Thank you to Netgalley & Ballantine books. for the advanced reader copy. I am rounding up from 3.5 stars to 4 for this book. Overall, I thought this was an engaging story and liked the two narrator alternating chapters. I loved learning about beekeeping. I especially felt it was super timely with the death of Queen Elizabeth, to have learned that when there is a death, you are supposed to tell the bees. This book doesn't shy away from covering a lot of heavy topics, and does so thoughtfully and with well researched consideration.

I personally felt like this book was about 50-100 pages too long and it took me a while to get through it.

Mad Honey has everything new and old JP fans will absolutely love. Young love, murder, courtroom drama, strong female characters, a compelling storyline and fascinating subplots. Although the book is narrated by two heroines penned by separate authors, their stories and voices weave together so perfectly. Every element of this book intrigued me, from the beekeeping, to the high school romance, to the murder investigation, and the compelling, transformative journeys these characters embark on. I absolutely adored Lily, and empathized with Olivia. Their stories are important and will resonate with readers for years to come.

Reading Mad Honey was like taking a magical trip back in time to vintage JP storytelling, (think The Pact, Plain Truth, Salem Falls) made even better by the addition of Jennifer Finney Boylan’s poignant writing. I’m sad I’ve finished the book, but these characters will stay with me for a long time. This is a top JP book for me, and I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next.

Character-driven, this novel focuses on Olivia, a beekeeper, who has fled her abusive husband with her son Asher, and Lily, who has moved with her mother Ava to begin a new life. Asher meets and falls in love with Lily, and the story progresses. Told from Olivia’s and Lily’s alternating viewpoints, and alternating between the past and the present, the story is definitely a thought-provoking — and timely — one! It is hard to say more without giving too much away, but just know that the story continues to pick up steam until here is a huge twist about halfway through—a twist that governs the second half of the novel and is one that I doubt any reader could see coming in the least. I definitely enjoyed this one, and the background information on raising bees and beekeeping into only relates to the plot of the story, but is a real bonus!

I feel like its been a long time since I've read a Jodi Piccoult book and she is definitely one of my favorite authors. This book is written by Jodi and Jennifer Finney Boylan - but I honestly couldn't tell that it was written by 2 people. The book flowed seamlessly.

What I can always expect from a Jodi Piccoult book:
1. Controversial Subjects
2. Though Provoking Stories and Characters
3. Going in Thinking My Thoughts are Black and White, and Coming Out Thinking Gray
4. Two Different Sides of an Issue are Explored Through Different POVs so that Both Sides of an Argument/Situation are Given
5. A Greater Understanding

Dang, she did it again. This is a tense and heartbreaking story about love, self-awareness, pre-conceived notions and the ways in which our past experiences color our interpretations of current/future experiences. I don't want to say too much about this one, because I also want you to have the GASP moment in the middle of this story. The summary provides a great overview without giving spoilers - but believe me, the less you know going in, the better.

There were a few too many "issues" that came up in this one and the timelines were a tad confusing, but those are the only things that caused frustration for me in this one - so I give this one 4.5 stars. I thought the characters were very well developed, their relationships were fully explored and there was such heart in the writing. I absolutely loved learning about beekeeping and the parallels were enlightening!

My final thoughts are this - RUN out and grab this book. Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC to read and review. Pub date: October 4, 2022.

• Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is October 4, 2022.

#StoryGraph: fiction lgbtqia+ romance thriller
464 pages | first published 2022

Olivia McAfee is a Beekeeper. She and her son, 18-year-old son, Asher, moved from Boston to her New Hampshire family home when her cardiothoracic surgeon husband becomes abusive. When Asher’s girlfriend, Lily, is found dead, Asher becomes the prime suspect. Mad Honey is a love story about the secrets we keep and the importance of being who we are meant to be at all costs. Jodi Picoult never disappoints when it comes to relevant and important topics. In fact, many of her books have caused me to rethink complicated social issues and I thank her for that.

Wow! I always enjoy a Jodi Picoult book and this collaboration with a new author to me , Jennifer Finney Boylan did not disappoint!
This story starts out as a teenage love story that quickly goes awry. Boy meets girl and both fall in love until Boy finds the girl dead. He is accused and the fight to prove innocent ensues. blah blah blah, I've read this one before, several times in fact. BUT, of course you can count on our fantastic authors to throw some surprises your way, and now the story changes. AH! That's all. I can say without spoiling it.
As always JP has a way of weaving side stories into the book. In this one our MC Olivia is a Beekeeper. We get to learn tidbits about bees and life along the way. Our other badass MC is Ava who is a Forest Ranger who is a survivalist. Both tough ladies are mom's to our teenagers, Asher and Lily. I really enjoyed getting to know all of these and other characters throughout the story.
Interestingly enough , each author wrote about their own character but insisted each other write one chapter of their character. I haven't had the chance to go back and see which one's those may be but I look forward to doing that in a future re-read.
Tough topics in this book ~ Hockey~ lol, Just kidding, Abuse and Bullying. Nothing that I found too much, but fair warning anyway.
A solid 5 stars for me !!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was entirely enthralled by Mad Honey. The setting this author duo created was so vividly detailed that I felt like I was with the characters in small-town New England. Olivia brought her son Asher back to her hometown, where she takes over her father’s beekeeping business, in an escape from an abusive marriage.

When Asher’s girlfriend Lily is found dead, Asher is brought in for questioning. Olivia calls in her brother to act as Asher’s lawyer as he becomes more and more of a suspect.

There was so much depth and richness to Mad Honey. From the details about beekeeping that were seamlessly tied into the narrative, to the flashbacks to the burgeoning relationship between Lily and Asher, to Olivia’s fear that her son has taken after her ex-husband in ways she doesn’t want to face, there was always something thought-provoking to dissect in this book.

The present-day trial is interspersed with flashbacks from Olivia, and Lily’s past, and their perspectives kept me guessing about Asher’s nature and what had really happened to Lily.

I was surprised multiple times through the story, and it ended up covering much more than I anticipated. An utterly thought-provoking and captivating exploration of characters who I will not easily forget.

I am a long-time fan of Joci Picoult and have read all of her novels; dare I say this is the best book I've read all year? YES (and I've read 124 already). Olivia is a caring bee-keeper and single mother to Asher when he is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lily. And we're off to a mind-bending, deeply resonant and relevant story of a mother's love, including rage, divorce, protection, and oh so much more! Picoult and Boylan speak to so many themes: abuse, prejudice, secrets, lies, manipulation, but above all unconditional acceptance and nurturing! Told in both present and past, the novel reveals the families involved, the fears, the heartaches, and such lovely symbolism with the bees! Not only did I cry at the end but I wept uncontrollably when I read the authors' postscripts at the end. This is not a "maybe read" because you must move it to the top of your TBR list immediately! And maybe add Manuka honey to your shopping list as I did!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

4.5 Stars!!

I have long been a fan of Jodi Picoult, so an amazing novel is not a surprise. This was my first reading of Jennifer Finney Boylan and she is equally as amazing!

This book will make you think and tear at your heart strings all at the same time. Lily as transgendered girl falls in love with the star of the hockey team. They have a mostly typical high school relationship, until she dies and Asher is accused of her murder. The story is told in a non-linear timeline from the perspective of Asher's mother, Olivia and Lily.

I loved the setting of Adams, NH and all of the information about bees and honey and about what it means to be transgendered. I think there's just a felt that there were a few too many hot button issues all thrown in, it was still an excellent story.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Jodi Picoult, and Jennifer Finney Boylan for providing me with an ARC.

Although there's a double author credit, Mad Honey is definitely a Jodi Picoult book. If you like her style - the twists, the storyline that mirrors major societial issues - you will like Mad Honey a lot. If that's not your fave, then skip this one. Mad Honey was a fast enjoyable read - and I actually liked all the parts about bees! - but still a bit formulaic for those who've read a lot of Picoult books.

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I have loved Jodi PIcoult for years and this book is just as good and in the same tradition as all her other books.
The added bonus of Jennifer FInney Boylan made it that much better.

There is a lot to digest in this book and at times, my mind was spinning but it was all handled beautifully at the end of the day.

What I loved:
1. The Jodi Picoult story that makes me think and question what I believe!
2. The connection to the bees! So wonderful
3. The writing of the two authors - beautiful and lyrical - you are immersed in their words.
4. Families, communities, acceptance, sadness, grief, death, tragedy & ugliness, loss, and an abundance love

What I wanted to be different:
1. So many issues to talk about and explore - a lot of them will be triggering to people - and I wanted at times for the authors to not have so many topics because it was overwhelming at times.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions

Olivia and her son Asher leave Boston and make a new life at her parent's farm in New Hampshire. Asher is now a senior in high school and dating new student Lily. Out of the blue Olivia receives a phone call from Asher, he is in the police station being questioned over Lily's death!!! This amazing story is told by Olivia and Lily. What happened to Lily? Did Asher have anything to do with it? Olivia wants to believe her son is innocent but what if he is more like his father than she ever thought? I can honestly say I learned a lot about bees reading this book and it was so interesting! There is one huge twists and many other smaller twists that kept me reading well past my bedtime! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I've read every book written by Jodi Picoult and have loved every one of them. Jennifer Finney Boylan is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading more of her work.If you've never read a Jodi Picoult book, you need to read one as soon as possible. She will open up your world to new possibilities.

This book was such a page turner. The concept
Is great and the twists were really engaging and surprising but I really liked how the authors wove that into the story (I don’t want to give any spoilers!). I also really liked the characters and the backstory the transition between characters and stories. I think this is an overall important story for others to hear and to open their minds.

I devoured this book! Such a heart wrenching story with raw emotions. This a book everyone needs to read. Family dynamics and small town mentality brings this story such life.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. The beginning of this book quickly drew me in, eager to read more. Without giving too much away, I was enlightened by Lily's secret and feel that I have learned something from reading this book. I would have given it higher stars if the bee lessons hadn't started to bog it down.

Mad Honey kept me enthralled in reading it from beginning to end. There are many unique characters that we think we know but then learn secrets about them later in the book. I found the writing to be very impressive especially as the chapters are written by two different authors but they flow together seamlessly. The story brings out many deep emotions for the characters as well as the reader. At times I felt so emotionally overcome that I had to take a short break from reading it. It deals with a variety of subject matter including abusive relationships and gender identity in ways that are open and honest but not degrading to any of characters involved. I found this to be an eye opener for me and recommend for all adult readers.
I give it a 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another highly readable page-turner! Well developed characters and a fascinating plot leave the reader thirsting for more.

Told in the alternating voices of Olivia McAfee and Lily Campanello, both women are starting over hoping for a better life. Olivia thought she had it all, married to a successful cardiothoracic surgeon, raising her son, Asher, fast-forward to now living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father’s beekeeping business.

Lily and her mother move to New Hampshire for Lily to complete her high school education in a new school.

Olivia and Lily cross paths when Asher and Lily fall in love. Everyone has a secret past and a trust issue, however, nothing prepares them for Asher being arrested as a murderer.

I received an ecopy from Netgalley for a review.

Heavy on bee information, some may find it superfluous, however, the nature of the bees and their life in the colony adds dimension to the story. Since reading this book, I have heard about "mad honey" on the news (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nVg_ZOfCso)

Not for everyone, readers will either love or hate this book. I hope that you will stick with it, I can't stop thinking about everything that I learned and understood by the end especially about a society that rejects you based on who you are. The Author's Note as written by each author takes the story in another direction. The fact that the story is collaborative adds depth to the whole and now I really want to know who wrote which character's story. Jodi Picoult does not shy away from controversial societal issues and there are many in this story. An early ad for the book touts it as one "sure to be banned" which elicited negative comments before it is even published. While true, I hope it does not discourage libraries or readers from purchasing it. Highly recommended for Book Clubs, there are so many topics and points of view for discussion

Information on Mad Honey -

https://bigthink.com/health/mad-honey/

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/09/strange-history-hallucinogenic-mad-honey/

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire. For more information on Jodi, click here

Jennifer Finney Boylan is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books. She is the inaugural Anna Quindlen Writer-in-Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University and a 2022–2023 Fellow at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. A nationally known advocate for human rights, she is a trustee of PEN America. For many years she was the national co-chair of GLAAD as well as a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. She lives in New York City and Belgrade Lakes, Maine, with her wife, Deedie. They have a son, Sean, and a daughter, Zai. For more information on Jennifer, click here

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