Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite

In Six Mile Store, A. M. Belsey tells the story of Honey, a recent college graduate with a job at a rural convenience store in Arkansas. She’s struggling to figure out what comes next. At work, she spends her time ringing up customers and stocking shelves, which can be pretty monotonous. However, the regulars, coworkers, and other small-town personalities who pass through help make the hours go by much faster. Her world outside work isn’t as simple. Honey is close to a longtime male friend, but their relationship often blurs the lines between platonic and something more. Then there’s Karim, a Turkish graduate student Honey has feelings for who makes her question what she really wants. There’s also an emotional distance between herself and her parents. This is especially true with her father, whose silence has left a lasting mark on her. The weeks pass, and things at the store change along with her personal life, forcing her to think about what comes next. What does the future hold for Honey?

Six Mile Store by A. M. Belsey was a fast-paced read I really enjoyed. Honey's voice is the best part of the story. She’s real and actually pretty raw during certain parts. I looked forward to the conversations and quirky moments that filled her days. One line that genuinely made me laugh was when someone asked how another woman looked, and Honey's first thought was that she looked like John Denver. The book balances humor with more thoughtful moments as Honey searches for direction and learns more about herself. The supporting cast adds a lot of personality, and the writing made it easy for me to picture what was going on. By the end of the book, I felt like I was actually one of the townsfolk with a front-row seat to Honey’s life. Anyone looking for a story that’s coming-of-age-ish or one with colorful personalities will want to pick this one up. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would gladly read more from A. M. Belsey.