Mad Honey
by Jodi Picoult
Year
2022
Pages
509
Contents
Lily 6
Summary
- Lily, the protagonist, narrates her experiences from the past and the present, delving into her relationship with her boyfriend, Asher, and her struggles with her identity.
- Her mother is portrayed as an enthusiastic nature videographer, showing Lily a video of fighting lynxes, explaining the intense sounds they make.
- Asher reveals to Lily that he has been secretly meeting his estranged father, resonating with Lily's own hidden truths.
- During a drive with Asher, Lily is afraid to reveal her own secrets, highlighting the theme of withheld personal truths and trust in relationships.
- Lily describes her initial impressions of Asher's father as charming but with a sense of artificiality, noting his flirtatious encounter with their waitress.
- She learns about Asher's family history, including his mother's possible abuse from his father and the impact it’s had on Asher's life.
- They experience a dangerous car ride where Asher drives recklessly, causing Lily to fear for her safety and question Asher's temper and true nature.
- Lily reflects on a significant childhood memory of her father taking her to the circus, leaving a lasting impression of wonder and imagination.
- She reveals her suicide attempt, its aftermath, and the harrowing account of her past mistreatment after her transgender identity was exposed at a school dance.
- After leaving the hospital, Lily struggles with dark dreams, and despite her mother's support, she remains troubled by her past trauma.
- Lily grapples with her intense fear as Asher climbs into her room during a storm, leading to an exchange of deep secrets and vulnerabilities as they strengthen their bond.
- Asher opens up about his fears of resembling his abusive father, and Lily comforts him, despite holding back her complete truth.
- Lily's narrative includes moments from her past, including her experience with transitioning, her mother's shift to understanding, and the decision to undergo gender-confirming surgery.
- The chapter ends with Lily and Asher having a planned, intimate first sexual encounter in a treehouse, which becomes overwhelming for Lily as she realizes she hasn't shared her full truth with Asher, leading to a panicked exit and a phone call for help to Maya.