A review by herheadinherbook
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult

challenging emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0 

As I was about to begin reading this book, I saw on one of the author’s IG page that there is already talk of banning this book in parts of America. 

How dare they think about banning this book? 

To do so is to wipe out or silence so many different women - the ones who loves unconditionally, the ones who survive abuse in all its forms and the ones who fight for survival and for their identity. 
God forbid we read literature that moves us and inspires us to empower every other type of woman. Do they really thing banning this book will keep us from doing any of the above? 

Mad Honey is a tense and powerful read. I found myself taking my time to read it because the characters were so vivid and real that it felt like the events of the book were happening to women I knew and loved .  My heart broke for Olivia, Lily and Ava. It’s an incredibly moving book which spotlights an important issue.

I did guess the circumstance of Lily’s death but that’s no problem. However, for me the revelation and the consequences around Lily’s death was the weakest and most frustrating part of the book. It was dealt with in almost one sentence,  and so it felt rushed. That was strange and totally out of character for a novel that was so detailed and all encompassing its portrayal of the issues it covers.

 If I substract that element, it was a definite 5 star read that kept me guessing about what happened to Lily , but more importantly thinking about her experience of the world. I would certainly recommend it.

Thanks to Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, their publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

Expand filter menu Content Warnings