Book Summary and Reviews of Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult

Book Summary

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.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. What surprised you about Mad Honey? Did you have any emotional reactions Discuss.
2. Both Olivia and Lily share a love for fun facts, especially about bees. What is the significance of having these bee facts in the book; is there one that particularly stood out to you?
3. Olivia's chapters move forward in time while Lily's move backward. How did this affect the story's narrative and the way information was revealed? Why do you think the authors specifically chose to focus the points of view on Olivia and Lily?
4. In many ways, Asher and Lily are two sides of the same coin. How does Asher's relationship with Braden (or lack thereof) mirror Lily's relationship with her own father and how does this contrast with the ...