Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today after a week of work, writing and Christmas shopping. Tis the season. We finally put up our Christmas tree. We’re late this year because I wanted the boys to help with the decorating, so we had to work around their work schedules.
But enough about that. Today I want to talk about what I’ve been reading. A short time ago I finished the novel “Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult. The cover and blurb are below.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Alternatingly heart-pounding and heartbreaking. This collaboration between two best-selling authors seamlessly weaves together Olivia and Lily’s journeys, creating a provocative exploration of the strength that love and acceptance require.”—The Washington Post
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • PEOPLE’S BOOK OF THE WEEK • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar
Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising their beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined that she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in and taking over her father’s beekeeping business.
Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.
And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for him, too. With Ash, she feels happy for the first time. Yet she wonders if she can trust him completely. . . .
Then one day, Olivia receives a phone call: Lily is dead, and Asher is being questioned by the police. Olivia is adamant that her son is innocent. But she would be lying if she didn’t acknowledge the flashes of his father’s temper in Ash, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he’s hidden more than he’s shared with her.
Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.
My Thoughts:
This is a provocative story. It makes the reader really think about what it’s like to deal with the issues that young Lily has to deal with. It’s the story of first love and secrets, and the question it raises is how much of our past do we have to share with our potential lovers?
This story takes you by surprise in pure Jody Picoult fashion. A young boy, Asher, is charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Lily. It appears as if he did do it, even though he’s proclaiming his innocence. This story takes us through his trial where all the evidence points to him, but in the end there’s a surprise. I don’t want to ruin it for you, so I’ll stop there.
I will say I read this book in one day. It was that good. It definitely kept my attention. It’s the perfect gift for your reader friends, and if you need to unwind during the holidays. This book is for you.
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Are you reading any good books? What are they? Drop the title in the comments! I’d love to hear from you!