Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult

522 reviews

joshkiba13's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

One of the best books I've read this year 🐝🍯 Structurally it was very unique, where the two POVs start on the same day and move in reverse; Olivia's story goes forward from that day, and Lily's goes backwards. Having one of the main characters be a bee keeper was unique and made for *many* interesting metaphors/allegorical comparisons to life. The story was gripping since we as readers don't know the full truth of what has happened in the lives of the main contenders until the very end. And (without spoiling anything), the novel delved into *many* contemporary complex social issues, addressing questions that I have personally had, and answering them as well as bringing in so much raw emotion and passion. I had several jaw-dropping moments while listening, and the two audiobook readers were phenomenal. Some of the mother-son dialogue at the start felt a tad cliche, and there was one aspect of the ending that I'm not sure I care for

(Maya being the killer)

, but other than that it was a phenomenal listen and a very important story to be told.

Also note there are strong references, allusions to, and memories of suicide attempts in the story

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt

Moderate: Hate crime and Domestic abuse

lucygibbons22's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Suicide, Bullying, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Abortion

fanchera's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Violence, Child death, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, Gun violence, and Death

habeels's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia and Bullying

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Child abuse

anarmandameg's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Self harm, Child abuse, Murder, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide attempt, Violence, Misogyny, Bullying, Outing, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Transphobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Bullying, Transphobia, Sexual content, Sexism, Confinement, Mental illness, Death of parent, Blood, Child abuse, Outing, Cursing, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Abortion, Confinement, Pregnancy, Mass/school shootings, Toxic friendship, Car accident, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Alcohol, Deadnaming, and Animal death

gabriellegoldenhour's review

dark emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I’m truly bummed the inevitable path this book took and how I didn’t find out until 424 pages in. I also could not stand Olivia’s/or her voice’s chapters most of the time, but found out that those were Jodi Picoult’s chapters- so maybe I just don’t like that author’s voice? I did however love Lily and reading her story. I look forward to reading more by Jennifer Finney Boylan. Beautiful acknowledgments and dedications. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Outing, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Suicide, and Self harm

irisandfoxglove's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This was a beautiful, heart wrenching book. I thought the way the chapters were set up was so well thought out and poignant, especially with the epigraph at the beginning. I’d recommend people check the content warnings first before reading.

I loved the moments we got of Ava.

Her planning and forethought for the picnic wrecked me, it was so sweet.

For what we found out about the “day of” by the end of the book,

man, fucking Maya. Based on her telling, it was clearly an accident. Why didn’t she call 911? Or come clean? If I was Asher, I would never forgive her for that. But, I accept her actions as believable. And I’m glad we got to know what happened. I also so fell for Dirk as a red herring.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Suicide attempt, Transphobia, Bullying, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Child abuse

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, and Violence

Minor: Sexual harassment

The transphobia is not endorsed by the main characters of this book and is thoroughly dismantled. The suicidal attempt describes the method factually, and the emotions graphically, but only describes the set up in detail and not the actual attempt.

the method involved blades, and the character describes several times being triggered by knives and blades elsewhere in the story

.

shinabery06's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Transphobia, and Domestic abuse

amandalachelle's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Cursing, Child death, Death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Sexism, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia

Moderate: Hate crime

Minor: Mass/school shootings

claudiamb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt and Domestic abuse