Mad Honey: A Novel

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising their beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined that 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 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 Ash, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he’s hidden more than he’s shared with her.
 
Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

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480 pages

Average rating: 7.62

1,682 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

KikiStoneCreek
Jun 03, 2023
6/10 stars
I am one of the biggest Jodi Picoult fans out there, having read ALL of her books! So I couldn't wait for the library copy of this book, I had to show my love of this author by buying my own copy! I even told a friend who had never read one of Jodi's books that I would lend her my copy when I was done reading it so that she could see how marvelous the books were. Now I hopes she forgets about my offer as I couldn't recommend this book to anyone outside of aspiring beekeepers!

Honestly, I know Jodi's books teach the readers so much about specific topics, but this extremely deep dive into everything connected to beekeeping just to make the point about mad honey was TOO much!! It made for a very MAD reader as it detracted from the book's storyline. And the storyline itself was so weak that I didn't care much for anyone! How could that happen in a Jodi Picoult book?!!

I guess I need to be more careful with my book-buying budget the next time another one of Jodi's books comes out. Maybe it was the co-authorship that caused the problem. Whatever it was for this book, for her next book, I'm going to wait for the reviews of other Goodreads authors before I decide to buy a Jodi Picoult book. And it tears me apart to write this review as I never thought that, after dozens of books by her, I'd be writing anything but a glowing review.
Sanachka
Nov 10, 2023
It was a good read, a little slow but it definitely made me want to keep reading to see what happens.
MichelleL
Oct 29, 2023
9/10 stars
Three stories: girl dies found dead by boyfriend and a court case commences. Sorry of honey production and the life of bees. Transexuals and gender correction surgery.
alykat1093
Oct 25, 2023
6/10 stars
I’m a little torn! I loved all the beekeeping references and how it tied into the story (I love bees and want to be a backyard beekeeper one day), but yet I felt like the story was too long. I felt like there were parts of the story I didn’t need. Overall there were twists and there were things I didn’t see coming. I enjoyed the book and would most likely recommend this to someone in the future.
Hungry Woman
Oct 16, 2023
7/10 stars
Interesting topic but plot felt contrived.

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