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A review by ahsinggie
Mad Honey by Jennifer Finney Boylan, Jodi Picoult
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
There’s such a powerful beauty in the plot and format of story telling. Character to character POV is not new but there was something so experimental about having two strong authors collaborate on a piece together, bringing together this really significant representation and hope for women’s and LGBTQ+ issues.
The rating however, comes from this deep sense of frustration with the formatting, I struggled to follow from Lily to Olivia, sometimes getting so sidelined by the ‘fun facts’ so characterised by each of their obsessive natures over their hobbies/livelihoods. Domestic abuse and murders of trans persons are very real issues and in reality, most often do not get closure. But I found myself grasping at any and all signs of Asher’s thoughts and emotions, Braden’s disappearance/infidelity, and Ava’s departure from the town. I just wanted TO KNOW. I didn’t even find Mike and Liv’s relationship particularly plot adding. Maybe just slightly soothing to the fact that it all will work out in the end. I knew Maya was iffy from the start.
AND
OMG the court proceedings were such a pain to read through. The jury system pisses me off. Asher closing up the treehouse also did not quite feel like the right closure for a traumatic experience such as being trialed for murder that you did not commit and having your whole world and social circle turn on you overnight.
It’s a good book, but I struggled to achieve personal satisfice from the long winding format. But I did learn quite a lot more about honey and the trans experience. I did think the book does encourage that live can start over all the time, with will and determination. For love, for career, for education, for death, and more.
The rating however, comes from this deep sense of frustration with the formatting, I struggled to follow from Lily to Olivia, sometimes getting so sidelined
AND
OMG the court proceedings were such a pain to read through. The jury system pisses me off. Asher closing up the treehouse also did not quite feel like the right closure for a traumatic experience such as being trialed for murder that you did not commit and having your whole world and social circle turn on you overnight.
It’s a good book, but I struggled to achieve personal satisfice from the long winding format. But I did learn quite a lot more about honey and the trans experience. I did think the book does encourage that live can start over all the time, with will and determination. For love, for career, for education, for death, and more.
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Medical trauma, and Domestic abuse