Another fantastic read by Jodi Picoult. As always she deals with real issues in a tender way so although the subject matter could be hard, the way it is written is easy to digest. She has a great way of getting right to the crux of the matter and exploring the issues which keep you turning the pages. A very thought provoking and insightful read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Wow! what a wonderful book, so good, poignant and moving! I got to the pivotal moment, and re-read again from the beginning - beautifully written! Tactful, tasteful and utterly heartbreaking! Loved Lily, Asher and the Mums! I’ll be buying a hard copy for the bookshelf! Stunning read thankyou

"This has always been my favorite fact about bees: in their world, destiny is fluid. You might start life as a worker, and end up a queen."

Olivia fled her abusive marriage to return to her hometown and take over the family beekeeping business when her son Asher was six. Now, impossibly, her baby is six feet tall and in his last year of high school, a kind, good-looking, popular ice hockey star with a tiny sprite of a new girlfriend.

Lily also knows what it feels like to start over – when she and her mother relocated to New Hampshire it was all about a fresh start. She and Asher couldn’t help falling for each other, and Lily feels happy for the first time. But can she trust him completely?

Then Olivia gets a phone call – Lily is dead, and Asher is arrested on a charge of murder. As the case against him unfolds, she realises he has hidden more than he’s shared with her. And Olivia knows firsthand that the secrets we keep reflect the past we want to leave behind ­­- and that we rarely know the people we love as well as we think we do.

There is no doubt I Iove this book and all the socially relevant, thought-provoking questions it asks. The mystery of Lily’s murder with the court-room drama has edge-of-the-seat suspense. At the same time, I felt a tad disappointed, dare I say-cheated, with how it wrapped up in the end. The pulsating energy with which the book gained momentum dropped with a sharp thud, the fervour dissipating in the air.

An emotional but powerful tale of secrets and strength, Mad Honey is about discovering who you want to be, finding your path, and living the life that makes you happy.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

Olivia left her abusive husband and built a new life with her son, Asher, in the town where she had grown up making a living as a beekeeper at her family home. When Asher’s girlfriend, Lily, is murdered attention immediately turns to Asher and he is arrested and charged. Olivia doesn’t want to believe her son could do such a thing but is he more like his Dad than she could ever have known or is there more going on than meets the eye?

I have long been a fan of Picoult’s work. She gets me thinking whilst also being easy reading, it’s a mix that not many authors could pull off. I’ve never read any of Boylan’s books but I was intrigued by the idea of the joint authors.

This. Is. Incredible. I thought I had an idea of where it was going but then just before the halfway mark everything I thought I knew was blown away. Honestly, it’s rare for a plot twist to have me literally open mouthed in shock but that was me in the coffee shop on Tuesday when I read it.

The split narrative is a tool that Picoult often uses and it’s so effective. Lily tells the reader her story over the months prior to her death and through Olivia’s eyes we see the aftermath. The action switches between the two with Lily’s story often serving to show the reader something that has been mentioned in the present day. It’s incredibly effective and done in such a clear way that you always know where you are in the story. The authors also had an incredible grasp of each character’s voice because you can easily tell the difference between them.

I loved Lily and her love of facts, she’d have been an excellent addition to a quiz team! I also liked the honey and bee facts that were sprinkled in and am definitely going to try some of the recipes that were included.

There was a returning character in Jordan McAfee, who has featured in three of Picoult’s other books and turns up again here as Uncle and Lawyer to Asher. I do love when authors include little links to their other books like this but in such a way that it wouldn’t matter if you hadn’t read the others. It’s handled in a very inclusive way if you are a first time Picoult reader but is a nice little touch for fans.

As with all of Picoult’s books there are some parts that are pretty tough reading and really get you thinking about how you might act or react if put in the characters’ shoes. These parts are, as always, handled with sensitivity and respect and nothing is ever included for shock value or sensationalised in any way.

I would definitely check out more of Boylan’s work as well because this was excellent and she’s clearly also a very talented writer.

I would highly recommend this to fans and newcomers alike.

Another fabulous read from Jodi Picoult that I couldn't put down. The story is based around very topical but hard subjects to explore, such as domestic abuse, suicide and trans sexuality, which are all explored in a very sensitive way leaving the reader almost educated without realising it! I loved the story, the characters and the inclusion of the bee keeping storyline woven throughout. I was left feeling sad but strangely uplifted by everything I learnt. Every page was a joy. 5 stars is not enough

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Mad Honey
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Jennifer Finney Boylan and Jodi Picoult
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Contemporary
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 15th November 2022
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.5/5

TW: domestic abuse, abortion, bullying, self harm, murder

Surely nature—or god, or the universe—is full of miracles and wild invention and things way beyond our understanding, no matter how hard we try. We aren’t here on earth in order to bend over backward to resemble everybody else.

So many heavy and important themes are explored in this book. Domestic abuse and identity are the main topics of conversations chosen by the authors. They each tackle an issue and create these unique characters that are borne from past experiences, present self awareness, and future hopes. However, the authors do not stop there. There are sub themes (indicated by the trigger warnings) that are explored that are equally as important but perhaps less prominent within the storyline.

My initial thoughts on this book are that it is emotional, gripping and educational. It combines activism with actively entertaining through a compelling storyline and browbeaten characters that tugged on my heartstrings so hard, my heart fell out and into the story. I’m not even sure I want it back I’ve fallen that hard for this book.

I have been a fan of Jodi’s since I stole a book off my mums bookcase as a teen and read Nineteen Minutes in the sneaky, sly safety of my bed. That safety didn’t last long whilst JP shattered my world. I cried during the first five minutes. I cried throughout. I cried at the ending, too.

Mad Honey embodies that.

Overall, it’s powerful, profound, and full of suspense. I know that this is typical of Jodi Picoult however this is my first novel by Jennifer Finney Boylan. That, of course, needs to change.

Just as bees are important to the pollination of global crops, Mad Honey is equally as important to have on your shelves. This book taught me so much.

🧚🏻‍♀️

Mad Honey ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Asher and new girl in town Lily are young and in love, but one day Asher has to make a life shattering phone call to his mother Olivia ‘I think Lily’s dead’. It’s not long before Asher has been arrested for Lily’s murder and Olivia

The book moves between the POV of Olivia and Lily, as well as timelines moving forwards following the trial and backwards through the young couple’s blossoming relationship.

I don’t want to say too much but for me this was going back to the Picoult that I know and love with dilemmas and court room drama.

My only negative would be the interruption of the storyline for the writing about bees, however well researched it was I just didn’t feel it added a great deal to the book.

Here’s the thing about Jodi Picoult: she writes the very human condition, and that is why she is so popular. Is there an element of formulaism in her work? Certainly - but it is overshadowed by her gift of flaying open the conundrums of human emotion.

The more books I read (and perhaps the older I get), the more I find myself interested in the writing methods of good authors. I started reading Picoult many, many years ago, and her writing has grown beautifully. I think that is very important, because many famous writers will strike upon a method that works, and never stray from it. Instead, Picoult has shown that she has the courage to evolve in her writing. I enjoyed the meta experience of knowing that the book was authored by two people, and I appreciate Picoult’s knowledge that Lily’s story wasn’t really her’s to tell.

That brings me to her co-author, Jennifer Finney Boylan, who I - shamefully - knew nothing about when I started reading Mad Honey. As a result - and perhaps because I had not read any reviews or further information about the novel, prior to reading it - Lily’s truth was a massive surprise to me. Like, TOTAL PLOT TWIST at almost exactly 50%! I actually like that it - Lily's biggest secret - was as big of a surprise to me, as it was to (almost) everyone in the courtroom.

Readers have come to love Picoult’s dramatic court-settings, and the ethical quandaries her characters experience - and Mad Honey is no different. Only, this book feels to me deeper, messier, more complex, and more gutting.

Mad Honey is, yes, a murder drama set in a small rural town. But much greater than that, it is a story of love - romantic love, the love a parent has for their child, and toxic love. It is a story about how people can be both good and evil, and how one can both love and doubt them. Mad Honey is about owning one's identity, and the right to protect that. It is about trust, and about secrets; it is about the ability to be anything, and go anywhere. Mad Honey is about family, pain, bees (obviously), and violence.

The voices of these characters are raw, and the writing is alive. Some of it was sickening, revolting - just like the titular “mad honey”. Some of it was magnetic, calling to me like sweet, sweet nectar.

I will strongly recommend this book - over, and over again.

Tackles waaaay too many 'hot' subjects (abusive relationships, single parenthood, gender related topics, murder, violence, etc), all with a lot of detailed explaining, subtracting from the reading pleasure. And I really think that communication would help solve loads of situations, even if not all!

Although not everything was quite clear to me, I still enjoyed reading about the bees' life and how to care for them, so that's a plus.

* Plot: 3★
* Characters: 3.5★
* Coherence/Consistency: 3★
* Language/Humor/Witticism: 3★
* Enjoyability: 3.5★

I seem to be in a minority but I struggled to get into this book although I am not really sure why. Nothing to do with having two authors as that didn't impact on the flow of the book at all.
I just didn't relate to the characters, the story was from the POV of Olivia and also the victim, Lily which was in reverse chronological order. The voice of Lily felt the weakest of the two with little depth.
We moved between the present and the past and I found myself losing interest and reluctant to pick the book up to continue reading.
I did learn a lot about bees though.

I read other books by Jodi Picoult but this one was my favorite, a heart wrenching and gripping story that deals with serious topics like abuse and toxic relationships.
The authors did an excellent job in developing well rounded and realistic characters, they're all a mix of good and bad and you like or dislike them like in real life.
The plot is tightly knitted and flows even if there's some repetitions. It kept me turning pages and guessing.
This novel is a mix of mystery and women's fiction. The mystery plays a relevant role in the plot and it surprised me.
An excellent, gripping, and well plotted book.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Wow this book !!
This was nothing like I expected and I think that's the point the blurb is vague.
The fact that it is wrote by two separate authors you would never know.
I love the way Jodi Picoults books make you think about life issues and really enjoyed the bee link really interesting the twist actually made me gasp !
This is a definite 5 stars for me !

Primarily this story is told from the perspective of Olivia. She flees a domestic violence marriage with their son Asher. They return to live in Olivia’s parents house in New Hampshire where Olivia takes over her fathers bee keeping business. .

The other POV is that of Lily, another child at the the centre of her parents separation, this time her fathers anger was aimed at her and her decision to be true to herself. Lily and her mother flee for a fresh start where Lily can be Lily. After some travelling they also find themselves in New Hampshire. Lily and Asher are the same grade at school and quickly become inseparable.

That is until one day Asher calls his mum from the police station where he is being interviewed for Lily's murder. This book then swaps between the leads up to Lily’s death and the court case following Asher’s trial.

I found this book absolutely wonderful to read, I’ve enjoyed a few Jodi Picoult books up to now and this is up there with my favourites. I was educated so much in this book, about bees and more interestingly, transgender issues and the transition process. I would definitely recommend this book, it’s a good read with up to date issues explored in a appropriate manner. Big love for Jennifer and Jodi for this book.

Thank you so much to @netgalley for the ARC copy gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.

Mad honey was legal fiction which featured a lot issues- trans hate, domestic abuse, racism and more. The book was definitely heavy to read and it has a lot triggers, be sure to check that out before reading. I liked the whole domestic issue was handled in the book. Wondering whether the son of an abusive man can also be the same is a topic that is highlighted throughout the book.

I think it foreshadows the young man’s life and makes him doubt himself. But he eventually learns his own strengths and weaknesses. The book is also about a mother’s love and how it can transcend boundaries. There was extensive details about beekeeping and the processes were used as an analogy throughout the book. I didn’t expect the book to go in the direction that it did, it was a total surprise for me.

The book was about Asher and Olivia, son and single mom duo. Lily was the other main character, she was Asher’s girlfriend and a newcomer to town. The story went back and forth between the past and the present. The legal parts of the case was both informative and thrilling to read. The final twist took me by surprise. Overall, a well written legal emotional thriller, I definitely recommend.

Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

As soon as I saw Jodi Picoult was co-writing this, I knew it would never disappoint!

This book was tense, stressful, emotional, heart-wrenching and beautiful. Every part just got better and better. I loved that Olivia was essentially the main character but towards the middle it was less about her and more about Lily. Lily's chapters broke my heart bit by bit and I gasped so many times throughout.

The plot twist I actually did not expect at all, which I love!

Overall, this book is beautiful and will definitely resonate with a lot of people. It was wonderfully written and thoroughly enjoyable.

I rated this 4 stars.

An interesting read, a murder mystery with twists and turns.
The characters are realistic and well developed and the story pace is great. I felt the book ended quite suddenly though. Overall a very enjoyable read.

It is long time since I read book from Jodi Picoult and actually this book give me unexpected story. I couldn't put down this book before I am finished all 464 pages at one night.

Mad Honey is following Olivia McAfee life with her teenage son Asher after her divorced. She continues her parents bees farming business and wish for peaceful life at rural home area. But all those gone when Lily, Asher's GF was founded dead and her only son become the sole suspect.

I love the intriguing plot, all turn and twist. I also enjoyed how author infuses the storyline with facts about bees. I learning so much fun facts about this honeybees. Dual POV entwined beautifully between the changing of timeline. I found the writing is mesmerizing and successful to delivered such strong topic with delicate ways.

Readers who love family theme and courtroom rollercoaster will enjoys this story. Mad honey offers powerful ripping of emotions scene and open old wounds to healing properly.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for provided me this copy. My thoughts are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for my arc of this book.
I enjoy Jodi's books, Wish you were here, that twist, wow!
So knew I wanted to read this, didn't read the blurb or anything about it, just requested it!
And when I started it I was straight in and addicted! A few twists and then the big twist that I did not see coming.
And for me that kind of changed the whole point of the story. Have read a few reviews that I have to agree with, it seemed that every topic being discussed at the moment was thrown together into a book as if to make it more relatable, which I think then took away from the main story.
I also thought it could have been a bit shorter as well, however I enjoyed the information on the bees and the honey and how it fit into their lives. I didnt see the twist coming at the end either and did enjoy reading the book which is why I have settled on 4 stars, but think some of the storylines didn't need to go in the direction it did. A good Jodi read but not my favourite.

What I liked about this book was that there is so much going on with the characters, and still it all feels as if it is very real, not coming from the mind of the authors. There was a lot of interesting information about bee keeping, and it tied in nicely with the main story. The writing style is such that you can almost see the landscape, the people and not to forget the bees. There are big issues (an abusive husband, a murder) and small issues (why do teenagers never seem to want to communicate with their parents). And in all this, there is the overall message that this is a book about the past, the decisions we make, and a future that not always brings what we want it to bring. But that’s life.
Sadly though the book was way too long for me and I felt my mind wandering when reading the second or third account of events. I labelled it ‘courtroom drama’ because this part takes up most of the book and it tells a great deal of the story.
I’m not absolutely disappointed though; it may be that because I’m from a country where certain issues are more freely talked about than in a rural village in the US that I wasn’t surprised with parts of the story. Therefore it was interesting to read about this subject from the view of the main characters.

This is a great read, the story continuously evolves and has you guessing waiting for the next reveal/twist!
I love the content about the bees 🐝 I found this interesting and it linked in well with the other parts of the story!
I found the jumping timelines between peoples stories effective in keeping me wanting more but at times I wanted more backstory for context.
This book is so much more than a murder mystery but a story about love and about how we need to be true to ourselves.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for my ARC in return for an honest review. This book will stay with me for some time!