Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

184 reviews

lcehanle's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Self harm

Minor: Suicide attempt

doodlebeanz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was my first Jodi Picoult book, and I think it will be my last. This has nothing to do with her writing; the book was incredibly written and it touched on so many important and heavy topics such as the hardships that transgender women and men face, along with the intense and undying love of a mother. I also loved the element of bees, and how the story went through the entire judicial system from the first 911 call to the jury decision… but it just wasn’t my type of book.

The book is a slam dunk. It is such an interesting story and it was so deep on so many levels, but I need my books fast paced and with way more murder 😭 This book dealt with murder, but not in the way I would want. This was just simply domestic fiction, courthouse fiction if that’s even a thing, or simply just small town fiction, where someone happens to die. I did love the small town setting, my fiance is from New Hampshire and I’m from Boston so it all felt very close to home for me. I loved the characters as well - I thought they were so well written and so fleshed out, they felt like real people. The thought that lily is dead literally give me chills, she was so young and wise beyond her years and dealt with so much in her short number of years on the earth. Asher, his mom, and lawyer were well written as well, but besides Olivia (Asher’s mother),  they were quite one dimensional.

My few gripes with the story were the way Asher and Lily were written and the somewhat lazy writing surrounding the murder itself and who may have done it. Starting with the murder and the trial,

The whole sudden realization of TTP being the possible reason for Lily’s death immediately took me out. It felt like such lazy writing… she just fell and happened to hit her head and bleed out and die and that’s it? Just… no. It was so much lead up for that to be the thing that got Asher acquitted and it was just a head scratch moment for me. As the book was ending, the last chapter I’d say, I was ready to just assume I knew how it ended and just finish it there… but when Maya confessed, I felt even more annoyed for some reason. Again, it was SO much lead up for that? I totally thought it was Dirk, or Asher, or maybe even Jonah or Lily’s dad… but it was maya in an angry jealous rage fueled accident? It just didn’t make much sense for me and it was just wrapped up too nicely and not enough drama for me. 

Secondly, Asher and Lily spoke like they were in their 30s, not just 18 years of age. It was so annoying. I remember what it was like to be a teenager, and I did not have that much wherewithal or intelligence inner dialogue to be that mature and rounded out. For Lily, it made a bit more sense considering the shit she had endured in her life

(being trans, her fathers abuse and homophobia/transphobia, the intense bullying at school)

. But for Asher, it didn’t make sense. It just didn’t feel real to me, their dialogues sometimes brought me back to the reality that I was just reading a book compared to when I was reading Olivia’s chapters where it felt like an autobiography of a real person’s life. 

Also, I do not suggest this book on audiobook. I did not enjoy the audio book narrators, and I think based on the writing, this book isn’t meant to be listened to. There are some flashbacks throughout chapters and it’s hard to know when you’re in a flashback since they aren’t announced. It was also nonlinear for Lily’s chapters but in order for Olivia’s which was also confusing to keep up with audio, but probably would’ve been easier to keep up with if I was just simply reading. 

All in all, the book was great. It was very well written, and I have no gripes with the author. She just isn’t the author for me, but I am glad I read this book. It was moving and intense and made me think about what it means to be a woman and what it’s like for others out there who wish they were born comfortable in their skin and gender identity the way I am. Everyone should read this book! Just expect small town/family fiction. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

alittlebitofjessica's review against another edition

challenging informative inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The fact that this was co written between two authors and you couldn't tell who wrote which part (or that it was written between two) is really a testament to the authors involved! I loved the detail regarding the bees and how it linked with the plot, a very sad story but very important themes. I didn't know what the novel was going to be about when I picked it up, but I'm very glad that I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide attempt

alex_mabel's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I enjoyed the first half, then ending wasn’t my favorite. I enjoyed the court room scenes. Some of it felt repetitive and a little random.

Olivia and Mikes romance plot seemed super random to me. I didn’t get that Maya seemed up get away with it if you will.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt

stephanie_w11's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Outing

Moderate: Medical content

Minor: Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, and Abortion

bloomingbookworm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Really enjoyed the novel, especially the way Lily’s chapters were written. It dragged a bit in the last quarter, but otherwise would recommend. Audiobook narration was excellent. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion

befrazzledenby's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Transphobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Outing

Moderate: Abortion

jadiedaffodil's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Self harm, Transphobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Medical content, Outing, and Alcohol

so_casually_cruel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Outing

sophiestasyna's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Murder