Jodi is an excellent writer, that goes without question. I love how well she is able to weave current events and news into her stories. I have noticed lately that she has been taking on some highly controversial topics. She doesn't shy away from sensitive issues and that leaves some readers upset. If you are interested is a well written and emotional story about story about teens and young love and loss, this could be a hit for you. If you do not like to read about hot topics or are looking for an escape from the political topics, this is not for you. It gave me a lot to think about.
thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

This book was fantastic. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I love how Jodi Picoult always tackles tough issues in an approachable way. Also, loved the story behind this book!

The idea for MAD HONEY came from Jennifer Finney Boylan’s dream. She woke from the dream and tweeted about it tagging Picoult. MAD HONEY is the result of that dream come true and the particular plot she wanted to write with Picoult.

I have been a long-time fan of Jodi Picoult’s, even getting to meet her in person at a book signing event years ago. I can always count on Picoult’s books to challenge my thoughts about a topic, a disease, or some event. Her books are known for having a big twist or surprise in them that readers often don’t see coming. MAD HONEY encompasses all of that. Her latest with Finney Boylan offers a story of two single moms raising their children the best they can. There are numerous trigger warnings in this book including domestic violence and suicide. But, a huge piece of this story is one that can be quite divisive and is ripped from the headlines. I recommend you go in knowing very little in order to have the best experience reading it. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure I could finish this one, but I kept at it and am glad I finished it. These two authors definitely taught me a new perspective on a hot topic as well as an immense amount of information about raising bees and honey. I was delighted to see the honey recipes at the end of the book. .

“We both fall silent for a little bit. We don’t say it out loud, but we’re both thinking: it would be nice if there were some things you could forget.”

Each author took a character’s voice and then also wrote one chapter in the other character’s voice. But, truly, the story was seamless and a reader would never know there were two authors. The story is told alternately from the perspective of Olivia, a second-generation beekeeper who has recently returned to her home of Adams, New Hampshire to raise her son Asher, a senior in high school. Lily is a new student at Asher’s high school. She and her mom, Ava have recently moved there to start fresh after living in California. Lily and Asher begin dating and become inseparable. When Lily is found dead, Asher is arrested for her murder.

“He is right; you don’t ever recover from losing someone you love-even the ones you leave behind because you’re better off without them.”

Along with the alternating chapters, Lily’s story is also told backward, which took some getting used to. Olivia’s story is moving forward at the same time the reader is learning what led up to the day of the murder. As a mom, I struggled numerous times with the emotions in this story. One mom is grieving over the death of her child and the other mom is grieving that she might lose her child forever to the prison system. It’s a hard story to take and one I had to put down a few times to take a break. But, that is sometimes what makes a story great. It doesn’t gloss over the rough parts but hits you solid right between the eyes.

“Do not listen to anyone who tells you a broken heart is a metaphor. You can feel the cracks and the fissures. It’s like ice splintering under your feet; like the cliff crumbling beneath your weight.”

Both authors hope this novel inspires compassion while also educating the reader on a sensitive topic. Ultimately, this is a story of two moms who do everything they can to protect their children and yet, they can’t protect them from everything. As a mom, that hurt, yet it reminded me that sometimes we can do everything in our power to protect them, and ultimately, we have to let them live the life ahead of us.

What a fantastic book!

I'm still reeling from it. This book was everything.

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising a beautiful son, Asher-was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in, and taking over her father's beekeeping business.
Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.
And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can't help but fall for him, too. With Ash, she feels happy for the first time. Yet at times, she wonders if she can trust him completely.
Then one day, Olivia receives a phone call: Lily is dead, and Asher is being questioned by the police. Olivia is adamant that her son is innocent. But she would be lying if she didn't acknowledge the flashes of his father's temper in him, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he's hidden more than he's shared with her.

To begin with, the characters are all so very realistic that by the end of the book, I felt sad to be leaving some of them.
The characters are so well-developed and fleshed out that you can feel them, hear them and understand them.

Second, the storyline never bored me. Not once did I feel like, 'well, this should get moving on.' Every chapter was insightful and meaningful, bringing the reader closer to the core issues that each character brought to the story.
Mad Honey is a gripping novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves. All stars to this book.

The authors have done a fabulous job of writing this book and I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Jodi Picoult’s last book. It kept me engaged and there was a major twist.
When I saw this become available, I knew I had to jump on it.
I started reading and made it about 45% through, and got to the part where Lilly was 6 and decided that she didn’t want to be a boy anymore, I DNF’d right then.

I’ve seen so many people rave about this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t keep reading based on what was happening with Lilly’s character.

I will not be posting a review for this on my Bookstagram page.

I'm confused how I should rate this book. The twist was absolutely mind blowing! but, here comes the but, the pacing was really slow for me. The twist was around at the halfway point of the book and I wanted to DNF the book several times before that but didn't so because the Facebook community that I follow advised me to read on. After the twist, still some explaintions and backstories were too long and the timeline is also jumbed.

The best thing about this book is the twist (and the social issue that it addresses) which was not at all expected to be what it was. So I'll give 2 stars for that. 0 stars for pacing and unnecessary explainations.

The book was far too long. Specially after the twist. And some events were discussed several times which was exhausting.

Thank you so much to NetGalley. I'm kicking myself for not starting it sooner. I love Jodi Picoult and I'm so glad she co-authored this one.
This was stunning, insightful, emotionally resonant, and motivational. I liked how the authors told two very different love stories while still tying the sadness in both of them together. A tender moment in a love scene might quickly turn into a devastating one. For most of the book, I was both amazed and terrified. I felt real empathy for these people. Everything about it—the story, the characters, and the message—exceeded my expectations. For someone who has never had to deal with a societal problem firsthand, this book was an emotional roller coaster and an eye-opener. Anyone who finds fault with this book's message or labels it "indoctrination" has to work harder on their ability to empathize, broaden their perspective.

What an incredible, suspenseful family drama! Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan wrote a great story combining past trauma and current family events in a way that kept you guessing at the reasoning behind actions and actual events. It reminded me of Defending Jacob at times but with increased family and psychological drama. This is one that I'll recommend to everyone.

My favorite read of January. It is an important read that completely took me by surprise. I knew going into a Jodi book that I would love it, but the “twist” made my jaw drop. This is a perfect book club discussion book, and I have chatted about it with so many readers. Highly recommend this story that is a mix of romance and mystery that will leave you thinking about it for a long time.

This story was creative and beautifully written. I really appreciated all of the details included about various bees and uses of honey throughout history. My only critiques would be the length of the chapters, and there were a few more details/stories about characters than were necessary. While I thought the trans details of the story were handled well, I plan to read some own voices review for their perspectives.

Mad Honey reminds me of the old school Jodi Picoult books! I loved the character development and the alternating perspectives and time periods. It is hard to give a description without giving too much away. If you are a fan of Jodi Picoult, this book is for you!

Many thanks to my friends at @randomhouse for the #gifted copy of this book.

"The secret weapon of mad honey, of course, is that you expect it to be sweet, not deadly. You're deliberately attracted to it. By the time it messes with your head, with your heart, it's too late."

Powerful. Shocking. Thought provoking. Timely.

Much like the bees… this book has the ability to sting (the heart) while also creating a sweet salve (for change).

Olivia and her son, Asher, found solace back in her hometown of Adams, NH after running from an abusive relationship. Lily and her mother, Ava, were new to town, hoping it would be a place they could put down much needed, fresh roots. Within no time, Asher and Lily fell deeply in love. But everything came crashing down when Lily was found dead in Asher’s arms.

I closed this book last night with my heart in my throat. Tears streamed down my cheeks. There are so many good, resonant stories. But it’s special to find one that will leave a deeply lasting imprint. And this book had a profound impact on me that left me forever changed.

Picoult has long been a go-to author for me. With a depth of research and tender prose, she has a way of shining a new light on areas I think I already understand. With compassionate execution, she creates the perfect balance and dissonance for growth, allowing an even deeper appreciation of whatever the subject matter.

And while Picoult’s name is the one most recognizable to the majority of us, the plot was (quite literally) dreamed up by co-author Jennifer Finney Boylan. The seamless execution of this novel amplified the storytelling and put Boylan’s own wealth of writing on my radar.

At just under 500 pages, I expected this story to feel arduous at times. And yet, I flew through it. The characters: deeply complex, beautifully rendered. The plot: fast paced, unputdownable. The writing: seamless transitions between alternating POV. It was a stellar execution all around.

But it was the use of the bees as metaphor and foreshadowing that brought a distinct sweetness to this story.

It’s also important to note that I went into this book completely and totally blind. I wanted the characters to speak for themselves. And I was deeply rewarded for doing so. Of course there’s a twist. (There’s always a twist.) But letting it play out created a total experience. If this is in your queue, I strongly suggest you do the same.

As a fan of Jodi Picoult, I was very excited to read this book. I absolutely loved it. The genre hybrid of contemporary fiction and murder mystery had such a nice balance. I appreciated how raw and emotional the story was. The characters were all so unique and I genuinely felt their pain and grief. That is a testament to the beautiful writing of Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. I enjoyed the dual point of view and how one was written in sequential order while the other was written backwards. The twists were all surprising and truly shocked me. I found myself crying a few times throughout the book, which is always a good sign. I appreciated the authors' notes and felt that they shed light on the creative process as well as how this story came to be.

Wow, wow, wow, what an emotional roller coaster. This book starts off with 18 year-old Asher who is being accused and arrested for the murder of his girlfriend Lily. It is told between two narratives. One being Olivia, Asher's mom and the other is Lily, the deceased girlfriend.

This book was outstanding. It was just what I needed to hook me back into reading! I couldn’t wait to read more and find out what happened. You can’t help but fall in love with Lily and Asher as well as their moms. The writing is seamless and wonderful. It’s a controversial topic but really, it shouldn’t be. I also loved the information about the bees and harvesting honey. I had no idea that honey never spoils! That’s a theme throughout the book. The twist at the end is disappointing, but probably for the best for all of the characters involved. Read this book….it is life changing. It will give you a new and very different perspective, one that you may never have had the chance to experience. I received this book as an ARC in trade for my honest opinion. Thank you to the authors, publishers and netgalley.com for the opportunity. It was my privilege to read this book.

Picoult does it again! It’s amazing how she can take such controversial topics and weave incredible storytelling into them. This one was reminiscent of one of her firsts-The Pact. I enjoyed every minute!

Asher and Lily are two teenagers falling in love. They have found each other in the hills of New Hampshire. They have similar lives. They are both being raised by single moms with absent fathers.
One of them has a secret that could change their lives. When Lily is found dead at the bottom of the stairs Asher is pointed to as a suspect. Asher will soon to find out that his life and love is not what he thought he knew.
Leave it to Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finley Boylan to give us a great coming of age story with such a timely subject. Beautifully written.

This was textbook Jodi Picoult with a controversial issue and a court case being at the heart of the storyline. I always enjoy the side story that comes with her books where extensive research has been done. In this case, the beekeeping storyline. But I am finding in recent books that the side storyline is heavily laden with so many facts, I find myself skimming through these sections.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I felt like I could tell what parts were written by Jodi vs. the co-author and this was one the first time that I figured out the twist about mid book.

Picoult, with the help of Boylan, has done it again. I am a big fan of Picoult and, as always, this book has taken on an important and timely subject to examine.
The lives of Lily Campanello, who relocates to New Hampshire, and Asher McAfee are inextricably intertwined upon meeting. The high schoolers each have secrets which are mutually shared. The consequences are terrifying and deftly exposed.
What's especially important in this story is the sensitive depiction of being transgendered. It is such a relevant topic in today's world and one so misunderstood. The book was a page-turner from beginning to end. So many additional relevant topics of today are dissected. The authors provided such insight into complicated relationships between men and women, young and old. The elements of love, hate, misconception and intolerance are so well presented. This is such an important book to think about and read.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were likeable and realistic. The case kept me interested from the beginning. In true Jodi Picoult style, I was learning facts while being riveted by the story—I love how she includes a “focus” in her books, this time bees and be keeping. I will absolutely recommend this read to my students.