Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult & Jennifer Finney Boylan

Expected Publication Date: 10/04/2022

Jodi Picoult is back! I missed the style, taste and feel of her older books and this one brings that back. Jodi Picoult is one of those authors who's books I read without knowing what they are about. I just sink my teeth into them and expect to read a book that is well researched and full of well crafted characters. Mad Honey meets this criteria and also tackles a controversial subject with care and finesse and court room drama (how I have missed these from her books).

The story is told from the perspectives on Olivia, Asher and Lily. Olivia is a single mom raising her son Asher in her hometown. Asher is a teenager and in a relationship with Lily. Lily is found dead and Asher is the prime suspect. Lily is new to the town and has a secret past which complicates that case against Asher however Asher has secrets of his own. 

The story is told in present and past tense so that we get important background information about about characters. This is a story about love. The love between parents and children. Young love and the love we have for ourselves.   This story is one that needs to be told. One that people can learn from. There are twists and turns and heartbreaking moments. This book will be a sensitive topic especially for those who don't have an open mind.  Those of us who do will be thankful that writers like, Picoult exist  and write stories that are important to social issues of our time. 

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Perfect: The Jodi Arias Story by Shanna Hogan

 Picture Perfect is the story of Jodi Arias and the tragic death of Travis Alexander. Arias murdered, Travis in a brutal and horrific manner. This book covers the relationship Travis and Jodi had. It's obviously from Jodi's view as Travis isn't around to give his perspective. 

Hogan tells us how they met and how the relationship rose and fell. We learn the opinion of Travis's friends in regards to Jodi. None are favorable.  The days leading up to the murder, the day of and after are covered. The court proceedings make for a small but important part of the book. 

I didn't learn anything new from this book but the read was interesting and very organized. 

The Jewel (The Lone City, #1) by Amy Ewing

If you are a fan of The Selection Series by Kiera Cass,  The Bumped Series by Megan McCafferty, The Eve Series by Anna Carey and The Chemical Garden Series by Lauren DeStefano, than this book is for you. 

Violet has been identified as a surrogate. This means that she will be forced to bear a child to a member of the Jewel Society. She will be auctioned off to the highest bidder and become their property. She and other women have been trained for this and when Violet is purchased by the Duchess of the Lake she is put into a world very different from the one she grew up in. A world of balls, fancy dresses, make up, parties and abuse. 

Violet and others like her have to be able to manipulate three Auguries, color, shape and growth. Learning and using them causes pain and when Violet finds out what they want her to use her Auguries for she learns that things in the Jewel are a lot more sinister than she imagined. 

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I do! It exceeded my expectations. The characters are well developed, the plot line is intriguing and of course there is romance, which I could do without but understand why it is part of the storyline. 

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

 

It's the 90's. Cell phones are not common place, payphones and call boxes are the way to get ahold of others. After the death of her bestfriend, Charlie is looking for a ride off campus and back home. She runs into Josh, at the ride share bulletin on campus and decides to take him up on his offer. She doesn't think much about him being older and assumes that he is a graduate student. 

Charlie leaves campus in the dark of the night with Josh. The ride home is  6 hours l
ong and over the course of the ride Charlie becomes increasingly  suspicious of Josh. Charlie recognizes that taking a ride from a stranger especially when there is a serial killer on the lose is a terrible idea and he may very well the Campus Killer.

The story is told in flashbacks and present day. You also learn that that Charlie tends to zone out and see "movies" in her head. This in turn makes her an unreliable narrator leaving you to question everything.

You will find yourself guessing along the way and when the heat of this cat and mouse game picks up and twists and turns keep coming you'll be turning the pages fast to reach the conclusion. 

This is one book - I'd enjoy seeing as a Netflix or Hulu series. It would be entertaining.

Darling Girl: A Novel of Peter Pan By Liz Michalsk

 I have never been a huge fan of Disney or fairy tales. The only knowledge, I had of Peter Pan was the name of a few of the characters and Wendy's blue dress. It was a blue dress, right or was it a blue nightgown? Despite this I found myself interested in reading this novel. I felt having little to no background information on the story of Peter Pan would benefit me and it did as I really ended up enjoying this read. If you like. The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer you might enjoy this one despite it being quite different.

Holly Darling is the granddaughter of Wendy Darling. She is aware of her family background (to a degree) and when her daughter who is in a comma goes missing, she knows that Peter Pan is somehow involved and she has to find him. 

Stories unravel, deep secrets surface and when realism and fantasy join together the read becomes entertaining yet dark. There is so much darkness and quite a few moments that might be triggers for some so read with caution if you have triggers. 

In an Instant by Suzanne Redfearn

Sixteen-year old Finn is dead. She was just in a major car accident. She watches as her family and friends struggle so survive. It's cold and dark, her dad has a life threatening injury and the snow won't let up. Finn watches over everyone and through her we get to see what they each struggle with and experience.

Finn is a delightful character and the other characters are well developed. Be prepared for an incredibly emotional journey. You will need to set time aside to read this book because once you start reading you won't want to stop. 

This is the most powerful and moving book I've read this year. 

True Biz by Sara Novic

 River Valley School is for the deaf. Our main character, Charlie is a new transfer and she is experiencing culture shock as she has never met another deaf person until now. Austin is the golden boy who's family has generations of deafness amongst them until his little sister is born hearing. February is the headmistress of the school who is dealing with personal and professional crisis's. 

The story is told from the perspective of Charlie and February. The story itself isn't very interesting and the characters are quite bland.  I couldn't connect to any of them. The book is about 200 pages too long. I had to force myself to finish it. I went in with high hopes. I wanted to learned and be immersed into the deaf culture and while it happens to a degree it  just fall flat. The book is all over the place and disjointed.

It just wasn't my cup of tea.

The Crown (The Selection, #5) by Kiera Cass *

The Crown is the fifth installment in The Selection series. Eadlyn is still in the process of choosing one man out of the selected. Her mother's brush with death has changed Eadlyn as a person. She grows as a character and becomes slightly more tolerable.

She has stepped up as acting  Regent as her father tends to her mother. She has to balance work and the selected who remain. 

She is undecided on who she wants to pick and time is running out. 

This entire series is my guilty pleasure. It's quite enjoyable to revisit "old book friends", reread series and see them in a new light. I know this series isn't for everyone but I enjoyed it quite a bit. 

The Heir By Kiera Cass (The Selection #4)*

The Heir is the fourth installment in the selection process. Our main characters have changed. This story takes place many years after the previous book. This is the story of  Princess Eadlyn. She is next in line to the throne and throne she doesn't really want. 

The castes have long been abolished yet unrest is on the rise amongst the citizens. The abolishment has caused issues for many and in an order to temporarily pacify and distract the citizens, Eadlyn's parents have suggested that she have her own selection. It's the last thing  she wants in the world but she strikes a deal with her dad and a selection takes place.

Eadlyn is unlikable, spoiled and incredibly bratty but once you get under that hard exterior you learn that she has more to offer. This is her story. Cass's writing keeps you turning the pages and leaves you with a cliffhanger ending (again!).

 

The One by Kiera Cass (The Selection #3) *

 The One is the third installment in The Selection Series. The stakes are larger than ever. A choice must be made. The Rebels are upping their ante and American ….. just can't seem to figure out who and what she wants. 

Some lovely friendships are forged and made stronger. Drama increases. American has grown as a character and expected unexpected happens.  I am trying to be very vague here. I don't want to give up anything. Just read the book. Sit back and enjoy the ride. 

The Elite by Kiera Cass (The Selection #2)*

 The Elite is the second installment in the Selection Series. The original group of the 35 selected has been narrowed down to six. They are all vying for Prince Maxon's and to become his wife. America is still conflicted regarding her feeling for Maxon. She is petulant and bratty! 

Life at the Palace is full of angst and friendship among the Elite. The Palace continues to be attacked. Maxon is being pressured to make a selection. America can't make up her mind and things turn dark - very very dark. 

Characters are developed further and there are some moments where you are on the edge of your seat and moments where you loathe characters. The story unravels quickly and keeps your entertained.  

The Selection by Kierra Cass (The Selection #1) *

Every once in awhile I reread a book or an entire series. I decided to revisit this series. It's an easy entertaining read. This is a dystopian series and in the first novel, America Singer is our main character. She lives in a world where a caste system exists and she is a number 5. She is relatively happy in her place in the world and in love but here life is about change. 

A notice goes out to all the eligible women of the county that a selection going to take place and the last woman left standing will become the wife to the prince. American pays it little to no attention. She has no interest in being part of the selection but pushed into applying to be a candidate. She doesn't think she will be selected and her name is called and she finds herself at the Place with 34 other young women. 

This is such a fun story that makes time fly. Characters are well developed. Their are cheesy moments (but I loved them) and some serious dark moments making the read well worth your time.