“In the midst of the island’s sticky heat, sweet fragrances, and luscious tastes, there is a haunting that pulses through these magnetic pages—and our bold, lovable main character, Carina, must figure out why before it’s too late. Eerie, propulsive, and sumptuous, Honeysuckle and Bone is a trip to Jamaica you won’t soon forget.”
- Ayesha Curry, Sweet July Books , Sweet July Books
On the run from her own dark secrets, a teen girl becomes the nanny for a prestigious family on their extravagant Jamaican estate—but things aren’t quite as they seem, and she quickly discovers even paradise may be haunted.
ISBN
9781638931027
Language
English
Page count
320
Edition
Hardcover
Sale date
January 14, 2025
Dimensions
6 x 9
About the Book
Carina Marshall is looking to reinvent herself, and what better place to do it than Jamaica, her mother’s alluring homeland where she conveniently has access to an au pair gig for the wealthy and politically powerful Hall family. After months of being the target of vicious rumors and hate online (which she just might deserve), the luxurious Blackbead House seems to hold everything she wants, a world of mango trees, tropical breezes, and glamorous parties—and a place to disappear.
Once there, Carina joins up with her fellow junior staff members, the self-named Young Birds, and finds herself sinking right into her busy, but comfortable, new life. Yes, the Halls run a tight ship, and yes, there is some tension amongst the family, but she’s content flying under the radar, doing her job, and hanging out with her new friends—not least, the handsome and charming Aaron. But when inexplicable things start happening to her in the house, only getting worse each night, Carina realizes that someone—or something—is out to get her. Is it the house itself? The Halls? Or, worse, is it her own past catching up with her? With the help of Aaron, she must figure out what is haunting her, and fast, before she is forced out of Blackbead House for good.
Eerie, propulsive, and full of intrigue, Honeysuckle and Bone is a deliciously atmospheric, young adult novel, following an imperfect yet courageous teen as she seeks to remake herself in the homeland she always idealized, only to discover that new beginnings don’t always come easy.
Reviews
“Guilt and desperation saturate the pages as vividly as the Caribbean heat. Luminous and claustrophobic, Honeysuckle and Bone knows it’s not just the ghosts you can’t escape—it’s yourself. Carina’s accumulating lies make for a reading experience as acutely uncomfortable as bingeing a season of Dexter.”
“Honeysuckle and Bone will haunt your days and nights long after you’ve closed the book; this is a story that wraps you in warmth and lures you in with lush beauty, only for you to realize that the cold dread lurking beneath the vibrant tropical air has already worked its way under your skin. Here is proof that no matter where we go, our ghosts will always find us and demand a powerful reckoning—and that sometimes, it’s our own secrets that hound us harder than the dead.”
“In the midst of the island’s sticky heat, sweet fragrances, and luscious tastes, there is a haunting that pulses through these magnetic pages—and our bold, lovable main character, Carina, must figure out why before it’s too late. Eerie, propulsive, and sumptuous, Honeysuckle and Bone is a trip to Jamaica you won’t soon forget.”
“Immersive, beguiling, and teeming with sinister secrets, Honeysuckle and Bone is a tense coil of a mystery that crackles with energy and haunting, vivid beauty. The voice is magnetic, the setting is undeniably alive, and the ghosts are insistent with devastating truths. This is a gorgeous, pulse-pounding debut.”
“Honeysuckle and Bone is a gripping tale of Caribbean folklore and mysticism that pulled me in right away. Tobias brings Jamaica to life with vivid sights, sounds, and colors, creating a setting that is lush and imaginative. The story seamlessly blends horror with themes of grief, loss, and love, while also authentically exploring the bonds of found family. With unflinching social commentary on class and privilege, this haunting tale delves into what happens when secrets—and the dead—just won’t stay buried. Honeysuckle and Bone commands a space in the horror genre, and I’m here for it!”