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Quick answer: Good book club questions for Mad Honey focus on identity, secrets and the love between parents and children. Below are 17 questions grouped by theme, with a spoiler-free summary, a characters-and-themes table, meeting ideas and a sample 90-minute plan.
Quick facts
– Book: Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan
– First published: 2022
– Setting: Adams, a small town in New Hampshire
– Content note: Domestic abuse, a death, a murder trial and transphobia
Mad Honey is a rewarding choice for a book club because it gives readers plenty to discuss without needing special knowledge. This guide gives you questions you can use as written or adapt for your group, plus ideas for running the meeting, so that a host with little time can still lead a good conversation.
Table of Contents
Spoiler-Free Summary
Olivia McAfee left an abusive marriage and moved back to her New Hampshire hometown with her son Asher, where she runs the family beekeeping business. Asher is a popular high school hockey player who falls in love with Lily Campanello, a new girl in town. When Lily is found dead at the bottom of a staircase, Asher is arrested and charged with murder. Told in alternating chapters by Olivia and by Lily, the novel moves between the trial and the past as secrets come to light.
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Main Characters and Themes
| Character or Theme | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Olivia McAfee | A beekeeper and protective single mother |
| Asher McAfee | Her son, accused of murder |
| Lily Campanello | A new girl with a past she keeps private |
| Jordan McAfee | Olivia's brother, Asher's defence lawyer |
| Theme: identity | How much we know about the people we love |
Discussion Questions (Contains Spoilers)
These questions assume everyone has finished the book, so they discuss the ending. They are grouped by theme so you can move through them in order or jump to the topic your group cares about most. Feel free to rephrase them, add follow-up questions such as “why do you think so?” and skip any that do not suit your members.
Opening Reactions
- What was your first impression of Mad Honey, and did it change as you read?
- Which scene or passage stayed with you most, and why?
Olivia and Asher
- How does Olivia's past shape the way she sees Asher?
- Did you believe Asher was innocent?
- How does the trial change their relationship?
- What do the bees add to Olivia's story?
Lily
- How does Lily's voice change your view of the story?
- How did you react to the secret revealed about Lily?
- What does Lily want most from her new life?
- How does she show strength?
Justice and Truth
- Was the trial fair to everyone involved?
- What does the book say about violence passed down in families?
- Did the ending satisfy you?
- How did the two authors' voices work together?
Looking Back
- How did the ending of Mad Honey make you feel, and was it the ending you expected?
- Would you recommend this book to a friend, and what would you tell them first?
- If you could ask Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan one question, what would it be?
Meeting Ideas
Serve honey cakes or tea with honey, and look up a few facts about bees to share before you begin.
A simple way to start is to have each person share a one-sentence rating of the book before discussion begins. It surfaces disagreements early and gives quieter members a chance to speak first. You can also ask each member to bring one question of their own, which often leads to the best conversations of the night.
Ways to Make the Discussion Richer
- Compare formats. If a film, series or stage version of Mad Honey exists, discuss what changes and why.
- Share a favorite line. Ask each person to read a short passage that stood out and explain what it meant to them.
- Cast the book. Ask the group who they would cast in the main roles, and why.
- Rate the pace. Ask where the book felt fastest or slowest, and whether the structure worked for them.
- Pair it with a snack or drink. Food connected to the story gives guests something to talk about before the formal discussion starts.
Tips for Leading the Discussion
- Prepare, but stay flexible. Pick a handful of questions in advance and let the group's reactions guide you.
- Invite quieter voices. Ask someone who has not spoken to share a favorite line or scene.
- Welcome disagreement. A lively debate about a character is a sign that the book is working.
- Return to the text. Ask members to point to a passage in Mad Honey that supports their view.
- Watch the clock. Move on when a question has run its course, and save extra questions for another time.
If your group has only an hour, choose one question from each theme and skip the rest.
Is Mad Honey a Good Book Club Pick?
Mad Honey is gripping and full of discussion points, a strong pick for groups who enjoy courtroom drama with big themes.
Books Like This One
- Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult: a nurse is charged after a baby dies
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty: a school community hides a deadly secret
How to Structure Your Meeting
A 90-minute meeting works well in four parts:
- Welcome and quick ratings (10 minutes). Settle in and share a one-line reaction.
- Spoiler-free talk (20 minutes). Start with characters, setting and style before the plot.
- Spoiler discussion (45 minutes). Work through three or four of the questions above, letting the conversation wander when it is productive.
- Wrap-up (15 minutes). Share favorite lines, choose the next book and thank the host.
If the conversation is going well, it is fine to let it run long and skip some questions.
After the Meeting
Send a short follow-up message with the next title, the date and a link to any readings or articles that came up. Some groups keep a simple record of books read and ratings, which makes it easier to choose future picks and spot the kinds of books the group loves most.
Related: 15 Books Like Mad Honey You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions should we prepare for Mad Honey?
Five to eight is enough for a 90-minute meeting. This guide gives seventeen, so you can choose the ones that fit your group.
Does Mad Honey work as a first pick for a new book club?
Mad Honey is gripping and full of discussion points, a strong pick for groups who enjoy courtroom drama with big themes.
Who wrote which chapters?
Jodi Picoult wrote Olivia's chapters and Jennifer Finney Boylan wrote Lily's.
Is Mad Honey a mystery?
It has a mystery at its centre, but it is also a family drama and a love story.
Are there spoilers in this guide?
The questions after the summary discuss the ending.
What if some members have not finished Mad Honey?
Start with the spoiler-free questions and a short plot recap, then move to the spoiler section only when most people have finished.