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.

Wow wow wow! After last year’s Wish You Were Here that I strongly disliked, I was worried Jodi Picoult might have lost her magic for me. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong. Along with Jennifer Finney Boylan, she has written another one of her classic novels packed with social commentary and so much heart that will absolutely break you, but keep you turning the pages. One of my favorite things about Picoult’s books is how she puts her characters in situations that really make you question what you’d do in the same scenario. I felt so much for both Lily and Olivia, and my heart absolutely ached for Asher. The characters were so complex and multilayered, and I was absolutely floored by the big twist in the middle of the book. The symbolism with the bees and honey was perfectly crafted, but not at all overdone, and I actually loved learning so much about beekeeping. I may not have read all of her books, but I can say this is easily one of the best Picoult books I’ve read, and I will definitely be picking up some of Boylan’s soon as well. This is a must read!

Emotional, Thought-Provoking and So Damn Good.

Olivia is a single mom, who makes her living as a Beekeeper. She and her teenage son Asher have been on their own for a long time now. Asher is a popular High Schooler who falls for Lily, the new girl in town. Lily and her mother Ava moved to Adams, New Hampshire for what they hope will be a fresh start. When young love blooms, no one is surprised. Unfortunately for Asher, when Lily is found dead, well, he’s the first and only suspect.

Frantic, Olivia does the only thing she can, she calls on her brother, attorney Jordan McAfee, for help. (Fans of Salem Falls, The Pact, and Nineteen Minutes, may remember him). A courtroom drama ensues. What happens next, I cannot say, except that I didn’t see it coming and was astounded by every minute of it.

A novel about many things, including family, friendship, relationships, love, self-acceptance, and self-exploration, as well as trials and tribulations.

There are authors and then there is Jodi Picoult. Mad Honey is a book she co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan. While I’ve read almost every book written by Ms. Picoult, I’ve only read two books by Ms. Boylan, and yet, let me just say that I was wholly unprepared for this.
4.75 stars

A buddy read with Kaceey that kept us talking.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine for the arc via NetGalley.

This is the first Picoult novel I've loved since 2016's Small Great Things. I feel like we are back to classic Picoult in this book. Lily's story told backwards is a little confusing. I don't understand why it was told that way and think it would have worked better to have it be in chronological order. I thought I knew what the twist at the end would be but I was wrong! I learned a little about bees and honey, which was interesting. I really connected with both Lily and Olivia's characters and thought they were well written. I appreciated the authors' notes at the end that gave more insight into how the book was written.

Mad Honey follows the lives of Olivia, her son Asher, and his girlfriend Lily. The novel is told from the perspectives of Olivia and Lily, and it does move partially backwards in time. Asher is accused of Lily's murder, and we watch Olivia grapple with believing in her son's innocence as shadows of her past move in to cloud her judgment. Secrets are exposed, lives are ruined, and identities are upended in this fast-paced read.

This book surprised me. I was not expecting the main twist at all, though I did anticipate the other major revelation at the end. This is not my typical genre; I think I'd categorize it as some combination of legal suspense, women's fiction, and LGBTQIA+. Despite it being a rather long read, I flew through it and found it really enjoyable. I will caution all readers that there are some pretty critical and graphic content warnings, which include but are not limited to: domestic abuse, self-harm, and transphobia.

Co-written books can be tricky — I imagine it's difficult, as two separate people, to write an entire story in a style that flows well and doesn't sound choppy. Jodi and Jennifer describe their writing process in the authors' notes, which I found interesting and I highly recommend not skipping!

Thank you to Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

This one felt more like Picoult’s older books, which I appreciated. I absolutely loved all the facts about honey and bees as that was so much more interesting than the other niche topics in her previous books. This book felt a bit disjointed, trying to throw a lot of topics in there at once which didn’t work for me. I didn’t see some of the twists, but I didn’t really love the outcome. It felt rushed and unfinished in a way that didn’t work for me. Someone who is looking for a book to tackle a lot of big topics and likes Picoult’s older stuff will appreciate this one probably more than I did. I will absolutely keep reading her books as they are bingeable!

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

This is a beautiful moving book, about love about survival about courage,truth and belief. It is the story of two mothers, who have left bad marriages and the children they carry with them. It is a love story between those children and when one of them dies, it is a story about the fight for justice for them both.

This is one of my top reads of the year for sure!

My favorite part of this book was the story telling structure. Olivia's POV going forward in time and Lily's going backward was a great way to create the full picture of both the events leading up to the murder and then the events after.

The epigraph at the beginning of the book describes it perfectly: "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

I also loved the classic Jodi Picoult feel it had. It reminded me a lot of some of my favorite books of hers like Nineteen Minutes or House Rules. There's a murder mystery element, but also deep character exploration, making it the perfect mix of a character driven and plot driven story. Also, it was fun to see a character from one of her other books play a part in this one!

With that said, I am so glad that both authors were able to lend their voice to this book. The writing is seamless and they blended their voices well, but both of them bringing their individual expertise and experience was invaluable.

There are some tough topics discussed, so I would recommend checking trigger warnings, however the things that the characters have to grapple with and the topics discussed are so so important. I can just imagine how meaningful the conversations between Jodi and Jennifer must have been when writing the book and I'm so glad they were able to have that reflected in these characters.

There's so much to process with this book, that it's hard to do it justice in a short review, so I'd suggest picking it up for yourself. You won't regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!