Mad Honey
On sale
31st August 2023
Price: £9.99
*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.
‘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.
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Reviews
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.
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
An emotional, enlightening and contemporary read that won't fail to surprise, right up to its final pages
An important read told with compassion and knowledge, a perfect choice for your book clubs
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
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
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
Suspense-filled Mad Honey is a thrilling book that you won't be able to put down
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
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.
A challenging, intriguing story
A thought-provoking book highlighting the difference between secrecy and privacy, and between what people want to be and who they truly are
Mad Honey tackles a topical controversy head-on . . . Thought-provoking, well-balanced and powerful . . . an ideal book group choice, igniting debate and discussion
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
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
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
Full of suspense and explores the risks we take to find ourselves