Jodi's back, baby!! I know this is a collaboration between her & Jennifer Finney Boylan, but reading this, I felt like I was coming home to Jodi Picoult's particular brand of thought-provoking, conviction-inducing storytelling that I had fallen in love with over the course of reading her body of work & had felt somewhat missing from her last couple of novels. This book is an important read for the times in which we live and I'd recommend anyone to grab this when it hits the shelves/ interwebs in just a few weeks, on October 4th!

*Thanks to Random House/ Ballantine & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

How remarkable is this? Jennifer Finney Boylan says in the Authors' Notes that she woke from a strange dream in which she was writing a novel with author Jodi Picoult, an author she admired but had never met. There were three characters in the story: a trans girl who died; her boyfriend who was accused of killing her; and the boy's mother who was torn by doubts. When Jenny posted about her dream on Twitter, Jodi connected with her, wanting to know more, and eventually tweeted back, LET'S DO IT!

The novel is quite cleverly constructed. One point of view is Lily's and explores what she has gone through as a trans girl. Her story is told backwards, starting with just before she is murdered and going back over the weeks preceding. The book begins with a quote from Soren Kierkegaard: 'Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards,' and the authors explore that idea here.

The other part of the story is told from Olivia's point of view--her son Asher is accused of Lily's murder. She was an abused wife and now wonders if Asher has inherited some of his father's propensity for violence against women as she sits through his trial.

Lily, a talented cello player, mentions the album Songs from the Arc of Life performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott. Here they are performing The Swan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qrKj.... She is also on the school's fencing team and is knowledgeable about many topics. Asher is captain of the high school's hockey team and professes to love Lily for who she is. After returning home to Adams, New Hampshire following her divorce, Olivia is carrying on her family's business and quite a bit of the novel is devoted to details about bees and beekeeping. Several recipes using honey are included. What is 'mad honey,' you might ask? It apparently comes from bees that forage on rhododendrons and mountain laurel and is full of poisonous toxins.

I applaud any book that seeks to further our understanding of the human condition in its myriad forms. I believe the authors have done an admirable job here with transgender issues. Lily's story is heartbreaking: what she has had to go through just to be herself. The resolution of the mystery is quite shocking and sad--a twist I didn't see coming.

I received an arc of this novel from the authors and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Mixed feelings about this one. I'll wait till the publication date before revealing any spoilers, but I think every time the only queer representation in a book is through dead characters, an angel dies.

Olivia McAfee is living at her childhood home in Adams, New Hampshire with her teenage son Asher. She left Boston after her husband showed a darker side of himself. She's started a new life for herself and her son and is now running her father's beekeping business.

Lily Campanello, no stranger to new beginnings, is new to Adams too. She just moved there for her senior year of high school. She meets Asher and the two start dating. She's madly in love with Asher, but can she trust him with her secret?

Olivia gets a call from the police station that Asher is being questioned in connection with Lily's death. Olivia is sure of Asher's innocence, but she's also aware that he has the same temper she's seen in his dad. As Asher's trial unfolds, Olivia realizes that her son has been keeping secrets from her.

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan have collaborated and brought a truly moving novel. From the details of what it is like being a beekeeper, to the past life of Olivia, to first love between Asher and Lily, to Lily's story, to the trial; every single part of this novel is thought out with the same love and care. There's so much I want to say, but I do not want to give anything away that will spoil anything to future readers. This novel is part love story and part suspense. It is a story about the things we do for the people we love and a story about breaking free and being who we were truly meant to be. This is definitely a story that will sit with you for a long time.

Wow Jodi Picoult does it again! 4.5 rounded up to a 5 for me. As per her usual there were several twists. Some I figured out some I didn't. I did however feel this one was a bit long winded but overall a great read.

Thanks so much for the arc!

This cover had me at “Jodi Picoult” (plus it’s gorgeous!). I didn’t read a synopsis and knew nothing about Jennifer Finney Boylan. Picoults The Pact is my all time favorite book. I also recently read The Book of Two Ways & Wish You Were Here. Picoult can do no wrong. Her research skills are unreal! I thoroughly enjoy her books while simultaneously learn so much.

Mad Honey is a masterpiece. Two mothers have done right by their children by leaving their fathers (as extremely hard as it was.) These two children- Lily & Asher, now teens, find each other and fall in love. This story is told in two points of view- one being Lily and the other Asher’s mother, Olivia. I had no idea until the end that one was written by Picoult and the other Boylan. It was seamless!!

We travel to both Lily & Olivia’s pasts which keep building up their characters and those of their families. We also are kept up to date in the present- where Asher has found Lily dead. He is then put on trial for Lily’s murder.

Your heart breaks for everyone involved but especially Olivia, Asher’s mother, who must now watch the fate of her sons life be put in the hands of 12 jurors. Olivia is a beekeeper whose expertise on bees is interwoven in the fabric of this story. The symbolism is perfection and I’m once again left in awe of Picoults ability to interestingly teach a topic. (Also the queen bees were named after pop superstar women like Beyoncé, Adele, Britney Spears- perfection!)

We keep learning more throughout the story that makes us second guess everything. I was back and forth often wondering if Asher was responsible for Lily’s death. I loved the way things were slowly revealed just when you thought you’d had a grasp on the character- just like people in our real lives. You never know what they’ve been through or done.

*Possible spoiler* It turns out that Lily is transgender. I loved the way we met Lily as Lily and loved her character. It wasn’t until much later we learned she was born male- and at that point it didn’t matter. I was shocked & didn't see it coming. That’s how all transgender people should be viewed- they’re happy with who they are and we should accept them however they present themselves. It was pure genius that Picoult & Boylan wrote the story this way. It proved such a point. I later found out Boylan is transgender as well. This piece to the story could make this book such an affective learning tool for anyone. I think it has completely transformed the way I’d view a transgender person. I hope it can teach readers about assumptions and acceptance on many levels.

Bravo!

Fascinating story that is beautifully written. There is a huge surprise almost halfway through that takes this into a whole other arena. I enjoyed the education along the way as I was propelled through to the very end!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for this ARC!

I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and a new fan of Finney Boylan. The book was written seamlessly so as a reader one really cannot tell who wrote which chapters—what an accomplishment..
The plot, the characters and the pace of the book are ‘just right’. One of the reasons I love Picoult’s books is that they always give me a bonus. In this case, it was learning a little something about bee-keeping. The story covers some difficult topics gracefully and honestly. Those topics are spousal abuse, transgender, trust, jealousy and love. And all of it is delivered through a ‘can’t wait to read more’ story.

Jodi, Jodi, Jodi. What a conflicting feeling I have lol. I really enjoyed this story and was INVESTED but at about 50% it felt like reading a text book trying to teach me a lesson I simply do not need to be taught. Asher is being questioned by police for the murder of his girlfriend Lily. As all good Jodi Picoult books go, there is a trial. There is a big bombshell during the trial, thus the preaching begins. The story was really good, the writing was great, and it honestly could have been a 5 star read. I thought the ending was amazing and a great twist. Some of the story felt unrealistic and I’m definitely curious to hear other’s thoughts on this one!

Jodi can do no wrong ever - her voice is my favorite when she weaves a tail of something so powerful and makes you think and question anything and everything. I dont want to give any spoilers but I am always team Jodi.

Oliva never imagined she would be running her father’s beekeeping business, but it was her chance at starting over. When her seemingly perfect husband showed his dark side, she had no choice but to take her son far away. Now a teenager, Asher falls for the new girl in school, Lily, and everything seems perfect. Until Olivia gets a phone call that Lily is dead and Asher is being questioned by the police. She doesn’t want to believe that her son could have inherited his father’s temper, but she struggles to fully believe his innocence. Meanwhile, Lily’s mother is reeling from the loss of her child.

I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of this; Jodi Picoult is one of my favorites! This book, like all of her others, grabbed my attention from the first few pages and I couldn’t put it down. In true Picoult fashion, it’s an immersive look into beekeeping (among other issues!) Without giving any spoilers, there was a pretty big twist I did not see coming. But I thought it was handled beautifully. All of the characters were complex and relatable, and I found myself feeling so many emotions throughout this story! I also enjoyed the authors notes at the end.

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Randomhouse and Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Flynn Boylin for the ARC! “Mad Honey” is our October 4th.

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊

I never put spoilers in my book reviews, but I feel compelled to address something after reading this excellent novel. It’ll be at the very end of this review, it will be brief, and I won’t discuss specifics…but I need to bring up a topic after reading other reviews. I sincerely hope it won’t spoil someone’s reading experience.

Olivia is a beekeeper with an 18-year old son named Asher. She’s divorced after a very abusive marriage to a doctor, and it’s been just her and Asher for years.

Lily and her mother, Ava, relocate to the same town as Olivia and Asher. Lily is a senior, and has had a hard time of things at her previous schools.

Asher meets Lily at school, and they quickly fall in love. Everything is perfect…

…until Olivia receives a phone call with news of Lily’s death. The death is suspicious, and Asher is instantly questioned by the police.

He swears he would never hurt Lily, but can Oliivia, his own mother, believe him?

Everyone keeps secrets for different reasons.

Now THIS is the Jodi Picoult I love! This novel reminded me of her earlier work that always left me on the edge of my seat, flying through the pages while reading the drama on the page…and also gaining some interesting knowledge on things I never even thought about. Picoult writes this one with her good friend, Jennifer Finney Boylan, and the joint project is seamless and smooth. I couldn’t put it down.

There are different timelines, riveting characters, and thought-provoking topics. I was in for the whole thing, and I highly recommend…if you don’t consider some of the topics a “trigger”.

Here is where I’ll discuss what I mentioned at the beginning.

In addition to learning many things about bees (and actually finding it interesting), this book also discusses transgender people and identity. There are some reviewers who are rating it low because of that, saying that Picoult and Boylan are jamming the topic down the readers throats. To each their own. Nobody is MAKING anybody read this book. However, I was taken aback by some people listing this topic as a “trigger warning” just because they were uncomfortable reading about it or don’t agree with it. I personally don’t consider the topic a trigger warning. It’s a tough topic that plenty of people are at least somewhat ignorant about, but the ONLY thing I see it triggering in some of these reviews is HATE…and that doesn’t sit right with me. Picoult has always written about tough/touchy subjects, and she has also always done her homework. I personally think it’s wonderful that she and Boylan are educating more people about what it means to be transgender and figuring out one’s identity. I found it eye opening as well. So kudos to them!!

As Picoult explains in the author’s note: “I am no stranger to hate mail - and I’m sure I’m gonna get plenty for this book…Difference is a construct…Sometimes making the world a better place just involves creating space for the people who are already in it.”

Well said, IMHO.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing a widget of the ARC through NetGalley. Expected Publication Date: 10/4/22.

This is a fascinating drama with marvelous characters. Olivia McAfee is a survivor. Asher is a survivor. Lily is a survivor. The plot of the story hinges on secrets, love, truths and lies. The story is told in told in alternating past and present voice from the point of view of the three main characters. The authors paint a vivid picture of the emotions behind all the actions taken by the characters. It is a tense emotional roller coaster when Asher is charged with aLily’s death. Happiness seem an illusion on the horizon but nothing is as it seems. The story is a page turner and the reader will be hooked to the very end.

Review published on Goodreads, 13 September 2022:

It's tough to write about MAD HONEY without including spoilers, so I'll do my best to review it without giving anything away.

First off, let me say that I'm a longtime fan of Jodi Picoult, at least her early novels. I love that she's not afraid to tackle controversial issues in her fiction but also that she does it in a way that is empathetic and eye-opening. No matter what I think about a particular issue, I come away from her books having looked at it from different perspectives and understanding it in a new way. I went into MAD HONEY knowing only that it was a mystery. In a big twist halfway through the book (which I didn't see coming at all), Picoult introduces her issue du jour. It's an issue that's not super relevant to my life and not one I would have chosen to read about, frankly. However, as per usual, Picoult and her co-author helped me understand it better, for which I'm glad.

Beekeeping is another topic I really have never been interested in reading about, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed learning about it through this novel. Bees are fascinating!

Character-wise, I found the cast of MAD HONEY likable overall. The main characters are complex and sympathetic, although not without flaws. Except Lily. She seemed a little too perfect to me. I related most to Olivia (being a middle-aged mother myself), although I didn't care overly much for Asher, truth be told. As far as plot, there was enough tension and conflict to keep me interested in the story, although it did feel overly long. The back-and-forth-in-time structure got a little confusing at times. Certain parts of the novel also felt PSA-ish, which was a tad annoying although I did appreciate the Controversial-Issue-for-Dummies approach since I'm very ignorant on the issue in question. I also didn't super love the book's ending. It felt rushed and kind of contrived after such a long build-up.

All things considered, I found MAD HONEY to be thought-provoking, and compelling. It's not my favorite Picoult book by a long shot, but it kept me reading and thinking. If I could, I would give it 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.

She never disappoints!! And I loved this collaboration. This book is an emotional rollercoaster. It’s an engaging story that you won’t be able to put it down. The characters development is top notch. I enjoyed the setting too. It’s so well written. I’m looking forward to grabbing the hard copy when it comes out.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

Lily and Asher have found romance with each other. Both are being raised by single mothers doing the best they can for them. When tragedy strikes, Asher is blamed.

I was hesitant to read this because it was so long, but it grabbed me immediately and I couldn’t put it down. I preferred to go into this one blind, which I would suggest because it has some unexpected moments. I really enjoyed the bee keeping moments and how the facts cleverly tied into the story line. The latter half turned into a legal thriller, which was just as compelling as the beginning. And of course, as many Picoult books do, there’s a heart wrenching reveal and twist at the end.

“I would never know what it felt like to fly. But I know all about what it was like to come crashing back to earth.”

Mad Honey comes out 10/4.

A story of new beginnings, unexpected endings, the places and people and lives we leave behind in search of a life of peace and hope. A story born of a dream Jennifer Finley Boylan had one night about writing a book with Jodi Picoult, and posted on Twitter the next day: ’I dreamed I was co-authoring a book with Jodi Picoult! Shortly after, Jodi Picoult messaged her with the question ’What was this book about?’ and soon after they both knew they would write this story together.

Two mothers, who have yet to meet, leave their former lives behind to begin a new life with their children. Olivia leaves her abusive husband, taking her then young son, Asher, and returns to Adams, the town where she takes on the beekeeping business that her family had begun years before. Years have passed since then, and Asher is now a teenager beginning his last year of high school as this story really begins to take shape. When Ava and her daughter Lily move to Adams, as well, a sweet gesture by Asher to the ‘new girl’ in school wins him some points, and a friendship eventually turns into more as time passes.

And then the worst thing imaginable happens.

I was pulled into this story from the start, and I loved every second of being in these pages. I didn’t even attempt to try to determine which parts were written by which author, the story was so seamless that it never mattered to me. I’ve read many of Picoult’s wonderful books, and one of Jennifer Finley Boylan’s which I also loved, so I knew I was in good hands and just let the story lead the way. I was mesmerized.

If you enjoy stories which tend to weave and unravel a story slowly, there are many twists and turns to this which I never saw coming.

All the stars for this coming-of-age story with a twist, a little bit of romance, some
teen-relationship-angst, real-life drama, family drama, memories, and love
and loss.


Pub Date: 04 Oct 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Jodi Picoult talked recently about how she expects her latest novel to be banned in some areas. (Genius marketing or actual disgust at censorship practices? You decide.) Either way, I will read anything she writes. I've never been disappointed.

After escaping a disastrous marriage and life in the bustling city, Olivia McAfee returns to her sleepy hometown to start over, tend to her father’s beekeeping business, and raise her teenage son, Asher. New-girl-in-town, Lily, has just moved, too—though her reasons for doing so are shrouded in mystery. A quick love story unfolds between the teens but ends abruptly when Lily is found dead, and Asher becomes the prime suspect. Secrets are unveiled, relationships are tested, and everyone begins to question: how well do we really know the people closest to us? This book is an emotional rollercoaster. Buckle up. (Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy!)

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan was a very good collaboration. I certainly learned a lot about some new subjects from reading this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Jodi Picoult is back! I am giving this one 4.5/5 due to the quick ending and less than huge AHA moment, but, overall, I LOVED this book. I learned so much about honey and transsexual men and women. I know that sentence sounds odd, but, readers of the novel will understand.