Joy McCullough does a beautiful job of transporting the reader back to 17th century, Rome. By including the vignettes of people’s daily lives through her use of verse, I was able to relate better to what was happening to Carmela, Giulia, and their found family. It helped to broaden the world to include more than just their small circle of influence without having to remember an unneeded cast of characters.

This book is definitely dark and hard to read at times. There are descriptions of abuse, emotional, physical, and sexual. The crimes that have been committed against women throughout history is a topic that needs to be examined, especially in our current political and social climate.

I loved learning that Giulia Tofana was a real person, and I feel as though Joy did an incredible job of honoring her and her associates through this complex and heart-breaking story.

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

I’ll admit this book wasn’t what I expected, but it does well for what it is. We follow soon to be sixteen year old Carmela who longs to work and learn in her mother’s apothecary. The story centers on the struggles of women in this period of history.
We learn more about Carmela and her family and the dangers they face. (Largely at the hands of their husbands, fathers, and those who call them witches for their skill with herb craft.)
In between chapters are poems that further shed light on the situations going on in Carmela’s life.
The book is literary, feminist, and I felt ended rather abruptly. Perhaps it told all the story it needed to.

*Everything is Poison* is a captivating YA historical fiction that blends mystery, history, and a strong sense of female empowerment.

The narrative unfolds with grace, exploring themes of sisterhood, motherhood, and friendship in a deeply moving way. The feminist undertones are unmistakable, woven into the story through stunning depictions of female strength. The historical setting, enriched with the unique use of poisons, brings a fresh and intriguing twist to the genre. The writing itself is a standout—lyrical and rich, drawing readers into a world that feels both dangerous and beautiful.

The pacing matches the complexity of the plot, creating a story that evolves seamlessly. It’s a fascinating and immersive read that I can’t recommend enough.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This was a very interesting historical/apothecary book partly written in prose. I would say majority of the book is not, but it's a nice poetry break between chapters. I didn't really understand the prose as much as the regular writing, but still appreciated it. I felt kinda sad at the end but the epilogue gave some hope back.

I really enjoyed this book, and the messages are so important. In a time period where women didn’t have the ability to get away from terrible husbands who would kill them, women actually did have power that made men in power nervous once it was found out. And there are also some good quotes that also explain how a woman being “ruined” is all about perception, not fact.
I did think that the characterization could have been better, but the story as a whole was very well-researched especially when it came to the daily life of the time period and what people had in their homes, where they went every day, etc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

Everything is Poison is a powerful, enchanting YA historical fiction with captivating characters and a fascinating plot.

This story was beautiful. It was a strong, feminist story that was achingly lovely, with stunning scenes of female power, sisterhood, motherhood, and friendship. The incorporation of poisons and history was excellent, and I adored the lovely poetry and prose used to tell the story. The pacing fit the interesting plot well, and the story developed wonderfully. EiP felt like Perfume: The Story of a Murderer meets Anatomy: A Love Story, which, personally, is an ideal combination. I highly recommend you read this fascinating story!

Thank you to the publisher for the free ARC!