Fantastic, easy five star read! While dual authors, the writing was so seamless I didn't even realize until I reread the cover 5 chapters in. Primarily, I would classify this as a legal family drama with some suspense. Told in two perspectives with dualing timelines -- one in present day and one that works backwards over the course of several months. At first this read similar to Picoult's The Pact or Night Shift from Kristin Hannah but the unexpected twist is what makes it a stand out in this genre.

Well-researched. Thought-provoking. Timely.

The shocking murder of a teenage girl in a small town is the focus of this heartbreaking emotional well-written novel, MAD HONEY, from the bestselling author Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.

Twelve years earlier, a mother, Olivia McAfee, left Boston behind and her abusive husband for New Hampshire with her teenage son, Asher. She is a professional beekeeper and single mom.

Asher is quite popular in school, well-liked, and captain of the high school hockey team. He and his mom have a great relationship, and he is preparing to go off to college.

He meets Lily Campanello, who also comes from an abusive background. They are serious and an item. But then, a tragedy occurs after a fight. Asher finds Lily dead at the bottom of her basement stairs.

Has Asher inherited his father's violent, abusive streak, or is Asher innocent? Even his mother is worried about her son and his future.

Asher is soon arrested for the murder.

A trial and much media are surrounding the case. However, there may be some evidence that comes to light that could change the outcome.

Is Asher guilty or not guilty? The author brings in a twist that further makes Asher appear guilty when he states he was aware of this news, which had no bearing on his feelings.

With heart-pounding, gripping courtroom scenes, the authors bring highly charged, timely topics to the page, which come alive with its characters. Told with compassion and sensitivity, in Jodi's signature style, as well as her co-author, they are not afraid to tackle highly-charged and difficult timely issues and topics.

Readers also get some fun research about beekeeping, how bees and humans relate with metaphors and symbols, and the healing powers of honey. Bees are survivors.

I was also delighted to see Jordan McAfee, a lawyer from "NINETEEN MINUTES," where he defends his nephew here in MAD HONEY.

From tough, controversial topics, riveting and emotional legal courtroom scenes, moral dilemmas, and traumatic scenes - all these and more will pull on your heartstrings.

Mad Honey: "The secret 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."

Similar to abusive relationships.

A moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take to become ourselves.

I also enjoyed reading the Author's Notes from both Jodi and Jennifer and the inspiration behind the book. I always learn something from her books. Highly recommend.

Recipes: Also included are Recipes from Olivia's Moleskin Notebook and Asher's Calculus Notebook! The Kale salad with honey lemon vinaigrette is very good.

"We are all flawed, complicated, scarred dreamers; we have more in common with each other than we don't. Sometimes making the world a better place just involves creating space for the people who are already in it."—Jodi Picoult, Feb 2021

Tags: #WomensDivorce #motherschildrenfiction #familysaga #LGBTQ #domesticabuse #familydrama #womensfiction #domesticsuspense #gender #violenceagainstwomen #cisgender #bullying #discrimination

A special thank you to #BallantineBooks #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #randomhouseinfluencers

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 4, 2022

Olivia left her abusive marriage before her husband could harm her son, Asher.

It has been twelve years since the divorce, but Olivia is still haunted by Braden.

She also worries if Asher will have the abusive tendencies of his father and even more when he is accused of the murder of his girlfriend, Lily.

We meet these characters as we are treated to beekeeping terms and procedures and as we learn of Olivia's past with her husband, the relationship between Olivia and her son, Asher and Lily’s relationship, and Lily's past.

We also follow Asher in jail, the murder investigation, how everyone is coping, and wonder if he really did kill her or was setup.

The tension is very real as Asher’s attorney puts together a defense. You will be nervous along with the characters and react with them when the verdict is announced.

MAD HONEY is an excellent read by Jodi Picoult and co-author, Jennifer Finney Boylan.

It addresses domestic abuse, secrets we keep, relationships, life choices, and why people do what they do.

If you are a fan, do not miss this marvelous book.

It is outstanding for the research done about bees - actually fascinating about the bees, the descriptions of everything going on, and for making you feel every emotion the characters are feeling. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in print and via NetGalley for an honest review.

Ava and her daughter Lily and Olivia and her son Asher have each moved to a small town in New Hampshire for very personal reasons. Neither family know each other, but are destined to meet when Asher falls in love with Lily. Olivia has escaped an abusive marriage, but Lily has a much deeper secret.
I did enjoy reading this book. It gave a lot of insight to beekeeping - Olivia's hobby and to some social misconceptions. I found it to be easy reading and not too much of an opinion of the authors, which sometimes takes away from the story.
I thank the authors, publishers and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful story about teenage love, abuse, and the bond between a mother and her child. Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan write a page turner that I could not put down. Asher and Lily are high school students madly in love, One fateful day, Asher shows up at Lily's house to make up after a fight to find Lily dead. Who was at fault?

What an emotional read!! I read this book in 2 days I was unable to put it down.

Olivia McFee left an abusive relationship with her son Asher. She ended up with her father's beekeeping business and started a new life. Asher met Lily in school as she too moved with her mother for a new start. When Lily ends up dead eyes are on Asher.

What I loved most about this book is all the details that brought this story to life.

This story about domestic abuse, secrets, family, and love with emotional twists and turns makes this a moving read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a longtime fan of Jodi Picoult, always reading her books the first chance I get and this book does not disappoint! I was delighted to receive an arc and dove right it. This book reminds me of her older work, thought provoking with many layers, and full of twists. Jodi Picoult can tell a story and cover current social issues like no one else and the writing partnership with Jennifer Finney Boylan was seamless. This is a great book for old-time fans of Jodi Picoult that love being challenged by a deep dive on social topics. The many characters and their relationships will have me thinking about Mad Honey for a long time to come.

Olivia McAfee never expected to return to her New Hampshire hometown with her son Asher, to live in her parents' farmhouse, and to take up beekeeping after the death of her father. But after a dark turn in her marriage, here she is. And she and Asher have made a nice, quiet life with one another. Asher is happy, playing hockey on the high school team and dating Lily Campanello, who is new to town. Then one day Olivia receives a call that Lily is dead and Asher is being questioned by the police, and suddenly their idyllic existence is threatened.

This was an excellent and thought-provoking read by Picoult and her co-author, Jennifer Finney Boylan. I don't want to give much away, so I'll keep my review short. The story alternates between Lily and Olivia's point of views, with Lily's going backward in time, chronicling her relationship with Asher. It's a neat plot device, but a little confusing sometimes. MAD HONEY focuses on the fierce and tumultuous relationships between teens and between mothers and sons. It delves into domestic violence and gender identity in deep and explorative ways. It also features a very Picoult-like trial (featuring a reoccurring character you may recognize from a few of her other books). It was sad, but lovely and mesmerizing.

Olivia never thought she would be living in her childhood home taking care of bees, but when the love of her life became abusive, she fled with her son. Lily has also started a new life. She had been bullied at her last school and believes a fresh start is what her senior year needs. These two meet up because of Olivia’s son, Asher. He quickly falls for Lily and Olivia believes this is the change she was waiting for. That is until Lily is dead and the police believe Asher did it. Olivia knows her husband was abusive, but could her son have done the unthinkable?

Mad Honey is a realistic fiction story that covers domestic violence, small-town relations, and gender identity. The overarching story was wonderful and I’m glad I invested the time in the book, but I feel as if Picoult was jumping on the social issues bandwagon to push an agenda. I believe everyone needs a voice, but sometimes it feels as if agendas are the only topics acceptable now. A good read, but know there is more to the book than just a good story.

This book seemed like old school Jodi Picoult with great courtroom drama. I’ve loved all her books, but especially those that had that courtroom aspect. The co-authoring is seamless. I now need to read more from Jennifer Finley Boylan. The story is told from two points of view, Olivia and Lily. Olivia’s son, Asher is a third main character. I loved all of them; they will stay with me for a long time. Make sure you read the author’s notes after you read the book. I absolutely loved how this author collaboration came about.

Growing up on a small farm, Olivia loves nature and adores her bees. Her colonies are renowned in the area. They are feared by some, but everyone agrees her honey is fabulous. She lives quietly with her teenage son, Asher, and her bees. Her life used to be complicated, married to a prominent doctor whom no one would have believed was (and maybe still is) a violent abuser. Olivia no longer has bruises to hide, or any contact with him. Keeping this secret to herself, she finally feels safe. Asher doesn’t know about the beatings his mother endured, because Olivia keeps him away from his father. Or so she thinks. Teenagers often keep secrets.

One of Asher’s secrets is how close he has become with his girlfriend, Lily. Recently the teens became intimate and both are smitten, sure it is a lasting love. But Lily has a secret that is leaving her torn about telling Asher or just keeping quiet. As the tension builds, she shuts him out of her life, thinking it will be for the best. Sadly, he never hears the secret from her as there is a tragic accident, leaving her dead. Asher is devastated. Soon there are rumors that Lily’s death was not an accident. Perhaps it was murder.

Asher cooperates with the investigation, only wanting to help. Soon he is arrested for the murder of his girlfriend. He and Olivia are numb and in shock. How could this be happening? Olivia calls on her brother, who is a lawyer to defend her son. Sadly, Asher has to be remanded to jail to await trial. Bail is out of her reach; she may have to turn to someone she hates and fears for help. What lengths will a mother take to save her son from prison for the rest of his life?

The bombshell in this whole situation is the secret Lily was harboring. According to prosecutors, this was the motive for murder. How does the boy who loved a now dead girl prove his innocence? Especially with secrets of his own.

I loved this book. The depth of characters and twists in the plot as more is revealed is a reader’s dream. The subplot on bee keeping is fascinating. If I was a bit braver, I would love to keep bees. At the very least I’ll try some of the recipes that are included at the end of the book.

Jodi Picoult is hands down one of my favorite authors. I read all of her books and am delighted that she, like James Patterson, has begun co-authoring novels. The seamless writing between Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is perfectly melded into this unique and interesting novel. I have never read any books by best-selling author Boylan, but have added them to my list.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the Author and Netgalley and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Copyright © 2022 Laura Hartman

Once again Jodi Picoult does not disappoint. I was conflicted with whether Asher was guilty or was Lily's death an accident. Wow, this book took you on an emotional roller coaster. The ending left me stunned. I definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Jodi Picoult has been a favorite of mine for years for her ability to tackle difficult issues in a way that makes you think about them way after the last page. Her newest book is no different. This story focuses on two families both who know what’s it’s like to relocate. When one of the characters is accused of murder a mother has to decide how much she really knows her son. This story has suspense, unforgettable love-and self discovery.

Honestly, anything written or co-written by Jodi Picoult will pretty much always be a winner to me, and Mad Honey was no exception! First and foremost, the authors did an amazing job with the characters. They all felt so REAL, and I felt so connected to each one by the end of the book. Sort of in the same vein, I really liked all of the tidbits of information about bees and beekeeping and honey in general. I felt like it really helped me understand Liv as a person. The same could be said for Lily and her talk about music. Another thing I really enjoyed was the differing timelines among the differing POVs. Liv's POV is going forward in time, while Lily's goes backwards. It's really interesting to read Liv's chapters, read about a plot point, and then to read Lily's chapters and have that plot point explained. Since Lily is dead, this is really the only way we get to hear what really happened in the situations that are brought up in the trial. And finally, I feel like it wouldn't be a Picoult without a twist in the end, which I loved as always. I sat on this one with 4 stars for awhile, because I wasn't sure how I felt about the ending, but after awhile, I felt like everything was wrapped up so nicely, and aspects that may have felt rushed or glossed over were explained away in a succinct but non-dismissive manner. So here we. with yet another 5 star Picoult from me!

Loved learning about the beekeeping! But throw in all the hot topics and social issues and I'm turned off. What happened to enjoying the read? I've read a lot of the author's previous books that contains controversial subjects but this one is too much!

Olivia and her son escaped an abusive relationship years ago. She has settled on her family's farm where she, like her father raises honey and tends bees. Her son Asher, now entering his senior year helps her. Shortly after school starts Asher, a popular hockey player begins a friendship that turns romantic with a young lady named Lily. It will be life-changing for his family and hers. Asher does not see his father but longs for a relationship with him. Lily doesn't see hers either and doesn't want to. This book, like Kristin Hannah's last one, has a major surprise for its readers about halfway into it. It is heavy and readers will learn a lot from it. It may even be life-changing to some;. The two authors of this book tell a very good story. Its plot is well woven and it is told from the eyes of mother Olivia, son Asher, and girlfriend Lily. The characters themselves are what make this book. Kristin Hannah and coauthor Jennifer Finney Boylan develop them slowly but well. This book is about love, family, pain, and finding oneself in a crazy world. I enjoyed it as a reading and learning experience. Thanks to #MadHoney#NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Picoult delivers another amazing story that teaches, makes the reader think, entertains and delivers a crazy plot twist! Olivia is a bee farmer. She left her husband years ago to move with her son Asher and take over her family's bee farm. Her husband was a successful doctor but what she hid from others was the years of abuse that she suffered from his hands. Asher grows up to be a bright, popular, athletic star of the local New Hampshire school. Juxtaposed with Olivia's point of view is Lily's POV. Lily is Asher's girlfriend. Towards the beginning of the story, Asher finds Lily dead in her house and he is charged with murder. Olivia's POV is full of her story and it affects how she views Asher now. Lily's POV takes us back into her past and why she left her old life on the West Coast and how she met and fell in love with Asher. Being a Picoult story (and also by the wonderful Jennifer Finney Boylan whose stories I need to check out), there is a shocking twist that I did not see coming. I won't spoil it here but I wanted to mention that all of the research done on that arc, plus the beekeeping was really fascinating. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review. I'm sorry that I'm done reading it-it was really an engrossing story.

Jodi Picoult has an undeniable talent for covering hard, divisive topics with empathy and grace and Mad Honey, co-written with Jennifer Finney Boylan is no exception. Set against the backdrop of the death of a young girl, her boyfriend stands accused of her murder and the story itself is told in a series of flashbacks from the deceased as well as the present day point of view from the accused’s mother.

Picoult and Boylan take great care and diligence writing about domestic and child abuse, gender dysphoria, and attempted suicide. As someone who has recently read a lot of books about trans youth, I think this one has the potential to reach out to the masses in helping dispel some myths about the trans community and truly help protect trans kids.

The story itself is full of page-turning twists that will keep the reader guessing until the end. I highly recommend this for any fan of Picoult or those who love legal thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, Jodi Picoult, and Jennifer Finney Boylan for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love Jodi Picoult. I love the duo on this book as well. This was a good book and I cannot wait for it to be published so that I can purchase it.

I did not enjoy this book. It’s trying to hard to be relevant in today’s culture and I think it does a poor job. I have love Jodi Picoult books in the past but I would not recommend this one.