I was so thrilled to be approved for this novel. I had heard such incredible things about it and was so excited to see that Jenny Boylan was the coauthor. I was not emotionally prepared for how this novel would impact me. I learned so much about trans people. It is NOT trans people's job to educate us, but as someone who is always learning and wanting to do better, I loved how this was woven throughout the book. Olivia is a beekeeper and I loved how Picoult and Boylan included facts about bees. It added to the plot, didn't take away from it. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It kept me engaged from the very beginning. 5 Star read for sure!!!

Olivia left an abusive and returned home with her son, Asher, to take over her father's beekeeping business. Lily is new to town and has fallen in love with Asher. It seems like a fairytale until Lily ends up dead. Now, Olivia must do all she can to keep her son out of jail, while battling memories of the past.

One thing I have to say is that when you read anything by Jodi Picoult, you are going to learn something because of all the research she incorporates into her stories. I learned sooooo much about beekeeping and found that career field fascinating. Although, it did fill up a lot of the story.

The other thing is that you are going to get a good story. There was a twist I didn't expect and there was a lot of subject matters that could possibly be triggers. Also, I must add that this read wasn't my absolute fave but he attention to detail and the descriptions are unparalleled. There were some story threads that I wondered why bother introduce them if they weren't going to be vital part of the story or if they weren't going to be addressed.

I will continue to read Jodi's books. Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC.

Mad good!! I was skeptical about a story by two authors, but they made it work seamlessly. I loved the alternating chapters, and I enjoyed how this wasn't quite as research-presentation-heavy as some of Picoult's recent books (i.e., book of two ways). I will def recommend this to friends.

Told in dual POV by Olivia, Mom to Asher; & Lily, girlfriend to Asher. One thing they have in common is they both love Asher fiercely and both are ready for fresh starts after painful pasts. But when Lily winds us dead (not a spoiler) Olivia starts to wonder if her past is influencing her future. This book was so riveting I could not put it down. And HOLY SMOKES AT THAT TWIST halfway through!!!!!

I have to say this is my first Jodi Picoult novel and wow it did not disappoint! There are so many layers to this book that I don't even know where to begin. You get true crime, with some educational content, and even some romance. I would definitely recommend.

Love love love! I love how Picoult pours herself into her books and almost makes them feel like a nonfiction book while interweaving an amazing story into it. I always learn a lot!

I will be recommending this to my followers who are obsessed with Jodi Picoult. This will be a good beach read

I wish I could give more than 5 stars. I have a feeling this book is going to stay with me for a very long time. Not only is the story great, I learned so much while reading it. I learned a lot about bees, but I also learned a lot more about another topic which I will not state because I don't want to give away any spoilers. I think everyone should read this book! I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and this is by far my favorite thing she's ever written (and she only wrote half of it!). Now I'm going to have to read everything Jennifer Finney Boylan has every written as well.
A huge thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I see glimmers of greatness here. Fabulously-turned phrasing and some moments when you want more. But I think this particular blend of authors doesn't do either of them as much favor as some may have envisioned. I wanted to love love it, but I instead really like it, and that's saying a lot for a book with such a stellar pedigree. Worth every second of reading it. Will keep it and not forward it on. Would love it for book club.

I loved the bee information/references!
The broken parts of a young girl and boy ...together make a whole, make each "being known"

SURPRISE
about halfway through book

"If you want to understand something, you first need to accept the fact of your own ignorance.
And then, you need to talk to people who know more than you do, people who have not just
thought about the facts, but lived them."

Read this book, may it inspire COMPASSION!
This book has changed my outlook, my life, my understanding!
Avoid mad honey, do not avoid this Mad Honey book (if you want to know meaning - read book)

Mad Honey is a story about Asher, a teenage boy, accused of murdering his girlfriend. We follow Asher and his mom Olivia as he is arrested and prosecuted for Lily's murder. There are several twists in the story that left me guessing what really happened to Lily and who was responsible for her death. There are complicated family issues including domestic violence and gender identity that cast doubt on Asher's innocence. Through all of the novel, we see a mother fighting fiercely for her son as well as Lily's mom fighting for her daughter.. The novel is told from the perspective of several characters. It was hard to put down. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!

This is the kind of book that I should really process before writing a thoughtful review because there's so much to be said, but also the kind of book that I need to recommend immediately. The story itself was intriguing and kept my attention and pretty par for the course for Picoult (I've not read anything else by Finney Boylan - yet!). But what is so attractive to me about Picoult is her way of humanizing "hot topics" - and that's all I'll say about that without having to click the spoiler button.

I also appreciate the way the bees weave their way into the story in a way that is educational and relevant. I learned a lot. :)

*ARC provided via Netgalley

Lily is new girl in a small New Hampshire town and ends up in a relationship with Asher, a student at her high school. Both Lily and Asher have deep secrets. Both are only children who have mothers who fled their husbands. When the relationship becomes troubled, Lily ends up dead in her home and Asher is the person who finds her body.
He is arrested and tried for the murder after his DNA is discovered in her bedroom. Fortunately his uncle Jordan is a top defense lawyer and takes the case.
This book contains a lot of information about beekeeping as Asher’s mother, Olivia, took over her father’s beehives after his death. The book is told from the point of views of both Lily and Olivia. Each of the two authors writes in the voice of either Lily or Olivia. There is a big reveal at the trial and that changes everything.
This book will keep the reader riveted until the end. It explains something that few people understand today. The book will give the reader much to think about.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received this as an early edition from NetGalley. This is not a paid review.

A wonderful story that speaks of topics that are relevant today. My first reaction was of shock but as I continued to read I found the story to be enlightening.

Olivia fled an abusive marriage to Braden, a cardiothoracic doctor, with her son Asher. Olivia is a beekeeper and throughout the story the theme of bees is woven throughout.

Lily and her mother recently moved after leaving a series of bad situations in various locations. Lily attends high school with Asher and Asher's best friend/long-time friend Maya. They all become fast friends and Asher and Lily start dating.

As the story evolves Asher is brought up on murder charges for the death of Lily. Here the story really unfolds as you are taken on a labyrinth to find the truth. A beautifully woven story.

AUTHOR: Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

TW/CW: Domestic abuse. Relationship abuse. Suicide. Murder. Sexual Assault. Transphobia. Homophobia. Sex. Public humiliation. And FYI, These warnings are pretty strong.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

REVIEW: Just another warning – this book is dark and emotional – almost to bordering sometimes on the melodramatic. Please read the TW/CW above if you want to read this book, because it contains pretty much all of the bad ones.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Mad Honey is the story of the murder of a young girl. It is narrated by Lily – the young girl – and Olivia, the mother of Lily’s boyfriend, who is arrested for her murder.

While making what I think are very important points, the darkness and heaviness of this book can make it very difficult to read at times. Pretty much everyone in the book has some terrible secret, it seems, and they all just keep getting worse.

That’s not to say that this isn’t a pretty good book. One of my problems with Picoult before this book is that I don’t really feel comfortable reading, for instance, a book about Black people that’s written by white people, and she’s done that more than once.

But here she takes a step forward and co-writes this book with Jennifer Finney Boylan who is a transwoman herself and a trans activist. That made me feel a lot better about reading this book, knowing that someone who was actually involved with and familiar with the trans community was helping to write it.

This book is a fast read, and despite the heavy subject matter, it does pull you in and keep you guessing to the very end. I would recommend this book to people who are okay with the above trigger warnings who are looking for a dark book that also makes very good points.

I’m going to be in the minority here but I didn’t love this book. This book started off super strong and I was super intrigued! I flew through the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. Then, it started adding in all these controversial, hot topics including LGTBQ, abuse, suicide, abortion, gender equality, and interracial couples. It felt like the authors were trying to add in any and every recent hot topic they could think of to this book and it just didn’t set well for me. It was too much and too over the top. The storyline was okay and the book was readable but all these triggers brought the enjoyability factor way down. The book was a lot longer than it needed to be and very predictable. I did enjoy learning a lot of great information and facts about bees in this story. I normally love Jodi Picoult books so I am bummed this one did not work out for me. If you are easily triggered, do NOT read this book.

Thank you Net Galley, and Random House Ballantine for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

I. Loved. This. Book.

From the insane twist in the middle portion of the book that changes everything to trying to figure out who/what is responsible for Lily's death- all of it is masterfully done.

This is a fabulous thriller that is also a family drama as well as a commentary on social issues like spousal abuse that are often shied away from.

This was such a good book! There is a lot I can't get into without spoiling it, but it is compulsively readable and I didn't want to put it down.

Definitely read the notes from the authors at the end of the book. I felt that it added a lot of information and context.

Thank you so much #netgalley for this ARC of #madhoney I can't wait for everyone else to get their hands on this one!

I loved, loved, loved this book! Jodi Picoult is so good at covering current issues in a heartbreaking and real way and her latest book does not disappoint.

Olivia is a beekeeper whose son Asher is accused of murdering his girlfriend. Secrets about Olivia's past come to light during the trial which start to make her question her son's innocence. Told in alternating POV's this is another must read! Much like her last book Wish You Were Here this book had a jaw dropping moment for me. I can't say more without spoilers, but Picoult has proved once again why she is such a master storyteller.

Pub Date Oct 4, 2022. As soon as this book started off with beekeeping, I was so excited. I love how these authors really make sure you know about beekeeping and all that goes into it. It fascinated me and kept me intrigued. It was a wonderful balance of learning about nature and courtroom drama, and I couldn't put it down!

This was a risky book to write, but I commend the authors for doing so! While the plot is just so-so, the themes an d issues tackled are thoughtfully handled and I am sure I won't be quick to forget this book. Definitely one of Picoult's best.