Nothing is what it seems. No one is who they seem. Everyone has a past and everyone has secrets. So what happens when the past and the present collide? Chaos.

Teenagers are cruel. We know that. Intolerant of anyone who is not the norm. This is a story of a lot of people who look pretty on the outside but are rotten on the inside. It’s a story of being true to yourself, no matter the cost. It’s a story of a mother’s love for her child and what she will do to protect that child.

There were quite a few topics front and center in this book. Domestic Abuse, Trans hate crimes, Intolerance, and judgment.

Maybe there were too many topics. Told from Olivia’s point of view and from Lily’s point of view we go from past to present. I have to say there were so many subplots that I didn’t care about a bit. Some of it was a little unbelievable. Wrapped up in a bow. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel a connection to any of these people and they all seemed a bit shallow.

NetGalley/October 4, 2022, RHPG/Ballentine

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan brings the reader to what appears to be a peaceful town in New Hampshire. However, the reader will discover that there is much more to the town and the people living there that initially meets the eye. Told in a non-linear timeline with multiple points of view.

This review is difficult to write in that I don't want to say to much or spoil ANY of the twists and turns. Therefore, I'll just set the table by introducing a bit of the cast. Oliva McAfee is a divorced single mom who gathers honey and cares for bees on her childhood farm with a teenage son Asher. The past she is running from piece by piece is shared throughout the story, alongside the story of her son. Asher is a star hockey player, who is experiencing his first love with town newcomer Lily. Lily also has a past that is slowly revealed in connection with her unexpected and untimely death. Asher is the number one suspect, and all these stories come together in a twisty "who did it" that will keep you guessing until the end.

It took a while for me to really find my rhythm as a reader this one, but I overall enjoyed it. The authors did such a good job creating suspense, I think at times my lack of rhythm that I was concerned about what might happen next or be the outcome. This book definitely has elements that may challenge some readers to review the way they understand others and listen to different voices.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this for fans of Jodi Picoult's writing, legal drama, and those looking to read stories from different backgrounds or less heard from people.

Wow.

If there’s one book you need to add to your 2022 TBR, it’s this one.

This book is educational, haunting, heartbreaking, poignant and mesmerizing. I

recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible about the plot for the full impact of this story.

Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan have written an excellent and very, very important piece of literature in Mad Honey. Picoult has a talent for writing complex topics and making the reader really think about them, this novel is no different.

Within the pages Mad Honey reflects on the secrets we keep and share and what’s truly secret vs. what’s private. It sheds light on the cycle of abuse, identity and complex family dynamics. It also shows the true side of our legal system and that the truth isn’t always what’s important in a court of law or public opinion.

There’s so many thoughts I’d love to share but must refrain due to spoiling important content of this book, what I will say is that this book is well researched, honest, brave and something that needs to be seen by the eyes of many.

I cannot stress enough reading the importance of reading the authors notes at the end of this book after you’ve finished the novel. These are very important.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read.

Five stars and beyond for this book.

I was so excited to get an ARC of the new Picoult, Boylan book that I set all my other books aside and got to reading it right away! It was slow but steady the first half and then a major twist happened half-way through that immediately increased my interest in the story. It was educational, relevant, and timely. There are some parts of the story that I found too simplistic or under-developed, and I agree with another reviewer that there were some loose ends, but the main parts were quite engaging.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is a beautifully written, touching novel that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page. What do we really know of the true nature of those who have recently come into our lives, who they were before we knew them and how will we react when we discover exactly who they were? This novel opened my eyes in so many ways and I truly thank the authors for that.

As usual, Jodi doesn't disappoint. I haven't read anything else by Jennifer but she is a wonderful, articulate writer. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jodi Picoult is my very favorite author and I eagerly read everything she has written. This book is written in two "voices" telling alternating views of the story. I enjoyed the two voices and loved the story. This is a very timely story for this day and age. Jodi seems to write a year or so ahead of timely events.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!! As soon as I received this book I put it to the top of my list! Jodi Picoult has done it again with antoher 5 star read and co-author this time in Jennifer Finney Boylan !! I loved the story and actually learned a lot about bees! The story is told from different POV - the girl who died and the mother of the accused. It is a very thought provoking story and there will be twists that you DO NOT see coming!!!! I am on a book hangover after reading this book - DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!!

This was not Ms PIcoults best work.
I enjoyed the beekeeping scenes and learning about that.
I liked some of the characters, Asher and Lily, but most of the others were horribly stereotyped.

However:
I was left shaking my head at the absurd ending.

SPOILER ALERT:
Most of the men in the book are horrible monsters but the reader won't get any closure at the end.
Asher's father is an abusive monster who when Asher needs help offers up money and then makes a brief appearance in his trial....then nothing more. What happened to him? The authors made this guy seem like a controlling narcissitic man, yet he shows up to court and then leaves?
Lily's father is supposedly a monster who can't deal with her true self. Yet you don't hear from him when she was murdered.....seems unlikely that he wouldn't have come to the trial.

The worse offense was at the end of the book, the real person confesses AND NOTHING HAPPENS! EVen when it was revealed that it was a violent struggle...nope, not going to prosecute.
WHAT THE HECK?!

Mad Honey by @jodipicoult and @jenniferfinneyboylan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Expected Release: October 4, 2022

I would give this book more than five stars if I could. It deserves all the stars! I loved it, it is an achingly beautiful story with an important message that everyone needs to hear. It is probably going to be one of my favorite books of the year- calling it now!

We have two narrators for this story. One is Lily, a joy-filled, intelligent teenage musician who is dating Asher, a high school hockey superstar who fears he might be a bit too much like his abusive father. Lily’s chapters focus mainly on the past and provide context to her character. The second narrator is Asher’s mother, Olivia, who is divorced from Asher’s abusive father and harvests honey as a beekeeper. Olivia’s chapters focus on the present. The book is written seamlessly, and it was only by reading the authors’ notes that I knew who had written which chapters. Although I would love to share every bit of this amazing book, I don’t want to ruin any of the masterful twists. Please trust me when I say that it’s better to go in blind and enjoy the ride.

I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult and have read all of her books. This one is one of my favorites (but don’t ask me to choose because I never could)! It is very reminiscent of some of her older books with a story centered on an important and timely topic and a courtroom setting. We even get to see more of lawyer Jordan McAfee, who you might remember from 19 Minutes, Salem Falls, and The Pact. This story is beautifully written and is one that I will be left thinking about for a long time to come. Don’t miss this one!

I am filled with gratitude and so thankful to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, @jodipicoult and @jenniferfinneyboylan for writing this timely book.

Well, this one was not for me. The book was well written. But quite honestly, I read novels for entertainment and escape. The book’s summary does not prepare you for what the book is really about. I will not spoil it. I am a Christian and believe the family, how God designed it, is being attacked in this world. It broke my heart to read about the characters’ suffering (which I’m sure many can relate to today). So much heartache and so many carrying their own burdens. I need a happy beach read now.

Thank you to Net galley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.




Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Disclaimer: I was provided an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley

As a big Jodi Picoult fan, I knew I was going to like Mad Honey! What I love about her books is that they jump right into the action and Mad Honey is no exception. If you like Law and Order style mysteries, you’ll love this book. Make sure to read to the end for some funny honey recipes as well!

Oh my gosh! Where do I even start with this book!? Right away I fell in love with the beautiful prose, I knew from the start I was going to devour and enjoy this story, all 456 pages read in a day! Jodi Picoult is the consummate storyteller and although I have never read anything by Jennifer Finney Boylan before but if this book is any indication I will soon be remedying that! Even though this book is by different authors who wrote different sections of the book, it flows seamlessly throughout.

I loved the courtroom drama, the different points of view, and the amazing twists in this story. The tale is told in such a heartfelt and emotional way, I had goosebumps and tears. I loved learning about bees and the process of honey-making...BUT...that isn't the only education I got and I so, so appreciated it as I have a family member like Lily.

If you're a Jodi Picoult fan you'll recognize some characters from her other novels and that was a nice surprise as well. Emotional, thought-provoking and lyrical, Mad Honey earns all the stars. Now I am mad I read this so soon and so fast!

I was completely enthralled . . . So Good!! There is a shocking twist and I shall tread lightly with details so as not to give too much away.

This novel is very Impactful . . . above the entertainment value of the overall story, there is a powerful educational aspect as well. I believe many people who read this incredible narrative will come away with a better understanding and more empathy for others dealing with complex issues some of us can only imagine.

Beyond the explosive reveals . . . this poignant collaboration also touches on the difficulties involved with parenting, coming of age, and domestic violence.

These pages reminded me that we all strive to discover our authentic selves and struggle to find acceptance . . . a worthy read indeed!

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Mad Honey for my unbiased evaluation. 5 stars

Mad Honey is Jodi Picoult back to her roots and while I was unsure how a Jodi book with a cowriter would work, she and Boylan blended together perfectly, so much so that I had to remind myself there were two talented authors behind the pages! While I don't want to give much away, this is a timely book, brings back favorite characters from Jodi's past books and gives us educational insight into bees and beekeeping weaved around the heart of a story as only Jodi can do. While it's not my favorite of her books, it kept me hooked, and I think OG Jodi fans will not be disappointed or bored with this one!

WOW, WOW,WOW!
It's no secret that I think that Jodi Piccolt is a masterful writer and storyteller,What differs here is that Picoult has a co-author this time in Jennifer Finney Boylan (for reasons that are well articulated in the authors note - don’t read this until you are done), but the two of them wrote such a seamless story, you would be hard pressed to figure out who wrote what. I’ve yet to read anything from Jennifer Finney Boylan but certainly plan to now.
One thing I always looked forward to with a Jodi Picoult book is the realism she brings to her work. She’s not afraid to tackle tough subjects and bring them to life. I enjoyed how the authors told this story with the alternating narratives of two central characters. These characters gave voice to subjects that are often hidden and kept secret for reasons of their own.

Mad honey is explained in the book as “The secret weapon of mad honey, of course, is you expect it to be sweet, not deadly. You’re deliberately attracted to it. By the time it messes with your head, with your heart, it’s too late.”
Coming of age story about Lily and Asher- in love in high school and their single moms, Olivia and Ava. They reside in New Hampshire where nothing much happens until Lily is murdered (within the first chapter) and they think Asher may have done it. Olivia, Ashers mom, is a beekeeper by occupation and there are many references to this job. I found this extremely interesting! I didn’t know this much about bees.
Seems like a pretty typical story but let me tell you now, it’s not. It caught me off guard completely. It’s not a happy story but a story of our current climate and contains issues of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and sexual orientation, LGBTQ in great details.
With that being said, This book was amazing. 5 stars. The writing does teeter back and forth from mom Olivia to girlfriend Lily but it’s easy to follow. At some points I wasn’t sure as we jumped back and forth with what was happening but it’s not a huge deal. It all comes together. 100% add this to your fall future list. Debuting 10/22.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, an incredible story by Picoult. I hadn't read any of Boylan's novels, but will look them up now. I have shared with friends that they should read this, and of course didn't want to give away any of the plot line that might ruin it for them.

I thought all perspectives were handled very nicely, and loved the bee information woven throughout.

Be prepared to learn something's new as Jodie takes you on a journey that you didn't know existed. You will not learn what this is about until half way through the journey. It's a book about love, prejudice, opinions and misconception. It's sure to touch your heart.

Wow, this book is going to stick with me for awhile and I’m going to want to reread it again soon. Asher is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Lily. While on trial you get to see glimpses of the past from both his mother and Lily’s point of view and of the trial from his mothers point of view. This book is going to make you think about your views and feelings about so many things. Like The Pact and Nineteen Minutes this book is going to hit you hard, and like them it’s going to stay with you. I love all Jodi’s books and this one is no exception. Thank you for teaching me about so many things and opening my mind to new thoughts and ideas through your books!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boulanger and Ballantine Books for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Wow! Thanks so much netgalley for this chance to read this book! I absolutely love jodi picoults books! This book really took you in a ride. There were so many secrets and it was so well written! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and that ending was not expected!