In 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2021 I read and reviewed Jodi Picoult’s Small Great Things, Spark of Light, The Book of Two Ways, and Wish You Were Here…and each one earned five stars (with two or three getting my “You HAVE to read this book”). I also noted in every review that “when a friend and former library co-worker basically sniffed her disapproval when I told her I liked Jodi Picoult’s books, our friendship was changed forever.” Having worked for several years in public libraries, I always tried not to be judgmental of people’s reading preferences, or when I found out that someone thought Danielle Steel wrote great literature to negatively impact my opinion of them. But really, I don’t get it. I know Ms. Picoult is writing for a mass market – and sometimes her resolutions might be just a bit too neat for snooty readers. But I’ll admit right up front, I am a sucker for a well-plotted story that makes me think about a social issue or two along the way.
So now here we are in 2022, and Ms. Picoult has brought another thorny issue to her readers…this time, she has a co-author, Jennifer Boylan. If you aren’t familiar with Ms. Boylan (I wasn’t), DO NOT read about her before you read this book. I’m notorious for never giving away plot twists, spoilers, etc. and with this book, it is almost impossible to talk about it without ruining the experience…but I’ll try.
About that title: this book tells the reader everything they may have ever wanted to know about bees, honey and beekeeping. In fact, I thought it a bit over the top…but I came to realize I really did enjoy reading those chapters. “When you work with bees, the first thing you do is blow smoke. It’s how a beekeeper lulls them into complacency. Or how a teen tries to convince his mother that everything is okay.” The story is told in alternating voices by Olivia and Lily, Olivia is a divorced mother to a 17-year old son named Asher. They left a situation with domestic violence and moved to a town where Olivia can continue her beekeeping and Asher can finish high school. He meets new student Lily and together they begin to discover their first love. Sadly, when Lily is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, Asher is charged with her murder.
The bee facts are keys to the revelation of characters’ natures: when Asher is devastated by Lily’s death, and he talks to Olivia about it, her reaction is “He is right. You don’t ever recover from losing someone you love–even the ones you leave behind because you’re better off without them.” Olivia is afraid that Asher may have inherited his father’s violent nature…and then about halfway through the book, a HUGE plot twist leaps out and the rest of it is kind of a blur.
There are several wonderful chapters with Lily’s mom (also a single parent) dealing with her grief and the big plot twist providing the opportunity for the authors to present information about a difficult topic and current hot button social issue without being preachy or pedantic about it all. I am so looking forward to discussing this book with my book club, and seeing how the book is received. For me, it was another five star reading experience, and I appreciate Random House Ballantine and NetGalley providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.