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h_oflanagan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Very well written, hard to read for the content. Similar to other books by this author, plot isn't as interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
bhaunty's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!
A beautiful insight into a trans woman’s experience and life while also dealing with the mystery of her death.
A beautiful insight into a trans woman’s experience and life while also dealing with the mystery of her death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Mad Honey pulled me out of a reading slump—I couldn't put this book down. I have been an avid reader of Jodi Picoult's works in the past, but lately, I've focused on fantasy and romance books. Mad Honey reminded me of why I love Picoult's writing.
However, I have to admit I felt betrayed by how the story unfolded. The plot twist around the halfway point completely unhinged me—not in a good way. It shifted the focus of the narrative to something entirely different. While it was still part of the story, it wasn't the plot I was expecting based on the blurb.
The ending also felt rushed. I didn't agree with the conclusion, especially after we finally learned what happened on that day. Ava's choices were also questionable. I understand that she only wanted Lily to be happy, but that doesn't mean she should give in to everything Lily desired. Ava could have waited a few more years before allowing Lily to pursue all the things Lily wanted. If Ava had made different choices, Lily might have grown stronger and wiser.
However, I have to admit I felt betrayed by how the story unfolded. The plot twist around the halfway point completely unhinged me—not in a good way. It shifted the focus of the narrative to something entirely different. While it was still part of the story, it wasn't the plot I was expecting based on the blurb.
The ending also felt rushed. I didn't agree with the conclusion, especially after we finally learned what happened on that day. Ava's choices were also questionable. I understand that she only wanted Lily to be happy, but that doesn't mean she should give in to everything Lily desired. Ava could have waited a few more years before allowing Lily to pursue all the things Lily wanted. If Ava had made different choices, Lily might have grown stronger and wiser.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
chemreader's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
So many characters, plot lines and topics that are touched upon and then just dropped like a hot potato without ever being resolved or treated with the required depth. Additionally, the ending should have just been open in my opinion for the readers to make up their minds and challenge their own biases as the characters have to.
I also now know way more about bees and beekeeping than I ever imagined. However, the purpose of all this information for the book is still not clear to me. At best, the bees served as a blunt metaphor for the unfolding plot, but in most cases it did nothing for the story since everything was spelled out anyway. If everything bee related was deleted from the book, it would be at least 100 pages shorter and neither plot nor character development would suffer.
Lastly, this would have been a dnf for me, but am reading for a book club, so had to push through.
I also now know way more about bees and beekeeping than I ever imagined. However, the purpose of all this information for the book is still not clear to me. At best, the bees served as a blunt metaphor for the unfolding plot, but in most cases it did nothing for the story since everything was spelled out anyway. If everything bee related was deleted from the book, it would be at least 100 pages shorter and neither plot nor character development would suffer.
Lastly, this would have been a dnf for me, but am reading for a book club, so had to push through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Bullying, Abortion, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
missmeliss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Transphobia, and Murder
lupitaestela's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, and Medical content
Minor: Abortion
kaitmorrison's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Not only touched on so many important topics but was also so gripping and well written I could not put it down. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the twist at the end but not to the point that it took away from how much I loved this book over all. The two perspectives running alongside each other set at different times in the story kept the suspense of not knowing the truth and added so much to the atmosphere I just. Loved
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Suicide attempt
bree317's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Blood, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Abortion, and Toxic friendship
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.
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,
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
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.
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
laurabucchieri's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Transphobia