Carmela works with her mother and two ladies n the Tofana Apothecary in the Campo Marzio area of Rome. She only wants to be allowed in the workroom. She is finally allowed when she turns sixteen. While the ladies are known for making remedies for all people, they have a secret remedy for women in trouble, Aqua Tofana. Along with the Aqua Tofana, there are strict directions to put a few drops in the offender's meal over a period of time. Trouble comes when the directions are not followed and something dreadful happens, with the ladies of the Tofana Apothecary caught in the crossfire.

Part of me wishes the book was nonfiction, while part hopes it is a wonderfully realistic work of fiction. I could not put it down! My daughter is waiting to read it as soon as it is released! I have also recommended it to some of my coworkers. I love the characters and hate the villains! Great, five star read!

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating story about Giulia Tofana, a real woman known for running an apothecary that doled out poisons, usually to female customers who were being mistreated by men. I really liked that the story was told through her daughter, Carmela's eyes. It allows us to see Giulia as a person from the outside while also letting us see some of her thinking and motivations. I loved all of the side characters in this book - Mary, Laura, and even Violetta eventually. They really added to the richness of the story. I loved, as I always do in Joy McCullough's books, the inclusion of verse and the specific way that in this book, she used the verse to highlight the voices (or possible voices) of the many characters that enter and leave the apothecary or live in the community. It helps to round out the time period, setting, and tone of the entire book, and adds a change to the pacing which I appreciated.

I do have to say that as a school librarian, I think there are two things that will keep this book out of my students' hands.
1. The story feels obscure. They haven't heard of Giulia Tofana before and as much as I would like to think that they will be excited to read about her, I am not sure that's accurate.
2. The story is so dark. Despite Carmela taking over her mom's role at the apothecary, there is very little hope felt in this story. That will make it a hard read for many teens.

Sadly, none of Joy McCullough’s newest books have been able to live up to Blood Water Paint. Everything Was Poison was dull, and with characters that I just didn’t care about. Definitely a disappointment.

Carmela wants to grow up. Carmela wants to have friends. Carmela wants to work with her mother at the shop. Carmela wants to avenge childhood slights. Carmela wants to learn the secrets of her mother’s shop. Carmela wants to be like her mother. Carmela wants to be La Tofana. But for all of Carmela’s wants there’s a price to be paid and as all youth, she doesn’t think her wants and actions through enough before plunging in.

This was just okay for me. It wasn't that it was bad, I just never felt like I wanted to read it persay

I love it when women own apothecaries and provide people with abortifacients and poisons to kill abusive husbands.

I really enjoyed this book. I was able to experience the world that McCullough reproduced - to picture the details and smells around me. Not sure if it was truly accurate or not to the time, but it worked for my experience. Enjoyable characters, believable chaos and crisis. Would easily recommend.

A beautiful flowing mixture of poetry, letters, and prose. I read it in one sitting. A YA title not to be missed, McCullough takes us through a 17th century apothecary and its inhabitants.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this book. #EverythingIsPoison #NetGalley

This historical fiction novel focuses on an apothecary, run by three women, in a neighborhood in Rome, in the 17th century. This was a time when women who were abused by their husbands had little, if any, recourse. The author, Joy McCullough, has woven a story based on a real person who lived in Rome at that time, Giulia Tofana, and is suspected of developing and distributing a discreet poison to assist women of that time to kill their husbands. Although this is a dark topic, the story here focuses more on the sisterhood of women, and illustrates the lack of power women had in their relationships. It is beautifully written, including interstitial bits of poetry between some of the chapters. A worthy read.

"Everything is Poison" is a tough but necessary read. This powerful historical fiction novel highlights how women have been caring for one another for centuries. I appreciated the balance of prose and poetry in telling the stories of women in ancient Rome. It’s rare to find young adult books that focus on this time period, especially with an emphasis on women and healing.

Content Warnings: Abuse, abortion, murder.

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.