4 1/2⭐️ I really loved this book from page 1 to the last page of the authors’ notes!

I will try to write a spoiler free review. I believe this book would be best read knowing as little as possible!

What I liked:
•The book is written from 2 perspectives, Olivia, Asher’s mom and Lily (who is Asher’s teenage girlfriend). I could definitely relate to a maternal point of view the most.
•Olivia’s chapters dive deep into beekeeping. I’m always shocked at how much I enjoy Jodi Picoults deep dives into niche subjects! It was absolutely fascinating and found a way to weave into the bigger story.
•Lily’s chapters are thoughtful and sensitive to several issues. And also deep dive into fencing!
•Lily’s mother Ava’s mini dive into Forest Rangering ~ another interesting career choice.
•two authors collaborating to create an incredibly cohesive book

What I didn’t like:
•this could be my own fault, but I guessed the classic mid-novel Jodi Picoult twist. And I guessed the ending. So no big surprises. If I had been surprised by anything I would have given it a solid 5⭐️. But with that said, knowing didn’t make me appreciate the book any less. It was very well executed!

My hope is everyone who reads this book will learn something new and be inspired to be a better human 💙.

This book will be released October 4, 2022. Thank you to @netgalley and penguin random house for access to the digital ARC. This review is my honest opinion.

Book 65 of 2022

Amazing novel that I could not put down. This novel follows the story of a mother, Olivia, who finds a fresh start from an abusive marriage and a young teenaged girl Lily, who also strives for a fresh start in the same small town in New Hampshire. This novel takes us on a journey of young love through Lily's eyes when she falls in love with Olivia's son Asher. However, alternating points of view also share Olivia's story. Everything in this novel is not exactly how it seems. Both Lily and Asher are not entirely truthful as to who they are, which ultimately has dire consequences. The characters were well-developed and honest. This novel was intense and beautifully written, exploring themes such as domestic violence, gender identity and suicide. I could not put this novel down and did not anticipate the ending. Jodi Picoult has long been my favorite author due to her exploration of thought-provoking, relevant and timely content. I rate this novel as five stars and would give it more if I could.

On the surface, this is a tried-and-true trope: girl is murdered, boy is accused, mother stands by her son. But, as one might suspect with a book by Picoult and Boylan, there is a whole lot more going on here. There are several unexpected twists, not to mention more than a few turns. Told in alternating chapters, Olivia, Asher's mother, tells the story going forward from Lily's death and Lily herself tells her story going backward from the same time. Together, the two stories form a brilliant picture of Lily and Asher, together and separately, and of the difference between things that are private and things that are secret.

Are there a few hanging threads here? Yes. After making dramatic (re)entrances, both Lily and Asher's fathers sort of disappear. And there's a lot in here that would, in the hands of lesser writers, be deemed pedantic, as we learn the ins and outs of beekeeping, among other topics. Instead of feeling like information that isn't really relevant to the plot is being forced on me, as I have in other books, I just found it interesting, like I was just having a nice conversation with an acquaintance. And I really wish I could have a nice conversation with these characters. Or their authors.

This book had such promise and is well-written, however over the top on the controversial topics in the world today. I did enjoy learning about beekeeping. If the main characters were college vs high school students, I may have rated this higher. There are some sensitive topics in this book and I feel if some characters were more mature it would have been more appropriate when reading a book on this topic for leisure.

This book deals with traumatic experiences such as abuse and suicide, so the reader should be aware of these before choosing this book. In Mad Honey, Picoult and Boylan team up to write a story with two perspectives whose lives comes together when they start over in Adams, New Hampshire. Olivia escaped an abusive marriage along with her son, Asher, and Lily moves from the west coast. When Lily dies and Asher is blamed, Olivia questions if her son is abusive like her husband was. This book explored subjects and perspectives usually not voiced, yet I wasn't a huge fan of the ending.

I will not do a spoiler for this book but there is a wow factor.
Always lovedJodi Picoult books and was interested to see how the story would read with a coauthor (Jennifer Finley Boulanger). It is a seamless read with no breaks in the plot. The only thing is I did feel that certain facts went over my head and made the novel a little choppy. I do know now what mad honey is and can see that fact within the plot.
All in all I did enjoy the book and know that Lilly’s story needed to be told.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book, as well as the two authors that wrote it.

Wow! This book was fabulous, engaging from beginning to end. Reminiscent of Jodi Picoult's debut novel The Pact (and my first JP story!), it sets the stage for an all-night reading session because the reader will want to know what happens next and how it all ends.

“Mad Honey,” by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, Ballantine Books, 464 pages, Oct. 11, 2022.

Olivia McAfee was married to a cardiothoracic surgeon, Braden Fields. They have a son, Asher, and lived in Boston.

Braden was violent and Olivia finally left him. She and Asher moved to Adams, New Hampshire, where they live in the house Olivia grew up in. She took over her late father’s beekeeping business. Asher, 18, is a high school senior. He is co-captain of the hockey team. He was seven when his parents divorced.

Lily Campanello and her mom, Ava, relocate to Adams for her final year of high school. Lily plays the cello and is on the fencing team. Asher and Lily are dating. Maya Banergee is a good friend of both Asher and Lily.
 
Then one day, Asher is late coming home. He finally calls his mother. Lily is dead and he is being questioned by police. He says Lily was sick at home. He went to check on her and found her at the bottom of the stairs. Lt. Mike Newcomb arrests Asher for murder.

Olivia is adamant that her son didn’t kill Lily. But she would be lying if she didn’t acknowledge that Asher has flashes of his father’s temper. She asks her older brother, Jordan McAfee, to be Asher’s defense attorney. He is one of the most famous defense attorneys in New Hampshire. His wife, Selena, is his investigator. Jordan also appeared as a lawyer in an earlier Picoult book, “Nineteen Minutes,” which is about a school shooting.

Like most of Jodi Picoult’s novels, there is a major twist about halfway in that I did not see coming. This is about love, bigotry, the complexity of relationships, and domestic abuse. As Olivia wonders, where is the line between keeping something private and being dishonest?

“Mad Honey” is very well-written. The characters are excellent and the plotting is skilled. It was very hard to put it down. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. I haven’t read anything else by Jennifer Finney Boylan, but will now. In the afterword, they explain how they worked together as the chapters alternate between Olivia’s voice and Lily’s. This is one you don’t want to miss.

 In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

August 18, 2022
Definitely NOT your run of the mill "Whodunnit". Thoughtful, well researched with lots of twists and beautifully written. Because of some of the subject matter probably not for everyone... but extremely thought provoking.

I started reading book while walking on treadmill 30 minutes a day, that lasted a few days as I was so drawn in I had to know what happened. I loved hearing Olivia's story and how she became such a strong woman and mom. I ached for Asher and his tough decisions. Suspense and romance are my favorite books, this checked both boxes.

I finished this weeks ago, but really didn't and still don't know how to articulate my thoughts on this but here goes!

I won't lie, Picoult was an author I had read in middle/high school and then stopped for one reason or another. I was graciously given the opportunity to read Wish You Were Here last year and it INSTANTLY became my favorite book of 2021 and possibly of all time. Now that Jodi is back on my radar, I was FROTHING at the mouth hoping to be able to read this newest early as well.

JODI AND JENNIFER DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT!! I consumed this 400+ page book like I was eating potato chips and watching The Kardashians- (which I definitely, definitely do NOT do- duh).
I'm always hesitant on books that heavily feature court scenes because it's typically not my thing, but the way it's woven into this deliciously written storyline.

This will be a book not everyone will like, it'll be controversial, make people angry and that's OK...BUT as usual, it's pertinent and timely with it's contemporary issues that really and truly need to be talked about.

These two authors bring so much more than a story about a mothers' love for her son. It's delicate, it's raw, it's real and it was beautiful. The writing was flowing and immersive, when I read the notes from both Jennifer and Jodi at the end I was shocked- I thought the way they both had their hand in creating this novel was brilliant and I could NOT decipher who had written what and that's EXACTLY how it should be. It goes to show how centered and connected they both were with each other AND their characters.

I fell in love, had my heart broken, shed tears -I will never forget Olivia, Lily, Asher and their lives, loves, passions and emotions.

GRADE: A ++ FREAKING PLUS PLUS for Mad Honey!

One of the finest books I have read in a very long time I was expecting nothing less from my two favorite authors Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

I absolutely love Jodi Picoult's books and was so excited to get a digital ARC of Mad Honey from NetGalley. As usual Picoult attacks contemporary issues full force and leaves you questioning the very essence of morality. In this story she illustrates both the vulnerability and strength of women through the voices of Olivia and Lily. You will fall in love with Lily and how brave she was in choosing to live the life that she was meant to live. Her story is powerful and will squeeze your heart as you are taken backwards as her story unfolds. I enjoyed the incorporation of bee keeping in the story and felt that it was needed to understand the depth of Olivia's love for Asher and how her sole purpose was to protect him. What I liked best about this story is that neither woman, Lily nor Olivia, is shown as flawless. Sometimes choices lead to unexpected trauma and overcoming the obstacles placed in one's path can be scary but empowering. This is one that you will not want to put down and you will stay up way past your bedtime in order to finish it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for this arc copy of Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult. I have read every novel written by Miss Picoult and was thrilled to be able to review this in advance of its debut.

This book was beautifully written with a mystery that kept me reading to find out the perpetrator as well as amazing intell on bees, honey and many other topics (some I won’t say due to spoilers). The thing that I loved most about this book was the message and knowledge it provided me, because folks, knowledge is power! Chapter: Lily 10 (location on Kindle location 6860). This is a powerful message that we all need to be armed with. We all need to realize that what is said in this passage between Ava and Lily sheds so much light on something that not many people are willing to analyze or discuss. I hope this will open the eyes of those who often look away…

Mad Honey starts off like many of Miss Picoult's novels; It begins in a small town in New Hampshire with a dead girl named Lily; Then you flash back in time to then meet the other main characters Olivia and her son Asher. Olivia is a single mom who has a past she has left behind that still haunts her and her son Asher. She came to New Hampshire with Asher and took over the family Beekeeping business and lives a lonely life with the exception of her son keeping her company. Asher is the all american boy- athletic, intelligent, handsome, and all-in-all just a good kid. First day of senior year, Asher and his best friend Maya meet Lily and Asher instantly crushes on her. They fall in love…

Lily and her mom Ava are new in town; like Asher and Olivia they also have a past they left behind that haunts them. Lily is continually plagued with concerns that her past will catch up with her, and as she and Asher get closer and their romance grows physical Lily begins to pull away from him. One of the fun parts of this book is that Jordan MaCafee, the defense lawyer who was in Miss Picoult's previous novels “Nineteen Minutes, The Pact, and Salem Falls” appears along with his wife Selena.

**Trigger warnings: Suicide, Domestic Abuse, LGBTQIA, brief conversation about school shooting, Bullying, Child Abuse

Once again, thank you #Netgalley #RandomHouse #Ballantine #JodiPicoult #JenniferFlynnBoyle #Powerfulread

What wouldn't you do for your child? A book about do-overs and 2nd chances written as emotionally as all of Jodi Picoults books are.
After her son's girlfriend is found dead and he's arrested, a mother is wondering how much like her abusive husband he is.

This book was the best book I’ve read in 2022 and possibly ever. All of the twists and the way it was written was so beautiful! Not only was it well written from each persons perspective but I loved how it tied in the pieces of the bees! I would highly recommend this book and read in 3 days!

Mad Honey is an incredible and thought-provoking coming-to-age story written by the author duo of Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.

This story is about two families and how their past changes everything for them. Olivia and Asher moved from their abusive home in Boston to a small quiet town in New Hampshire, where Olivia is now a part of her father’s beekeeping business. Ava and Lily also moved to the same town to start a new life after Lily had a terrible experience at her old high school. Asher and Lily met at school and immediately fell in love. Both mothers were happy both Asher and Lily found someone to confide in and enjoy their time together. Unfortunately, Olivia gets a phone call from Asher saying that Lily was murdered. Asher was then arrested and charged with Lily's murder, but Olivia believed that Asher wouldn’t ever hurt anyone.

I am still wrapping my head around how good this book was. Jodi and Jennifer have collaborated on a powerful and raw story that covers many taboo topics that will educate and enlighten us about the society that we live in. Both authors put their hearts and research into writing, which made me thoroughly enjoy reading this book. Both authors also collaborated on their writing seamlessly, so it was hard to tell which parts each author wrote. As the reader read the author’s notes, they realized that Jodi wrote Olivia's sections and Jennifer wrote Lilly's sections. The big twist and the suspense made the book addictive, but I wanted to read it slowly because of the topics presented and how well-written the story was. This book will tug on your heartstrings and make you understand that everyone just wants to be accepted, respected, and loved.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Random House Publishing for giving me a copy of the book.

This book has left me speechless, robbing me of any coherent words and thoughts. I am in awe of the importance of this novel, its imminent power to change lives, to promote understanding and compassion. Throughout the novel, I was aching, grieving, crying, fearing for Olivia, Asher, and Lily. Each of their stories were raw and honest, and I felt all of their emotions—their joys and sorrow, their innocence and guilt, their hopes and their doubts—deep in my soul. All of them are now imprinted in my heart—and I won’t forget them, ever. Jodi Picoult continues to use her unmatched talent to bring social injustices to the forefront of her novels. Now, with her voice blending brilliantly with that of Jennifer Finney Boylan, readers have been given a true gift.

I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult for more than 20 years. Her books are always well researched and thought provoking with characters and plot twists that stay with you long after the story ends. I appreciate the ways she makes you look at issues from different perspectives. While you may not always agree with a character's choices (Nineteen Minutes, Plain Truth, etc.), the books help you to understand their choices a little better. I was so excited to get a chance to preview her new novel, Mad Honey. I was intrigued with the characters and everything they had survived. The mothers sacrificed so much to give their children a second chance at a better life. I can honestly say that I had not read any reviews or summaries before I began reading so I was shocked at the plot twist. What a powerful story! It does not seem sufficient to say this is a good book. This is an important book that I hope will be added to book clubs and reading lists. Jodi and co-author Jennifer Finney Boylan have tackled a subject that needs to be discussed. I hope others will see the value of reading about the journey to be accepted and loved.

Okay I’m going to try my best to review this without giving spoilers.

The main topic in this book is basically a big twist and it’s best to go into this book, if you’re going to read it, blind like I did. The twist was done well and was a surprise to me. A lot of the negative reviews of this book are because they didn’t like the twist and that they felt blindsided that they didn’t want to hear about this topic or have to read about it. I however, loved this aspect of it. I thought the topic was handled really well and was a great depiction of a topic many probably are unfamiliar with and could use a lesson on tbh.

However, almost everything else was kind of annoying to me. I LOVE Jodi Picoult. Like, I’ve been reading her since I was practically a kid. Have probably read 10+ of her books. I think this was my least favorite unfortunately. I haven’t read her newest ones (since Small Great Things which I loved) because many of the newer ones didn’t get as good reviews but I was excited for this one because many reviews said it was similar to her old stuff. I disagree.

This does bring back the courtroom drama like her previous books - but it lacks the “on the edge of my seat what’s going to happen next” feel of the others.

It does teach you something, which is something I always loved about her books - feeling like I was learning while also being entertained. This one was all about bees and I dunno, it just felt forced to me in this one. Maybe because I don’t like bees. I dunno. I skimmed most of those parts.

I also didn’t really feel like I loved any of the characters. Maybe that was the point to make them all feel flawed, but I kind of felt like most of them felt flat instead.

And I felt like the “working backwards” plot from Lilys point of view was pointless. I understand why that device is used in some novels, but it didn’t have any purpose here. I think it would have been better and more suspenseful if it were flipped and told chronologically.

Then the ending, was just not good. I called it very early on that that’s what happened. Because it was very obvious. And I was hoping it would be some other big twist. But it wasn’t. I still love Jodi Picoult and I’ll give her another chance but this one just really missed the mark for