Thank you Random House Publishing Group/Netgalley #partner, for the advanced copy of Mad Honey in exchange for my honest review. I borrowed the audiobook from the library.
Publisher: Ballantine Books / Random House Audio
Published: October 4, 2022
Summary:
A soul-stirring novel about what we choose to keep from our past, and what we choose to leave behind.
Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising a beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in, and taking over her father’s beekeeping business.
Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.
And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for him, too. With Ash, she feels happy for the first time. Yet at times, she wonders if she can she trust him completely . . .
Then one day, Olivia receives a phone call: Lily is dead, and Asher is being questioned by the police. Olivia is adamant that her son is innocent. But she would be lying if she didn’t acknowledge the flashes of his father’s temper in him, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he’s hidden more than he’s shared with her.
Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.
My thoughts:
I’ve been a fan of Jodi Picoult for quite some time and of course I knew I needed to read this book, but in typical me fashion, I decided to wait for the buzz (no pun intended) to die down on this one before reading it. I also knew I was going to want to be able to fully devote my full attention to it – and that is 100% the case here – this book is a powerful, thought-provoking read, one that is without a doubt going to be one of my top reads of the year.
It’s hard to say much about this book without giving spoilers, so forgive me if this review is vague, but trust me when I say you do not want anything about this story to be spoiled. It is such a beautifully written tale that I know I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Co-written by two strong writers, it seamlessly comes together so that if you really cannot tell there are two authors involved. In typical Jodi Picoult fashion, we do take on some social issues and believe me when I say, these are so timely that I feel everyone should read this book.
I loved the structure of the story, with two narrators telling the story, one moving forward and the other moving backwards. This is where you really need to be paying attention because it can get a little confusing, but it all comes together so beautifully. And throughout it all, the character development is just amazing. I found myself completely attached to these characters. These characters are all carrying secrets around and we see them eventually learn that they are all so much more than their trauma. And the way the authors were able to tie in the bees and their life cycle to what was going on to the story nothing short of impressive. It was just another lens with which to view all that was happening.
I cannot recommend this story enough. It is one that I know I will not stop thinking about and will definitely reread at some point. Jodi Picoult has been a favorite of mine for good reason – and I definitely need to read those books I’ve missed along the way. Jennifer Finney Boylan is a new-to-me author, and I will most definitely be checking out what else she has written.
Audio thoughts:
Even though I had an e-galley of this, I had a feeling this was one book I wanted to listen to and I’m so glad I did. The audiobook was fantastic and the two narrators, Carrie Toon and Key Taw, knocked it out of the park with their narration. They infused just the right amount of emotion into their voices as needed and really brought this story to life.
