Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Wow! Mad Honey is one of the best books I’ve read this year and easily slides into my top ten of all time. The authors, Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan combine their writing talents to treat readers to this magnificent work and it is nothing short of stunning.

Olivia McAfee is living where she thought she’d left (her small New Hampshire hometown) doing what she never thought she would (her father’s beekeeping business) to provide and protect herself and her son, Asher, from a violent ex-husband.  

Lily Campanello has moved from the West Coast to start over. She is a senior year at the local high school, a talented Cello player, keeper of quirky encyclopedia facts and the new girlfriend of Olivia’s son, Asher.

Life is good for these two women in this small town, until Lily’s life is abruptly cut short and Olivia’s son, Asher becomes the main suspect. What follows- the trial, the unraveling of facts, the unveiling of lives is a remarkable roller coaster ride that will grip and educate the reader.

The story is from Lily and Olivia’s perspectives and written by Jennifer and Jodi (accordingly). Everything about this story is wonderful, the characters are full of depth and the plot is heart wrenching and irresistible. It compels the reader to think about gender and identity, how we become who we are supposed to be and to ask what part the past plays in present relationships. 

The beekeeping and descriptions about the hives and honey throughout the novel are evidence of Jodi’s extensive research (once again). One of my favorite quotes (and the definition of a perfect title for a book) is on page 342- “Mad Honey is the one type of honey you should avoid at all costs. You expect it to be sweet, not deadly. You are deliberately attracted to it.”  

I have no doubt that many will be attracted to this incredible story.

I attended an event with Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan in Lewes, Delaware two days after the release of Mad Honey. They talked about the book (without trying to reveal too much) and how they came to write it together (a random tweet by Jennifer and a response by Jodi) and even stood for photos (yes, it’s really them under the masks). Amazing Event!

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