Challenge Corner discussion

A soul-stirring novel about what we choose to keep from our past, and what we choose to leave behind, from the New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here and the bestselling author of She's Not There.

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.

I will start this soonish. I have a couple other books to read first, so maybe this weekend.

Just started this morning.

I finished! I'm about to add my comments. I hope you enjoy it :)

9%: (view spoiler)[Wow. I'm not a fan of what Asher did. I feel like if he really knew her, he would have known that wasn't a gift she wanted. Maybe down the road she could give her dad a second chance but don't force it on her. (hide spoiler)]

17%: (view spoiler)[Oh man, I'm really sad that she died. I wonder who did it? Could it have been Dirk? Or maybe Asher - on accident? I have so many questions. (hide spoiler)]

40%: (view spoiler)[Maya does have a point and I like that she's trying to help her. I do think the trial will be interesting. I'm just not sure if I should trust Asher or not. Just feel like I need more clues. (hide spoiler)]

46%: (view spoiler)[HOLY. DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. Could that be why Lily was killed? (hide spoiler)]

54%: (view spoiler)[Elizabeth definitely made some good points. (hide spoiler)]

68%: (view spoiler)[This trial is just pushing Asher towards me and I'm just not seeing it. My mind is confused. WHO DID IT? (hide spoiler)]

87%: (view spoiler)[So glad his mom believes him. He definitely needs someone on his side. (hide spoiler)]

100%: (view spoiler)[OMG, I had a feeling it was Maya. Since the trail because she was acting weird, and Asher kept saying she was lying. Had no idea Maya like Asher. For some reason, I kept thinking she liked Lily. (hide spoiler)]

I finished the first chapter, but I feel like I’m doing everything I can to avoid reading it for some reason.

Ashlyn wrote: "I finished the first chapter, but I feel like I’m doing everything I can to avoid reading it for some reason."

Oh no! That's how I feel with writing reviews right now

Me too! I think I have like two more to write. I'm on a book buying ban, so I'm just looking for books that I want to buy but can't.

Ashlyn wrote: "Me too! I think I have like two more to write. I'm on a book buying ban, so I'm just looking for books that I want to buy but can't."

I have like 12 to write but that's because I've been dealing with some dog issues. Which is why I'm so behind on adding buddy comments lol. I have like 3 more books to add comments to. Then I'm going to try to write reviews.

I'll post my updates sometime today or tomorrow.

Sounds good to me!

Through Olivia 2 (view spoiler)[ The porn thing had me laughing out loud. I can't believe that Lily died! (hide spoiler)]

Through Lily 2 (view spoiler)[ I feel like it might have been an accident or Dirk that killed her. (hide spoiler)]

Through Olivia 4 (view spoiler)[ Maybe Mike killed her?? I can't believe that Asher tried to kill himself in jail! (hide spoiler)]

Through Olivia 5(view spoiler)[ I wasn't expecting her to be transgender! (hide spoiler)]

Through Olivia 7 (view spoiler)[ I feel like the hole in the wall is going to come up in court. (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[ I was not expecting it to be Maya! (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "9%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I think maybe he didn't know the full extent of it. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "40%: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[For some reason, I didn't think Asher did it at all. I just knew he was innocent from the beginning. (hide spoiler)]

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RESTARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022

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Through Olivia 3 (stopped at Lily 3)

(view spoiler)[ oof, tough questions.
I like that we have the father with the history of abuse. it's going to come out he was definitely seeing him too

I'm torn now between it being Dirk (because of his weird visit) and Maya. Maya may have been mad enough.

I just don't know why, yet, the room was trashed - searched? What would someone have been looking for?? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through Olivia 3 (stopped at Lily 3)

oof, tough questions.
I like that we have the father with the history of abuse. it's going to come out he was definitely seeing him too

I'm torn now between..."


Hello trisha, so happy to be buddy reading :D I've read all of Jodi Picoult's single-authored books, but I think this is the first one I've read that is co-authored so I'm interested to see how much that changes things. I've never come across Jennifer Finney Bolan... I wonder whether they each wrote one character?

Stopped at beginning of Lily 3, 24%
(view spoiler)[

Yeah, the history of abuse with the father and him visiting him is definitely gonna come out. It'll be used against him for sure.

It's too early for me to make guesses lol! I mean I don't think it's Asher, but there will be something more going on there - because this is a Jodi Picoult and there usually is lol. Dirk seems a bit obvious and dunno about Maya.

And the room, I reckon it could've been Lily who trashed it herself? I dunno - it doesn't make sense yet that it would have been searched, but we're not far in yet.

This definitely feels like a Picoult book already - legal cases and DRAMA! The last one I read was Wish You Were Here, which was a bit of an anomaly. Anyway, I nearly always love her books and this is good so far

Great to be reading with you :) (hide spoiler)]

YAY! So glad we're reading another one together!!

I haven't read much Picoult - but that's a good point - they could have each written a voice. Do they each sound different? hmmm. . .

and it hasn't come up yet, but I decided to google Mad Honey:
"When bees feed on the pollen of rhododendron flowers, the resulting honey can pack a hallucinogenic punch. It's called mad honey, and it has a slightly bitter taste and a reddish color."

WOW! What an interesting title!! (love that the letters are in red too!)

Through Lily Chapter 5

(view spoiler)[ so I had this plot twist spoiled for me - but I love this twist. I really hope that they don't turn this into a reason to further stack it against Asher

but I still wonder who really did it. I don't think it's because of the transgender, now that we know, but I still only have the same 2 suspects. Maya (who - would she let Asher take the fall? I don't think so) and Dirk (who WOULD let Asher take the fall).
hmmmm (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "YAY! So glad we're reading another one together!!

I haven't read much Picoult - but that's a good point - they could have each written a voice. Do they each sound different? hmmm. . .

and it hasn..."

Ooh, that's so cool - I wish I'd looked it up! Seriously interesting title, tons to be read into it.

And I'm going to see if there are any interviews or whatever with Picoult and Finney Bolan to get an idea what their process was... if they've done one that is.

Through to end of Olivia 4/beginning of Lily 4 38%

(view spoiler)[

Wow, this has got so heavy. It feels like a very typical Jodi Picoult book to be honest - but that's not a bad thing. I didn't think that Asher would try and kill himself; but I can see really well how hopeless he feels.

I really think he's innocent. The incident with the hockey team is going to look really bad for him

I'm used to more PoV in Picoult's writing (like 5 to 6 I guess?) but I'm really enjoying the close focus on Olivia and Lily. I always the love incidental bits that we get to learn about along the way, in this case bee-keeping. I wish there was a little more from Lily's chapters but I guess that might change. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through Lily Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[

so I had this plot twist spoiled for me - but I love this twist. I really hope that they don't turn this into a reason to further stack it against Asher

but I still wonder..." (hide spoiler)]

Wow!
(view spoiler)[
So sorry you were spoiled!
Okay, I did NOT see that coming that Lily was transgender! But Jodi Picoult tends to sort of keep up with trends if you know what I mean? I don't mean that being transgender is a phase or trendy, or anything like that, it's just in the news a lot at the moment, so feel like I should've expected it! I love how (mostly) positive Lily is about herself and her body, despite hiding it.

Disappointed in Asher's reaction - but I suppose not everyone is 'woke' and it was very unexpected. They are DEFINITELY going to use this against him in the trial.

And maybe he did trash her room? He just didn't kill her.

You're right - I don't think the motive is to do with transgender. And our two suspects being Dirk and Maya... Dirk still seems most likely but too obvious? (hide spoiler)]

YES! (view spoiler)[ that twist, had I not known, was a complete completely surprise
and I agree, it's a hot button issue right now and I love that she's tackling it! There's some great parts coming up about it that I also loved! (hide spoiler)]

through Lily Chapter 7

(view spoiler)[ I'm starting to get a bit rung out - they just keep hinting how awful Asher was to her. and how much he loved his dad and thought Lily should forgive her dad. he sounds insensitive, scary and violent. I'm trying really hard to believe he didn't do it but I'm getting tired of reading about all the ways he sucks

I still really like Olivia - how tough this is for her. I like the detective too! I'd love if Olivia gets to move on with her life. It didn't have to stop just because she had one bad experience. I hate how the town is turning on her. wonder if they'll have to leave

Unless they solve who really did it.

Maya's testimony makes me so mad and now I wonder if it was her?! I still think Dirk makes the most sense but shame on Maya. If she thought he was violent before, why didn't she do anything about it? (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done
(view spoiler)[ and I'm so sad. I can't believe they aren't going to even charge Maya. . .she shoved her down the stairs due to jealousy. How is that different than what Asher did? and who's to say she won't do it again if another boy likes another girl more than her. I mean, yikes.

glad it wasn't Asher but I still ended up not liking him in the end (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through Lily Chapter 7

I'm starting to get a bit rung out - they just keep hinting how awful Asher was to her. and how much he loved his dad and thought Lily should forgive her dad. he sounds ins..."

I'm at this stage now and I can't finish because my kindle was in my bag and got so wet it won't work anymore *sobs* I've done what the instructions say so far and nothing has worked to try it out, but the next instruction is to leave it for 48 hours so I have an annoying wait...

Anyway, I can't remember exactly what chapter I was up to, but I definitely got this far so I'll comment to now! I was up to 70-something %

(view spoiler)[
You're so right, I'm getting tired of how bad they're making out Asher to be so awful, hinting at how he might be like his dad, how he grabbed her arm unnecessarily hard at the fencing thing...
Usually, Picoult's novels are a bit better paced than this - it feels like it's dragging a bit to me... I was so convinced he was innocent but I feel like it's being banged into my head how volatile he is and how he could be like his dad.
Definitely agree that I'm tired of being given reasons to distrust him. It feels very heavy-handed.

Yup, Olivia is great! She's got such a feisty personality despite being downtrodden in her marriage for so many years. I really like her. She's basically the only character I do like - Jordan is okay, but it's difficult to like him when he's playing such a professional role with Asher that he mostly comes across as a pretty unsympathetic. I know why he behaves as he does, but he's hard to relate to, because I want him to be a nice uncle :( and brother. Such a dilemma.

Yep, unless they solve it, Olivia and Asher are gonna have to leave - but Olivia can't really, can she? What about the bees? Oh, I liked her naming the new queen Lily :)

I don't know what to think of Maya. She seems to be on Lily's 'side', has decided to believe everything about Asher being violent. But, like you said, if she felt like that before she should have said so FFS! She's not a good friend to either of them...

And now I have to wait until my kindle dries out to find out what happens next :(

Thanks Trish! (hide spoiler)]

oh no!!! I'm so so sorry!! Is there a way you can access your book on a computer or phone (via kindle app?) Or was it an arc? Ugh, stupid winter rain. . .

(view spoiler)[ yes, it was really really hard to like Asher and I wanted to!

I loved the name of the new queen too, so bitter sweet (hide spoiler)]

I'm so anxious for you to get to the end and see what you think.
I'm still mad about it. lol

20% : (view spoiler)[Ok so I am liking the book writing style over all, this is my second Jodi Picoult book and I am glad to say i am not disappointed so far. There’s an air of mystery maintained along with fleeting glimpses of the past and I am finding it absolutely beautiful. There were a couple of moments when I found myself thoroughly annoyed by Asher’s attitude towarfs Braden and the abuse but I am trying to keep an open mind. (hide spoiler)]

40% : (view spoiler)[Why do I feel like Maya is going to play an important role in whatever the mystery of Lily’s death is, she seems really involved in both Asher and Lily’s life. It was heartbreaking to read about Olivia’s visits to the prison and I can’t even imagine what it took for her to ask Braden for help. This book is provoking way too many emotions within me. (hide spoiler)]

60% : (view spoiler)[Oh my god i was so very wrong, Maya is actually kind of a good friend but Asher…let’s just say I am doubting his entire story atm. Is there another angle though to all the parts where it seems like Asher is following into his father’s footsteps? Lily really had been through a lot in her life but Kudos to her mom though for being so supportive. (hide spoiler)]

80% : (view spoiler)[I have no idea how this book would conclude…j do not want to believe that Asher is cruel but everything points to the same. And if not Asher, then who even? Lily’s dad? The parts where Olivia thinks about her past make me shudder. The level of abuse she went through is just too much. On the other hand, Lily’s whole life has always just been about trying to feel accepted…if Asher really killed her for being trans, I don’t have words. (hide spoiler)]

100% : (view spoiler)[I feel like the ending completely fucked me over. Why was Maya not put on stand at all? It really annoyed me. I am also feeling a bit underwhelmed by it all. All of this happened because Maya wanted Asher? That’s just so stupid. And to think she kept mum about it for the whole trial and still had the guts to say she cared about Asher and Lily. I mean how fucked up is that? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "oh no!!! I'm so so sorry!! Is there a way you can access your book on a computer or phone (via kindle app?) Or was it an arc? Ugh, stupid winter rain. . .

yes, it was really really hard to like A..."

Sorry, I finished a while ago but life has just been pure chaos. (It was an ARC btw). This is the least I've read in... years *cries* I hate life when there's no time for reading. Anyway, yes I've finished!

(view spoiler)[
Totally agree with your feelings at the end. The prosecution/his mother had succeeded in making me think that Asher was essentially a bad person - and I don't think that's what Picoult intended, so it seems like it didn't quite work somehow? I don't know.

And Maya! That was a punch from the left side. Why the hell wouldn't she be put on the stand? All the tragedy because Maya had a lifelong thing for Asher? Ridiculous. I can't believe she said nothing throughout the trial - if she really loved him, she wouldn't want want him accused! But she still claims to care about them so much.

Picoult's endings go one way or another, and this didn't work for me. Disappointing. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "YAY! So glad we're reading another one together!!

I haven't read much Picoult - but that's a good point - they could have each written a voice. Do they each sound different? hmmm. . .

and it hasn..."

Oh, did you read any interviews/extra info about who wrote which bits? It was interesting - and I'm glad they got an own voices person in definitely.