This story ripped my heart out and gave me hope all at the same time.

I love that Picoult extensively researches the topics she writes on; I learned so much about bee keeping from this story!!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Emotional as well as suspenseful, Mad Honey is a buzzing beehive of a story with many separate yet interconnected pieces. Part teenage love story, part murder mystery, and part courtroom drama, it's a page-turner that swarms readers with compassion and empathy at the same time that it asks them to consider their own inner prejudices around a sensitive topic. Challenging them to learn to love people for who - instead of what - they are.

Told in dual perspective, the book follows Lily Campanello, an 18-year-old-girl who is navigating her first brush with love while also tackling her own sense of personal identity, and Olivia McAfee, a mother, a beekeeper, and a domestic abuse survivor whose son, Asher, has been arrested, accused of murdering his girlfriend. The narrative flits back and forth between the past and present, giving rise to a bevy of real world issues, obstacles, and complications. Not only are there delicate secrets revealed about the characters, but there are also poignant themes about depression, abuse, abandonment, judgment, and acceptance.

I was drawn in by the plot, by the characters. They were well-developed and dimensional, making it easy for me to connect to them. Whenever Lily was toiling over who she was, over whether or not she could share the most private personal parts of herself with Asher, so was I. Whenever Olivia was questioning her own son's guilt or innocence, terrified that he might be violent like his father, I was right there with her. I cannot count the number of times I was suspicious, skeptical, surprised. I cannot tell you how overcome I was with curiosity, with emotion.

There were so many times when all I could do was hold my breath...and wait. Just wait for whatever was going to unfold next.

This is absolutely a story designed to give readers pause, make them think. Force them to ask questions. It's tragic in a lot of ways, upsetting, too, but also moving. The twists are the sort that surprise, perhaps even astonish because of the way they come together one single thread at a time, but I have to admit I liked the sense of trepidation, doubt, and worry I carried with me the entire time I was reading. I didn't know where I was being lead but I knew I wanted to follow. I didn't know how the story would end, if things would conclude the way that I hoped or anticipated, only that I wouldn't put the book down until I finished--heart torn, still sticky with tension, from my chest.

A soul-stirring read, indeed! Seamless collaboration. Great social and psychological insight into difficult topics, too.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Mad Honey was a roller coaster ride. Did Asher kill his girlfriend? Is he a violent abuser like his father? Or is he a teenage kid whose main crime is confusion at the ups-and-downs of new love? Will Asher's mother support him unconditionally?

Mad Honey is told from alternating perspectives: Asher's mother, Olivia, a beekeeper and former domestic violence victim and Lily, Asher's deceased girlfriend. Both perspectives kept me rapt. This book takes twists and turns, making a long story fly by. We learn so much about Asher, but only from the perspectives of the two women closest to him. Each of the characters came alive for me, mostly through their pains, but occasionally through their joys.

There are tidbits about bees sprinkled throughout the novel. We learn the title comes from poisonous honey used in warfare: mad honey is created from angry bees eating rhododendrons. People injured and killed by mad honey are tricked by its innocuous look - expecting sweetness and luxury rather than a weaponous substance.

I really liked Mad Honey. It was hard to put down. Highly recommend. Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Ballantine Books. This book is a powerful story about love, forgiveness and strength. It has drama, romance, mystery! Lily is a strong women that has know who she is for a while. Asher is the boy next door. Olivia is there to guide Asher as best she can. And the same can be said for Ava Lily mom. This story will keep.you guessing until the very end. Secrets have a way of coming out both good and bad. Being true to yourself is the only way to be. Love can find its self in many different ways. Public opinion is sometimes a blessing and a curse that you can't escape. Can tragedy make way for something great. Can we reinvent ourselves if needed? This book is for a mature reader only. It can be read anywhere.

I was so delighted to be approved for this e-ARC co-authored by Picoult and Finney Boylan. Representation is important, and I thought it was right for Picoult to defer to Finney Boylan when writing about that trans experience. In terms or continuity of writing style, you’d never know that this was written in two different voices - the writers worked together to create a seamless novel with two distinct characters that felt like they were written by the same person. The premise is intriguing (no surprise there, knowing Picoult) and touches on timely and important topics. It’s not quite as heartbreaking as some of Picoult’s other headliners, which is not a negative thing! I am hesitant to refer to the characters as characters, because it feels demeaning to how real they were. The book feels like it follows real people who are flawed but lovely, and you want to keep reading both because you want to find out how the trial ends, but also because you care about these people and you want to know if they’re okay in the end.

The only thing I didn’t love was that some of both Lily’s and Olivia’s passages seemed longer than they needed to be to get their points across. I understand why background was part of the building of their personhood (and the plot of course) but it hit that mark and then kept going. There was superfluous detail that at a certain point, I felt, detracted from the plot rather than contributed to it.

4.5/5 stars, rounded down to 4 because I have to feel a very special way to give a 5 star rating.

I will preface this review by saying Jodi Picoult is my favorite author of all time and I have read every single one of her books.

Mad Honey was classic Picoult. Jennifer Finney Boylan's role is not to be missed, however. These two authors wrote a beautiful, starkly sad novel. Teenage love, a murder, courtroom drama, all of it comes together so well. Oh and add in some beekeeping and honey. Plus a midway through plot reveal that had me audibly gasp.

I couldn't give a full 5 stars, solely because I felt the ending and end reveal was rushed. I needed more time with the repercussions of it.

Nonetheless, a beautiful novel. One that will stick with me. I loved it, I devoured it, I can't get enough Jodi Picoult.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing group for the eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I love how she builds the story around a social issue, bringing out both sides causing me to see the issue in a new light. This time I didn’t even see the alternate plots coming. Additionally, I didn’t realize that there were dual authors until the end of the book. The two authors blended seamlessly and did an excellent job of telling a love story, a murder mystery, physical abuse, and more. I couldn’t put the book down and read it straight through. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves women’s fiction, cozy mystery, romance, and books about current social issues of our current world.

Thank you to the authors, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, and NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC. All thoughts and moments are entirely my own.

As always Jodi Picoult does amazing research for her books. This book made me feel empathetic towards the trans community. I enjoyed that this story was told from two points of view, one moving forward in time and one moving backward in time. This was an elegant book that I will recommend to others.

4.5*
Like bees to honey, I’m always drawn to Jody Picoult’s books!

Olivia is raising her son Asher on her own having left an abusive marriage. She’s relocated back to her hometown to take over the family business of beekeeping.🍯🐝

As with all of Jody Picoult’s books, she thoroughly researches the subject matter. In this case, it’s running a bee farm. You’re given a real education of what takes place in order for us to have that heavenly jar of honey on our breakfast table.

Asher is in the midst of falling hard in love with Lily. Young love, first love. And emotions running rampant. Especially when certain secrets are being kept from one another. So when Lily is found dead, naturally all eyes turn to Asher.

Though beekeeping plays a central role in this book, there is SO much more. But like Lily, I must keep it a secret and let you uncover it all on your own. The less you know going in the better.

This was a collaborative effort with Jennifer Finney Boylan. I found the notes at the end of their book regarding their partnership in writing together fascinating.

Jody Picoult has a true gift for writing and I’m so pleased to have many of her previous books on my shelf just waiting for me. Wish You Were Here still remains a favorite, one that I cannot stop thinking about.
I will now have to delve into JFB’s backlist too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine .

Because this book is set in New Hampshire (as am I) and because one of the main characters is a beekeeper (and I am taking a beekeeping course), this title appealed to me. And Jodi Picoult did not let me down.

Olivia McAfee and her son Asher left their life in Boston to return to the family's farm in New Hampshire. There, Asher falls in love with Lily Campanello, also a recent transplant to New Hampshire.

When Lily ends up dead and Asher becomes a suspect, a lot is revealed about the secrets these young adults have lived with.

As with all of Jodi Picoult's books, this book is written in such a way that you feel you need to race to the end, but you don't want to, because there is much to learn and a great story, too.

I highly recommend this book.

I mean can Jodi Picoult do any wrong with writing stories? I think not! Another fantastic story by Jodi. Amazing plot and once again the characters are amazing. Must read!

A woman who raised bees must change her life on her own when her life as she has known it becomes unraveled.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”Mad Honey.”

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to receive an ARC from one of my favorite authors and equally excited to read Jennifer Boylan for the first time. This book is intense from the first chapter and it maintains that intensity to the last page. It is definitely Picoult at her best, and has that OMG twist you did not see coming. I think this is a must read, especially for teachers. Without giving any spoilers, this book taught me so much about a topic I knew little about and although I still have so much to learn, my understanding is at a whole new level. I rated this 4.5 stars rounded up. The only part that confused me was how Lily’s story was told in reverse chronological order. I had to keep reminding myself that certain things had not happened yet, but that left me confused at times as to what events had actually taken place. I haven’t stopped thinking about the characters since I finished, so I was inclined to give it 5 stars.

Thank you Net Galley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have read a few of Picoult's books, so I knew to not expect something light hearted. I'm not sure if it's because I'm at a time in my life where deeper and darker and mostly unhappy books are just too much for me, or what, but this one was hard. I liked it, I did. But I just feel like my headspace wasn't ready for it. As always her writing is though provoking and intense.

3.5/5 ⭐

I love everything written by Jodi Picoult and this book was no exception. I was hooked from the beginning and finished in 2 days.

I am glad to read a Jodi Picoult book that takes us back to the courtroom. The legal drama that unfolds in this book is riveting. When a book is co-authored, I often wonder how the process works and how much each writer actually contributes, so it was fascinating to read the authors’ notes for some insight into their process. I was ultimately satisfied with this book and I recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Wow, there was a lot going on in this book!

Murder ✔️
Suicide ✔️
Depression ✔️
Domestic violence ✔️

The story itself was engaging, mysterious and definitely kept my attention.

However, there was so much talk about bees! LOTS and LOTS of talk about bees. Kinds of bees, how to take care of bees, homes of bees, bees, bees, bees and ... bees.

It was just too much for me and absolutely took away from the story.

I've found several of Picoult's recent books very research heavy, almost like reading a textbook. The Book Of Two Ways straight up had me hating everyone and everything. It was so dense.

I didn't find this one quite the same as I still enjoyed the book.

The 😲😲😲😲😲😲 moment was straight up jaw dropping. I did not see it coming at all. P.S. I go into all books blind, so it may be in the synopsis, but no spoilers here.

The chapters were super long so if you crave short chapters like myself, consider yourself warned.

The ending was also blah for me.

Jodi Picoult will forever be an autobuy author for me and when that's the case, you win some and you lose some. This was not one of my favorites, but I'll still pick up anything she's putting out.

Unless it's about bees...

Thank you Netgalley, Random House and the authors for the ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up to 4.

It seems I can never give Jodi Picoult books less than 5 stars. Of course this one is no exception.

Collaborating with another author just makes the story line more interesting and one of the best things about her books is she makes you think. Whatever issue she tackles she leaves her readers looking at things from all different perspectives and may change your outlook on these issues.

Yes, there is a mystery, there are wonderful honey bees in the background, and that unexpected twist in the end that has become Ms. Picoult’s trademark. I’m not saying anymore. You will have to find out yourself. Look forward to October, 2022, and this book.

Highly recommended!

This is very good and will hopefully do well after it gets published. I loved the intertwining stories, the dual narrators, the relationship between Lily and Asher, the trial, and the complexity of the dad relationships. I felt like some of the background info was a little forced/info dumping and the ending was predictable for me, but I loved the story nonetheless.❤️

I have read quite a few of this author's books throughout the years and was definitely curious as to what to expect when it came to this book being a coordinated effort. I found the result to be seamless and definitely a current issue more now than ever before. I definitely have a very important trans person in my life and I was really hoping it wouldn't be some type of transphobic effort to demonize the reality of what these people go through. The way this topic was brought in was a bit of a shock, however the explanation and application was well done in the storyline. I really did not identify much with the mother or the son as I felt that they were both vague, however Lily's character was written with a lot of heart. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. I really enjoyed this one.