Really interesting book; classic Jodi Picoult elements for existing fans, but a refreshing new perspective and a sensitive representation of trans issues facing both small communities and the world at large .

Wow what a page turner I was hooked from the first few pages. The story follows a woman called Olivia who with her son called Asher flees her abusive husband to start a new life. She starts to do bee keeping and everything is good until one morning her son is arrested for murdering his girlfriend lily.
The court scenes are full of surprises one is that Lily was a trans gender I could not wait to find out what the verdict would be.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for a advanced copy.

Olivia McAfee has restarted her life with her teenage son Asher in her childhood home and has taken over the family beekeeping business.

Lily Campanello and her mum relocate to Adams, New Hampshire for a fresh start and for Lily to finish high school.

When Asher and Lily meet it's not long until they are falling madly in love with each other. Then one day Asher finds Lily's dead body. Olivia gets a call from Asher telling her Lily is dead and he is at the police station and not long after he is arrested for her murder.

Olivia calls her brother Jordan McAfee to represent Asher and as the trial gets underway Olivia starts to wonder if Asher is more like his father than she wants to admit.

I've read a few of Jodi Picoult's books and really enjoyed them. She takes a theme and always manages to portray it in a way that has you hooked. I'm not however familiar with Jennifer Finney Boylan's work.

This book is full of emotion and covers some important themes. It has some great twists and turns. I loved all the details and descriptions of beekeeping. Sometimes it did feel like there was too much going but it is definitely a book that you'll struggle to put down.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here's what you want to know: can you tell this is co-authored? Yes. Despite the author note complaining that it is seamless, it isn't really; you can tell. Jodi Picoult just has a very definite flare which you can easily identify. But, perhaps more importantly, does it actually matter? No, not for very long.

The opening chapters introduce us to Lily and Asher - a teenage couple who are figuring things out between them in a really wholesome, teenage kind of way. Olivia, Asher's mum, also has a narrative, navigating her relationship with Asher, his relationship with Lily, and her own past with Asher's father which haunts her still. The alternating chapters are really nice, although it's east to begin with to confuse Asher's mum Olivia with Lily's mum Ava, despite the fact Ava has no first person narrative at all, because they have a lot of common experiences. Anyhow, once introductory chapters are out of the way the story is really compelling, but these opening 10 or so chapters are quite messy - it's really apparent that the editing process has been a struggle to make this feel like a cohesive creation.

After that, the story takes on a really comfortable landscape for Picoult, with an intense court scene and some cut scenes unpicking motives or back story. I loved it. I have to admit that it was incredibly predictable - I think the breadcrumb trail was very generous right from the start for the final twist.

It's difficult to talk about the biggest successes in this book though without spoilers - I think it's super important to go into this blind, as even the blurb really intends for you. But, what the authors hoped to achieve here I think they do an absolutely fantastic job of challenging the things that needed to be challenged, whilst giving people a voice.

A bit too predictable, a little bit chaotic to begin with, but definitely an important story that I hope to see on lots of shelves very soon.

ARC provided from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this with mixed emotions. It’s a book clearly written with passion and talent. Asher and Lily both live with their mum’s, who are on their own for different reasons. Asher and Lily are in love. Then Lily dies in suspicious circumstances. So, there’s a murder/mystery, so far, so good.

Alongside this is the beautiful story of beekeeping and it’s challenges and solace. The writers are incredibly articulate about beekeeping and I was enthralled. Unfortunately, after the first half of the book, the other storyline became less enjoyable and dragged somewhat. There’s a critical twist that really worked and it all comes together well. So, overall, an excellent read, just be prepared for an element of ‘long haul’ in parts.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to preview.

Although this is classic Picoult at the top of her game (and it’s right up there with The Pact, 19 Minutes, and My Sister’s Keeper), it’s also an awesome collaboration with a new-to-me author and Transgender Activist, Jennifer Finney Boylan.
I read it in two sittings over two days and it’s every bit the page turner you’d expect from a collaboration of this pedigree. As you’d expect, it doesn’t shy away from difficult and complex topics, including domestic violence, alcoholism, gaslighting, and the bias, ignorance, violence and other issues that transgender people have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Please check the trigger warnings, but please read this excellent and enlightening story.
There’s the characteristic Picoult moment in this novel when a mother questions whether she knows her offspring as well as she thinks she does and the inevitable tension this creates, always at the most pivotal moments in the plot.
One of the things I love most about this story is the way it illustrates the complexity of gender, and helps to bust the myth that gender is binary.
I loved this novel and recommend it with my whole heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for a chance to read an ARC.

I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult’s books for several years. Especially, as she writes about some such controversial subjects that other authors don’t dare tread. As for Jennifer Finney Boylan I have not heard of the authors work before until I read this.
Olivia is a single mother to a teenager son call Asher. Asher is a good boy by typical for his years. He is a member of the local Hockey team, and he helps his mother who is a beekeeper looking after the Hives. She took over the business after her father died and vowed to continue his work.
Asher has had an argument with his girlfriend Lily who is the new girl in town. He thought he was doing the right thing by trying to reconcile Lily with her father, but it backfired. After a few days of silence and Asher texts her to say that he is coming over, but, when he does, he finds her at the bottom of the stairs dead and he is the number one suspect of her murder.
Thank you, Hodder & Stoughton, for a copy of Mad Honey. Wow what can I say about this. I reckon is going to be one of the best sellers of 2022. This is another though provoking book from both authors. Which at first, I thought it was a murder mystery and then halfway through Bam it changed into a completely different direction. It also had one of them before and after scenarios which led to that fatal night. This intrigued me not only leaning about Beekeeping about a person’s gender identity and where one fits into everyday life and the stigma from it. Both these authors did a great job of telling this tale. 4 stars from me.

This book will go down as one of my favourites that I have ever read. I love a good Jodi Picoult book and knew that this would live up to her fantastic name. Having co-written with Jennifer Finney Boylan I was intrigued to see if I could tell the difference in the writing styles but this book easily flowed and I did not have a clue who had written which parts until the very end of the book.

Olivia McAfee is restarting her life with her son Asher, after fleeing an abusive marriage. Her beekeeping business is doing well and Asher appears to have dodged the childhood traumas of domestic abuse. However, when Asher's girlfriend Lily is found dead Olivia's world comes crashing down around her as Asher is a accused of her murder.

Narrated not only through Olivia's point of view, but also from Lily's we see flashbacks of her early life and complications that she fears may sending Asher fleeing forever. We see that Lily is apprehensive to truly get close to Asher at times and we are left wondering why.

Only when we get to the twist in the book do we truly realise the implications this will have for all those involved. Jodi Picoult is famous for those twists and as expected this one truly took my breath away.

I would 1000% recommend this book because of the topical nature and real life implications that it has but also because it really is a special book.

I have just finished Mad Bees by Jennifer Finley Boylan. and Jodie Picoult. Blimey, this is certainly a book that makes you think and makes you feel. Hats off to Picoult - she says at the end that she has wanted to write a book that tackles one of the main subject matters (no spoiler) and that the opportunity to write it alongside an author with personal experience was what persuaded her to write a co-authored book. I respect that and It worked really well.
The book is narrated by different two women. 19 year old Lily and forty-something Olivia. It has a lot of interesting elements that are Picoult’s trademarks. (I have never read any Finley Boylan novel’s before). I like books with court cases and family dynamics and both are here. It has reveals and suspense and I didn’t see what was coming at any point.
Definitely recommend this one. You will love the sensitively written characters and will learn a lot about bee keeping.

I thought this was going to be “just” a story about beekeeping and a family’s relationships and the secrets they keep. But I should know. Y now that there’s nothing “just” about a Jodi Picoult book.

I own 23 of her novels, and have read 24 of them, so I’ve nearly got the whole collection. I admit I haven’t read any of Jennifer Finney Boylan’s work, but given how exceptional this book is, I’ve noted down all her previous books to add to my book wish list. At first I was a little wary as to whether a co-authored book would work, whether it would dilute Jodi’s voice, which I have come to adore. But if anything I think it is the addition of Jennifer’s work that rockets this book to the top of the list. Together they bring their own little nuances, their own beauty, and together they have created an unbeatable tale of love and family.

Having done a bit of googling on Jennifer, as she is a new author to me, it is clear there is so much of her in this story. You can see her heart and soul that’s been laid bare in this story and it’s beautiful.

I actually sent Jodi and Jennifer a message on Twitter asking how they went about co-authoring the book (this was before I saw the explanation in the acknowledgements section). They told me that they each took one narrator (of Olivia and Lily), and then edited each other’s to ensure the whole book felt as one. I won’t say who wrote each chapter, but I guessed early on and I’m a bit smug to say I was right. But it is true that the whole storytelling is seamless and if you hadn’t already been told, you would just assume it’s been written by one person.

I have never been in a court room or involved in a court case I am glad to say, but the description of the daily ongoings on in court, as well as the legal stuff around the arrest and whatnot could have been overwhelming, or I might have been tempted to skip as I have no understanding of it. But the authors have created such an easy piece of writing that I might as well be reading about how to make a cup of tea, it felt so natural. It’s so well written, so well told that you can follow it all like you’re in the room yourself. It is interesting but not overwhelming, informative but not technical, understandable but not patronising. These scenes are proof of excellent storytelling,

I like that there’s minimal characters. Sure, I’m a town there are many background characters such as Mike, Ava and Braden, but our focus is mainly on Asher, Olivia, Jordan and Lily. For me this is a four-person story. And they’re all concocted and explored in such depth and with such passion that you become part of this community.

Of course there are some sensitive subjects - domestic violence, physical abuse, injury, verbal abuse, illness, accused murder, relationships, divorce, sexual/gender identity - but they’re so sensitively done. Having now been in any of these situations before, luckily, I can’t say for certain they wouldn’t be overwhelming or hard to read, only you can make that decision for yourself, but I feel there was an appropriate balance.

It is heartbreaking in so many ways. To be able to express such levels of grief and sadness, both fictional and very real, is either down to impressive writing abilities or a personal experience, and it saddens me to think that any of this is from personal experience. But it’s so beautiful and gorgeous but in both happy and tortuous ways. That may seem like a contradiction. How can sadness be beautiful? I can’t answer that, not for everyone, but I think you’ll get what I mean if you read it.

There is an interesting use of timing. The chapters from Olivia’s point of view are always going forward in time after the ‘event’, whereas Lily’s are always set in the past but they go forward and backwards in the past. It shouldn’t work quite as well as it does, but it does. You don’t even really notice the chopping and changing, it flows so well.

It is a book you never want to end but at the same time, are desperate to find out who pout what happens. You want to read it fast because it’s so engaging but you want to take your time so it’s not over too fast.

Whilst this book is predominately a piece of entertainment, something for you to lose yourself in, it is so much more than that. It’s one of the most important fiction books I think you could hope to read. It doesn’t ram the author’s opinions or beliefs down your throat or tell you how or what to think about certain social issues, it just states them for what they are, and it’s up to you how interpret them. You’re entertained and informed. You’ll be smiling, screaming, crying - it’s all there, and it’s so gorgeous. It’ll stay with you long after you’ve finished, long into your next read, and you just wish everyone could get the chance to read it.

I couldn’t remind this book higher, and once it comes out in physical form I will need to get my hands on a copy to add to my Jodi Picoult shelf.

All year, I’ve been noting down my favourite books of each month, and then at the end of the year I will pick my absolute favourite. I can tell you now, unless something else pops up that can match it, there will be no argument that this will get top spot come the end of the year.

I adored this book! I feel in recent years that Jodi Picoult strayed a little bit from the way she used to write but this book with its alleged crime, court case and family drama took me right back to those wonderful earlier books that I loved so much. There's nothing I love more than a good Courtroom drama and I was blissfully hooked on the parts of the story that included that aspect. I really didn't want to put the book down and was desperate to see how it all turned out. There were the usual twists that one comes to expect from Jodi Picoult books and one shockingly big one that I never saw coming but that took things to a whole new and even more intriguing level. The co-writing was seamless, and had I not known I'd never have guessed that two authors were involved. As usual the research that went into this book was amazing. Jodi always includes the most fascinating facts, and I learned much about bees from this one but without it being overwhelming. I loved the characters of Lily and Asher. Beautifully written. This is Jodi Picoult at her very best and with the addition of her co-author on this book it was doubly fabulous. Highly recommended. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a really interesting read for me, I've never read either author before and struggled to tell their voices apart as the writing of each character just flowed so well keeping me interested in finding out what had happened and why. There were an awful lot of tough subjects covered in this story, each was done with a lot of care to not disturb the reader but to give information on the reality of the situations. It's left me feeling that this is an important book and one that everyone really needs to read.
I found all the details about beekeeping that was given throughout the story fascinating and then as I turned the last page I discovered recipes for some of the dishes mentioned through the book. It made me smile to realise this book didn't have to finish here, I could keep the feel of it with me by trying out these dishes and drinks.

Oh this was an engrossing read.

I loved how seamless the chapters were. If I didn't know, I would never have realized this was written by two different people, the writing styles are so similar and fit together so well that it's perfect.

Getting inside the minds of Lily and Olivia was really interesting. There are obviously times I wish I could have also read from Asher's pov regarding some stuff but I understand that could potentially be a spoiler risk. It would have been nice to have some kind of follow up tho, maybe somewhere towards the end.

They touched on some difficult stuff really delicately and it's so well portrayed; for example: gender identity, suicide and abuse.
Although I've been in a similar situation to Lily (grew up in a body I didn't feel comfortable in as a girl) I still know that every personal situation is different along with emotions and I still don't think it's possible to fully comprehend how hard it is for someone to feel they've grown up as someone they're not unless they actually experience it.

Asher was really easy to empathize with, I figured it was gonna be unlikely he was the perp, but maybe that was just due to that seeming the less interesting path to go down.
I also enjoyed the segments describing the trial, I felt it had me really in two minds as to which way the outcome would go.

Personally I was indifferent to reading about bee colonies and such, I know it gave Olivia some background as to who she was and what she did, but it felt kind of disconnected and unrelated to the bigger picture, but maybe it was just because I had wanted to get back into the meat of the story.
I also felt the little side romance unnecessary and random (especially considering the circumstances) but it was such a small part that I didn't feel it added or removed anything from the story. It was just.. there.

This was definitely a thought-provoking read and I really enjoyed it, though I can see why it might seem slow for some. I've not read any of Picolts books before (nor have I read anything by Jennifer Finney Boylan) and I was definitely drawn in by the writing enough to be enticed to read another book by the authors.

Oh how does Jodi Picoult do this to me every time? I read this book in one sitting, didn’t have a clue where it was going and was absolutely hooked from the first chapter
I found the facts about bees and beekeeping absolutely fascinating and how it weaves into the story plot is amazing.
Jodi always tugs on your heart strings and you never know which way you’re going to tilt with her books and that’s what I love. Another outstanding novel, as always CANT wait to read more!

An enjoyable if at times maybe a bit long read,tackling many subjects and generally doing it well,all in all a good read

"As it turned out, I was not a zealot...only a martyr. When I gave birth, and the doctor announced the baby's sex, I did not believe it at first. I had done such a stellar job of convincing myself of what I wanted that I completely forgot what I needed. But when I held Asher, slippery as a minnow, I was relieved. Better to have a boy, who would never be someone's victim."

Imagine having a dream about co-writing a book with an author, tweeting about it, and then that tweet leading to an outstanding book. This is exactly how Mad Honey came about and I am blown away, the story unfolded and the world outside the pages fell away.

The writing was seamless and compelling and the plot provided me with a much needed education on a certain topic that I won't reveal because this book is too good to spoil.

Mad Honey is first and foremost about how well we can really know someone we love.

When Asher was six Olivia left her abusive husband and returned to her hometown. Now he is a hockey playing teen with a beautiful girlfriend who has just been found dead. Asher is arrested for murder and as the trial unfolds Olivia learns she didn't know everything that went on in her son's life.

Olivia is an apiarist and this novel contains a crazy amount of knowledge about bees and the process of keeping them. It was absolutely fascinating and so throughly researched. I enjoyed learning about the bees as much as the rest of the story. Fascinating.

The topic of domestic abuse is sensitively handled in the book and I felt that learning about Olivia's relationship with her ex husband helped inform the reader as to her state of mind as the case unfolded.

Die hard fans of Jodi Picoult will be thrilled to see the return of Jordan in both a professional and personal capacity. He is Asher's uncle and agrees to take on the case.

I loved loved loved this book and I can see it being an istant hit. It has been several days since I finished it and the book hangover was severe!

"We don't know anyone as well as we think we do. Especially the people we love."

I love love loved this book! So well written - you would never in a million years think there were two different writers! - and just such a good plotline! I felt in the dark until the very end when the mystery was resolved - it was great! Refreshing to read a book from the point of view of a trans woman, and informative enough without being overly mansplain-y. Will definitely be recommending! Loved it! Thanks for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. All the way thrlugh, each of the characters was carefully developed and the storyline was uneven in a really interesting say. a must read.

I learned a lot more about bees than I was expecting to haha. I enjoyed it - it felt very relaxed and fairly easy to follow. The plot was engaging and I breezed through it because of this. I’ve always loved Jodie’s books and this was no different!

I love Jodie Picoult books so I have been very excited to read this one which has been co written with Jennifer Finley Boylan. It was brilliant!
It follows the lives of Olivia McAfee, a single mother to Asher who has found herself back home taking over her late fathers bee hives and Lily Campanello, who has relocated to Adams with her mother and is starting her final year of high school. Asher and Lilly fall head over heels for each other. One day Olivia receives a phone call which will upend her life and have her second guessing everything she thinks she knows. Lilly is dead and Asher has been accused of her murder.
This is a gripping and suspenseful read. I found it was beautifully written and great character development. My only grip would be how the ending played out. It just felt a bit flat after everything the characters have been through. I felt I was on that rollercoaster journey with them and then for it to unravel as it did just didn’t sit right with me. However, I still give this 4 to 4 and a half stars. It is definitely worth reading, I loved Olivia and Lilly’s stories.