A review by karnaconverse
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

 

Picoult and Boylan don't shy away from any hot-button issues in this engaging and nuanced novel. 

On its surface, the story is about teenagers in love. But dig deeper, and it's about an individual's right to privacy; whether an individual's past is more important than their present and future; and the weighty burdens and responsibilities that come with holding a secret. 

The story is told in alternating chapters by Lily, a teenage girl, and Olivia, her boyfriend's mother. Set in 2018, one narrative moves forward in time, the other moves backward. It's an effective structure and allows readers to empathize with nearly every character the authors introduce. 

At times, I felt the narrative a bit overworked—it's obvious both authors had many (many, many, many) textbook-type details they wanted their characters to share but often, these details (albeit important) come across in long, heavy paragraphs and in tones that, to me, didn't ring completely true to the character's voice. That said, I'll be thinking about the issues raised in this book for a long time—and to me, that's the sign of a good book.

Consider this question, from the Reader's Guide for Discussion: "The court of public opinion impacts all of the characters involved in the case, something we’ve seen continuously play out in contemporary society, especially with the popularity of social media and instant access to the news cycle. Do you think it’s fair for casual observers to take sides and make assumptions about events they don’t see and hear? Why do you think we, as a society, are so drawn to doing this?"

2024 Des Moines and Omaha LIbrary Challenges: Could fill many categories