It has been a few years since I last read a book by Jodi Picoult and I've realised what I have been missing. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of the two narrators, including the opposite passage of time. I plan on reading more books by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan in the future.

“What would I like you to take from this novel? Absolutely nothing. I’d like you to give—a chance, a thought, a damn. Like gender, difference is a construct. 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.”

WOW!! Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan really knocked this one out of the park. I shouldn’t be surprised though—every time I read a book by Jodi, I am left speechless. She has such a unique and fascinating talent of taking problems people face everyday, and make you actually open your eyes to them and learn.

I absouletely loved the format of this book. Jodi tells Olivia’s story in the present tense, going forward. Jennifer tells Lily’s story, from the time of her death going backwards. This was so unique and I loved learning Lily’s backstory while her trial was going on in.

I also really loved how much Olivia and Lily had in common, despite how different they were. They both experiences abuse from the people who were supposed to love them the most, and in turn they guarded not only their own hearts, but fiercely protected those they loved.

On top of such an amazing story, I learned so much from this book!! Bees really are amazing creatures and what they can do it simply amazing. I also learned so much about the trans community, the pain they go through just to feel like its ok to be themselves, and the medical procedures that are possible really blew my mind.

If you haven’t already, go read this book! You wont regret it !!

I absolutely loved this book! So many different themes and such a good storyline. Please check the trigger warnings before reading as there are some sensitive topics discussed.

I loved the character development and the flashbacks. I’m a big fan of Jodie Picoult so this was always going to be a hit for me.

I love everything that Jodi writes she just has such a way with words and all her books are so real and relevant. This was my first read by Jennifer but I will certainly adding more of her work to my collection.
Wonderful story, loved the dual Pov and whose views we followed.
This is such a relevant read at the moment and a great one for books clubs. Will be telling everyone I know to read this!

Another great read from Jodi Picoult which keeps you turning the pages, even when you know you should put the light out!
Olivia keeps bees and they have been her saviour since escaping her abusive marriage. However her quiet new life is turned upside down when her son, Asher, is accused of killing his girlfriend.
This book is full of twists & turns and ever time I thought I knew where the narrative was going it took another turn. A challenging storyline that made you think about some of the many issues which must be addressed in our modern society.

This is one of the best novels I read in 2022. Jodi Picoult is such a talented writer and her knowledge of various topics transpires throughout her books.
Mad Honey- a story of a beekeeper, Olivia, and her background of abuse, and domestic violence is a fantastic example of why we should not judge the book by its cover. When Olivia's son, Asher meets Lily and falls in love with her before being told that she is trans is a great example of this.

Great read.

Thank you @netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this novel.

This particular story was completely unexpected. In recent times, I have not been a fan of a story going backwards and forwards in time since I felt like the straightforward route might have been more efficient. This time, I had to admit there are cases where the flow is required to be haphazard so that the shock comes as and when the author(s) will it to.
Every time the perspective changed, or we were presented with yet another piece of the whole, I felt a tiny thrill. I think the only reason this was not a five-star read for me was because of the ending itself. I am not a fan of such endings and felt disappointed, even as I acknowledge there could not have been any other alternative ending that would have been more realistic.
The authors' notes at the end, the way the collaboration happened and their personal feelings for the topics discussed here did add to the overall effect of the book, and they should not be missed.
Moving on to the story itself, it is hard to approach it without giving something away. We have two main narrative voices, both in relation to the boy accused of murder. The majority of the book revolves around the sudden death of someone, and the accused has been branded by almost everyone who knows him. There are several internal conflicts within everyone we meet. Each action anyone takes seems to have ripple effects that cause a lot of changes.
The book is dark since it delves into the minds of people and talks of anger, fear and other such emotions. The writing is smooth and draws you in, and I was not craving a straightforward narrative at any point during my read.
I highly recommend this to anyone who likes family-based thrillers with a diverse cast of characters.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

A murder mystery AND BEES? SIGN ME UP!

This is such a quick easy read! It keeps you entertained it keeps you interested, the murder mystery is really well done, with the way it's uncovered and how you learn more details about all the characters and you just don't know what to think! The twist is a good one and overall a very enjoyable read.

It did feel a bit too long in parts, where we didn't need that much details but then the ending felt so fast and rushed and abrupt so I wish it was shorter in some parts and longer in others

"According to natural selection, bees should not exist. Although workers construct the comb, tend to the queen and feed the larva, they're sterile themselves, and don't pass those productive genes to the net generation. Plus, stinging in suicide, and passing on a suicide gene makes no biological sense. And yet, the species has been around for a hundred million years. Why? ... If you ask me, it's because they're survivors".

I love Jodi Picoult. The inevitable twists she throws into any book in a way that you can't really break down the plot for a review without introducing spoilers. The research she puts into a novel that educates you on so much more than the key plot line. But I can't lie - this story wasn't new. The tale was so familiar to other novels of hers I devoured in my youth - 19 minutes and The Pact. I'd go as far as to say without the key twist I can't reveal without spoiling the book, and the emphasis on bees and animals in general, the story is almost lifted.

This isn't. to say I didn't love it, because I did. But the excitement I feel when I inhale her novels filled with new themes and exciting introductions to plots I've never seen before just wasn't there this time. And the ending just felt downright anticlimactic. The book itself is as detailed as ever, leading the reader on a spiralling road of mystery and intrigue. But sadly, I felt like I was on the beach, and the path in front of me was still filled with my footprints from my previous journeys.

If you haven't read either of the above mentioned books, this is for you. If you're interested in animal biology, this is for you. If, like me, you're a big Jodi Picoult fan and knowledgable of her other works? I'd suggest a different book of hers.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

You can never go wrong with a Jodi Picoult book. As always an amazing read, keeps you enthralled and full of twists and turns.

I couldn’t read this book quick enough and looked forward to picking it back up.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Even though Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors, I still didn't expect to love Mad Honey as much as I did. It's one of those books that feel more real than reality, with flawed yet fully-developed characters, triggering themes that are rife in the world, and powerful writing that draws you in from the very first page.

At its core, Mad Honey is a story of love, heartbreak, and secrets. Asher and Lily might look like two blissfully loved-up teens from the outside but when Lily dies and Asher is accused of murder, cracks start to emerge. Small things blow up into motives, childhood trauma swims to the surface, and a secret Lily has taken to the grave splits the case wide open. Woven within that is the perspective of Asher's mum, Olivia, who takes refuge in her bees while fighting her own demons.

As this book becomes more popular, it's going to be harder to go in blind but if you can, I absolutely recommend you do. I was listening to the audio and gasped out loud when the announcement was made in the courtroom (IYKYK) and thought the not-knowing made an even bigger impact because it revealed so many potential motives that neither we nor the jury had thought of until then.

I was a bit nervous at how the book would work with two authors and assumed early on that they'd taken a character each and written alternating chapters from their character's perspective. As Jodi has a very distinctive writing style, I wasn't sure how Jennifer would seamlessly fit into that as I'd never read a book by her before, but it was clear that they had a very rigorous and ruthless editing process to ensure the story flowed. Co-authoring (during lockdown too) must be so challenging and this refining of the story only added to my enjoyment (not to mention they swapped and wrote an opposite chapter each just to keep see if readers would notice - a sign of flawless writing)!

I read this with my book buddy so I knew we'd have really in-depth discussions and I wasn't disappointed. As Jel practically lives in my head, you should read her review which sums up all my thoughts and feelings better than I can. I loved dissecting the chapters and discussing the themes; if there's one thing this book does, it prompts conversation around very important topics.

While the book wasn't perfect (I didn't love the ending and was kind of hoping for something different), it was raw and emotionally impactful. It isn't a book that's written for the sake of the ending; instead, it's the characters and the themes that make this book a truly exceptional piece of work.

Finally, the author's note added so much context to how this book came about which just made me love the whole thing even more. Imagine tweeting about having a dream where you're co-writing a book with the legendary Jodi Picoult only to have her message back and say LET'S DO IT; let's hope I have the same dream one day.

What a good book, I wasn't sure how I'd get on with a co-authored book, but the styles worked well together and were seamless.

A really intriguing book that kept me wanting to read more.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this thought provoking ARC.

This is back to Jodi Picoult like the original days. We meet Asher who has been accused of murdering his girlfriend. For his Mom is this history repeating itself after a turbulent relationship with his dad.

It hooked me in instantly and had me wanting to keep reading on.

Another fantastic read from Jodi Picoult. Really enjoyed the story and liked the characters. Would definitely recommend this book

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I really couldnt put it down. I loved the characters and Jodi Picoult's style of writing.
Thank you to Jodi Picoult and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mad Honey is a thought provoking, moving, suspenseful story that I couldn’t put down. It challenged my own thoughts and opinions and educated me on sensitive topics.
Olivia and her son Asher have moved back to her family home after fleeing in abusive relationship with her husband. Her past is finally behind her but her world comes crumbling down when her son Asher is accused of murdering his girlfriend Lilly. During the trial many secrets are exposed. Is Asher abusive like his father? Are people lying? Does she trust her son?
This book was amazing. I would’ve given it 5 stars but I’ll explain why at the end of the review. I’m desperate to tell you the twist so you can understand why this book is so good but it’ll spoil it. The characters are wonderfully written. The way they develop throughout the story is appealing. The story creates engaging and important conversations that make you question yourself.
The thing that put me off reviewing it 5 stars was the topic of Bees. There were a lot of facts which I just didn’t feel brought anything to the story and I personally found it distracting.
Overall, a fantastic read that I would recommend to everyone.

This is a book I was completely unable and unwilling to put down. From beginning to end, I devoured this one.

Picoult writes in a way that just flows perfectly. It’s easy to find yourself lost in the pages of the book and this one is definitely a great read.

There is so much packed into this one and I’m going to avoid any spoilers. I feel there are elements that could’ve been a little shorter with focus in other areas. However, I have devoured this in one sitting. It’s been a book I’ve been unwilling to put down.

This book introduces us to two mothers and their children. The opening is brilliant and will instantly capture your attention. The characters are likeable and this is flawless.

The authors delve into current topics and although parts of this may be triggering for some readers, this is a book that absolutely needs to be read. I have loved this book and will definitely be recommending to other readers.

I am a big Jodi Picoult fan so as soon as I heard about her new book, I knew I had to read it. I tried to read as little as possible about the plot beforehand so as not to spoil it for myself - and I am glad I did this. Like all Jodi's books, the story was captivating and the subject matter was one I knew very little about so it really captured my interest. 3.5 stars from me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I thought the way Asher was brought to testify could have been handled better and secondly, I saw the ending coming...

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an impartial and honest review.

A great ‘whodunnit’ with lots of interesting information about bees. I enjoyed the story and the diverse characters. I just wish I’d read it sooner!

You know what you're getting in to when you read a Jodi Picoult. Shocks, twists turns and a lot to think about. Mad Honey is no different and touches one of the most topical subjects with a level of understanding that is really enjoyable. I also really enjoyed the setting of this one - idyllic!