For the non-spoiler section of my review: I absolutely loved this book. I felt like this novel explored each of its subjects, from Grace as a character and all her struggles and growth, to her interactions with her family and friends, to her romance with Yuki, with utmost care and appreciation. Each topic felt like it really got the attention it deserved and was completely real and believable to me. At the same time, not only was the content explored well, but the style of this novel is absolutely mesmerizing. I was instantly drawn into this rich, tactile descriptions full of color, sound, and smell that were just an absolute delight to read. Capturing such a strong sensory aspect through the page is very impressive, and it really helped to draw me into the book! I felt like I could clearly picture just about every single scene and this little world. 

Of course, beyond just this beautiful prose, Honey Girl thrives on a fantastic cast of characters. As protagonist, Grace is given incredible depth and nuance, where all of her achievements and challenges feel so deeply realistic, and I was rooting for her 100% of the way and could understand when she didn't necessarily make the right choice, because those choices felt so grounded within her character. But just about every character just leaps off the page! They all felt like real people I could meet walking down the street or people I know, and I really got the sense of them all being people with their own lives and struggles outside of Grace, which added to the realism of this novel for me. I also loved the inclusion of both science and art within the text, through Grace's passion for astronomy and Yuki's inclusion of myth and monster in her podcast. I felt like the text really captured the love of the characters and the joy of these parts of life! Overall, Honey Girl was a deeply enjoyable experience for me.

For the more spoilery stuff:

I was deeply moved by Grace's struggles with her future and mental health. Through the careful, nuanced development of her stress and anger over all the years of hard work she's put in not being appreciated, the confrontations she has with her father over that future, and just the building, crushing pressure of her future, the development of her feelings and struggle all feels so real. There isn't really any way for me to say how I felt about her emotional struggles but to emphasize how deeply real they felt. The scenes throughout the ending of the book of her reconnecting with both her parents in different ways and finally seeking therapy really made me cry. I also really appreciated seeing such a candid, realistic portrayal of therapy, where she has to try a few different therapists before finding one that suits her, and the text actually shows the way Grace's thoughts and processing changes over her time in therapy to help her cope better. It also really felt like an ongoing process, where there's no single easy solution, but instead a lifetime of steps and processes that can slowly help. I just really enjoyed this portrayal and was really moved for Grace. The ending felt like a beautiful, hopeful conclusion for her story where she's genuinely more ready for this relationship and is moving forward on a path that she wants, rather than what's "best". I just love her relationship with Yuki so much and was so glad to see them both communicating and together at the end!!! It was a very satisfying end to a story that I absolutely loved.