Young adult gothic supernatural thriller set in Jamaica- say less!!!

Carina Marshall escapes online harassment (no spoilers here but there is some DRAMA) by becoming a nanny for the wealthy Hall family.
Mysterious haunting events begin to threaten her new life, including supernatural occurrences.

Read for:
Reinvention and second chances
Identity and belonging
Secrets and supernatural intrigue
Atmospheric Jamaican setting
Suspenseful narrative with multiple potential sources of threat


This was a captivating supernatural coming-of-age story with rich character development. Loved it! Great narration too, the accents really made me feel like I was in Jamaica.

Twisty and eerie. I love how atmospheric this setting was and the audiobook narrator kept me glued to my seat and my attention at a 10! Is this a debut? This was great either way.

Honeysuckle and Bone by Trisha Tobias and narrated by Laura Edwards was an easy 4/5 star read for me.

Edward’s does a great job bringing the story to life. I enjoyed how she depicted each characters voice.

This was a great debut novel for Tobias. I enjoyed the creative way she enriched the book with culture and mystery. I enjoyed how each of the characters complimented the storyline in their own ways. I loved the found family that Carina finds with the Young Birds. I found this to be a great paranormal suspenseful mystery. Not too scary and great for YA readers or anyone wanting to slowly get introduced to the horror genre. The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read for me was that I was able to guess the killer. I am really looking forward to seeing what comes next from Trisha Tobias on her author journey!

This was a fulfilling, perfectly narrated audiobook. I enjoyed learning more about Jamaica through this story and the story was haunting enough that I was engaged throughout. This creation is perfect for those that want to dip their toes into supernatural, paranormal mysteries but don't want to slog through Stephen King or James Patterson. You learn a lot about the customs and traditions of this Caribbean nation. Carina is a narrator that despite going through so much is reliable in the storytelling and our audiobook narrator (Laura Edwards) fully commits to bringing the characters to life. The plot twist?! Did not expect at all! Perfect for teens and adults alike.
More from this author please.

Big thanks to Dreamscape Select and Sweet July Books for the ALC of Honeysuckle and Bone! 💖

Okay, y’all...this book was a vibe. Set in Jamaica with all its tropical beauty, mysterious mansions, and just a sprinkle of spooky? I was hooked (kinda 👀).

First off, Carina Marshall is a messy queen on a mission to reinvent herself. She takes a nanny gig at Blackbead House, thinking it’s her golden ticket to a fresh start. But surprise, surprise—things get WEIRD. Ghostly vibes? 👻 Creepy whispers? Secrets in the walls? YES. PLEASE.

But let’s get real—it’s more of a paranormal mystery than YA horror. If you’re looking for blood-curdling scares, this ain’t it. It’s got some spooky overtones, sure, but the real focus is on the mystery and the twists (and the DRAMA).

Now, the pacing? 🐢 A little slow, not gonna lie. It takes a hot minute to really get going (like, 60% in), but once it did, that ending?? I DID NOT SEE THAT TWIST COMING. 🤯 I mean, sure, I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, but hey, it was entertaining!

The Jamaican setting was hands-down my favorite part. The folklore, the lush vibes, the culture—it made me wanna book a trip ASAP. ✈️ The narrator, Laura Edwards, SLAYED the audio performance. Her voice acting? Chef’s kiss. 👏

Carina herself? Messy but relatable. She’s trying to figure out who she is while navigating a totally wild situation, and I rooted for her even when she was a bit...chaotic. Her dynamic with Aaron was cute, and I loved their ghost-hunting team-up.

Overall, if you’re into gothic ghost stories with a twist, some YA drama, and vibes over full-on horror, this might just be your thing!

⭐ 3.25/5
🌶️ N/A (it’s YA, y’all)
🎧 Narration? 8/10

Would I recommend? Sure, if you’re into gothic ghost stories with a twist and plenty of vibes!

This was not my cup of tea. I found the story slow and uninteresting. The main character was completely unlikable and a horrible nanny. I just didn't like it

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for this free audiobook.

I loved this one! I found this book to flow nicely and kept my interest. I would say it was more mystery than horror. I liked that it also had a nice unexpected twist at the end which I really appreciated. I'd recommend this book!

A wonderfully spooky house and a great mystery.

Carina has just arrived in Jamaica and she's starting a new nanny job. But she's started as Joy, a lie and secrets Carina is trying to hide. She's trying to embody Joy, the way she's out-going and easy to be around. She has great experience with kids and is hoping this will be an easy new job.

However, the first day she meets everyone, she comes back to her room and has a message on her bathroom mirror. Run. As the house continues to push against her, she decides to figure out what is going on before it tires to push her to go back home - something she can't do.

I was instantly sucked in. Carina was easy to like but also, my heart broke for her reasons for running and her secrets. Sure, she isn't perfect but she's made mistakes and is trying to do better. I loved meeting everyone who worked around the house and how each person contributed to the house but also helped Carina feel welcome. It felt claustrophobic, this island and house and how Carina's secrets are holding her back. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I did this as an audio book and the narrator did a wonderful job of keeping me sucked in and giving a great voice to Carina. I loved this one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This book was kinda slow to start but I'm glad I pushed through cause this book really got going about a quarter of the way through. The ending was also solid and had a pretty good twist. Overall this was a solid work but not my favorite.

This was so interesting! Especially considering it is a debut? Great work. It does sort of remind me of We were liars, but that is to be expected as that is the only other YA thriller/horror I’ve read. I listened to it and the narrator was amazing. Also it was so refreshing to read something taking place in Jamaica (now I want to visit it so bad)! I didn’t see the twist coming and I wouldn’t guess it! I really enjoyed the characters they all had unique personalities and well well crafted.

Honeysuckle and Bone is a great paranormal mystery. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. I really enjoyed the Jamaican cultural aspects that were weaved throughout the story. I think that it made for a unique setting and setup. The twist was really good and I didn't necessarily see it coming. For a debut this was really, really good. I can't wait to see what Trisha Tobias does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Carina Marshall takes a nanny job in Jamaica to try to reinvent herself. While in Jamaica, she experiences unusual things which leads her and her friends in search of answers. The story was very slow, and nothing happened until 60% in. Now the ending, I did not expect that plot twist. I loved the narrator, Laura Edwards. She did a beautiful job changing her voice for other characters, bringing the story to life.

This book was incredibly original. I have never read a book set in Jamaica and that highlighted the culture and how much of it has been taken from America and almost washed out what it means to be Jamaican. Especially seeing this from a narrator who is Jamaican but doesn’t know anything about their culture.

I really enjoyed the growth we see in Carina. She has been through the wringer and yet we see her process and grow throughout the book in a meaningful way.

The mystery of the story itself was a bit lack lustre. I felt like though the conclusion was amazing, we could have used more meat in the middle. Maybe more of the sleuthing and research aspect, less of the ghostly business.

Overall a great read if you enjoy a paranormal mystery.

The gothic setting of the mannor, the inexplicable things that keep happening, and the dark secrets that everyone seems to be keeping will have you reading just one more chapter well after your bedtime.

I honestly could not figure out Catrinas secrets before they were revealed. I thought I could see the twist coming from a mile away, but I was so wrong. On both of the major twists!

Im not sure I’ve read any stories about Jamaican lore before. I think I might need to find more!!

The narrator fit perfectly with the characters and story. Not that I have any experiance with Jamaican accents, but it seemed to roll off her tongue. She was very enjoyable to listen to.

Thanks to Dreamscape Select and Netgalley for the audio arc! 😘

4⭐
A girl who's on the run from her own dark (recent) past, 'gets' a job as a nanny for a very wealthy and prestigious family in Jamaica, but she soon discovers that even paradise could be haunted.

Absolutely enjoyed this book - ate it up! So fast-paced, plus the drama & twists made this an enjoyable read!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media Sweet July Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Carina Marshall is an 18 year old who goes to Jamacia for a few months to be an au pair for a wealthy political family. She has plenty of secrets of her own. She becomes friends with the other young people working the estate. Carina feels she is being haunted or is it her imagination? Solid debut and I look forward to reading more from Trisha Tobias.

Laura Edwards did a fantastic job narrating the book.

A all people who dream of a young woman leaves an unhappy past behind, to take a job as an au pair for a wealthy family on Jamaica. At first glance, everything seems wonderful, the people are friendly, the island is beautiful and there’s a handsome man interested in her. But not all is as it appears and danger lurks just out of sight.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the gothic elements of this story (mysterious house and family, haunting secrets) and the setting. The plot really pulled me in and I ended up devouring this book! I would have loved to hear more of the Jamaican lore, but overall this was a great book if you love mysteries.

» I can’t give this enough praise🙌🏻
This story was so unique, warm, and chilling, and heartfelt.
I loved this, I loved the narration, the cultural support, the characters, the twist.

» This unsettling haunting reminded me softly of the movie Skeleton Key.
The similarities of being an inhome worker with a secret; and the mystery of the house and all the unspoken questions, made me get involved in this so much more.

» The audio to this was 🤌🏻✨
The ending😩, this might just be my favorite read yet.

It took me a few chapters to fully get into this book, but I decided to stick with it because of its intriguing focus on Jamaican folklore and the vibrant setting—and I’m so glad I did. This is a story about self-discovery intertwined with uncovering long-buried secrets.

Our main character, Carina, is messy and imperfect, but by the end, she’s incredibly relatable and easy to root for. As a young adult struggling to find herself while navigating the complexities of the adult world, her journey feels authentic and engaging.

I especially enjoyed reading about Carina settling in with the other young staff members and the dynamics of their budding friendships. Her partnership with Aaron as they teamed up to solve the mystery of their resident ghost added a fun and captivating element to the story.

Overall, this is a unique and enjoyable read with a rich cultural backdrop and a compelling mix of mystery and personal growth.