Description
*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*
'Emotional and enlightening' WOMAN & HOME
'The twist halfway through is a jaw-to-the-floor moment' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'A perfect choice for your book clubs' PRIMA
Olivia fled her abusive marriage to return to her hometown and take over the family beekeeping business when her son Asher was six. Now, impossibly, her baby is six feet tall and in his last year of high school, a kind, good-looking, popular ice hockey star with a tiny sprite of a new girlfriend.
Lily also knows what it feels like to start over - when she and her mother relocated to New Hampshire it was all about a fresh start. She and Asher couldn't help falling for each other, and Lily feels happy for the first time. But can she trust him completely?
Then Olivia gets a phone call - Lily is dead, and Asher is arrested on a charge of murder. As the case against him unfolds, she realises he has hidden more than he's shared with her. And Olivia knows firsthand that the secrets we keep reflect the past we want to leave behind - and that we rarely know the people we love well as we think we do.
About the Author
Jodi Picoult is the author of 25 novels, with 40 million copies sold worldwide. Her last twelve books have debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, including her most recent, THE BOOK OF TWO WAYS. Five novels have been made into movies and BETWEEN THE LINES (co-written with daughter Samantha van Leer) has been adapted as a musical. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including the New England Bookseller Award for Fiction, the Alex Award from the YA Library Services Association, and the NH Literary Award for Outstanding Literary Merit. She is also the co-librettist for the musical BREATHE, and the upcoming musical THE BOOK THIEF. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.
Jennifer Finney Boylan is the author of numerous works of fiction and non fiction, including the seminal She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders (2003), which was the first bestselling work by a transgender American. She is a trans activist and a professor at Barnard College, and has appeared on reality TV shows and various US media in support of her friend Caitlyn Jenner. Her most recent book is the memoir Good Boy: A Life in 7 Dogs, published April 20 by Celadon/Macmillan US.
Reviews
An important read told with compassion and knowledge, a perfect choice for your book clubs * Prima Magazine *
This riveting tale reminded me of Picoult's earlier books in the way it tackles some big issues. The twist halfway through is a jaw-to-the-floor moment * Good Housekeeping *
The celebrated authors have collaborated to pen this unique novel together... An emotional and enlightening read that won't fail to surprise right to the end * Woman & Home *
From the author of The Book of Two Ways comes a characteristically powerful and engaging story of parent-child relationships as the owner of a beekeeping business confronts the brutal murder of her child's lover * Waterstones *
Suspense-filled Mad Honey is a thrilling book that you won't be able to put down * CHAT Magazine *
This incredibly moving and thought-provoking novel, which looks at identity, authenticity and the bond between a mother and son, is brilliantly written and is a must-read - definitely one of my favourites from 2022 * My Weekly Special *
I won't give anything away, but will say this is one massive plot twist I did not see coming. It's wonderful on identity, change, secrets, shame and starting over. I'm still thinking about it long after the final page. Fabulous. * Daily Mail *
What begins as a family crime novel with themes of trust, betrayal, abuse and fear becomes a poignant note on what it is to love someone, and the ways we choose to live authentically... Commentary about identity and motherhood is cleverly woven throughout, making for an honest tale about gender and violence... The book is flawlessly written, incredibly engaging and a source of vital dialogue * i paper *
An emotional, enlightening and contemporary read that won't fail to surprise, right up to its final pages * Woman's Weekly *
Magnificent . . . Undoubtedly deserves its place among the most impressive novels of 2022... [Lily and Asher's] relationship is a beautiful thing, described with a weight of understanding that never threatens to trivialise teenage feelings but is alive to all the fumbles of early romance. Asher and Lily are people first, adolescents second... Olivia's chapters [are] beautifully and meticulously written. She, again, is a person first and a mother second, with a complex inner life that extends beyond her child... Wonderfully drawn and heart-breaking... Empathetic and nuanced during a time of viscous division in our culture... It's impossible to look away. The writing is beautiful and seamless, with hardly any evidence that it was written by two separate authors... Lily, Asher, Olivia and their supporting cast shine with all the complications and nuances of real people whom we have the privilege to know. Mad Honey is a fascinating and gripping page turner that asks important questions about who we are and how we treat others. * Irish Sunday Business Post *
A challenging, intriguing story * Image Magazine *
A thought-provoking book highlighting the difference between secrecy and privacy, and between what people want to be and who they truly are * Heat *
Mad Honey tackles a topical controversy head-on . . . Thought-provoking, well-balanced and powerful . . . an ideal book group choice, igniting debate and discussion * Sunday Express S Magazine *
As is expected in a Picoult novel, the characterisation is complex and detailed: no one is intrinsically good or bad, which makes the storytelling even more captivating * Belfast Telegraph *
What begins as a family crime novel with themes of trust, betrayal, abuse and feat, quickly becomes a poignant note on what it is to love someone, and the beautiful ways individuals choose to live authentically . . . Commentary about identity and motherhood is cleverly woven throughout, making for an honest and interesting talk about gender and violence. Flawlessly written,
incredibly engaging and a source of
vital dialogue in a world where trans
voices aren't always championed. If
you read only one more book this year,
make it this one.
Important, propulsive and gripping * Gillian McAllister *
This incredible murder-mystery novel is a feat of literary genius, engaging with themes of love, family and identity, while also weaving together an incredible narrative of LGBTQ+ struggle * Independent, best books to read during Pride month *
Full of suspense and explores the risks we take to find ourselves * Stylist, Best books to read this Autumn *
Book Information
ISBN 9781473692480
Author Jodi Picoult
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 320g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 128mm * 36mm
