Welcome to Litsy!

It‘s been a dog‘s age since I have read anything by Jodi Picoult and I had never heard of her co-author, but I 5⭐️ loved this one. Told from the perspectives of a mother whose 18 year old son has been accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lily, and Lily‘s own perspective from the months leading up to her death, this book is thoughtful and heartbreaking. Yes, it‘s topical, but I didn‘t feel emotionally manipulated. I did, however, feel emotional. 💔

Finished ✅ I kind of anticipated the ending….

🌼Daffodils - they remind me of my mom
📖Tagged
#two4tuesday
I wasn‘t able to tag!

If I had to write a review on the first 95% of the book, it would be about a beautifully and thoughtfully written story. Unfortunately, the last 5% really needs to be included when you review a book and the slapdash ending of the book left me angry that I had invested so much time and emotion in reading a book with such a BS ending.

I hadn‘t read anything from either author so I wasn‘t sure about their writing styles, but after reading 2 chapters—this book just isn‘t for me. Maybe it‘s their writing styles, but more so, it‘s the story itself I didn‘t like 2 chapters in. The popular hockey player with a soft artistic side but with anger issues and a girl who is “so hungry for the parts” of him she doesn‘t know yet—just not the typical characters I like. Glad I gave it a try.

Irony is that I finally get down time to read but the pain pills from my foot surgery make it hard to stay awake longer than a couple pages. Where is Alanis, I need her to add some middle aged lady probs to her song. What rhymes with bunionectomy? 😂

Another 5 star book for me from Jodi. Loved this one so much. I already am a big believer in the dealing power of honey, so that aspect of this book and the educational side was so cool to read. But, the story. Another book by this author (et. al) that I stopped midway and had to pause for a second. This was perfectly written and will definitely stay with me. It‘s a must read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

It would be best to go into this without knowing anything about it if possible, but although I had an idea what the book was about, it didn‘t make it any less impactful. Not only is it a compelling mystery with fantastic characters, it creates space for more empathy, curiosity, and love in the world. What could be more beautiful than that? 🎧

#published2023 #aboutabook @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Asher & Lily. Teen romance, in love. Lily is hiding a secret and Asher has some anger issues. I loved this book.

I don‘t read a lot of Jodi Picoult these days, I feel like I‘ve grown out of her writing style. However this was just what I needed right now - easy, gripping, a great twist, treated with an overall sensitivity. Can‘t say much more without spoiling! I also very much liked the background to the two authors co-writing this book, and feel that was very much the right decision for this particular book too.

Wow! Liked this one!

I love bees! 🌸🐝

Finally read tagged book (signed copy from author event in 2022 - yes, I'm that behind) and it was so good - I learned so much about not only beekeeping but gender... Don't want to say much more as it may give away the premise of the book - if you haven't read, I encourage you to do so with an open mind and heart. Read on littens 🫠 The other books pictured I have read for #52bookchallenge 2024 📚

#WeeklyFavorites

Picoult did it again.

This was a gift from @TheSpineView several months ago. I think I read it at a perfect time for me. I was fully absorbed in this one.
I don‘t read Picoult reviews before reading her books because I want her to take me on a journey with no expectations. I want and to feel the weight of the surprises & twists with the characters. I loved the journey.
#BookSpinBingo #BookSpin #readyourTBR #Roll100 #AwesomeApril

I really liked this book. It had so many topics to think about. I was really absorbed by the characters and how it would all end. I think it was very well done. I read it for my next book club meeting and I certainly look forward to our discussion.

I enjoyed this one mostly, and the bee topic and the Twist.

Read for reading prompts.

Library book 📖

3.75/5

Starting Mad Honey today and using my Diamond Art bookmark I made last week!

I have so many thoughts after reading this excellent book. First, sadly this book won‘t be any high school reading list in Florida. There has been so much negative press about transgender people; it is nice to read a positive treatment of a transgender person. If you don‘t know a transgender person this book will open your eyes. I know a few who are all very normal people. Please read this book

Enjoyed reading this one. The two narratives of Olivia and lily were interesting and I found myself not being able to put it down. Slightly disappointed by the ending, but overall is a #pick #madhoney

A young girl dies and her boyfriend is accused of her murder. His mother works to defend him and it unravels many secrets all involved have been keeping. I guessed the ending, but I liked the character building and the representation. It is best knowing very little about the story while reading. It is a little long, and dragged a bit in the middle, there were also a few plot threads which were maybe red herrings, but felt dropped.⬇️

This was a stirring emotional book of hurt and hopelessness but also love, and resilience. What I love about J.P books is that you are pulled in there is always something unexpected and she uses wonderful symbolism. I think Boylan also added so much. This story makes you think, gives you not only perspective on topics that are important and wraps it all in a suspenseful intriguing story
#readaway2024

Another hit from Picoult (and I assume Boylan, I've just never read her previously)! I was a little frustrated with Olivia's doubt of Asher, but it did track for her experiences, and all of Lily's chapters were absorbing. A nuanced picture of gender and the legal system. #contemporaryfiction

Olivia is a beekeeper, a single parent. Lilly isn't far from finishing school, starting college. Olivia is telling her story forwards, Lilly tells hers backwards.

I was gripped by this, and the twist - I did not see that coming, it was a real whiplash moment for me.

Picoult's books can be info dumpy at times, but as someone that loves honey, I was here for all the bee knowledge and I shall certainly make sure I never eat mad honey.

First book of 2024 and my first graphic book thing. 2 voices telling a story before and after a crime, back and forth, back and forth, filling in the story but not the how. More and more details. Not the how. And then 🤯 such a twist and you aren‘t sure anymore. AT ALL.

First book of 2024 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

January 1 is the day to start all the new books, the buddy reads, the audio books, the chapter a days and the irl book club books. I‘m just going to hygge the eff out of this coming week

1. Mad Honey
2. You Are a Badass
3. TV with my guy and fancy snacks
4. Yes and the stores are closed
5. It was a brownish/green Christmas, almost cold enough snow, but unseasonably warm in Eastern Canada.

#WinterGames ##CandyCaneCrushers

#12booksof2023 February @Andrew65

My first read by either author, and I absolutely devoured it. A beautiful story 5/5 ⭐️

I‘m sure there‘s a tag for your top 10 reads somewhere, but this is mine in no particular order! These were all excellent!!

I liked this far more than I expected to. It was also the longest book I‘ve finished so fast.

“you don‘t ever recover from losing someone you love—even the ones you leave behind because you‘re better off without them.” Truth!

It‘s been a long day with mri, ct scans, and waiting rooms. We don‘t have the official results but he did get the results to his patient portal. Looks like nothing has changed since his stroke. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers 🙏🏻❤️ love to you all 🤗

I‘m going to wind down 🍷 🛁

He really doesn‘t like me reading!! 😹😹

What are you reading today?!

#Adayinthelifeoftux
#catsoflitsy

“I think about how you never realize how empty you feel until you are filled.”

One of the characters plays the cello and this is one of the pieces she played ❤️🎶🎻

https://youtu.be/8CW6S4gRahY?si=GupUsINyHB2xCHOf

#Adayinthelifeoftux 🐾🖤

Just finished Under the Whispering Door and oh my heart 💔 I‘m going to miss those characters!! 😭

I was walking by the bookcase and this one jumped out at me! I love her controversial writing ✍️ always make me really think about things 🤔

Oh and this wine 🍷 watermelon 🍉 pear 🍐 😋

#LitsyLoveReads

This should have been a bail because I didn‘t actually read it properly. I gave up@about a third of the way in, skip read to the finish missing out whole sections. It‘s for Friday Library book club. Way too drawn out. Skips back and forth between characters and time. Read a bit like two books put together. Ages ago I read Jodie‘s books but I went off them so this is first in years. No more I think.

This is, by far, my favorite Jodi Picoult novel. I love the way the narrative is released, jumping back and forth in time and split between Olivia (Asher's mother) and Lily's, the girlfriend Asher is accused of murdering, perspectives. I have only read three other Picoult's. Which one should I read next?

"The problem with waiting is, we'll, that you have to wait. In the absence of knowledge, the mind is a Tilt-A-Whirl of worst-case scenarios. Pacing a room doesn't make it any bigger;watching a clock doesn't make the time tick by."

"There are some secrets that I think we are willing to take to the grave for the people we love. "

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Loving both of these.

A page turner for sure.
Cannot put it down although sometimes feel a bit dragging.
But over all this is a pick!