Before I start - there are huge content warnings with this one, that are spoilers so if you want to read more, check out at the end.

This one has me feeling all the emotions - a huge amount of emotions and it will stay with me for a long time. Picoult is no stranger to writing books that are topical and stir up lots of emotions - and Mad Honey is no exception.

As this one is written by two authors, each author has written a character’s viewpoint, and it was honestly hard to distinguish which author was writing for which character - the writing style is seamless. The writers are very good at mirroring events from Lily’s life into that of Olivia’s, making her more relatable - the amount of trauma these 2 have experienced broke my heart. I loved reading each character’s story and learning more about what makes them tick - but by golly, Lily is such a beautiful soul. The circumstances leading up to her death are just heartbreaking.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Hodder and Stoughton and the authors for the opportunity to read this review copy.

⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: reference and detail to self harm, domestic abuse, transphobia and suicide (including detail of an attempt) ⚠️

This book by a favourite author of mine, sadly did not work for me. I found that the collaboration of two authors did not work particularly well, and was far from seamless.
The early part of the book is confusing, jumping back and forward between characters and timelines. I found the characterisation to be weak, and it wasn’t always clear which character was speaking.
I feel the two authors tried to cram in so many current ‘issues’, it ceased to be plausible.
I love bees, but I found the huge information dump re bees , on a regular basis, slowed the narrative right down. I didn’t need that amount of background to bee- keeping, it’s not an instruction manual. It took me right out of the flow of the story.
Unusually, the back-and- forth in the court case left me cold, and I skim-read chunks of it. It failed to maintain my interest. Disappointing.
Altogether, I feel this book could do with a comprehensive edit.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Love this author!This is a book about how people are not always who they appear to be, and things aren't always as they seem - and I'll leave it at that so as not to spoil it for anyone. There's a significant revelation at about the halfway mark and a plot twist at the end. I didn't see either one coming; they were both so satisfying!
Amazingly, two authors (Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan) wrote this novel together. It's so seamless and perfect you would never know. I love a good courtroom drama and enjoyed following Asher's murder trial. I also appreciate how much I learned about bees and beekeeping! Simply gorgeous.

This was an involving read despite the recurring feeling that I was being lectured about beekeeping and transgender issues. The authors successfully wove a story that kept you wondering what the truth was.

An interesting story, told very well, I enjoyed getting to know the charecters, and now I'd really like to take up bee keeping

I’m not usually a fan of co-written books, however this worked! I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

This is a book that will stay with me for a long time!! I was totally transfixed from the very start. It's about a young woman called Lily who is found dead by her boyfriend, Asher who then becomes the prime suspect of her murder. The authors are afraid to raise many important topics, but i don't want to give away any spoilers, so won't say anymore!

M A D H O N E Y - Mad Honey is the story of 2 teenagers, Asher & Lily, boyfriend and girlfriend. One ends up dead, the other on trial for her murder - we don't know what actually happened and while Asher's Mum will defend her child unconditionally her own past leaves her with doubts and questions about his role in Lilys death.

The story is told from the dual perspectives of Asher's Beekeeper Mum, Olivia, and Lily. The narrators are likeable and engaging, there is a sadness to both their stories and how they are written, with Olivia's timeline going forward and Lily's backward.

On the whole, I enjoyed the story and was compelled to keep reading. It covers a lot of sensitive topics which will be difficult for some readers but they are handled bravely and with care. The book is many things rolled into one, a love story, murder mystery and courtroom spectacle. Its also crammed with facts and trivia about Bees, which although richly descriptive and genuinely interesting became a bit encyclopedic.

There is a twist mid story, which I didn't see coming. I felt the book shifted gears after this and the elements of the story previously mentioned - the romance & drama - became slightly diluted.

Written by both Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan, I was pleased by how well the collaboration worked. Like all the Jodi Picoult books I've read previously, I'll still be thinking about this one now that I've finished and recommend this for a thought provoking, soul searching read.

I have read nearly all of Jodi's books over the years and have got quite used to her highlighting up-to-the minute topics that make you assess your moral compass. I have grown to like her style and those that make you question "What If...", as well as those where courtrooms appear.
The title and cover drew me in initially, I like bees and I love orange so naturally I would zone in. I didn't read any of the reviews or the synopsis before requesting it, so wasn't aware that she had written this alongside Jennifer Finney Boylan. I have no preconceptions apart from those mentioned beforehand.
The story is told in different timelines, around two single-parent families, beekeeper Olivier & her son Asher, and, Forest Ranger Ava & her daughter Lily who have recently moved to the area. When Asher & Lily become more than high school friends, their mothers feel settled that they are happy and are overcoming previous problems. Howeverm when tragedy happens & Lily is found dead, events that neither mother knows about start to unfurl.
I felt that the first half of the book dragged & I wanted to skip parts (I didn't); & when the big twist was revealed, it got slightly more engaging but I felt it was in a lecture rather than a book.
I have read a number of books around this topic and fully support the authors intentions, but it really didn't work for me. However, I loved the parts that gave an insight into beekeeping - I didn't know what mad honey was !

Good read. Great characters, enjoyed the setting, lots of side stories weaved into it and it flowed really well. A good read for a rubbish day. Will make you feel better!

Olivia has left her abusive marriage and has returned to her parents house where she runs the family beekeeping business. She is a single mum to 18 year old Asher who is in a relationship with Lily. Olivia’s world is devastated when she gets a phone call informing her that Lily is dead and Asher has been arrested. The plot then follows the trial and we learn more about Olivia and Asher’s past and other characters hidden secrets, there are all the twists you’d expect from Jodi Picoult. This however is my least favourite book of hers, I found the characters lacked depth and the structure was a mess as it constantly flips from past to present. The book felt too long and was bogged down in detail whereas the end felt rushed. Not her best book on my opinion.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I really wanted to love this since Jodi Picoult is one-of-the-kind author but I was disappointed that a lot of hot topics was thrown into the story just because. For example, why was it mention several times that there were two moms as parents? Why was it necessary to make a big deal about it? I don't get it. I put it down...

As a Jodi Picoult fan, I was intrigued to pick this one. Writing alongside Jennifer Finney Boylan appeared to come off the page seamlessly, and I couldn't tell who wrote what part. They're obviously compatible co-authors.

The basis of the story was an interesting one and I didn't see the twist coming, though there wasn't any part during the story that I was eager to keep reading to find out what happens next. I'm not sure what it was but, in a strange way, I don't think I was getting enough emotion from the book to make me invested.

So, the backbone of the story had me but the feeling behind it was missing for me. But don't be fooled, I'll still be continuing to pick up Jodi Picoult books the second I can get my hands on them!

This is a truly brilliant book,
This book is thought provoking, an emotional roller coaster, it reminded me a lot of a few of Jodi Picoult’s early books, it also features Jordan McAfee. I was invested in this book from page one.
Olivia is a single mum, having left an abusive marriage. Her teenage son Asher, is popular and captain of the hockey team, she has been watching him fall in love over the last few months with Lily who is new to the area. Lily also comes from an abusive background but is beginning to trust Asher and open up to him.
Then alas tragedy’ strikes, Lily is at the bottom of the stairs dead., and Asher is found holding her.
He is accused of her murder, facing life in prison, Jordan McAfee his uncle comes to defend him.
A dramatic, gripping court case begins. It unveils hidden truths, there are many thought provoking, controversial topics covered in this brave heart wrenching, emotional read. I felt for both mothers. Rollercoaster read including a twist
The story is told with a lot of compassion and feeling.

Loved the bee keeping storyline

Many thanks to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Definitely a five star read. Congratulations to both authors

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t see the twist coming and it literally floored me… however I do feel like the second half of the book, following the twist, was weaker. I also didn’t like the conclusion, it didn’t feel very fair.
Overall, a great book that I would recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the eARC.

It’s difficult to review this book without massive SPOILERS as there is a twist in this book which makes it extra special. It also explains why there are two authors for this book (which I especially loved) but won’t go into detail for fear of ruining it for other readers. Picoult themes of family (especially maternal love), small town community, for good and ill, are present here. I loved this book and absolutely tore through it, thanks NetGalley!

I have loved Jodi Picoult books from the first one I picked up many years ago now. One thing I’d say is you need a gap in between reading them as she definitely has her style and structure which works but can feel repetitive if you read too many off the trot. The addition of a co-author didn’t change this, and it didn’t feel fragmented, I was interested to read about the conscious way this was achieved through the writing process. I loved the character of Lily and I’m not going to go into detail for fear of reading this, but, because of the author I read this book completely blind which really helped when I got to the big reveal. I’m delighted this book exists.

I always love Jodi Picoult’s writing and this book was no different. I was hooked, often staying up late at night to devour some more chapters. I found the moving timeline and narratives interesting and I liked the characters. This book is genuinely educational on some difficult topics (but I won’t name the topics as one is a bit of a spoiler!). Unfortunately I found the ending fell a bit flat and predictable which was disappointing as I’d been enjoying the book so much throughout!

I mostly enjoyed this book, it started off super strong, I enjoyed how it jumped around between timelines and characters and I found all the information on bees and beekeeping super interesting! I do however struggle with how many social issues they seemed to try shoehorn in, I feel they should have just picked one or two as opposed to trying to squeeze everyone they could think of in. I did however feel like the characters were well fleshed out and I ended up liking them, and feeling for them on their journey throughout the book.

Mad Honey is written by both Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finley Boylan each writing one of the two voices from the story. The writing is seamless with the story unfolding in both the present and the past. The book is about two mothers and their children: Beekeeper Olivia McAfee, and her son, Asher, and Forest Ranger Ava Campanello, and her daughter, Lily. Lily and Asher are dating and it seems like everything is going well and both moms are delighted to see their children so happy, each having had a struggle in their past. Then one day the joy turns to a nightmare when Lily is killed and Asher is arrested as the prime suspect in her murder.
To say anymore about this incredible read will spoil the joy for other readers but suffice to say once again Jodi Picoult and her Co-writer have taken a sensitive, controversial topic and breathed life, compassion and understanding into it.