Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic debut novel and it really delivered with the promised sapphic cottagecore vibes. While Marigold definitely gave "I'm not like other girls" vibes, I still don't hate her character. I think she had a really good background and I adored how her relationships with her family members were depicted. I also loved Lottie's character and I think she balanced Marigold out really well.

I love all the little beekeeping details and terms Shields managed to put into little scenes. I recognize many of the terms from living by a homestead apiary for a little over a year now and Shields nailed it.

If you're looking for complex magic systems and completely detailed explanations on all the history and lore, this is probably not the read for you. There seemed to be a few gaps there that confused me, but not enough to hinder my enjoyment of the novel. The few fighting scenes also weren't choreographed the best, but again, not enough to put me off of the novel.

I am looking forward to see what Shields writes next and to support her writing career!

This book was so beautiful! Forbidden love, magic, and bees set at a cozy cottage. This book was a cozy fantasy that was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read before. I found myself relating to Marigold, our main character. She is introverted, complex, compassionate and brave. We watch her navigate through a death, the journey of self-discovery, and finding a love she can never have. This book is deeply emotional and I found myself so deeply engrossed in the story. It was so poignant and inspiring and I felt deeply connected from the beginning to the end.

The Honey Witch is a charming, cozy fantasy with a light touch of magic and a quaint, small-town setting. Sydney J. Shields crafts a sweet, whimsical story with a lovable protagonist and moments of humor and warmth that make it an enjoyable, easy read. The magical elements add a fun twist without overwhelming the narrative.

That said, the plot is somewhat predictable, and some characters could have been developed more fully to give the story more depth. While the book is charming and pleasant, it doesn’t quite stand out in the crowded realm of magical cozy fiction.

Overall, The Honey Witch is a light and entertaining read—perfect for fans of gentle fantasy and cozy magic, though it doesn’t leave a strong lasting impression.

Fully immersive and gorgeous.
I am always fully on board for anything even hinting at witches so I obviously ran to read this, the fact that it’s also sapphic just made it that much sweeter.

This book is a beautiful blend of historical fiction and lyrical prose and just a beautiful story.

As always thank you to NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are mine.

*caution, spoilers*

This book moves at break-neck speed. At only about 10% through the book, we learn about Marigold's struggle with romance and societal pressure, her belief in magic, her grandmother suddenly showing up after years to tell her she's actually a witch, and her grandmother confessing that she is dying and Marigold must take over as Honey Witch of Innisfree. I wish there were more pages dedicated to Marigold's background, firmly laying the ground work for her struggles in early life. It might have made me more empathetic for her and excited about her new journey. The remainder of the book feels just as rushed in terms of plot. I think more time spent on worldbuilding and explanation about Marigold's internal misogyny despite being in a society that seems to be welcoming of queer relationships would have added clarity to her values.

Thank you to NetGalley and RedHook Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A delightfully cozy sapphic fantasy that reads like a stroll through a sun-drenched garden. Marigold’s honey-woven magic, set on the enchanting isle of Innisfree, is a sweet and subtle take on witchcraft—and it buzzes with charm. The slow-burn romance with grumpy-meets-sunshine energy feels both heartfelt and gentle, while underlying threats of curses and an Ash Witch keep the stakes quietly simmering. If you’re craving Bridgerton-style vibes with bees, spells, and a touch of fairy-tale whimsy, this one’s worth its weight in honey.

This book was fine, but a bit boring. I was intrigued by the premise but the story never picked up enough for me to remain interested in it.

ABSOLUTELY obsessed with this cozy and beautiful book. I don't have enought words to describe it but it became my personality for a good month or so.

I wanted to like this book. Cozy, witchy lesbians with magic that works with nature? Gorgeous in concept but kind of mediocre in execution.

I found Marigold to be a bit insufferable and the source of almost all of her suffering (not to victim blame). Also, call me jaded, but all the talk of soul mates gave me the ick.

Poetic prose on theme painted the world beautifully. The magical creatures were lovely, but some of the setting and plot devices were inconsistent and because I was already kind of done with the main character, forgiving them did not come easily.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into this one. This is only the second cozy fantasy I've read and I didn't care for the first one either, so this could definitely be an "it's not you, it's me" situation. I thought the premise of this sounded really interesting, but I couldn't get invested in the story. The writing and pace felt a bit too slow for me, and the beginning felt very info-dumpy. I did enjoy Marigold as a character, but that unfortunately wasn't enough to save this book for me.

In the 1800s, Marigold Claude feels like an outcast, overshadowed by her talented twin siblings and still without a husband. Her life shifts dramatically after she finds a luminous, light blue butterfly in a meadow. Upon her muddy return, she's confronted with her mother and a grandmother she hasn't seen in years. Her grandmother reveals a family secret: Marigold is a "honey witch." To her mother's horror, Marigold embraces her new identity and is taken to the family's island home. There, she's not only taught the ways of a honey witch but also learns of a powerful family curse that prevents them from ever finding true love.

I was completely enchanted by the author's writing and the vivid setting. The descriptions of Innisfree, the bees, and Mr. Benny felt so real that I was fully immersed in the world. While the ultimate resolution wasn't a total surprise, the emotional depth of the story and the journey to get there were breathtaking. The end was a deeply moving experience that left me in tears, and I'm so glad I chose to listen to it as an audiobook. This is a story that will resonate with me for a very long time.

This was so cozy and delightful, it was pride and prejudice meets practical magic with sweet sapphic love. This was the perfect low stakes reading I needed!

I tried to read this book and ended up DNFing it. I just didn't enjoy the book from the start. this did nothing for me, and I didn't want to continue reading a book I wasn't enjoying or didn't think it had potential, which it didn't for me. thank you to netgalley and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Honey Witch is a cozy fantasy-romance that delivers on atmosphere and vibes, but doesn’t always follow through with plot depth or character development. It’s ideal for readers who want something light, magical, and a bit romantic—with just a pinch of melancholy.

Set on the enchanting island of Bellmare, the story follows Marigold Claude, a young woman who unexpectedly inherits the role of the “Honey Witch,” a magical caretaker of the island with deep ties to nature and ancestral magic. There’s a slow-burn sapphic romance at the heart of it, and the book leans heavily into themes of healing, belonging, and gentle self-discovery.

Where The Honey Witch shines is in its lush descriptions and cottagecore aesthetic—there’s honey, flowers, ghosts, spells, and plenty of cozy rituals. Shields clearly aims to build a world that feels safe and soft, and in many ways she succeeds. But for readers hoping for strong stakes or complex relationships, the story may feel too simple or slow-moving.

The romantic arc is sweet but a little underdeveloped, and side characters tend to blur together. The emotional conflict is more hinted at than fully explored, and by the end, you might wish the characters had been allowed a bit more messiness or growth.

All in all, The Honey Witch is a warm, gentle read—perfect for curling up with on a rainy day—but it may not leave a lasting impression for those looking for something deeper or more original.

I enjoyed the book, and it was a cute read, but I was definitely lost at times. The beginning was a little slow for me, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had tried reading it in another format. Overall, I recommend this book if you want an atmospheric read with true cozy vibes.

This book was really cute and had beautiful writing in parts but it was not for me. I was bored while I was reading it and I could not get into the plot. I did not finish this book.

Cozy & endearing! This book depicts a warm family whose lives are full of garden magic! I loved that the book mixed regency era while normalizing LGBTQ storylines. Although there is an evil lurking nearby the story remains low stakes throughout. The publisher lists the correct trigger warnings at the beginning, but they are mild. I tend to skip books that list fire as a warning. I am glad I didn’t skip this one. It was not enough to deter me reading it or recommending it to others.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

Period romance and witch lore fans buckle in. This cozy cottage setting, slow burn romance will pull you in and send you on a honey bee trail ride. Marigold is the fanciful, free witch. She cares for the land left to her by her grandmother. Lottie is the opposite. The two test the bonds of expectations for women, a generational curse and in some aspects getting out of one's way.

A lovely one sitting read on a cold and rainy day.

Sadly this was a miss for me. The cozy witch vibes I was hoping for were not well developed and the characters were incredibly boring.

The premise for The Honey Witch was enticing, but there was bad writing. Scenes fell flat, horrible pacing. Needed a heavy edit or something