Welcome to Litsy!

My #bookspin and #doublespin picks for February @TheAromaofBooks

Final January read and a real page turner #Januaryreads #bookbingo #doublespin

Up next on audio! 🎧

#bookspinbingo

“I wanted to yell at him, but instead I said nothing: a pretty good strategy for dealing with Dad.”

-Lily, Page 19

this is so me bro lollllll

5✨I could not put this down! It was so expertly crafted I could not tell it was written by two authors. You go through 2 POVs and after the first couple chapters one character goes forward in time and the other goes backwards. There is a strong LGBTQ+ message in the book which I believe was tastefully done for education and understanding of the individual(s) that are seen. Murder mystery, courtroom scenes, flashbacks, deep family history.

Whoa! That‘s a huge piece of evidence. I need a break to wrap my mind around that and what it means in this court case. 🤯

Even though I just finished the hardcover of this novel not long ago I wanted to listen to the audiobook as well. It was still a really good story - not my favorite Picoult book but still good - but the audiobook didn‘t really add anything in this case. I wasn‘t crazy about the narrators. Still kind of disliked the ending as well. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I always feel like I learn something in Jodi Picoult books - and this was no exception. I‘ve read negative reviews of this book because it centers around what they call a “hit button topic”, but I am grateful to learn more about what it means to be transgender- and thankful this book was co written with Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender woman.

Picked this one up based on the fact that it upset a couple of my library patrons. Color me curious!

This was an awesome read! So impressed with the research that had to be accomplished to pull this story together. Educational with plenty of plot twists and just a wonderful story! I would like to write more, but I don‘t want any spoilers for the reader!

Enjoyable that I wanted to determine these twisting mysteries, yet not enough to say it blew me away. This followed Olivia‘s future and Lily‘s past surrounding Asher. Heartbreaking story of love like bees; violent and sweet. Many concepts on abuse and being a female. What compelled me was Olivas past coming to light. My parents do bees, so I enjoyed the honey lingo, facts and recipes. It was not my type of book, though I can appreciate it.
#ouabc

There is one type of honey you should avoid at all costs.
Mad honey comes from bees that forage on rhododendron and mountain Laurel, and it‘s full of poisonous grayanotoxins. [….]
The secret weapon of mad honey, of course, is that you expect it to be sweet, not deadly. You‘re deliberately attracted to it. By the time it mess with your head, with your heart, it‘s too late.

My favourite part about working remotely (once a week), is that I get to start my day reading 🥰❤️

Pretty good book. I was surprised by the twists in the story, which is uncommon. The ending was satisfying, and all loose ends were tied up. It's written I'm a nonlinear way - sort of starting from the time of the incident and working it's way outward (both before and after the event) to reveal the details. All in all, clever, well-written, and eye-opening.

A contemporary story for the newer generations, Asher finds his girlfriend dead in her home, triggering all sorts of emotions from all parties involved. Digging into the past, finding out that many things aren't what they seem and finding hope amidst the chaos. Also, I learned an awful lot about beekeeping! Lol
#Bookspin2023 #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Reading Mad Honey was a learning experience and I'm glad I went on the journey. The characters are well-developed, the dialog is good, and the plot held my interest. I've read some criticisms of the use of different speakers and the way the speakers go backwards and forwards in time. It's hard to see how anyone could read this book and not come away with more empathy for people's lives that you may not understand. Book 3/100 of the year.

Got my first #bookspin choices lined up! Pulling double duty with my fiction choice and my FB book club and finally getting All the Light We Cannot See bumped up to the top of the list! I think I made a good choice in being more loose with my list this time around! @TheAromaofBooks

Happy Birthday and congratulations on 300K!!!
I would love to have Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult.

#300KBirthdayGiveaway @wanderinglynn

Thanks for the opportunity ❤️💗❤️

My #BookSpin and #DoublebookSpin books for January. Dice 🎲 seems interested in my #OUABC book I didn‘t finish last year. “Rashomon Gate” by I.J. Parker is on my #SeriesLove2023 list. 🥰💛 @TheAromaofBooks @Andrew65 @TheSpineView

4/5 ⭐

Lily was new in town and caught the attention of Asher. Each chapter is from Olivia's, Asher's mother, and Lily. Both having secrets they don't want anybody else to know. One afternoon, Asher visit Lily's and founds her at the bottom of the stairs, dead.
We get to read about the trial and the events that took place before the murder.
I have to admit I didn't see that one coming.

I haven‘t read a book since September. I started a work from home position, and that seems to drain any energy I have. But I received Mad Honey for Christmas from my mom, and it seems to have jump started my passion again.
I didn‘t meet my goal this year, but proud of all that I read. Although 90% of it was pure smut 😬
Looking forward to a new goal in 2023. Drop any recs you may have! Mystery/Romance/Smut

Wow! This book knocked my socks off! It's timely and relevant and packed with information that we all need to know about the birds and the bees. It's so beautifully written, it felt so natural to read. One point of contention was that my hunch was correct, but that just made me happier in the end. I never give it 5 ⭐ but this earned each and every one! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Now I'm compelled to read more by this author, any recs?

While traveling, I‘ve been lucky to visit an indie bookstore and Barnes & Noble for the 50% off hardback sale (twice). This is my #bookhaul so far 😄

Merry #jolabokaflodswap everyone! Thank you so much @Deblovestoread and @MaleficentBookDragon 🎄⭐️🥂

I started this a few months ago and then got distracted but I'm totally engaged now. It's on audio in my car so I only get to enjoy it in spurts but I'm finally seeing why JP is so popular!

I started this one last month but then set it down after getting distracted by appx 8000 other books! 🙈 I finally picked it back up yesterday...and I can't put it down! I am hooked! It's very old school Picoult - lots of courtroom drama and I am here for it! 💕📚 The domestic abuse scenes have been...tough for me to get through (my previous marriage was abusive) but reading those moments in the book has also been very cathartic and healing! 🥹

I‘ve read a lot of Picoult‘s novels and always find her edgy topics fascinating…she has a way of presenting all sides to a situation so you can‘t help but really think of every avenue. This is my first Finney Boylan read but, between both writers, it‘s beautifully written. I will say I did start to feel like it was longer than it needed to be but the story as a whole made it worth it. Not my favorite Picoult but very thought-provoking! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Loved this book. Young love and the history/science of beekeeping. Gender identification in a story that allows the reader to see how identification in society is seen. I had no idea what this story was about and I loved that. I love Jodi Picoult books.

A great novel with a suspenseful story line that at the same time made you think and learn.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Photobomb courtesy of one dog on each side 😂 So, wow. This was an incredible read - I learned so much about bees and beekeeping (something I‘ve always been super interested in), and I learned so much from Lily. You think you know, but in reading this book, I discovered that I really don‘t (no spoilers). I‘m grateful for the education ♥️ #TBRtarot #November

Why oh why can‘t I seem to read lately? Like at all. I think I want to read, I‘ll pick up a book and just put it down. Someone get me out of this funk! 😭
#bookfunk

Wow, what a gripping story. I found it a page turner from beginning to end. There‘s a surprising twist towards the middle which I didn‘t see coming. I think this book would be a great one to discuss amongst reading groups. I also love all the fascinating facts about bees. There is much to be learnt from this story. Just a fab and thought provoking read and one I can highly recommend. #Pigeonhole

Book hopping again!

#Pigeonhole

5🌟/5🌟

I‘m really not a fan of JP‘s stories( I feel like she TRIES to be SUPER EDGY) but this one had some interesting ideas. I loved the inclusion of honey themed recipes 🍯🐝♥️I might have bailed early on but it was a BuddyRead with a friend from Philly, so I carried on & im glad I did. So a surprising pick 😁

I had a hard time getting into the book at first but then there was a “Jodi Pichoult twist” and I couldn‘t put the book down.

Ok…WOW!!! #PlotTwist

#Pigeonhole

Hard to talk about without being spoilery. Better to go in knowing nothing. The two authors collaborated, each writing one of the two main characters. Made for a good audiobook. It was a tad predictable at times, but well done, and offered a valuable view of identity and belonging, with interesting thoughts on privacy and secrets.

I really like going in blind to a JP book and allow the chapters to take over my emotions. This book was great for that. At midpoint I was sure I‘d uncovered the murder mystery (I was wrong). As the story took hold I forgot to even care who the murderer might be because I was so wrapped up in the story itself.

Nobody tackles the tough subjects like Jodi Picoult. I found out at the end that the two women who co-authored this book each wrote the chapters in the voices of the two main characters. The characters really come to life in this book, the dead girl and the mother of the son who is accused of her murder. I guessed the ending about midway through which really surprised me as I‘m almost always wrong! Highly recommend this book.

When it rains it pours!!! I‘m swimming in new books!!! Two library holds came in today + two pre-orders from Audible and book mail showed up too!! #Bookmail is for #Booked2023 so that goes on the TBR but the others get thrown into my November BookSpin 😄💓

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the last 300 pages (it was long). Great collaboration between 2 authors I‘ve read before. I don‘t care about bees, but if you do then as a bonus you will learn all about beekeeping! I was in it for the characters and the mystery of trying to learn how Lily died and whether it was her boyfriend‘s fault.

I had a wonderful evening discussion event with @jenniferfinneyboylan @jodipicoult and @thereseannefowler as moderator to their collaboration of “Mad Honey”.

Hearing these amazing women, their stories and especially how Jennifer and Jodi spoke about the need for acceptance and love brought tears to my eyes! Such a great evening!

Now, I will be spending my weekend reading this book!