Zero interest in bees and I still loved this book and so glad I went into it blind. The twist was perfection and all of the characters were super realistic. Five stars.

Jodi Picoult’s latest book, co-written with Jennifer Finney Boylan, unfolds from two perspectives, set in a small New Hampshire town. Olivia is a beekeeper and single mom to teenage son Asher, having left her abusive ex-husband many years earlier. Lily is a teenage girl who is new to town with her own single mother, and is Asher’s girlfriend. And this is not a spoiler since it’s what the whole book is about - a few chapters in, Olivia receives a phone call that Lily has died and that Asher is being questioned about her death. For the rest of the book, Olivia’s chapters go forward in time, while Lily’s unspool backwards over the past few months since she arrived in town. And boy, does it keep you guessing the whole time!

Although I haven’t read every single Jodi Picoult book, I’ve read a lot - by my count, this is the 20th book of hers that I have read! She’s written some books I absolutely love (indeed, her books have made my top ten of the year lists four times) a few I didn’t care for, and everything in between! Well, I’m happy to say that with this book she is in true classic Jodi Picoult form with a gripping book with courtroom drama, touching on hot button issues, and explorations of both how far a mother would go for her child and teenage drama. Indeed it’s such a throwback to her classic books that Asher’s lawyer, who is also Olivia’s brother, was also the lawyer in some of my other favorite older Picoult books, The Pact, Salem Falls, and Nineteen Minutes!

And I’m impressed that this was written by two authors, it felt totally seamless - and loved the way the two perspectives complimented each other. And I loved the way Lily’s story unspooled in reverse, it didn’t feel gimmicky at all but rather a great way to layer revelations into the book.

So, if you love Picoult’s older books but had mixed feelings about her last few books, I highly recommend giving this one a try!

Another brilliant novel by Jodi Picoult, this time co-authored with Jennifer Boylan.

My advise to potential readers?

Don’t read reviews or blurbs that may reveal spoilers before you start the book. Like all Picoult books there are twists and reveals that catch your breath.

Also, expect the book to explore contemporary, relevant, and controversial societal issues. This is Jodi Picoult.

This is a coauthored book and the Boylan/Picoult partnership is exceptionally well done.

To me it was refreshing to have a diverse supporting cast of characters. Some reviewers complain that the book was ticking boxes - I saw it as the authors creating a characters that looked like the real world and hope to see more and more of this in literature to come. To me the characters were seamlessly integrated into the story.

The underlying bee metaphor was brilliant.

When I pick up a Picoult book I expect to learn something new about the underlying topic. Sometimes I already know a fare amount, but this time I only had a cursory knowledge. I loved the intricate detail Boylan especially brought to the table, and after finishing the book understand why it needed a coauthor.

This is an excellent pick for a book club - and I hope my book club reads it because I want to talk about it with others. It’s a longer book but I read it over a couple of days. I was hooked early on and just could not put it down.

This novel is going to banned by the book-banners. Just reading through the negative reviews you can see it coming - so thanks Jodi and Jennifer for writing a book with the power to evoke such a strong response. It will ensure more people read it.


Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC to read and review honestly.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boyland is an engaging story! A must-read, for sure! The story is timely, fascinating, and questions the reader's assumptions throughout. I will for sure be recommending this book!

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book! The writing is superb and flows seamlessly, which is a huge feat since it was co-written by two authors! I loved everything from the characters to the storyline, and even the twists and ending were great in my opinion! The subject matter could be controversial to some but I found it incredibly refreshing and it really opened my eyes to what so many have had to go through. I would definitely recommend that most people should read this book!

There’s a lot I can’t say about Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. If I do, I’ll reveal a MAJOR spoiler, and that’s the last thing I want to do. Let’s just say that once the major plot twist was revealed, I gasped very loudly, and my eyes grew wide. Okay, that’s it. That’s all you’re getting. What I CAN say is just like all of Picoult’s books, Mad Honey is a well-rounded and solid story. If you’re a fan of the author’s writing, you know that she’s consistent and her readers know what to expect. She always provides a few dynamic characters, an exciting plot, oodles of drama, a strong emphasis on family, an air of mystery, some heaviness, and subject matter that one might call controversial. Mad Honey has all of these things. The main character is a beekeeper, so there’s a lot of talk about apiculture. The lengthy details might get a bit tiresome for some, but I actually found it quite fascinating. One of my very first jobs was at a honeybee farm, so it brought back a lot of fond memories, and I found myself smiling a lot during the bee scenes. I do realize that I really haven’t said much about the plot of this novel at all, and that’s intentional. Your best bet is to go in blind. If you’re a relatively new fan of Picoult like myself, or a hardcore “I’ve read them all” one, you’ll definitely enjoy Mad Honey. I give it a solid 4/5 stars!

I have loved almost every single novel written by Jodi Picoult and this one was no different. As usual, Picoult does her research to dive into some deep themes. I was wondering how the book would flow with her writing with another author, but I needn’t have worried. The transitions were smooth and the depth of writing was equally beautiful from both authors.

I loved the character of Lily and was glad that her story was told. I also enjoyed Olivia and learning about beekeeping and honey.

The book was a bit longer than I feel it needed to be and I found it repetitive at times. However, there were a lot of important messages to be shared so I understand the rationale behind it.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Ballantine for an ARC of #MadHoney by #JodiPicoult and #JenniferFinneyBoylan - 4.5 stars

Regular readers of Jodi Picoult’s novels know what to expect…the unexpected, plot twists, a social issue and lots of information on an interesting topic, in this case bees.

Here is a story in which Ms. Picoult partnered with Ms. Boylan, a fortuitous and successful pairing for this novel’s topic and one about which readers will learn a great deal. As I mentioned in a review of a spark of light, I think that a service is done for readers who are hungry for information and may not have easy access to it; in this instance, the subject is being trans.

Well, yes, as noted above, there is always a bit of a didactic turn in this writer’s works but there is also always a terrific story. Here readers get to know Asher and his bee keeping mom, and Lily, a person of great importance to Ash. Around them flow many other characters.

When something really bad happens, Asher is in trouble. Did he do what he was accused of? How will events play out? What will the impact be on the small New Hampshire town where the novel is set?

Around the central plot, are backstories for many characters. There is a good deal about families and parents who are absent, along with the impact of that on children. Is it ever better not to be with a parent is one of many questions.

As this book opens readers meet two moms are single parents for complex reasons. What happens when this new(ish) ecosystem is messed with? Will it be like it is for the bees when they face disruption?

I, for one, really wanted to know what would happen in this story, not only to Asher, but to many of the people around him. I think readers will feel that way too.

Congrats to the authors. They have written one heck of a book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this one...it was a classic Jodi Picoult experience. She always picks tough/controversial but relevant topics to our society and writes wonderful stories based around them. In this book, we meet some wonderful characters, including Lily and Asher, and we find out that Asher is being accused of murdering Lily. Olivia, Asher's mom, is another main character that I really enjoyed getting to know. I always enjoy a book that lets me learn about a topic I wouldn't normally be all that interested in, and Olivia allows us to learn about her passion of beekeeping while following her story. As a mother, she is trying to be there for her son that could possibly be a monster, while also trying to uncover the truth of what happened. There are some pretty surprising twists and turns in the case that made this a very interesting read. It has also caught the attention of those people who try to ban books with topics that they disagree with, so that almost makes it an automatic read in my mind. I would definitely recommend!

Mad Honey had me intrigued by the synopsis and having read Jodi Picoult’s previous novel, Wish You Were Here, and enjoying it, I had high hopes this one would be just as enjoyable. For the first half of the book, I was really invested, but somewhere along the way, it started to feel like a chore to finish it. I chalk it up to being a bit long winded. I did enjoy learning more than I ever knew about bees. I liked Lily’s chapters and liked the courtroom drama. I was frustrated by the lack of communication between Asher and Olivia. And while I feel that informing the reader of certain challenges and sense of self was important and necessary for the story and society, it dragged on too long for me to keep me invested. However, I do believe this was a story that will stick with me. I felt a great deal of empathy for all of the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC copy of the book.

One thing I can always count on with Jodi Picoult is a well written novel with controversial topics. This book definitely fit that bill. I did not know a lot about this book at all going into it.

So, half way through I was shocked during the murder trial. I did not see that twist coming. At first, I didn’t really want to read more only because I’m not interested in this controversy. I’m glad I stuck with it as it allowed me to consider some ideas and feelings that I haven’t previously thought about.

I particularly enjoyed both Ava and Olivia’s chosen professions and the research and details provided. It helped to break up the emotional aspects of the story.

Thank you Netgalley and the authors for an ARC of this thought provoking novel. I’m so glad you both teamed up to write this one. The opinions expressed are my own.

I love Jodi Picoult, but I must say I love her older works better than her newer works. I love that she takes controversial issues and isn't afraid to tackle them head first. This book started off strong for me. I was intrigued and sucked in from the beginning with the relationship between Lilly and Asher, wanting to know who did it, what happened. But after over halfway through, the excitement wore off and it become like an educational class. At first I appreciated it, but then I felt bogged down with the information. Then I felt like the story become repetitive. It wasn't moving along, it was slowing down. I found myself jumping through parts I felt like I had already read.
I was disappointed by the ending and felt let down. Not what I was expecting. I appreciate you tackling the hard subjects and not giving a damn what people think or what your readers will say, but damn go back to your roots already- The Pack, Nineteen Minutes, those...those were spectacular!

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is absolutely fabulous! Not only is it about what happened to Lily who was found dead at the bottom of her stairs by her boyfriend, but it is extremely educational. Asher’s (boyfriend) mom is a beekeeper so the author adds factoids about bees in the story, which made it much more interesting for me. In addition, one of the characters is transgender so there is a lot of education in the story about what transgender means. Jodi Picoult never disappoints!

🍯Book Review 🍯

Thank you @jodipiccoult, @netgalley, @penguinrandomhouse, @jenniferfinnyboylan, @penguinrandomhouse for the e-arc of MAD HONEY

This novel was my first one from the author Jodi Piccoult, and I am blown away by its complex treatment of difficult but timely and pertinent issues that need to be discussed in the mainstream. A courtroom drama - we meet Olivia and her son, Asher, who had been accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lily after he is found near her body. As the trial unfolds, we learn that Olivia is a domestic violence survivor - her husband a famous surgeon in Boston, and her desire to protect her son but also the fear that he will inherit his father’s misogynistic and violent behavior. “Mad Honey” - the title refers to poisonous honey that cause “dizziness, nausea, vomiting…symptoms last twenty four hours, and if left, untreated and rarely, can be fatal.” However, what stands out to me, is the following line - “the secret weapon of Mad Honey…is that you expect it to be sweet, not deadly. You’re deliberately attracted to it. By the time it messes with your head. It’s too late.” Having briefly experienced a relationship with someone who had these tendencies, it hit me what this book was truly about. It was about how we are as humans - we forgive and often give countless chances to people we know will harm us.

The other issue that this novel explores is of the transgender community. Although I read it with skepticism with the fear that the novel may not do their narrative and stories justice, I was pleasantly surprised at the care taken to represent the transgender women with dignity. But, I will say, that the ending left me wanting for more. I think with some novels where issues are gray and require further thought - it’s okay to let it be and keep the ending open. I felt that the ending was forced. However, overall, it’s a beautiful and poignant novel dealing with pertinent issues we need to talk more about.

I loved the first half of this book, and then there was a twist which was interesting for sure, but I definitely lost steam. I know Picoult books are known for being LONG and this was no exception. Beautiful writing but by the end I was just ready for it to be over. I enjoyed the characters and relationships and thought the beekeeper aspect was fascinating! A decent book, but not one I’d necessarily recommend.

I really enjoyed Mad Honey. Both authors are incredible storytellers and I felt emotionally connected to nearly every character. I found the narrative structure effective at building tension and creating drama. It bounces between Olivia, the mother of the accused, moving forward in time, and Lily, the victim, moving back in time. It kept the story fresh and interesting and made the twist more impactful. Per usual with Jodi Picoult, Mad Honey tackles the social impact of a medical procedure. Can’t say more without major spoilers, but it’s well done.

I’m taking a star off because I did not like the ending. It felt like a cop out to everything we’d been building towards with Olivia’s storyline.

Final note - this book is heavy. Be sure to check out content warnings before picking it up.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

I've read several (but not many) of Picoult’s books, and MAD HONEY fits her profile. She does a ton of research (depending on the book, it could be anything from Egyptology to Elephants. Here, you learn about transgender rights and bees.), and it comes through in her books. I come away not just entertained but educated. But lord, does she pluck the heartstrings. I avoided several of her books because I didn’t want to go THERE.

Her writing makes me wake up at night worried and anxious about FICTIONAL characters. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. I’m nervous enough without worrying about people that aren't real.

I went into this blind, having been offered a Digital Review Copy. I saw the author and jumped. Olivia is a single mother keeping bees and raising Asher in her small New England hometown. Lily is Asher’s girlfriend and daughter of another single mother, Ava. The story alternates between Olivia's and Lily’s POVs with a common starting point: Lily’s death. Lily’s timeline runs backward from the event, and Olivia moves forward as her son, Asher, is accused of Lily’s murder.

The legal drama was tough, as was the parental angst. Parents of teens, be warned. You will feel the feels.

I haven’t read anything by Boyles before, but her style blends seamlessly with Picoult's. Her chapters as Lily were my favorite part of the book. Lily was a spunky encyclopedia, and I wanted more time with her.

I read this on my Kindle as a digital review copy courtesy of Netgalley and Ballantine Books. MAD HONEY is available now.

I've always enjoyed Jodi Picoult's books. She's not afraid to tackle tough subjects and the emotions surrounding them. But when I saw that she was co-authoring a book with Jennifer Finney Boylan, I just KNEW it was a book I needed to read. I've been a HUGE fan of Jenny Boylan since I read her memoir (the first of its kind) She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders. I was ecstatic when NetGalley notified me that I had been approved to read this ARC.

Part love story, mystery, tragedy, and coming of age, Picoult and Boylan weave a tale of a mother's love for her child, a son's love for his mother and girlfriend, and a daughter's painful story of becoming the young woman she was always meant to be. Their writing is so seamless, that it's hard to tell who wrote what and the product is an extraordinary tale.

This book is a hefty read in terms of pages/word count AND the topics it covered and the complicated emotions and relationships it explored. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I was invested and I just had to keep reading to know how it all turned out. At times what I was reading could only be described as devastatingly poignant and at others delightfully euphoric. I felt a full range of emotions from love to fear to heartbreak and empathy. I was moved to tears many times and this will be a story that will stay with me for a long time.

If you're wondering if it's worth the read, I say absolutely. I highly recommend anyone pick up a copy and immerse themselves in this amazing book.

I received an advance review copy of this ebook for free from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily as a courtesy.

I really enjoyed this book. It tastes just like a Jodi Picoult book should! And it's been quite a handful of years since I read one. I think I got an ARC of Small Great Things in 2016! She's an auto-buy author for me but that doesn't necessarily mean auto-read. lol.

You're always learning in a Picoult novel and this is no different. I read one review of a GR friend who stopped reading it due to, apparently, the subject matter and descriptiveness? (Maybe she has an issue with the hot button issue :/) But this is what you get, and what I look for, in a Picoult novel. This depth. This learning. If you know anything about Picoult's co-author, you know what the hot button issue is. I'm glad that she teamed up with a co-author who has had these experiences instead of tackling this herself like she has in the past with other hot button issues, now that she has learned. I would have loved to have seen a co-authoring of Small Great Things, for instance.

I enjoyed the writing, I enjoyed learning about bees and the other educational pieces. I just had a problem with the ending.

Wow! This one was well worth the read. I had never heard of mad honey before and found the background information about beekeeping fascinating. I also thought the authors did a great job tackling this topic. The characters were relatable and varied. I was invested in the story and read late into the night because I needed to find out what was happening. It had alternating timelines and alternating POVs which gave out info piece by piece. I was not expecting the twist at 50%, but thought it brought a lot of depth to the story. As a parent, I could empathize with all the moms. I felt it was a 5 star for sure, until the end. I thought it would have been better without the last reveal, but it did not take away from a great read! I would recommend this to anyone who likes to feel the feels with books about families.