Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

In 2019, Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan published their heartbreaking novel Mad Honey. My review will be short to avoid spoiling the plot. This story explores many social issues, including domestic abuse, trans relationships, injustice in the legal system, and suicide. And though these topics can seem overwhelming, the novel, at its core, is a tender coming-of-age story about two teenagers who fall in love. Picoult and Boylan’s thoughtful narrative offers insights, not judgment.

Olivia McAfee leaves her abusive marriage to a cardiac surgeon in Boston. She and her son Asher move to New Hampshire for a fresh start. Asher is a sophomore in high school who falls in love with Lily, the new girl in town. Lily and her mother, Ava, have also fled a toxic situation in California. Both Olivia and Ava are now single mothers wanting to protect their children from their painful pasts. Yet when Lily is found dead, Asher becomes the prime suspect. Despite their best efforts, the history and secrets of both families take center stage when Asher stands trial for Lily’s murder.

Writing a novel with another author must be complicated, and mostly Picoult and Boylan succeed. They have put their readers in the shoes of their characters and shared the character’s complex inner lives. And they have done so with compassion and understanding. Isn’t that one of the goals of a novel? Thanks to my DJKS book club for suggesting this book. 4/5