Jodi Picoult is so amazing! I love everything she writes and this was no different.
This has some intense themes but I think it was done really well.

Very interesting book with a twist half way through the book. It felt like the author tried to educate us on too many topics: Bees, What it means to be trans, What an abusive relationship looks like. Sometimes these sections went on a little too long and felt disjointed when the author went back to the main narrative. The out of order narrative was also hard to follow as it did not go in ascending or descending order. A very interesting book but just needed some edits.

4.5 stars,

As always Jodi weaves a wonder story with an ending that you don’t expect and can never guess. The added voice of the co-author, Jennifer, was just an added bonus.

While the main characters are Lily and Asher, I found the story lines of the mothers, Olivia and Ava, just as captivating. As a mom, myself, I cannot imagine what they went through and how they feel. Thinking about how I would react if put in their shoes was always in the back of my mind.

This is definitely a book that is timely to the current events and atmosphere of our country, sadly. It’s also a book that I will think about for a long time.

The benefit of reading this 2+ years after it came out is that I knew the "twist" that was going to be revealed before I started it, and I think that that actually enhanced my reading experience because I didn't have the controversial "gotcha" moment. I have been a very longtime Jodi Picoult reader , and by comparison a relatively new Jennifer Finney Boylan reader, and they did an excellent job with this one, with a really seamless voice. Boylan's experience as a transgender woman who has been public and vocal about her experience helps to inform the story, and it is both sensitive and informative. This is very classically Jodi Picoult with a trial at the center of the book, and I'm so glad I finally got to this one.

What an amazing novel, Picoult usually hits me right in the feels but this story was an especially heavy hitter. I was absolutely captivated by the characters and the plot, the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.

Doeoroo gtotovov frdoeo forodogog Gotoffoo honey mad dmeffrodlclvotgofoc Lffoofofvv
Pgpfrrtfg gorgobo ov gotfodocovovoo Bogovoforf

This really took me by surprise in the best way. It felt like vintage Jodi Picoult, and I loved that there was a co-writer for plot reasons but - and I mean this as a compliment - I couldn't even tell who wrote what characters, it felt perfectly blended together. This would make an excellent book club pick.

I LOVED this book! Jodi is one of my all time favorite authors. This book left me in tears (as most of her books do). This representation is so important (especially in our current political climate). I'm so glad I got to read this book, will definitely purchase a copy for my Jodi shelf!

What an amazing book that I never saw where the storyline was going. This book made me think and reflect on other’s experiences.

I had heard amazing things about this book over the last few years and had it on my TBR list for quite a while. I’m so sad I didn’t pick it up sooner because it was incredible. It was beautifully written and thought-provoking; I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after I finished reading. This story not only broke me but also put me back together through the deep love for the characters.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. However, it does cover a lot of controversial topics, much like all of Jodi Picoult's other works, so be sure to check the trigger warnings before reading.

This story is fully of mystery, family drama and social themes. You follow Olivia, a beekeeper, who has worked hard to create a safe place for her son after feeling an abusiive marriage Told through alternating perspectives and revealing secrets along the way. This story really made me think.

I am so late to the party on this book. I saw this book as a read now on NetGalley and requested it without even knowing what it was about. I then let this sit for a while because like most Jodi Picoult books it intimidated me. I've never read one from her that I didn't like, but I also know they are heavy books. But this is about honey, and bees how heavy could it be?
Clearly I went in blind and was absolutely blown away. This book is not so much about bees and honey though that is intertwined. It's about all types of love and what lengths you will go to to keep the people you love safe. It reminded me a lot of Defending Jacob which I loved, and I also LOVED the references back to Nineteen Minutes which was my first Jodi Picoult book so long ago.

I'm going to leave my review vague because I can't give away more details without giving away a huge topic/spoiler.

Go in blind, and with an open mind and you won't be disasspointed.
Thank you netgalley and the author for a copy of this!

This was one of my favorite books of the past few years. I loved the combination of mystery and social commentary. The exploration of transness and what it means was well done and believable. Excellent story!

I really loved this book! It was thought provoking and kept me in the edge of my seat. It was a mystery to figure out who the perpetrator was, but it was also an important conversation about abuse and race. Half way through the book, I was shocked by the twist and the character development was top notch - as per usual with Jodi Picoult! Would absolutely recommend!

MAD HONEY
Jodi Picoult and
Jennifer Finney Boylan

The first time I picked up this title I DNF’d it. Not for forever just for the time. I received my copy early and given the topics contained within the text I wasn’t 100% comfortable with Jodi Picoult taking me deep into the water. I wanted to see feedback from trusted friends as to how the subject was handled.

There has since been an overwhelming number of friends who enjoyed the book, and I saw a few articles about the co-written nature of MAD HONEY. So, I decided it was finally time I revisit Olivia and her honeybees.

MAD HONEY is about Olivia and her son Asher and his relationship with his girlfriend, Lily. Lily is found dead one day and quickly Asher becomes the number one suspect. Olivia believes her son to be innocent and can’t fathom him being the reason Lily is dead.

We follow along as the case is investigated and through to trial. Until the ending, which was a big surprise. We explore Asher and Lily’s relationship and what led up to Lily’s untimely death.

One thing, possibly the biggest thing I like about Picoult’s writing is that she is solid in her standing. I have never read a book by Picoult where I was confused about my feelings. Even when I don’t necessarily agree with everything written, the topic is explored well enough that I am self-informed.

There are always great conversations and questioning sentiments and that was the case as well with MAD HONEY. The writing is fantastic, the characters are well-formed, and the subject is timely. I loved everything about it.

So thankful to Picoult and Boylan for taking the time to write this novel.

Also thankful to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

MAD HONEY…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mad Honey challenges readers with moral dilemmas, compelling them to confront difficult questions about justice, love, and the consequences of keeping secrets.

This was my first book by these authors. I really enjoyed this book! I definitely want to pick up more books from the author(s).

This was a great book although I found it to be sad. This book is about a young trans girl that is trying to find her way in high school and how to let her boyfriend know that she is trans. It is really good about clarifying the characters issues and has an index of definitions of terms for those not familiar with the terminology. It is such a good book but I used a box of Kleenex at the end. I did not like the ending but found that it was probably true for the time the book was written in due to the small mindedness of people. I recommend this book.

Mad Honey is an emotional and thought-provoking story that delves deep into themes of love, identity, and the complex bonds between mothers and their children. The novel follows Olivia, a beekeeper who has escaped an abusive marriage to start a new life with her son, Asher. But when Asher is accused of a shocking crime, Olivia is forced to confront painful secrets from her own past.

Jodi Picoult, co-writing with Jennifer Finney Boylan, masterfully intertwines themes of resilience and transformation, weaving in details about beekeeping as a metaphor for human connection and survival. The novel also brings an important and sensitive look at gender identity, handled with empathy and depth, through the story of Lily, who plays a significant role in Asher’s life.

Mad Honey is beautifully written and laced with unexpected twists that kept me gripped until the end. It’s a book that makes you think about the labels we place on ourselves and others—and the hidden truths beneath them. If you’re a fan of emotional, character-driven stories with powerful messages, Mad Honey will leave a lasting impression.

I don't know why I didn't get to this one sooner. I remember quite a few years ago when I was OBSESSED with Jodi Picoult novels and binged so many of them. However, I haven't reached for them in years since I discovered I'm more of a fantasy and romance reader. But this book? This just brought me back. this book goes into a lot of relevant, hard-hitting topics prominent today and is so well written and incredible. I think that maybe I need to get back into picking up her books because it seems like regardless of the type of reader I am, her stories always work for me.