As a fan of several of McCullough's previous works (Blood Water Paint, Enter the Body), I was definitely already predisposed to love this, too. And yet I was still surprised by how much this dark little tale of female apothecaries working in seventeenth-century Rome affected me. It's one part fascinating glimpse into seventeenth-century medicine (some of which is truly stomach-churning); one part fierce love story between a mother and daughter; and one part sharp commentary on how this family's microcosm of struggle is just a piece of a whole, with McCullough's trademark poetry forming the connective tissue that critiques the way society viewed--and continues to view--women. I found every part of this book to be beautiful, and while I did think the ending was rushed and left something to be desired, the journey it took to get there moved me deeply. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, novels in verse (though this one isn't exclusively in verse), and anyone who needs to read about women fiercely claiming their power right about now.

This was one of the most enchanting books I have read in a long time, and I am so grateful I was given the opportunity to read it before the publication date.




The Writing style of the author is captivating and completely drew me in. The characterization--oh my--it was so well done I felt like I knew them and could completely sympathize with them. There have always been cases of men abusing their wives and girlfriends, or taking advantage of them. (Of course I do realize it happens the other way around to, but that is not this story!) This book takes a good hard look at situations like that, and I think anyone reading this would feel for all the women making these horrible choices: wrong yes, but they were trapped by the law, the  church and men who were very abusive.

One thing I learned is that Aqua Tofana is a poison and the names  of the characters used in the book were actually women who distributed it. So the story is historical fiction.

I give this 5 stars for it is truly an amazing accomplishment!

This was a really fun read! I enjoyed it the entire time with the little poems as well. Thank you so much for the arc! It was great!

This is coming out at the literally best time. With all the recent talks about with how our political climate is making woman feel like they might need to bring back ways to get rid of men in their lives is really scary. But fiction is supposed to say something even if it isn't real, at least the really great stories do. This touched on so many womans issues in their lives that only they could relate to and gave me chills at times. This book was so thought provoking and makes you ask some really serious questions about tge way that the world is. What's sad is a lot of this stuff is still happening today. It hits hone on a lot of levels and makes me feel seen as a woman. This book is female rage at its peak. It feels so raw and human. One of my favorites of this year to read. I'm so lucky to have received an early copy from Netgalley. I feel so lucky and special.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!

Everything is Poison was such a fun read for me. I was hooked within the first couple of chapters and stayed for the plot and characters. I am absolutely positive that many will find this book to be fun and enjoyable.

I think the story does a great job of presenting a well-written conflict within the apothecary. Especially highlighting the dangers of dispensing medicine under the scrutiny and disapproval of the community. While I feel the setting could extend beyond the apothecary, church, and a few other locations, I’m still satisfied with it. What I like most is the characterization, each character is distinct and has their own strengths. I really appreciate Carmela’s development throughout the story, and the ending feels bittersweet. My only downside is that I wish there were fewer poems overall.

Someone send Paris Paloma a copy of this book stat! This was difficult to stop reading, I found myself entranced by the characters. The little poems in between chapters at first seemed to disrupt the story but soon they became as important as the story itself. I support women's rights and women's wrongs.

I absolutely loved this book! The writing style and characters drew me in from the start. The verses in between prose flowed beautifully. The plot was fascinating and this was a great introduction to a 17th century apothecary. The mother/daughter relationship was so relatable even though it’s a different timeframe. Just loved this and can’t wait for others to be able to read! Thanks for the opportunity to read!

enchanting and lovely. i had read a bunch about aqua tofana ages ago, so when i heard about this one i was so in. and it was delicious. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Everything is Poison was excellent. I flew through this book faster than expected because I could not put it down. I knew what Aqua Tofana was, but loved the story around why it was created. The community of women within the walls of this apothecary are complicated, but they are all trying to do their very best for the women that come seeking their services. The story that is woven between Carmela and her mother Giulia is fast paced and interesting from start to finish. Highly recommend this if you want to read about strong female characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book.

Overall it was just okay. The poetry chapters scattered throughout were a weird choice and the lead was just so naive yet brilliant? It was a strange dynamic and no one seemed to be full fledged characters. I wanted this to be more than a floaty story that never anchored and took root.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

It is easily a 3.25 stars out of 5
A couple of things that stood out for me right from the get go :
1. The amazing botanical motives at the beginning of every chapter and the fact that the title of the book alludes to something dark and twisty but it's not a very obvious give away.
2. I was hooked from the beginning, the prose flows , is cohesive and creates the ambience of a vintage / medieval inspired Europe where apothecaries could be a part of common life.
The protagonists relationship with her mother and her intense desire to be in her shoes reminded me a lot of my teenage self
Poison is a common theme in several fantasy / fantasy inspired books but this brought in a feeling of familer but kept the mystery

A beautiful YA historical fiction. La Tofana is such a fascinating historical figure and so shrouded in mystery. La Tofana’s daughter Carmela wants nothing more than to be an apothecary like her mother. However, she stumbles upon some of the other things her mother sells and faces the challenge of growing and changing into who she was meant to be. I read this book in a night. It really gripped me. At some points, I grew frustrated with Carmela, but remembering she’s a 16 year old girl helped make it not so bad. This is a great novel to begin your historical fiction journey or to continue it!

I loved this book from start to finish. The characters were well developed, the story had me hooked and wanting to keep reading to see how the story ended. I enjoyed the focus of the book being on family and family relationships and the lengths the characters will go to for each other.

i just love *women*, especially complicated women who are trying to protect each other and happen to kill men because of it. i am a massive fan of joy mccullough and this will now be a book i will be plugging at any time i can, especially in my library school classes. the mix between poetry and prose was done so beautifully, as is everything that mccullough touches. beautiful historical novel that people need to read

Thank you to Net Galley and Dutton Books for Young Readers for the ARC. I like the concept and the prose was pretty, but this was just not my cup of tea. The pace was a bit slow and the plot boring.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Everything Is Poison: by Joy McCullough immerses you in the complex and dangerous world of a 17th-century Italian apothecary, blending historical fiction with themes of female empowerment and sisterhood. Set in Rome, the story follows sixteen-year-old Carmela, who, after years of anticipation, is finally invited to work alongside her mother in their apothecary. For Carmela, it’s a dream come true—until she learns that the shop’s purpose goes beyond healing the sick; it’s also a place where desperate women seek solutions to escape their oppressive and often dangerous lives. While I am not personally that interested in historical fiction, I absolutely loved this feminist story and the importance of sisterhood, which are both demonstrated throughout the story.

Loosely inspired by the legend of Giulia Tofana, a notorious Italian poisoner, McCullough’s story deftly balances historical accuracy with a suspenseful plot. Carmela’s journey highlights the stark choices women faced in a time when few options for autonomy existed. As Carmela becomes more deeply involved in her mother’s work, she faces difficult moral dilemmas. Although she had always known her family’s work could attract suspicion, the weight of helping women escape abuse through deadly means challenges her understanding of justice and compassion.

Written in both prose and verse, “Everything Is Poison” combines the vividness of poetic storytelling with rich historical details. McCullough's language is both enchanting and poignant, with verses capturing the beauty and melancholy of Carmela's world and the prose propelling you through a suspenseful and engaging plot. The book beautifully explores the bonds between mothers, daughters, and female friends, underscoring themes of resilience and loyalty in a society that often left women powerless.

While the book is haunting and emotionally resonant, there were certain characters that seemed to come and go too quickly, leaving their arcs feeling incomplete. Despite this, the evolving relationships—such as Carmela’s with Violetta, a former childhood rival—add layers of complexity and reflect the shifting alliances women had to form in secret to survive and support one another.

Overall, “Everything Is Poison” is an empowering and thought-provoking YA historical novel that captures the fierce strength women needed to navigate a restrictive society. McCullough’s book is sure to captivate readers, especially fans of historical fiction and feminist stories, with its atmosphere, historical intrigue, and celebration of resilience.

Book:
EVERYTHING IS POISON by Joy McCullough
Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for the EARC (January 14)

Review:
3.5⭐
EVERYTHING IS POISON is a quick read with short chapters broken up by poem like things. It follows Carmella Tofana, who's destined to join the apothecary with her mother. Together they provide remedies for those in need, but when something d*adly happens, they must risk it all.
Going into EVERYTHING IS POISON, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect---especially since historical fiction is hit or miss for me. That wasn't the case for this.
From page one, there was something drawing me in---willing me to read and read until the book was finished. I think ot was the mix of things this book has to offer: magic, remedies, witch-like people, and the in-verse chapters. All of it came together to create a piece that is neat and quite intriguing. Plus the drama. I loved that there was so much of it, but everyone was still doing what they can to help. I recommend this to those who enjoy books like this or who want to step out of their comfort zone.

I was excited when I read the description for this one. I love the idea of a 17th century apothecary even if the struggles those women went through were awful. I liked the main character even if she could be difficult to stick with through all of her choices. Carmella has dreamed of the day she could join her mother in their apothecary and when she turns 16 she is finally allowed in. She is excited to learn more about what different herbs and substances do and how to make the tinctures that will help the people who come to the shop. But to most of their town they are witches who are believed to be helping women murder their poor defenseless husbands which Carmella has always been frustrated by until she learns that on very rare occasions her mother does exactly that. When a woman is desperate and would be killed by an abusive husband if she didn’t act first. I wasn’t sure I would like the poetry strewn through the chapters but I actually did like it more than I expected. This book was a quick and good read.

I didn't hate this, it was the definition of feminine rage and I was here for it. But I didn't know it was historical fiction. Nothing against historical fiction but I read 50% of this then got bored. Maybe I'll come back to this before the pub date and give it a proper chance? (DNF at 53%)