This story was a gut-wrenching relevant, but heartwarming read. I am absolutely in love with this book.

As a mother of a teen age boy, It was easy to put myself in Olivia's shoes and feel the terror she had for her son as he went through the struggles of adulthood on his own. It's no wonder Asher comes out of this situation scared and changed.

My sensitive heart was in tears by the end of this story, but felt warmed by how Asher accepted Lily for who she was, even when everyone doubted it.

Jodi Picoult has never let me down and now I'm also a fan of Jennifer Finney Boylan. Can't wait for the next read from both these authors.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
Publishing date - October 4th 2022
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you Netgalley and Random House / Ballantine publishing for letting me read an arc copy of this AMAZING book! I have been a big fan of Jodi Picoult for many years! What has always appealed to me about her books is her ability to tackle tough controversial topics. She is a great storyteller!

This story is a collaboration with Jennifer Finney Boylan. Their voices blended well together to create a suspenseful story!

The story centers on Olivia , whose son Asher, is dating the new girl in school, Lily. You know something tragic happens from the synopsis. The book does a great job exploring the aftermath of the tragedy from Olivia’s POV while alternating with events leading up to it from Lily’s POV.

I always enjoy reading the Author’s notes. One of my favorite things about this book was being able to read both authors explaining how this partnership happened.

An excellent read with many unexpected twists! Highly recommend this one!

This felt like classic Jodi Picoult: multiple perspectives, a courtroom drama, a "moral" dilemma (that's not exactly the right word for what this is though). I didn't know ANYTHING about this book going into it, and that was the way to do it (so I am trying to write my review that does not lead the reader to ANY information before diving in). The story was riveting and kept me guessing-- I did not know how it was going to end, even when 90% through the novel.

I haven't read any of Boylan's work, but I believe I'll seek some out after this enticing read.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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JoPicult and Jennifer Finney Boylan collaborated
to write this novel. This is a moving story about family, young adults, and sexuality. Asher and his Mom, a beekeeper, live in a small New Hampshire town. Asher is in high school and plays hockey. Lily is new to the school. Lilly is an only child. Her mom, Ava Campanella, is a park ranger. Lily ad Asher meets begin dating. Asher and Lily appear to have a normal teenage relationship. They enjoy doing things together and look for ways they can be alone. Lily reveals b to Asher a secret that may alter the dynamics of their relationship.


When Lily is later found dead at the bottom of the stairs in her home, Asher is accused of murder. As Asher goes to trial, defended by his uncle, more about Lily, Asher, and their families are revealed. This story moves fluidly between the past, present, and the different
characters. In the end, the reader gets a complete picture of who Asher and Lily are
and their family dynamics.


This story pulled me in from the beginning. It kept me on the edge of my seat as more and more was revealed until the shocking end. I didn't see that coming.

This is a great read! Jodi does it again. This time with co-author Jennifer Finney Boylan. This touching novel is written using two voices to relate the story. A teen named Lily and a mother who escaped an awful marriage years ago and moved back to her hometown with her son Asher. Each author writes in one of these voices, and it's written so seamlessly its hard to tell who is writing what. If you know Jodi Picoult's books, you know she writes about family relationships and often takes on current societal issues in a different way. Boylan is a new writer to me and i enjoyed her beautiful and emotional prose too. Thank you to the authors, the publisher, and net galley for giving me the opportunity to read this wonderful novel as an early read. I cant wait to read more! It's on pre-order now.

Second best book I've read all year. Educational, thoughtful, and heartbreaking. As always, Jodi does a great job with "controversial" and hot-button topics and Jennifer Finney Boylan writes FANTASTIC chapters from Lily's perspective. I will be recommending this to every person I physically can. This will be at the top of the NYT lists and for good reason. I hope that Boylan gets the credit for this that she deserves as she is not just an advisor on this project but wrote half of the book herself.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
At its heart, Mad Honey is about starting over and second chances. Ava and her daughter move to Adams, New Hampshire to start a new life. In this small town, Lily meets Asher and his mom Olivia. Olivia moved back to her hometown to takeover her father’s beekeeping business and Asher can’t help falling for Lily.
For a time it appears that these fresh starts are exactly what these families need until one day Olivia gets a call that Lily has died and Asher is questioned by the police. Told in alternating voices, Mad Honey is a compelling story about secrets, family and ultimately love.
Both authors do a wonderful job of blending their voices in this powerful story. Take the time at the end of the book to read both author’s notes.
#MadHoney #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Mad Honey in exchange for an honest review.

This seems to be the "year of redemption" for many authors whose earlier works I loved, but whose more recent books were not exactly my cup of tea. Add Jodi Picoult to that list - and add some honey to that cup of tea.

I was very much invested in this story from the very beginning. Young love. Secrets. Family drama. Death. Murder. Mad Honey has it all. Some of Jodi Picoult's previous books were a little fact heavy for my liking, and I found myself skimming parts. Mad Honey includes many facts about bees and beekeeping, but I didn't feel overwhelmed by the information and found it quite interesting.

My only complaint about this book is the very end. It felt.... anticlimactic.
Overall, I enjoyed this story and found it hard to put down.

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan deliver a compelling story with Mad Honey. For a co-writing endeavor, it's smoothly written with masterful transitions and courtroom tensions. I didn't mind that it got a touch preachy because the education was worth it. Bee facts interwoven throughout the story were interesting but did not change my fear of insects that sting.

3.5 stars
While the storyline itself had a few surprises, I found the ending predictable. I definitely learned more about beeping than I ever cared to know.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meh. I want to read a story, not a lecture. This feels more like pandering to hot topics to sell a book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and I couldn't put it down. I especially enjoyed learning new things.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel. This book deals with loss, reinvention, trust, forgiveness, and hope. Although it covers tough and complex topics, it is absolutely impossible to put down. Another amazing novel from Jodi Piccoult!

Mad Honey's topic was fascinating, and not much of a surprise once I read who the co-author was. Sadly, I felt it was poorly done. It was yet another book that meandered and then came to a sudden close that was completely unsatisfactory. The redeeming points were the pages written by Jennifer Finney Boylan in the voice of Lily. Those were beautiful and poignant.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

This book reminded me of the many books I read of Jodi Picoult’s years ago. Family drama, philosophical/sociological issues, court scenes, twists and well-developed characters, some of who reveal their stories in first person POV.

Picoult knows how to tell an interesting story, and I had not noted until the end that the story actually was written by two authors. The perspectives of the second author, Jennifer Finney Boulanger, really hit the mark and lent a knowledgeable perspective. This story broadened my understanding of a topic that I had been familiar with, and our society will gain from the popularity this novel is sure to achieve.

Highly recommend.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As always with a Jodi Picoult book, the amount of intense research and information shared that supports the narrative been given is incredible. The story of knowing someone and you never actually really knowing anyone… He doesn’t relate to that? Teens especially would benefit from this book, trigger warning it does involve a trans character…

I was lucky enough to read an advance copy from Netgalley of this amazing book. Now on to my review!

Wow. It's been awhile since I have read a book that I couldn't put down. Mad Honey really is THAT GOOD.

First let me say that I greatly enjoyed The Book of Two Ways and Wish You Were Here. In fact, they may be two of Picoult's best works yet. That being said, longtime fans of Jodi Picoult will enjoy this return to her courtroom and family drama format. Frankly I was ecstatic when I learned we were getting to reconnect with our old friend Jordan McAfee. It's not that I only want Picoult to write courtroom dramas, it's just that I know that when she does I'm going to have the best time reading it.

Something Picoult is a master of is getting us inside the characters' head, and she did this so completely with Olivia, the mother of the boy at the center of the murder trial. Olivia is a complex character who I was rooting for the entire book, who at times frustrated me and at other times made me want to just give her a big hug. Also, she taught me a lot about bees.

But Lily,. The character of Lily. Whew. I can't even write about her without tearing up. This is where I will say, Jennifer Finney Boylan, I will now read anything you ever write. I've been a fan of Boylan's since I saw her speak at the University of Maine in the early 2000s when she had just published her memoir. I loved that book, but I have never read Boylan's fiction. And yes I know this was co-written but still- I was absolutely blown away by Lily's chapters. There is one scene of Lily walking home alone that I won't spoil but it has stayed with me. I love Lily so much, like SO much, I feel like she's my little sister or something, .And the way the chapters move backward in time from her perspective was so interesting and entertaining. Bravo.

I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. I will be reading this one again. This book publishes in October so get your preorders in now!!

I mean I just love Jodi Picoult books! Such interesting topics and great writing. I love books with intriguing storylines and flashbacks like this one has. Definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Jodi Picoult/Jennifer Finney Boylan!

LOVE This book so much!! The writing is amazing and the characters will stay with you long after you put it down. Highly recommend this unique work of fiction!

A wonderfully written book on growing up, young love, trauma, and more. The twist and turns of the love story between two teenagers was beautiful with stark moments of doubt and worry for the main characters. And a plot twist in true JP fashion. I did enjoy reading this book! A few notes though. It did feel as though there were too many hot button topics put into this book. And not subtly but almost jarring call outs that didn't further the plot line. I also found the story hard to follow in terms of flashbacks/timelines. I think it could have been organized a little more clearly.

Overall, I do recommend this book. The insight it gives into a marginalized group of people was extremely touching and well written.