Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

 Mad Honey - Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Release Date: October 4, 2022

He and she read

Single mother Olivia, a beekeeper, lives with her son, Asher, handsome athletic hero of the  high school hockey team. When single mother, Ava, who works for the Parks Department, moves to town with her daughter Lily, the two offspring quickly fall for each other.  Lily is found dead and Asher is soon charged with murder.  Olivia steadfastly supports her son, but comes to wonder if perhaps he has some of the same traits as his abusive father, from whom she escaped.  

The co-writers tell the story from two points of view, Lily’s and Olivias, and two different times frames, before and after.  

As with many of Picoult’s novels, this touches on some very important topics including gender identity, domestic abuse, the vulnerability of women, suicide.   It is poignant, sensitive and enlightening. There are meaningful discussions of bigotry, all the ways people can be horrible to each other, and how people often hate what they can’t or refuse to understand.  

As always, Picoult’s research is thorough and readers learn some interesting and diverse info. This time, the topic is beekeeping and the many benefits of honey.  

I found the first half of the book to be a bit of a drag.  The second half kept me fully engrossed and unable to put it down. My only problem with the book was how convenient it was for Olivia to have a recently retired brother who had been a successful criminal attorney and was available to handle Asher’s case 24/7.  Most people don’t have that advantage.

Make sure you read the authors’ notes at the end.

If only the authors could perform magic and transform some the haters out there…..

Thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse @ballantinebooks for the arc.

*****