Olivia is raising her son, Asher, on her own after leaving an abusive marriage. Asher is popular, charismatic, and head-over-heels for his girlfriend, Lily. When Lily is found dead at the bottom of her stairs–where Asher claims to have found her–he is the main suspect in her death. Throughout the trial and investigation, Olivia learns things about her son and his relationship that make her question everything she knows.

I am being purposely vague in this summary so I don’t spoil some key plot points, but Picoult and Finney Boylan cover a lot of timely ground here, and they do it in a way that brings controversial, national conversations close.

This is one of my favorite things about reading–how “issues” are made personal, and we as readers can start to understand the real-life implications of legislation and political hot buttons. Picoult has become particularly masterful at doing this in her most recent books–while writing page-turners–and this one is no exception. It’s excellent.

Memorable characters building timely twists and turns.
Is the past really indicative of the future?

I really enjoyed the dual narrative of this book. Chapters alternate between Olivia, going forward in time from the night of Lily's death, and Lily going backwards. In amongst that is a beautiful, complex story of motherhood, love, personal identity, physical abuse, and beekeeping.
The story kept me interested, and the personal histories of both women were shared so that you understood their fears and motivations.

I was surprised left and right with this story. I felt so much sympathy for many of the characters (except the fathers).

I loved learning about beekeeping throughout the life of the story and how Olivia's past kept being brought into the present day. It was a reminder that parental decisions do affect our children, no matter how much we try to shelter them.

It's been a minute since I read a Jodi Picoult book. After Nineteen minutes, a lot of her books just fell flat for me. That was not the case with Mad Honey. I started this book on a flight home from spring break and was gripped from the first pages. Mad Honey reminded me of what I loved about Picoult's novels. The authors did a fantastic job of writing the story in 2 voices that felt contrasting but compatible at the same time. I also enjoyed that each voice had a different timeline, Lily's going backwards while Oliva's went forwards. The inclusion of the facts about bees was also well done. Unlike The Book of Two Ways, Mad Honey does a great job of making the information about bees feel relevant to the story and enjoyable to the reader. Mad Honey was engrossing, heartbreaking, extremely relevant, and a joy to read. Thank you to Ballantine Books for this advanced reader copy.

Wonderful! Love all of Jodi’s books. She’s so good at capturing issues in the news and distilling them through her characters. Her work here with Jennifer Finney Boylan offers a fascinating look at what some trans people go through. I went into this one blind and found it really compelling. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read Mad Honey.

After a traumatic event at her former school, Lily Campanello and her mother relocate to Adams, New Hampshire for her last year of High School. Lily feels like this move is her chance to finally be herself. As she meets the new kids at the school, Lily starts falling in love with Asher, the son of local beekeeper Olivia McAfee. As Lily lets herself be vulnerable and starts to opening to Asher, she can't shake the feeling that the past she left behind will come back to haunt her. And then one day, Olivia receives a phone call that Lily is dead and the prime suspect in the investigation is her sweet and perfect boy Asher. Olivia believes that her son is innocent. but she can't help to question certain interactions between Lily and Asher. When the trial starts, things Olivia didn't know about are revealed, and she realizes that her son had been hiding things from her that make him look guilty. And she can't help but feeling that she fail Lily.

I must say that Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors, and I truly admire the talent she has to craft beautiful stories that deal with heavy and controversial topics. And this book is not the exception. With the help of Jennifer Finney Boylan, they deliver a truly moving story about about a young woman, Lily Campanello, who ends up dead and Olivia, whose son is accused of her murder.

The story is told from dual Points of View. Finney Boylan tells Lily's side of the story in a series of flashbacks that explain why they moved to the new town, the reasons Lily did not feel safe in her former hometown, and the blossoming love story between her and Asher. On the other hand, Olivia's perspective is delivered by Picoult, and it focuses on the present including her job as a beekeeper, her own relationship with Asher, and the court proceedings he gets charged with Lily's death.

This is the first book that Picoult writes with another author so I wasn't sure I would like it, but I was pleasantly surprised that both points of view complemented each other while staying true to their own writing style. One of the things I enjoy the most about Picoult's books is the extra work she puts on the backstories of her characters and how she seamlessly uses these facts to develop her characters. The beekeeper angle was fantastic in my opinion, and I liked how Olivia was so passionate about it while she tells her side of the story. I liked how she tied what she has learned from her job to the circumstances of what's happening in her life.

This story was beautiful but also heartbreaking. I couldn't help but to feel sad and angry about Lily's death and everything she went through to find herself. And while her death is revealed very early on in the book, I just wanted her to have had experienced some love and happiness in her life before her tragic end. I also liked how the description of the book didn't give away anything about Lily's former life, so I was quite surprised when she starts to reveal more about what actually happened before she moved to Adams.

Overall, I must say that this book was truly amazing and a great story that needed to be told.

Another great collaborative read from Jodi with Jennifer Finney Boylan. Not only was this book informative about the topics contained therein but a great moving book told from two points of view. It's very hard to review without giving away spoilers. If you are a regular reader of Jodi's you know what I mean. All of the books by her that I have read have been very though provoking and if your not a reader or familiar with her books and style be prepared to learn a lot, be moved and filled with emotion.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, Ballantine Books and the Authors Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📖 BOOK REVIEW

BOOK: Mad Honey
AUTHOR: Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan
FORMAT: Audiobook
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
DID I CRY: No
PUB DATE: 10/4/22
RATING: 10/10
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley @penguinrandomhouse for my #gifted advanced copy & @prhaudio for my complimentary audiobook!

MY THOUGHTS

I had seen rave reviews for this book, specifically my bestie girl @libslittlelibrary giving this super high praise! And I’m a Jodi stan through & through so I had high hopes & it certainly didn’t disappoint.

The Boston ➡️ New Hampshire setting was familiar & always gives me a soft spot for the book when I’m able to relate to setting-specific details about a book. Being in such a rural setting also gives the book that atmospheric element and contributes to the air of mystery the plot gives off. The characters were complicated & I love how as the book progressed and we got more flashbacks, bits and pieces of the different characters were slowly exposed to the reader in a methodical way that didn’t allow us to fully form opinions until the very end. The plot itself was fantastic. I love a legal drama, and watching a case unfold in the courtroom start to finish was a super cool element to the book.

The themes covered in this book were modern and really powerful. I won’t say much regarding what they are to prevent any spoiling, but I commend Jodi & Jennifer for using this book & their platforms as bestselling authors to promote modern & “controversial” themes that played such a big role in the book.

Definitely some intense TW to be cautious of. This was a fantastic book, a contemporary fiction with a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance & a touch of legal thriller. This would make for a great book club book!

Here's what I wrote about Picoult's writing when I first reviewed one of her books in 2019:
"Confession: I have never read a Jodi Picoult book before. Picoult has written 23 novels and I have never read a single one of them. And why is that, you may ask? They don't fall in any of the genres I tend to steer away from. They are books written to make readers think and we all know how much I like that in a book. Here's why: they are "issue" books. It's been my impression that Picoult's books are very much like the latest episode of Law and Order, story lines that are ripped from the headlines. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly fine with books addressing current issues. I just don't want it to feel like the writer is churning out books with no other intent other than to write about that issue. . NPR even did a segment about the way Picoult turns "tough topics into best-sellers." In that segment, NPR suggested that Picoult writes what might be called "ethical or moral fiction." I like that a lot better. They also pointed out that Picoult's novels tend to be written around families. Which brought me back to feeling like they might be formulaic."
That book was A Spark of Light and I have gone on to read one of Picoult's books every year since then. Are they all "issue" books? Yes. And yes, she does write a new book nearly every year, an astonishing rate most authors can't begin to touch. Of course, if you're going to write a book about a current issue, you need to get the book into the hands of readers while the topic is on readers' minds. Are they formulaic? Only in so far as you know, when you pick up one of Picoult's books, that she's going to tackle not just one, but two or more hot button topics.

This book is written by both Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, who willed the book into existence when she had a dream that she and Picoult had written a book together. When she tweeted about it, Picoult shot back that it was a great idea. So the collaboration was born, each writer taking one of the two voices the story is told through; one writing Olivia's story in the present and the other writing Lily's story from the past moving up to Lily's death. They edited each other's work and each took one turn at the other voice. The result is a book written by two people which only feels like it was written by two people because the two voices are so distinct, as they should be, given the characters.

Both writers have a lot to say about the issues the book tackles and, as Picoult has, it's now been my experience, always does, it makes readers really think. Honestly, I learned a lot from this book that I will take forward with me when I have conversations with other people about some of the issues. And it became timely almost immediately when I turned on the news the night after I finished and watched a television show that covered the same topic the very next night.

But the book can get a little long-winded and repetitive at times and there is a ton of backstory here that might have been left out and not missed. Disbelief needs to be suspended at times, to make the book work (Asher doesn't have a single person, other than his mother, who has begun to have her doubts, to be a reliable character witness?). But, as a mom (and a woman) I was willing to overlook those issues to get to the meat of what these writers had to say. And that the mark of a book that works for me.

I cannot speak highly enough of this book. The emotions, the turmoil, the back and forth of feelings and thoughts….I never wanted to put it down. The novel was an amazing tale of a mother who had to face the unthinkable…her son being arrested and charged in the murder of his girlfriend. I cannot even fathom how Olivia handled the whole thing, as I would be lost, but she held on until the very end. An amazing tale, and one not to be missed!

This book is very divisive and I understand why. I think if you're new to Picoult's work you probably wouldn't expect her to explore so many hot-button topics. Since I have read her before I anticipated some controversial subjects to be touched upon. I didn't mind that part of the book but I didn't love how the book dragged on and threw in every social issue under the sun. Even some that had no relevance to the plot. I also had the mystery part figured out pretty early on despite some red herrings.

This was another great read by Jodi Picoult. It was also an eye opener for me into the life of a trans teen. I enjoyed the story and the twist ending!

Honestly, I could write a detailed synopsis on this book. But I think it is best to go in blindly! This book is probably one of the best reads I have had all year. There is so much I loved and enjoyed about it.

What I did love:
- dual POVS this kept me wanting to keep reading! I had to know how everything would play out
- I finished this with in 24 hours. Once I started I could not put it down
- LGBTQI+ themes and representation
- The mystery alone kept me on my toes
- The twist at the end!

I loved this book so much and could write pages about why I did. But I don't want to spoil a thing! Do yourself a favor and read this book ASAP. I promise you will not be disappointed! 5 stars out of 5. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This novel is a well-written and well-constructed story about love, loss, grief, and starting over. When Asher is accused of killing his girlfriend Lily- the new girl in town- his mother, Olivia, becomes his fiercest advocate (until she sees flashes of anger in her son that remind Olivia of her abusive ex-husband). The book retraces the story from the POV of LIly and Olivia, both whom have found a new start in Adams, NH, until the truth is revealed in the end. However, perhaps an unsung highlight of this book, is the backdrop/B story of Olivia and Asher's life as beekeepers. Facts about bees and the characteristics of bees and their honeymaking are weaved throughout the novel, relating to the main story in each chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed the book not just for the story, but for the facts and knowledge I learned about bess as well!

Thank you Random House Publishing / Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was so interesting and beautifully written that I haven’t been able to stop talking about it. As with most of Piccoult’s recent novels, this one is well researched, well thought out and well executed. The subject matter is current and the characters make the story that much more poignant. The story itself needs to unfold in its own timeline, so no synopsis— just get it and read it, now!

I put off reading this book for too long because of erroneous assumptions. I judged a book by its cover, if you will: I saw the tag team authors and read that several main characters are in high school, and I assumed this was a YA novel. I do enjoy YA, but I have to be in the mood; however, readers, it is NOT YA. Picoult and Boylan have written an adult novel in the vein of Picoult’s NINETEEN MINUTES, where the characters are deep and fully realized and some of them are still teenagers.
Olivia McAfee and her son Asher leave Boston for her New Hampshire hometown to take over her parents’ beekeeping operation and escape her former husband’s dark side. Lily Campanello and her mom also move to the sleepy town hoping for a fresh start.
Complicated relationships abound: between Olivia and Asher, Lily and Asher, Olivia and the other town mothers, and all the high school students with each other. Picoult readers will recognize her love of teaching us minutiae about her latest interest, this time beekeeping. “Mad Honey” is both a literal hallucinogenic honey and a metaphor for the crazy-making behavior of both bees and high school students. In the midst of the madness, someone dies and a murder trial commences (another Picoult strength).
I’m always interested in a writer’s process, and the author’s note at the end yields lots of good details. In contrast to partner-writers like Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, who have spoken about blurring the lines between one writer’s chapters and the other’s, Picoult and Boylan divided the writing by character, which gives each POV a strong, unique voice.
I loved this book! I am new to Boylan’s work, but MAD HONEY gives Picoult fans a welcome return to her strengths: a ripped-from-the-headlines plot and a complex trial that keeps us debating the outcome to the very end. Expect Murtaugh-like reveals of layered secrets that refuse to stay hidden. 5 out of 5 peaches.

What an incredibly moving book. I loved the two storylines, one from Lily’s perspective and one from Olivia, and I was equally invested in both of them. The authors discussed that they separately wrote the two character perspectives and then edited each other’s chapters to make it more cohesive and I have to say, I couldn’t tell there were two different writers telling me this story, it was truly magical. Lily’s storyline had so much to unpack. My heart hurt so much for her and I learned so much from her chapters. I felt so many emotions while reading Lily’s chapters and I was just so in awe of her journey to being her true self. Olivia’s storyline was also very impactful and I loved how strong she was after escaping an abusive relationship and being a single parent to her son. I found her knowledge about beekeeping to be so interesting and loved when it was incorporated into the story. This was the one section that I could tell came from Picoult, as her novels are always so well researched and those topics are interwoven so well within the storyline. I also really enjoyed learning about Ash from both women’s perspectives as I tried to figure out if he is innocent or not.

This story is so important and included very timely topics as the storyline unfolded. The book kept me guessing until the end and then that last little bit completely caught me by surprise! It really does make you think about how much of ourselves do we disclose to those closest to us, how far a mother will go to protect and love her child, and how embracing someone in their truest form is the greatest act of kindness you can give.

I highly recommend this book and I would suggest the audiobook version because it was really well executed and the chapters are rather lengthy. Lily’s character will stay with me for a long time and, as I mentioned, topics within this storyline are very relevant and important for the current times.

This novel had a good mix of murder mystery, courtroom drama, contemporary, and young love! Jodi Picoult always manages to to take on topics other authors may avoid and not only bring them to light but make them shine! It's better to go into this novel blind but you won't be sorry!

🐝🍯Mad Honey🍯🐝

✍️: Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan
✨: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Audio!

✨my thoughts✨
This book is important. Also so so good. I can’t say much about what this book is about without giving away some major plot points. I will say, you’ll love this if you like court room dramas, teenage angst, difficult family relationships, beekeeping, dual POV, & alternating timelines. I think anyone who reads this book will grow as a human because of it, I sure did.

Also highly recommend the audio, the narrators were fantastic 🐝🤍

Have you read this?! Are you planning to??