Mad Honey

As a sociologist, I've always been captivated by stories that challenge societal norms and offer fresh perspectives on life.

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan is one such book that has left a lasting impression on me. What sets it apart is its inclusive portrayal of LGBT characters, navigating their lives and dilemmas with sensitivity and authenticity.

As an educator, I was particularly moved by the ethical dilemmas presented in the storyline. They reminded me of many classroom discussions with my students, exploring complex social issues and seeking ways to navigate them ethically. The storytelling prowess and… show more.

I believe I have read all of Jodi Picoult’s books. This one had so many twists and turns!

She does a great job in making the reader learn about something they may not have known about before, and she addresses such important topics that make you think about our world. 

I learn something – unintentionally – every time I pick up a Jodi Picoult novel, which, by the way, is every time she comes out with a new title.

In this case, it was about honeybees. But the book, of course, is about so much more and you don’t realize what that is until halfway through. It is amazing to me that an author, or two in this case, can create a plot without revealing the central concept until mid-book. An awesome feat.

It's a difficult balance, writing a novel that touches both the mind and the heart. But Mad Honey does so, delivering a plausible and poignant story that makes us think, challenges our perceptions, and, at the same time, affects us deeply emotionally.

With all that said, this is also a book that's, quite simply, a damn good read. It was one of those rare things for me, a book I simply couldn't put down and, at the same time, never wanting it to end. I was that invested in the characters. 

Mad Honey was my introduction to both of these… show more.

Defending Jacob meets The Staircase (and then some!).

This story is so much more than a high school love story gone tragically wrong. Husbands and wives, parents and children are pulled apart, even a woman and her bees. Your heart wrenches for all the characters: the mother grieving her child and the mother whose son is on trial for murder.

Until you hit the halfway mark, you believe you're "just" reading a great story about a mysterious death and then the story explodes in a different direction, challenging the reader to struggle with everything we thought we understood about this… show more.