60 pages 2-hour read

Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan

Mad Honey

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Olivia is a commercial apiarist living on her family's farm in Adams, New Hampshire. She relocated back to her hometown to raise her son following her divorce from an abusive husband. Protective and observant, she channels her energy into her business and her son. She worries constantly about the lingering effects of her past trauma on her family.

Key Relationships

Mother of Asher Fields

Ex-wife of Braden Fields

Younger sister of Jordan McAfee

Boyfriend's mother to Lily Campanello

Childhood friend of Mike Newcomb

Lily is an 18-year-old cellist who recently relocated to New Hampshire with her mother. She holds a deep appreciation for music and a strong desire to live an ordinary teenage life. Having transitioned earlier in her youth, she maintains strict boundaries around her history to protect herself from prejudice, making her highly cautious about who she trusts.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Ava Campanello

Girlfriend of Asher Fields

Close friend of Maya Banerjee

Ex-girlfriend of Jonah Cooper

Former friend of Sorel

Asher is an 18-year-old high school senior and co-captain of the local hockey team. He possesses a charismatic and sensitive demeanor that makes him popular among his peers. Raised primarily by his mother, he wrestles with complicated feelings regarding his absent father and exhibits occasional flashes of temper that contrast with his usually gentle nature.

Key Relationships

Boyfriend of Lily Campanello

Childhood friend of Maya Banerjee

Son of Braden Fields

Teammate of Dirk

Ava is a former park ranger who relocated across the country to secure a safer environment for her daughter. She works a desk job in Adams, New Hampshire, prioritizing stability over her previous outdoor career. Her primary focus is shielding Lily from harm, operating with a maternal instinct shaped by past conflicts regarding her child's identity.

Key Relationships

Mother of Lily Campanello

Girlfriend's mother to Asher Fields

Supporting Characters

Braden is a successful doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Olivia's ex-husband. He projects an image of professional competence and charm that masks a highly volatile and controlling private nature. He has started a new family, maintaining physical distance from his past life while still exerting a psychological pull on his son.

Key Relationships

Ex-husband of Olivia McAfee

Father of Asher Fields

Husband of Margot

Father of Shane

Father of Shawn

Jordan is a high-profile defense attorney and Olivia's older brother. Known for handling difficult, highly publicized legal cases, he brings a pragmatic and strategic mindset to familial problems. He balances his professional detachment with a genuine sense of loyalty to his sister and nephew.

Key Relationships

Older brother of Olivia McAfee

Uncle and attorney to Asher Fields

Husband of Selena McAfee

Maya is a high school student in Adams who plays the oboe. She is deeply embedded in the local social scene and serves as a bridge between the town's established residents and newcomers. She observes the shifting dynamics of her peer group with keen interest, deeply attached to her oldest friends.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Asher Fields

Close friend of Lily Campanello

Daughter of Sharon

Daughter of Deepa

Selena is a private investigator married to Jordan McAfee. She approaches problems with a methodical, detail-oriented perspective, catching facts that others easily miss. She offers grounded, practical support to her sister-in-law during times of immense stress.

Key Relationships

Wife of Jordan McAfee

Sister-in-law of Olivia McAfee

Mother of Sam McAfee

Mike is a local police lieutenant in Adams, New Hampshire, who shares a long history with the town's residents. He balances his official duties with his personal knowledge of the community members, maintaining a professional but empathetic demeanor when dealing with familiar faces in crisis.

Key Relationships

Childhood friend of Olivia McAfee

Investigating officer to Asher Fields

Jonah is a student who befriends Lily during her time in California. Initially presenting as an attentive and friendly peer who enjoys hiking, his behavior shifts dramatically based on social pressure and the opinions of his hockey teammates.

Key Relationships

Ex-boyfriend of Lily Campanello

Dirk is a high school student and a member of the local boys' hockey team. He possesses a confident, borderline intrusive demeanor and frequently attempts to cross social boundaries, paying unwanted attention to his teammates' romantic partners.

Key Relationships

Teammate of Asher Fields

Unwelcome suitor to Lily Campanello

Gina is the prosecuting attorney assigned to the central legal case in Adams. She approaches her job with sharp focus, utilizing aggressive legal strategies to construct rigid narratives for the jury.

Key Relationships

Legal opponent of Jordan McAfee

Dr. McBride is a forensic pathologist and medical examiner. He approaches his work with clinical detachment, presenting biological facts and professional opinions that heavily influence the direction of criminal investigations.

Key Relationships

Expert witness for Gina Jewett

Elizabeth is a trans woman who owns Edgar's, a local music shop in Adams. She lives openly and authentically in the community, serving as an observational role model to those passing through her store.

Key Relationships

Local shop owner to Lily Campanello

Informative acquaintance to Olivia McAfee

Coach Lacroix leads the high school hockey team in Adams. He views his players through an athletic lens, emphasizing loyalty, leadership, and physical toughness while sometimes overlooking behavioral issues off the ice.

Key Relationships

Coach of Asher Fields