Honey by Imani Thompson

This is a modern, sharp and astute novel, looking at gender, race and academia.

​A sociology PhD student accidentally kills a tutor by directing a bee into his drink. She didn't mean for him to die, but he cheated her friend by claiming that her research was his. So, in a world dominated by men (particularly white men) is seemed like a sweet justice. Now she looks at all men as potentially victims of her type of justice. She's bored of her work at Cambridge University anyway.

I did wonder what this book was about when an overly large explanation of intersectionality was given to one of her students. The main character is an angry black woman who feels oppressed by white people and men, so I worried in case this was a preachy tale. I need not have. Despite her views about men - which, to be fair, they pretty much all deserved - this is not that type of story at all. 

She calls out misogyny and yet is very attracted to men and is not above using them for her own ends.  But justice is important to her and she finds ways to balance things out in vengeful ways. It is something she enjoys and she takes more risks as time goes on. Some characters do not deserve what she dishes out but her guilt is fleeting.

This is an enjoyable and disturbing work, where parts of it demonstrate some dark humour.  A clever and unique writing style keeps the reader hooked while the characters are interesting and realistic, with some truly likeable people as well as quirky ones. I'm certainly glad I continued with this book as it shows a great talent in Imani Thompson.

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Published by HarperCollins Uk, Harper Fiction, The Borough Press on 7 May 2026.
​Advance review copy supplied by the publisher.

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