I devoured this book! Such a heart wrenching story with raw emotions. This a book everyone needs to read. Family dynamics and small town mentality brings this story such life.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars. The beginning of this book quickly drew me in, eager to read more. Without giving too much away, I was enlightened by Lily's secret and feel that I have learned something from reading this book. I would have given it higher stars if the bee lessons hadn't started to bog it down.

Mad Honey kept me enthralled in reading it from beginning to end. There are many unique characters that we think we know but then learn secrets about them later in the book. I found the writing to be very impressive especially as the chapters are written by two different authors but they flow together seamlessly. The story brings out many deep emotions for the characters as well as the reader. At times I felt so emotionally overcome that I had to take a short break from reading it. It deals with a variety of subject matter including abusive relationships and gender identity in ways that are open and honest but not degrading to any of characters involved. I found this to be an eye opener for me and recommend for all adult readers.
I give it a 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another highly readable page-turner! Well developed characters and a fascinating plot leave the reader thirsting for more.

Told in the alternating voices of Olivia McAfee and Lily Campanello, both women are starting over hoping for a better life. Olivia thought she had it all, married to a successful cardiothoracic surgeon, raising her son, Asher, fast-forward to now living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father’s beekeeping business.

Lily and her mother move to New Hampshire for Lily to complete her high school education in a new school.

Olivia and Lily cross paths when Asher and Lily fall in love. Everyone has a secret past and a trust issue, however, nothing prepares them for Asher being arrested as a murderer.

I received an ecopy from Netgalley for a review.

Heavy on bee information, some may find it superfluous, however, the nature of the bees and their life in the colony adds dimension to the story. Since reading this book, I have heard about "mad honey" on the news (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nVg_ZOfCso)

Not for everyone, readers will either love or hate this book. I hope that you will stick with it, I can't stop thinking about everything that I learned and understood by the end especially about a society that rejects you based on who you are. The Author's Note as written by each author takes the story in another direction. The fact that the story is collaborative adds depth to the whole and now I really want to know who wrote which character's story. Jodi Picoult does not shy away from controversial societal issues and there are many in this story. An early ad for the book touts it as one "sure to be banned" which elicited negative comments before it is even published. While true, I hope it does not discourage libraries or readers from purchasing it. Highly recommended for Book Clubs, there are so many topics and points of view for discussion

Information on Mad Honey -

https://bigthink.com/health/mad-honey/

https://modernfarmer.com/2014/09/strange-history-hallucinogenic-mad-honey/

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-eight novels, including Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. Picoult lives in New Hampshire. For more information on Jodi, click here

Jennifer Finney Boylan is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books. She is the inaugural Anna Quindlen Writer-in-Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University and a 2022–2023 Fellow at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. A nationally known advocate for human rights, she is a trustee of PEN America. For many years she was the national co-chair of GLAAD as well as a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. She lives in New York City and Belgrade Lakes, Maine, with her wife, Deedie. They have a son, Sean, and a daughter, Zai. For more information on Jennifer, click here

Follow me on IG at flamazing_books.

#beesfiction #bullyingfiction #spousalabusefiction #transgenderfiction #bookstagram

The thing about a Jodi Picoult book is that she never shows away from controversy. And that is true I’m Mad Honey as well. But a reader can also count on brilliant storylines and character development - they are rich and complex. In this one, the story is enhance by looking at this complexities through the lives of bees which allows the reader to digest what is happening within the story. It really quite brilliant. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

***ARC Provided by NetGalley***

Thanks to NetGalley I got to read this one a bit early.
I really enjoyed it. As with most of Picoult's books, there was a twist, one I wasn't expecting.

I really enjoyed the way the book was told, half in Olivia's perspective in the present moving forward, and half in Lily's perspective moving backwards.
Overall, very well told. And my first book by Finney Boylan, and I'm hoping to read more of her books soon.

I hadn't read a Jodi Picoult book for years until I read Wish You Were Here which I loved! That title made me select this one.

Lily Campanello and Olivia McAfee both need a fresh start. Olivia moves to her hometown with her son, Asher, and takes over her father's beekeeping business in New Hampshire. Lily and her mom relocate to Adams, NH for her senior year in high school. Lily and Asher become friends. But one day Olivia gets a phone call from the police and is told Lily is dead and Asher is a suspect. The authors write alternate voices and the story flow smoothly but a bit predictable for me.

I enjoyed this book and the way the two authors wrote alternating characters. I have not read any Boylan books but I might check them out now. I was also quite fascinated in the Bee production!

10/10. A flawlessly written book that both my heart sing and my face cry. You will not be disappointed if you pick up this book, and everyone should!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing and ARC in response for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book cowritten by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. Each author wrote the voice on one of the main characters and it is fun to try to determine which author wrote which character. We learn a lot about bees and honey, but also about some of the social issues going on in the world today - ones of which I am not too familiar. To me, I really live these characters' lives and am very sad when the stories end. I would love to continue living especially with Eva, Olivia, Jordan and Archer. They are all good souls who were a nice addition to my life. I had not read Jennifer Finney Boylan before and now plan to read her latest book too. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. It will remain a sweet read forever!

😠🍯 Book review!😠🍯

Mad Honey follows Olivia, a survivor of domestic abuse, who lives in New Hampshire as a beekeeper with her 18 year old son, Asher. Asher has a girlfriend, Lily, who he’s dated for 3 months. They get into a fight, and he doesn’t hear from her for a few days. When he goes to her house to check on her, Olivia receives a panicked phone call from Asher — “mom, I think Lily is dead.”

Jodi Picoult, I love ya, but this wasn’t it.

The time jumps for flashbacks were a bit confusing, and not presented in chronological order. There’s a lot of information weaved in each chapter that serve as metaphors which, while well-thought out and detailed, we’re distracting and took away from the story. I wish she just stuck to bees, and about halved the metaphors and flashbacks.

Also, just about every controversial/“hot button” topic is stuffed into this book, which just feels like overkill. It also doesn’t allow the book to give each topic the proper representation and attention they each deserve.

This book was, as a result of the above mentioned — SO. LONG. I found myself coming back to it because I wanted to see what happened and I was invested somewhat into the characters, but every time put it down with a general “meh” ness. The ending also left a lot to be desired.

It’s a🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤷🏻‍♀️ (2.5/5) for me. This one is out October 4th.

TW: death/possible murder, jail, domestic violence/abusive relationship, abortion, suicide, transphobia…there may be more I missed.

This book……

Sometimes there aren’t enough words to express how something makes you feel. Jodi picoult books are like that for me. Jennifer finney boylan is a new author for me but after reading this book and a little bit about her- IM A FAN!

I have an enby child so this book hit me differently. I really can’t say much else about that without going into a lot of details about the book but I really just feel like the love I have for my enby child is so strong Bec I have to love them harder. I have to love them harder because of the ignorance that surrounds gender fluidity.

Anyway, this book was amazing. I’ll carry it in my soul along with the other Jodi books.

Thanks so much for the advanced copy!

This was excellent.

I love books by this author because she tends to pick one controversial topic and chooses some random element (in this case beekeeping or Apiology) and weaves a completely engrossing tale. I had no prior knowledge (or interest) in beekeeping but found the sections on this topic fascinating.

The strong female characters in this story are fantastic, and there are many. I went into this story without any idea of the plot. I had requested this book from NetGalley a while ago so I was aware of the trial/death but not aware the victim was trans. Again, this was an eye opening lesson for me. I am liberal, aware and supportive yet there were so many lessons, explanations and just general thoughts that I took away from this.

The past/present timelines helped layer and round out both the story and characters. The trial was executed well, the ups and downs felt real. The verdict and aftermath were somewhat anticlimactic for me. I anticipated a different ending and was a bit disappointed (no spoilers). It was realistic and fitting and the story totally consumed me. I highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for a copy in exchange for a review.

This is a fantastic book, and I expected nothing less from these ladies. These are two very talented authors, and what they did with this novel shows how wonderful they are.
Jodi Picoult is well known to tackle hard subjects through her writing. Whether it be a suicide pact, a mass shooter, or whatever else may be going on in society at the present moment, Jodi is willing to speak her truth. Jennifer Boylan is the same, and is always willing to tackle the wrongs in the world.
This book is written through the eyes of two characters; Lily and Olivia. Lily is a transgender young woman, and Olivia is the mother of her boyfriend. When Olivia's son Asher goes on trial for Lily's murder, her whole world is turned upside down.
The book follows Olivia as she remembers her past life before and after Asher was born, and is struggling to deal with all she doesn't know about her son's life, and the fear that he has become like his father.
The book then takes the view of Lily before and after transitioning, as well as throughout her relationship with Asher. The book also brings in her mother Ava, and tells about her struggle trying to protect Lily, and support her at the same time.
LGBTQ+ rights are so important, and they are finally being addressed more and more, which is wonderful. Unfortunately, we still have work to do as a society to fight for their rights and support them as much as we can. I applaud these authors, and anyone else who brings these rights to the forefront of everything. We need to come together as a society!

4.5 stars. Mad Honey has the typical style of a Jodi Picoult novel. There is an incident/conflict, a family in turmoil, a central issue, and a resolution. Asher and Lily are high school students in a new and intense relationship. Lily winds up dead a few short months later and Asher is arrested. The story follows their relationship and history told in first person from different points of view as well as in different time lines with details about bees thrown in there to illustrate some bigger points. The book is written by two authors but you really can't tell who wrote which parts and you will see why when you read the author's notes at the end. The story was well written and engaging while tackling some big issues. I have no experience with it but it felt like the author's did a good job of covering this issue with decency and tact. (I am being vague to avoid a spoiler). Overall, I really enjoyed this novel although not the first person writing.

I haven't enjoyed a Jodi Picoult book this much since Small Great Things! I really enjoyed the story from both voices of Lily and Olivia and learning that each author wrote a character made me enjoy it even more. For two writers to collaborate this well, I'm impressed. As always sensitive issues were handled with care. I couldn't put this down once I got started and have been recommending already to many.

This was a DNF for me unfortunately. I like Jodi but I felt like thought of every polarizing topic there is and threw it into a book.

DNF at 40%

I've only read one book by Ms. Picoult and I wasn't familiar with Ms. Finney Boylan at all, so I wasn't sure what yo expect from this book. It certainly didn't turn out to be the book I thought I was reading which is a comment and not a criticism. Mad Honey is an excellent book with dealing perspectives, one moving forward in the present tense, while the other goes backwards in time.

The story is very thoughtful and nuanced. The details about these characters and their experiences and how they mirror each other is handled both intelligently and skillfully. I generally find narratives about abuse challenging and while this was, it was handled well and juxtaposed to the other character's journey in a sensitive way.

Is it a secret or is it private is a concept I will carry with me from this book. I really don't want to say more because I don't want to allude too much to the details of the plot, but I would certainly recommend this book. Also, stick around for the author's note which I found particularly interesting.

5+ stars for Mad Honey co-authored by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Fiinney Boylan. I always enjoy Jodi Picoult books. The Pact was the first book I read by her and it was my favorite until now. I did not know until I finished Mad Honey that Jennifer Finney Boylan was transgender. This explains why as I was reading the book I felt the part written about Lily was so real and so well explained. Lily’s character answered so many questions I had about transgender people. As I finished the book I realized and learned that no two transgender people are the same just as no two cisgender people are the same. There is no one name, “size” fits all for any human beings.

While this is not the only topic to discuss in this book it is the most relevant one. The story also deals with so many other important topics: teenage love, suicide, death, abuse, parent and children relationships.

Jodi Picoult, as you hoped, this story was very educational and did inspire so much compassion. Your goal in writing this novel was a success. Jennifer Finney Boylan I look forward to reading your memoir and learning more. I loved every minute of this book.

A must read! Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I can not wait for my friends to read it so I can discuss it with them. This is an excellent book club read.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lily and Asher seem like the perfect couple until Asher is accused of murdering her.

Olivia believes her son is innocent until she compares him to her abusive husband. Now Olivia is questioning her son.

Told in the POV of Lily, before she died, and Olivia, the story makes you question if Asher did it or not.

I will say this book took a twist that I wasn't expecting. I wondered what would happen till the very end. And the authors didn't disappoint. A very good novel that will have you questioning everything.