Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan was an emotional and suspenseful story. I have loved reading Jodi Picoult’s books for years, but Jennifer is a new to me author. Olivia and her son Ash move back to her hometown for a fresh start. Lily and her mom are starting over. When Ash and Lily meet and start dating, they seem to be good together and everyone is happy. Then one day Lily is dead and Ash is accused of her death. What happened? Olivia loves her son and does not want to believe he could do this, but is he following in his father’s step? I was at the edge of my seat as we start discovering what happened. I was captivated from the start and could not stop reading.

Happy reading!

I’m going to preface this review with the fact I’ve always been a Jodi Picoult fan. This book however didn’t seem like it was even written by her. It was very unpolished and monotonous. The only good part was the bee keeping descriptions. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Corina Diaz at Random House-Ballantine, and Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan for a gifted copy of this book!**

"The secret weapon of mad honey, of course, is that you expect it to be sweet, not deadly. You're deliberately attracted to it. By the time it messes with your head, with your heart, it's too late."

Stirring, emotional, thoughtful, and BEAUTIFULLY penned! EASILY one of my top reads of 2022!

Olivia has decided to start over...in her 40's. A tumultuous relationship with her husband, an attractive and 'well-respected' doctor, turned dangerous, and she made the difficult choice to take her son Asher away from the toxic situation and move back to her quiet New Hampshire hometown. She is even able to fall back into her father's business, beekeeping, and life settles into a comfortable rhythm.

At Asher's school, a new student named Lily is looking for a fresh start too. When she meets Asher, the two form an instant bond, and young love quickly blossoms. Lily is vibrant, clever, and a talented cellist...but there is more to her life and her story than she has shared with most. After all of the strife from her past, Lily is hopeful that life is finally moving in a positive direction.

UNTIL Lily is found dead...at the bottom of the stairs of her home.

...and Asher is the one who finds her.

Now some questionable text messages point directly to Asher...and he is accused of MURDER. Has Asher inherited his father's temper? What could have happened to interrupt this cosmic connection between two young loves? Can Olivia's brother Jordan, McAfee, an attorney, clear Asher's name...or is he ACTUALLY guilty?

There are four things I can ALWAYS count on when I pick up a book from Jodi Picoult:

1) She has done her research. There are two main topics in this book (one revolves around bees, the other is tied to the twist in the book, so I won't discuss it here) but WOW. The attention to detail is simply stunning, every time.

2) Her characters will grab me and hold on tight! Her writing is so effortless, so honest, and so REAL. Nobody ever feels contrived in her books.

3) My heart will be torn into pieces. Potentially MULTIPLE times.

and most importantly

4) The twist? Will KNOCK MY SOCKS OFF!

Mad Honey captured everything I love about Picoult and reminded me just HOW talented she truly is as a writer. After reading, I was stunned to look back and find out this book was so long (!)....THAT'S how good it is. I am very guilty of looking down at % on my Kindle, checking how long I have left in a chapter etc., but with this book, the only time I found myself doing that was to see if I'd have time to get through just a LITTLE bit more!

I also applaud, and will continue to applaud, Picoult's unabashed dedication to writing thought-provoking, topical material that is also compelling fiction in and of itself. I don't know any author out there who can handle such myriad difficult topics with ease, but no matter her focus, she consistently delivers. I also think her discussions of an abusive partner were FAR and above another book of hers I've read handling the same subject, Picture Perfect, so that was another huge plus and shows that in 20+ years, she only continues to get better!

I was dying to know what was going on with Asher and Lily at ALL times, and the narrative bops back and forth between the past (Asher and Lily's relationship and Lily's past, prior to moving to NH) and present (the trial and its aftermath) and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the verdict. I didn't know this was going to have a legal slant to it, but it just helped to drive the narrative even more. Although the timeline could have been a little clearer, I was able to follow it pretty well for the most part. While the beekeeping portions got a bit wordy at times, I have to admit I learned SO much about honey (and was thinking of Jodi and Jennifer last night when I made a cup of tea!)

This was my first experience reading anything authored or co-authored by Jennifer Finney Boylan, but the work between these two authors was seamless. The authors referenced in their end notes about swapping back and forth who wrote which character and jokes that even THEY would have trouble distinguishing each other's writing by story's end! If this is any indication of Finney Boylan's writing overall, I am a new fan of hers as well as Picoult!

Mad Honey is a powerful and emotional tale of secrets and truth, bravery and honesty, and above all, finding the inner strength to live life FULLY, no matter how great the risk, and having faith in the reward.

As one character observes, "Everybody is always still trying to learn, day after painful day, how to be themselves."

"I can't wait."

4.5 stars, rounded up

4.5 stars rounded up

Mad Honey is a compulsively readable novel by two of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. It’s about two single moms in small-town Adams, New Hampshire, and their high school-age kids. Olivia is a beekeeper and entrepreneur. Her son Asher is the school’s hockey team captain and an artist. Ava is a forest ranger researching lynx. Her daughter Lily is a cellist and fencer.

Being the new kid in town isn’t unique for Lily since she and Ava have moved a couple of times in the last few years. Lily and Asher meet through friends and soon start dating. It’s not a spoiler to say that Lily dies unexpectedly—it’s in the publisher blurb. The tale of Mad Honey is what happens when Asher is accused of killing her. Picoult and Finney Boylan spin a compelling yarn with well-formed characters and topics tied to real-life issues.

Finney Boylan and Picoult use two voices to tell the story, Olivia’s and Lily’s. Everything we learn about Asher and Ava is through their eyes. The authors also move the timeline back and forth, which pulls the curtain back slowly. The suspense is worth it. Their conclusion is a satisfying resolution of a complex situation.

My conclusions
A central theme of Mad Honey is reinvention. Olivia grew up as a small-town kid but married an accomplished Boston surgeon. She returns to her hometown to heal from unexpected troubles when the marriage goes sour. As Olivia copes with Asher’s situation, we learn more about her life and her fears for her son. Picoult also teaches readers about Olivia’s beekeeping career. Bee-related analogies abound here since hives are much like small towns and high schools.

While she is younger than Olivia, Lily’s no stranger to reinvention. She and Ava also flee a complicated marital situation. But her story is more profound than Olivia’s and just as dark. Her tragic end is heartbreaking, especially because she seems to find true love with Asher.

Picoult and Finney Boylan explore relationships and parenting styles along with identities. There’s plenty of food for thought woven through the suspenseful plot. They seamlessly blend their writing styles. I was so involved with the story that I rarely thought about who wrote what. Still, Lily’s story deserves Finney Boylan’s perspective and wisdom.

Overall, Mad Honey is just what I want in a novel. It delivers insights into relationships, personalities, and life experiences with a healthy dose of suspense. Brava to both authors!

Acknowledgments
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and the authors for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review. The expected publication date for this book is Tuesday, October 4, 2022.

Jodi Picoult is often on the cutting edge, writing about topics that are in the news, often controversial. This first half of the novel is a classic who-Done-it and courtroom drama. Then the authors throw in a curve ball I never saw coming and we see the next part of the story unfold in a new light. Intense book.

such a sad book. Broke my heart. But couldn't put it down. There's always a twist somewhere and there was here too. I enjoyed it but didn't love it.

Wow. This book took me by surprise. Very few books have a twist in the middle quite like this one, but it's oh so good. This book is so well written, and as all Jodi Picoult books do, this one touches on sensitive topics that are "hot" topics in our current culture, and this one is no different. However, with this one, you don't know which sensitive topic you are walking into until well into the book. I love how much I learned about bees and how they used that to bring all the pieces of this book together. So unique and different and awesome. A great read, no matter what side you are on.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is not only a great work of fiction, but also very educational. It is a book that can lead readers to understand and have compassion for the circumstances of others. The bee information is meaningful in its own way.

Mad Honey is about a boy who loves a girl who ends up dead under suspicious circumstances and he's suspect number one. It's about secrets and self discovery. I don't want to say much about this book because it has many layers that are woven together to create a beautiful yet sad story. If I share the biggest piece of this story it would ruin it for you. It's told in dual perspectives and timelines. In fact, in one perspective the timeline moves backwards which was confusing at first but necessary. I really enjoyed this one and will be thinking about it for a long time.

I generally do not enjoy co-authored books, but Mad Honey is an exception. Both authors did an excellent job in their partnership, creating a very interesting book. I enjoyed learning so many interesting facts about beekeeping and at times needed the fact sharing to relax from the main part of the story. This was a great book for the most part, although I did feel as if it dragged a bit at times. This did not keep me from finishing it and am glad I did. There was a jaw dropping twist which made me stop reading for the night so that I could process the story before continuing. Be sure to read the author’s comments at the end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. I have given my honest feedback.

4.5 rounded to a 5.

I loved Mad Honey. I went in completely blind and wasn’t disappointed. I think what I loved the most was as the story was told learning about bees and bee keeping.


I won’t give spoilers but i didn’t see the plot twist coming. And once it came I really appreciated learning more about the subject. I think reading fiction books about different subjects is a great way to learn about things without having to pick up more reference type non-fiction.

Outside of the educational subjects that Jodi and Jennifer brought a great story which I loved.

I subtracted .5 star because the middle of the story got a little blah for me but besides that it was absolutely great!

This book is fast-paced and thought-provoking. I loved it!

It’s tough to review this without spoiling the twist, so excuse my vagueness.

The character development was well done. You really get to know the main characters through their past and present narratives.

I enjoyed learning about beekeeping. It’s not a usual topic in many books, and you can tell the authors did their research. However, at times I did wish there were fewer paragraphs regardings beekeeping. (This book is close to 500 pages).

Regarding the twist, I literally had to pause reading to process everything that led up to that moment. I did not see that coming!

After the twist is revealed, the story takes a bit of a turn in its direction. The subjects that are highlighted were done with such care and respect. I learned a lot from reading this book.

The twist will not be favorable to everyone, but I really enjoyed reading how the story unfolded after its reveal.

The story wrapped up nicely, and I felt satisfied with the ending. The recipes at the end of the book were a fun touch.

If you’re looking for an emotional and thought proving read, pick this one up!

Piccoult does it again! Pulling in her readers with her characters with tantalizingly dramatic moments while conquering a current societal issue and educating us all. Clearly, she did her research on this issue (withheld to not spoil the storyline) and provides the reader with the science, the social and emotional education to help us understand the characters struggles.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan. Going into this book I didn't know what to expect. Having read books by Jodi Picoult and enjoying one of her last books and never having read anything by Jennifer Finney Boylan I was curious. But sorry to say this one just didn't do it for me at all. Maybe it was the storyline or all the information about bees. But Mad Honey was a disappointment for me.

A compelling joint effort that kept me on my toes!

Mad Honey is equal parts family drama and courtroom drama. It follows Olivia, a single mom who escaped past demons and grappling with ones her son has hid from her, and Lily, an introspective teenage girl experiencing love for the first time after an especially hard upbringing and the murder that changes the trajectory of both their lives.

Mad Honey immediately sucks you in. Small town murder. Troubled teens but even more troubling adults. So much relevant social commentary that is handled in a thoughtful way. PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS!

I found the characters to be dynamic. I especially loved Asher and Lily as character. They were thoughtful and youthful and we could learn from them both. Although I found her oblivious and a bit frustrating at times, I empathized with Olivia and all of what she's been through and to still have come out on the other side.

There is a major TWIST that comes midway through that I didn't see coming but found really compelling and added so many more layers to this story and increased its readability.

There were a few things I struggled with during my read:
- The length: this book could've been shorter especially given all the exposition about bees and inner monologues
-Random additions: this plays into the length but there are a lot of plot lines that never go anywhere and red herrings that don't just mislead but also feel kind of useless while reading and in hindsight. There are also some side characters that didn't really add much except for filler dialogue between characters
-Post twist: like I said, I loved the twist but after it, the story kind of slows down and never hits that peak again and the end feels that much lackluster as a result.

Overall, I'm VERY happy I read this book. It kept me turning the page and wanting to know WHO DID IT! You won't regret picking this one up.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Special thanks to Random House Books, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my own opinion.

What a great book. Not only does Jodi Picoult take you on a wild ride and make you question things in a different way, but this book comes out on October 4th and is clever, you won't see the twists coming.

And I learned a LOT about bees and I love to learn.

Just go out in 3 days and get this book. You will not be disappointed.

*Definitely look up trigger warnings for this book.

This book absolutely sucked me in from the beginning. It’s so well written that you feel as if you are right there. Jodi Picoult has a way of taking a controversial topic, presenting it in her books, and making you question what you thought you believed. The plot twist of this book was 😮 😯😯! I did not see it coming. It was quite the intense ride. I definitely could have done with less talk about bees, but overall was impressed by this amazing story. I’m so grateful to the publisher and authors for allowing me to read this ARC. It’s comes out 10/4 and you’ll want to grab this one.

🏷
#bookstagram #toberead #TBR
#bookish #booklover #booknerd #fortheloveofbooks #MadHoney #JodiPicpult #NetGalley #bookreview #ARC

I thought this book gave insight into transgender experience of teens. It’s also a gripping mystery that will keep you turning the pages.

Mad Honey
Jodi Picoult; Jennifer Finney Boylan
5⭐️

“Where is the line between keeping something private, and being dishonest?”

I need more stars! Picoult and Boylan absolutely blew me away Jodi Picoult has be a long time favorite of mine, and the author that got me back into reading as an adult with My Sisters Keeper. Mad Honey just might be my new favorite of hers.

I loved everything about this beautiful book so so much. The powerful story was magnificently co-written. Anyone who’s read Picoult before knows that she’s not one to dodge the tough subject matter. She tackles it head on but does so with grace and impeccable research. Mad Honey was no different.

Unfortunately there’s so much I can’t/won’t say because of spoilers. So while my review may be rather vague, let the main takeaway be to READ THIS BOOK! I went in knowing very little and I suggest you do the same.

Mad Honey was everything I could have wanted. It was fast paced, suspenseful, emotional, and a truly unforgettable story that makes you think, and a twist you wont see coming. This one will stay with me for a long time.

I was absolutely fascinated with the beekeeping element. I had no idea it could bee so interesting. I learned so much. “You might start life as a worker, and end up a queen.”

What I loved;
🐝 All the feels
🐝 Amazing character development
🐝 Alternating timelines/POVs
🐝 Courtroom drama

Make sure you read the authors’ notes! I loved learning how this duo came together to write this book! 🥰

Thank you so much NetGalley, Random House Ballantine, and the authors for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I honestly loved it and will highly recommend to everyone! It will be the perfect book club book to draw out thoughtful and interesting conversations.

I loved Jodi Picoult’s newest novel! This book was a perfect combination of love, suspense, and secrets!