Mad Honey
by Jodi Picoult,Jennifer Finney Boylan
Discussion Questions:
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, and 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 relationships they have with their mothers?

5. Do you believe someone who hits and abuses their partner can ever change? And if you were in Olivia's shoes, would you be worried about the potential cycle of abuse that could pass from parent to child? If so, what steps may you have tried to take to prevent this?

6. Did you agree or disagree with Olivia's decision to keep Braden's abuse a secret from Asher? Knowing what we know about the things Olivia and Asher hid from each other, does this ultimately do more to help or hurt Asher?

7. Do you believe that love between a parent and child can be unconditional? Are some actions, taken by either the parent or child, beyond redemption and deemed unforgiveable? Discuss.

8. Was the volatility of Lily's relationship with Asher a red flag (a sign that a person will turn out to be [or is] a bad or problematic partner), or something that could be chalked up to a teenage relationship?

9. At one point Jordan snaps at Asher and says, "The truth has no place in a court of law, goddammit. . . . And since the prosecution's already painted you as an abuser and a liar, how good do you actually think your word is?" In what ways do the procedures of this trial-and the larger justice system-affect Asher and the other witnesses?

10.The court of public opinion impacts all the characters involved in the case, and it's something we've seen continuously play out in society as well, especially with the popularity of social media and instant access to the news cycle. Do you think it's fair for casual observers to take sides and make assumptions about events they see and hear, and why do you think we, as a society, are so drawn to doing this?

11.What did you think when you learned that Lily was trans? And which societal factors in your life may have affected how you felt about this?

12.During Elizabeth's conversation with Olivia, she says, "You know what they say: if you've met one trans person, you've . . . met one trans person. What's true for Lily might not be true for someone else." Which other movies, shows, and/or books offer genuine depictions of the trans characters and stories featured?

13.How did you think Lily died before it was revealed in the end? Did you make certain assumptions about other characters, and who was your prime suspect?

14.One of Olivia's beehives is attacked by a bear, and she springs into action to save the bees, even as she knows it's a lost cause. What does this symbolize within the larger story?

15.What do you think about the prosecutor's decision not to charge Maya? Do you think Mike is correct in assuming that Ava prefers this as well? Why or why not?

Discussion questions by the author.

Book Club Talking Points:
This book gives you a lot to think about, the plot is layered, and the characters are complex. So Book clubs will have fun because this story is packed with essential issues, like identity, self-acceptance, abusive relationships, and trust. And anyone with children will definitely relate to fighting for your child's happiness and future.




PbrHome - totes, wine bags, pillows for the book lover
Go There Now
More Reading Suggestions
Popular Books
If you have a passion for reading and, like most, have no time to find the right book, browse the most popular books trending right now. They are all page-turners, and they all let you escape from reality.

Popular Book-  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles
By Madeline Miller
A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, THE SONG OF ACHILLES is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer's enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously...More


Popular Book-The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In this entrancing novel "that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all" (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the...More


Popular The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husband-and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter...More


Popular Book- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Circe
By Madeline Miller
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child-not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for ...More


Popular Book- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners
By Christina Lauren
AFor two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime-maybe even love-in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies. Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky ...More


Visit Our Blog
Browse A Little
PBR book reviews and Reading guides for book clubs
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Pintrest Follow us on InstaGram
Visit out Etsy Shop
10 Books I Can't Stop Recommending
Bookish Gifts- Tote bags, Pillows and more
Best Historical Fiction