Literally dropped everything and savored every word. This book is pure Picoult perfection - this reads like The Pact or Nineteen Minutes, back to Picoult’s books based in the legal world with a moral issue at the forefront of the case. There are some familiar names from those books you might recognize as well. 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.

While I always love Picoult’s books (I’ve yet to read anything from Finney Boylan but certainly plan to now), I have to say, a return to her the “courtroom drama” for her definitely marked this as my favorite from her in quite some time, it doesn’t release until October, so I’m aware this is quite a tease, but get ready for a good one!

Thank you to Random House Ballantine & NetGalley for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Glad to see Picoult returning to the courtroom---her research on bees here is fascinating. The teen POV being backwards was interesting, but ultimately this book got EXTREMELY pedantic at times.

I was all in from the very first page! Some great twists and turns along the way. Well researched and extremely relevant!
Thank you Net Galley and Ballantine/Random House Publishing for this arc. I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

Big fan of Jodi Picoult's - so very happy to be given an early read of her latest, "Mad Honey", which was co-authored with Jennifer Boylan. This book is exactly what got me into Ms Picoult's work in the first place - good fiction & family/social issues, but always with a "twist", and I am very happy to say this book achieves all that! Many of her novels have also been controversial, and this one will sure to be as well. The character Lily, in particular, will stick with me for a long time - and there are some trigger warnings here to be aware of : abuse, bullying, violence. But it is an emotional roller-coaster than brought on both tears and other emotions, it may be one of the year's best. Be sure to catch the author's note! Recommend & sure it will do well. My sincere thanks to Net Galley, the publisher & authors for the complimentary DRC, the exchange of which did not affect my opinions.

Perfect blend of complex characters and plot twists. Grips the reader from the very first chapter and never lets go. It brings so many problems of children to the forefront and makes you realize how other people cope with their problems.

A relevant novel full of young love, consequences and revelation of releasing secrets. The collaboration of two amazing authors bring to life and assists in the understanding of gender identity and the impact on so many lives. This move deletes into the life of Lily and Asher as well as Olivia Ashes mother. The story weaves together many important messages as well as shows amazing acceptance but the ultimate cost associated with the societal errors of judgement. Lily and Asher are in high school and find an amazing love and respect of each other. The story reflects different point of views as well as timelines. Many characters flow in and out of their lives and the storyline is revealed in a slow but steady thread that adds to the story and enhances the plot. I think many people need to read this to learn how accept something that maybe viewed against the societal norm. The way to accept, embrace and love. Oiivia Ashes mom has a secret of her own which she hides because it is her business. We'll laid out, characters were great and the learning that can happen from this book is inspiring.

Thank you to the authors, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

This is an engrossing read with relevant topics and plot twists. It is a solid five stars!

I was provided a copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher.

Jodi Picoult has done it again; I am confident when I say that Mad Honey will blow every reader away! Picoult shares the story of Olivia Fields and her son Asher who live in a small town in New Hampshire. Olivia makes a living beekeeping, while Asher is a senior in high school, all A’s student, who is a superstar hockey player and who happens to be experiencing his first true love, with his girlfriend, Lily. The book opens by giving readers some background on Olivia and Asher, who fled Olivia’s abusive ex-husband when Asher was six years old; however, both Olivia, Asher’s lives seem to be much improved, and they seem happy. That is, until tragedy strikes and Lily is found dead at the bottom of her staircase. To make matters worse, Asher finds her body and is arrested as the primary suspect in the case. Lily quickly becomes one of the main characters of the book—and the character whom I think readers will love the most—and we get a glimpse into her turbulent past and her feelings for Asher. The rest of the novel jumps back and forth between Olivia and Lily’s perspective, as well as between present time and life before the murder trial. Typical of all of Picoult’s best novels, there is a huge twist in the middle of the book; one that will leave readers’ heads spinning. Mad Honey was a rare read for me. Even though I couldn’t wait to find out the outcome of the murder trial and the end of the book, I found myself reading slowly because I didn’t want the book to end. On a 5 star scale, Mad Honey is easily an 8!

Interesting and well written. I learned a lot. Best Picoult book in a while. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Slow burn, with a good twist at the end. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the early ARC.
In the same fashion as always Jodi Picoult delivers another great read.
The characters you fall in love with, cheer for and come to make an impression on you.
A book that gives you the information and compassion for those in transition and those who love them.

Mad Honey
My thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishing and #BallantineBooks for the advance copy eBook of #MadHoney in exchange for an honest review. Teaming up with Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult has done it again. Another marvelous story, start to finish, filled with the multiple storylines we’ve come to expect from Picoult. Thought-provoking, and always educating, Mad Honey explores the gentle art of bee keeping, domestic violence, and transgender issues. As always look for the splendid signature ending. Knocked it out of the park with this one!

I learned so much about transgender and bees and honey. I’ve been a big fan of Jodi Picoult for a long time. I think people are going to really enjoy this book even though parts are sad. Looking forward to reading other books by Jennifer Finney Boylan. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in two sittings. However, I am not sure how I felt about the “twist.” I don’t really feel great about this important topic being used as a literary device for shock value, and I think this book might get some negative feedback because of it. However, it was obviously very well written and researched (learned more than I ever thought I would about bees!) and an enjoyable read.

Excellent book. This book will be one of my favorites of the year! So good. The writing, the character development

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult; Jennifer Finney Boylan is a great contemporary fiction that is just fabulous!

This one really does have it all: compelling narrative, mystery, suspense, love, loss, and what it means to trust yourself and the one’s you thought you knew.

This book has so many great elements that balance it out perfectly. It kept me desperately turning each page wanting to know what was going to happen next. I haven’t read many books by Ms. Picoult yet, and I am not sure why, because when I do, I always enjoy them.

I recommend this one for anyone that likes not just contemporary fiction, but also those that love mystery, surprises, and suspense. It would make a nice Book Club pick as well as it has something for everyone.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Ballantine/Random House Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/4/22.

At times lovely when talking about beekeeping and then tough when dealing with a young man who has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. I enjoyed the bits about “tell it to the bees”, something I heard years ago and thought was so sweet. It’s good to see this through the eyes of the mother of the young man. How she questions herself and goes through so many different feelings. Such a good reminder that we are innocent until proven guilty.

#netgalleyarc This was a classic Jodi Picoult book, but also better than her last few ones. The themes and topics discussed in this story were on point with things going on in the real world and are ones that people can relate to. I won’t give any spoilers, but there was a character twist in the story that I didn’t see coming, especially because I didn’t know much about the plot before starting this book. A great read and one I’ll purchase for my high school library.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Another brilliant page turner by Picoult and a good collaboration with Boylan. As always, the writing style allows the reader to imagine being each character in turn. I learned a lot about the practice of bee keeping. I enjoyed the romance of two artistic young people, and felt compassion for the two women who were their single parents. We are introduced to the well explained emotions and biology of a young transgender girl. I always end up with so much to think about after I’ve read Picoult - my mind is opened to parenting trans as well as being trans, and the fight all people face to live as our authentic selves without fear. I recommend this novel
(Posted to GoodReads)

MAD HONEY is an incredible collaboration of Boylan and Picoult! It is difficult for me to put into words the manner in which this book makes me feel. I have never read a book by Boyan, but that shall soon be rectified.

A story about young love, abuse, and secrets, MAD HONEY, like all books associated with Picoult, has huge twists.

My biggest concern with the book it will be censored by so many state legislatures, which have placed strict laws into affect disallowing students in high school to have access to this wonderful story. It is a book which can open the eyes of so many teens, as well, as their parents.

MAD HONEY is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I applaud Boylan and Picoult for telling this story.