The best way to enact change is through action, right? Yrsa, a Phd student of Jamaican descent who is studying Afropessimism at Cambridge University couldn’t agree more. Cynical of the life around her, particularly of the racism and patriarchal systems at her university, Ysra suddenly, and unexpectedly finds her passion – killing bad men. Honey follows Yrsa’s descent as she becomes obsessed with weeding out bad men in society, finally putting into practice her academic work and values in a real, tangible way.
This is a complicated book that leaves readers grappling with the many questions the author asks of us, all while delivering a captivating read in which readers wonder how the book will continue increasing its stakes. This book is ideal for a reader who wants the thrill of a typical adrenaline book while also engaging with questions of race and gender and our own actions.
Thompson, I. (2026). Honey. McClelland & Stewart Publishing
Penguin Random House (2026). Honey cover Image [Photograph].
Adrenaline Discussion
Adrenaline books already tend to be popular with many readers as there are many subcategories which offer an easily enjoyable and engrossing reading experience. While these genres tend to be familiar with readers and not necessarily in need of promotion, there are lesser known subgenres and authors which could benefit from increased representation. An example is the book I have chosen to feature for this week, Honey, which blends suspense with literary fiction in an interesting way that opens the typical suspense/killer genre to a more nuanced discussion on feminism and race. Although this won’t be the book for all readers there are many books that exist on the periphery of ‘adrenaline’ and could help to introduce a reader to new genres which they may not try on their own but could enjoy.
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