I always love a Jodi Picoult book, they always relate to an interesting issue or moral dilemma. Teenage Lily is found dead with her boyfriend Asher at her side. The police soon start to suspect foul play, and Asher’s beekeeping mother has to decide whether to believe in her son’s innocence or wonder if he has turned into his abusive father.

I recommend going into this book with very little knowledge about it, for example I knew nothing about the second author and it’s amazing how the two authors have been able to blend their voices to make one coherent book. There’s a plot twist partway through this book, and I’m hoping that a lot of Picoult’s fans will just pick this-up, knowing little about it, and be able to enjoy it in the same way that I did.

I can’t say too much without giving away the story, but I did find myself completely absorbed in this novel and wanted to know if Asher was guilty or not.I’m going to say get it early and read it before the reviews start to reveal too much. I’d highly recommend it, and as well as an eye opening story you’ll get to learn lots of fun facts about bees.

Such a clever concept, and so carefully, cleverly delivered. An excellent read I cannot recommend enough.
I did wonder if maybe Picoult was jumping a little on the bandwagon, but she does it so well, it really doesn't matter.
Each character is beautifully rounded out for us - their hopes, dreams, private anxieties and how they sit within their circle of society, until society decides they don't.
Told in flashbacks mixed with current events, we are taken on a journey into the heart of an issue that divides opinion dramatically, provided with an insight to encourage empathy, and a mystery to solve.
Cleverly woven through with bee keepers' lore, each disparate part finally unites as a whole, leaving a sweet sense of satisfaction, along with just a hint of ongoing grief.

I had never read a book by Jodie Picoult but had heard good things so was thrilled to be able to review an advance copy. I really enjoyed this and would say that it is a is a must read. This story is centred around teenagers Lily and her boyfriend Ashur, both with a lot of problems within their families. When Lily is found dead and Ashur found at the scene of the crime, he becomes the prime suspect. As Ashur’s mum left his dad as he was abusive, she has to consider the possibility that perhaps her kind and thoughtful son has the same temper his father displayed. I won't give anything away but you will definitely not be disappointed with this.

DNF @ 18% (August 2022), DNF @ 28% (January 2023)
I rarely do not finish a book, and I looked back on my Goodreads to confirm this and there is only 1 book I've marked as DNF. At least it has a friend now on its shelf?
I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy and I was so excited to read it, I started it straight away and then just as quickly, I put it down never to pick it up again. It was too complicated on my first read and I wasn't in the right head space to give it the time and effort it deserved.
Fast forward 6 months and I was bothered with this book still being on my Currently Reading shelf and awaiting review on NetGalley. So I went back to the beginning and started over. This ended up being a complete waste of time, as I had such a similar experience to the first read. Even though I gave the book the attention it needs, it just didn't interest me. That's the main problem I have with this book, that I just didn't care. I didn't care about the characters, about the outcome, about the mystery. It's such a shame as I really wanted to enjoy this book, and I really actually loved the sections about bees and information and facts about them.
1/5 ⭐️

Review posted to Goodreads.

Brilliant. I really enjoyed this. Jodi is a firm favourite but I’m a new Jennifer fan! A smart link up between the two and they told a fantastic story.

An astonishing book which has given me a new interest – bees!

If you look at my headline, you’d think that the book is devoted to keeping bees. Yes, it’s full of Olivia’s source of income – her beehives and how to keep bees happy while producing honey. However, it’s so much more. It’s about her marriage. The home in New Hampshire, is where she grew up. She and her son Asher returned after the collapse of her marriage. Asher is in love with Lily. She has recently moved to their area and seems to have many secrets to hide about her past.

The characters are so well-defined I felt like I could move to the district and immediately befriend them. I loved Olivia and the fight she is prepared to undertake for Asher, a typical teenager full of angst, with hockey being his way of letting off steam.

The audible book is highly engaging, with Carrie Coon, the perfect narrator. Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan wrote a compelling and powerful book that I hope to revisit in the not-too-distant future.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

The story is told by two characters, Olivia (Asher's mother) and Lily (who is new to town and becomes Asher's girlfriend). I found it a little hard to follow in places. The chapters are dated, but within each chapter there are jumps to previous events. It was fine overall, just not quite smooth throughout.

The story was captivating, but I really didn't enjoy the final reveal of what happened to Lily. It felt rather rushed and shoehorned in. It was also a little repetitive in places, so felt a little too long - detail for the sake of detail rather than adding real value.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all Jodi Picoult's books and enjoyed them very much. If you are a fan this will not disappoint - it is completely gripping. I didn't notice or get distracted by the co-authorship and would very much recommend.

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

This was a really great book and I really enjoyed it. It was very well written and the characters were great. Would definitely recommend.

I’ve never read anything like this before. Jodi and Jennifer weave a powerful story of two families, both ripped appart and pulled together by secrets and behaviour only a few people truly understand. Lily and Asher’s love story, is so beautiful and yet heartbreaking. The role the mum’s play in both characters lives is one of protector- there is no surprises these two are drawn to each other. Their dads on the other hand are misogynistic and cruel. Their mums love them both more to compensate for having such poor fathers.
The twist in the tale, and the truth behind it, is both shocking and sad. My only hope by the end of the book is for those remaining to find love and happiness.
I’ve tried not to give too many spoilers - but I may have waffled on. All I can say is this book was a really educating read. Everyone should read it! It may save lives in the future.

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down! I loved the two characters POVs and how well it flowed, the plot twist in the middle was so gripping and the tone of the second half was so sweet and changed completely from the first half. The writing style and pace was perfect and kept me hooked all the way through.

What a powerful novel!
It is a difficult one to review because a large part of its power comes from the way it unfolds and how the reader gradually gets to see the complexity of the situation and of the characters. So, I will definitely not tell the story or anything about the contents because I would never want to deprive any reader of the experience I have had when reading it. I will leave you with the publisher's blurb as a start point for that.
The characters are strong, interesting, full of life experience and their story is told in a deep and sensitive way, taking the reader on a journey to understand how complex some life choices are and how challenging it can be to approach them from different perspectives.
The bees fly around the book in many ways. They bring some permanence and grounding, but they also are a part of the story and make us think about how their lives and our lives can sometimes have things in common. And they make delicious honey, which the authors have decided to fully include in the book with some yummy sounding recipes.
And last but not least, the book is written by two authors. Originally, I was drawn to it by the name of Jodi Picoult but I have also discovered Jennifer Finney Boylan and I am so pleased I did. Their writing has totally worked as one and at the same time, they have brought their own experiences to the book in a really unique way. I listened to them telling their story and the story of how they wrote this book together and it was very enlightening.
A really amazing book which will definitely stay with me.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising a beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in, and taking over her father's beekeeping business.

Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.

And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for him, too. With Ash, she feels happy for the first time. Yet at times, she wonders if she can she trust him completely . . .

Then one day, Olivia receives a phone call: Lily is dead, and Asher is being questioned by the police. Olivia is adamant that her son is innocent. But she would be lying if she didn’t acknowledge the flashes of his father’s temper in him, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he’s hidden more than he’s shared with her.

My Opinion

I have been a fan of Jodi Picoult for a while so I jumped at the opportunity to read this book. At first I wasn't sure what to think - this was nothing like I expected it to be. Don't get me wrong this book is an enjoyable read - helped out by that twist. This book is on the longer side and so in places it felt like a chore to continue but it was worth it.

This book does not shy away from difficult topics. I can see this becoming a book club favourite as there is so much going on.

Rating 4/5

I really enjoyed this book. The story line I did actually end up guessing who it would be that was involved in Lily's death. However, although I guessed this there weren't obvious moments throughout the story line which gave it away so it could have easily been someone else.

I liked the characters of Lily and Asher and this is what made me continue reading more into the story.

I love Jodi Picoult books so was looking forward to this but I found this book very confusing and it just didn`t flow easily for me so DNF it. only got to 24%

If you want to know anything about honeybees and honey, then this is the book for you. This book is a riveting read that looks at self-discovery, the secrets we keep, a heart-warming love story and the lengths a mother would go to protect her child. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat as you flip the pages that are all filled with emotion.
This story shares many emotions and the authors manages to leave the reader engrossed in the various parts of each character’s story. I loved the addition of beekeeping facts and trivia mixed into the story which combined with music knowledge from chapter to chapter. I found myself quickly engrossed and feeling as if each character was someone I got to know intimately along the way.
Olivia returned to her childhood home in Adams, New Hampshire after leaving her abusive husband in Boston. Olivia is determined to start over and keep her son – Asher – as far away from his father as possible.
Lily knows all about starting over and she moved to Adams with her mother for her final year of school. Both hoping for a happier, peaceful year – with her past remaining in the past.
When Olivia receives a phone call informing her that Lily is dead and Asher is being questioned by police, she is determined to prove his innocence. However, as Asher’s trial unfolds, Olivia realises that perhaps she does not know her son as well as she thought. There are many things he has been keeping for her. Despite wanting to believe he is innocent; Olivia must acknowledge that Asher has shown signs of sharing his father’s temper. Is Asher responsible for Lily’s death? More importantly, can Olivia find a way to trust her son and keep him out of jail?
This book digs into family secrets and the things we would rather not share with others while exploring the challenges young people experience on their road to self-discovery. This book looks at the question of how much information you should share with someone you love, do you share everything? Or is it okay to keep your past to yourself? Or is that considered lying? How do you trust when your trust has been broken?
The characters in this story are full of depth and you are left feeling as if you are getting to know them intimately. I loved the detail around each one of these people. There is so much these people would rather keep to themselves, yet a murder trial forces everything to the surface leaving everyone a little more aware of what the others have kept to themselves.
This book is a gripping, suspenseful read that is guaranteed to keep you flipping late into the night. I loved the details and all trivia thrown in along the way. You are sure to find some honeybee facts in this novel you did not know before.
Jodi Picoult fans can expect a treat when reaching for this book which explores a mother’s love for her child and the secrets within the family unit. This is a brilliant read that will not leave you disappointed.

I really enjoyed Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan. It is a story of young love with all sorts of complications. The authors reveal to us slowly the complex world we live in and have helped me understand better the life of a young transgender person. We are all the time being tied back to the workings of a bee hive and how their evolvement is superior to humans in many ways. The characters are well described and personable. My favourite being Olivia, the Mum with her strength to combat all of her battles. I would recommend this book 📚

Jodi Picoult has done it again. Absolutely loved this complicated mix of complicated pubescent transitioning teenagers, acceptance, a sudden death and all that goes with it. This is a meaty mix of thorny topics guaranteed to provoke reaction and discussion. I won't delve into the plot too much as Jodi Picoult books are best read without preconceptions, but you won't be disappointed.
My only dislike was the list of honey-based recipes which I struggled to find a place for in such a current and relevant book.

This is a great book. I’d read a few reviews, but they were all vague about the content, so everything that happens was a surprise to me. And I’m glad it was, so I enjoyed what happened. I thought the book was about bees. There are bees in it, but they are incidental. I was wondering why it toook two authors, but this made sense when you read the authors notes at the end. The book feels very current, something I’ve always felt when Ive read Jodi Picoult books in the past. It’s a captivating read that I’d recommend.