Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - Mad Honey

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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alittlebitofjessica's review against another edition

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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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sambatista's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative 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

4.25

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littlelisa006's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad slow-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

4.5

I love how much I learned while listening to this story, how it made me feel, and look inward.

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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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akappel32's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Whew there is a lot going on with this one. It definitely needs a trigger warning for DV, I wouldn’t have read it if I knew. Not because the novel itself isn’t beautiful, but it’s hard to stomach. The subject matter is enlightening, raw, and honest, but towards the end it starts to feel repetitive and overdone. I was hooked for the first 60% but started to lose interest towards the end.

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