a car crash yields a hot carpenter, from whom she tries, with difficulty, to maintain a professional distance. Her best dating app outcomes are a non-binary barista and a non-monogamous librarian. Also in the mix are her very supportive parents, a wise counsellor whose advice is always sound, and a dance instructor skilled at empowering the women she teaches.
There’s plenty of dark humour in Cleo’s various dating encounters, which involve both disappointing and highly satisfactory experiences. Because ‘My bar was set so bloody low’ with her terrible ex, it takes Cleo quite a bit of time, and a few life dramas, to discover exactly what she wants, and that she’s allowed to ask for it, that she deserves to be happy. With that honesty comes acceptance that conventional relationships are not her only choice.
Readers should be aware that this is a tale with quite a lot of sex, some of it explicit, and that the characters do freely use expletives. Christian’s latest offering is funny, candid, entertaining, and thought-provoking.
February 12, 2023
Cleo lives with her best friend Jude in the mummune with Cleo’s two kids Frankie and Andy and Jude’s son Perry. The mummune started after Cleo’s husband Doug ended their relationship. As well as being a single mother, Cleo is also a business owner of her floristry store West Side Honey. After a time of being own her own, and from the circumstances that lead her to initially meet hottie Archer, Cleo’s best friends Jude and Farida support Cleo to find her own pleasure. This starts with them helping Cleo to start dating different people and push her into finding her own joy in dance.
This book is EVERYTHING! Claire Christian you have done it again!!! This book just made me revele in my own joy and so reminded me of when I left my last relationship to find myself revelling in my own joy and self love and love of the relationships I had and placing real standards for myself! Standards that let me go on mainly only fabulous dates with men who embraced and celebrated my fabulousness until I finally met my one true love far too quickly as I like to constantly remind him! 😉 but one that makes me have room to still be me and love me and focus on my own life pleasures (as he damn well should do as I try and do for him too)! So if you’re seeking that joy - get onto this book immediately when it’s out April 4th 2023 because it is just simply deliciousness!
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This book is EVERYTHING! Claire Christian you have done it again!!! This book just made me revele in my own joy and so reminded me of when I left my last relationship to find myself revelling in my own joy and self love and love of the relationships I had and placing real standards for myself! Standards that let me go on mainly only fabulous dates with men who embraced and celebrated my fabulousness until I finally met my one true love far too quickly as I like to constantly remind him! 😉 but one that makes me have room to still be me and love me and focus on my own life pleasures (as he damn well should do as I try and do for him too)! So if you’re seeking that joy - get onto this book immediately when it’s out April 4th 2023 because it is just simply deliciousness!
Thank you to NetGalley and Text Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
April 4, 2023
I would describe West Side Honey as an empowering modern rom com with a kick arse feminist focus. Cleo is in her late thirties with two young kids, a dodgy ex-husband and a great share house set up with her best friend and her son. But her florist business is not going as well as it could and Cleo and her ex have just started a new week on week off custody arrangement which is freaking Cleo out. But it does mean she suddenly has free time to fill. This leads to Cleo focusing on herself and her needs more than she ever has before. While she joins a dance class and puts more effort into her business it also involves going on a serious amount of dates.
She ends up seeing several people and while I enjoyed how she gets to know them and how the relationships develop there is also lots of openness around casual relationships and potential non-monogamy which I found a bit hard to relate to as someone very much out of the dating scene. This is probably also why I found it a bit difficult to connect to the way many of the characters talked to each. Do people really speak so plainly and with suxh clear boundaries and a deep understanding of their emotions?? Everyone was so self-aware I felt a bit stunted emotionally in comparison! I definitely felt out of the loop with the way the characters interacted (I’m probably just too old!) but it was actually a refreshing story that didn't feel full of the standard tropes. Is that a contradictory comment??
Hmm anyway let me also emphasise that there is a LOT of sexy times in West Side Honey which may be your thing but was probably not quite mine this time round.
Thank you @text_publishing for my #gifted copy. Pick it up if you are keen to read a modern rom com with a cast of diverse and interesting characters with quite a bit of getting jiggy with it.
She ends up seeing several people and while I enjoyed how she gets to know them and how the relationships develop there is also lots of openness around casual relationships and potential non-monogamy which I found a bit hard to relate to as someone very much out of the dating scene. This is probably also why I found it a bit difficult to connect to the way many of the characters talked to each. Do people really speak so plainly and with suxh clear boundaries and a deep understanding of their emotions?? Everyone was so self-aware I felt a bit stunted emotionally in comparison! I definitely felt out of the loop with the way the characters interacted (I’m probably just too old!) but it was actually a refreshing story that didn't feel full of the standard tropes. Is that a contradictory comment??
Hmm anyway let me also emphasise that there is a LOT of sexy times in West Side Honey which may be your thing but was probably not quite mine this time round.
Thank you @text_publishing for my #gifted copy. Pick it up if you are keen to read a modern rom com with a cast of diverse and interesting characters with quite a bit of getting jiggy with it.
June 24, 2023
"This list is impres-sive, Cleo. It's a wonder you're functioning at all, to be honest?
Relief washes over me, and the constriction in my body feels different. It eases, and I breathe what feels like the deepest breath I've taken in a very long time. Just having someone else acknowledge that it's been a lot that it's been huge, and shit fels good. It feels relieving; I feel relieved. Like Im not crazy, like the fact I've been gripping so tightly to everything makes sense, but maybe I can let go a little bit. I'm still holding on, maybe just not so tightly.
Small steps. Then bigger ones will follow.
Relief washes over me, and the constriction in my body feels different. It eases, and I breathe what feels like the deepest breath I've taken in a very long time. Just having someone else acknowledge that it's been a lot that it's been huge, and shit fels good. It feels relieving; I feel relieved. Like Im not crazy, like the fact I've been gripping so tightly to everything makes sense, but maybe I can let go a little bit. I'm still holding on, maybe just not so tightly.
Small steps. Then bigger ones will follow.
April 16, 2023
I absolutely loved It's Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake so was very excited to receive an ARC from Text Publishing of Claire Christian's new release which follows Cleo, divorced mum of 2 and owner of West Side Honey a florist shop which isn't doing so well.
She lives with her best friend Jude and her child and I couldn't help but fall in love with Jude and the incredible friendship that they have. We follow Cleo as she discovers herself again. She dances, she dates and she learns about who she is and what she wants.
While there were parts of the book I struggled to relate to in regard to the casualness of the dating scene there were parts of the story that bought tears to my eyes as we follow along with Cleo on her journey.
Another wonderful novel from Claire Christian.
Thank you to Text Publishing for the gifted copy.
She lives with her best friend Jude and her child and I couldn't help but fall in love with Jude and the incredible friendship that they have. We follow Cleo as she discovers herself again. She dances, she dates and she learns about who she is and what she wants.
While there were parts of the book I struggled to relate to in regard to the casualness of the dating scene there were parts of the story that bought tears to my eyes as we follow along with Cleo on her journey.
Another wonderful novel from Claire Christian.
Thank you to Text Publishing for the gifted copy.
March 22, 2024
At first i was abit like what the hell am i reading, i was bored and then when i really got into the book. I absolutely loved how it became therapy for me and relatable on some levels. The part where the therapist talks about resentment and how its formed... lightbulb moments. I loved it. I also love how inclusive and open it was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2024
This was a refreshing read. I really loved the themes of ‘doing things for you’ and ‘stop doing what everyone else wants’. I’m not sure how I felt about the plot - it felt a little unrealistic at times and out of touch. Overall, it was well written and you couldn’t help but root for Cleo.
June 5, 2023
Loved this book right from the start.
April 7, 2023
Thank you to text publishing for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
Powerful, hungry and sexy.
Bursting with love, lust and problematic yet loveable leading characters, West Side Honey was a thrill of a ride to read. We follow the POV of Cleo - a single mum of two gorgeous children - who is navigating her way through her 30s. Paired with her bestie Jude, she sets out on a quest to fulfil her desires, and doesn’t let anything get in her way.
This was a feisty novel that demanded to be read. It was such a fun, fast-paced novel and I found myself flying through the pages. Cleo was so loveable and undeniably herself - she gave up on caring what people thought and was the perfect role model for her children.
Refusing to let her ex (aka the father of her kids) stop her, Cleo sets out to date men to find the perfect man for her. She also sets out to make her florist store - West Side Honey - the business she’s always wanted to have.
This was a thrilling read that screamed: love yourself, put yourself first and don’t let anything get in the way of what you love.
Perfect for fans of a strong, powerful leading female character. Bursting with fun, it made me laugh and feel so much.
Powerful, hungry and sexy.
Bursting with love, lust and problematic yet loveable leading characters, West Side Honey was a thrill of a ride to read. We follow the POV of Cleo - a single mum of two gorgeous children - who is navigating her way through her 30s. Paired with her bestie Jude, she sets out on a quest to fulfil her desires, and doesn’t let anything get in her way.
This was a feisty novel that demanded to be read. It was such a fun, fast-paced novel and I found myself flying through the pages. Cleo was so loveable and undeniably herself - she gave up on caring what people thought and was the perfect role model for her children.
Refusing to let her ex (aka the father of her kids) stop her, Cleo sets out to date men to find the perfect man for her. She also sets out to make her florist store - West Side Honey - the business she’s always wanted to have.
This was a thrilling read that screamed: love yourself, put yourself first and don’t let anything get in the way of what you love.
Perfect for fans of a strong, powerful leading female character. Bursting with fun, it made me laugh and feel so much.
May 1, 2023
I did not understand the connection with Gabe. Archer was SO much better? I was mad that this wasn’t just a happy ending with Archer!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
3.5 stars - really enjoyed, felt the end was a bit abrupt. Like the messages of doing what you want and need.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews