Carmela Tofana dreams of working in her mother's apothecary in Rome but discovers dark secrets and dangerous remedies hidden within. "Everything Is Poison" is a historical YA novel in prose and verse by Joy McCullough, exploring the sacrifices made by women who provide care for those in need.

I was honored to be invited to read this captivating novel that delves into the lives of apothecaries and women who may have been perceived as witches in the past. These women possessed natural knowledge of remedies and worked in harmony with nature, which posed a threat to others who feared the unknown.

The book explores themes that are often overlooked in our modern society, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of returning to the basics and embracing the knowledge of herbology. Personally, I find great value in utilizing this knowledge in my daily life, not only for myself but also for my dogs. Reading about these women who selflessly help others in need, especially those who have nowhere else to turn, is truly inspiring and honorable.

The main character, Carmela, embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she joins the women in the apothecary. Through her experiences, she learns the importance of helping others, regardless of their differences. She discovers that dwelling on the past, causing harm to others, and seeking power are futile endeavors. Carmela also comes to understand that true acts of kindness may go unnoticed and unrewarded, but that does not diminish their significance.

This book has the power to resonate with each reader in a unique way, offering valuable lessons and subtle messages that educate and enlighten along the way. Keeping the bigger picture in mind is essential as we navigate through the complexities of life.

If you appreciate a blend of suspense and thought-provoking feminist storytelling, set against the backdrop of young adult historical fiction that remains relevant to the challenges of our time, then this novel is must-read.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Dutton Books for Young Readers, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Poison has been known as the woman's way to murder. This book historical fiction following the daughter of an apothecary owner and all the happenings and ways women could only escape abuse when women had no rights. While the story was interesting I personally found the prose/verse not smooth for me and more distracting.

McCollough's latest novel takes on the legendary, controversial figure of Giulia Tofana through the eyes of her daughter Carmela. I was familiar with the stories surrounding Tofana going in, but there are so many gaps in the historical record (it can't even be 100% confirmed that she had a daughter) that McCollough harnessed really well in putting her own spin on the legends.

When Carmela is finally deemed old enough to help her mother in the apothecary, she's excited to learn her secrets only to discover that Giulia has aided in the deaths of many men. If you're familiar with Giulia Tofana, you'll know it's believed that she provided poison to women in abusive marriages, but I truly didn't expect this book to be so existential. Carmela finds herself witnessing not only death, but childbirth and the application of live-saving measures as well. The idea of women as the givers of life, the takers of life, and the preservers of life gave me a lot to think about. Carmela is also forced to grapple with her own ideas about life and death, what makes a murder justifiable, and whether her mother is going too far in dispensing poisons. In line with McCollough's other novels, Everything is Poison is not perfectly traditional in its storytelling, alternating between prose and poems that lay bare the souls of the many people involved.

McCollough takes some controversial history and turns it into a stunning story.

TW: sexual harassment/abuse, miscarriage off page, murder on page, violence towards women

McCullough's "Everything is Poison" is a blend of historical fiction and poetry, which tells the story specifically of Carmela and the circle of women who make up her life at La Tofana Apothecary, interspersed with a broad story of women in the 1600s in Rome, Italy. Carmela is, finally, granted entrance into the inner-workings of her mother's apothecary as an apprentice and as she begins to learn the trade, she undergoes a series of eye-opening experiences that cause her to shift her worldview and also to better understand her mother. Along the way, she learns to let go of her childhood-born hatred of her once-friend Violetta.

This book is a rollercoaster of emotions as McCullough explores the many ways that women experienced (and continue to experience) harm and subjugation at the hands of men. She weaves the stories of the different kinds of women who enter the apothecary with the story of Carmela and her own struggles to understand her mother's ways and why she runs the apothecary. Carmela is the perfect central character, as she is the direct link of the reader to the world of La Tofana's Apothecary. She learns to be less judgmental, to let go of old prejudices, and to stand up for those who are in difficult situations, even in the face of discrimination or personal loss.

I really enjoyed how McCullough manages to weave the poetry in with the prose aspects of the story. The poetry serves to represent a nameless, almost universal woman of Rome (or even beyond) and to iterate the many ways women suffer at the hands of misogyny. Carmela is a very well-written character, she's brash, she's proud, she's protective of her mother and her women-centric family, but she also is learning and growing. We see her develop over the course of the story into a more mature, understanding individual.

If there was one thing that I would say that holds this book back from being a universal manifesto is that it is not very intersectional. It mostly a focus on a Western world, white, cis-gendered women, and their troubles. I still think this is an important piece of literature in that it does a lot of work to show the many ways that women are born into disadvantage in the world, but more specifically in the 1600s, when accusations of being a "witch" are quite dangerous. There will be some readers who might not find a clear connection to their own lives in this work or maybe might feel the story is a bit "hit-you-over-the-head-with-it" obvious. I, however, see some value in the lessons this book is trying to teach, since, despite some progress, there are still many people who need this kind of thing spelled out for them.

An excellent and moving look at gender roles in Renaissance Italy. McCullough returns with a mixed verse prose novel that examines how women were treated in Renaissance Italy and the importance of bodily autonomy. The book did an excellent job of portraying the different situations women could find themselves in as well as showing how women hold misguided beliefs and endanger one another at times. While the book itself has a historical setting, the themes addressed are very topical and will be relatable for many young women.

Though I already knew some of the history of Aqua Tofana and the woman/women who may have been behind it, it didn't detract from McCullough's interpretation of the legend/history. Women have always been underestimated, and poison has always been considered to be the woman's murder weapon of choice.

Though it is the daughter of the famed alleged poisoner who carries this story, there are so many other Italian women from all walks of life woven in to the story through McCullough's lovely and lyrical poetry between chapters, giving us a glimpse into 17th century Roman society from multiple perspectives, however briefly. While Carmela's story could have stood on its own, captivating as it was, Aqua Tofana itself was about so much more than just the woman who may have invented and distributed it -- it was about women and girls finding their own strength and power when society wouldn't give it to them.

A striking read that will definitely have its fans in teens who seek out historical fiction, revenge plots, and strong female characters.

This is such an interesting book. Takes place in 17th century Rome, the main character wants so bad to be part of her mother's apothecary. Throughout the story you watch her grow up and learn about the apothecary. She actually goes through lots of trials. I really enjoyed this story.

Everything is Poison takes place in seventeenth-century Rome, where the Tofana Apothecary deals in remedies for female ailments. Carmela Tofana is anxious to become her mother’s apprentice in mixing powders, tinctures and creams. However, when she begins to learn the trade, she realizes the apothecary “helps” battered women deal with unwanted pregnancies and abusive husbands as well. The Acqua Tofana, which brings about a natural looking death, is one of their most carefully guarded secrets. When Carmela unwittingly sells it to a woman who administers it improperly, her mother, who had been away, is accused of murder. She disappears and with the support of the apothecary employees Carmela takes over the business. Interspersed with the narrative are powerful poems about female townsfolk, who experience abuse at the hands of the men in their lives. The author has reimagined her play, "La Tofana Poison Emporium" which is based on a real life character, into a compelling YA novel.

A wonderful historical novel based in 17th century Rome, that tells a story of women who risk everything, to help other women who have nowhere else to turn.

Set in Rome, Italy, Everything is Poison is the story of Carmela Tofana, who has always wanted to work behind the scenes at her mother's apothecary. When Carmela turns sixteen, she’s finally allowed into the inner sanctum: the workroom where her mother, Giulia Tofana, and two assistants craft renowned remedies for their customers. There are the daily remedies and sweet-smelling potions, but there are also potions requiring darker ingredients. This includes qua Tofana, the apothecary’s remedy of last resort for husbands who are just as deadly as any disease. In all Carmela’s years of wishing to follow in her mother’s footsteps, she never realized one tiny vial could be the death of them all. In addition, Carmela and her mother are not looked well upon by many of the townspeople, who call them witches for the work they do.

Everything is Poison has themes of family bonds, found family, what it feels like to be an outcast, acceptance, forgiveness, and friendship. Overall, this was a great story. I enjoyed all of the references to the different herbs, remedies, and potions. The women in this story are very supportive of each other and consistently lift each other up, and it was great to see that. In addition, the book has a good message about how it's important to treat others well even if they don't treat you well because you never know what they are going through.

While I enjoyed it overall, I did find some aspects of the story to be predictable. In addition, what was supposed to be the climax of the story didn't really feel like it. I also felt that the ending was a bit lack luster. Because the climax didn't feel strong, it made the ending feel dull and as if there wasn't really a good resolution. There was an epilogue to help tie things together, but it felt like it was an easy way out to give the book a happy ending.

Trigger Warnings: Death, abortion, blood and gore, physical and sexual assault, domestic violence

As soon as Carmela turned sixteen, she was finally allowed into the workroom of her mother’s apothecary in the 17th-century Campo Marzio neighborhood of Rome, where her mother and two women make some of the most effective remedies for the community. But the workroom of La Tofana is no simple place and for every flowery suave and tonic, there's another potion where the main ingredient is dried blood or something else unpleasant. And then there’s Aqua Tofana - the apothecary’s remedy of last resort and a secret Carmela never bargained for.

So, I knew of Joy McCullough from a middle grade book of hers I read years ago, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, so this was my first Young Adult book of hers. I picked it up both because of her and as well as a women run 17-century apothecary sounded amazing!

Carmela, though she was sixteen, still had a lot of growing up to do within these pages. I know sixteen was a decent age during the 17-century, but sometimes Carmela’s attitude towards patrons of the apothecary kind of annoyed me. She was there to help people, regardless of their life standing. I was glad to see her growth with her empathy by the end of the book, especially when it came to Violetta because I felt she was holding a childhood grudge that needed to be let go.

Overall, I loved learning about a time period in history where women were undermined badasses who helped each other right under men’s noses.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one.

A heartwrenching and heartwarming read about the power and pitfalls of womanhood and community. McCullough again has created a masterful novel in verse that explore historical context while providing strong female protagonists.

I loved Blood Water Paint when I read it years ago and I'm normally not a fan of historical stories. So I was excited to see something new from this author so similar to her debut. While I enjoyed this one, I didn't love it as much as Blood Water Paint. This book is emotional, deals with important topics like her debut. It just didn't grab me the way her first book did. If you like historical stories that focuses on women and their struggles, I think this author is a great one to get into.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Joy McCullough for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

Step into the legendary La Tofana Apothecary in Campo Marizio, Rome, where potions, sympathy, tinctures, advice, creams, tough love, and tonics are dispensed by the all-female staff - including the captivating La Tofana herself - in equal amounts. La Tofana's daughter, Carmela, longs to fit in with her mother and the other women of the apothecary, and her day finally dawns on the morning of her 16th birthday. As Carmela discovers, for every sweet-smelling flower to press, there's also a foul concoction of blood and other fluids to extract, and while soothing lotions and sweets are the bread-and-butter of the shop's operations, there are more sinister secrets lurking in the apothecary, with the infamous Aqua Tofana being the most dark and horrifying of all. "Everything is Poison" is a coming-of-age tale of poisons hiding in plain sight, and the women who work around them to carve out safety for themselves, their families, and their communities.

This was a poignant take on the near-mythological elixir Aqua Tofana, a poison created in the 1600s in Sicily that was thought to be made of arsenic, lead, antimony, and mercury chloride. While the story centers the legendary La Tofana and follows the mythos of the woman who provided the women of Italy with a way (often the only way) to free themselves and their children from the horrors of man, it is more so a lens on the ways in which women of the time (and perhaps women of now) shape themselves and are shaped by the male forces in their lives and in their societies. Told in alternating third-person from the perspectives primarily of Carmen and her mother, but also part in prose/spoken word poetry from the perspectives of characters we meet along the way, "Everything is Poison" crushes, distills, blends, boils, and dries the grasping wants of a fiercely independent and headstrong teenager as she seeks her own place in a world which would see her plucked and clipped to fit a mold, and the women in her life who help her find her (and their own) ways in building a community in which they can thrive.

3.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟

Everything Is Poison is a historical fiction novel written partly in verse. After nearly every chapter, there’s a verse section that delves deeper into a character or setting previously mentioned, adding more detail and nuance to the story.

The novel follows Carmella and her family, who run an apothecary shop in 17th-century Rome. I really enjoyed seeing the dynamic between Carmella, her mother, and the two assistants, Maria and Laura. Even though, they're not family by blood they all love each other so deeply. Carmella’s growth as a character is one of the highlights of the story—watching her learn compassion for her past enemies and how to run the apothecary on her own was so rewarding. The themes of female power, sisterhood, motherhood, and friendship are explored beautifully throughout.

The epilogue especially stood out to me. Seeing Carmella and Violetta move past their conflicts and work together to run the shop is such a heartwarming conclusion. Their evolving friendship and interactions were my favorite part, and it was so satisfying to see them grow into best friends.

Overall, an engaging read that flew by with a strong focus on character growth and relationships!

I absolutely loved this beautiful story set in Renaissance era Rome, following the women who run the Tofana apothecary. Carmela has grown up helping her mother run the apothecary, but now that she's 16 she can finally be trusted to know the weight of responsibility, secrets, and danger that her family has to put themselves in to help the women in their community who need them. Like Blood Water Paint, it's a blend of historical fiction and modern feminism.

I absolutely loved this. Even though it is about such heavy topics, like gendered violence, domestic abuse, abortion, death, etc., it was written in a way that felt so comforting. The prose chapters tell the story of a family who cares so deeply not only for each other, but for their entire community, and the verse chapters drive home the point that although we are all different, we are also so much the same. The characters have to continuously find common ground with each other, acknowledge each other's humanity, and accept a sense of responsibility towards each other, even when they hate each other, and I thought it was all so beautifully done. And this might just be me, but I would even say that the way we lived in the daily life of the apothecary was actually downright cozy. It made me want to start an herb garden immediately. I really enjoyed reading this and would highly recommend it!

Thank you Penguin Teen for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

I really enjoyed the combination of prose and verse in this, and the story was interesting. I also liked the characters...but I also grew very annoyed with Carmela throughout the story...especially with how petty she is and her holding grudges. I do think it gives an interesting look at herbal medicine and yes, the poisoning elements as well. I also liked how they're called Tofana.

There was also a brief moment where I was imagining Friar Lawrence in R&J and how he talks about the good and bad parts of plants.

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT.

I lost the amount of times I cried while reading it but I treasure it so much that it's now a favorite of mine for 2025! The writing, the characters and bringing a not so common story and tying it to how women fought back then to keep control of their lives and to have power over men in the only way they knew how hit really hard especially in our current times where women's rights are going to continue being challenged, it is so fitting for our current times. Beautiful. I can't wait for whatever is next!

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough is a stunning historical novel.
There was not a dull moment throughout the novel. The setting was magnificent.
The characters just come alive. And the wrong magnificent.