Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Mad Honey

Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

156 reviews

bree317's review against another edition

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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

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doodlebeanz's review against another edition

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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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cocoanut7's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

Heavy read. I’m glad I got the exposure even if some of the writing choices I didnt like. The twist just super floored me. It was excellently done. That being said,

it drove me crazy that Asher was a suspect because his fingerprints were in her room. No, duh. And then there’s all the talk of manslaughter vs murder but when best friend reveals she was involved everyone’s like “meh. Oh well.” Really did not like that. It was too unbelievable and ridiculous.

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hreifeiss's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.0

A competent and well-written murder mystery/courtroom drama with consistent themes and characters you can't help caring about. The organization of the chapters and perspective definitely had me going back and forth because the timeline was a bit confusing. Otherwise, if you like murder mysteries, I'd say this book is for you.

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bloomingbookworm's review against another edition

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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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ktbreadsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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

I found this book to be both captivating and frustrating. Spoiler alert:

I was disappointed we didn’t get more from the ending. Sure, Asher’s innocence was realized, but I feel that Maya’s plot was half baked. Likely an outcome of the fact that it was two authors flipping back and forth.

I loved the two perspectives though, always a great way to keep me hooked.

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bookishdragonshoard's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This book was extremely difficult to put down. I found myself desperate to uncover the truth, and to understand the characters. Going into it, I was unaware of what the book would end up being about and was taken by surprise! I think the authors handled the story quite well and it's one I won't be forgetting any time soon.

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