Honeysuckle and Bone

A deliciously atmospheric, spooky YA novel by Trisha Tobias follows a teen girl on the run from her own dark secrets, but quickly discovers even paradise may be haunted.

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 powerful Hall family. After months of being the target of vicious rumors and hate online, Carina might have found everything she wants at the luxurious Blackbead House: a world of mango trees, tropical breezes, and glamorous parties—and a place to disappear.

Once there, Carina finds herself settling right into her busy, but comfortable, new life. Yes, the family runs a tight ship, and yes, there is some tension between the Halls, but Carina is content flying under the radar 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 Halls? The house itself? Or is her own past catching up with her? With Aaron’s help, she must figure out what is haunting her, and fast, before she’s forced out of Blackbead House for good.

Honeysuckle and Bone is a deliciously atmospheric and utterly spooky young adult novel following an imperfect yet courageous teen as she seeks to remake herself in the homeland she always idealized, discovering that new beginnings don’t always come easy.

Praise for Honeysuckle and Bone:
Featured in People magazine
Featured in SLJ, “Author Trisha Tobias on YA Debut ‘Honeysuckle and Bone’ | 5 Questions and a Rec”
Indies Introduce Title for Winter/Spring 2025
Kids’ Indie Next Pick: January/February 2025

“Eerie, propulsive, and sumptuous, Honeysuckle and Bone is a trip to Jamaica you won’t soon forget.” —Ayesha Curry

★ “The story’s ominous elements contrast vividly with the beautiful ones, and the portrayal of the luxurious Jamaica the wealthy enjoy stands in stark contrast to that of those who are less fortunate… A deliciously dark and mysterious debut.” —Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

★ “Tobias’s debut is an atmospheric ghost story that shines in multiple respects, from its tense, satisfying mystery and tight pacing to its thoughtful commentary on class in Jamaica and Jamaican American identity, as well as its vibrant secondary characters.” –School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“[A] masterful handling of a teenage girl’s exploration of grief and her homeland shapes a propulsive narrative that you won’t want to put down.” —Joelle Wellington, author of Their Vicious Games

“Tobias has crafted a debut that’s a bit of a miracle: a gothic that has its (honeysuckle-scented) cake and eats it too.” —Adam Cesare, Bram Stoker Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of Clown in a Cornfield and Influencer

“Honeysuckle and Bone will haunt your days and nights long after you’ve closed the book. . . .[P]roof 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.” —Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of The Girls Are Never Gone

“ Tobias’s talented storytelling will demand your attention as she explores not only our fear of ghosts, but the fear of being witnessed for who we really are.” —Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments

“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.” —Nova Ren Suma, New York Times bestselling author

“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.” —Amelinda Bérubé, author of Here There Are Monsters

“A beautifully lush and haunting gothic tale, Honeysuckle and Bone is both a chilling mystery and a heartbreaking portrait of all the ways grief leaves its mark.” —Linda Cheng, author of Gorgeous Gruesome Faces

“A gripping tale of Caribbean folklore and mysticism. . . .Tobias brings Jamaica to life with vivid sights, sounds, and colors, creating a setting that is lush and imaginative. Honeysuckle and Bone commands a space in the horror genre, and I’m here for it!” —Lisa Springer, author of There’s No Way I’D Die First

“Carina’s growing friendship with the other young staff members—and one burgeoning romance—nicely ground the plot, and her search for the identity of the duppy contains plenty of twists… those in it for the eerie vibes and buried secrets will be satisfied.” —Booklist

Honeysuckle and Bone is a collaboration project with Dovetail Fiction.

Rights details

• Young Adult